Coláiste Naomh Cormac

Reminder to Leaving Certificate students -

All Leaving Cert. Students have received a detailed CAO Handbook and Application form to study and discuss with their parents. I have already interviewed each one of the Leaving Cert students and I recommend that their final course choices and order of selection on the CAO form be completed under further advice from me in January. You can choose up to a total of twenty courses from the entire range in the CAO system – 10 from the Level 8 List ( Honours ) and 10 from the Level 6/7 List ( Higher Certificate and Ordinary Degree). You may eventually be offered a course from each List but can only accept one of the two courses on offer. Furthermore all students are asked to refer to www.qualifax .ie, www.cao.ie, for regular updates and detailed information.

Other Snippets –
CAO
Early closing date February 1 Remember to list your courses in order of PREFERENCE and to choose your range of courses from the three categories – DREAM COURSES, REALISTIC COURSES and the BANKER COURSES. Read the CAO Handbook and follow all instructions and complete the form carefully. I recommend that you apply on-line as 90% now do annually. A popular feature on the CAO website is an Application Demonstration facility which provides a student with a hands-on example of the application procedure You are immediately alerted to any error during data input so there is less chance of making a mistake. prevent a panic and last minute problems the CAO are encouraging all students to apply early and will reward all who apply before 20th January within a reduced application fee of €35, as opposed to a €45 fee up to February 1.

New or Cancelled Courses
An updated list of new courses not found in the current CAO Handbook and details of other courses which have been Cancelled for next year, has been given to all Leaving Certs. Refer to these before filling out your CAO application.

Open Days
Most third level colleges now have their Open days on a Saturday – ideal for both students and parents to learn about specific colleges and their courses. All Leaving Certs received a Calendar of College Open days last September. Further copies available from me here in the school.

Some other Application Dates:

Post Leaving Certificate (PLC) Courses: These are an important alternative to mainstream Third Level courses. Application to these is made in February/March and later, and application is made separately to each individual college. Most of these courses are of one year duration. They offer alternative job opportunities in areas such as Art and Craft, Business Studies, Childcare and Nursing Studies. They can also lead to further progression to the Institutes of Technology.

Failte Ireland up to this Year provided training for working in the Hotel & Catering industry. Courses were offered in Chef, Restaurant service, Hospitality, Reception, Tourism and Bar service. This role of selection and training has now come under the control of the CAO/ HETAC application process and recruits are selected now, not from interview – as in the past, but by filling out a regular CAO form before February.

Apprenticeships: Students interested in apprenticeships (T Y, Fifth and Sixth years) should establish an early working relationship with suitable sponsors in order to secure apprenticeships.

Other guidance news
In late August four Past students of our school returned to share their experiences and advice with our Fifth Years. Their talks formed part of our Student Motivation Initiative to promote more effective learning and an early dedication to study among senior cycle students. Damian Barron, Neasa Mooney, Geritta Russell, and Joseph Troy, all spoke eloquently on their experiences here at school and readily passed on many very valuable tips and advice on the “do’s and don’s”, as well as lots of encouragement and career related information.
Transition Years completed their first placement of Work Experience in November. We are very grateful to all local employers who provide this very valuable introduction to the world of work. Hopefully each student will have found the work placement to be beneficial in the career selection process and will lead each student closer to selection a career goal.
Third Year students have been spoken to in relation to subject choice for Leaving certificate and have been provided with a detailed booklet on the topic for their parents.
All Third Year students will undertake the Differential Aptitude Tests (DATs) in January. This is a valuable guide to students in choosing subjects for senior cycle and appropriate third level courses and careers. Scores can be used to produce a profile showing a pupil's strengths and weaknesses. There are eight sub-tests: Verbal Reasoning, Numerical Ability, Abstract Reasoning, Space Relations, Mechanical Reasoning, Clerical Speed and Accuracy, Spelling, and Language Usage.
Junior classes have been spoken to on career related topics with particular emphasis placed on the need to define what makes up a good job, how to get information about jobs/careers and the need to start thinking about jobs and careers in general. I have encouraged students to start looking around at the jobs and careers of their relatives, neighbours and others to see if they can even at this early stage get good insights into careers and to start thinking of the future. Hopefully this will stimulate early career planning and by the time they reach Leaving Cert they may be well motivated and focussed on particular college choices.

Lectures to Sixth Year Series:
Mr Rory Mulvey of Student Enrichment Services Ltd., provided a very valuable STUDY SKILLS SEMINAR to all our Leaving Certificate students in November. Topics focussed on throughout the day included Effective Note-taking, Study-time Management, Exam Techniques and Goal Setting. Students were full of praise for the seminar stating that it should lead to better exam preparation and outcome.Mental Health Awareness seminar was provided for the Leaving Certificates and Transition Years by Josephine Rigney from the HSE. It was conducted in group sessions over three days in early November. This is the second year that we have run the event and the feedback from students has been very positive.Mitchell from University of Maynooth delivered a lecture on third –level education in Ireland and focussed on the Business and Science courses available in NUIM. Owen Kiveney, a former president of the Student’s Union in Athlone Institute of Technology, delivered a very comprehensive presentation on the range and details of courses in AIT. He also provided very practical and valuable insights to student life and funding of day to day college life.

Further talks by past students of the school and other guests are planned during this year.