PORTMARNOCK COMMUNITY SCHOOL
TRANSITION YEAR PROGRAMME

Contents 

Part 1:
1.1	School Mission Statement and Transition Year Aims
1.2	Transition Year methods and approaches
1.3	Transition Year Induction
1.4	Transition Year Team 2015/2016
1.5	Core Curriculum and Options subjects 2015/2016
1.6	Transition Year Assessment
1.7	Finance in Transition Year

Part 2:
2.1     Work Experience and Community Care
2.2     Transition Year Portfolio
2.3     Transition Year Play
2.4     Gaisce
2.5     Internal and external Programmes and Activities
2.6     Links with Third Level

Part 3:
3.1     Transition Year List of Key Dates 2018/2019
3.2     Subject Plans 2018/2019
3.3     Evaluation

Part 1:

1.1 School Mission Statement
To instil a spirit of intellectual enquiry and academic endeavour, to foster the desire for participation and challenge, and to build individual and compassionate men and women of character

Transition Year Aims
Our Transition Year Programme is a unique one year programme that promotes the personal, social, vocational and educational development of students and prepares them for their role as autonomous, participative, and responsible members of society.
Our programme aims to:
∙	Enable students to develop life skills for their working life.
∙	Promote the development of personal and social responsibility for their community, both in school and in their local vicinity.
∙	Encourage the development of a wide range of transferable critical thinking and creative problem solving skills.
∙	Provide the students with a wide range of opportunities to broaden their educational experiences.
∙	Develop programmes that allow the students to learn independently.
∙	Provide a “bridge” to allow the students to transition between Junior Cycle and Senior Cycle, using the skills attained in Transition Year.

2.2 Transition Year Methods and Approaches
One of the key aims of Transition Year is to provide the students with a range of teaching and learning methodologies. A sample of the varying methods are listed below:
∙	Activity based learning
∙	Project work
∙	Research work
∙	Team teaching
∙	Group work
∙	Work experience
∙	Visiting speakers
∙	Research 
∙	Organisational skills

1.3: Transition Year Induction
There is an information evening held for the Third Year parents in early January of third year. This evening coincides with the students and their parents receiving the subject choices forms for Transition Year. The parents are informed of the general layout of Transition Year, mainly regarding the following:
∙	Core subjects
∙	Option subject choices
∙	Work experience and community care dates
∙	Student responsibilities for the year
∙	Activities within the year
∙	Financing for the year
Parents are advised during the talk to have their child’s work experience and community care places organised before starting into the students Transition Year.
Parents are also made aware of the importance of attendance during the year. The presence of the student within their subjects will have a direct correlation with marks being allocated towards their end of year grade.
Parents are also informed of the financial contribution that they have to make in order to fund the activities carried out during the year. As the year is an optional year, any parent who has chosen for their son/daughter/guardian to complete the year, must furnish the school with a TY fee.
Students are given a presentation of the requirements of the year and the associated subjects, on the first Wednesday of the new school year. Students are also made aware of the responsibility regarding completion of forms and deadlines. 
Both the students and the parents are informed of the weekly announcements that are available on the school website every Friday. These announcements provide information of activities and news for each week during Transition Year.
There is also a TY calendar on the school website. The purpose of the calendar is to inform the parents of key dates, activities and events that will take place during the TY year.

1.4: Transition Year Team 2018/2019
Principal:  Ms Eithne Deeney
Deputy Principals:  Mr David Clarke
                                   Ms Orla Molamphy
                                   Ms Helen Dargan
Transition Year Head 2018/2019:  Mr Niall Fitzgerald
Transition Year Coordinator:  Ms Orla Coleman
Careers and Guidance Counsellor:  Mr Frank Farrell and Ms Elaine Fox
Guidance Counsellors:  Ms Catherine Clarke and Ms Maria Keane
Tutors 2018/2019:  Ms O’Brien, Ms Motley, Ms Cosgrove, Mr Cogavin, Ms Murphy and 
core and module teachers.

1.5: Core curriculum and option subjects 2018/2019
CORE SUBJECTS: Time allocation
Irish              4 periods per week
English         4 periods per week
Maths          4 periods per week
Information & Communication Technology               4 periods per week
Preparation for Working Life                                         1 period per week
Health, Hygiene & Safety                                                1 period per week                                                      
Religious/Moral Development                                      3 periods per week

OPTIONAL SUBJECTS: Timetable allocation – 2 periods per week ( with the exception of MFL - 4 periods per week)
Art/Craft/Design                                                                     Food Marketing
Beginners Music                                                                      Geography
Biology                                                                                       History 
Business studies (inc. Accounting & Economics)              Home Economics
Chemistry                                                                                  Media Studies
Continuation Music                                                                MFL - French or German or Spanish
Craft- Textiles                                                                          Physics 
Design & Communication Graphics                                    Public Speaking                            
Engineering                                                                              Woodcraft & Furniture

Wednesday Modules: Timetable Allocation
Heritage studies                     4 periods over 5 weeks
Visual awareness                  4 periods over 5 weeks
Clay Animation                      4 periods over 5 weeks
First aid                                          2 periods over 5 weeks
Life skills                                        2 periods over 5 weeks
Counselling                                   2 periods over 5 weeks                                     
Third world development         2 periods over 5 weeks
Shared Reading with St Helen’s Junior School                          2 periods over 5 weeks

Monday Modules : Timetable Allocation
Coding                                          2 periods over 5 weeks
Theatrical Studies                      2 periods over 5 weeks
Well-being                                  2 periods over 5 weeks
Physical Education                    2 periods over 5 weeks ( x2)

Other timetabled subjects allocation:
Pastoral Care                             1 period per week

1.6: Transition Year Assessment

TY Reports
Transition Years sit two formal exams, Christmas and Summer, in Irish, English, Maths and their Continental European Language.
These reports, in the form of a percentage grade will be sent home to the parents.

End of year: TY Report
The end of year report is based on the option subjects chosen by the students. Marks are awarded as follows:
∙	Wednesday modules = 400 marks (except First Aid/Counselling)
∙	Academic options (six subjects) = 600 marks
∙	Work experience = 100 marks
∙	Community care = 100 marks
∙	Portfolio = 300 marks
Total: 1,500 marks

Awards will be given in the form of an End of Year Certificate. The breakdown of awards for the certificate are  as follows:
∙	1,050 - 1,500   - Distinction
∙	825 - 1,049      - Merit
∙	600 - 824         - Pass
∙	1- 599               - Fail

Certificates for the completion of a course are awarded in Mindfulness, Health & Safety- certification in in the form of online Badges.

1.7: Finance in Transition Year
Transition Year is funded by a financial contribution from the parents. Transition Year parents will be informed of the cost of the fee during the Parent’s Information evening held in January. A letter will also be sent in the July of that same year containing the relevant information for the payment of the fee. The layout of the cost of the year will be explained to the parents during the information evening. This will allow parents to observe where the fee is being spent.
The fee for Transition Year is 350 euro, which is subject to change. Parents have several options regarding the payment. It can be paid by cash, cheque, bank or postal order, or in the “Easy Payments” section on the school website. The “Easy Payments” is five payments of 70 euro commencing with the first payment in August.
The methods of payments are laid out within the letter that is sent home in July.

PART 2:
2.1: Work Experience and Community Care
Work Experience aims:
∙	To experience the nature and realities of working life.
∙	To identify skills and abilities required for particular jobs.
∙	To achieve a realistic knowledge of their own interests, ability and social skills.
∙	To achieve a knowledge and understanding of a job application and selection.

Community Care aims:
∙	To give the students a greater understanding of volunteering.
∙	To allow students to assist people who are possibly less fortunate than themselves.
∙	To enable students to give of their time to help others.

Transition-year Work-experience takes place during the two weeks immediately before the Christmas holidays. Transition-year Community Care experience is on the two weeks immediately before the February Mid-term break.
Advice for students:
1.	Get a proper email address and check it regularly (sync it with your smartphone). Use this for all T.Y. applications. Do not use your PCS email address – that address is for an internal intranet. Students lost places on courses last year by not checking their emails or through using the school’s email address.

2.	In August / September make sure your school email address is working correctly. You will be required to submit projects to teachers using this address. This address can also be synced with your smartphone.

3.	Some TY opportunities are very difficult to get a place on e.g. the  RCSI Mini-med– do not hesitate to act once you see a course advertised – if you have family in Waterford (Regional Hospital) you could consider applying for the Mini-med there also. Beaumont Hospital also offers opportunities – please keep an eye on their websites.

4.	You want to work with children e.g. in a Primary-school or in a créche, on Work or Community experience?  As of February 2017, legislation now requires, any student, in Transition Year, who is 16 years of age and who intends on taking up a work placement working with children or vulnerable adults MUST be Garda Vetted. Students must be 16 before they can be vetted. If a student is 15, even if a day shy of being 16,  they cannot begin the process as they, at 15, are still considered to be a child. This may become very significant in relation to Community Care and Work Experience placements.
            A letter is distributed in early September to all parents/guardians with guidelines and forms
            in order to begin the Garda Vetting process. The process itself can take up to 3 weeks.
     
5.	Volunteer for charity work / fundraising – this will help when writing your C.V. – more importantly it is good for you and the community.

6.	Keep an eye on the education sections of the National Newspapers – organisations often use these to announce T.Y. projects. Youth websites are often useful.
    7.    There are some very useful websites to help in your search for a placement:
            https://careersportal    
            https://ty.ie/
          https://www.smartfutures.ie/get-involved/ty-opportunities
          http://www.tyireland.com/work-experience
    
Students are advised to begin their search for a placement over the summer between their third and fourth year. Students will be given forms, (including insurance forms), provided by the school, that will enable them to apply to their various employers.
During both placements students will complete diaries that outline their day to day tasks and outcomes. During their time away from the school teachers will monitor the student’s progress through telephone calls to their employers.

2.2: Transition Year Portfolio

The Portfolio is the purposeful collection of the students work throughout the year. Its purpose is to provide a reflection of the student’s participation in Transition Year. The work included should show the effort, progress and achievement of the student in TEN areas of learning. The student may select pieces of work that best show learning, be that learning in an academic context or learning from extracurricular activities.
Students, during the course of the year, are required to read five novels. A summary of the students chosen novels should be placed into the Portfolio.
Please find a list below of the contents of the Portfolio:
∙	One piece of work from all the core subjects, core modular subjects and the modules.
∙	Students diaries from Work Experience and Community Care.
∙	Photographs and accounts of any trip taken during Transition Year.
∙	Participation in outside school activities.
∙	Any activity that the student volunteered for.
∙	Any souvenirs and mementos from student’s year.
∙	A reflection of the student’s work/life in Transition Year.
The Portfolio interviews are held on the last Wednesday in Transition Year. The interviews are carried out by the student’s teachers and year head. The interview is based on their Portfolio of work and their reflection of their own year. The interview and Portfolio carry 300 marks towards their final year grade and certification.

2.3: Transition Year Play

Each year the Transition Year students take part and present a TY Play as part of their Transition Year Programme. The students organise ALL aspects of the play from the casting to backstage, lighting and sound. In 2017/2018 the Transition Years presented a play called “The Real Inspector Hound” to great success.
The ownership, by the students, of the play is a very important part of the TY programme. In addition, it is a great learning tool for all the students involved.
The TY play is held during the month of March.

2.4: Gaisce

Gaisce is a national challenge award awarded to young people. There are four different challenge areas. To earn and award, you will need to participate in each of the four challenge areas. You might decide to build on an activity you’ve tried in the past.
There is a cost of 15 euro to complete the Gaisce.
Each participant must participate and complete an activity in at least one new activity to earn an award.
The four challenge areas are:
1.	Community Involvement
2.	Personal Skill
3.	Physical Recreation
Students must complete a minimum of one hour a week in each of the first three challenges over a thirteen week period.
4.	Adventure Journey – two days, one night.
An additional activity in any section of the student’s choice, over a period of a thirteen week period, may be undertaken. If a student decides to complete this additional activity they must consult first with the schools “PAL” – President's Award Leader. The PAL for Portmarnock Community School is Ms Orla Coleman.
The awards issued are as follow:
∙	Bronze Award – starting at the age of 15, completed over a six month period.
∙	Silver Award – starting at the age of 16, completed over a 12 month period.
∙	Gold Award – starting at the age of 17, completed over an 18 month period.
In Transition Year the students will complete the Bronze Award. If they choose they can continue on to complete their Silver and Gold Awards. Again students may consult with the PAL in order to proceed with these awards.

2.5: internal and external activities within Transition Year

Listed below are a sample of the vast range of activities that are available for the students to participate in during their Transition Year:

       Internal Activities:
∙	Mini-company – mentored by the Fingal Enterprise Board
∙	DATS – Aptitude tests
∙	TY play
∙	School Musical
∙	AIB “Build A Bank” competition
∙	Bank of Ireland branch visits
∙	Thinking Outside the Box
∙	Law Day
∙	Movie Making workshop
∙	Song School workshop
∙	GAA coaching with local Primary School – certificated programme
∙	Variety show – organised by the TY Music class
∙	Age Action Ireland – “log on and learn”
∙	Stocks and Trading – Business class workshop
∙	FAI coaching, Kick Start One – certificated programme
∙	Focus Ireland – The Beloved Shop
∙	Health and Safety programme – online certification
∙	Green Schools
∙	First Aid – run by the Civil Defence
∙	PE activities – archery and self defence
∙	Garda Road Safety talk
∙	TY Transmission
∙	Water Safety Course
∙	Driving Theory Test
∙	‘Drama House’ workshop
∙	Mentoring/Leadership sessions
∙	Poetry Workshop
∙	GAA Coaching

External Activities:
∙	Pupil participation in the local Arch Club
∙	Pupil participation in the local Girl Guides group
∙	Howth Cookery School – Home Economics trip
∙	Theatre trip – Full year group activity as part of the students English course
∙	Malahide Castle tour
∙	Ballymun school Christmas trip – organised by the TY music class
∙	Rotary Club Leadership Competition
∙	Gaelinn
∙	Glasnevin Cemetery Tour
∙	RTE Studios visit
∙	AXA Roadshow Safety event
∙	Scuba Diving
∙	Swimming
∙	Trip to Lesotho with Action Ireland Trust
∙	The Ploughing Championships

      

       Team Building Activities for TY:
∙	Christmas cinema and bowling trip with students, year head and tutors
∙	Treasure hunt in the Zoo
∙	Table quiz
∙	Surf Doc – end of year activity
∙	Activity Nation - Ardgillan Castle, Skerries  – end of year activity
∙	Carlingford Adventure Centre  -  Gaisce award only

        Fundraising Activities for TY:
∙	Bag packing in Dunnes Stores for the local Lions Club, Portmarnock Community Association and the Portmarnock Arch Club
∙	“Walk in my shoes” for Saint Patrick's Hospital and as part of the schools Mental Health week.
∙	RNLI national collection day

2.6: Links with Third Level

∙	DCU Compute TY
∙	UCD – Physics workshops
∙	UCD - Science TY Workshops 
∙	RCSI – Mini Med – (one place – lottery with the college)
∙	TCD – Physics – Nanotechnology, Astrophysics – ( one place each)
∙	TCD - Computer Science - ( one place available)
∙	TCD - Nursing and Midwifery
∙	DIT - Computing Workshop
∙	The Bar of Ireland TY Programme 
∙	The Law Library
∙	The Law Society - ‘Solicitors of the Future TY Programme’
∙	The Dublin Dental Hospital

Part Three:

3.1: Key Dates 2018/2019

KEY DATES FOR TRANSITION YEAR 2018/2019
Note that this is only a preliminary list of dates. Further events will take place during the year and parents and students will be informed of all upcoming events on the school website in the Transition Year Announcements section.

 AUGUST
∙	School reopens on Monday the 27th of August 2018

SEPTEMBER
∙	“Matrix” – “Thinking outside the box” – Each tutor group will spend a day within the Matrix workshop outlining a new learning approach for TY.
( Monday 3rd , Tuesday 4th, Thursday 6th,  Friday 7th,  Monday 10th )
∙	TY Modules – The TY modules begin on Wednesday the 5th of September
∙	Junior Certificate Results – Wednesday the 12th the Junior Certificate results are released. 9.00 till 11.00 team building will take place. 11.00 results will be given to the students in the school gym.
∙	Water Safety Course 1 - Friday 14th September
∙	Water Safety Course 2 - Monday 17th September
∙	Open Night – The school’s Open Night will take place on Thursday 20th of September. 
∙	Water Safety Course 3 - Monday 24th September
∙	Road safety talk Thursday 27th at 10.00am– A Garda road safety talk, “It couldn’t happen to me”, presented by Garda David Barron from the Garda Traffic Corps. 
∙	Water Safety Course 4 - Friday 28th September

OCTOBER
∙	Song School Thursday 4th and Friday 5th - the Transition Year Beginners Music class will have a two-day workshop on songwriting.
∙	Water Safety Course 5 - Monday 8th October
∙	Song School Thursday 11th and Friday 12th - The Advanced Transition Year Music Class will have a two day workshop.
∙	Deadline for Community Care Placement- Monday the 15th of October is the final date to have acquired the Community Care placement and to have all forms back to the Tutor. Beyond this date the student will begin to lose marks from their overall Community Care marks.
∙	TY Transmission Friday 19th - An interactive radio training workshop. 
∙	Entrepreneurship & Business Workshops - for TY Business classes – group 1- 25th, group 2- 26th.
∙	Mid-term Break – week beginning Monday the 29th of October.

NOVEMBER
∙	Movie Making Workshops – Tuesday 6th, Wednesday 7th, Thursday 8th, Friday 9th.
∙	TY Assessments - Monday 19th & Tuesday 20th (these dates are subject to change)

DECEMBER
∙	Deadline for Work Experience Placement – Monday 3rd of December is the final date to have acquired the Work Experience Placement and to have the forms back to the Tutors. Beyond this date the student will begin to lose marks from their overall Work Experience marks.
∙	Activity Day - Friday 7th (yet to be confirmed)
∙	Community Care Placement – Fortnight starting Monday the 10th until the 21st of December.
∙	Christmas Holidays – fortnight starting from Saturday 22nd of December until Sunday the 6th of January. All students will return to school on Monday 7th January 2019.

                                                            JANUARY 2019 
●	Deadline for Return of Community Care Diary and Employer’s Evaluation Form - Monday 14th January in tutor class.

FEBRUARY
∙	Work Experience Placement – Fortnight starting Monday the 4th of February until Friday the 15th of February. Students going on the Lesotho trip will finish on Thursday the 7th of February, therefore they will only require a placement for four days in Ireland. The remainder of their Work Experience will be their Lesotho Trip.
∙	Mid Term Break -  starting Monday the 18th of February. All students will return to school on Monday 25th February.

MARCH
              Deadline for Return of Work Experience Diary and Employer’s Evaluation Form -
              Monday 4th March in tutor class.
              Glasnevin Cemetery Tour - Tuesday 12th March
∙	Saint Patrick’s Day – Sunday the 17th of March.
∙	Public Holiday - Monday 18th March, school will be closed.
∙	TY Play - The TY play will take place the week beginning Monday 25th March.
 
APRIL
              Gaelinn -  A one week workshop beginning Monday 1st April where students learn
              basic media skills in an Irish language setting. (limited places available)
     Easter Holidays – fortnight starting Monday the 15th April until  Sunday the 28th April. Returning to school on Monday the 29th of April.
         ‘Matrix’ workshop - Monday 29th April, Tuesday 30th April, Friday 3rd May.

                                                                 May 
∙	Bank Holiday – Monday May 6th
∙	Skerries, Ardgillan Castle - Activity Day, Thursday 9th May.
∙	Portfolio Deadline – Completed Portfolios will be handed in by 4.00pm on Monday the 13th of May.
∙	Portfolio Interviews – Portfolio interviews, done per tutor group, will take place on Wednesday 15th of May. Assigned Tutor times will be given closer to the date.
∙	TY Summer Assessments - Thursday 16th May & Friday 17th May
∙	TY Presentation Evening – The TY Presentation Evening will take place on Tuesday the 21st of May at 7.30pm.

3.2: Subject Plans

-	See separate folder

3.3: Evaluation

Evaluation of the course is achieved in a number of ways:  
 
●	Reflection periods are provided to assess the progress of both the work experience and community care programmes.  (Pastoral Care Period)
 
●	Parental feedback forms attached to the pupil reports 
 
●	Co curricular review and evaluation is to be carried out by Ms Orla Coleman in Jan 2019
 
●	Regular Transition Year Development Team meetings.
 
●	Pupil surveys regarding the Pursuits and Activities.