Guidance

Guidance FAQ for Parents

Please take the time to read this advice for students with your son/daughter.

Coping with School Closure

On weekdays follow your normal school timetable - it gives a clear structure.

Focus on your subjects for 40 minutes - regularly log in to Google Classroom for your class notes, homework etc.

Make a study plan.

Ensure that you:

- you rest during study periods
- eat sufficient and healthy food
- drink lots of water
- engage in physical activity (outdoors is best)
- stay in contact with friends and family
- that you get 8 hours of good quality sleep each night

This is a unique and unprecedented scenario for us all, however using the strategies that you have used in the past to manage times of stress can benefit you now.

Remember all you have learned in SPHE and Wellbeing.

Look at this extra time as an opportunity - you have time to read books , listen to your music and enjoy some fresh air!

It is normal and acceptable to feel some sense of worry and anxiety over the outbreak of the Covid-19 Coronavirus.

Be mindful of those around you and take the above advice into account when looking after your own wellbeing.

If you need to speak to someone you can contact:

· Teen-Line Ireland 1800 833 634 (for ages 13 to 18)
· Childline 1800 66 66 66 (for under 18s)
· Email Mr. Courtney in the Guidance Dept via guidancepca@gmail.com or simply use the form below to get in touch.

Remember that this will pass. Take the time to take care of yourself.

Junior Cycle Aptitude Assessment

All incoming 1st Years take the CAT4 Cognitive Abilities Test in the April of 6th class.

The Cognitive Abilities Test (CAT4) is a comprehensive and objective test of your students' developed reasoning (thinking) abilities in key areas that support educational development and academic attainment.

We use the CAT4:

As an objective measure of ability.

To identify needs and target learning support resources.

To identify groups of students who may be underachieving.

As a reference tool for subject choices decision making.

The CAT4 Assessment produces a unique Standardised Age Score (SAS) for each student. The SAS score can be used for bench marking and tracking progress and is considered to be the fairest way to compare the performance of different students within a year group.

The CAT4 also determines each students preferred learning style. Consideration of the student preferred learning style can be very useful when the student chooses their Junior Cycle subjects.

You and your son/daughter will receive feedback around their CAT4 Scores and preferred learning styles prior to them making their subject choices for the 2nd Year of their Junior Cycle.

Junior Cycle Subject Choices

Your son/daughter will be examined in 8 subjects for their Junior Certificate. You can see the subjects available to your son/daughter here.

All 1st Year students will asked to decide on their Junior Cycle subject choices in the January of their 1st Year. They will have had access to a wide range of subjects and they will also receive guidance around subject choices in the classroom.

Parents and students are invited to attend a Subject Options Evening held in January.

If your son/daughter feels that they would like to change their subject choices early in 2nd year then they should inform their academic monitor who will notify the year head and the guidance department.

Junior Cycle Careers Guidance

All Junior Cycle students have a Guidance Counsellor assigned to them. If a student needs to meet with a counsellor then they can notify their year head who will liaise with the associated counsellor to organise a 1:1 meeting.

All Junior Cycle students will receive Careers related guidance information in the classroom through modules delivered as part of the SPHE and Wellbeing programmes.

You can find your son/daughter's associated Guidance Counsellor by scrolling to the top of this page.

Senior Cycle Aptitude Assessment

The Guidance Department in Presentation College Athenry assesses all Transition Year students using the Cambridge Occupation Analysts (COA) EirQuest Interests Assessment Test combined with the Cambridge Profile Aptitude Test. The Cambridge Profile Aptitude Tests use Irish norms and assess the following areas:

Verbal Reasoning

Numerical Reasoning

Abstract Reasoning

Spatial Reasoning (2D & 3D)

Spelling

Arithmetic Calculation

Working Quickly & Accurately

The results of these combined tests reveal a picture of the young person's stronger occupational and academic interests, related abilities and personal qualities. They will also throw light on the student’s thinking and learning styles.

Recognition and reflection on the results of these tests will help the student to make more informed decisions associated with Leaving Cert subject choices, university courses and career decisions in the not too distant future.

The student will receive feedback via a comprehensive personal report detailing the strongest career area Overall Matches for the student based on their interests as well as their aptitudes. The report will also advise the student re the most suitable Senior Cycle subjects to choose based on the Overall Matches.

Senior Cycle Subject Choices

Your son/daughter will be examined in 7 subjects for their Leaving Certificate with the Leaving Cert Vocational Programme (LCVP) as an option. You can see the subjects available to your son/daughter here.

You can read more about the Leaving Cert Applied and the Leaving Cert Vocational Programmes here.

All Transition Year (and 3rd Year students) progressing directly to 4th Year will be asked to decide on their Senior Cycle subject choices in the January of that year. They will have had access to a wide range of subject tasters in TY and they will also receive guidance around subject choices in the classroom.

Parents and students are invited to attend a Subject Options Evening held in January.

If your son/daughter feels that they would like to change their subject choices early in 4th year then they should inform their academic monitor who will notify the year head and the guidance department.

Senior Cycle Careers Guidance

All Senior Cycle students have a Guidance Counsellor assigned to them. If a student needs to meet with a counsellor then they can notify their year head who will liaise with the associated counsellor to organise a 1:1 meeting.

All Senior Cycle students will receive Careers related guidance information in the classroom through modules delivered as part of the SPHE programmes.

They will also attend a number of Careers Information based assembly's in their Leaving Cert year.

Senior cycle students are also invited to attend the Colleges and Careers Fairs held in October and April.