Students entering Senior Cycle are on the threshold of adulthood.
It is a time of challenge and opportunity, a chance to mature and arrive
at the point where one becomes responsible and is responsible for one's
own life.
It is not easy and at St Declan's we strive very hard to put in place
the structures and services which will facilitate our students in meeting
these challenges.
We expect great things of our students and it is our experience that those
willing to engage positively with Senior Cycle in St Declan's will be
amply rewarded. They develop a respect for themselves and for others and
a self discipline which assists them in overcoming the difficulties they
encounter. They lead by example and become exemplars for the Junior School.
Some are appointed Prefects in Sixth Year, posts for which there is great
competition every year. They bring a belief in themselves, an awareness
of their own worth and a sense of fulfillment into their Leaving Certificate
Examinations and onwards.The following sections outline some of the methods
we in St Declan's employ to nurture our emerging adults.
All students attend classes in Religious Education, Physical
Education and Personal Development
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Structures For Student Welfare
in Senior Cycle
FORM TUTOR
A form tutor is appointed to each class group. The form tutor deals
with administrative issues which relate to that particular class. In
addition the tutor monitors the journals and consults with subject teachers
in relation to minor disciplinary matters. The tutor will normally be
the first port of call for parents who have concerns about their son
and would like to discuss these concerns with the school.
SENIOR DEAN OF DISCIPLINE
Should disciplinary issues of a more serious nature arise, these are
dealt with by the dean of discipline. The dean consults with parents
and ensures that they are kept fully informed.
CAREER GUIDANCE COUNSELLOR
Career guidance resources are particularly focused on senior cycle students.
The career guidance counsellor informs students in relation to subject
choice, evaluates their aptitudes and interests to assist students in
their educational and career choices and deals with the personal crises
which may affect any student.
YEAR HEAD
A year head is appointed to the year group in fifth year and continues
to work with the group until they graduate at the end of sixth year.
The year head has a pastoral role in relation to the group and is the
overall co-ordinator, monitoring the group as it progresses through
the senior cycle.
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Ongoing Student Assessment in Senior
Cycle
A programme of continuous assessment operates during fifth
and sixth year. Monthly or end of unit assessment tests are set in each
subject and the results of these entered into the student journal. This
enables parents to monitor the progress being made by their son. Parents
are then invited to discuss this progress at the parent teacher meetings,
held in February of fifth year and November of sixth year. In addition
comprehensive end of term reports are forwarded to parents at Christmas
and Summer.
Parents who have concerns about any aspect of their son's
performance in St Declan's are of course welcome to contact the school
at any stage of the academic year and an appointment will be made for
them to discuss their concerns with an appropriate member of staff.
All senior cycle students also sit differential aptitude
tests . The results of these tests may indicate where a student has
particular strengths and may be helpful as an aid in career choice.
The emphasis at all times is on students striving to achieve
their personal academic best, on setting goals and targets for themselves
as individuals and working consistently towards the realisation of these
goals.
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Extra Curricular Activities
Senior cycle students are strongly encouraged to maintain
an interest in the extra-curricular activities which form an integral
part of the life of St. Declan's college. A student's academic development
must be supported by parallel physical and emotional development. In
our experience, students who take an active part in extra-curricular
activities have a healthy and balanced approach to their studies and
are most likely to achieve their full academic potential.
We also encourage parents to take an active interest in
the activities of the school. Their attendance at, and support of, such
activities is invaluable to school and is greatly appreciated.
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The Role Of The Journal in Senior
Cycle
The journal continues to play a central role in the life of students
in the senior cycle. In effect, the journal becomes their diary and
organiser. All information which students need on a day to day basis
which allows them to manage their time effectively and efficiently is
entered into the journal.
An entry is made into the journal at the end of each class
period, recording work covered and homework set. Results of all assessments
are also recorded in the appropriate section of the journal, a record
for students and parents alike. Absences or late arrival at school are
recorded. Teachers may also enter comments in the journal where they
feel it appropriate or helpful to do so. The journal contains a full
school calendar which lists the major events of the school year, including
term dates. Parents are asked to inspect the journal regularly so that
they may be aware of their son's progress.
The journal, correctly used, is an invaluable tool in
enabling students to optimise their performance.
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Part-Time Jobs During the Academic Year
The policy in St. Declan's is to rigorously oppose the
taking up of paid employment during the academic year. All research
in this area shows that such employment has a significant negative impact
on a student's results. Our aim is to enable students to achieve their
full potential and we strongly believe that part time work cannot be
incorporated into an already very busy school schedule.
Many students will have worked during the summer holidays.
We ask both the students and their parents to ensure that they have
resigned these jobs at the beginning of September.
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Sixth Year Graduation Ceremony
The final school ceremony for our senior students is the
Graduation Ceremony, held at the end of May each year. The evening begins
with a Mass, a celebration of the years we have spent together in St.
Declan's and a prayer for the future peace and happiness of our graduating
students.
Every student receives a Certificate of Graduation and
class photographs. In addition, awards in the area of extra-curricular
activities are presented. Finally the Student of the Year awards are
presented.
A Student of the Year award is presented in each class.
These are not academic awards although students chosen must have given
of their academic best. In looking for the Student of the Year in each
class we look for students who have made a significant contribution
to the life of St. Declan's, students who have added to the richness
of the spirit of our school. These are students who have shared their
talents with others and who have given of their time in support of St.
Declan's.
Finally, one student is chosen from the entire year group
to receive the much-coveted Student of the Year award.
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Bernard McCormack Bursary Awards
Following the untimely death of our much respected colleague
and vice-principal, Bernard McCormack, the Bernard McCormack bursary
awards ceremony was introduced. These are academic awards, based on
the results of the Leaving Certificate. As with the Student of the Year
awards, one award is made in each of the outgoing classes and one overall
award is made. The student in each class who has received the highest
number of points in the Leaving Certificate receives a bursary to help
pay college fees. The overall award is made to the student receiving
the highest number of points in that year's examination.
These awards are a highlight of the school year. They
are an acknowledgement of a very high level of academic achievement.
But they are also a tribute to the years of dedication and hard work,
diligence and determination of the students who have achieved so highly
in the state examinations. We are proud of the many fine students who
have benefited from them in the past.
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Supervised Study
All students need an environment free from disturbance
to enable them to do the homework and study which is required of them.
This is most important for senior cycle students, who will need to spend
many hours at study.
St. Declan's provides the option of supervised study after
school during term time. This is an option which may suit students who
find it difficult to motivate themselves to study on a consistent basis
or students who find that there are too many interruptions when they
study at home.
Any student at senior cycle level who wishes to avail
of this option will be facilitated. In addition, other students whom
we feel may benefit from this option will be encouraged to partake of
supervised study.
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Learning Support Programme in Sixth
Year
St. Declan's is conscious of the needs of students who,
despite a high level of commitment to work, experience difficulties
in a particular subject area. The school aims to provide extra tuition
and support for such students where practicable.
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Open Day Policy
In recent years there has been an enormous increase in
the number of "Open Days" being offered by universities and
third level colleges. It is neither practicable nor desirable that students
should seek to attend a large number of these days. Absence from school
is disruptive for the student involved and material missed cannot easily
be recovered. All information available at these open days is readily
available from the career guidance counsellor in the school.
For these reasons we ask students, in consultation with
their parents, to select a maximum of two open days which they would
like to attend during sixth year. Students do not have permission to
attend open days in excess of this.
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Physical Education
1. To help each and every child reach optimum development, encouraging
"exercise consciousness" and enabling students to experience
the pleasure of fitness.
2. To give the pupils the opportunity to share the value of Physical
Education and games, thus enabling them to meet one another in a "play"
situation.
3. To provide a challenge and adventure in life, to experience achievement
and appreciation.
4. To lay the foundations for optimum use of leisure time in the lives
of our students after leaving St. Declan's.
Athletics, Cross-Country, Basketball, Badminton, Gaelic Football, Health-Related
Fitness, Minor Games, Soccer and Volleyball.
