Transcript Please click here - Mount Sackville Secondary School

Mount Sackville
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Athena
– Tutor Ms. Fiona Coleman
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Helen
– Tutor Ms. Sharon Murphy
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Iris
- Tutor Ms Andrea Finlay Kajic
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Phoebe
- Tutor Ms. Julieanne Somers
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Class Tutor
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Dean – Ms Sheahan
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Class Prefects
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Guidance Counsellor – Catherine Flanagan
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Chaplain – Niamh O’Flaherty
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Learning support Teacher – Trudy Loftus
Parents Association
Ger Power - Chairperson
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Triple transition:
From very familiar school environment to
much larger school and new subjects;
From one set of peer group and friends to
another peer group;
From childhood to adolescence.
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Physical effort of carrying books
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Mental exhaustion of new and varied subjects
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Lockers can cause stress.
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Different homework expectations.
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Focus on exams (particularly from 2nd year on)
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Organisation is key. Have timetable on
display. Check homework notebook/
Journal/ Locker.
Check homework, using different copy for
each subject. Write teachers names on cover
of each/ colour code.
Parents get to know year head / class tutor –
attend meetings, introduce yourself. Get
involved in the school (PTA)
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Have a routine for homework. Recommended
1 ½ hours per night average for First Years.
Be strict about diet / bedtime if you can!
Normal to stumble a bit academically in first
year, so don’t panic. Read reports and come
to Parent Teacher Meeting and address any
problems then.
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Move from biggest – smallest in school.
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Most 1st years report some form of intimidation
(often from 2nd and 3rd years).
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Much bigger classes / year group.
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Differences in subject choices / seating plans will
mean different friendships. Losses and gains.
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Exposure to older peer groups and possible
exposure to smoking/ drinking and drugs.
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Encourage them to stick together and sort difficulties out
themselves if they can. Good for self esteem and
development of independence.
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Resist the urge to jump in.... Sort out minor and even
major squabbles themselves.
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Encourage wider friendships (remember junior infants!)
Invite them over. Get them involved in extra curricular.
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Get to know the new friends and their parents.
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Talk to them about your own standards of
smoking/drinking/ drugs. Be very aware of where they are
and who they are with.
Use the teachers and school as support if you need to.
Kevin becomes a teenager - BBC comedy.flv
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Pressures of society
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Making her own decisions
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Peer group becomes main source of influence
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Exploring and setting values ... Can be very
unforgiving about parents apparent lack of
consistency!
Risk assessment very weak. Has effect on their
participation in risky situations. (Not fully
developed until about 21)
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Anxious, sleepless nights, perhaps tears.
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Brash and opinionated, anxious to make their
mark in this new peer group.
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Become protective and sensitive to the needs of
others.
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Also a time of massive potential if channelled in
right way!
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Most will enjoy this exciting new experience.
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Parents walk a tightrope .... Have to allow
independence and privacy while also keeping
control and a watchful eye.
Be prepared for clashes, and it will be easier
if you can calmly explain.
Be firm, but do allow new freedoms each year
to be EARNED!
Be united .... Arguments and inconsistency
can cause relationship stress between
parents.
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Important to learn lessons about earning money / earning
privileges.
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Make sure that not all conversations are confrontational ... Find
shared interests.
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Be available and constantly let them know you are there to talk
and discuss things.
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Help them to recognise consequences ... Don’t always jump in to
defend them if they do get into trouble.
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Make friends with their friends and parents.
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Remember, even the most stormy parent/teenage relationships
won’t last forever!
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Pupils must have regular attendance. If you know
that your daughter will not be coming into school,
please telephone the school immediately and give
explanation for her absence.
If a student misses 20 days in a school year the
school is obliged to contact the Education Welfare
Officer.
If your daughter is not marked present, and we
have not be notified, an automatic phone call will
be made, asking you to explain the absence.
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Holidays should not be arranged during the
school year.
Students should be punctual and if late a note
of explanation should be written in the school
journal.
Students may not leave the school during the
day without a note from their
parent/guardian and the permission of the
Tutor.
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Students are expected to wear the appointed
uniform to and from school and during
school hours.
Neat and tidy appearance is expected at all
times.
One set of earring per lobe, no make-up, no
nail varnish, no jewellery, no T-Shirts should
be on show.
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All books, clothing and sportswear should be
clearly marked.
When not in use articles should be locked in
the locker.
Large sums of money and valuables should
not be brought to school. Any exceptions to
this should be locked in the locker or handed
into the office.
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Students are expected to participate fully in
class and to submit completed homework on
time.
The students main objective should be to
reach the highest possible academic
achievement.
Check the journal to see what homework has
been given.
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School is a community and all must act
together to make it work successfully.
To further this all members of the school
community should be treated with courtesy
and respect.
Smoking is not permitted on the school
premises or at any time while in school
uniform. Any pupil under the influence of or
in possession of alcohol or drugs will merit
immediate suspension.
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Persistent offences may be punished by
detention.
Other offences may be dealt with by the tutor
and dean.
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These may only be used at lunch time and
then only in the designated areas.
The phone should be used for essential
calls and should be locked in the locker.
Failure to observe these guidelines will
result in the confiscation of the phone for
one week.
Mobile phones may not be used for taking
photographs.
If the student is ill while in the school the
following procedure is to be followed:
 The student informs the class teacher
 The student is then sent to the office and
from there to sick-bay.
 The supervisors will assess the condition of
the student and if necessary will contact
you to take your daughter home.
 The student is not to contact you directly.
This will be done by the supervisor.
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Debating
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Sports activities
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Student Forum
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(after Christmas)
Speak aloud
Library Assistants
 Orchestra
 Science Club/
Club na Gaelige
 Charity work such as
Respect etc.
Rowing
Gymnastics
Badminton
Cross Country running
Basketball
Athletics
Hockey
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Use the school journal
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If there are problems contact the Teacher,
Tutor or Dean.
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Information may be found on the School
website where there is a parents section
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Encourage your daughter to get involved in as
many school activities as possible.