Transition Year

All students take the following subjects:

(From transition year on the Sciences are taken in modular form) 

IN ADDITION, THE FOLLOWING MODULES ARE OFFERED:

(The modules offered may vary on a yearly basis) 

Mini company / young social innovators.

Art/Home Economics/PE/Textiles/Swimming

Literacy/Debating/Mindfulness/Public Speaking

Business / Accounting / Economics/Marketing

FILM MAKING/ MUSIC/ PE/ WELL-BEING

BIOLOGY/CHEMISTRY/PHYSICS/HEALTH &SAFETY/NUTRITIONAL SCIENCE/ 

Also part of our TY program are:

Enterprise

The school has a long history in enterprise education in Transition year. Mini companies are formed every year and compete strongly in trade fairs and area finals. Many innovative products and services have been produced over the years. Brainstorming and market research will no doubt produce new ideas again in 2007-2008. This module ensures great personal development, I.T and Business Skills. All enterprise students are interviewed by a skilled interviewer.

Young Social Innovators

"We can change the world for good"

Young Social Innovators was created in 2001 to develop social awareness and activism amongst young people (15-18 years) so that they may become effective champions for social justice no matter what they do later in life.

This programme was introduced to Transition Year in September 2007. Students working in teams, identify a social issue that they feel they could help to change. This issue could affect their school, community, Ireland in general or have an international aspect. They study the problem. Then through research and meetings with people concerned and relevant organisations they identify ways of improving or solving the issue. They come up with radical, innovative suggestions and actions for change that can make a real difference to peoples' lives.

Vision of Young Social Innovators

"Young social innovators fires peoples' passion to change the world for good". Young Social Innovators has a set of Core Values.

These include:

Respect: Respect for all individuals with whom we work or associate

Fairness: Fairness means promoting justice and equality through project work.

Innovation: Encouraging creativity and new thinking within YSI and with all of those participating in the programme.

Fun: Working in or with YSI should be an enjoyable experience.

Experiential Learning: Learning about capability and possibilities by taking action.

dEBATING

Debating is an integral segment of the Transition Year programme of personal development. Students are encouraged to enter competitions organised by:-

Concern - Credit Union Organisation - Denny Munster Schools Debating

In 2007 the Transition Year students reached the quarter final of the Concern Debating competition. The students also won outright the Credit Union competition.
Transition year students organise a debating society for first and second years. In 2008 TY students reached the semi-final of the Credit Union competition.

Film Production

Transition year students have recently begun a film induction course. They complete a number of short films for Transition year presentation night which are also entered into festival competitions. The course is linked to the students Art Programme which includes a module on animation.

Drama

Our students are exposed to the dramatic arts through:

- Weekly speech and drama classes

- Full participation in the school musical (on and off stage)-

- Schools drama festival

- St Patricks Day festival performance

- Lunch time dance classes.

Sport

Sport is very important at Sacred Heart - special attention is given to this area in Transition Year through:

- Swimming

- Outdoor pursuits

- Tennis, orienteering, rounders

Public Speaking

Transition year students take a module in public speaking and have the opportunity to enter competitions organised by:
Mental Health Ireland - European Parliament - Soroptimists Ireland - Clonakilty Macra - Debate Science UCC

Plus the following:

Community Awareness
"Our Love is not to be just words or mere talk but something real and active" John 3:18

The Community Awareness Programme was devised to give students in Fourth Year an opportunity to make a practical response to what they had learned in Religious Education in Primary and Junior Certificate years.

The aims of the programme are:

• To give students an opportunity to follow Christ in an active way.
• To increase the students awareness and understanding of special people in the community.
• To provide an opportunity for positive interaction highlighting the interdependence of groupings of people in the community.

Part of this programme involves contact with the local community in particular the elderly and those with special needs.

Visits are made to:

• Community Hospital Clonakilty
• Day Care Centre
• Cope Foundation
• Golden Meadows
• St.Paul's Nursing Home

We thank these establishments for their openness to our students and we know these visits help to make them more caring adults.

During these visits students are involved in activities such as swimming, art, dance, hand massage, singing and the playing musical instruments.

A further element of Community Awareness is the exposure of students to varying activities/workshops in areas such as:

• Self Help - Africa Alive
• Hope Foundation Fundraising
• Cura
• Samartians
• Youth Health Service
• Sexual Health Care
• Retreat - St. Dominic's, Ennismore.

This module has proved very popular with Transition Year students who all individually benefit.

"So that you can see that his faith was working wih his deeds, his faith became perfect by what he did." James 2:22

Pamoja project
This project is an indepth study of the theme chosen for Trocaire's Lenten Campaign. In it is undertaken by students on a voluntary basis and generally worked on at lunchtime. It involves studying a designated country's issues, publicising these issues by radio interview, visiting primary schools and presenting displays. The project culminates during Lent when a visitor from the country involved visits the school. To date we've had very inspiring visitors from Ethiopia, Nicaragua, Malawi and Kenya. Students can attend the Trocaire Summer School in Maynooth where they meet many students from all over Ireland who have worked on the project. We have great support from all Trocaire staff, especially the school co-ordinator Mr. John Smith.

Work Experience
Each student has an opportunity to experience work placements. During the year students have been prepared in tutorial class for work experience. They receive personal development input on telephone etiquette, grooming and employer expectations prior to their placement. They fill in a diary during their work experience and evaluate it when they return to school. We wish to thank our local employers who are so generous to us year after year.

Gaisce
Transition Year students are encouraged to undertake the Gaisce award [bronze medal]. Their community module may involve visits to the senior citizens social night, lunchtime work organising debates, and tennis competitions for juniors. Fitness and personal skills are developed by music and sport at school and in the community.

First Aid
A 10-week first aid course is held during lunchtime, whereby on successful completion students receive certification which is valid for 5 years.

Law Day
All Transition Year students are given the opportunity to participate in law related activities, including a mock trial. Guest barristers lead the students in an evaluation and discussion of the court system of Ireland. Students have the opportunity to visit the local court under the guidance of a local solicitor.

Staying Alive Programme.
September 2001 saw the introduction of the NATIONAL SAFETY COUNCIL Road Safety programme for Transition Year students. The aim of this programme is to provide road safety education and training to 15 and 16 year olds. We may ask the question WHY? The answer lies in our need to reduce crashes, deaths and injuries on our roads especially amongst our young people.

This module involves theoretical and practical aspects of road safety. It concentrates on issues such as :

• SAFE DRIVING
• DANGERS OF EXCESSIVE SPEED
• DRINK/DRUG DRIVING
• RULES OF THE ROAD
• STATISTICS
• ROAD SIGNS AND SPEED LIMITS
• SAFETY REGARDING MOTOR CYCLISTS AND PEDESTRIANS
• TAX/INSURANCE AND OTHER PRACTICAL ISSUES
• DECISIONS AND CONSEQUENCES

Transition year students at Sacred Heart are in a very unique position regarding this module as we are one of few schools who offer it. This module is carried out over a twelve week period and each student is given the opportunity to do a mock drivers theory test. On completion of the module students are given a certificate authorised by the National Safety Council.

It is hoped that students who successfully complete this module will become more informed, aware and responsible citizens with regards road safety.