KTCS Guidance and Counselling Service News November 2018
Career Guidance
The Guidance Counsellor (GC) attended the CAO conference in Maynooth to learn about changing entry requirements and changing and new courses on offer for our students in Higher Education Institutions in 2019.
Maynooth University, IT Carlow, St Patricks college Carlow, Shannon College of Hotel Management addressed 6th years on the range of courses on offer there. Maynooth Access Programme Ambassadors gave a presentation on the benefits of applying through the HEAR programme in terms of reduced points, orientation prior to entry, extra financial and other supports throughout the course.
Students intending to apply under HEAR, DARE, CAP access programmes have attended a presentation by the GC in KTCS and should consult www.accesscollege.ie to ensure all supporting documentation is posted to CAO before 01-04-2019. Students can apply to the CAO for courses in Universities and IT’s in Ireland and the student career centre is open for students to apply and to print receipt of applications. The IT rooms will be open over lunch time in January 2019 ahead of the early closing date on January 20th 2019.
Many 6th years have been attending open days in HEI’s across the country including UCD, UL, TCD, MU, WIT. Over 50 students attended the annual Open day in IT Carlow and Carlow College on 15-11-2018 where they attended lectures and presentations on the wide range of courses available at the college. Students are interested in areas as diverse as Aviation, Social Care, Media and Marketing.
6th year parents attended a Third Level Options presentation in KTCS on November 14th. At this talk, the GC gave an overview of Third level options, application procedures, Key dates etc. This presentation is available to view here.
College Awareness Week
On November 22nd, the school hosted an Apprenticeship, Further Training and Local colleges Fair. Following publicity by the GC on KFM (Laura Plunkett Show 12-11-2018 at 2.30pm) and advertising in other local media, the turn out was excellent. Over 40 exhibitors spoke with students about opportunities available to them post leaving certificate. These exhibitors included industries such as Proctor and Gamble, Dawn Foods, Pfizer, TEGRAL, Sheedy Motors, Peter Mark and TESCO. Apprenticeship providers in attendance were Logistics Ireland, FIT, Irish Motor Industry. Local companies showcasing their businesses included Burkes Joinery, Noel Fay Carpentry and Heaney Construction. Universities such as Maynooth, Limerick, Trinity gave students an indication of courses on offer there as did Dublin, Athlone, Carlow and Waterford Institutes of Technology as well as KWETB who coordinate apprenticeships in Kildare. The Curragh, Newbridge and Portlaoise Colleges of Further Education told students about level 5 & 6 programmes there. Financial organisations such as Bank of Ireland, Mc Mahon Accountants spoke with students about opportunities available to them. An Garda Síochana, the Navy and the Defence Forces spoke to students about apprenticeship and training programmes available with them.
TY, 5th and 6th year students and their parents attended the event and local schools, Athy College, The Curragh Post Primary and Monasterevan attended with their GC’s. The event was a wonderful success. The Wellbeing and events teams helped to coordinate a highly organised afternoon. Students benefited hugely from speaking with industry professionals to broaden their horizons about options available to them that they might not otherwise have considered. Ms Urell would like to thank all exhibitors and also the KTCS facilities team under Mr. Gerry Furlong, Pippa’s Catering, Eoin Burke photography, Mr John Finn Construction teacher and the KTCS Wellbeing team for all their efforts in making the event such a positive and inspiring one.
As part of College Awareness week, teachers’ Alma Maters have been displayed on Classroom doors and students have been encouraged to ask their teachers about their college experiences. Leaflets describing third level courses that relate to specific second level subjects have also been displayed outside classrooms to allow students to consider specific courses that relate to their current studies.
It was a pleasure to meet with so many parents and past students at the open night on 29-11-2018. The Wall of Fame is growing in KTCS and the GC would like to extend an invitation to the Class of 2018 who are now attending Universities, IT’s and Colleges of Further Education to come to the school on 20-12-2018 to share their college experiences with the 6th year students. Wall of Fame photographs will be taken at this event and each student will receive a small gift from the school and a chat over coffee.
Educational Guidance
Transition Year students had their careers module on Monday 26-11-2018. Students carried out a range of self-assessment tests and explores career and college options that might suit them. They then looked at subject options for Leaving certificate and were given their subject and course option forms that will be returned to the school Principal by 25-01-2019. TY students will be given an appointment to meet with the GC in January 2019 to look at college and course entry requirements and their impact on subject choice.
Below are the winners of the TY Careers Competition sponsored by Kildare Village. Well done to Samantha Walsh and Luiza Bluma.
Third year students have been given the dates for their CAT4 tests in KTCS. These abilities tests will help guide students in their subject selection and ultimate career choice. These dates were changed from the first dates given to accommodate CBA’s in December. The final dates are as follows:
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Monday 17th December 2018. 10.20 am -2.40 pm. 3.1, 3.2, 3.3
Tuesday 18th December 2018. 9 am-1.15 pm. 3.4, 3.5, 3.6, 3.7
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The tests will take place in the IT Rooms 1 & 2 & Multi media room.
2nd year students were given a study timetable at an assembly on Friday. All students of KTCS have now been given a timetable to help them with maximising their study time and planning their leisure activities around study and homework time.
Personal Guidance
Counselling is available to all students of the school from the GC and/ or the Chaplain. Students requesting an appointment can place their name on a piece of paper and place in the post box in the Guidance lobby or post under the door. They will be given an appointment slip to present to the subject teacher prior to the appointment.
All Guidance events can be followed on the school website, on the notice boards in the Guidance lobby and on the KTCS twitter page #ktcscareers
If any parent would like to discuss any of the above they can contact the GC at eurell@ktcs.ie or contact the school at 045 535228.