6th September 2022,
Dear Parent/Guardian
Transition Year has gotten off to a great start with students signing up for Gaisce, completing a peer mentoring course with the Donegal Youth Service and sailing. We hope to also get a trip to Rathmullan on the ferry before it stops for the winter. I sincerely hope that this will be the start of a very enjoyable and fun-filled year for your son/daughter.
Work Experience
- Copies of the school work experience consent letter have been issued to students, an insurance letter is on the way also. Work Experience takes place every Wednesday, beginning 7th/14th September. Please ensure that the name and address of the work experience has been given to Ms McElhinney on the appropriate form. Students are required to keep a diary of their experience and learning on a weekly basis. It is important that they let the employer and the school know if they are unable to attend work for any reason and also contact the school.
- If a student wishes to do a once off week work experience in a field they have a particular interest in then they can arrange that with us.
Forthcoming Activities
- Our first trip of the year will take place on Monday 26th of September to the Wild atlantic camp Cresslough. This is an overnight trip with a surf lesson included. All details regarding the trip and its cost will be finalised next week.
- Generally on trips we try to be back in time for school buses and therefore we do not allow students to get dropped off along the route back to school..
- Please let us know if your child has any medical condition we should be aware of or if your child has any particular dietary requirements. Feel free to get in touch if you have any questions or concerns.
- When your child signs up for TY there is an applied permission that they can go on trips. If you do not wish your child to attend any of the activities notified please send an email or contact the school office.
- We will be doing our utmost to ensure the students are getting the best experience possible from TY but it is important that students embrace the experiences and take part in as many courses and activities offered.
- We always document our trips and activities using photography throughout the year. Please let the school know if you do not wish your son/daughter to be included in the photographs or on our social media platforms
- Students will also be completing an online Get Safe Work Safe course as part of their IT Module. This is a certified programme and will be completed by the end of September.
- There are lots of outside courses and competitions for students to get involved in. These will be included in the weekly news bulletin which I will post on the school app for parents. I also try to share any important activities on the TY facebook page and instagram.
- Sailing has got off to a great start this year. Those students who haven’t had the chance to go yet will get a trip when the weather suits.
Transition Year Fee
- Reminder that any balances on the TY fee may be paid online or by cash/cheque in the office as soon as possible. The full fee is €160.
Communication
- To keep parents and students informed we have set up a Transition Year Facebook page entitled Scoil Mhuire Buncrana TY. This will be a closed group so please make sure that you and your son/daughter ‘friend request’ this page so that you can be accepted. You can follow us on instagram at scoilmhuireb_programmes. We also have a specific TY twitter page ScoilMhuireBTY.
- As requested in previous correspondence it is vital parents download the school app to your phone/ipad in order to keep up to date with TY activities. Weekly news bulletin for TY will be posted here.
- I have asked all students to give me an email address for a parent or guardian so that I can set up a group email. Please encourage them to complete this information in the google form created.
- If you require any further information, please contact me.
Ms Katrina McGonagle
TY Coordinator, 086 794 0517/0749361065