Subject Descriptions
Transition year is seen by St. Pauls as a useful space for the development of Students. It affords and opportunity to develope intertests outside of the curriculum and the academic life of the school. It affords and opportunity to explore a variety of options about the world of work and further education.
Every student is encouraged to do Transition Year in St.Paul’s College.
The aim of the programme is :-
- To provide a good academic basis for beginning the Senior Cycle Course.
- To develop aspects of the curriculum which tend not to be catered for in other Courses.
- To develop teamwork through task oriented projects.
- To develop links between school and the wider community.
- To encourage students to become more responsible for their own development.
- To introduce students to a wide range of cultural activities and sporting activities.
- To prepare students to become responsible members of society.
A charge is required to facilitate the wide range of activities in which students are involved during this year.
The College values the Transition Year programme and emphatically recommends that all students participate in the programme.A limited number of students may in certain circumstances be permitted to transfer directly from Junior Certificate Cycle to Leaving Certificate Cycle. Applications for transfer must be made in writing to the Principal. A committee consisting of the Principal, Deputy Principal, Career Guidance Teacher, Learning Support Teacher and Year Head will examine each application using the criteria in operation at that time. The committee will then make a recommendation to the Board.
The educational benefit accruing to the student and space within the year will take precedence over all other issues.
Final decision to grant such permission resides with the Board of Management.
The Transition Year is a one year programme, which comes immediately after completion of the Junior Certificate.
Pupils take the following subjects for half year .
1. Advanced Technical Drawing:
This course will be based on the latest CAD (Computer Aided Design) packed of Solid Works which is the industrial standard design tool of today. St. Pauls has just installed a new computer graphics room with 24 computers.
The aims of this course are to develop the decision making capabilities of students in the activities associated with design through three principal areas of study:
1. Design and Communication Graphics.
2. Plane and Descriptive Geometry
3. Applies Graphics.
This course is designed to take cognisance of importance developments in the modes of communicating design information.
It is intended to develop the creative thinking and problem solving abilities of students.
2. Drama
3. Classical Studies:
Greece and Rome. Pupils study the foundation of Greece. The course encompasses a study Greek philosophers especially Plato and Socrates and study of Greek architecture and drama. Within ancient Rome pupils study profiles of the Roman emperors, Caesar and Constantine. Pupils also study Latin, the language of the Law, Medicine and the Church. Pupils are introduced to the Leaving Certificate Classical Studies course.
4. Home Economics:
Pupils learn the basics of Home Economics at a practical level. Emphasis is on cooking, hygiene, health and safety. This is ideal for pupils who did not do Home Economics at Junior Certificate level and wish to study it at Leaving Certificate or indeed those who would just like to cook.
5. Art:
Pupils concentrate on practical work and learn how to prepare a portfolio of Art Work. Such a portfolio is an essential part of the Leaving Certificate Art Examination. Pupils need not have taken Art at Junior Certificate to apply for this Semester.
6. Computer Applications:
Pupils learn to use Microsoft word Powerpoint and Excel to an advanced level and to explore the many capabilities of each package. They learn of the many practical applications of same. St. Pauls is a registered tester for the Microsoft Academic IC3 Program. This Certifies and ablity to understand the fundamentals of computer application.
7. European Film:
The course is not a film course per say. It is reviewing a stage in European history, the Second World War and studying it from the French, the German and Italian viewpoint to a much closer extent and in addition the American involvement, to a lesser extent. There will also be a study of the precursor of the Second World War, the Spanish Civil War too. All the history will be studied firstly of this period of the 1930’s to 1945 in the various countries. Then, the films (all being foreign language films), which are about these points in history will be studied in great detail. It combines two aspects of the Leaving Certificate course – the English course, where as part of the Comparative Study course, reviews films and observes them for a stylistic viewpoint not merely an entertainment angle. Observing the films form a historical, costume, lighting viewpoint and examining how these sustain the story and history, is fundamental to this course. In addition, it obviously builds on the Junior Certificate history course where they would have reviewed this section of history, but at Leaving Certificate they examine it form a much closer level learning the key figures, battles etc.
8. Psychology:
An introduction the psychology of human development. Beginning with the development of the Brain and its evolution, IQ testing, chemicals and the brain. An introduction the the ideas of Freud and the early world of psychology. An introduction to the notion that we develope in stages using the ideas of Erickson, Marcia and Bolby.
9. Safety and first Aid:
This elective will comprise of Basic First Aid, Water Safety/Life Saving and Motor Safety. The First Aid course will be given by an Order of Malta Ambulance Corps instructor and each pupil upon passing will receive a Basic Adult First Aid Certificate.
Life Saving will be carried out in the swimming pool once a week by a qualified instructor.
The “Rules of the Road” will make up the majority of this course on Motor Safety and will prepare each student for the Drivers Theory Test. Guest speakers from the Ambulance Corps, Fire Brigade and An Garda Siochána will make this course very beneficial and worthwhile to all who take part.
10. Music Appreciation:
Category One (Beginners): Students who would like to develop an interest in Music and the ability to play an instrument.
Category Two (Advanced): Students who have achieved a more advanced level of Musicianship
Students are introduced to three key areas of Music.
• Listening:
The aim of this module is to expose students to various styles of music (Popular, Ethnomusicology etc) so that they may gain a greater understanding and appreciation of each of these styles. The music module offers students the opportunity to familiarise themselves with musicians and groups from the seventies, eighties and nineties. Various styles of music including rock, reggae, pop and dance are listened to and their origins and development are examined.
• Composing:
Students are introduced to musical notation, different rhythms, melody and song writing with a basic intoduction to Sybelius
• Performing:
Students are provided with and encouraged within a forum to express their musicality and become accustomed to performing in front of an audience.
11. P.E.:
12. History: An exploration of Contemporary American history with a focus on the civil rights movement.
13. Physics:
14 Enviornamental Studies