Transition Year

See latest Transition Year news here.

TY Programme Overview

The Transition Year programme is designed to ‘promote the personal, social, educational and vocational development of the pupils, and to prepare them for their role as autonomous, participative and responsible members of society.’ The year consists of 4 Modules completed during the year, each module last approximately 7 weeks, along with two one-week work experience opportunities, a two-week social outreach placement, and a retreat.

TY Coordinator: Mr McCrossan

Dates 2022 - 2023

Social Outreach 1: October 24th - 28th
Work Experience 1: November 21st - 25th
Social Outreach 2: January 23rd - 27th
Work Experience 2: February 20th - 24th

TY Programme Goals

Education for Maturity and Personal Development
Emphasis on Self-Directed Learning with focus on Process not Result!
Development of Social Conscience
Education through Experience of Adult and Working Life.

To see the latest Transition Year photographs, see our Flickr page.

Go to Gonzaga College Transition Year website

and

gonzagacollegety Instagram

Work Experience

In order to extend the learning experience of students beyond the classroom they will each complete two weeks of work experience, one during the first module and one during the third module. Our aim is education through experience of adult and working life as a basis for personal development and maturity.

Each student finds his own placement with an employer in a work area that would, where possible, be the student’s own choice. Every effort is made to link it to career experience rather than just work experience. Students will be given an opportunity to do a guided reflection on their placement and each employer provides an assessment report.

The placements must be confirmed by the end of September and all requisite forms must be given to Mr Byrne, the Work Experience Coordinator.

Students will complete a formal work experience reflection in school. If a student wishes to do an additional work experience placement they must talk to Mr Byrne and the TY Year Head.

Social Outreach

Students will complete two weeks of social outreach during the year. Much like the Work Experience, the placements must be confirmed by the end of September. All forms are to be given to Ms Crawford, the Social Outreach Coordinator.

Students will complete a formal assessment in school. If a student wants to do a Peter McVerry Trust additional placement they need to talk to Ms Crawford and the TY Year Head.

Guidance Programme & Guidance Project

Over the course of Transition Year the students will begin to engage in the Careers process. At the heart of the programme is the Guidance Project, to be completed by every Fourth Year student. This we ask them to reflect on and review each part of the Transition Year experience, focusing on the Work Experience, Social Placement and Transition Year subject reviews. Other parts of the programme include:

Exploring Career Options in the broadest sense.
Completing a set of Differential Aptitude Tests (DATs) and Interest Profile tests. Please note that the DATs take place during the winter exams and this is the sole opportunity for taking the tests.
Developing career decision-making skills and becoming more informed about subject choices by gathering information on knowledge/subject requirements for specific careers.
Improving their practical presentation skills by producing and presenting pieces of guidance work, including career searches and curriculum vitae.
Attending a structured interview regarding their experiences to date, allowing them an opportunity to present and discuss the content of their project for feedback and advice.

Subjects

TY students will study the following core subjects throughout the year: Irish, English, Maths, French, Religious Education, Physical Education & SPHE. They will sample the following subjects as part of their timetable: Biology, Physics, Chemistry, Geography, History, Economics, Classical Studies and Business. They will also choose from the following subjects for the first two modules and again at Christmas for the last two modules: Art, Greek, Music, German and Technical Graphics. The students will also have one module in each of the following: Astronomy, Financial Life Skills, Media Studies, Typing, Psychology and Rhetoric.

Activities

Every Tuesday, Thursday and Friday afternoon TY students take part in activities. On Tuesdays and Fridays they take part in an activity as a class group and change each module. On Thursdays they choose from a list of 10 activities and change after two modules.

The activities on offer include:

Arts, Crafts & Film Photography
Boxing
Cookery
Cultural Trips
Digital Film Production
First Aid
Formula 1
Golf
Health & Fitness
Horticulture
ITW Drama
Ornithology
Marketing
Sailing
Water Safety
Young Scientist

Gaisce

The Gaisce Bronze Award programme is an important part of the TY Programme here in Gonzaga College. To complete the programme and receive the bronze medal students must spend 13 weeks on the following 4 areas: Community Involvement, Personal Skill, Sporting Achievement and a Venture Activity. Many of our students complete the program and are awarded bronze medals.

Download the Gaisce Record Card here.

TY Retreat programme

Near the beginning of the year the four classes take part in a three-day induction/retreat . The dates of the retreat for 2022 are: