10 January 2022
RE: Third Year
Dear Parent,
On behalf of Coláiste Dún an Rí I would like to wish you a Happy New Year. Unfortunately, we find ourselves still in very uncertain times but we’re working through it.
I would like to bring to your attention to some matters for you to be aware of over the coming weeks.
Parent Student Teacher Meeting.
The rescheduled Parent Student Teacher Meeting will take place on Tuesday 18 January. Please use this as an opportunity to ask your child’s teacher about their progress and what areas need to be addressed. You may wish to ask them about course work and examinations. The link to the meeting will be made available to parents via text message and our website later this week.
Mock Exams
The mock exams will take place and we aim to begin them on Thursday 10 February. The school is closed for DES training on 14 February, but the mock exams will continue until Friday 18 February. A timetable will issue in advance of the exams. The mock exams will, in as far as possible, reflect the state exam setting. In the case of some subjects the full course may not be completed. This is normal so student or parents should not be concerned. The mock exams will give students an accurate reflection of where they stand in terms of their learning and indicate what work they may need to do.
Should a student miss an exam an alternative sitting will be arranged at a later date.
Junior Cycle Coursework
All subjects at Junior Cycle have specifications and learning objectives. Some subjects such as Home Economics, Art and Engineering have practical elements that account for between 30 and 100% of the marks. This work continues throughout the year and has completion dates as follows:
- Engineering (Practical work 70%) April 29
- Wood Technology (70%) April 29
- Visual Art (100%) April 8
- Home Economics (50%) Practical Exam at end of April/early May – date to be confirmed by the State Exams Commission (SEC)
- Music (30%) Practical Exam at end of April/early May – date to be confirmed by the State Exams Commission (SEC)
- Other subjects have completed Classroom Based Assessments (CBAs) this year and in Second Year but to reflect the time missed by students the SEC has decided that the Assessment Task around the CBAs is not required.
These courses are now nearing their completion and if you have any queries please ask teachers at the parent teacher meeting.
Junior Cycle Examinations in June
The Junior Cycle exam is scheduled to take place in June, and we are preparing students for that. We are awaiting further instruction and timetables from the State Exams Commission and once we have this information it will be passed on to students.
Study
It is very important that students devote time each evening to study in addition to doing homework. Students have six subject periods each day and should spend 20 minutes study on each subject per evening i.e. 6 x 20 mins = 2 hours study per evening. This is in addition to assigned homework. Students should also set aside study time at the weekends to cover material related to exams in addition to homework. All students have been given exam papers in October and have been working on exam related material since the start of the year.
We have an afterschool study facility here in school from 3:30 – 5:15pm each evening and I ask you to encourage your child to attend this facility when it recommences.
Progression to Transition Year
We will begin our Transition Year enrolment process in February. Transition Year is an optional programme in Coláiste Dún an Rí and some students may opt to proceed directly to Fifth Year. We will provide parents and students with information on the TY programme in February and ask interested students to submit applications to the programme.
Yours sincerely
Fergal Boyle Carol Lynch
Principal Assistant Principal & Year Head
pdf
Letter to Third Year Parents Jan 2022
(132 KB)
Dun An Ri
Dun An Ri College