College Awareness Week is a national campaign which aims to promote the benefits of going to college, to help students of all ages to become college-ready and to showcase local role models.

This will be a collaborative initiative between Rosmini Community School, Higher Education Institutes, the North-East-Inner-City Project, and other partnering organisations this year.

Through a set program of events, students will become more aware of the importance of going to college in their future. Students will explore how a college education can help them to fulfil their potential, by allowing them to undertake a course of study which can be fascinating and challenging, and assisting them in securing employment and decent living standards in their future.

We will be marking College Awareness Week from Thursday 18th to Monday 29th November 2021. Each year group will participate in an event that has been designed to give them a positive experience of exploring third level as a viable option to consider when they complete their second level education.

Thursday, November 18th
Flash Mentoring (Working session)

 Who –  Senior Cycle Visually Impaired Students

When – Thursday 18th November 2021

              Time: 3.00-3.40pm

Where – 6th Year Cabin

 

Mentors Tony Ward (Director of Finance – The Wheel) and Anthony Murray (Senior Solutions Architect with The Central Bank of Ireland) will answer students’ questions about further education and training opportunities. They will be joined by a VI student who recently completed a Master of Social Education in Maynooth University.
Monday, November 22nd
DCU Open Day (Guided Tour of St. Patricks Campus)

Who – 5th Year  

When – Monday 22nd November 2021

             Time: 10.00-11.00am

Where – DCU St. Patricks College Campus

A guided tour of the DCU Campus, including tours of faculties and Student Centre. They will explore post Leaving Cert educational options, learn about college support services, how they can make the most of their time in college, and access routes open to them – including how to make an application to DARE.
Earn While You Learn – Looking at Career Apprenticeships (Working session)

Who –  Parents of 5th and 6th Year (Home-School)

When – Monday 22nd November 2021

              Time: 4.00-5.00pm

Where – Chromebook Room

 

Mark Deegan, Head of Apprenticeships in TUD, will introduce parents and guardians to the concept of an apprenticeship as a third level option that they could consider in their future. He will invite them to consider the benefits of the apprenticeship courses that are on offer in Ireland today.
Tuesday, November 23rd
PATH Community Mentoring Program (Workshops)

Who – TY

When – Tuesday 23rd November 2021

11.05am-12.05pm

Where – Chaplain’s Office

Working with College Mentors to explore their pathways to third level and the positive difference that further education has played in their lives. Students learn how to develop a growth mindset when it comes to their work. They receive support in setting SMART Goals for their future.
Access to College (Talk)

Who –  5th Year and LCA 5

When – Tuesday 23rd November 2021

          Time: 1.40-2.40pm  

Where – All Hallows College        

Talk from the DCU Access Office on the educational supports available to students and the criteria required to apply for the DARE and HEAR schemes.
Wednesday, November 24th
A Fun Introduction to the World of College (Activity)

Who – 1st Year

When – Wednesday 24th November 2021

              10.10-10.50am

Where – 1st Year Cabin

Interactive activity to see what 1st years know or think they know about college and college life. Activity aim is to give them a good basic grounding in understanding why people go to college and what it can offer students after school.

Subjects for discussion during activity could be:

  • Why do you think people go to college?
  • How many colleges/universities can you name?
  • What do you think you might like to study if you went to college?
  • A list of some well-known colleges that famous people attended (people they’d know!)
Thursday, November 25th
An Exploration of College Culture and Life

Who – 2nd Year

When – Thursday 25th November 2021

              09.30-10.10am

Where – 2nd Year Cabin

Group based activity for 2nd years to see what they think going to college is like and what college life is about. Also, an opportunity to gauge their individual notions of success.

Subjects for discussion during lesson activity could be:

  • What are the advantages of going to college? (Advantages for focus will be based around both academic and social development and individual ideas of success)
  • Great movies based around college life
  • Which societies would you join? (List projected similar to suggestions on collegeawarness.ie)
  • Can you imagine yourself attending college? What do you think your day would be like and how different would it be from a day at school?
What is College Life Like? (Activity)

Who – 3rd Year

When – Thursday 25th November 2021

              11.05-11.45am

Where –  3rd Year Cabin

Q&A based activity to see what 3rd years think attending a college course consists of and what life as a 3rd level/FET student is like.

Subjects for discussion during activity could be:

  • What they think the main differences are between secondary school and college in terms of subjects and different choices etc.
  • Compulsory versus voluntary attendance… which is better? (Looking at the positives and negatives of each)
  • Which type of college student would you be? (Fun game with comedic portrayals of cliche college student profiles displayed on projector)
  • College is for everyone! (a walk through how college options are much more accessible these days with focus on access schemes, mature students, and varied learning options)
Friday, November 26th
My Student Life (Talk)

 Who – TY (Online)

When – Friday 26th November 2021

              Time: 11.45am-13.05pm

Where – Chaplain’s Office

 

 

Students from different faculties in DCU will speak about their wider experience of college life – including clubs and societies, community events, forming connections, volunteering and more.
Earn While You Learn – Looking at Career Apprenticeships (Working session)

Who – LCA 5, 5th Year, LCA 6, 6th Year

When – Friday 26th November 2021

              Time: 5th Year – 09.30-10.10am

                        LCA 5 – 10.10-10.50am

                        LCA 6 Stresa – 11.05-11.45am

                       6th Year – 11.45am-12.25pm

                     

Where – In classroom cabins at the times above

 

Mark Deegan, Head of TUD, will introduce students to the concept of an apprenticeship as a third level option that they could consider in their future. He will invite them to consider the benefits of the apprenticeship courses that are on offer in Ireland today.
Applying for the CAO and Life after College (Talk)

 

Who – 6th Year and LCA 6 only (Online)

When – Friday November 2021 at 2.30pm

Parents at 3.30pm

Where – 6th Year and LCA 6 cabins on screen

             Parents event  is also online

 

An informative session on the CAO and how students will use this system to apply for third level courses. This talk will be delivered by Susan Hayes, author of Money Matters.
Saturday, November 27th
Better Options 2021 (Online Event)

Who – Senior cycle students with SEN/VI who are interested

When – Saturday 27th November 2021

Where – Zoom

 

Students with disabilities and specific learning difficulties will explore post-secondary school options in education.
Monday, November 29th
Access to College (Talk)

Who –  Parents (Online)

When – Monday 29th November 2021

          Time: 11.30-12.30am

Where – Parents event is online          

Talk from the DCU Access Office on the educational supports available to students and the criteria required to apply for the DARE and HEAR schemes.

 

 

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