Transition Year

The Transition Year (TY) is a one-year programme that forms the first year of a three-year senior cycle in our schools. It is designed to act as a bridge between the Junior Certificate and Leaving Certificate programmes.

The Mission
To promote the personal, social, educational and vocational development of our students and to prepare them for their role as autonomous, participative, and responsible members of society.

Overall Aims of TY
The following aims are interrelated and interdependent and are strongly reflected in every Transition Year programme:

1. Education for maturity with the emphasis on personal development including social awareness and increased social competence.
2. The promotion of general, technical and academic skills with an emphasis on interdisciplinary and self-directed learning.
3. Education through experience of adult and working life as a basis for personal development and maturity.

The Programme
Each school designs its own Transition Year programme, within set guidelines. We at TCS have designed a programme to suit the needs and interests of our students.

Work Experience

It is intended that the Transition Year should create opportunities to vary the learning environment and to dispel the notion that learning is something that happens only, or even most effectively, within the classroom One of the ways of doing this, and of providing an orientation towards the world of work, is to include a component of actual work experience.

Teaching Methods and Approaches
A key feature of Transition Year is the use of a wide range of teaching/learning methodologies and situations. The goals and objectives of our TY programme is best be achieved by placing particular emphasis on:

• Negotiated learning
• Personal responsibility in learning
• Activity-based learning
• Integration of appropriate areas of learning
• Team teaching approaches
• Group work including discussion, debate, interview, role play
• Project work and research
• Visiting speakers and seminars
• Study visits and field trips
• Work experience, work simulation and community service.

Assessment in TY

Assessment is an integral part of the teaching and learning process. Pupils are assessed on all aspects of the Ty programme as part of the normal assessment process in the school. Appropriate modes of assessment have been chosen to complement the variety of approaches used in implementing the programme and may include any or all of the following;

• Summative evaluation: an overall statement of pupil performance by the teachers
• Written and practical
• Oral and aural assessments
• Report of work experience
• Projects
• Portfolios
• Exhibition of work

The programme is regularly reviewed and evaluated internally by the co-ordinating team in close cooperation with school management, staff, pupils, parents, work providers and community interests.

Subjects

Trips

One of the most popular and favoured activities within the Transition Year Programme is trips outside of school. Trips included day outings, adventure/bonding trips or foreign holidays not just fun, but can also have some academic and learning basis

Class Organisation
Previous class groups are mixed to allow students to build relationships with different students in their year.

Cost
The cost and budget of Transition Year is made clear to all students and parents. Tallaght Community School endeavours to keep the cost of the year to a minimum.

Activities
Some of the Activities offered in Transition Year in Tallaght Community School include;

• Gaisce Presidents Award
• Team building Skills
• Cooking Classes
• Garda Talk on Drug Awareness
• College Tours
• Junk Kouture
• School Musical/Show
• Involvement in Open Night for Incoming First Years
• CV Building
• Attending the Theatre
• Ice skating
• Community/Charity Work
• Concern Debating
• Build a bank completion
• Running the school shop
• Tenderfoot Arts Programme
• Lego Learn
• Log on and Learn
• Street Law
• CityWise ICT workshops (Trinity College)
• Bridge 21 ICT workshops (Trinity College)
• Chemistry School (Trinity College)
• University Times workshop (Trinity College)
• Phil society Debating Workshop (Trinity College)
• Film Production (Dublin South CO Council)
• Student Council

Trips

Some of the trips offered in Transition Year in Tallaght Community School include;

• College Tours
• BT Young Scientist
• Ice skating
• Overnight Retreat to Ovoca Manor Avoca Co Wicklow
• Dublin Zoo
• Charity Walk - Glendalough
• Trips Abroad

Garda Vetting for Work Experience

Garda Vetting is required for students to work in schools and other workplaces that give the student responsibility over children or vulnerable people.
To be Garda Vetted is a simple process. Students can be Garda Vetted through an online process. Being Garda Vetted just means that students are eligible and responsible enough to take full responsibility of children and vulnerable people. The following are workplaces students will most likely
need to be Garda Vetted to work there: primary schools ,pre-schools (crèche) , elderly’s home, paediatric wards in hospitals, any club where you’re supervising/training children, Certain Volunteer Work Any one over the age of 16 must be Garda Vetted. Garda Vetted can take several weeks.
The official website for The National Vetting Bureau: https://vetting.garda.ie/