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Gaisce We offer the The Gaisce (President’s) Award Scheme, designed to challenge young people and encourage participation in a wide range of positive activities. In addition to the fantastic learning opportunities available, the receipt of a Gaisce Award provides a standard of personal achievement and success and will sit perfectly on any Curriculum Vitae.

School Trips

The school has organised a number of very successful European trips including a trip to Paris in 2015. First and second year students have an annual trip to Achill Outdoor Education Centre for activities such as surfing, coasteering, kayaking, mountain boarding and rock climbing.

Young Scientist The Science Department offers each student the opportunity to participate in the prestigious BT Young Scientist and Technology Exhibition. Students are involved in researching, compiling data and presenting information. These are all essential skills. It also helps to build confidence in presenting as students learn how to articulate their ideas before speaking to a panel of judges.

Extra Curricular Activities & Sport

Prospectus Principal Mrs Rosemary Johnston Phone (090) 6432211 Deputy Principal Mrs Bríd Bannon Fax (090) 6438792 Email RJohnston.BVS@lwetb.ie www.ballymahonvs.com

Ballymahon

Vocational School

Pantomime

We are privileged in our school to have a very strong tradition of Pantomime incorporating music, dance and theatre. This is an important facet of education now that Performing Arts is now incorporated in the new Junior Certificate Curriculum. It also promotes student’s self-esteem, confidence and social skills.

Sports We encourage sport in the school primarily for physical activity which is recognised as a component of good health. However, there are also other benefits to students such as instilling competitiveness, fair play and teamwork. Students participate in a range of sporting activities including Gaelic, Rugby, Basketball, Badminton, Table Tennis, Pool, Girls Active, Athletics and Equestrian. The school participates and has had considerable success in sporting competitions on a regional and national level. This year our U14 Boys Football team and our second year Boys Basketball team were both crowned Leinster Champions.

U14 Leinster Football Champions 2016

‘Where the Individual Matters’

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Transition Year

Transition Year was introduced in September 2014. This one year programme is designed to act as a bridge between the Junior Certificate and Leaving Certificate. It offers students the opportunity to mature and develop into young adults. It also provides students with many learning opportunities in preparation for further and high-er education and for the world of work. Students have a full and varied curriculum including sampling Leaving Certificate subjects combined with a very wide range of extra curricular activities.

School Meals

The school meals programme operates a daily Breakfast Club, Lunch Club and a Study Club for all students.

Book Rental Scheme

A Book Rental Scheme is in operation in the school.

The Student Council comprises of two representatives from each year group. These representatives voice the opinions of the student body on matters relating to them.

Evening Study

Evening Study is offered each evening from Monday to Thursday and is available to all students. Homework forms an essential part of school life. Evening study also reinforces daily class work.

Senior Cycle can be of two or three years duration dependent on participation

in Transition Year. Subject choice for Leaving Certificate is based on student

aspirations, career choices and entry requirements for the Universities and the

Institutes of Technology. Students generally study seven subjects for the

Leaving Certificate examination.

The school also offers the Leaving Certificate Vocational Programme (LCVP).

The LCVP programme is designed to enhance the vocational dimension of the

Leaving Certificate. It emphasises enterprise education and preparation for

working life. Students also have the option of participating in the European

Computer Driving Licence (ECDL).

English Mathematics Irish History Geography

Science CSPE SPHE Metalwork Religion

PE Spanish French Music Art

Business

Studies

Technical Graphics

Materials

(Tech) Wood

Information Technology

Home

Economics

English Mathematics Irish French Spanish

History Geography LCVP Accounting DCG

Chemistry Physics Biology Music Art

Construction Studies

Agricultural Science

Home Economics

Engineering Business

Learning Support

The Learning Support Department is provided under the direction of Ms. Tully and caters for students with specific learning needs. A key focus of the learning support is on literacy and numeracy and is delivered to support the particular learning needs of students.

Pastoral Care

The school operates a very caring and supportive pastoral care programme supported through the Year Head and Tutor system. Constant contact (formal and informal) is maintained with parents to encourage and enable students to cope with all aspects of daily student life.

Home School Community Liaison Co-Ordinator

The Home School Community Liaison Co-Ordinator promotes partnership and active co-operation between home, school and community. Ms. Ryan, our Home School Community Liaison Co-Ordinator, encourages and supports on-going communication between the school and the home.

Curriculum

Junior Cycle Junior Cycle

Senior Cycle

Our School

Health Promoting School

We introduced the Health Promoting School in the 2015/16 school year. A flag will be awarded to the school when our goals in relation to health promotion are achieved.

Guidance & Counselling

The Guidance Programme is designed to help students make informed personal, educational, and career decisions and also to help students develop the skills necessary to achieve personal and career goals. All students have timetabled guidance classes. The Guidance Counsellor, Ms. Corkery offers students individual support in coping with personal problems, academic concerns and subject/career choices.

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First year students follow an induction programme designed to facilitate their

transition from primary to post-primary school. As part of this programme first

years take part in a mentoring project where Transition Year students and Fifth

Year students act as mentors to the first years assisting them in getting settled

into the school.

First year students also participate in a subject taster programme which allows

them to sample subjects and select the optional subjects best suited to their

individual aptitudes, talents and academic excellence. We are currently in the

process of introducing the new Junior Cycle Programme in the school. English

was introduced in 2014 and will be examined for the first time in June 2017.

Science and Business Studies were introduced this year with Irish, Modern

Languages and Art, Craft & Design on the new Junior Cert programme for the

following year. Students study ten subjects for the new Junior Cycle. The

school also offers the Junior Certificate School Programme (JCSP).

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New Technology

Block

Work has finalised on the new building project at the school comprising an Engineering / Metalwork Room and Store, a Construction Studies / Materi-als Technology Room, a Wood Technology Machining and Preparation Area, Project Store and Four General Classrooms. The classrooms are a welcome addition to the school and we look forward to using them.