Do you know someone inspirational who has demonstrated a capacity to deal with pressure in a healthy way?
We are launching a series of online presentations that will be asking the question:
How do you cope with the pressure?
Speakers confirmed so far:
Kevin McManamon:
7 time All Ireland winning Dublin footballer who plays for St Judes, and has been a member of the Dublin senior team since 2010.
Gearoid O'Briain:
Irish Air Corp, world record breaking marathon runner and developer of world class drone search rescue software
Parents: if you have any contacts that you think would be interested in taking part in these talks we'd be really appreciative that you would share then with us (email me acopeland@stmc.ie to share details or for any more information).
You'll find the following in this week's Newsletter
Subject Choices
Mile a Day Challenge
Online [Zoom] Classes & Assessments
TY Reps Zoom Tournaments
Nexts Week's Weekly Challenge: Driver Theory Test
5km STMC Blue Run
Cookery Course sign ups
Radio & Podcasting 1 week Workshop sign up
Mental Fitness Check Up Results
IT'S GOOD TO TALK IS ONLINE
Subject Choices
An email confirming subject choices has been sent out to all TYs. If you have any questions or issues please contact edel@stmc.ie
Please note that out of school hours subjects details (Ag Science, Applied Maths & Computer Science) are still being finalised.
The school is looking for people to sign up to walk or run a ‘Mile a Day, For the Month of May’. All you are required to do is walk or run a mile every day for the month of May, take a photo of you while you’re out on the run / walk and post it back into a group that will be set up. Getting out and being active, within the government 2km radius, is very important at this time so everyone is encouraged to give it a go!
If you are interested in giving this a try please fill in the Google Form Here:
Online [Zoom] Classes & Module 5 Assessments
Can all TYs please ensure that Google Classroom notifications are on, that emails are checked regularly and that reminders are set for attendance of online classes.
Please note that normal & respectful school behaviour during online classes is also expected.
Please note that subject departments will be using TY results for streaming purposes for the Leaving Cert.
Regarding Assessments: All TYs will have been contacted directly by their teachers at this point regarding their 1-2weekly online classes and assessments.
English:
All TYs are expected to read The Damned United, by David Peace, answer questions each week and prepare a book review for assessment. This novel is on their Leaving Cert course as a Comparative Text.
Irish:
All TYs will work on a project worth 50% and towards an end of module exam worth 50% as part of their assessments.
Maths:
A google form assessment is currently being developed by the Maths dept
French:
Assessment will take the form of an Oral Exam
German:
Assessments in the form of letter writing, grammar and reading comprehensions
Spanish:
Assessment in the form of a project worth 30% and an exam worth 70%
TY Reps Zoom Tournaments
Thanks to all of those who got involved in this week's TY Reps Zoom Round Robin Tournament Series of Paper, Rock Scissors!
We've been meeting every week and there will be more to follow next week.
A special thanks to Diarmuid McNulty for take the lead and to all the group captains in coordinating the groups.
Weekly Challenge: Driver Theory Test
Firstly thanks to the boys who took part in the habit tracker challenge
This week's challenge is to pass the Driver Theory (mock) Test Online and share it to the Google Classroom.
Details to be posted net week.
Cookery Course sign ups
This course consist of three daily cook-along sessions per week for 2 weeks with chef Avril Murphy. The course aims to help the TY boys help out around their home. A chance for them to cook two family meals a day fo 2 weeks.
Avril will be on hand online during the cook along to answer questions for those looking for some assistance and guidance in the kitchen & narrating the recipes!
The recipes list will be released in advance of the course to make sure people have time to grab the ingredients they will need to make family meals.
Sign ups will be posted in the Google Classroom.
Radio & Podcasting 1 week Workshop
sign up (course begins 5th May)
This course (4 x 45min sessions for 1 week) is highly recommended. It will involve practical advise and activities for anyone who is interested in broad/podcasting.
However, the main benefits from a student's perspective are exam related!: the techniques on the course involve preparing quick 60 second bullet point segments or 1 hour long programmer or advertising copy (text) - these skills will be invaluable to any leaving cert student who needs to plan an answer quickly and constructively.
Sign up details to be shared on Google Classroom
Mental Health Fitness Check Up Results
Overall we had a decent engagement with our Mental Health Fitness Check Up this week.
Thanks to all those who took part. The answers have already formed part of our planning resources.
As a whole (based on the answers below) TYs are staying healthy and are in good mental health You'll notice that some boys are not in a positive headspace at the moment - this only strengthens our resolve to ask that every TY engages in as many as the activities as possible.
The weekly activities are being shaped to engage as many TYs in playful games, light (& healthy) banter as they take part and to offer those that might have felt excluded a chance to get back into some social circles that they may have lost due to social distancing policies that has seen STMC close its doors.
So, if you haven't been getting involved we'd urge you to - it just might help you or someone else reconnect.
Questions were asked of the boys and they answered between 1 & 5
1- Not at all true
5 - Very true
Is there anything you'd like to say to the boys in your year?
20 responses
I feel our year isn't as close as other years in St Michaels
Heads don’t stay gone forever
Talk if you need to
Be kind to the quiet
There’s probably more to do in terms of helping others
Some of you lads have changed massively for the better over the course of TY from a sense of maturity and I think it’s really helped to bring our year closer and merge most cliques into one solid group
Stay positive
just be yourself
We should get an online darts tournament going with matches being played in a tournament format and the winner gets a prize. The games could be played over video call and it can get lads talking to eachother. People talking to people they wouldn't normally talk to.
Be more welcoming to people who want to be friends with you
Talk!
I thought more would reach out to me
Everyone hang in there. It’s a tough time for us all but keep positive and there is a light at the end of the tunnel and we’ll all be together again. But for now stay healthy and if there is anything on your mind please speak to someone in the year, a teacher, a parent. Stay safe and healthy xx
Be a little more mindful of what you are about to say, as words can cause more pain then actions.
This isn’t something I want to say to the year but I have a lot of problems regarding the mental health surveys that are sent out. More or less, they feel quite heartless and just feel like a way for the school to prove that they’re “doing something” in terms of helping with mental health. A statement such as “When problems arise, I know there are solutions” is almost ignorant in my opinion. You have no idea how some people in the year cope with situations. By asking if the person is simply “getting by” is not enough, people (especially teenagers) find very harmful ways to cope with things and it’s all too often swept under the rug. I understand that there are teachers that genuinely make an effort and care and i also recognize that in these circumstances (The coronavirus) it is hard to juggle lots of things and even start certain things. All I’m saying is that for a school that often prides itself off of how they deal with mental health, it doesn’t feel like that. Instead of just seeing if people are getting by I recommend that the surveys provide statements above and then follow it with a question. For example, “I know how to cope through certain situations” followed by “How do you cope with those situations. Good or bad don’t be afraid to tell, this survey is anonymous.” By getting into the nitty gritty of things, teachers could then record videos, giving advice and being human and sharing personal experience (if they are comfortable enough to). I feel zoom classes wouldn’t work as students could see other students in the call. I want to make it straight that this is not a cry for help, this is something that I’ve had a problem with for a while and wanted to express. I hope my words have some kind of affect as I think it is something that truly needs to be changed.
I thought there would be people who reached out and this has made me not excited to go back to school at all
No
IT'S GOOD TO TALK IS ONLINE
With social distancing comes the potential for a sense of isolation or worry. There my also be people worrying about exams, when are we going back to school or coping with workload being assigned by teachers.
If you have any questions, queries or concerns at this time, know that the staff of the school are still there to help you!
All you need to do is make an appointment through the ‘It’s Good To Talk’ section of the website:
The teacher of your choice will arrange a Skype, Zoom or old fashioned Phone Call to listen to your concerns and help where they can!
Stay at Home, Stay Strong and Stay Safe.