Welcome to the Gonzaga College SJ Transition Year website.


TY Program Overview

The Transition Year program is designed to ‘promote the personal, social, educational and vocational development of the pupils, and to prepare them for their role as autonomous, participative and responsible members of society.’ The year consists of 4 Modules completed during the year, each module last approximately 7 weeks.

 

TY Program Goals

  • Education for Maturity and Personal Development

  • Emphasis on Self-Directed Learning with focus on Process not Result!

  • Development of Social Conscience

  • Education through Experience of Adult and Working Life

 

 

Work Experience

Students will do two weeks of work experience during the year. The placements must be confirmed by the end of September and all requisite forms must be given to Ms. Crawford, the Work Experience Coordinator. These two weeks usually take place either side of Christmas.

Students will complete a formal work experience reflection in school. If a student wishes to do an additional work experience placement they must talk to Ms. Crawford and the TY Year Head.

 

Social Outreach

Students will complete two weeks of social outreach during the year. Much like the Work Experience, the placements must be confirmed by the end of September. All forms are to be given to Ms. Crawford, the Social Outreach Coordinator. These two weeks usually take place just before Easter.

Students will complete a formal assessment in school. If a student wants to do a Peter McVerry Trust additional placement they need to talk to Ms. Crawford and the TY Year Head.

 

Guidance Program & Guidance Project

NB: Please see Ms Byron-Smith in person for all resources in relation to the TY Guidance Program & Guidance Project.

Over the course of Transition Year the students will begin to engage in the Careers process. At the heart of the programme is the Guidance Project, to be completed by every Fourth Year student. This we ask them to reflect on and review each part of the Transition Year experience, focusing on the Work Experience, Social Placement and Transition Year subject reviews. Other parts of the program include:

  • Exploring Career Options in the broadest sense.

  • Completing a set of Differential Aptitude Tests and Interest Profile tests.

  • Developing career decision-making skills and becoming more informed about subject choices by gathering information on knowledge/subject requirements for specific careers.

  • Improving their practical presentation skills by producing and presenting pieces of guidance work, including career searches and curriculum vitae.

  • Attending a structured interview regarding their experiences to date, allowing them an opportunity to present and discuss the content of their project for feedback and advice.

 

Subjects

TY students will study the following core subjects throughout the year: Irish, English, Maths, French, Religious Education, Physical Education & SPHE. They will sample the following subjects as part of their timetable: Biology, Physics, Chemistry, Geography, History, Economics, Classical Studies and Business. And will choose between these subjects for the first two modules and again at Christmas for the last two modules: Art, Greek, Applied Maths, Music, German and Technical Graphics. The students will also have one module in each of the following: Astronomy, Financial Life Skills, Media Studies, Typing, Psychology and Rhetoric.

 

Activities

Every Tuesday, Thursday and Friday afternoon TY students take part in activities. On Tuesdays and Fridays they take part in an activity as a class group and change each module. On Thursdays they choose from a list of 8 activities and change after two modules.

The activities on offer are: 

  • Boxing

  • Cookery

  • Cultural Trips

  • Digital Film Production

  • Formula 1

  • Golf

  • Guest Speakers

  • Health & Fitness

  • Horticulture

  • Ornithology

  • Politics & Society

  • Sailing

  • Spanish Language & Culture

 

Gaisce

The Gaisce Bronze Award program is an important part of the TY Programme here in Gonzaga College. To complete the program and receive the bronze medal students must spend 13 weeks on the following 4 areas: Community Involvement, Personal Skill, Sporting Achievement and a Venture Activity. Many of our students complete the program and are awarded bronze medals as seen below.

TY Retreat program

Near the beginning of the year the 4 classes take part in an induction/retreat with The Surf Project in Portrush, Co. Down. ‘Find God in all Things’ is the name of the retreat and it is a three day, overnight retreat focusing on: Personal Development, Faith Development & Outdoor Pursuits. The dates of the retreat are usually the first or second week of September. This changes depending on the school calendar and availability.

(Updated: August 2021)