The “Careers” section of the Guidance and Counselling service in Calasanctius College focusses primarily on educational and vocational guidance activities for senior cycle students.
One to one meetings with the Guidance Counsellor:
Starting in September Leaving Certificate students are encouraged and invited to make an appointment to meet with Ms. Walsh to discuss options after Leaving Certificate. Student applications follow a chronological order depending on upcoming closing dates, for example; September - UK and H-PAT/Medicine applicants; October - DARE applicants; November – January - CAO, HEAR scheme; March – PLC; student grants; April – scholarships, access programmes; May – interviews.
Career Events – college open days, information evenings/mornings
Senior cycle students are encouraged to attend where possible college open days on Saturdays and to plan in advance, with their parents/guardians open day attendance that involves travel or attendance on a school day. Ms Walsh will advise students on what open days, career fairs or events are upcoming via weekly announcements, posters on the Careers notice boards and the newsfeed and calendar sections of the school website. Students are advised to look up career events on Qualifax.ie and college websites e.g. ul.ie prior to travel and to check their school email weekly.
Career Talks & Presentations
On November 21st, Ms. Walsh will host an information evening for sixth year parents on the CAO and other options after Leaving Certificate.
School visits from specific faculty representatives in NUIG, GMIT, GTI and other colleges are welcomed and facilitated by Ms. Walsh for all sixth year and where possible with fifth year students.
Information clinics or evenings such as those hosted by NUIG on access programmes to third level are advertised on key websites and the school website calendar and newsfeed sections. These and other schemes are taught to fifth year students in weekly Careers classes.
Calendar
October 5thUCC Parent information evening; GMIT Creative Arts College Open Day
October 7th 9am – 3pm NUIG open day
October 11th Mountbellew Agricultural College Open Day
October 14th GMTI Open Day; UCC open day
October 19th Sligo IT open day
October 20th UL, Mary Immaculate College, Limerick IT, Limerick School of Art & Design Open Days
October 24th Options West Careers Fair (10am – 1:30pm Galway city) (Defense Forces, Gardai, Apprenticeships)
October 24th "Study in Holland” (18:30 – 22:00 Galway city)
GMIT open day Saturday 14th October, from 9:30am to 1:30pm, all GMIT campuses will be represented.
Limerick Colleges Open Days - Ul, Mary Immaculate College, Limerick School of Art and Design and LIT open days are all on Friday October 20th. Sixth years interested in courses in any of these colleges, were advised to attend, if not with a parent, then with Ms. Walsh. The bus from school will leave at 8:15am sharp and will drop students at LIT, MIC, LSAD and finally UL. Students can avail of a free shuttle bus from the first three colleges mentioned to UL. Students who have put their name down to travel on the school bus can pay €10 to RECEPTION before Monday the 16th. of October. Each student must present written parental permission to Ms. Walsh before boarding the bus.
Sixth years students interested in Careers in the GARDAI, ARMY or APPRENTICESHIPS and wish to attend the OPTIONS WEST CAREERS FAIR in Galway, on Tuesday October 24th next were asked to give their names to Ms. Walsh. A bus has been organised to bring these students from school at 9:05am to this careers fair and back to school for 2pm classes. The bus and entry ticket costs €10 and can be paid toRECEPTION before Friday October 20th. Each student must present written parental permission to Ms. Walsh before boarding the bus.