Schools’ new Junior Cycle launched at Coláiste Bríde
By Maurice Garvey
EDUCATION Minister Richard Bruton, was at Coláiste Bríde in Clondalkin last Monday to launch the new Junior Cycle specifications for Irish, modern foreign languages and visual art.
The school was selected to represent the Department of Education as they have already been working on introducing the new Junior Cycle for years, due to their involvement in a network of some 20 schools across the country.
Marie Therese Kilmartin, Coláiste Bride Principal, said: “It was an honour to be asked to launch the new Junior Cycle at such an important time in educational change for students and teachers.
“The Minister visited a number of classrooms and students spoke to him in Italian and other languages. There was a big gathering in the hall and students sang for him.”
Bernadine Nic Giolla Phadraig, a former member of the teaching staff at the school, was also present in her new role with Junior Cycle for teachers Gaeilge.
The new Junior Cycle specifications for Irish will place a strong focus on the spoken language, through classroom-based assesments. Which schools will be able to report to parents at the end of the third year of the Junior Cycle.
A different type of assessment methodology for oral language skills, and other skills, will be used in the new Junior Cycle Irish specification.
This September also marks the introduction of the new Junior Cycle Wellbeing programme.
Minister Bruton said: “The new Junior Cycle gives students the opportunity to develop a wider range of knowledge and skills – to equip them for further learning, for work, for responsible and active citizenship, and for healthy living. It gives students better learning opportunities, and rewards and recognises non-academic performance and achievements, with a central focus on the student’s quality of life, wellbeing and mental health.”
