In order to alleviate the fears and anxieties that students often have when making the transition from primary to secondary school, Coláiste Na Trócaire, Rathkeale organised a series of workshops where it welcomed its 2012 first year students.
These workshops were organised as part of Coláiste Na Trócaire’s Buddy system which focuses on grouping together students from different primary schools in order to foster good relationships amongst students. On Friday 31st August Ms. Jean O’Brien (Year Head) and Ms. Lorna Bunyan (Acting Deputy Principal) in conjunction with Limerick Youth Service and Limerick County Sports Partnership organised four workshops which focused on communication, fears and anxieties, sport and art. These workshops were a huge success and each student was afforded the opportunity of attending each workshop in order to get full benefit from the day’s events. Afternoon activities began with hip hop dancing and other sporting activities organised by some fifth and sixth year students. The highlight of the afternoon was when six first year students performed their rendition of the song ‘Valerie’ for the entire group of first year students. There was a huge round of applause at the end of the performance for students Lauren Barr, Casey O’Riordan, Emily Hogg, Jade Bourke Mulcaire, Zoe Mulcaire and Kelly Naughton. This reinforced for Ms. Bunyan and Ms. O’Brien that first year students had managed very well in making the transition from primary to secondary school.
Coláiste Na Trócaire would like to thank the following people and organisations for all their help in organising the event: Ms. Kingston (Art Teacher), Shóna O’Sullivan (6th year), Gemma Jones (5th year), Stuart Murphy (5th year) and Yuri O’Connor (6th year), Tracey Bourke (parent), Sasha Noonan (Youth Worker), Joe Walsh (Youth Worker), Limerick Youth Service and Limerick County Sports Partnership. Here is what some of our students thought of the Induction Day at Coláiste Na Trócaire: “I made a lot of new friends”, Dale Griffin, O’Riada 1, “I met lots of new people and I loved the Art workshop”, Megan Talbot, O’Carolan 1 “It was a brilliant experience”, Rachel Lynch, Clannad 1.