We recently hosted a careers fair where 18 guest speakers presented Senior Cycle students. This fair enabled students hear from successful, experienced professionals from a variety of careers. Each presentation ended with a question and answer session. Students gained insights into different careers and enjoyed the enthusiasm of the speakers. Students described the presentations as inspiring, eye opening and beneficial. Many students noted that they learned how self belief is the key to success.

This years guests included Garda Brendan Roche and Garda Liam O’ Riordain  Mrs Labhaoise Maguire,  Ms Patricia Blaney, Mr Patrick Gildea, Mr Jamie Gallagher, Mr Jasson Black,  Mr Michael Black, Mr Chris Mc Gee, Mr Ken Mac Kenzie,  Ms Mary Stewart, Mr Dominic Brennan, Mr Aidan Murray, Mr Eamonn Ward and Mr Aaonraoi Cheevers. Lieutenant Asley O Connor, Corporal Linda Griddy and Private Brianna Mc Connell.

Guidance and Councelling

This refers to a range of learning experiences provided in a developmental sequence, designed to assist students to make choices about  their lives and to make transitions to these choices. These choices may be categorized into three distinct but interlinked areas:

  • Personal and social
  • Educational
  • Career

Ms Catherine Crawford is the Guidance Counsellor in Mulroy College. If you have any queries you can contact her on catherinecrawford@donegaletb.ie.

Guidance activities include:

  • Personal counselling
  • Assessment
  • Career information e.g. (career classes, personal vocational guidance interviews, attendance at career events)
  • Use of information technology eg. Qualifax/Studentfinance/ Careers Portal
  • Personal and social developmental programmes
  • Counselling is a key part of the school guidance programme and it may include personal counselling, educational counselling, career counselling or combinations of these.

In achieving our school mission statement, the Guidance Counsellor plays an important part in the areas of counselling and guidance as well as involvement in the Pastoral Care program. The Guidance Counselling Service plays a central role in the continuous development and guidance of each student. It involves preparing pupils for a life of autonomous well being through respect the dignity of the individual and to respect the right to choose how he/she wishes to be in the world.

Objectives:

  • To assist pupils in decision making  and following through on such decision making, relating to all aspects of their lives, especially decisions relating to education, in their interactions with others and in their career choice.
  • To promote knowledge, understanding, awareness and acceptance of self and others.
  • To oversee and promote programs within the school that contribute to the personal and social enrichment of pupils.
  • To identify and explore opportunities and encourage independence and taking responsibility for themselves.

Framework for Achieving Objectives:

The students’ needs on which the school guidance and counselling service is based can be grouped under the three headings below.

  • Education guidance and counselling: Assisting students to find the information and develop the skills and attitudes necessary to get maximum benefit from their time in school. Students are given the support necessary to cope with education related problems as they arise, e.g. Problems with study, examination stress, subject choice, etc.
  • Vocational guidance and counselling: Assisting students to find the information and develop the skills and attitudes necessary to explore and clarify career possibilities, to set attainable career goals, to make informed decisions and to take the necessary practical steps to implement these decisions.
  • Personal guidance and counselling: Assisting students to find the information and develop the skills and attitudes necessary to cope successfully with their personal and social relationships both inside and outside school.

Garda Recruitment:

Minister for Education and Skills Jan O’Sullivan TD has launched ‘Aiming Higher’ a Guide for Parents and Guardians at the University of Limerick. This guide was authored by Patrice Twomey Director of the

Cooperative Education and Careers Division at UL and funded by the Higher Education Authority and is aimed at parents (and guardians) of prospective third level students. This guide aims to give students a practical understanding of the higher education system in Ireland and helps parents to support their daughter or son in making informed decisions around third level courses and career choices. It is the first guide of its kind that is specifically targeted at parents and extensive consultation with parents drove much of its content

To view the document click here: AimingHigher_update_15_4_2015

If you have any queries please contact the school’s  Career Guidance Counsellor: catherinecrawford@donegaletb.ie