A motivational talk at Scoile Mhuire for Leaving Cert Students and their Parents
Coláiste Mhuire, Mullingar hosted a very informative talk on Thursday evening January 17^th. The talk was aimed at parents and guardians of students taking the Leaving Cert in June 2013 and explored the many issues that influence students’ success in their first year of study post Leaving Cert.
The Parents Council are very pro active and involved in supporting the education of the students from 1^st year right up to 6^th year and on this occasion invited Catherine O’ Connor, to speak at the school.

Catherine O’Connor (MA Ed) works as a Student Recruitment specialist at Trinity College Dublin and has over twenty years experience in the design, delivery and management of educational programmes. Having lectured and tutored at Diploma, Degree and Master’s level at Trinity College and Dublin City University, she has also researched and published within the areas of education and educational technologies.
Ms O’ Connor’s talk was on the transition for students and their parents from second level education to third level education and what that break away from home entails not just for the student but also for the parent/guardian. The background to this talk focuses on  preparing the student for changes in their lives, the pitfalls encountered in college in the first year, making the right choices for them, where to look for assistance and who to ask for help.
 Key areas covered included:
Getting to know how the third level system works.
What makes students successful in college?
Why some students withdraw from college?
What faces students on that first week in college?
How to communicate with college offices and staff.
How to have fun safely.
Socialising and the law.
Study and part time work – getting the balance right.
Parent’s and student’s expectations – are they mismatched?

 This is Ms O Connors’ second year to visit Coláiste Mhuire. The aim of the workshops is to empower the students by being informed about the many issues that influence success in first year of study post the Leaving Certificate, changing relationships between students, parents and schools and addressing the many challenges faced by students making this transition. It also looked at the demands placed on students by the college system and questions the expectations of parents and students alike in these difficult economic times.

 The evening talk continued with related topics such as

• Registration
• Orientation
• Choosing Electives
• Lectures
• Library
• E-Learning and Support
• Tutorials /Seminars
• Labs /Demonstrations
• Research
• Assignments
• Exams
• Study
• Reading Week
• Group Work
• Academic Writing
• Societies
• HANDBOOK –the gospel
• Knowing the college system
• Keeping fit and healthy
• Over 18 ‘s and the law
• Living away from home
• Safety issues
• Dealing with homesick
• Open communications
• Public Transport
• Budgeting
• Travel Insurance

          Overall the workshops and evening talk was extremely well received and it is hoped that the Parents Council can repeat this wonderful day in 2014.