This article was first published on September 10^th, 2007.

Monaghan Family School Liaison Service Induction Days

With funding from Partnership the Monaghan Town Family School Liaison Service has held Induction Days recently in St Macartans College and St Louis Secondary School Monaghan for almost 200 young people making the transfer from primary to second level education. The Family School Liaison Officer, Ms Audrey Wilson highlighted the challenge for many pre teens making the daunting transfer from primary to secondary school. Children become accustomed to the relatively small and secure environment of primary school and by sixth class students have become large fish in a small pond. For some students the list of anxieties is long; they may worry about which school they’re going to, how they will get there, if they will make new friends, how they will cope with new subjects and all the other pressures.

The core aim of the Induction Days is to promote the smooth transition from primary to second level education by familiarising incoming first year students with the secondary school structure, provide them with an opportunity to visit the school prior to commencing in September and meet other young people that are transferring.

On arrival students were given folders containing name badges, pens and an information booklet entitled ‘A Survival Guide to Secondary School’. Students were then spilt into class-sized groups led by teachers and senior students and escorted to a variety of timetabled workshops and activities. These included a Managing Stress and Health and Hygiene workshop facilitated by Melissa from Monaghan Youth Federation, a Friendship workshop facilitated by Sharon and Brenda from Monaghan Neighbourhood Youth Project and Personal Health and Fitness Workshop facilitated by David from Monaghan Leisure Complex. Students were also given the opportunity to explore their new school on a tour conducted by teachers and senior students.

At the close of event Audrey Wilson, Family School Liaison Officer conducted an evaluation with the students. Overall the students were very positive about the Induction Day experience. One student summed up her experience as follows, ‘I met loads of new people and now I am not so worried about being split from my friends from primary school. I am not as stressed now because I have seen the school and I know a few places’.