St Finian’s College
Mullingar
Established 1802

“The best way to predict your future is to create it”.

Abraham Lincoln

Our Mission Statement: Deus Spes Mea : God is my hope

As a Catholic School, St. Finian’s College seeks to develop a sense of community that attempts to live out the teaching of Christ, especially in our treatment of others. We endeavour to develop the spiritual, intellectual, social, cultural and physical potential of all our students. With the cooperation of the parents, this potential is developed as fully as possible, so that each student can achieve success at his/her own level of ability.

Our Aims are achieved by:

• welcoming our responsibility for academic achievement and examination results commensurate with the abilities of individual students, while also seeking to develop in all our pupils those sensibilities which will enable them to contribute fully to society.
• encouraging our students to learn and think independently,
•  encouraging our students to tolerate and value diversity,
• encouraging our students to show respect for all; teachers, fellow students and the environment in which we live,
•  encouraging our students to become responsible, creative and visionary members of our community.

Curriculum

The school provides the following programme of education for its students:

• The Junior Certificate
• Transition Year Programme
• The Leaving Certificate (established)
• The Leaving Certificate Vocational Preparation Programme (LCVP)

Junior Cycle

Junior Cycle places students at the centre of the educational experience, enabling them to actively participate in their communities and in society and to be resourceful and confident learners in all aspects and stages of their lives.

From September 2020 all subjects offered here at St Finian’s will be part of this new Junior Cycle. There will still be examinations in June of third year which will be examined by the State Examinations Commission. With the exception of Irish, English and Maths all subjects will be examined at a common level.

The results will form part of the student’s Junior Cycle Profile of Achievement. This offers a complete report on the student’s progress through junior cycle. It will report on the examination results, Classroom Based Assessments [CBA] and record Other Areas of Learning that the student has engaged in over the three years.

Each subject will have two CBAs, usually one in second year and one in third year. These can range from oral presentations to project tasks depending on the subject. Students will complete an Assessment Task requiring them to reflect on the skills, knowledge and understanding they gained from the second CBA. This task will be completed in class time, it will be assessed by the State Examinations Commission and account for 10% of the final exam mark.

An important component of Junior Cycle is Wellbeing. Through the Wellbeing programme students will gain the knowledge, attitudes and skills to enable them to protect and promote their wellbeing and that of others. The four main pillars of the Wellbeing programme are Civic Social and Political Education [CSPE], Physical Education [PE], Social Health and Personal Education [SPHE] and Guidance education.

1^st Year – Junior Certificate

All students study the following subjects to examination level:

Irish	English	French	German	Geography
Religious Education	Technical Graphics	Art	Maths	History
Home Economics	Music	Science	Business Studies	Technology

The following Wellbeing subjects are also taken:

• Civic, Social & Political Education (CSPE)
• Physical Education (PE)
• Social, Personal & Health Education (SPHE)

2^nd & 3^rd  Year – Junior Certificate

All students study the following subjects to examination level:

Irish	English	Maths	History	Geography
Religious Education	Science

Additionally, students take any three of the following subjects to examination level:

Business Studies	French	German	Home Economics	Music
Technology	Art	Technical Graphics

The following Wellbeing subjects are also taken:

• Civic, Social & Political Education (CSPE)
• Physical Education (PE)
• Social, Personal & Health Education (SPHE)

5^th & 6^th   Year – Leaving Certificate Senior Cycle

All students take the following subjects to examination level:

Irish

English

Mathematics

They then select four of the following subjects:

Accounting, Agricultural Science, Applied Maths, Art, Biology, Business, Chemistry, French, Geography, German, History, Home Economics, Music, Physics and Religious Education.

The following Wellbeing subjects are also taken:

• Physical Education(PE)
• Career Guidance
• Non- exam Religion

The Leaving Certificate Vocational Programme (LCVP) is now offered to all 5^th & 6^th year students with the appropriate subject combinations.

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Transition Year

In September 2017, St Finian’s College began its first Transition Year Programme. 46 students embarked on their ‘bridging’ year between Junior and Senior Cycle. Transition Year begins with a two-day Induction Programme and a bonding day trip.

The day-to-day delivery of the transition year programme will, instead of books, involve the use of Chromebooks. These devices are essentially lightweight laptops with internet access, allowing students to develop much needed digital content creation and editing skills going in to the modern day workforce.

We have two classes – St John’s & St. Eleanor’s. Our TY students learn and develop key personal skills such as public speaking, interviews, digital literacy, video making, group work, CPR, stage performance, fashion design, organisational skills, CV writing and many more. The old adage ‘You get out what you put in’ is true, as students who engage with the programme thrive!

Components of Transition Year:

All year – Core Subjects	Sample Modules	Sample Modules	Other Opportunities
English	Physics	Art	Young Social Innovators
Irish	Chemistry	Music	John Paul 2 Award
Maths	Biology	Golf	BT Young Scientist
Modern Language	Applied Maths	Legal Studies	Junk Kouture
Religion	Geography	Spanish	School Digital Champion
Volunteering	History	Public Speaking	Quiz competitions
Musical	Equine Studies	Digital Skills	Work Experience
Student Enterprise (Making a business)	Environmental Studies	Technology	G.A.A Future Leaders
	Computer Coding	P.E	Digital Media Production
	Film Studies	Home Economics	Guest Speakers
	Careers	Leadership

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Wellbeing

Mentors & Prefects	Year Head & Tutor System	Student Council
Gaisce (President’s Award)	Leadership	Study Skills
Volunteering in the Community	Resilience Programmes	Work Experience

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LIVE LIFE HAPPY

TODAY I WILL DO MY BEST
IF I HAVE A GOOD DAY,
I WILL BE PROUD OF MYSELF.

IF I HAVE A BAD DAY,
I WILL NOT DWELL ON IT.

I WILL FORGIVE MYSELF,
I WILL PUT IT BEHIND ME
AND I WILL CONTINUE TO
MOVE FORWARD

#SFC

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