In the recent College Awareness week which took place in Portlaoise College, there were many events and activities organised where the whole school community came together to organise and promote the benefits of going to college and help students of all ages to become college ready.
College Awareness Initiatives included: Drop Everything and Talk about College- where all teachers took a break from their lessons to speak to students about their experience of college.
First Years were taught about the Leaving Cert points system and how to calculate CAO points by their maths teachers.
Second Year classes were visited by 6th Year students and the 6th Years spoke to them about the CAO and how it works.
Third Year students received college talks from Trinity, DCU and NUI Maynooth.
While Sixth Years had lessons on Budgeting for College, Getting to College and also worked together to create an Art display of their dream careers.
Principal Noel Daly said: “The great thing about College Awareness Week is that it puts college on the agenda for every student, this is not just an initiative for our Sixth Year students, the entire school community (including former students) engage with this process where we celebrate the benefits of post-secondary education and showcase local role models.”
Guidance Counsellor Daryl Egan said: “In this school we celebrate the benefits of all aspects of Further Education, this could be an apprenticeship, a QQI/PLC course or a CAO application to a third level Institution.”
A by-product of the fantastic supports the Guidance department have put in place to assist the students to be more “college-ready” and to achieve their higher education ambitions is the recent secondary school league table of where pupils from the Leaving Certificate class of 2022 enrolled in a higher education college in Ireland this year.
Portlaoise College was ranked first of Laois secondary schools of the percentage of students going to 3rd level.
The result rounds off a remarkable year for Portlaoise College, as it lifted three All-Ireland Titles in volleyball, two Regional Cups in basketball and a Leinster Championship in football.
Principal Noel Daly said: “This is a wonderful reflection of the myriad of elements that go together to make a successful school.
“A huge range of extra-curricular opportunities, hard-working teaching and support staff, a supportive and responsive parental body, high expectations, inclusive environment, high-quality learning and teaching and, of course, our dedicated and ambitious pupils.”
Mr Daly was keen to highlight the hard work that goes on in the background, often carried out unnoticed.
“I thank our staff right across the school for their efforts and energy over the past number of years”.
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