Guidance and Counselling

In Pobalscoil Inbhear Sceine we aim to provide support for all our students. These are some of the structures in place.

The Guidance Counsellor is Pobalscoil Inbhear Scéine is Ms. Emer O’Riordan. The service encompasses the broad areas of Guidance and Counselling.

WHAT IS GUIDANCE?

Guidance 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 consequent on these choices.

WHAT IS COUNSELLING?

Counselling enables the client to speak in private about concerns that he/she may have.

Some people come to counselling with the intention of sorting out their thoughts and feelings. Others come because they need to make important

decisions and want to look at some of the choices available to them. It is important to realise that counselling does not involve advice giving.

The service is confidential.

What does confidential mean?

It means that when you discuss private matters, they stay private to you and the counsellor. It must be said that serious matters, which involve

a danger to you or others or which have serious legal implications, may be mentioned to others.

HOW DO I MEET WITH THE GUIDANCE COUNSELLOR?

If you speak to the Guidance Counsellor you will be dealt with there and then if possible, otherwise you will be given an appointment.

HOW DOES THE appointment system WORK?

• A slip will be given to you. On it will be written the appointment time.
• You present this slip to your teacher at the appointed time.

SOME OF THE AIMS OF THE DEPARTMENT ARE:

1. To enable students understand the process of career choice and to develop their capacities to determine and execute career decisions.

This involves helping students to clarify their own skills, abilities, interests and values; to understand the range of opportunities available;

to relate self-assessment to potential occupation and learn how to choose between alternative courses of action; and a to plan and execute

a strategy to achieve career goals.

2. to assist student to gain access to higher education institutions and further education and training courses. This involves providing information

about higher and further education opportunities, entry requirements and giving advice.

3. to help the school adapt to the changing environment for students.

4. to continuously improve the professional standard of the school’s guidance and counselling service.

CAREERS NIGHT

A very successful Careers Night was enjoyed in Pobalscoil Inbhear Sceine on Friday last, November 17th. This is the third Careers Night in the school

and it has become part of the tradition. Past pupils in various careers are invited back to the school and discuss the pros and cons of their various

careers and courses. Students can empathise with people they know far better than people who are strangers. Representatives were also present

from third level institutions and training bodies.

IT Tralee was represented by Anne Marie Flynn (School Liaison Officer), John Murphy (Head of School of Civil Engineering & Construction Studies)

and Seamus O’Shea (Head of School of Science, Computing, Health & Leisure and Nursing). Della O’Sullivan represented Bord Iascaigh Mhara, while

Helen O’Leary of Failte Ireland informed students of the hospitality industry. John Colgan and Majella Moloney travelled from Clonakilty Agricultural

College to speak to students about careers in the agricultural sector and Martin Murphy of FAS informed students about their training programmes.

Mr. Dermot Healy, Principal Pobalscoil Inbhear Sceine, in opening the session welcomed the past pupils back to their alma mater. He said it gave

him great pleasure that our students engaged themselves in so many varied activities. Mr. Healy said that in the modern world there are a wide

range of opportunities and courses available to all our students, not just in Ireland, not just in third level education but in many areas. The past

pupils represented many different paths and many roads that would have been looked at as unusual at one stage. The Guidance Counsellor can,

and does, show these paths but the people who actually travel on them, that were known to students, were the best people to explain them. They

were willing to give up their time on a wet Friday evening to inform and interface with their former friends and neighbours.

Mr. Healy welcomed Susie Donnelly, who will qualify with a degree in Business from IT Tralee this year, and Anne Marie Cronin and Katie Brown,

both undergraduate Business students in UL. Flor O’Sullivan and Micheal O’Shea, who have commenced their studies in Clonakilty Agricultural College,

were also welcomed back and Francis Breen who is completing his degree in Construction Management in CIT was a great hit with all present students.

Mr. Healy said that the third level colleges are trying to attract women into their science and engineering courses. Those areas were well represented

by Frances O’Shea, Tuosist, in Civil Engineering, Juliann Burns, Sneem, in Applied Biology and Siobhan Comerford, Lauragh, in Earth Sciences.

Conor McSwiney, Kenmare, also spoke on the topic of Environmental Sciences and Keith O’Sullivan told students about his Civil Engineering course

in UCC.

In the medical area Katie McCarthy spoke to students about Dentistry in UCC and Emma Brown, a final year student in Huddersfield, told us about

her experiences as a student of physiotherapy. Local physiotherapist, Ingrid Koefoed, informed students on the day to day work of a physiotherapist.

The Nursing and Childcare areas proved very popular. These stands were ably ‘wo-manned’ by Margaret Hurley, Public Health Nurse, Kenmare, and local

nursing students Deirdre O’Connor and Rosemary Ahern. Local Pre-school teachers Edel O’Sullivan and Geraldine Brown teamed up with Childcare and

Early Childhood Studies students Alanna Quinn, Sarah O’Sullivan and Mairead Twomey to inform students on various aspects of their profession.

Mr. Healy welcomed Adrian Duyn all the way from Letterfrack, Co. Galway where he is studying Furniture Conservation and Restoration. Several of our

students have attended that college and have gone on the make a good living in that profession.

The hospitality industry was represented by Mr. Rory O’Sulliavn of the Park Hotel Kenmare and Edwina Van Bavel, who will qualify as a hotel manager

from Shannon this year.

Some people seem destined never to leave school and Mr. Healy said many of our past pupils have gone into the teaching profession. He welcomed back

Aisling McCarthy, who is currently a teacher in Cahir NS, Joyce Bambury, a student of the relatively new Bachelor of Education & Psychology and Celine

Lynch, a second year Bachelor of Education student. A former student and currently a student teacher in Pobalscoil Inbhear Sceine, John O’Connor, was

there also to outline the pros and cons of the teaching profession.

Pobalscoil Inbhear Sceine has established itself as a caring place and Dermot Healy was delighted to welcome two students who are studying Social Care-

Marion Dineen, Kilgarvan, who is in her final year and Christina O’Shea, a second year student.

Ashley Harmon was also present and will qualify with a degree in Applied Psychology. Other Arts students included Danielle Cullen (Mary Immaculate

College), Cian O’Neill (UCC) and Micheal O’Connor (UCC). Another UCC student, Aline Meijnhardt represented the Law area. Paidi Murphy, Bonane,

spoke to students about his Multimedia course in Cork.

Mr. Healy stated that it was important that we cater for our own community. He was delighted to welcome back students that are working in our local

area: Damien O’Connor, Trainee Carpenter, David O’Leary from Kenmare Timber Frame Homes, Sheila Riney, Trainee Hairdresser and Margaret Riney,

a Travel Agent based in Killarney.

Aine O’Sullivan, a student of Beauty Therapy in Cork College of Commerce, told student of her studies there. A former student, Patrick Ryan, who won a

prestigious award at the Cork Film Festival, is now studying Film Production in Dun Laoighre Institute of Art, Design and Technology and he discussed his

experiences with the students.

Mr. Healy thanked the school Guidance Counsellor, Ms. Emer O’Riordan, for the work and dedication she has shown tonight and through the years.

He particularly thanked Mrs. Kitty Doyle, a parent, who catered for the guests. He thanked the student president, David Reilly, and the members of

the student council and student body who helped in the organisation of the evening. He stated that it had been another successful Careers Night. He

thanked the participants on his own behalf and on behalf of the school. He wished them good luck in their future careers and said that he looks forward

to seeing them at our next Careers Night. The backbone of the school is our parents and he was most gratified to see the parents who were so interested

as to come out and view the stands themselves. He concluded by wishing all a good night.