MORE THAN 200 students from 12 primary schools in east Limerick were awarded Certificates of Achievement by Limerick Youth Service (LYS) after completing a one-day course aimed at making a smooth transition from primary to secondary school.
The ‘Moving On: Primary to Second Level Transition Programme’ was established in 2005 and looks at issues such as changing friendships, peer group pressure, communication skills and bullying.
The sixth class students were presented with their certificates at St John the Baptist Secondary School in Hospital, where they heard from Eithne Stembridge of LYS and Niamh Larkin, a past graduate of the programme.
Niamh, who is now a transition year student at St John the Baptist school, told students of her own fears about starting secondary school and hailed the Moving On programme for making the step up considerably easier.
She said: “It’s a nervous and exciting time. You will make new friends, have opportunities to take part in music and sports and study a lot of new subjects.”
Ms Stembridge also commended the programme for its role in helping incoming pupils to meet with existing secondary school students and get a feel for what awaits at second level.
“For some, particularly those in small rural schools the change can be quite daunting with some students going from a class of 10 to a year of 150 students.
“The programme gives students an opportunity to meet some of their peers with whom they will be starting with in September and show them that they are not alone in feeling nervous.”
The students that graduated are attending schools in Ballylanders, Bohermore, Bruff, Caherelly, Caherline, Caherconlish, Galbally, Kilteely, Knockainey, Herbertstown, Hospital and Knocklong.
