Mentoring
In line with the ethos of Scoil Phobail Bhéara, each child’s personal, emotional, spiritual, social and academic development is a priority. The building of each child’s self esteem is of prime importance. The school aims to provide a safe and caring environment in which all students can function and receive the education they deserve in a comfortable environment. The school endeavours to allow each and every student have a positive experience of school.
The transition between Primary and Post-Primary school can be a very emotional and challenging time for many students. The mentoring programme plays a vital role in helping them to settle in successfully to their new environment.
Transition Year students are invited to apply for a position as a school mentor. They complete an application form and there may be an interview process if necessary. The students are then chosen and participate in a training day in the Restorative Practice Mentor Belonging Programme held in August. The trained mentors return to school on the same day as the 1st year students, to help with the integration/induction process.
The mentors meet their 1st year group as part of 1st year Orientation Day. They assist the Year Head and Class Teachers allocated to 1st years, and the Chaplain with games to help them get to know each other. They also do a fire drill and tours of the school on the first day.
4th year pupils are allocated a small group of 1st years (approx. 3/4 pupils) to care for throughout the year. The 1st year pupils should feel comfortable with whichever group they are allocated. If any pupil is unhappy in their group, they can easily be changed. The idea behind the mentoring programme is that 1st year students will have somebody else to confide in and may feel more comfortable with someone close to their own age group. Many of the 1st year students will already know some 4th year students and this may also help in preventing problems or in solving difficulties which may arise. It is another channel of communication for 1st year students in the first year in Scoil Phobail Bhéara.
4th year students will deal with any minor difficulties and if any student has a serious difficulty the mentors will communicate with any of the Mentor Programme Team – the Chaplain, Year Head of 1st years or with the Principal, the Deputy Principal, or Class Teachers.
4th year mentors will take their small break and lunch break with their group on the first day of term. The mentors will then keep an eye on their 1st year students during break times for the first few weeks. There may be other meetings / events arranged so the groups get a chance to talk socially during the first term, e.g. a table quiz.
Mentors will have received training in areas such as: friendship, bullying, boundaries, confidentiality and problem solving but will make contact immediately with the Mentor Programme Team if a problem arises or if they are unsure about how to deal with any situation.
The transition between Primary and Post-Primary school can be a very emotional and challenging time for many students. The mentoring programme plays a vital role in helping them to settle in successfully to their new environment.
Transition Year students are invited to apply for a position as a school mentor. They complete an application form and there may be an interview process if necessary. The students are then chosen and participate in a training day in the Restorative Practice Mentor Belonging Programme held in August. The trained mentors return to school on the same day as the 1st year students, to help with the integration/induction process.
The mentors meet their 1st year group as part of 1st year Orientation Day. They assist the Year Head and Class Teachers allocated to 1st years, and the Chaplain with games to help them get to know each other. They also do a fire drill and tours of the school on the first day.
4th year pupils are allocated a small group of 1st years (approx. 3/4 pupils) to care for throughout the year. The 1st year pupils should feel comfortable with whichever group they are allocated. If any pupil is unhappy in their group, they can easily be changed. The idea behind the mentoring programme is that 1st year students will have somebody else to confide in and may feel more comfortable with someone close to their own age group. Many of the 1st year students will already know some 4th year students and this may also help in preventing problems or in solving difficulties which may arise. It is another channel of communication for 1st year students in the first year in Scoil Phobail Bhéara.
4th year students will deal with any minor difficulties and if any student has a serious difficulty the mentors will communicate with any of the Mentor Programme Team – the Chaplain, Year Head of 1st years or with the Principal, the Deputy Principal, or Class Teachers.
4th year mentors will take their small break and lunch break with their group on the first day of term. The mentors will then keep an eye on their 1st year students during break times for the first few weeks. There may be other meetings / events arranged so the groups get a chance to talk socially during the first term, e.g. a table quiz.
Mentors will have received training in areas such as: friendship, bullying, boundaries, confidentiality and problem solving but will make contact immediately with the Mentor Programme Team if a problem arises or if they are unsure about how to deal with any situation.