Senior Cycle
Student Support
Guidance
Student Support
Guidance
Guidance Newsletter 2025
Dear Parents and Guardians of Leaving Certs 2025,
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Due to high absenteeism over the last few weeks many students missed a CAO Class where some very important topics such as Statement of Application and CAO Change of Mind were covered. I have uploaded a copy of this Class Powerpoint so please look through it and read this Newsletter carefully with your son or daughter to ensure everyone is aware of this extremely important information:
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All CAO applicants should have received a Statement of Application Record via e-mail at this stage. The purpose of this e-mail is:
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Ask you to log in to your CAO account
✅ Review all details carefully
✅ Fix any errors or omissions
✅ Confirm your information is complete and correct -
Please note: Serious consequences may arise if your data is incorrect or unconfirmed!
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CAO Change of Mind is open until 1st of July. Students can make as many changes as they wish to their Course Choices until this date free of charge. Following the deadline of 5pm on the 1st of July students can no longer make any changes to their CAO. Please read the attached document on FAQs at CAO Offer Stages and also watch the uploaded video from the CAO on The CAO Offer and Acceptance Process https://www.cao.ie/index.php?page=video&l=102134759
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Exemptions from Irish and or third language must be recorded by specific HEIs. It is the student’s responsibility to ensure Exemptions are recorded. The school does not receive any notification of this so please ensure your son/daughter has registered an exemption with whatever HEI he/she wishes to attend if it is required.
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The Leaving Cert Results will be issued on Friday 22nd August and CAO Round 1 Offers will be released on Wednesday 27th August. Click here for a full timetable of events: https://www.cao.ie/?page=timetableevents&bb=importantdates.
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Apprenticeships: Have a look at the Employers Database on www.apprenticeships.ie which is an UpToDate list of Employers that are taking on Apprentices in all areas. Find that link here https://a.storyblok.com/f/83224/x/f442be437e/current-apprenticeship-employers-by-region-may-06052025.pdf (pages 81-89 are Employers based in Limerick and Clare)
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PLCs: PLC Applications can be made by registering an account on www.fetchcourses.ie. There is no final deadline for applying to PLCs but it is recommended that students apply ASAP so they secure a place in a PLC of interest. This will not interfere with CAO Applications in any way.
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We are setting up a St.Caimin’s Past Pupils Committee and would love for your son/daughter to be a part of it. Please encourage your son or daughter to fill in the short form on their 6th Year Team!
Wishing your sons and daughters all the best with their Leaving Cert and future plans! If you have any questions or queries about any of the above information, please email me ASAP guidance@stcaimins.ie.
Hannah Fitzpatrick, Guidance Counsellor
Senior Cycle Options 2024 - 2025
Dear Third Year and TY Parents/Guardians,
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Following on from the Subject Choice Assembly on Tuesday the 4th of March where Senior Cycle Subject Choice was outlined in detail, please see the uploaded Presentation from the night. The Presentation includes an overview of Leaving Cert Subjects and the Transition Year and Leaving Cert Applied Programmes.
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This Assembly was just part of the Subject Choice Programme and all Third Year classes are also undertaking a series of Subject Choice Classes with the Guidance Counsellor Ms. Fitzpatrick covering topics such as Senior Cycle Options, Minimum Entry Requirements and Course Searches so students can check to see what courses require specific subjects eg. a third language, a lab science are required.
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All Third Years will meet Ms.Fitzpatrick individually to receive their CAT4 Report over the next three weeks. These meetings have started this week and if a student misses their appointment without notifying Ms.Fitzpatrick there will not be time to reschedule.
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Subject Choice selection is due Thursday the 3rd of April so it is vital all Third Years and TYs give this their time and attention over the next few weeks.
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The Subject Choice Form must be completed through VSWare and all parents/guardians will receive a link for this app from the school. Please contact the school if you have not received this link.
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We ask for your full support to encourage your son/daughter to engage with the Subject Choice Process and to avail of the many resources online to ensure they make the right choices at this critical point in their education. Please use the attached links to help your son/daughter in their Subject Choice Research.
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If you or your son/daughter have any queries regarding Subject Choice over the next few weeks please email Ms.Fitzpatrick on guidance@stcaimins.ie. or Mr.Quealy on Tom.Quealy@stcaimins.ie if you require any further information on TY or LCA.
Kind regards,
Ms. Hannah Fitzpatrick
Guidance Counsellor
CAO Update
Dear Parents and Guardians of LC2 students,
Thank you to those who attended the CAO and Other Options Information Evening last night, Tuesday 19th November. The CAO campaign for 2025 applicants is now underway having opened on November 5th and students are strongly advised to register with the CAO by Jan 20th to avail of the discounted rate of €30. CAO applications will close on February 1st, 2025 and The Change of Mind System will reopen on May 6th, 2025. Final choices must be submitted by July 1st, 2025. Please note that courses that are “restricted” must be applied for by February 1st. A list of restricted courses can be found via this link: https://careersportal.ie/courses/coursefinder?searchString=1. All other courses can be added free of charge during the Change of Mind Window. Please note, that students need a CAO account to apply for HEAR, DARE and the HPAT (required for Medicine).
As mentioned at the Information Evening The CAO Book is only available online and contains all important information regarding the CAO application process and also includes a list of all courses offered in all HEI’s. Please see attached link to PDF.
Please see uploaded a copy of the ‘CAO and Other Options Powerpoint’ that was presented at the Information Evening. Have a look through this Presentation to ensure you are aware of some extremely important deadlines and procedures.
Please also note uploaded links to:
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www.cao.ie This is the website where students Apply to Third Level. The CAO Handbook and other extremely important information is also available on this website.
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www.careersportal.ie – The following Careersportal direct links are uploaded: 1Coursefinder where all CAO, PLC, Apprenticeship courses, points and entry requirements 2.Events Calendar with up-to-date information on upcoming college events and information sessions and 3.Information on Scholarships
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www.apprenticeship.ie Information on all types of apprenticeships available on this website included a Current List of Apprenticeship Employers. The list of Employers from Clare/Limerick Region was circulated at the Information Evening but is also available through this website
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www.fetchcourses.ie To apply to PLC courses and/or Traineeships
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www.accesscollege.ie HEAR and DARE Information
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www.susi.ie Grant Information and Application
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www.ucas.ie Applying to UK Colleges -Deadline is 15th Jan
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www.eunicas.ie Applying to European colleges that have courses taught through English
As highlighted on the night, CAO and other applications such as Apprenticeships and PLCs are the responsibility of the applicant and as a parent/guardian it is imperative you support your son/daughter with this process to avoid mistakes that can result in missed offers and other disasters!
If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to email me at any time hannah.fitzpatrick@stcaimins.ie.
Kind regards,
Ms. Hannah Fitzpatrick
Guidance Counsellor
Guidance Newsletter November 2024
Hi all Parents and Guardians of LC2 students,
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Welcome to the Guidance Section of the School Website! As your son/daughter settles into Leaving Cert the importance of their plans for next year is very likely to be the forefront of everyone’s mind. I would just like to take this opportunity to outline the supports and many resources that are available to students to help them with their career decisions.
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All base classes have a series of Careers classes with the Guidance Counsellor throughout the year where general topics such as CAO, DARE, SUSI and alternatives to CAO are explored. All students have a Career File on Careersportal.ie where they have saved careers and courses of interest. As a parent/guardian it would be very beneficial to get your son/daughter to log into this Career File at home so you can gain some insight into what interests them. CAO points, Course descriptions and an Events Calendar are some of the features that can be explored on www.careersportal.ie. See tab for link.
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This Guidance Section of the school website is where you will find useful and relevant information throughout the year. I have uploaded links to some useful websites such as careersportal.ie and apprenticeships.ie. on this page and will continue to upload relevant information and links as they arise. All colleges are currently holding Open Days and various Information Sessions throughout the year. Information on Open Days are highlighted in LC Teams and Schedules of Talks are made available to students through this Team and are also available through the Upcoming Events Tab on this website. There will be a number of speakers for Leaving Certs in the upcoming term where students can sign up to attend talks in areas of interest. As you are aware all Leaving Certs attended the UL/TUS/Mary I Open Days on Friday 18th October. The next Career Trip is Wednesday 13th November where interested students can attend an Apprenticeship Showcase in The Radisson Limerick. There will be a bus arranged from school and further information will be distributed to parents regarding this event after Midterm Break.
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All Leaving Cert students will receive an individual guidance appointment with the Guidance Counsellor and these appointments are currently underway. As has been explained to the students they do not need to wait to be scheduled for an appointment - they are welcome to message Ms. Fitzpatrick directly and request an appointment if they feel they need it more urgently. Parents and guardians are also welcome to email and refer on their son/daughter if concerned about their career plans or general lack of direction.
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CAO Applications for Leaving Certs 2025 will open on the 5th of November and there will be a series of CAO classes for all Leaving Certs starting after midterm. I will also hold a CAO Information Evening for all parents and guardians on Tuesday 19th November @18.00 to explain the CAO system and other alternatives such as PLCs and Apprenticeships. Applications to HEAR and DARE are also highlighted at this Information Session.
If you require further assistance or have any queries, please email me on guidance@stcaimins.ie.
I look forward to working with you and your son or daughter this year,
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Kind regards,
Hannah Fitzpatrick
Guidance Counsellor
To access our Apprenticeship resource portal please click on the image below.
Guidance
The Guidance Counsellor advises on career choices and assists pupils in making educational, vocational and personal decisions. She supports and helps students who are experiencing difficulty in their lives.
Students and parents are free and welcome to come and visit the guidance counsellor. An appointment system is the best operational mode in this way. Alternatively, a phone call from parents over a concern can be accommodated quickly. Also, as part of overall school information dissemination e.g. school notices, parent-teacher meetings, open nights, enrolment days etc. information regarding guidance and counselling is made available as required.
Ms. Fitzpatrick can be emailed directly at guidance@stcaimins.ie