2009 (our latest annus horribilis) is now another country and few (if any) will mourn its passing. Economic catastrophes, paycuts, floods, cutbacks, paycuts, homework, unemployment, Thierry Henry, liquidations, paycuts, more homework, redundancies, frost, snow and so on and so on ad nauseam. (Did I mention paycuts?)

Anyway as of today Friday January 22nd there are just 77 school days left until your LC exams. So things are now deadly serious meaning from now on your newsletters will be humour free, covering only serious educational subjects and without any attempt to be even the slightest bit funny (only joking). Still 2009 is over and so too, at long last is that great winter distraction the X-Factor (just as well, I was beginning to suffer from Irritable Cowell Syndrome). Celebrity Come Dancing has also ended (unless of course you’re Ms. Farrell who makes her hip-hop/break dancing/tango dance debut in a charity event in the Knightsbrook Hotel in Trim on February 6th. But no one is supposed to know so keep it quiet. P.S. Mr. O’Rourke is one of the judges. Tickets €20.) 

TICK-TOCK, TICK-TOCK, TICK-TOCK

The psychologists tell us that last Monday, the third Monday in January or Blue Monday as it is known is the most depressing day of the year. So clearly the worst is already over. (That’s what you think). Our LCTP Theme for last month was Choices/Options and this month you must complete that process by making your final Decisions. As far as the CAO (the Central Applications Office) in particular is concerned it’s now D-Day.  The CAO processes applications for undergraduate courses in Higher Education Institutions. The closing date for receipt of applications is 5.15pm on February 1st. Apply online at: www.cao.ie  The application fee up until 5.15pm last Wednesday was €35 but now it’s €45. May 1st is the closing date for late applications at a fee of €70 for online applications and €90 for paper applications. This year’s LC Exam Fees will be €109. For Repeats it’s €284.  And just in case you’ve forgotten why going to college is so worth while here are some statistics to remind you.

Unemployment Rates (by education) Figures from July-September 2009

18.4% Primary Schooling
19.2% Junior Cert only
13.5% Leaving Cert only
16.5% Post Leaving Cert only
  8.6% Non Honours Degree
  7.6% Honours Degree and above

In other words the more qualifications you have the less likely you are to be unemployed. QED.

ST. PATS – 1930-2010 - 80 YEARS IN FASHION

St. Patrick’s Classical School first opened its doors in 1930 (and before you ask, no, I wasn’t there that day – I was sick). This year is therefore the 80th anniversary of your Alma Mater and in celebration of that fact Ms. Carroll is putting on a special fashion show (doesn’t she always) in the Newgrange Hotel on March 16th. General tickets €15 Front Row/VIP tickets €20. It’s already shaping up to be quite a night and one thing is guaranteed, it won’t be your run of the mill Show.  Of course Ms. Carroll is looking for Leaving Certs to act as Clothes Presentation Enhancers (models). The proceeds of the night go to the school’s Calcutta Fund so there are no excuses for not being involved. It takes enormous courage to get up on a runway in front of 350 (mostly women) but if you don’t think you can handle that or you’re just too frightened to have a go don’t be in Room 39 at 3.50pm on Monday next (reverse psychology). Be there.

 
RED COW ENDS UP IN CASTLE

In the October edition of Respect you were informed that Debs 2010 was being held in the Red Cow Complex on September 3rd so just to avoid any confusion I repeat - Debs 2010 is being held in Dunboyne Castle Hotel on Monday September 20th. (Hope that’s clear now). Your first instalment of €70 must be paid by February 5th to one of the following: 6P and TY’s Andrew Gavin or Cathal Kennedy; 6T Ciaran Geraghty; 6R Eric Smith or Daire Dalton; 6I Stephen Jordan or John Sheridan; 6C Barry Kirwan or Ross Gore; 6K Patrick Fox or Colin Wickham and if you don’t pay up by then (Feb.5th) your place will not be booked and you will not be able to attend. So there.

LCTP - JANUARY – PREPARATIONS FOR STUDY MONTH

Your teachers tell me that some of you are already showing signs of stress and that is something which needs to be addressed immediately. In one sense stress is good i.e. it shows you really care about doing well and if it is properly managed stress can actually improve your performance. On the other hand stress tends to muddle your brain (more than normal), deplete your energy levels and leave you feeling lethargic (lazy) and unable to get anything finished, none of which is good. The best way to alleviate stress is to remove the cause and the best way to do that is to plan your way forward. In AA (that’s Alcoholics Anonymous not the Automobile Association) participants are taught to take one day at a time and in similar vein it may be a good idea for some of you to move forward in a series of bite sized chunks. For now you should concentrate on the Mocks not on June the 9th (sorry did I just mention June 9th). So in this Newsletter I’m going to focus on the physical conditions of study i.e. when you are at home.

1. If at all possible find yourself a study area where you will not be disturbed. The kitchen table is hardly ideal nor for obvious reasons is the television room. Much as you might like the interruptions, at this stage you simply can’t afford them. Your own or a spare bedroom is probably best and no draping yourself across the bed like some lovelorn Renaissance model.
2. No, you will need a good sized table capable of holding all the books necessary for studying any one subject at any one time. A good solid, straight backed chair is your next requirement. You must sit upright at all times (not slouched like a semi-comotose banana).
3. All the books, copies, pens, pencils, etc. you need should be on shelves nearby with additional reference books within easy reach. To avoid wasting time sorting them out, your books should be left in the same place every day. Procrastination is your enemy. (You have to deal with this now so there no point in putting it off until later). No excuses. No putting things on the long finger. The longer you leave it the harder it becomes. So Just Do It.
4. The room you are studying in should be well lit and warm but well ventilated. When you are sitting in one place for a long time (and you will be) your body temperature drops and rather than turn up the heating have a warm jumper nearby. Something your granny knitted for you.
5. Rubbish In – Rubbish Out – it’s a proven fact (I read it in a book). Listening to music or horror of all horrors keeping one eye on ‘the match’ while you are studying is a disaster. You need exam conditions when studying. So stop fooling yourself and switch them off.
6. Plan each night’s work in advance and that should include regular breaks. Ask someone who loves you? to bring you up a cup of tea/coffee and a biscuit say every 45 minutes. No fizzy drinks. We don’t want to be peeling you off the ceiling at bedtime every night.
7. Tick off the work you have completed. Homework done. Study done. Love that Feeling.
8. Go to bed at a sensible time. No later than 11pm.        

NEW YEAR RESOLUTION

‘Tis the month after Christmas and all through the school/ Not a garment would fit me not even in wool/ The biscuits I’d nibbled, the chocolate I’d taste/ At the holiday parties had all gone to my waist/ So I won’t have a biscuit, not even a lick/ I’ll want only to chew on a long celery stick/ I won’t have hot chocolate or Roses or pie/ I’ll just munch on a carrot and quietly cry/ Now I’m hungry and lonesome and life is a bore/But isn’t that what January’s for/Unable to giggle, no longer a riot/Happy New Year to all – and to all a good diet. (Not to be taken seriously). Eat Healthy. Eat Well.

IMPORTANT DATES

CAO – Feb 1st   *  Mock Exams Wk 1. Feb 8th  *  Reading Week – Feb 15th   * Mock Exams Wk 2. Feb 22nd.
 
Kevin Mallon – LC Year Head