New local initiative to help pregnant mums Last minute exam reminders for Leaving Certs students

Killarney 'Bump room

classes' have been started up by Bridie Kennelly (CORU Registered Physiotherapist and Dietitian.

The Bump Room aims to reassure, motivate and support mums to be to stay fit, strong and confident to exercise in pregnancy. The educational components of the classes are designed to support women during their pregnancy and throughout the postnatal period.

Bridie graduated with a BSc Hons in physiotherapy from the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland in 2014. Her passion for women's health began in 2018 when she worked as a physiotherapist in Cork University Maternity Hospital.

In 2022 she completed a MSc in Human Nutrition and Dietetics from UCC - graduating with a 1st class honours and the UCC award for clinical excellence.

Using her knowledge in physiotherapy and dietetics, Bridie hopes to continue to pursue her passion in women's health and empower women through exercise and nutrition.

Classes are taking place in Killarney on Tuesday evenings at the KDYS. For further information and to book classes please visit https://thebumproom.ie

The final lead up to the exams can be one of the toughest times for Leaving Cert students as you grapple with last minute revision and the natural stress felt as the Leaving Cert becomes the main focus of media attention in early June.

Like any athlete or performer, it will be a lot easier when you actually get started and it is best to try to use exam stress to drive you on rather than immobilise you. It may be hard to imagine at the moment when the exams are all-consuming, that the Leaving Cert, although an important milestone, certainly will not define you. Regardless of what happens in each exam, you will have lots of options available to you and an interesting journey ahead.

Tips For The Exams

Have a schedule of the exams with your exams dates/time highlighted hanging up where it is obvious and visible at home and screenshot the timetable so you have it on your phone. It can be found on www.examinations.ie Have summary notes ready to glance over the night before each exam and make sure you are clear on what questions are compulsory, the marking scheme for each paper and the timing for each question.

Stick to a good routine with a healthy balance of revision, rest, fresh air, sleep and diet. Don’t be tempted to work late at night as it is usually unproductive and impacts on your concentration the following day.

Set 2 alarms for the mornings of exams and allow lots of extra time. You will need to be in your assigned seat in the exam centre at least 30 minutes before the start of the exam on day one and 15 minutes before all other exams. Have any utensils needed for the exam ready the night before.

Hydration is really important during the exams to help with concentration during longer papers, so make sure you have plenty water. A little snack is a good idea too.

The first thing to do when you look at the paper is to read the instructions carefully, your teacher will have gone through these many times with you. Mark all the questions you are going to do and right out a quick time plan for yourself.

Niamh Dwyer is a Guidance Counsellor in Scoil Phobail Sliabh Luachra, Rathmore, and Chairperson of the Kerry Branch of Guidance Counsellors. She is also a Career Consultant. For details see www.mycareerplan.ie or follow MyCareerPlan on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter.

If you feel you are becoming really anxious, focus on controlling your breath to bring a sense of calm. Breathe in through your nose for 2 seconds, hold your breath for 1 second, and breathe out through your mouth for 4 seconds. Repeat for one minute.

Focus on exactly what you are being asked, the most common feedback from examiners is that students give a lot of irrelevant information so keep glancing back at the question to keep yourself on task to target the marks.

Stay in the exam hall as long as possible. Don’t be tempted to leave the minute you finish. Read back over your answers, use all the time you have.

Try to avoid too much discussion after each paper, ‘post-mortems’ of the exams are rarely helpful and can add to stress levels, so once each exam is done, take a break and then move on to preparing for the next one.

Go n-éirí libh ar fad, the very best of luck to each and every one of you!

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Re-opening Sunday 4th June

Muckross Creamery

Pop-up Icecream Parlour

The pop-up will be serving a range of ice-cream flavours including the award winning Crunchy Caramel Pecan, ice cream sundaes and ice-cream cookie sandwiches. Sit and enjoy this premium product in the nostalgic atmosphere of the restored 1820’s farm cottage on the farm in Muckross.

Open Thursday - Sunday from 12 - 6 pm

This ice cream truly is ‘from cow to cone’!

For live classes locations and times visit https://thebumproom.ie

We aim to reassure, motivate and support mums-to-be to stay fit, strong and confident to exercise in pregnancy.

The Bump Room is a safe place for mums-to-be to exercise with instructors who are Chartered Physiotherapists.

The Bump Room is a safe place for mums-to-be to exercise with instructors who are Chartered Physiotherapists.

We aim to reassure, motivate and support mums-to-be to stay fit, strong and confident to exercise in pregnancy.

For live classes locations and times visit https://thebumproom.ie