DCU Access Newsletter May 2012

ISSUE 2 May 2012

Access Service News Friday October 14, 2011, saw the biggest event in the Access calendar take place in the Helix Theatre. A day of celebration was held to honour the 21st anniversary of the DCU Access Service, which began in 1990 with just six students, and has grown to over 500 students in the college today.

DCU Access celebrates 21 great years

African drummers from St Michael's Holy Faith, Glasnevin, tutored by Debbie Nic Gabhann, entertained the audience at the celebrations.

The day began with a festival of learning, and guest speakers included Mary Liz Trant of the National Access Office, John Lyons TD, broadcaster and journalist Matt Cooper, and Presidential candidate and Managing Director of Special Olympics Europe/Eurasia Mary Davis. Entertainment was provided by students from our link schools, prompting DCU President Professor Brian MacCraith to comment: “Who needs the X Factor when we From left: Mary Liz Trant, Head of the National Access Office; Ita Tobin, Head of Access; Professor Brian MacCraith, President, DCU; Mary Davis, Managing Director, Special Olympics Europe/Eurasia; Matt Cooper, broadcaster; and, John Lyons TD.

have talent like this?” Several of our link schools also presented

Sinead Delaney, Guidance Counsellor, and students from St Kevin’s College, Finglas.

The participants take a final bow.

poster displays in the foyer of the Helix, with photos of their school and their recent achievements.

CLOCKWISE FROM LEFT: Students from St Aidan’s CBS, Whitehall; Megan Fitzpatrick from St Michael's Holy Faith, Glasnevin finds an unusual dancing partner; students from Margaret Aylward Community College, Whitehall; students from Mercy College Coolock; Nikita Duggan, Pobalscoil Rosmini, Drumcondra receives her award from Jack Hanratty; Sadhbh Elliott, Mater Christi, Finglas receives her award from Breandán de Gallai; and, a packed auditorium at the award ceremony.

Celebrating student achievements

Arts and Culture: Sadhbh Elliott from Mater Christi, Hannah Moore from Margaret Aylward, and Conor Bridgeman from St Aidan’s CBS.

Community Spirit: Luke Madden from St David’s CBS, Jonathan Friel from Beneavin College, and Dean Brown from Colaiste

As part of the 21st anniversary celebrations, we held our annual Achievement Awards.

Dhulaigh.

Sport: Craig Guerin from Grange Community College, and Nikita Duggan from Pobalscoil Rosmini.

Teachers and guidance counsellors from our 23 link schools in the

A number of guest presenters came along on the day to present the

North Dublin area were invited to nominate students in one of five

Outstanding Achievement awards. In the sports category,

categories: Academic; Sport; Arts and Culture; Community Spirit;

presentations were made by Bernard Jackman, former Leinster and

and, Special Nomination. A total of 385 students were nominated,

international rugby star, Philly McMahon, All Ireland medal-winning

and were invited to this celebration of their success along with their

member of the Dublin team, and Jack Hanratty, rugby coach at DCU

parents and family members.

and Leinster Rugby. In the arts and culture section, awards were

Each student received a certificate of recognition, which was

presented by Breandán de Gallai of Riverdance fame, Gillian Duffy,

presented to them by the President of DCU, Professor Brian

former Access student and novelist, and Yvonne Crotty, musician and

MacCraith. One winner and two runners-up in each category were

director of the entertainment for the 21st anniversary celebrations.

awarded a glass plaque to mark their achievement and

In the community spirit category, Access graduates Leylah

commemorate the day. To celebrate the 21st anniversary of the

Mohammed, Karina Kortevich and Noel Carroll made the

Access Service, an additional Outstanding Achievement Award was

presentations, and in the academic category presentations were

presented to an exceptional student in each category. The winners

made by two Access graduates, Ameera Ahmed and Cillian Byrne,

and runners-up in each category were:

and by teacher and Gaelic sports star Paddy Christie.

Academic: Sarah Caruthers from St Michael’s Holy Faith, Aaron

A wonderful day was had by all and we would like to extend our

Trimble from St Kevin’s College, and Luke Stobie Redmond from the

sincerest thanks to all those who helped to make it a very special day

Donahies Community School.

for everyone.

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ACCESS SERVICE NEWS May 2012

Welcome This year the DCU Access Schools Programme had its highest number

We look forward to working with you all again in the coming year.

of participants ever, with approximately 6,800 students taking part in

Very best wishes,

2011/2012. A range of initiatives was available across three main areas:

Ita Tobin

career guidance; personal and professional development; and,

FEEDBACK

academic support – with a primary focus on science and maths.

Many thanks to all the students who participated this year. Thanks also to the teachers, and especially the Guidance Counsellors, without whom this programme would not be possible.

Many thanks to our funders and to the DCU Educational Trust for their continued support, for which we are very grateful.

Ita Tobin Head of Student Recruitment and Access Office

Susan Hawkins Pre-entry Project Officer

If you have any feedback or suggestions abou t our Orla Conlan Access Schools Access Officer Programme email susan.hawkins@d cu.ie

…and now over to our schools…

The Donahies Community School has a long established and valued link with the DCU Access Service. Recently our transition year group was invited to pay a campus visit to DCU.

Donahies students visit DCU flavour of university life. This experience provided our students with

Fifth-year students from The Donahies, Donaghmede with their display at the Helix.

an insight into the numerous faculties of study, lecture halls, state-

with Clarity (the Centre for Sensor Web Technologies). Students

of-the-art library, campus accommodation, sports facilities, and the

were given the opportunity to use advanced handheld technologies

social scene at DCU. Our two tour guides explained how the DCU

to play games and enjoyed themselves immensely.

Access Service helps students throughout their studies, providing for

Through the many initiatives and tours organised by the DCU Access

their educational and personal needs.

Service, third-level study is becoming a reality for our students.

As part of the college experience, Access also arranged workshops

Denise Maguire, Guidance Counsellor, Donahies Community School.

Two guides took us around the campus and gave our students a

Financing your future

or using group work, depending on the topic. Beyond the classroom, there is further discussion at home between parents and student on the lesson. The guidance counsellor supplements the

This programme is kindly sponsored by:

themes of the lessons with their own knowledge and expertise.

At St Mary’s, Glasnevin, a group of fifth years has been participating

‘Financing Your Career – A Career Exploration Programme for

in the programme. For many of the students, this has been their

Senior Cycle Students’ is currently been piloted in DCU Access

first exposure to career exploration. They engaged very positively in

schools in the North Dublin area funded by Citi Foundation.

the class activities and so far, six weeks into the programme, they

The emphasis of the programme is on the students’ career

are finding the process extremely worthwhile. The interactive

exploration and development. The programme consists of four

learning element of the programme is one of the most appealing

areas: self-discovery; future prospects; college/university

aspects for students, and through this they have found that they

application; and, the world of work. Each section contains relevant

understand and learn a great deal more about the options open to

resource material and uses various methodologies to explore

them and the process involved in undertaking further education.

particular themes. The collaboration between student, parent and

This is exactly what is unique about the programme, that it engages

guidance counsellor is central to the programme’s success and is an

with, rather than simply teaches the students about their career

essential part of assisting students with career exploration. The

prospects and development.

student participates in the programme either on their own, in pairs

Frances Devaney, Guidance Counsellor, St Mary’s Holy Faith, Glasnevin.

ACCESS SERVICE NEWS May 2012 3

Doing the math In response to demand from maths teachers and guidance counsellors in our 23 link schools, the DCU Access Service, with the generous support of our sponsors AOL and The Ireland Funds, has put together a comprehensive maths programme for students from first to sixth year.

Maths table quiz On Wednesday April 25, a maths table quiz for first years was held in the Sports Hall in DCU and was attended by over 200 students from our link schools.

The maths programme is kindly sponsored by: The programme began with a series of after-school classes for sixthyear students held on Wednesday afternoons, where experienced tutors helped Leaving Cert students with maths revision. Class sizes

Twenty-four teams took part, answering questions on a range of

were kept small so that a high level of one-to-one tuition could be

maths topics. Spot prizes were also awarded to students in the

given. Sixty students from 12 of our link schools took part in the

audience who correctly answered maths questions. In a hotly

classes and feedback from the schools and students was extremely

contested final few rounds, the clear winners were Team ‘Sputniks’

positive. The DCU Access Service would like to sincerely thank Stuart

from St Aidan’s CBS in Whitehall: Darren Kitchen, Oscar Devlin,

Kehoe of the Centre for Talented Youth Ireland (CTYI), and Annie

Ciaran O’Connor and Adam Power.

Brady, who facilitated these classes, and provided such vital support

There was a four-way tie for second place, which resulted in a sudden

to Leaving Cert students in preparation for their maths exams.

death play-off between the team captains of the joint second place

On Thursday March 8, to celebrate World Science Day (and World

teams from St Aidan’s, Whitehall, St David’s, Artane and St Finian’s,

Maths Day, which fell on March 7), a maths fun workshop was held

Swords. As a result of the play-off, the second and third places both

in the Helix for fifth-year students from our link schools. Five fifthyear maths classes were enthralled by presentations outlining how

Finally, Christine Campbell of Anyone4Maths demonstrated that

maths can be fun. The first speaker, Domhnall O’Hanlon of CTYI,

maths can be fun, quirky and interesting, with demonstrations that

gave a presentation entitled ‘Hit Song Science’, which showed the

featured buses and bowling balls.

relationship between maths and music, how we can use maths to describe sounds, and how maths can be used to predict with great

Maths workshops

accuracy whether or not a song will be a hit.

A series of workshops for students of Higher Level Maths was held in

George Humphrey, who is best known for having written the New

DCU and facilitated by George Humphrey. Over 300 students from

Concise Project Maths Series for Junior Certificate and Leaving

our link schools attended, and we would like to extend our sincerest

Certificate, gave a talk on his own career with maths, and how

gratitude to George for giving up his spare time to conduct these

maths is used in drumming.

valuable workshops.

A fascinating day

in school. Each presentation was fascinating, especially when

My name is Aleksander Nowak, and I’m a senior

students could get involved and answer questions, or when they

student in Colaiste Eoin, Finglas. I participated in

were asked to help. The outcome of the bowling ball experiment

the maths talk in the Helix. I personally think the

was unexpected and made us think even more about maths,

initiative was really successful. Students were

science and everyday objects. There were a lot of benefits to the

shown a way of solving maths problems in the real

group. We found out how important maths is and that it is used in

world, e.g., the music industry, which was way more interesting.

everyday life, and we also learnt that maths does not have to be

My favourite presentation was with Mr George Humphrey, who

boring and can be done in a fun way. As a student, I am even more

showed his own ways of solving mathematical problems, which

interested in maths after this presentation; I think it was a great

was logical and fun at the same time. I found a few of Mr

initiative and would like to thank DCU for the opportunity to attend

Humphrey’s methods of solving easier than the ones I have learnt

this event.

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ACCESS SERVICE NEWS May 2012

Aleksander Nowak, Colaiste Eoin.

Junior Cert revision

went to teams from St Finian’s: the ‘Swords Celts’ and the ‘Boru Warriors’.

During the Easter break, over 100 students from 14 schools linked

We would like to thank our quizmaster,

to DCU and three schools linked to the Dublin Institute of

Domhnall O’Hanlon, for the amazing

Technology came to DCU for Junior Cert higher and ordinary level

job that he did on the day, and also

revision classes.

Annie Brady, who wrote the quiz questions. Also, a big thank you goes

Revision review

out to our sponsors, AOL, and in particular Diarmuid Gill, AOL Technical Director,

On Tuesday April 10, we went to DCU for maths grinds. The

and Laura Scanlan, AOL HR

teacher’s name was Ms Brady. We started with Paper 1 and we

Manager, who came along

found it very helpful because she explained it so that we could

to support the teams on the

understand it better. She showed step by step how to solve the

day and presented the

maths problems. On Thursday we started Paper 2, and Ms Brady

medals to the winning teams.

asked the group if we needed help with any topic.

We thought the grinds were very helpful, as Ms Brady made it easier to understand the methods and formulae. I would strongly

Above: Students from St Finian’s, Swords receiving their prizes from Laura Scanlan, HR Manager, AOL. Right: St Aidan’s CBS Whitehall were the eventual winners, including Darren Kitchen, Oscar Devlin, Ciaran O'Connor and Adam Power.

advise any third year who gets the chance to do these grinds to take it, because we found them brilliant and we think that they will help us, not only for exams but for our future studies. We really appreciate the DCU Access Service for the grinds and we are really grateful.

Chloe Deegan and Gavin Deegan, third-year students, The Donahies Community School, Donaghmede.

Maths outreach programme

This year, students from second year to Leaving Cert participated in the programme. DCU tutors were recruited through the Maths Learning Centre, while BITE recruited the students at second level.

The programme ran for 16 weeks and took place on Wednesday afternoons from 2.30pm to 3.30pm. The Trinity Comprehensive students found the individual support helpful and DCU students also gained confidence in progressing with challenging content.

Junior Cert student Carla Troy, Trinity Comprehensive, Ballymun with tutor Marie Doyle from DCU.

Junior Cert student Carla Troy greatly enjoyed the programme, as: “I get things explained to me and understand it better”. Her tutor Marie Doyle, a final-year financial maths student, commented: “I like the idea of helping students to understand maths as I enjoy maths”. Tutor Kim Sweeney enjoys “seeing the girls’ progress, and

As part of the Maths Tuition Programme, DCU students provide free

it’s so rewarding seeing students get work right”. Exam year

one-to-one or small group maths tuition to pupils in Trinity

students find it helpful to practice exam papers with support from

Comprehensive School. It is a joint initiative between the Maths

students who recently sat the Leaving Cert. Second-level students

Learning Centre in DCU, the DCU Access Service and the Ballymun

are also afforded the unique opportunity to get a sense of what

Initiative for Third Level Education (BITE). This initiative aims to raise

college life in DCU is like through chatting to their tutor each week.

the profile of maths throughout the entire student body in Trinity

We would like to sincerely thank our sponsors, AOL and The Ireland

Comprehensive School, and raise the confidence and results of

Funds, for their support in making these maths initiatives a success.

students in all years, in particular those taking Junior and Leaving Certificate examinations.

Michelle King, BITE.

ACCESS SERVICE NEWS May 2012 5

Discover DCU Young Social Innovators In November 2011, the DCU Access Service began the latest of its successful ‘Discover DCU’ workshops.

Students from St Aidan’s, Whitehall who took part in the programme.

This programme is kindly sponsored by: The aim of these workshops was to introduce transition and fifthyear students to college life. Nineteen of our link schools

the schools continued with a series of follow-on workshops, which

participated in the programme, and in February of this year, 12 of

were run in collaboration with Young Social Innovators (YSI).

Gemma Byrne, Guidance Counsellor, St Aidan’s CBS, had the

students from other schools and discuss a wide range of different

following to say about the programme:

social issues that affect them and the wider community.

Our students have decided to work on the issue of raising

YSI is Ireland’s largest social awareness and active citizenship and

awareness of testicular cancer among young males. They are

education programme for 15- to 18-year-olds. Its main goal is to

currently researching the issue and working on a poster to display

get young people involved in action that helps to improve the lives

their findings.

of others in their community.

The students commented that they found being involved in YSI

Eight fifth-year students from St Aidan’s CBS were delighted to be

motivational and inspirational. They particularly enjoyed working

involved in this year’s awareness-raising competition. The students

with students from other schools, learning about social issues and

really enjoyed the afternoon in DCU, where they got to work with

exploring their own talents and interests.

Rugby star inspires students

Some comments from the students regarding the session include: “Bernard told us there are certain ways to motivate yourself. He talked about enjoying yourself, practising, being focused and most importantly believing in yourself.”

“I enjoyed the experience of having a professional rugby player in school to talk to us. He encouraged us to focus on our positives rather than our negatives, and used Brian O’Driscoll as an example of this.”

“No matter what your circumstances you can always reach your dreams.” a jockey, along with stories about other famous rugby players, and

Bernard Jackman poses with some students from St Kevin’s College, Finglas.

rugby injuries such as cauliflower ears and losing your teeth. The feedback from students was extremely positive, and the link

In December former Leinster and Irish rugby player Bernard Jackman

between goal setting and improving performance in sport and

visited third-year and fourth-year students in St Kevin’s College,

school was clearly received.

Finglas, to pass on the skills he used to achieve success on the rugby field, and explain how the students in St Kevin’s could use the idea

Sinead Delaney, Guidance Counsellor, St Kevins.

The science of rugby

of goal setting to improve their academic success. He spoke to students about his experience of life as a professional rugby player with Leinster and Ireland, and the commitment and dedication required to achieve such prizes as the Heineken Cup, Triple Crown and Grand Slam. Bernard showed students the motivational video used to inspire the Leinster rugby team prior to their Heineken Cup semi-final success against Munster in 2009.

Students participated in an engaging question and answer session, during which they discovered Bernard’s former ambition to become

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ACCESS SERVICE NEWS May 2012

Jack Hanratty of Leinster Rugby assisted three second-year students from St David’s, Artane, who investigated whether coaching rugby would help autistic children to improve their teamwork and develop their social skills. The St David’s boys viewed a rugby programme for autistic children in Grange Community College first, and then conducted their own coaching session.

Student shadowing Student Shadowing continues to build on a decade of success, with 21 out of 23 of our link schools participating this year.

A total of 182 transition and fifth-year students spent two days in DCU paired up with first-year and second-year DCU students who had similar course interests. The students attended lectures, went to labs, and had access to the library and restaurants. It was DCU music week on campus for week one, which created a great buzz, and showed the students the fun aspect of coming to college. It really helped to differentiate university from school and the students enjoyed participating in these campus activities.

The feedback from students indicated that college has now become a real possibility for them. Comments included: “I would like to thank my DCU student for his great help throughout the day. I am now totally convinced that I want to attend DCU”; and: “The whole atmosphere in the place was amazing”. A number of students commented about how they were made to feel welcome by lecturers in classes and they really appreciated this.

Damilola Gjajabismila, DCU Student Ambassador.

Easter revision 2012

study skills and approaches to the Leaving Cert exam. The teachers were more than helpful.

During the Easter holidays, I took part in a four-day revision course

After the course I now feel confident about sitting the Leaving Cert.

in St Patrick’s College, Drumcondra. It was part of the DCU Access

It was a nine to five day like any other school day and it was an

Programme and I really enjoyed the programme. I took part in three

experience that I will never forget. I would like to thank the DCU

classes: French, Irish and biology.

Access Service for an amazing, unforgettable experience.

The programme was extremely helpful and helped motivate me

Orla Maguire, sixth-year student,

towards bigger goals. I made new friends and learned loads of new

The Donahies Community School, Donaghmede.

Centre for Academic Achievement

highlighted the lack of support for bright students in disadvantaged areas. The goal is to encourage students who traditionally would not have access to university towards an academic path and to fulfil their potential. There was no charge to the students, their families or the schools for participating in the programme.

Each school is given the opportunity to send two pupils from fourth, fifth or sixth class to CAA classes each term. Classes take place after school on Wednesdays, from 3.15 to 4.45pm, and students study one topic for six Wednesdays. Each class has a maximum of 20 children. In 2012 students have taken classes in medicine, chemistry, computers and animation, code breaking, volcanoes and earthquakes, and the world of Harry Potter. The

The Centre for Academic Achievement (CAA) programme has

courses are made as fun and hands-on as possible. (For example if

allowed over 1,000 primary school students from north Dublin

the children are studying chemistry they will get to do their

DEIS schools to attend special classes at DCU since the programme

experiments in a DCU science laboratory.) On the last teaching day

was established in 2006. The programme is a collaboration

of each term there is a graduation ceremony in DCU, which parents

between the Access Service and the Irish Centre for Talented Youth

and teachers can attend. More than 3,000 people have attended

(CTYI) at DCU. The decision to start these classes was taken after a

these award ceremonies since the project began.

needs analysis report from local primary school principals

Colm O’Reilly, Director, CTYI.

ACCESS SERVICE NEWS May 2012 7

An Access success story DCU business studies graduate Keith Grehan, who is now a financial reporter with CitiGroup, recently took time out to speak to second-level students about his experience of the DCU Access Service.

Moving towards work During my work experience year (INTRA) in DCU, I worked for a company called Olympia Capital Ireland. I built a strong relationship with my manager there and by the time I finished my degree, he was working for CitiGroup. After I got my results, I emailed him to see if there were any positions available in Citi and he was able to get me an interview. Citi offered me a job and I have been working there ever since. I worked in my first job for two years, which gave me valuable experience. When I needed a fresh challenge, I was able to move internally within Citi and progress my career with them.

Keith Grehan and students from The Donahies Community School, Donaghmede.

The ‘Guiding The Way Forward – Helping to Finance Your Future’

I went to school in St Declan’s College in Cabra. I was never a

Access Service and the School of Education Studies in DCU, is an

straight A student, but I worked hard and stayed out of trouble. I

amazing opportunity for students. This is not something that was

started thinking about going to college during transition year. My

available to me when I was in school and it would have been

dad was a gas fitter by trade and from a young age I always assumed

beneficial if it had been. If students can start to understand about

I would follow him into that line of work. Unfortunately, he passed

the importance of saving, budgeting and not getting into debt now,

away when I was 13 and after that I knew that I would do something

it will help them throughout their college and work life. If students

different. However, my mam and dad didn’t attend college

are receiving grants, it can be very easy to go out and spend the

themselves, so at that stage I did not consider that option.

money on things that aren’t essential. This programme gives

My sister was the first in our family to go to college. She applied for

students the tools so that they can become responsible for their

the DCU Access programme, and when she was accepted I knew

finances.

programme, which Citi is supporting and which is being run by the

that studying in DCU was an option for me too. Of course, I had to do well in my Leaving Certificate first. I decided I wanted to do business studies in DCU; however, I did not get enough points.

Luckily, the Access programme compensated for the points I didn’t get (I think it was about 20 points). Looking back, I should have

With the Access Service to support students, there’s no stopping anyone from achieving a degree.

studied that little bit harder and would have preferred to have

To be given the opportunity to come back to DCU and talk to the

earned all the points on my own merit.

students from Mercy College Coolock and The Donahies Community School about my journey through college and my

Finding your feet

career so far, was a real privilege. I am only 25 so my career journey

The transition from school to college can be difficult. When you are

is nowhere near finished, but being able to provide some advice to

in school, teachers make sure that you are studying, but college isn’t

those students was a brilliant experience and is something I never

like that. You study and do the work on your own; there is no one

thought I would get the chance to do. I really wanted to get across

to chase after you to make sure it is done. When I was in first year, I

to the students from those schools that it isn’t beyond any of them

didn’t do as much work as I should have: I was too busy enjoying

to go on to third-level education. As I said that day: if I could do it,

college life. However, I realised that it is important to develop a

so can any of them. All it takes is a bit of hard work and belief in

healthy work–life balance, and I would advise students who are

yourself, and before you know it, you will be on a path to a fantastic

currently studying for their Leaving Cert to try to find that balance.

career. Also, with programmes like the Access Service acting as a

Ensure that you are doing the correct amount of studying, while still

support system to aid student development before and during

doing the things you enjoy. If you can develop that skill now, it will

college, there is no stopping anyone from achieving the goal of a

carry all the way through college and into your future career.

degree or a masters.

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ACCESS SERVICE NEWS May 2012