Johnson & Johnson Vision Care / ACUVUE
BTE teachers had an opportunity to work with J&J volunteers to learn about careers in STEM industries, apprenticeship opportunities for their students and modern interviewing skills and techniques. The teachers were eager to return to pass on newly acquired information to their BTE students.
Bridge to Employment session Thursday 10th December 2020 invited students from BTE Bracknell (Easthampstead Park Community School) and BTE Limerick (Thomond Community College and Ardscoil Mhuire) to take part in an online session. This session was designed to bring together two sites of different years in their BTE journey to learn from each other and to work together on a collaborative workshop ‘Plastic Oceans’ designed by volunteers from J&J Vision Care Limerick.
Students, teachers and school Principals from both Thomond Community College and Ardscoil Mhuire were treated to a motivational presentation by Nicola Connolly-Byrne from I AM Positive Mindset. Nicola shared her story from early school days to where she is today and how she was motivated to become the “captain of her own ship”. The BTE students were encouraged to think about what their expectations were for their future and to find their purpose! Career Guidance Counsellor Mary O’Sullivan from Thomond Community College commented “The presentation really highlighted to the students the importance of having belief in themselves. Nicola gave them a valuable insight into her own journey and in particular emphasised how she took responsibility for achieving her own dreams.”
BTE Limerick students and their fellow 6th year students all took part in ‘Rayse the Game’ a Motivational, Study Skills, Anxiety Management Livestream programme in December 2022. The programme was delivered by Ray Langan of ‘Rayse the Game’ who gave students tools to help them conquer their fears and anxiety, set goals and how to make study as productive as possible.
35 students were given the valuable opportunity to sit a mock interview thanks to the support of 7 J&J Vision volunteers. This was the first time that most of the students sat an interview. They were extremely nervous but were soon put at ease by the J&J interviewers who gave them both verbal and written feedback on completion.
The feedback from students and teachers was extremely positive and we know that this interview opportunity will stand to our BTE students in the future.
Thank you to all involved
Thanks to support of the BTE project 13 students took part in Christmas Revision Courses in Limerick. The students submitted their requests for extra support in areas such as Maths, Physics, Accounting, English, Irish and this was provided externally in day long subject specific revision courses.
Students reported that the Christmas Revision course and notes provided were extremely helpful in aiding them to prepare for their upcoming State Exams.