Enterprising Longford students produce the ‘Big Move 2 Big School’ booklet

An enterprising group of first year students in Moyne Community School have produced a booklet on the transition from Primary to Secondary School.

This project was the brainchild of Moyne CS students, Bronwyn McGarry, Holly McIntyre, Gavin Murphy, and Michael Murtagh, and it aims to help young people navigate one of their major milestones, the transition into Secondary School. Mr Doherty spotted their potential while introducing the Student Enterprise Awards to his class.

The Big Move 2 Big School which is in a book format, hopes to help ease the transition from 6th Class to 1st year. Some studies have shown that mental health can come under stress with the move from Primary School to Secondary School, which the group noticed in some of their peers. So, they made a book, drawing on the collective experience of their first year, to try and help future first years.

“Secondary School preparation all starts in 6th class really,” notes Holly McIntyre with Bronwyn McGarry readily agreeing. “Yes, and this book tries to take the mystery out of secondary school. You probably know lots of people every year in your new school just like in primary school and we forget that sometimes.”

Feedback for the book has been positive and “even if some of the stuff it says is obvious” notes Gavin Murphy “it’s great to see that moving school is being acknowledged as a big change that you might feel nervous or excited about”.

Michael Murtagh also feels this project “gave us all a chance to experience the independence that secondary school gives, with decisions and deadlines being made by us, hopefully the right ones!”

The book will be available through local Primary Schools, direct from Moyne CSat a cost of €2 or can be ordered by email to [email protected]

The students took part in the Junior Category of the Longford Final of the Student Enterprise Awards in the Longford Arms on Tuesday, March 21 .