St. Farnan's Post Primary School has been participating in the Skills@Work Programme since 2014.
On Wednesday, February 27th, 35 of our Fifth Year Students were the latest cohort to have benefited from participation in this excellent initiative which sees our students mentored and guided by a large and committed team of volunteers from SAP Ireland, coordinated by the company's coordinator, Victoria Carroll.
The Skills@Work Programme, which is managed by the Business in the Community organisation, BITC, sees students participate in a series of workshops, visits to the partner company and mock interviews, all of which afford them a greater insight into the world of work and assist them in preparing for making choices and decisions regarding the next phase of their education and career.
The final 'Wrap Session', held in the school in the presence of the Principal, Mr. Collins, 5th Year Head, Ms. Bracken, Liam Ryan, Managing Director of SAP Ireland, Victoria Carroll, SAP Coordinator, Orla O'Dwyer, Regional Coordinator of BITC, parents and local members of the press, saw the students showcase their journey through the Skills@Work Programme and receive their certificates of completion from Liam Ryan.
Prior to presenting the certificates, both Victoria Carroll and Liam Ryan from SAP Ireland were effusive in their praise of the students from St. Farnan's, saying that they were a credit to their parents and their school and that they had impressed the staff from SAP doing the Mock Interviews so highly that many of them commented that they would have outperformed some graduates who had been interviewed for real positions within the company recently.
Liam Ryan also commented that he was very impressed by their confidence and their presentations, noting that for many of them it would have been unthinkable before their participation in this project that they would have stood up in front of their peers and an invited audience and spoken so well. He urged the students to strive to attain their goals and reminded them that with good preparation, anything is possible. He also mentioned that SAP Ireland are looking for new staff and that they are particularly keen to recruit STEM and Languages graduates, so that they are good avenues to consider in the future.
Mr. Collins said that he was extremely proud of the students who had performed in an exemplary fashion throughout the programme and he was sure that they would reap the benefits of this experience in the future. Echoing Liam Ryan's words, he too urged the students to stay focused on their goals and told them that with hard work and preparation, the world is their oyster.
Both Liam Ryan and Mr. Collins extended their thanks to Victoria Carroll and to Ms. Flanagan, for their commitment to the programme and for their dedication in ensuring that the programme has worked so well and been so beneficial to both the students of St. Farnan's and to the staff of SAP Ireland who have volunteered on it since its inception five years ago.
Huge thanks to all the students who participated this year and who worked so well together to ensure that the Wrap Session was a great success and an occasion to be proud of.
Special thanks to Brona and the members of the school's Trad. Group whose musical welcome was much appreciated by all present, to Brionnagh who made the fabulous celebration cake and to Sarah and Molly who were the artists responsible for the Artwork presented to SAP Ireland in recognition of their valuable friendship with our school.
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