CARA Programme

Week 1, (week of 3rd September)

Introduction

• Mentors to individually introduce themselves to the class
  • Name, class and how long you have been in the school
  • One Mentor to give an overview of the CARA Programme

• Group Contract
  • To include things like listening and respect
  • Explain the Talking Piece
  • Everything is recorded on a flipchart

• Opening Circle
  • Using the Talking Piece, each person to state their name and say how they got it – were they called after a family person or someone famous – or what it means

• Discussion – Hopes & Fears
  • In pairs, the 1st years are asked to complete the Hopes & Fears sheet
  • Ask for feedback
  • The sheets are then handed to the Mentors and kept for future reference

• Ask if there are any questions from the first years and remind them that they can talk to any of the Mentors outside of the session about anything that may be troubling them

• Closing Circle
  • Using the Talking Piece, each person to say one thing they are looking forward to during the school year

Week 2, (week of 10th September)

Practical Things

• Opening Circle
  • Using the Talking Piece, each person to introduce themselves and name one thing about themselves that everyone else might not know

• Game
  • Human Bingo: each person is given a Bingo Card, they then have to go around the room and find people who fit that description and ask them sign on that box. When a person has the page filled they shout ‘BINGO’, the first person to complete their card wins a bar of chocolate

• Discussion – Practical Things
  • Quiz; the class is asked 10 questions about the school (Dave re questions – who, what when, where, why)
  • Each 1st year is asked to complete a Practical Information Rate the Statement sheet
  • Ask for Feedback on the different statements

• Ask if there are any questions from the 1st years and remind them that they can talk to any of the Mentors outside of the session about anything that may be troubling them

• Closing Circle
  • Using the Talking Piece, each person to say….???

Week 3, (week of 17th September)

Zip It

What is expected of the Mentors beforehand in helping to organise…??
What is expected of the Mentors during the trip…??

Week 4, (week of 24th September)

Subjects

• Opening Circle
  • Using the Talking Piece, each person to say what their favourite and least favourite subjects are – Mentors to record each subject listed

• Game
  •  A Line of Names: Ask the group to stand in the centre of the room and tell them that they cannot speak for this game, that they can only use sign language. Ask them to line up according to the first letter of their name, with those beginning with A at the top of the room. If there are a few A’s, go by the second letter, etc. Once they are in a line, ask them to then line up by height and finally by their birthdays, month and day.

• Discussion – Subjects
  • Go back to the list of subjects from the Opening Circle and ask the following questions
    — What is it about this subject that is good/bad?
    — Can you share some ideas with each other on how to manage this?
  • End the discussion with some tips from the Mentors on coping with the more difficult subjects

• Ask if there are any questions from the first years and remind them that they can talk to any of the Mentors outside of the session about anything that may be troubling them

• Closing Circle
  • Shake Out: The first person shakes an arm, as if trying to shake their hand off the end of their arm; the next person joins in, then the next, then the next… As the movement is going around the circle, the first person starts shaking both arms; again they are copied by the next person. The first person keeps adding in more movements.

Week 5 , (week of 1st October)

Homework

• Opening Circle
  • Using the Talking Piece, each person to say…??

• Game
  • Catch: The group is sitting in a circle. Using a soft ball, the first person calls another person and throws the ball to them. They catch the ball and name and throw the ball to another person. After 2 minutes add in another ball. After another 2 minutes, add in a third ball.

• Discussion – Homework
  • Ask the group some questions on homework, do they think it is important, how long do they spend on it, is there much difference from primary school, etc.
  • Ask the class for suggestions on good homework and study techniques – such as taking notes in class and study groups – take notes on the flipchart
  • Give the 1st years a copy of the Study Tips Handout

• Ask if there are any questions from the first years and remind them that they can talk to any of the Mentors outside of the session about anything that may be troubling them

• Closing Circle
  • Using the Talking Piece, each person to say….???

Week 6, (week of 8th October)

Relationships

• Opening Circle
  • Using the Talking Piece, each person to tell the group about any pets they have.

• Game
  • Groups; Ask everyone to stand in the centre of the room. Explain that you are going to call out headings and participants need to form groups depending on the answer. For example the leader says “get into groups according to eye colour”, the 1st years then have to find everyone with the same eye colour as them and make a group. Other headings could include: What primary school they went to, What their favourite subject is, What sports team they support, How they travel to school or favourite food.

• Discussion – Relationships
  • Each 1st year is asked to complete a Relationships Rate the Statement sheet
  • Follow up questions to ask:

    — What is it about your favourite teacher that makes them your favourite?

    — Do you have different friends now than in primary school?

    — What do you do if someone you know is being bullied?

• Ask if there are any questions from the first years and remind them that they can talk to any of the Mentors outside of the session about anything that may be troubling them

• Closing Circle
  • Using the Talking Piece, each person to say….???

Week 7, (week of 15th October)

Involvement in School

• Opening Circle
  • Using the Talking Piece, each person to say…??

• Game
  • Greetings; Have the group stand up. Tell them to walk around and shake hands with everyone, saying hello with no facial expression. Next have them walk around and shake hands with everyone and just smile at the person. Lastly, get them to walk around and shake hands with everyone while laughing out loud.

• Discussion – Relationships
  • Each 1st year is asked to complete a Involvement in School Rate the Statement sheet
  • Have a discussion on the most popular ones
  • Talk about how being involved in things is good for your positive mental health
    (go through the top tips)
  • Go through the list of everything that is available

• Ask if there are any questions from the first years and remind them that they can talk to any of the Mentors outside of the session about anything that may be troubling them

• Closing Circle
  • Using the Talking Piece, each person to say one thing that makes them happy

Week 8, (week of 22nd October)

Evaluation

• Opening Circle
  • Using the Talking Piece, each person to say…??

• Game
  • Celebrity Name Game; One of the Mentors to name a famous person, the 1st years then in turn name another famous person whose first name starts with the last letter of the previous named person.

• Discussion – Relationships
  • Have the 1st years complete an Evaluation Sheet
    Follow up questions…..
    Next Steps….

• Ask if there are any questions from the first years and remind them that they can talk to any of the Mentors outside of the session about anything that may be troubling them

• Closing Circle
  • Using the Talking Piece, each person to say …??