School Conditions

In Saoirse you start school when you are 5 years old and before that you normally go to Montessori. This is a class which you can go to from ages 3-5 years. In Montessori you learn how to read and write. These are the years of primary school you go through in Saoirse:

Montessori (ages 3-5)
Junior infants (ages 5-6)
Senior infants (ages 6-7)
First class (ages 7-8)
Second class (ages 8-9)
Third class (ages 9-10)
Fourth class (ages 10-11)
Fifth class (ages 11-12)
Sixth class (ages 12-13)

When you are finished in primary you have a big disco and then after the summer vacation you start secondary school. During your years in primary school you take a few big steps in your religious life. Here is a paragraph on what they are and what year of school you do them:

The first step is in second class and is when you make your first holy confession. This is when you go to the church at night with your family and the rest your class and their families. Each student chooses one person from their family and goes up to the priest and confesses on of the bad things he has done in his life and then the priest doesnŐt tell anyone at all. The next step is still in second class it is called your First Holy Communion. This one of your biggest steps you ever take in your life as a Christian. It is the first time you ever receive the body and blood of Christ . The third and last step you take in primary school is your Confirmation. This is when you become a stronger Christian or, as they say, a soldier of God.

They are all the steps of Christianity you take while you are in primary school and then you go into secondary school. These are the years of secondary you go through:

First year (ages13-14)
Second Year (ages 14-15)
Third year (ages 15-16)
Fourth year (ages 16-17)
Fifth year (ages 17-18)
Sixth year (ages 18-19)

In secondary school you donŐt go through any steps of Christianity but you do do a lot of important exams and things so I will write you a paragraph on what they are.

The first set of exams are called your "junior cert". These are exams that you take when you are in third year. These exams are to prepare you for which subjects you are going to take for your "leaving cert". Then when you get into fourth year you do a year called "transition year". During this year you can try out some new subjects and do some non-academic things. The last and most important of the things you do in secondary school is your "leaving cert". These are the exams that you must take to get an acceptance to any collage at all.