Girl rising

Recently, all the classes in Transition year watched a movie called Girl Rising. It tells the stories of many different young girls who have fought for an education or to help other young girls. It is a very inspiring movie.
Ms.L gave all of the classes a project, to make a movie about Gender inequality. This is my video

Selling hollys on Dawson street.

  Last Wednesday the whole of TY went into Dublin to sell hollys for the ISPCC. We were in town for ten o'clock, and we went to a hall, where we got out donations box, the holly badges and our ISPCC bibs. We were in pairs, and I was with Hannah and we got put outside Mansion house on Dawson Street.
  Not many people were passing us in the morning, so we decided to cross over the road, because we thought there was more people on that side. We  asked people to support the ISPCC, and loads of people donated money. We got lunch at 1.45, so it was a really long time standing outside, But i didn't mind because it was for a really good cause.
   We brought our boxes back to the hall at quarter to two, and we went to McDonalds for lunch. We went back to the bus at half two, and we went home then.

The end of work experience!

For my first work placement I went to Scoil Uí Dhálaigh, my primary school. I went in every Wednesday for eight weeks. Mostly I worked with the younger kids, in the infants and first and second class. I went to a primary school because I thought I might be interested in primary teaching, but after doing work experience there I don't think I want to. It was a really good placement, and I learnt a lot and got a lot of experience. It was really hard work and I definitely have more respect for teachers now!
 

Schools Across Borders

The Transition year classes are part of a programme called Schools across Borders, run by Darren Irvine. It gives students a chance to connect with other people our age, both nationally and internationally.The programme aims to empower young people to act together for change.
   Last Thursday all the schools part of the programme went to City West hotel in Tallaght. The schools that took part were Caritas College, Mount Temple comprehensive, St.Dominics secondary school, St.Kevins community college and ourselves. Ms.L, Ms.G and Ms.B came with us. Hannah, Laura and I had prepared a powerpoint on Gender Inequality in class, and we presented this first and the other schools gave presentations too. I was really nervous about this, but it went fine. After this we watched a play about conflict in Burma, and it taught us everybody matters, no matter how far away the conflict is. We got lunch after this, and it was chicken goujons and chips, which was so nice!
   We went back into the leisure centre part of the hotel and up into the suites above, and we drew on the 'graffiti wall'. Ms.L had also set up computers so she could teach people how to blog. We did this for about an hour and then we went back inot the main room, where various NGO's had set up tables, and they gave short presentations about their charity. They were really interesting and informative.
  We had to leave a bit early, so we could get back to school on time, so we missed a bit of Darrens presentation.

Science week - Tallaght IT

   This week was Science week, so the whole of TY went to The Institute of Technology Tallaght. We had our first two classes on Monday morning, and then we got the bus with two teacher, Ms.O'C and Ms.C. It took us around forty minutes to get there, and then we got a tour in the Biology and chemistry labs, but we didn't have much time there because the professor had a lecture to go to.
      We then went into one of the lecture rooms, and a professor came in and started talking about extra-ordinary science. He did a few experiments to show that air has weight and showing how pressure increases when the space decreases (He showed us this with a potato gun).
     The talk was really interesting, and afterwards we got to go to liffey valley and have our lunch.

Barcelonaaa!

This coming April the TYs and fifth years are going on a trip to Barcelona. Unfortunately only 45 students can go, so our chaplain, Mr.K, organised a raffle. All the students went to the hall and he called out the names of who got picked, and also 15 people who were on the reserved list, so that if anyone drops out, someone on the reserved list will get the place.
  I was lucky enough to be picked, and I'm so excited! I paid my deposit a few days after, and the tickets will be booked! 6 teachers will be coming with us.
    We will be staying in a hotel in Barcelona for four days, one of which we get to go to PortAventura, a theme park near Barcelona.

portAventura

Work experience

The past two Wednesdays I have been going to a primary school for my work placement. I was a past a past pupil there and i sent them an email over the summer, asking for a work placement and they got back to me and told me i could go there! I was really nervous the first day i showed up but everyone was really friendly. The receptionist gave me a timetable of all the classes i would be with. I started with the junior infants and I helped them with art and reading. Some teachers gave me jobs like organizing bookshelves and cleaning store rooms, but others let me help with lessons and art and other really fun stuff. During the lunch times i went out into the yard and supervised the children playing. I got my break after that, and on the first day i was so nervous and i didn't know where to go so i went to the computer rooms and ate my lunch there. I felt like Cady Heron in Mean Girls.

How I felt in the computer rooms 

But the second day I got the courage to go into the staff room and the teachers were really nice. 

At half two when all the students went home I did office work with the receptionist and I did photocopying and organising papers.I got off at four.

I'm not nervous about going back anymore, And I'm quite excited because i was told i would get to read to some students.