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. 

Fun walk!

Every year St.wolstans has a fun walk, when everyone in the school dresses up in colours and raises money for different charities. Every year group gets a different colour. First years are pink, Second years are purple, Third years are green, Tys are yellow, Fifth years are blue and sixth years are black and white. We decided to dress up as minions , so everybody got yellow hats and wore goggles. Some people got dungarees, and they looked really good. We put the 'despicable me' theme song and 'wannabe' by the spice girls on a CD together and made a dance to it. We practiced this for days before the fun walk. On the day, Ty classes danced first. The dance went just as planned. The other class dressed as ducks. I had signed up to stand at the junctions along the route of the fun walk and make sure that students weren't getting in peoples way who were coming out of estates. After we got to go back to the basketball court and get drinks.
     Monday morning Ms. S announced who won. In ty class cornaro won. The fun walk was so fun and it was definitely the best one so far!

Carlingford adventure centre

                   On the 16th of September the whole of Ty went to Carlingford adventure centre in Louth. I had been told by last years Tys that the trip was so much fun, so I had high expectations. We got the bus at a Spar near the school at seven in the morning, so I was wrecked. The bus journey was about an hour and a half, and when we got there the people were really welcoming. Straight away we were told that we were going to do some challenges and we walked for what seemed like ages to a field where there were small courses set up. The challenges really made us think, and if we completed one we got gems.
 After coming back to the hostel for lunch we got put into our rooms. I was in with eleven of my friends.
We went into the forest for laser tag in the afternoon. We dressed in camouflage and we were given laser guns and headbands with sensors, so when somebody shot you, you lost a life. There were loads of different games we played, like capture the flag. This was definitely my favourite part of the trip!
     We went back for dinner and we had some spare time to relax and explore the village. We then went into the forest again when it was dark to go on a 'Nightline'. We had to put on blindfolds and walk around the forest, guided by a rope. It was quite scary, but afterwards we got to get a chinese.
     The next day we went kayaking in the bay. It was freezing cold and it was raining. My hands went numb from the cold, but it was really fun. We got to kayak out to a water trampoline and jump off it into the sea.
 After lunch we went back to the place where we did the challenges, and we go to do body zorbing! It was like we were in a giant orange, and our legs were coming out the bottom, so we were able to run around and knock into eachother. We played human bowling and sumo wresting and it was so much fun!
   We goot the bus home at 5, so we were home by 7. Carlingford was the most fun I had  in ages!

Trip to castletown house

 On the 12th of September all of TY went to castletown house, which is a Palladian country house in Celbridge. I've lived so close to castletown house all my life, but I had never taken a tour. It was the day after i got my results, so I was wrecked after celebrating.
   We got the bus down to castletown and we were met by our guide in the old stable house, and she brought us into the front hall. This is where guests would have been greeted. It was decorated with statues and paintings, and the plasterwork on the walls was amazing. We then went into the dining room where apparently the devil played cards with William Connolly, the owner of the house.( a story that seems to be associated with every old house in Ireland.
  The tour was really interesting and I'm really glad I went.

My year outside castletown house.

'Don't forget your hairbrush'

  Because we haven't started work experience yet, we had a workshop last Wednesday. Our teachers didn't tell us what we would be doing, but just told us to bring a hairbrush. I was a bit confused, to say the least. So on wednesday I came in and sat down in a room decorated with Leis, balloons and glitter. Still confused. Turns out we had a workshop on positive thinking. We played games, and our speaker showed us how to access a happy memory to try stay positive in bad situations.
     After lunch we had a different workshop called 'life without limits'. we talked about confidence and how to present yourself when introducing yourself. We all shared embarrassing moments and it really helped me to bond with my new class.
    The last class was a massage workshop. We were showed how to release tension in the shoulders and how to relieve stress by using pressure points. So this was where the hairbrush came in handy.                               The day was great fun, I made new friends and it flew by! more posts soon, Byyyyeee!                     

And it's begun

                    First week in Transition Year 

The first week of Ty is over! I am in the same class as my best friends Hannah and Jennifer so I am delighted about that. We have already started projects in Home.Ec, Geography and Religion. We are doing Junk couture in Home ec, using old recycled materials to make a stylish outfit! Myself, Hannah and Sara have brainstormed loads of ideas, and have come up with a perfect idea. 
  We have a trip planned to a historic trip to Castletown house in my area. I have lived near the house all my life but i would love to learn more. Another trip to carlingford adventure centre has been planned and I'm so excited for that. We get to stay a night there and share a room with our friends.
    More updates soon!