Highlights of
Transition Year 2008/2009
Transition Year Activities
2008-2009
Every year the
Transition Year classes take part in a wide variety of activities. The
following is a sample of some of the activities the classes participated in
this year.
DUBLIN
In November, we went to the big city
of
Dublin where our first stop was the National Concert Hall where we listened
to the RTE concert orchestra. We then had time and went for a surprise
shopping trip to Grafton Street for an hour or two. We then walked to
Dublin
Castle where a few of the girls (not mentioning any names) fell in love with
our tour guide Danny. We had to drag them, kicking and screaming, out of
Dublin castle with them shouting at him. We then got back on the bus but
wasn’t on long when we had to get off to go shopping in Liffey Valley - what
we were all waiting for. We had a few hours of eating and shopping. We then
piled back on the bus for a long journey home. We had a great day.
ECDL
As
part of our Transition Year programme we study ECDL for four classes every
week. It is a very interesting and rewarding programme. It is also
impressive to have on your CV for future employers and helpful in almost any
area of work. There are 7 areas to focus on, and therefore 7 tests to be
sat. In order to pass each of these tests, you must have obtained 75% or
more. At the end of the year, you get a certificate according to how many of
the modules you have passed.
Glendalough
On Friday the fifth of September 2008 we went to Glendalough to complete a
24km walk for our Bronze Gaisce. The whole Transition Year went. We stayed
in a self-catering hostel which meant that we had cook our own meals. Now
that was fun!! That evening when we had finished our dinner we had a talent
show, which we only had about ten minutes to prepare for. But the acts were
really good. The next morning we were very tired because the day before we
had walked 12km and we still had to walk another 12km. The weather was not
as bad on Saturday as it was Friday. Friday was really wet and windy but
Saturday wasn’t too bad.
Transition Year Drama Festival
On Monday February 9th, 4.1 travelled to Macroom to participate
in the semi finals of “The Transition Year Drama Festival 2009”. Their drama
was titled “The Fall and Rise of Sir Wind n’ Burp” written by our very own
Ms Fennelly. The girls gave a wonderful performance, each and everyone of
them, so much so that the judges couldn’t criticise them or their efforts!
After a couple of long, anxious days waiting for a phone call, we received
the great news that the girls had reached the All-Ireland Final - the last
twelve - out of sixty other dramas in the country. This was a great
achievement in itself for both Ms Fennelly and the school but an
extraordinary achievement for the girls after all their hard work and
dedication.
They returned to The Briery Gap Cultural Centre in Macroom on Feb 28th
for the All-Ireland Final. Again they gave an outstanding performance and
were awarded a Special Adjudicator’s Prize. “Lady Lucy”, who was played
spectacularly by Ciara Kehoe, was recognised for her great performance as
the leading lady.
Many thanks to all involved, especially Ms Fennelly, without whom it
couldn’t have happened.
Orienteering
On Thursday 6 November the two classes
of transition year students traveled to
Kennedy
Park to participate in a day of orienteering. When we arrived we were split
into two groups. Each group then, with the help of the instructors, set up a
practice course for the other group to complete. When we had finished this
we were broken up into groups of four and each group then completed the same
course again, except this time each group was being timed. Finally each
group ran the course again and again was timed. The teams who completed the
course in the shortest amount of time won.
Volleyball
Last December fifteen of us volunteered to
become volleyball coaches to primary school students. We had one full day of
training for becoming coaches. We gave up our lunchtimes on Mondays and
mornings on Fridays. We then coached our own groups of between 20 and 24
students, how to play volleyball. On Friday 13th of March, all of
the volleyball coaches held a Blitz in the sports hall. There were 92
primary school students from various schools around, competing for prizes.
Graham (from the Volleyball Association of Ireland) came to watch the blitz.
One group of students got very into it by designing their own personalised
t-shirts with their team name, Digging Divas, printed across the front. When
it was all over we had a small presentation for the students who took part.
They all received a medal, small bag of popcorn and a carton of orange
juice. The three winning teams received trophies which we had made
especially by the CWCW. We all enjoyed it fully and were happy we took
part. Some of the coaches will have the chance to continue their coaching
skills if they are lucky enough to be picked by the association and PE
teachers.
Samba
Drumming
Tuesday 13th January a
Drogheda man called Kieran came to our school to teach us how to samba drum
and to perform a routine. We started by warming up with different routines
which involved remembering different rhythms with out feet and hands which
tested everyone’s memory. We then got into groups and had to make up a
performance which involved these rhythms we had learned. When we were
finished performing these for our class we then got to try out the different
drums and percussions for ourselves, Kieran would do a routine first and we
would listen and do it after him. Every girl got to try out the different
instrument with a different routine. Near the end we learned off a routine
which involved the variety of size drums and the different percussions
getting together and we performed in front of the 1st years that
enjoyed listening to us!
Film
Studies Day
On
the 27th of March we had a film studies day. Siobhan Ward and
Anna Rogers from the “Cross the Line” production company came in to talk us
through all the stages of making a documentary film. They showed us some of
their latest projects, some of which included documentaries recently shown
on RTE and a film which will be shown in cinemas later on in the year. Also
some of the girls got to try their hand at interviewing each other about TY
in front of the camera. At the end of the day they also took some shots of
the class on the camera which will be shown at the TY graduation night!
Sports leadership!
As
part of our Ty year. We do a sports leadership course. This course shows us
how to manage large groups and show them different games to show them that
they do not have to be inside playing the like of play station or Nintendos
or anything like that. They can also enjoy a healthy and fun life playing
outside. For the first few weeks we did different activities ourselves
trying to find different games to suit children of different ages. After a
while we started to go down to the children and play the different games and
help them to feel fit and healthier while they play outside. At the end of
our course we re-decorated the playground of St. Joseph’s national school
New Ross.
Opera
On the Thursday the 16 of October we
went to Wexford opera house. We left at 10.20 that morning and got a bus
from the school to Wexford. There we went to the Opera house and were seated
for the show. Nobody really understood what was going on for the most of
the show and by the end of it we were completely lost! Afterwards we got to
walk about the town for an hour or so to eat and shop. That was probably the
best part of the day!
Psycho
Spaghetti
A
random name for one of the most random shows I have ever seen. On a Thursday
afternoon all of TY set off to the theatre not really knowing what to
expect. TY’s from the Good Counsel, CBS and Holy Faith and LCA’s from the
Good Counsel all filed into the theatre and took their seats. We all waited
for the show to begin. Ger walked in slow motion onto the stage and we all
wondered what we had sat down to watch. He began to mime a classroom and I
can honestly say I was worried. I worried we were going to be sitting for
two hours watching some random man doing a mime. But then he turned to us
and started talking about teenage life. He spent the next two hours
describing the way we lived, but so much funnier. Every aspect of teenage
life, from school to first loves to first kisses, he went through them all.
For many weeks afterwards, and still today, we laugh about this show and it
was another one of the TY activities that we loved so much!!
Childline
Talk
During
the year, a woman who worked for Childline visited our school to explain to
us what Childline is about and how it works. The woman gave us a brief
description on what the organisation does. It has phone lines set up so that
children can ring in whether it may be a minor or serious problem. It’s a
free call number. The number is 1800 66 66 66. It’s a voluntary
organisation which means not as many people are doing it as there could be.
In 2007 alone, child line received 294808 calls. It was a good talk and we
learned a lot.
Poetry
Workshop
On Wednesday the 21st
of January we had a slam poetry workshop. A Limerick poet called Steven
Murray visited the 4:1’s in the morning and the 4:2’s in the afternoon. He
did the exact same workshop with both classes because in the afternoon he
would run a competition to find amateur poets to compete in a slam poetry
competition in Waterford. When he came in he introduced himself and told us
a bit about what slam poetry is. He told us that it was not like normal
poetry (which we soon discovered!) and that we could use any kind of
language in it. He then recited a poem he wrote himself. He said that he
could have made that poem boring or interesting because it’s all in the
presentation. To show us this he divided us into four groups. Each group was
to present their poem like a certain group of people. The groups were gospel
preachers, priests, D4’s and rappers. Afterwards he got us to answer
questions (like what’s your favorite food and why) and said that we could
recite it to someone we love. He read out some and dedicated it to the
girl’s boyfriends, to which they went very red! After lunch he got the two
classes together and got them to write their own poems. He then got girls up
who wanted to recite them. They had to recite them in front of all the TY’s
and a panel of judges which consisted of five TY girls. They gave each poet
a mark out of ten. When all the scores were added up the top three went
through to a final in Waterford in May. The three girls that made it through
were Nóirín Murphy, Ciara Kehoe and Aisling Rowe.
Modules
Every Tuesday afternoon our Transition Year girls have the chance to mingle
with the boys from Good Counsel College’s Transition Years for modules.
These vary from year to year but this year included cooking with Mrs. Mahon,
environmental studies with Mr. Quigley, dancing with Catherine Ronan and
community care with Mrs Wallace and the local community workshops and
nursing homes.It was great craic for everyone and gave us a chance to have a
laugh and make new friends.
Fundraising
As
transition year students we do a lot of fundraising. So far we have done
fundraising for the ISPCC and the lions club and we are going to do some
fundraising for the Irish Heart foundation. In December we went down town
selling holly badges to raise money for the ISPCC. In December we went bag
packing in Tesco to raise money for The Lions Club. Very soon we will be
doing some fundraising for the Irish heart foundation and in return there
teaching us to do CPR.
Retreat
On the 23rd of October our TY
year took a trip to Mount Sion for a school retreat. While there we started
off playing games such as “apples, oranges…” and “musical chairs”. We then
divided into smaller groups. When in smaller groups we each had to fill in a
sheet detailing the relationships we have with our friends and families and
how we feel about these relationships. Following this we were led to a
prayer room where we lay down on the ground and meditated for about half an
hour. The last thing we did was prepare and act out a play to the other
groups showing religion in modern life. The retreat was a lovely day which
helped each of us become more independent and spiritual people.
Work
Experience
From the 17th
to the 28th of November we had 2 weeks of work experience.
Transition Year students went to various different business and work places
that they had an interest in pursuing after school. They ranged from radio
stations to primary schools. Overall everyone felt they gained a lot from
their work experience and thought it gave them a real insight into the world
of work.
Irish
play
Ms Murphy’s 42 Irish class
preformed an Irish play called ‘La Buí Bealtaine’ for the senior half of the
school in the new school library. The class put in a great effort to learn
the play as there was a great deal of lines to be learned. Everyone got
different jobs to do. When the girls got their parts they got to work on
getting their costumes. They got clothes that look like clothes that were
worn years ago as the 1940’s. The play was about two old people called
Noneen and Padear who were once in love and now they are in the same nursing
home. They met years ago when they were young and they fell in love but
Noneen wanted to make Padear jealous so she danced with a different man.
Padear got really mad and killed the man Noneen was dancing with. Padear was
sent to jail and when he got out he got married and had a family. Noneen had
a family too but she never loved her husband like she loved Padear. Now they
are in the nursing home together but they do not know each other until the
end of the play when Noneen hears Padear calling her name. She starts to cry
because she knows Padear always loved her. However they do not get to meet
as the nurses bring them in opposite directions. The play was a great
success and everyone enjoyed being in it and watching it. There were great
actors in it and everyone put in a great effort.
Engineering
Workshop in W.I.T
As part of our Science
we went to W.I.T to do a workshop in engineering. We looked at the actual
manual engineering (putting the machines together) and the programming. With
the manual engineering we made a circuit that hooked up to an MP3 player and
a speaker and we were able to make it play and also add in a volume knob. In
the programming we learned how to make a simple robot move using a computer
programme on the computer. We each got our own little robot and we made them
do a little dance! Then we made a track for them to follow with lots of
paper and a marker.
CPR
Anytime
In May the TY Students took part in a Irish Heart Foundation
project where they spent a morning learning how to give CPR to a person who
needs it. This is a life-saving skill and extremely important. Each person
who takes part in the course gets a pack which contains a blow-up manikin
named Mini Anne, a DVD, Booklet and Information on the Irish Heart
Foundation. Also a member of the Irish Heart Foundation came to have a talk
on what they do and how important this skills is to have. The TY girls
fundraised over Happy Heart Weekend as a thank you for the
packs they received.
Overall
we had a fantastic year and thoroughly enjoyed all the activities undertaken
by our year. We’re very grateful to Ms. Woodcock and Ms. Goulding for
organizing everything and to everyone who helped organize the activities for
us.
Log
On, Learn
A new Transition
Year Programme – Teaching Older People Computer Skills.
Transition Year students have
recently begun this 8 week programme in which they are the tutor to an older
person from the community. The course takes place in the school’s computer
room and runs for 1 – 2 hours. The Transition Year student-tutors provide
one-to-one computer training, tailor made to suit each individual’s existing
skills, learning pace and interests.
On Monday evenings 16 pairs begin
their work and the buzz from the computer room is amazing!
St Mary’s is one of 80 schools
nationwide to sign up to run the programme so far.
Cecelia Ahern
performs official opening of School Library
The Transition Year Drama Festival 2009
On Monday February
9th, 4.1 travelled to Macroom to participate in the semi finals
of “The Transition Year Drama Festival 2009”. Their drama was titled “The
Fall and Rise of Sir Wind n’ Burp written by our very own Ms Fennelly. The
girls gave a wonderful performance, each and everyone of them, so much so
that the judges couldn’t criticise them or their efforts! After a couple of
long, anxious days waiting for a phone call, we received the great news that
the girls had reached the All-Ireland Final - the last twelve - out of sixty
other dramas in the country. This was a great achievement in itself for both
Ms Fennelly and the school but an extraordinary achievement for the girls
after all their hard work and dedication.
They returned to
The Briery Gap Cultural Centre in Macroom on Feb 28th for the
All-Ireland Final. Again they gave an outstanding performance and were
awarded a Special Adjudicator’s Prize. “Lady Lucy”, who was played
spectacularly by Ciara Kehoe, was recognised for her great performance as
the leading lady.
Many thanks to all
involved, especially Ms Fennelly, without whom it couldn’t have happened.
March 13th 2009
St. Mary’s Spike Again!!
Among many projects the Transition
Year students of St. Marys Secondary School are involved in, 15 girls took
part in Volley Association of Ireland Training programme. This is to promote
Spike ball in the area and also to encourage women to play sport.
After two training sessions with
Mary Lalor and Graham Torrence from VAI the secondary school students were
sent out to local primary schools to pass on their skills to 5th
and 6th class. St. Josephs and the Rower primary schools really
enjoyed all sessions the girls took them for each Monday and Friday. All the
hard work and training the girls and boys put in was rewarded with a fun and
enjoyable blitz on Friday the 13th. Many weeks of preparation
went into organising the blitz but it all came together this morning
(Friday) when close to a hundred primary school children arrived in the
Mercy Sports Hall.
The children had been arranged in
teams of five or six and been asked to name their teams. Everyone was
impressed by the creativity shown as great names were chosen from Digging
Divas, Bananas in Pyjamas and Pink Ninjas to Haribo and everything in
between. As the morning wore on each team played three matches in their
group, these were quite competitive and really fun. The students showed
great talent and understanding of the game. However only four teams could
move onto the semi finals and after two extremely close matches the two
teams who reached the final were Spike-a-Roo’s and The Underdogs.
This was another close game with
high scoring but Spike-A-Roo’s narrowly overcame their opponents. The day
was finished with a special award ceremony where each child got a medal, a
drink and a snack. Four Easter eggs were given to the winners of the Art
competition and trophies to the winning teams. Special awards were given to
the girls and boys who improved greatly throughout the year. It was an
extremely successful day and all involved were very happy with the outcome.
Everyone is looking forward to next years programme.
By Nóirín Murphy, Abby Maclennan, Aoife Whelan and
Mary Ellen Doyle
On
September 5th. 6th & 7th. our 48 Transition Year students
enjoyed a great
week end away in Gelendalough, Co. Wicklow where they completed a 24
km walk.
Highlights of
Transition Year 2006/2007
Photographs
Glendalough- Nov 10th and 11th
As part of the Bronze Gaisce award the Transition Year students headed
off to Co. Wicklow on the 10th Nov. and stayed at the Glendalough
International youth hostel. During their stay they had to walk approx. 24
kms. The weather was very wet on the Friday but it didn’t dampen their
spirits. They participated with good humour in the walk and guided tour of
the monastic site. On Friday night the girls put on a very entertaining
"concert". There are many walks in this beautiful area and on Saturday our
walk gave us a view across the lake of the reputed bed of St.Kevin.
Trip to Dublin – 14th Nov
The Transition Years visited the National Concert Hall, Dublin for a
"Music in the Classroom" performance by the National Concert Orchestra under
the baton of Gearóid Grant. In the afternoon they headed to Croke Park for a
guided tour of the ground and its facilities. While we were there,
floodlights were being installed to facilitate the use of Croke Park for
International soccer and rugby matches. They were accompanied by T.Y’s from
the Good Counsel College & Ms. Woodcock.
Dr. Máire Cassidy – Fri 17th Nov.
As part of the Science week, the girls travelled to Waterford I.T to hear
the State Pathologist Dr. Máire Cassidy speak about her job and all that is
entailed in the life of a pathologist. A very interesting morning for all.
Ms. Fennelly and Ms. McNamara accompanied the girls.
Work Experience – Nov 20th to Dec 1st
The Transition Years students have recently returned from their work
experience placement having had a "taste" of a variety of careers, ranging
from laboratory work, horse training, veterinary work to primary school.
Each girl got an insight into possible career paths through this very
worthwhile venture.
Soroptimists Public Speaking Competition
11 of the Transition Year girls decided to enter the Soroptimists public
speaking competition this year to represent the Wexford, Kilkenny and
Tipperary region. As there were so many entries to the competition only 4
students per school were allowed to compete on the night. An in-school
competition was held one night during work experience, which was graciously
adjudicated, by Mrs. Geraldine Larkin and Mrs. Eva Kelly. Only 4 students
could be chosen, these were Taragh O’ Connor, Caoimhe Doyle, Leanne Rowe and
Jennifer Phelan. These girls represented the school very well at the
competition but unfortunately were not among the two to qualify from the
region. Congratulations to all the girls who participated.
