Transition Year comes to an end...

Today was my last day in transition year.I have really enjoyed myself this and am sad that iys over but I am looking forward to going into fifth year after the summer holidays.
It has been a very busy year for me,but between all the projects and competitions I was able to make lots new friends and learn lots.

My IT video!

Gaisce Hike

On Friday a few of us went to Kippure Adventure Center to hike 25 kilometers for our gaisce award.

At the start of the year everyone was offered to take part in getting a bronze Gaisce award.To get the award each person had to take up a new sport,learn a new skill,do 13 weeks of community involvement and hike 25 kilometers. 

Since we are coming to the end of the year we went on our hike on Friday and Saturday.On the Friday night we hiked for 3 hours,which coverd 10 kilometers.Then on the Saturday we hiked 15 in 4 hours.

I thought it would be a lot harder than it was;we got to take lots of breaks to wait for people to catch up.I was at the front of the group most of the time so I got the most breaks.The views were really nice because we were hiking over 4 mountains.

I really enjoyed myself and had lots of fun because we got to stay in houses in the adventurer center.There was only five people in my house which was good because we had to make our own dinner and breakfasts.We stayed up very late on the Friday so I had to call everyone the next morning so we would be ready in time to start hiking again.

It was really fun and I would like to do the silver award next year!

Swim a Mile with a Smile!

Today all the TYs went to the National Aquatic Centre with the LCVP 5th year class to take part in Swim a Mile.Our aim was to swim more than 25 mile which is what last years TY group swam.Everyone took part in some way;those who weren't swimming counted the lenghts.64 lenghts of the pool is the same distance as a mile.A few girls swan the mile by themselves but most of us did it in groups!After swimming we all got a t-shirt and got a photo taken for the school website!Then we headed off to Blacherstown to get something to eat!
I really enjoyed myself even though I only did a few lenghts!

Music Night!

Yesterday evening we had our annual Music Night in the school hall.As part of the show each TY class had to do a performance.My class sang a medley of songs;we sang 'Ho-Hey','Hall of Fame' and 'I Follow Rivers'.A few girls in the class played instruments too;we had two piano players,three people on guitars, and a few girls playing  percussion instruments like the triangle,the tamberine and drums.
The Music Night started at 7:30 but my class wasn't on until after the interval so we had to wait a long time before going on stage.In this time we sat in the mall and practiced our piece and listened to the other groups who were going on before us.When it was time to go on stage we had to walk quietly to back stage;then we took our places and sang our song.All our practice paid off in the end because we remembered not to rush,to smile and to bow before leaving the stage.It was a really good night even though we didn't get to see the other classes on stage!

mini pilgrimige!

Today we went on a mini pilgrimage to Kildare village.During our pilgrimage we visited lots of places to do with St. Bridget.
First we went to the heritage centre;where we saw a short film about St. Bridget.Then we went to St. Bridget's cathedral.In the cathedral we looked around and said a prayer.Then we went behind the cathedral and saw the fire temple and the round tower.Unfortunately we didn't have enough time to climb the tower so instead we walked around the tower backwards a few times;because it is said that if you walk around it backwards you will dream of the person you are going to marry.Then we got back on the bus and headed for St. Bridget's wells.We had to walk for a while to get to one of them,then when we got there we said a few prayers and the walked back to the other well where a few girls blessed themselves with the water.
After out pilgrimage we went to Whitewater Shopping Centre for lunch and then to Kbowl to do some bowling before going home.

Catch up!

In our last few english class we have been doing film studies.We have been watching a silent film called 'The Artist'. This is the first silent film I have ever seen and even though there's no talking its a really good movie.I would highly recommend watching; especially if you like music because the story is told by the type of music playing in the background.

Today in religion we got good news about the Briey Gap Drama Competition. We won 2 prizes;we won a runner up award and an award for best atmosphere on stage.

We also had a speaker in today to talk to us about Swim a mile with a smile.We were suppose to be swimming the mile on the 20th of March but now we are doing it on the 19th of April instead.We are going to get sponsor cards and raise money for Crumlin hospital and Barrretstown.

Sci-Fest and then off to Cork!!

Yesterday was a very busy day in TY.In the morning we had Sci-fest and then We set off to county Cork to take part in the national final of the Briery Gap Drama Competition!
In the morning we had Sci-Fest judges coming around to see our projects.Each project was given a number and space on the wall to stick up their poster.My group;which was number 3,did a project on dreams.We wanted to find out if things we eat effect what we dream about;we discovered that our dreams have nothing to with food we eat before bed.Dreams are based on memories and your mood.When the judges came around we had to do a short presentation about our project.I didn't get a chance to read any of the other projects because before judging was even finished 10 classmates and I hopped onto a bus and drove to Cork for the drama competition.
Even though my group didn't get through to the national final the other group in my class did;and they offered me a place in their drama because a few girls had to go to a choir competition.After a three hour bus journey we made it to Cork safely. We were only in there for an hour but we all really enjoyed ourselves even though a few thing went wrong.
The drama was about homelessness and how it can effect family life,it was also about prejudices against homeless people.I had a very small role so I was appointed Stage Left Manager!I didn't really have to do much,only take a school bag off the stage when the lights when down but I didn't mind.We did make a few mistakes but we think they went unnoticed by the judges.In the first scene someone left the stage too early and had to walk in a circle to make it look like she was suppose to move.And at the end Eimear thinks she made a mistake in her monologue but to be honest I don't think anyone noticed.
After the drama we headed back to the bus and set off on our way home.We were all hungry so the teachers with us let us stop in McDonald's.On our way home there was a traffic jam on the motorway so we had to take the long way home.We were stuck on the bus for four hours;which was not very fun when your tired and bored;eventually we made it home though.
We won't find out if we won any awards until after Monday because the competition is still on over the weekend.I have really enjoyed taking part in the competition and I have learned a lot about writing dramas and taking part in them.Like,how you have to write stage directions on the script and when your speaking on stage you have to talk really loudly.

Lollipop Day!

Today we went into Dublin to help raise money for Lollipop Day,which is the 22nd and 23rd of February.We were raising money for the Oesophageal Cancer Fund.We arrived in town at 10 o'clock;then we each received a cap,t-shirt and collecting box full of lollipops,badges and stickers.Then we divided into groups of 3 or 4 and set off to stand at our designated places.When people donated €2 we gave them a either a bagde or a lollipop.I donated €2 so I got a bagde!Even though we were all freezing by the end of the day we all had a really good time and raised lots of money for the Oesophageal Caner Fund!

Drums!

On Monday morning we had  drumming workshop with a really nice man called David!We used lots of different types of drums during the workshop;we used the jembe and the kpanlogo.We also got to use some other percussion instruments like the Shekere,Marakas and agogo bells.We learned lots about where the different instruments came from and how they are played.While playing the drums a few girls got to wear some cool hats.We played the drums for 3 hours and after none of us had sore hands because we learnt how to play them properly.We also played a Bob Marley song on the drums and  few girls played guitars too!It was a really fun workshop and I learned loads but I wish we had it for the full day instead of just in the morning!
Check out The JabbaJabbeJembe workshop website to learn more about the drums!
heres the link:http://www.jabbajabbajembe.com/

En la clase espanola!

He aprendido mucho en Español este año.

En clase de español hemos ido aprendiendo sobre América Latina.La semana pasada aprendimos todos los países y capitales de América del sur que hablan español.Teníamos un examen el jueves; tuvimos que aprender diez países y capitales. Algunas personas tuvieron que hacer una nueva examen pero tuvo 100% !!

Vamos a mirar una película española en la clase después mid-term!

Un mapa de América del sur

(P.S.I didnt know what 'mid-term' was in spanish!)

Art

In art class we are currently doing portraits of famous people suing cassette tapes.To begin with everyone had to choose an image of a famous person;then we used an online photo editing website called pixlr to make our pictures black and white.I decided to do a portrait of Taylor Swift because I really like her music.
Next we had to draw the portrait on A2 paper.Even though a lot of people haven't done art before the portraits still turned out really well.I finished drawing my portrait this week so I got to start sticking down the cassette tapes.We  are using PVA glue to stick down the tapes because prit-stick isn't strong enough.
Here's my portrait so far!











Heres and example of what our portraits are going to look like when we are done!

We are spending 3 more wees on this project after mid-term and them we are going to be making puppets which I am looking forward to because everyone is making a different puppet and when they are done we are going to make a video!

Good News About The Drama Competition!

Today in religion class our teacher gave us some good news about the Briery Gap Drama Competition.Unfortunately my group did not get through to compete in the competition in cork;but the other group in my class did.They will be going to Cork to compete on the 1st of march;unfortunately the whole class can't go to support them because the competition is on the same day as Sci-Fest(a science competition taking place in the school hall).Even tough we all can't be there on the day we are showing our support by re-arranging the Sci-Fest judging so some of the class can go and watch the performance.I would like to wish the girls luck in the competition and I hope they do well!

Medical Geography and Movies

In geography we are learning about medical geography so we are watching a movie called 'Contagion'.The movie is about how fast diseases can spread by people touching things.The movie is really interesting but everyone is getting a bit paranoid.We are also making pamphlets about different diseases.My one is about Typhus;I have learned a lot by making my pamphlet, I've learn the about symptoms,where its most common and how to prevent it.
Here's the trailer to 'contagion'!

We are also watching a movie in religion called 'Pursuit of Happyness' because we are still learning about the Millennium Development Goals,and the movie is about poverty.

Briery Gap Drama Comp.

Today my class went on a trip to Mullingar to take part in the Briery Gap Drama Competition.It was a very enjoyable day!
We left the school at 9:15 and arrived at 10:50.We didn't have to preform our plays until 1 o'clock so we had time to go to McDonald and get something to eat.After we had had something to eat everyone got into their costumes and each group had a chance to practise before going out to preform in font of the judges.
My groups drama went really well but before we went on stage everyone was quite nervous.After we did our play we got to watch the other group do their play.After each group had preformed we had an hour and a half to do whatever we liked until the bus came to take us home.Some peopls stayed an watched the other schools preform and other went to the sweet shop.
But a few girls and I decided to go for a walk(well more like a run) to the playground around the corner.There;we went on the basket and a zip wire,then we walked over to a small lake and saw some ducks and swans and there was some exercise machines there to so we went on them for a while and took lots of photos;but then it started to rain.We started to walk back to our meeting place when it started to lash rain;we all got soaked as we ran down the road.I stepped in loads of puddles and by the time we got back we were all drenched.When we got back we dried our hair under the hand dryers in the bathrooms and put our coats on the radiators;we all thought our teacher was going to give out but she didn't seem to mind because we got back in time for the bus.
Today I had a really good time and I hope we (or the other group) get through to the national finals so we can go to Cork for the competition!

Music and Drama

Today in music class we were told that the annual music night is going to be in March.Our music teacher thought it would be a good idea if instead of doing 1 song we are going to mix a few songs together.We are going to be singing Hall of Fame,Ho Hey and I follow Rivers.Its still a while until the music night but have already started practising in class.Today we started with Hall of Fame and next week we are going to be working on Ho Hey.

Next week my class and I will be taking part in the Briery Gap drama competition.The class is divided into 2 groups and each group will be preforming their drama on Tuesday.All week we have been practising and our play is really coming together now. I'm really looking forward to going to the competition on Tuesday and hopefully we will get through to the national final!Our drama was writen by our group and it is all about  the effects of war.
heres a copy of the script:

Religion drama the effects of war from katiehurley06

Mini Company Presentations

Yesterday as the last part of our mini company experience;every mini company set up a display and did a presentation to be judged.The company's that got the highest points were short listed for the Kildare county final.In each class there was 3 awards given out;1 for display,1 for innovation,and 1 for best report.My company 'SnapShot Frames' got the award for the best display in our class(Síocháin).It was very interesting to listen to the other mini company's presentations because we got to hear about how they came up with their products and how they did market research etc.Even though my company didn't get through to the Kildare county final I have really enjoyed taking part in the mini company project;it was a very time consuming proect but I have learnt a lot about business and working in a large group!

My Mini Company Display and Team!

Teddy Bears!

Since we are finished our Junk Kouture project we are now making teddy bears in Home Ec class!Over the Christmas holidays we had to go and get fabric and some other equipment.When we came back to school  we had to trace patterns and cut them out;and now we are pinning them onto our fabric and cutting them out!My teddy bear is going to be purple!

BT Young Scientist

Yesterday all the TYs and second years went on a trip to the RDS in Dublin to see the Young scientist exhibition.We left the school at 9 o'clock and arrived at the RDS at around 10.I went to go see the stand from our school;they did their project on how the weight of school bags effect peoples spines.It was really interesting and I learnt lots.I learnt that if you are good at maths you will be good at music;which is actually true because I'm not very good at either subject but my friend is really good at maths and she is also good at music.In the RDS I saw a robot and loads of projects.I got lots of free stuff which was really cool;I got a tree which I am going to plant I'm my back garden and I also go lots of posters,pens and pencils!It was a really good day even tough it was my 3rd time going.

Back to school!

Since we have been back from our Christmas holidays we have been getting back our exam results and projects.
In geography we got back our 'My Trip Around The World' project back and now we are starting to do medical geography so we each have a disease which we have to research and find out where it comes from and where it is most common.We only started in class yesterday but I already find it really interesting because we never really did anything about the geography of diseases last year.
In art we are starting a new project because we are done our Junk Kouture project;now we are doing portraits of our favourite famous person using the inside of cassette tapes.
In science this term we are working on our sci-fest projects because we didn't get into the Young Scientist competition.
Tomorrow we are going into Dublin to the RDS to see the young scientist exhibition and our art teacher is hoping to take us on a trip to the art museum near Easter,we also have our retreat and smile a mile to look forward to this term too.

I am doing my Sci-fest project in a group of 3!We are doing our project on Dreams!We want to find out what causes dreams and what influences them.We have lots of work to do because the competition is really soon.Survey,results and repots have to be written,so we have to work very hard.