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.

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

The Simon Community and Religion!

Yesterday first class all the TYs had a talk on the Simon Community in the library.The talk we given by the art teacher,because she took part in an art project to do with the organisation.It was really interesting and I learnt loads about the Simon Community that I didn't know.For example I didn't know that they have houses that groups of people live in for long term.We got to see lots of art work that the art teacher did during the summer with a group of men from one of the houses in Cork.We got to see lots of different paintings from different houses;and all of them were very unique.I never really thought about what homeless people do during their free time,and by looking at the painting I saw that they were all really talented.On some of the painting there was poetry written by the men.

I really enjoyed the talk but it was a pity to miss religion class because we are currently writing dramas.

We are going to be taking part in a drama competition after Christmas.The class was divided into two groups and each group has a different theme for their drama.My groups theme is war and the other group is doing a drama to do with homelessness.Its really hard to write a script from scratch so we all thought of ideas and discussed them in class and two girls volunteered to write the script.Since we missed class yesterday today we had our first practice. Since it was our first time we are using the script because no one know their lines yet;but we are definitively making progress and I think we can get it done by Christmas(which by the way is in 31 days!!!)

Monday and Tuesday!

On Monday in technology we got into groups to start our formula one project.We will be making a car to enter into the competition in the next few classes.I cant wait to get started but I no its going to be lots of work which is a bad thing since we have so many projects at the moment;but I'm going to give it my all anyway even if I'm tired from all the other projects.
In PE we did orienteering!It was really fun even though my team didn't win.After mid-term we are going to be doing a different type of orienteering and hopefully ill win that.
In science we presented our projects!My group did a project on a famous scientist,named Dmitri Mendeleev.He wrote the first periodic table and it was really interesting to read about him.
Today in religion we saw presentations about the millennium development goals and started brainstorming for a drama.Our religion teacher is helping us make up a drama about the millennium development goals so we can enter a drama competition.
Today we also had two class were we worked on our junk koture projects!The projects are really coming together now and we only have five weeks left after mid-term to finish them!Then during the first week in December we will be having our school fashion show.We still have a lot of work to do but I'm sure we will get it finished in time!
Today we also had another debate in english.It was really fun to watch because everyone in the class had questions and got really involved in the motion.Today we also got reminded that our presentation on film studies is due on friday!I've had mine done for a whie now but a few people are only starting!We had to do a powerpoint about the differnt camera angles,camera shots,lighting and music in our favourite film;I did mine on the first Harry Potter because when I started the project I had just finished reading the book!

my second week in TY!

   I've been in TY nearly two weeks now and I'm having a great time!The girls in my new class are really nice and I hope as the year goes on we will all become really good friends!Everyday we have been really busy with projects,at the moment we are all doing a Religion project about the Millennium Development Goals.And in Geography we are doing a really cool project;we have to pretend we are going to spend twelve months traveling around the world to visit 2 first world countries,2 second world countries and 2 third world countries!My favorite project that we are doing at the moment is our home Ec project(Junk Koture);we have to make an outfit out of recycled materials and then put on a fashion show!

   Today our junior certificate results are out and everyone is really nervous,but I can't wait!!I'm also really excited because next Monday we are going on a trip to Carlingford!I've been there before and I had a great time so I can't wait until I get to do all the fun challenges with my new classmates! :D