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!!!)

The Library! :)

This week in English class we went to the school library.It was nice to get out of the classroom for a change.So at twleve o'clock my class went down to the library and everyone picked out a random book to read for the forty minutes we would be there for.I went straight for the Harry Potter books and picked out The Order of the Pheonix.Instead of reading it from the start I skiped to chapter 18 because I am reading the book at home at the moment.After everyone had picked out a book we all sat down,everyone sat on chairs and at desks but I sat on the floor!I was really nice to sit in the library in the middle of the day for a little rest;it was also kind of weird because I didnt know my class could be that quiet for forty minutes.

For our englis homework we are writting mini reveiws of books we have read,I usually hate english homework but I dont mind this because we are writting about things I enjoy.Our english teacher said we might go back to the library again to encourage us to read more and take out books;lots of people made new library accouts so hopefully more people will visit the library.

Forte Fashion?

In home economics our Junk Kouture projects are coming along really well.My group is almost done;we only have a few finishing touches to do on thee dress and accessories!We also need to think of a name and music to play when our model is walking down the runway!Its really hard coming up with a name to match our outfit since ours is to do with music,but some of the girls in our class have been really helpful with giving us ideas!my favourite name that was suggested is 'Forte Fashion',because forte is a musical term which means loud! I'm really excited for the fashion show,I cant wait to see what the girls in the other classes have come up with!

Mini Company Workshop-Best Day Ever

Yesterday,since my year is taking part in the mini company TY project,we went to Odeon Cinema for a workshop.In the workshop we were suppose to be learning how to start running our mini company but the speaker who was suppose to do it with us was sick and rushed off to hospital.We were all in the cinema before we knew this so our buses had gone home and we had no way of returning to school;so the nice people in the cinema let us see the new James Bond movie 'Sky fall' for free!This was really kind of them and we all really enjoyed the movie.After the film the people who worked there gave everyone a bag of sweets,popcorn and a drink;and a Madagascar 3 cup!When we arrived back at the school it was lunch time and all the other years were really jealous because we got to see the movie during a school!

Since we missed the mini company workshop we have to have another one a different day.My mini company is coming along well but we still have a long way to go before we start selling.My company makes magnetic frames out of recycled materials!Each one is unique and is decorated by our production team!Heres a few of the frames we have already made:

Halloween!

Today we had our annual dress up day in school!Each year had a special theme and they had to dress up to match their theme.1st years were withces,2nd years were pirates,3rd years were heros and villans,TYs were zombies,5th years were scary clowns and the 6th years theme was Harry Potter.

At lunch we had a fashion show and five girls from each year took part.Two girs from each year won a prize for best dressed.Two girls from my class won in TY!

My class really got into dressing up this year;usually no one really trys but not in TY! We even made this video of us in the school!

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!

Spanish

This year in Spanish class we have been watching a Spanish movie called 'El Bola' (which means 'The pellet).Every Thursday since the start of the year we have been watching it in class,and this week we finished the movie.It was a very realistic movie;nothing like what I usually watch.It is about a boy named Pablo (his nickname is Bola) who lives in Madrid with his mother,father and grandmother.Its a sad movie because the Pablos father abuses him.Pablo has no friends but a new boy,called Alfredo,comes to his school and they quickly become friends by bonding in a theme park.Alferdo begins to suspect that pablo is getting hurt at home but I'm not going to give away the ending;but its a really good movie even if you don't understand Spanish theres English subtitles so I would definitely recommend you watch it.

Spanish class in transition year is very different from 3rd year.This year I have a new teacher and even tough everyone says TYs a waste of a year its not;in spanish we have learnt loads of new things.We did mini projects on our favourite films on the computer and printed them out.Now they are in the spanish room on the back wall.ANd we revised some things from last year like how to talk about ourselves and families.

Next week our spanish teacer said that we are going to be learning how to talk about music in spanish.