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!