Transition Year students have been taking a beginner’s course in Chinese Language and culture since November as a ten week module .The teacher, Chinese native Xinan Sun from Maynooth University has been very impressed by the progress of the students.
Congratulations on being the first group of Transition Year students to complete the Chinese Module in the school.
Congratulations to Nicole O’Brien who has spent the last week at The Bar of Ireland’s office.
A total of 100 students from schools all over Ireland took part in The Bar of Ireland TY programme.
A host barrister ‘hosted’ a small group of 5 students for each morning of the 5 day programme. The barrister involved the students in a variety of cases and exposed the students to the daily life of a junior barrister. Students had the opportunity to ask questions of the host barrister during the morning sessions.
Other opportunities offered to Nicole were a talk by a judge, a legal affairs correspondent who gave an insight into court reporting and the life of a Garda in the Criminal Court of Justice. Friday was the highlight of the week as she got to take part in a mock trial in a court room.
For the second year running in Collinstown there is a chess club running at lunch time. The chess club runs every Wednesday in the library.
This year like last, it has proven to be hugely popular and there has been a great number of new players. We are currently beginning our in house chess league and regularly have mini-tournaments. Matches against opposition chess teams will be taking place after mid-term.
It is open to players from all year groups and all levels. If you are an expert and would like to play against the best chess players in Collinstown Park C.C you are more than welcome. If you have basic skill levels or perhaps have never played before you are also more than welcome.
The club consists of students from all year groups and from beginners to veterans.
One of our expert students will show you the basics from identifying each chess piece to basic strategy and ultimately how to play an effective endgame.
Checkmate!
Twenty-six Transition Year Students visited Glasnevin Cemetery and Museum on Wednesday 8th February to take part in its Tour Guiding Programme. This unique programme is designed to give students a sense of the real experience of working in the tourism industry by training them in the fundamental skill of presenting to an audience as a tour guide. The programme helps to develop the student’s skills in public speaking and research, in a manner that is aimed at building their self-confidence in dealing with members of the public.
The Transition Year Tour Guiding programme involves two trips to Glasnevin Cemetery.
On today’s visit, students were given a presentation by John, one of Glasnevin Cemetery Museum’s tour guides on the tourism industry, the golden rules of customer service and the skills needed to research and deliver a tour.
On the second visit the students step into the shoes of the tour guide and present to their class at the grave of one of the many historic figures buried in Glasnevin Cemetery.
Fifth and Sixth year students recently had the chance to hear one of their Leaving Certificate works performed. They went to the National Concert Hall to see a live performance of Tchaikovsky’s Romeo and Juliet.
Well done to the TY students who completed all challenges during the last five days with their egg babies.
Here are a few of the tasks they completed. Students had to leave their egg baby with a baby sitter while they were on work experience, complete a shopping list, take care of them while sick, host a tea party and take them out on a Sunday trip.
Enjoy a small selection of photos of their experiences.
On Thursday 2nd February Mr Reilly at the TY Assembly set his Transition Year Students a challenge. For the next five days they must name, feed, socialise, clothe but above all PROTECT their egg baby.
Each student was given an Egg Certificate for their egg baby and a list of challenges for each day.
It will be monitored through Edmodo, where students will have to upload photos of their egg babies.
Good luck everyone and we will let you know how the TYs got on next week.
The following students have received the Student of the Month Awards
December
1st Year
Jonathan Peppard
Nathan O’Farrell
2nd Year
Conor McCormack
Mark Dunne
3rd Year
Ryan Hooper
Caitlyn O’Reilly
T Y
Robyn Strickland
5th Year
LC Chloe Brady
LCA Gavin O’Reilly
January
1st Year
Sandra Ijezie
Cian Norman
Saoirse Murphy (Academic)
Rhianna Higgins (Academic)
2nd Year
Ngozi Vine
Abbey Turner
Aria Disney (Academic)
Jamie McCarthy (Academic)
3rd Year
Zara Byrne
Zoe Clarke
Sophie Collins (Academic)
Ashley O’Reilly (Academic)
T Y
Erin Lovett
Nicole O’Brien (Academic)
5th Year
LC Niamh Ennis
LCA Shauna Brady
Shannon Murphy (Academic)
Shauna Brady (Academic)
February 1 is the feast of St. Brigid, often called the Mary of the Gael. Brigid’s life was a remarkable one and the places in Ireland associated with her are scenes of pilgrimage throughout the year.
The religion department in the school today set out to make St Brigid’s crosses. As the shamrock became associated with St Patrick, a tiny cross made of rushes was linked with St Brigid. Supposedly woven by her to explain the passion of Christ to a dying pagan.
