We have roughly 2 weeks left in school until our Summer Holidays and all the preparation is about to begin for our TY graduation night!
Every student is assigned a subject and they're going to represent that subject on TY night. Aimee and myself are doing technology, along with 4 other girls from the other two classes. The hall is going to look great!
Along with that, the night itself will be very fun as we will be preforming our two dance routines that we have been working on for the last couple of weeks. There is the Zumba dance that is a lot of fun and with the help of our Zumba teacher, Nicola, it is going to be great! Also we will be doing our 1960's routine. every class does a different one and my class, Eriu, are doing a dance routine to the song 'Are you gonna be my girl' by JET. At first things were difficult and it was hard to put together but now everything is coming along very smoothly and with the costumes and great moves it will be a lot of fun. If you haven't heard it before here's a listen.. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mAxUIjJrFKQ
A few other girls are performing which everybody is really looking forward to. Saoirse is playing piano, she is brilliant. Take a look at her blogs and she will tell you all about it. http://saoirse14.blogspot.com/
Next year is going to be hard to get back into the work and homework routine but for now it is all work for TY night, so we better get to work!
Wednesday, 16 May 2012
Sunday, 29 April 2012
Reflection on St. Brigids Journey
On monday night, the 7th February I was very busy getting ready for the next day as we were going on St. Brigids pilgrimage through Kildare town.
The first thing I had to do was get prepared. I got my clothes out and made sure they clean and ready for the following morning. I packed a big lunch for the day as we were told it was going to be a long day. We learned a lot of information in class about St. Brigid in preperation for the pilgrimage. I had already known some of the stories about her but I learned some new things aswell that I didn't know already. Some of these facts are on my previous blog and are very interesting and good to know.
It was because of our teachers that we were fortunate enough to take part in the pilgrimage. If I had chosen to not go, I knew I would probably not get the chance to see the places again so therefore I was definitely going to take part on the journey.
Making the journey was next. This involved a lot of walking and shivering as the weather was not so good. Our first stop was the Tourist Office in Kildare town where we were shown a video about the history in the town. We then went to the Church of Ireland which is directly across from the Tourist Office. The Church is very big and was lovely to see. It was slighty different to the church in my own town as it was a lot more decorated and had many historic ornaments to see. Also the alter was further away from the congrigation than in other churches and I found this slighty unusual. The Church had many St. Brigid crosses around it which decorated it nice and the stain glass windows caught my eye as they told stories of different saints, such as St. Patrick, St. Luke & St Brigid herself. Each student then got to ring the church bell!
Outside the Church was a little hut underground which was apparently Brigids Kitchen and myth has it that it led to other places in Kildare town, underground.
We then walked to St. Brigid's well. The well was very well kept and this was lovely to see. We all took a break here and took some photos.
Overall it was great day & I learned a lot about St. Brigid that I hadn't known before. :)
The first thing I had to do was get prepared. I got my clothes out and made sure they clean and ready for the following morning. I packed a big lunch for the day as we were told it was going to be a long day. We learned a lot of information in class about St. Brigid in preperation for the pilgrimage. I had already known some of the stories about her but I learned some new things aswell that I didn't know already. Some of these facts are on my previous blog and are very interesting and good to know.
It was because of our teachers that we were fortunate enough to take part in the pilgrimage. If I had chosen to not go, I knew I would probably not get the chance to see the places again so therefore I was definitely going to take part on the journey.
Making the journey was next. This involved a lot of walking and shivering as the weather was not so good. Our first stop was the Tourist Office in Kildare town where we were shown a video about the history in the town. We then went to the Church of Ireland which is directly across from the Tourist Office. The Church is very big and was lovely to see. It was slighty different to the church in my own town as it was a lot more decorated and had many historic ornaments to see. Also the alter was further away from the congrigation than in other churches and I found this slighty unusual. The Church had many St. Brigid crosses around it which decorated it nice and the stain glass windows caught my eye as they told stories of different saints, such as St. Patrick, St. Luke & St Brigid herself. Each student then got to ring the church bell!
Outside the Church was a little hut underground which was apparently Brigids Kitchen and myth has it that it led to other places in Kildare town, underground.
We then walked to St. Brigid's well. The well was very well kept and this was lovely to see. We all took a break here and took some photos.
Overall it was great day & I learned a lot about St. Brigid that I hadn't known before. :)
Wednesday, 29 February 2012
29th feb- Worlds biggest blogging project.
Work Experience
This evening, as part of the 'worlds biggest blogging project ', http://www.feb29th.net/ I am blogging about my work experience which I am currently doing this week, the 27th February- 2nd March.
I chose to do my work experience in a primary school as being a teacher or child care is something I am interested in as a career for when I finish school. The school I am in is very friendly and enjoyable and I am delighted that I have chosen to do it there as it being the third day in I am getting on great. It isn't a very big school so therefore I have noticed that everyone seems to know everyone and this is what I like about it. Even the teachers and the principle seem to know all the students names. It gives off a lovely warm friendly impression of the school and makes it very comfortable to be there.
The children are extremely friendly and great to be around as I love children. There are things I have noticed such as the routine the teachers have which you wouldn't have noticed being a pupil in the class. In secondary school it is a lot different as every student has their own time table and this makes primary school seem a lot free-er but being at the school for the week has shown me how the teachers have their own routines which is a very important thing.
I think primary school teaching would be a wonderful job and was something I had always had my mind on since I was younger. This experience has helped me as I was always uncertain what to do as a career but being with the children and seeing the teachers routine and the primary school atmosphere has set my mind on teaching. The children were all wonderful and have the most crazy imaginations. I am use to most of the things they come up with as I have younger sibling's and cousins but teaching them is a complete different job than playing with them & I wouldn't mind doing it after school, at all.
The only unfortunate thing about the week was that I would have liked being in an older class such as 4th 5th or 6th, rather than junior infants as I previously did work experience in a playschool last November but it was still a great experience to be back in a primary school and I am delighted I did it.
This evening, as part of the 'worlds biggest blogging project ', http://www.feb29th.net/ I am blogging about my work experience which I am currently doing this week, the 27th February- 2nd March.
I chose to do my work experience in a primary school as being a teacher or child care is something I am interested in as a career for when I finish school. The school I am in is very friendly and enjoyable and I am delighted that I have chosen to do it there as it being the third day in I am getting on great. It isn't a very big school so therefore I have noticed that everyone seems to know everyone and this is what I like about it. Even the teachers and the principle seem to know all the students names. It gives off a lovely warm friendly impression of the school and makes it very comfortable to be there.
The children are extremely friendly and great to be around as I love children. There are things I have noticed such as the routine the teachers have which you wouldn't have noticed being a pupil in the class. In secondary school it is a lot different as every student has their own time table and this makes primary school seem a lot free-er but being at the school for the week has shown me how the teachers have their own routines which is a very important thing.
I think primary school teaching would be a wonderful job and was something I had always had my mind on since I was younger. This experience has helped me as I was always uncertain what to do as a career but being with the children and seeing the teachers routine and the primary school atmosphere has set my mind on teaching. The children were all wonderful and have the most crazy imaginations. I am use to most of the things they come up with as I have younger sibling's and cousins but teaching them is a complete different job than playing with them & I wouldn't mind doing it after school, at all.
The only unfortunate thing about the week was that I would have liked being in an older class such as 4th 5th or 6th, rather than junior infants as I previously did work experience in a playschool last November but it was still a great experience to be back in a primary school and I am delighted I did it.
Wednesday, 25 January 2012
Our English Drama 'Mid Term Break'
On Tuesday the 24th, all transition year students went to Mullingar for a drama competition. We have all been working on our plays very hard the last few weeks and the relief I feel now that it's all over.
My group did our play based on the poem 'Midterm Break' by Seamus Heaney. We chose to do this because originally we had our own script written which was very humorous and different but unfortunately it didn't work out as well as we imagined so therefore we rescued it last minute and pulled together to perform this play.
If I was to compare our rehearsal's in the classroom to the actual performance on stage I would say that the performance on stage would have been ten time better as we had the advantage of lights, props, costumes & an audience because all these things are a lot more affective to a performance.
There were four plays altogether and all four were very well done and performed. We are all waiting now for the results which are due back in two weeks times & hopefully one or even all four groups from our school will get through to the final. The final is in Cork in the 'Briery Gap Cultural Centre Macroom' http://www.brierygap.com/ so getting through would mean a great day out, down to cork but also means a lot more practise but I think all the girls are able for that! Well done girls and best of luck to everyone! :)
My group did our play based on the poem 'Midterm Break' by Seamus Heaney. We chose to do this because originally we had our own script written which was very humorous and different but unfortunately it didn't work out as well as we imagined so therefore we rescued it last minute and pulled together to perform this play.
If I was to compare our rehearsal's in the classroom to the actual performance on stage I would say that the performance on stage would have been ten time better as we had the advantage of lights, props, costumes & an audience because all these things are a lot more affective to a performance.
There were four plays altogether and all four were very well done and performed. We are all waiting now for the results which are due back in two weeks times & hopefully one or even all four groups from our school will get through to the final. The final is in Cork in the 'Briery Gap Cultural Centre Macroom' http://www.brierygap.com/ so getting through would mean a great day out, down to cork but also means a lot more practise but I think all the girls are able for that! Well done girls and best of luck to everyone! :)
Thursday, 15 December 2011
Fashion Show
This morning we had a TY fashion show. We had been working on our projects for the last three months and all that work has finally paid off.
In my group there was Eimear, Sarah, Amy & myself. It was my first time at doing Home Ec, I didn't for my junior cert & they helped me out alot at getting use to everything, such as tacking & sewing etc. So thanks guys :)
We were all given a colour & my group was black & white. We then chose to do the "1920's Flapper Era". Currently in school we are learning the Charleston so our outfit really suited us at this time as we now know the dancing.
Here is an example of Charleston dancing on Strictly Come Dancing and the outfits they are wearing is an example of 1920's Flappers.
Everyones outfit was a big success and everyone is looking forward to find out the winner tomorrow morning.
In my group there was Eimear, Sarah, Amy & myself. It was my first time at doing Home Ec, I didn't for my junior cert & they helped me out alot at getting use to everything, such as tacking & sewing etc. So thanks guys :)
We were all given a colour & my group was black & white. We then chose to do the "1920's Flapper Era". Currently in school we are learning the Charleston so our outfit really suited us at this time as we now know the dancing.
Here is an example of Charleston dancing on Strictly Come Dancing and the outfits they are wearing is an example of 1920's Flappers.
Everyones outfit was a big success and everyone is looking forward to find out the winner tomorrow morning.
Mariah Carey - All I Want For Christmas Is You
This is my favourite Christmas Song! Gets me in the mood for Christmas every time I listen to it.
Comment if you like it too? :)
Comment if you like it too? :)
Thursday, 1 December 2011
My Book Review 'Before I Die' By Jenny Downham
The book that I have read for my review is 'Before I Die' by Jenny Downham. I would describe this novel an an affecting and brave novel. I enjoyed reading it and I would say it is one of my favourite reads. There are many characteristics of this novel which made it so enjoyable and some of these are the characters, themes, style, & Jenny's vision & viewpoint.
'Before I Die' is about about a 16 year old girl called Tessa who has only a few months left to live so she makes a list of 10 things she wants to do before she dies.
The character that I was most fond of was Tessa. For being so young and in such a terrible and difficult situation she is so inspiring, strong and such a like able character. The list is the main attraction to the book. I was constantly waiting to see what she comes up with next. At first though Tessa was scared and doesn't know whether or not to go through with the list but with the help and support from her best friend Zoe, she finds the courage to. My favourite thing about Tessa is her personality. She is very headstrong and I was so delighted when she fell in love with Adam, the boy next door because he made her so happy and the novel a lot more gripping because their relationship then became the most important thing in the novel.
The themes in this novel were love, emotional & hope.
Tessa loves her family but most of all she wants her parents back together and this is another uplifting moment in the novel because it was one of the things on her list which succeeded. The love between Tessa & Adam is so intense. He loves her and cares about her so much and the fact that they both now she doesn't have long to live really adds to the emotional & gripping side of the novel.
There are many emotional parts in the novel. One of these was when Tessa's mam and dad got back together. Tessa felt it was because of her illness and it actually affected me that she felt this way, that something so bad had to happen to bring them back together. I know this novel effected me in an emotional way as I cried many times while reading it, some were happy tears and some were sad but it just showed me how I connected to it.
The hope in the novel is obviously the same thing in every readers heart, that some miracle will happen and Tessa will get better.
There are many style's in this novel such as imagery, description and dialogue.
The style which stood out for me the most would be the imagery. One image which I particularly like was the first time Tessa hung out with Adam and this is part of the image described: we sit together on a bench, our knees not quite touching. The ground's hard beneath my feet. The air's cold, smelling of frost that didn't quite make it, of winter to come. "this is where I come when I need to get away", he says. "I got the mushrooms from here". He gets out his tobacco tin and opens it up, puts tobacco in a paper and rolls it. He has dirty fingernails and I shiver at the thought of those hands touching me. "Here", he says. " This will warm you up". He passes me the cigarette and I look at it while he rolls himself another one. It looks like a pale slim finger. He offers me a light. We don't say anything for ages, just blow smoke at the town below. He says, "anything could be happening down there, but up here you just wouldn't know it".
This is a strong romantic piece of imagery as it immediately told me that something as going to happen between them both.
Jenny's vision and viewpoint would be to make people feel happy to be alive, to live life to the fullest & not to take it for granted. This is clear from Tessa's situation, with only a few months to live leaves her a short amount of time to do the things she always wanted to do because she obviously thought she would have plenty of time to do them.
This is inspirational to many people as nobody knows what the future holds. After reading this novel Jenny just wants people to do what ever they want to in life and appreciate their health .
This book was one I really enjoyed, obviously I cried many times but it was romantic, sad, happy inspiring, uplifting and just so enjoyable and I would recommend it to anybody.
'Before I Die' is about about a 16 year old girl called Tessa who has only a few months left to live so she makes a list of 10 things she wants to do before she dies.
The character that I was most fond of was Tessa. For being so young and in such a terrible and difficult situation she is so inspiring, strong and such a like able character. The list is the main attraction to the book. I was constantly waiting to see what she comes up with next. At first though Tessa was scared and doesn't know whether or not to go through with the list but with the help and support from her best friend Zoe, she finds the courage to. My favourite thing about Tessa is her personality. She is very headstrong and I was so delighted when she fell in love with Adam, the boy next door because he made her so happy and the novel a lot more gripping because their relationship then became the most important thing in the novel.
The themes in this novel were love, emotional & hope.
Tessa loves her family but most of all she wants her parents back together and this is another uplifting moment in the novel because it was one of the things on her list which succeeded. The love between Tessa & Adam is so intense. He loves her and cares about her so much and the fact that they both now she doesn't have long to live really adds to the emotional & gripping side of the novel.
There are many emotional parts in the novel. One of these was when Tessa's mam and dad got back together. Tessa felt it was because of her illness and it actually affected me that she felt this way, that something so bad had to happen to bring them back together. I know this novel effected me in an emotional way as I cried many times while reading it, some were happy tears and some were sad but it just showed me how I connected to it.
The hope in the novel is obviously the same thing in every readers heart, that some miracle will happen and Tessa will get better.
There are many style's in this novel such as imagery, description and dialogue.
The style which stood out for me the most would be the imagery. One image which I particularly like was the first time Tessa hung out with Adam and this is part of the image described: we sit together on a bench, our knees not quite touching. The ground's hard beneath my feet. The air's cold, smelling of frost that didn't quite make it, of winter to come. "this is where I come when I need to get away", he says. "I got the mushrooms from here". He gets out his tobacco tin and opens it up, puts tobacco in a paper and rolls it. He has dirty fingernails and I shiver at the thought of those hands touching me. "Here", he says. " This will warm you up". He passes me the cigarette and I look at it while he rolls himself another one. It looks like a pale slim finger. He offers me a light. We don't say anything for ages, just blow smoke at the town below. He says, "anything could be happening down there, but up here you just wouldn't know it".
This is a strong romantic piece of imagery as it immediately told me that something as going to happen between them both.
Jenny's vision and viewpoint would be to make people feel happy to be alive, to live life to the fullest & not to take it for granted. This is clear from Tessa's situation, with only a few months to live leaves her a short amount of time to do the things she always wanted to do because she obviously thought she would have plenty of time to do them.
This is inspirational to many people as nobody knows what the future holds. After reading this novel Jenny just wants people to do what ever they want to in life and appreciate their health .
This book was one I really enjoyed, obviously I cried many times but it was romantic, sad, happy inspiring, uplifting and just so enjoyable and I would recommend it to anybody.
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