Bag packing (Special Olimpics)
Last Friday I went to Cornelscourt with other TY students to do two hours of bag packing for the special Olympics. Abbie and I were working in the same til and we had some great chats with the different customers. It was the second time we did it and it’s a wonderful thing to do specially in TY because students have more free time. It’s a way to give something to our community.
Non-uniform day (breast cancer)
The past 23rd of March we had our second uniform day. Everyone brought a fiver to school to support breast cancer and as well the whole school dressed with pink clothes for the cause. It was such a nice thing to do and we got over a € 1000.
Bag packing SVTP
In December all TY students took part in bag packing in Cornelscourt. We divided the year in three turns of two hours each. It was such a nice thing to do, specially around Christmas time. It was really busy because everyone was buying their Christmas dinners and presents but we all have fun and supported a good cause.
Science week activity
From the 13th to the 18th of November was science week so every day at lunch time the school propose activities for students. On Tuesday it was TY’s turn and what we had to do was to create a maquet with paper, clips... and we needed to put inside two marbles and it had to go down a zip wire. I was with a Jessica and Molly and it was harder than it seemed. Ours was not the best, we got only 58 cm while the best one was 70 cm. Despite we didn’t win it was such a great crack and I really enjoyed it.
Careers evening
On Thursday evening (16th of November) TY, 5th and 6th year had and optional activity in order to help us to decide what we could study at college. We had an hour, from 7.30 to 8.30 to talk to different specialist in various careers. I focused on science and medicine.
Firstly I talked to Judy McNulty, a general doctor in a hospital in Dublin. She was so professional and kind and she explained to me where she studied (College of Surgeons), why she chose medicine, what is her favourite part of being a doctor... She also answered all my questions and helped me.
Secondly I talked to a dentist and I have to say that is not my dream career but sometimes it‘s good to try new things. After this talk, I didn’t know who I could talk to so I decided to talk to a biochemistry teacher who works in Trinity. It was such a good talk and she invited me to the open day in Trinity, 9th of December.
Lastly I talk to Leah Flanagan, a student of medicine in UCD. She was so kind and she told me that she had studied in Gerard’s and the different subject that she did on the Leaving Certificate.
To sum up it was such a great evening and I quite enjoyed it. I think it can be very helpful to students who don’t know what to study in the future.
Firstly I talked to Judy McNulty, a general doctor in a hospital in Dublin. She was so professional and kind and she explained to me where she studied (College of Surgeons), why she chose medicine, what is her favourite part of being a doctor... She also answered all my questions and helped me.
Secondly I talked to a dentist and I have to say that is not my dream career but sometimes it‘s good to try new things. After this talk, I didn’t know who I could talk to so I decided to talk to a biochemistry teacher who works in Trinity. It was such a good talk and she invited me to the open day in Trinity, 9th of December.
Lastly I talk to Leah Flanagan, a student of medicine in UCD. She was so kind and she told me that she had studied in Gerard’s and the different subject that she did on the Leaving Certificate.
To sum up it was such a great evening and I quite enjoyed it. I think it can be very helpful to students who don’t know what to study in the future.
Eagles Flight
Eagles flight workshop
Last Thursday we had the eagles flight which is a workshop that consists of a game and then a reflection about it. We were in teams and each team had to find a way to get to the mine as soon as we could and in that way get as much gold as possible, then return to apache with lots of gold without using the beacon.
The aim of the game was to collaborate with the other teams and return with the maximum amount of gold. We had to make a choice at the beginning of the game between waiting a day in apache and watching a video that will give us important information or start our journey. My team included Michael, Suki, Claire, Jack and me and we were more focused on winning as a team than winning as a class, so now I regret that.
I found the workshop quite fun and useful. I learned lots of new things about planning and making decisions. We didn't succeed but we learned from it and that's more important. I will do it again and I think is a great workshop for students, and you learn new things playing a game.
"Sometimes we have to take time to make good decisions"
Last Thursday we had the eagles flight which is a workshop that consists of a game and then a reflection about it. We were in teams and each team had to find a way to get to the mine as soon as we could and in that way get as much gold as possible, then return to apache with lots of gold without using the beacon.
The aim of the game was to collaborate with the other teams and return with the maximum amount of gold. We had to make a choice at the beginning of the game between waiting a day in apache and watching a video that will give us important information or start our journey. My team included Michael, Suki, Claire, Jack and me and we were more focused on winning as a team than winning as a class, so now I regret that.
I found the workshop quite fun and useful. I learned lots of new things about planning and making decisions. We didn't succeed but we learned from it and that's more important. I will do it again and I think is a great workshop for students, and you learn new things playing a game.
"Sometimes we have to take time to make good decisions"
Kairos
Last Tuesday all of students from 4A went to Kairos. It was a great experience and I really enjoyed it.
We had been working in it for two weeks and I have to say that we weren’t very organized. When we arrived on set I was very surprised about the professionalism of it. We had lots of sections in our program and each one of us had a different job, in front of the camera or behind the scenes for example cameras or technical work.
Some profesionals in this sector explained to us about how to use the different equipment and some rules that we needed to follow. When we had everything planned we started the rehearsals and I have to say that I had lots of fun. I was in front of the camera and I have to say that I had to repeat my part many times because I was always making mistakes. I was the weather forecaster and I was interviewed by another classmate in a comedy show.
To sum up, it was very fun and I enjoyed it very much. It was a great experience and now I know that presenting the weather is not my thing!
We had been working in it for two weeks and I have to say that we weren’t very organized. When we arrived on set I was very surprised about the professionalism of it. We had lots of sections in our program and each one of us had a different job, in front of the camera or behind the scenes for example cameras or technical work.
Some profesionals in this sector explained to us about how to use the different equipment and some rules that we needed to follow. When we had everything planned we started the rehearsals and I have to say that I had lots of fun. I was in front of the camera and I have to say that I had to repeat my part many times because I was always making mistakes. I was the weather forecaster and I was interviewed by another classmate in a comedy show.
To sum up, it was very fun and I enjoyed it very much. It was a great experience and now I know that presenting the weather is not my thing!
”Beat the blues”
On Friday, 9th of November, classes A and B had a talk about awareness and mental health with Steve, a professional on this topic.
He started explaining to us what we should do to avoid anxiety and how to detect it. He also gave us some tips like having a good sleep or controlling our thoughts and feelings can help us to prevent anxiety when we are younger but it will be useful in the future as well.
At the end of the talk he divided us into groups and he gave us a situation to work on it and we had to say what we will feel in those situations, the thoughts that we will have and the actions to fix it. In my group what we had to do was to express our feelings when we make a fool of ourselves.
To sum up, I really enjoyed the workshop and I think is so useful for students and gives them a clear perspective of what is anxiety and how to avoid it.
He started explaining to us what we should do to avoid anxiety and how to detect it. He also gave us some tips like having a good sleep or controlling our thoughts and feelings can help us to prevent anxiety when we are younger but it will be useful in the future as well.
At the end of the talk he divided us into groups and he gave us a situation to work on it and we had to say what we will feel in those situations, the thoughts that we will have and the actions to fix it. In my group what we had to do was to express our feelings when we make a fool of ourselves.
To sum up, I really enjoyed the workshop and I think is so useful for students and gives them a clear perspective of what is anxiety and how to avoid it.