Welcome to our blog about the Transition Year in St Wolstans Community School, Celbridge, Co Kildare. Here you will read all about what happens in Transition Year. You will get a good idea of how busy our year is!
Follow individual student blogs as well and see how they are getting on.

All contributions come from the students themselves and the TY Coordinator.
Enjoy






Thursday, March 31, 2011

Jabba Jabba Jembe - Percussion workshop

More Jabba Jabba Jembe. This time, class Amina.

TY Friendship - by Aoife

To TY

Our last few months,
We'll never forget those laughs.
From Carlingford to Carlow,
Mini Company to English,
Dressing up or down,
Making friends
and

Wednesday, March 30, 2011

Awards all round

Today a photographer came to school, he thought he was only there to take one photos of TY....he was there for an hour! We had winners galore :)

Well done TY.




Oops, just noticed I spelt Hakka with a K :)

Tuesday, March 29, 2011

Chloe is dancing.....with Sean???

Mr S taught Chloe and the TYs some Irish dancing.....

"Mr S our Irish teacher taught us some Sean Nós dancing. Sean Nós is a type of Irish dance. It is completely different to the traditional Irish dancing. Traditional Irish dancing has a more strict posture where as Sean Nós dancing is more

Monday, March 28, 2011

Road Safety talk

Stephanie can't cycle to school.....

"This morning, we had a talk about cycling. A man came in and explained a bit about cycling and why we should cycle. We should cycle as its better for the environment, better for our health and doesn’t cause traffic congestion, which has been a big problem. He told is that in the Netherlands,

Sunday, March 27, 2011

Zoe wants to be a vet


Zoe enjoyed her last work experience.

"For our second work experience placement I went to Anglesey Lodge Equine Hospital in the Curragh :) I wanted to go there because I love working with horses and I am interested in becoming a vet also.
My friend Laura also went to the same placement as me in the same week :) I was really nervous on the first day as I honestly didn't know what to expect but

Bog bodies, Yeats and Eimear!

Image Source - Tate Gallery© Estate of Jack Butler Yeats

Eimear wrote a great post about the TY English trip to Dublin to see the Yeats exhibition and the Natural History Museum.

"We headed off to the William Butler Yeats exhibition first. We were greeted by a tour guide who brought us through the colourful displays and cases which make up the exhibition. Everything was colourful and designed beautifully, from the stands themselves to the

Saturday, March 26, 2011

Aoife has advice for new TYs

Aoife wrote a really good post giving advice to any student going into TY next year, I thought it important to put here so the 3rd Years will read it.

"What's So Good about TY?

As Mrs. Leahy has directed future transition year students to explore our blogs and gather more information about the whole TY experience I decided that I would make a post dedicated to

Niamh's Fáinne Challenge

Niamh has a new challenge....

"In Irish Class, we are doing a Fáinne Challenge.

Well, with it... people get a gold fáinne (Ring/Badge) if they are fluent in Irish, or a silver fáinne if you have a basic ability to speak Irish.

The teacher of the other Irish class is going to come into our class and talk to each of us to see how well we can speak it.

I really want to get the Fáinne Ór (gold ring/badge) to prove my Irish... so I really better get practicing my Irish Speaking!

Dia Duit :)

Bhuel, Slán go Fóill :)"

Bon chance Niamh. Oops, wrong language :) I mean Go n'éirí an t-ádh leat.

Read more of Niamh's blog here. Visit the AN fáinne website.

Mrs L :)

Cutting Radishes.. and fingers! :/

Niamh is dangerous....read on.....

"On Monday, we did an exciting Science experiment. We were testing the reaction of the enzyme in radishes at different temperatures. We had to use safety goggles and plastic gloves, as usual. The reaction of the radishes with hydrochloric acid, washing up liquid and buffer created

Friday, March 25, 2011

Rachels cooking!

Rachel was working with Clodagh Mc Kenna for work experience.....

"For our second work experience, 7th-11th of March. I went to Lyons Cookery School. I loved it, it was exactly what I was looking for and so much more. I was not only helping in the cookery school but also in the cafes kitchen, where I learned so much about cooking and running a kitchen.
I definitely want to go into cookery after the Leaving Cert, and I think I even know what courses I want to do now as well. I would definitely recommend Lyons Estate to anyone looking for work experince, the people there are so nice and they make sure your busy and involved the whole time."

This was a successful work experience then Rachel. Isn't it great to know what you want to do after school?
Well done.

Read Rachels blog here.

Visit The Village at Lyons website for more information.
Mrs L :)

Saidhbh was at RTE

Saidhbh spent a week at RTE for her work experience. Read what she has to say about it .......

"Last week I had the privilege of doing work experience in RTE for the week :)I was unbelievably lucky as I was one of 18 students picked out of a draw of about 300! RTE do a special T.Y work experience programme, and it began on Monday.....

Thursday, March 24, 2011

Patricia and Marilyn

Patricia is doing her History project..


I have decided to do my history end of year project on Marilyn Monroe. She is a very interesting character in movie history here is some information I have gathered about her :

Jabba Jabba Jembe - Percussion workshop

Ciara really enjoyed making noise!



Read Ciara's blog post........

The percussion workshop our class had was one of the best things we've done in TY I think :) We had the whole day with a man called David, who owns the company called Jabba Jabba Jembe. He owns loads of African drums, all different kinds called.....

Wednesday, March 23, 2011

An audience with an age gap! :)

Image from Chloe

Niamh tells us about the recent Holy Faith Drama festival that TY took part in.

Here is Niamh's blog with lots more interesting and fun posts!


Click the Read More button to read the rest of her blog post.....


"On Tuesday, 15th of March, the two Transition year classes spent the day and most part of the night at the convent in Glasnevin, Co. Dublin. We went to the convent to take part in the "Margaret Aylword Drama Presentation". Margaret Aylword was the founder of the Holy Faith Sisters in the 1850's.

Saturday, March 19, 2011

Siobhan's a winner!

I've been following the Irish Blog Awards from Belfast all evening on Twitter and have heard that Siobhan B has won the Best Youth blog.

Image from SluggerOToole.com.

Congratulations Siobhan, great work on your blog.

Why not visit Siobhan's blog here and leave her a message?

Mrs L :)

P.S.
Was it like this Siobhan?..................

Student Enterprise Awards

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Hayley has written a blog post about the Student Enterprise Awards last week.

"On Monday we went to the County Final of the Student Enterprise Awards. We arrived in the Osprey Hotel in Naas around 11 o clock and it was straight down to business on getting our stand ready. Our main thing on our stand was a large knot a problem that Aislings dad helped us make! Thank God for DADS! It took us a while to get it up be it was Check Spellingwell worth it! When we finished our stand it was time for lunch. It was really nice (chicken and wedges)......

Thursday, March 17, 2011

Happy St Patrick's Day

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Happy St Patrick's Day. Here's a little something to make your day even happier:)

Wednesday, March 16, 2011

Lá Glas

Today was Lá Glas and each year group dressed up according to the theme they were given by the Prefect team.

TY's were to dress as Aer Lingus air stewardesses, although a few Pilots, airport passengers, an odd terrorist and two super heroes were all part of the theme as well :)

We had a great day in wonderful spring sunshine. Here are a few photos, I'm sure there will be plenty more on the students own blogs so check them out on the Class Amina page and Class Emnet page.


Look, what's that in the sky?
getting ready for the Ceili
Captain Leahy!

Tuesday, March 15, 2011

Lauren wants to teach!

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Lauren was teaching last week. Click the Read More link below to read her post....

"Last week the 7th of March all TY's were out on work experience. I decided to do my work experience in my old primary school. I chose to do my work experience here because ever since I was a primary school student I wanted to be a teacher myself.

Monday, March 14, 2011

Awards, awards, awards!

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We had a great day today at two Mini Company competitions.

At the Get Up and Go competition in the Red Cow Hotel, Dublin, 4 awards were won. Real won 2nd prize for Innovation, BizClips won 3rd prize for Innovation, Green Hero won 1st prize for Sustainability and 3rd prize for Quality as well. Green Hero also go through to the finals in Naas on April 7th.

At the Kildare Finals of the Student Enterprise Awards in Naas Just Deserts won the Judges prize and Knot a Problem were Runners Up overall.

Great work girls. Well done to all the groups who took part in both events.

Big thanks go to your Mini Company teachers, Ms Leonard and Ms Evans for all their help and advice.

Read Niamh's blog about the competition today here.

Mrs L :)
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Saturday, March 12, 2011

Another successful Work Experience

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Work experience is over for another year and once again the reports from employers about all the students were outstanding. The employers told us how enthusiastic, diligent, punctual, and lovely the students were. Many said they would happily take a St Wolstans student for work experience again. That's a great credit to our TY ambassadors.

Thanks so much to class Amina and Emnet for being such exemplary employees and doing us proud.

Mrs L :)

Ruth is going to murder someone!

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Well, not quite :)

Ruth has finally decided on what her end of year History project will be. She explains on her blog.........

"For our history summer test we have to choose any topic in history and do a project on it. When I was told this, I thought to myself how am I ever going to pick something? After a long time of thinking I landed on the idea of doing my project on women pilots during World Wwar II, or WASP's. But I wasn't 100% certain.

Then that week I was watching my absolute favourite programme of all times Criminal Minds and they were investigating a serial killer, who was copy catting Jack The Ripper. And that is when it came to me, I will do my project on Jack The Ripper!"


Read the rest of Ruths blog post here.

Sounds very interesting Ruth. Remind me not to get into trouble with you between now and the end of the year!!!

Mrs L ;)
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Friday, March 11, 2011

Ailbhe likes the student life!

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Ailbhe spent her work experience at the University of Limerick. Sounds like she enjoyed it, read on.....

"University of Limerick is really such an amazing place to go for work experience! The reason I went to UL was because I wanted to get a taste of a few different courses and I thought that it might give me an idea of what I would want to do in college. It was so good because we actually were like college students for the week. We were on our own going to the different lectures......

Thursday, March 10, 2011

Orlaigh's been to Court!

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Orlaigh has been in the Four Courts on work experience, read on......

"So, I'm doing my Work Experience in the Four Courts this week and wow was it a good choice. Since I was seven I have wanted to be a lawyer and to finally get to see all of these intelligent barristers at work is just amazing..........

Wednesday, March 9, 2011

The Girl Effect: The Clock is Ticking

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I came across this on Fiona's blog tonight. Great work Fiona for posting this.

Fiona says,
"I thought this video was really interesting and its amazing what happens if a girl is given an education and has access to a doctor. Also what makes this video different is that it's an ad yet it doesn't feel like one. "



Read more of Fiona's blog here.

Mrs L :)

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Hayley is on yard duty!

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Hayley is enjoying her work experience by the sounds of it!

Read what she has to say.....

"Dia Dhuit!!! I am working in Gael Scoil Uí Fhiaich in Maynooth and I am loving it! Yesterday morning I went to my supervisor who gave me a time table of the class I would be in for the week. Firstly I was in senior infants helping kids with their words and their writing. I then took down posters around a class room and put up new ones. I also helped calculate marks for tests. I also had to help with Irish dancing which was awkward because I have no idea about any of the dances. I was really nervous to begin with because it was an all Irish school but the teachers are lovely and friendly.
Today I started off in the same classes I was in yesterday stapeling and helping kids with their work. I then spent my time sorting out library books. I had to stick labels on each of them and then put the school stamp on it! I was also in a third class helping them with their work. I spend lunch times on yard duty everyday.
It was a great day and I am looking forward to tomorrow!"


Read more of Hayleys blog here.

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Tuesday, March 8, 2011

Congratulations to Noughts and Crosses

Congratulations to Noughts and Crosses drama group who won Best Newcomer at the Briery Gap Drama Festival in Macroom, Co Cork on Saturday. Well done girls on all your hard work.

Thanks to Ms G and Ms B for giving up their Saturday to take you down to Macroom and for all the hard work they did helping you as well.

I took this photo from Siobhan's blog :)




Read more about the day on Siobhans blog post here.
Mrs L :)

Wednesday, March 2, 2011

Congratulations and Good Luck

Well done to Siobhan Brady who is through to the finals of the Irish Blog Awards (Youth category).

I nominated Siobhan's blog some time ago and over the last few weeks all the nominated blogs have been judged by anonymous judges. Obviously the judges liked what they saw on Siobhan's blog because it was shortlisted for the finals.

http://awards.ie/blogawards/2011/02/28/youth-2011-finalists/

Please stop by her blog http://siobhanb.blogspot.com/ and wish her good luck. Have a read of her great blog while you're there.

Congratulations Siobhan. I'm delighted that the very first year we have used blogging in TY that you have set the standard this high. Brilliant work.

Good luck to all the finalists in the Youth category, and indeed to all the bloggers, be they journalists, politicians, comedians, scientists or whatever.

Mrs L :)