Our Transition Year students have had a busy start to the year both academically and activity wise. They begun the year with a bonding trip to Zipit Forest Park which allowed them to tap into their inner Tarzan and fly through the trees via zip lines. They got in touch with nature on their trip to Causey Farm where they met a variety of farm animals, made traditional Irish Brown Bread and went bog hopping; definitely a first for many of our students. Another amazing experience for the Transition year students and one that made their TY coordinator very jealous was their outing to the spectacular Croke Park Stadium. They took in the History of the GAA and of the stadium on the day and undertook the Croke Park Skyline taking in the glorious views of Dublin City from an incredible 17 stories above the pitch.
They have visited Dalkey Island, have had talks from St. Josephs’ Shankhill, have taken part in EPIC Emigration Museum’s ‘Out in the World’ project, have had dance workshops and can now refer to themselves as Emotionally Intelligent, Skilled, Happy, Teens on completion of the much sought-after ‘EiSHT’ workshop.
The TY students have been busy within the classroom also working hard on various activities. The Enterprise classes have been researching Irish Companies and talking about how they affect the local communities and looking at the difference between social, culture and financial enterprises . In Maths they have been they are working on mastering algebra and cryptography. TY science classes are working on conservation and pollution and why in these times they are crucially important. Our Religion classes are broadening their knowledge and aiming to deepen their understanding on New Religious Movements worldwide. Our English classes are delving into the world of Willy Russell’s Play ‘Terraces’, comparing classic film noir ‘Double Indemnity’ to Tom Cruise’s ‘War of the Worlds’ and preparing a team for the first Concern Debating Competition in November. In Home Economics our students have been researching ethnic cookery, in Art they have been working on stop motion animation and looking at skills in photography. The YSI classes have been looking at the impacts that the lack of education and clean water can have on a community. They have been exploring the idea of Living on a Dollar a Day and what that looks like.
Some of our TY students also took part in the UCD Science Placement where they got to work with Amgen Biotech Experience Ireland in the UCD Conway Institute.
Overall it’s been a very busy exciting, fun filled start to the year for TY students in HCCS!