Can't Spell Party Without a TY!

Last Wednesday was our last day of workshops before work experience starts. Our first workshop was with Brenda and Kate from BK Inniu. At the start of this workshop we had to walk down a red carpet while balancing our journals on our heads. I was really bad at it and I kept dropping my journal. They also showed us how to find out our face shape and taught us how to apply make up properly. 

After break, we had a workshop with Mr C and Ms H about work experience. They told us what we should wear and taught us how to greet our employers. They also told us about dangers in the workplace. I really liked this workshop and now I don't feel as nervous about my first day of work experience.

Our last workshop was Positive Parties with Denise. As always, it was a lot of fun. We got to eat sweets and dance. Marketa got to put on a banana costume! We learned about building rapport, which is all about building relationships with people. It was really fun, but I had to leave early to go to a hockey match.

I'm really sad that we haven't got any workshops for a few weeks, but I'm excited to start work experience. :-)

Budding Entrepreneurs

On Thursday, we went to the Moat Theatre in Naas for a mini-company talk. We sat in the theatre with TY students from other schools while a woman from the Kildare County Enterprise Board spoke to us about our mini-company projects. She told us more about the project and explained the marking scheme. She also gave us useful tips on how to set up our business and how to think of good ideas. During the talk, we also had to get into groups. Each group had to come up with a new type of pen. We then had to decide how to market our pen. When we were finished, two people from each group got up to speak about their ideas. I was really surprised by the amount of amazing ideas that each group had thought of. When the talk was over, our mini-company teachers let us go to Mc Donalds! :-)

Workshop Wednesday Part II

The morning after our action-packed two days in Carlingford, I dragged myself out of bed and into school for our second day of workshops. Our first workshop was laughter yoga with Denise from Positive Parties. We put on funny masks and wigs. Unfortunately it didn't work as well as it was supposed to as we were all still very tired, but it was still fun. 

Next, we went to a workshop with Brenda and Kate from BK Inniu. They taught us how to walk properly in heels, how to dress appropriately for interviews and how to care for our nails. They also showed us a very sad but effective video about body image. This was my favourite wokshop of the day. 

For our last workshop, Gilíosa came back to teach us how to do head massages. This time, I was partners with Holly. The massage she gave me was so nice that I fell asleep! 

I really liked these workshops and I am looking forward to

our workshops next Wednesday. :-)

Carlingford 2013!

On Monday, we all got up really early to get our bus to Carlingford, Louth. Although it didn't seem like it at 6.30 in the morning, it was definitely worth the early start! When we got there, we were split into two groups. My group went to do the 'Carlingford Challenge', which was a series of team building challenges. This was a lot of fun and my team was one of the teams that won. After lunch, we changed into camouflage suits and went into the forest for our second activity, laser tag. We were given special guns and had to shoot the other team. This was by far one of my favourite activities. We were nearly having too much fun to realise that Mr K was cheating the whole time!

That evening, we went back into the forest for a blind-folded walk. I was terrified because one of the instructors kept growling in my ear! When we got back, we had some free time and Mrs L let us go to the Chinese. After we ate, we went back to our room and ate some more (no surprise there...). Sharing a room with my friends was great, Aine K and I made a fort out of our bunk bed! Even though we planned to stay awake all night, we struggled to keep our eyes open past 12 o'clock after our busy day.

The next morning we got up early for our next activity, kayaking. It was freezing! No amount of singing about Father Abraham and his seven sons could warm us up. Despite the cold, this was another one of my favourite activities. We kayaked across to a cave and I put my head under a waterfall that would supposedly give me eternal life. On the way back, we went on a massive water trampoline. It was so much fun, but I was so cold that all i could think about was going back and changing into warm, dry clothes.

After lunch, we did three activities; body zorbing, 'Communication Breakdown' and archery. In 'Communication Breakdown' we all had to help each other to complete a maze in the dark. I got to learn a completely new skill when we did archery and I surprised myself when I hit the bullseye three times in a row! Body zorbing was my favourite out of the three. After getting myself stuck upside down numerous times, I think I have perfected my somersault. 

I really really enjoyed our trip to Carlingford, but I wish we could have stayed longer. The instructors were very friendly and I got to know girls in my year who I had barely spoken to before.  :-) 

En Route to Castletown

Last Thursday, our history teachers took us out for a tour of Castletown House. We were delighted when we found out we didn't have to walk down, particularly because we were all exhausted after our Results celebrations the night before. I think that was the first time that I was glad to see it was raining!

When we got there, we split into our class groups for our tour. Our tour guide was lovely and she told us lots of interesting stories about the history of Castletown House. She even told us about how she can sometimes feel the presence of spirits in the house! After the tour we stood on the steps outside the house and took a photo. I really enjoyed our trip to Castletown. :-)

I'm taller than Jessie, just saying

Workshop Wednesday!

Last Wesnesday I got a break from classes and spent the day doing different workshops with my class. Not only did I have lots of fun, but I got to learn some new skills and I also learned a lot about myself.

During our first workshop, a woman called Gilíosa taught us how to do shoulder massages. I was partners with Jessie and, it has to be said, she's a great masseuse! Although it seemed unimportant at first, learning this skill actually turned out to be very useful. She also taught us about overcoming stress, which will come in very handy during exam years.

Feeling very relaxed and quite drowsy after our massages, we moved on to our second workshop, Positive Parties, with a woman called Denise. She gave us tips on how to stay positive while we had a party. We also danced, sang, played with balloons and, most importantly, ate sweets! This was, by far, my favourite workshop of the day because I had a lot of fun.

CORNARO

Lastly, we went to Personality Profiling with a man called Austin. He taught us about self-confidence and about interacting with others. I found this very interesting, but I found it quite difficult to concentrate because I was being attacked by wasps.

Unfortunately we don't have any workshops this Wednesday as we're getting our results (I'm really nervous!), but at least we have our trip to Carlingford to look forward to! :-)

And TY Begins!

Coming to the end of my first week back at school, I am beginning to realise that my summer holidays are well and truly over. While I'm going to miss the surprisingly warm weather and long summer evenings, I am excited to get my Transition Year started. 

                    

As a TY student, I  get to study subjects that I have never studied before, like Technology and Home Ec. Both subjects are very different to what I am used to and can be quite daunting, but are fun all the same. I have already started lots of projects, such as Junk Kouture, Mini Company and Sci Fest.

Before my first day back, I was nervous to find out what my new class would be like. However, after one day, I realised I had nothing to worry about. My class is called Cornaro, but we prefer to call ourselves "Cornetto". It was named after the first woman in the world to get a degree, Elena Cornaro. I have already made lots of new friends in my class and am looking forward to spending the rest of my TY year with them. :-)