TY News Update

Transition year – So far so good

At the beginning of the school year, I confess I was slightly sceptical of an entire year dedicated to the transition from the junior cycle to the senior cycle in secondary school. However I was mistaken and have found the first few months of Transition year critical.

As of September students have had the opportunity to engage in first aid, a high standard musical production, public speaking, film studies, online courses, a myriad of academic competitions and a choice of producing and selling their own produce(Mini Company), creating beautiful clothes from rubbish(Junk Couture) or advocating current social issues(Young Social Innovators). I personally think, the most wonderful thing about these activities is the variety. The extra opportunities on offer during TY encompasses a huge range of abilities which is a refreshing change from third year state examinations that only test one’s academic ability.

 I refer to the beginning of transition year as “critical” because I am of the opinion it is essential for teenagers who have been regurgitating information for exams all their lives, to realise and understand that there is wider variety of future careers than we have perceived. You don’t need an A in math to produce a film. You don’t need to excel in English to make an excellent public speaker. I believe transition year is a perfect time drinks and games involved.to branch out and build self-esteem from new successes.

The two main focus points this term have been the school musical and the Trade Fair. After a lot of blood, sweat and tears, the cast and crew of this year’s musical, “The Sound Of Music”, produced six successful performances. Once again there was room for a huge variety of skill sets and interests, from front of house to singers and dancers. I know a lot of transition year students surprised themselves by being quite comfortable and skilled on the stage and I am very glad they got the opportunity to realise this.

There has been fervent competition in the lead up to this year’s Trade fair as mini companies battle with YSI groups for floors space and junk couture pairs search for mannequins. The annual Trade fair is an event held to display transition year students’ work so far and is considered great craic by the rest of the school for, as always, there will be food.

Besides these two major events, there have been great projects underway such as the debating and public speaking teams who have both been to competitions in the last few months and though there have been no grand breakthroughs yet, as a shss debator, I assure you, we held our own and learned a lot for our next debate in January and I have equal confidence in the public speaking teams. We also have five teams preparing for the BT young scientist in January, which they look forward to, for certain.

TY, so far  Zoë Coakley

We are almost halfway through the school year, and it's been a busy one for me and the other tys.

It all began when we received our junior cert results and quickly the year transition(year)ed into a whirlwind of events.

At the start of the year all of fourth year ventured up to the ploughing.

We also had Law Day where barristers and solicitors came into talk to us.

The classes were put into Community Awareness placements around Clonakilty, something that has been very successful.

We had auditions for the school musical and countless matches were played.

There were public speaking and debating competitions along with various competitions that were entered.

Five girls were picked by the Hope Foundation to go on a trip to India, and they have organised many fundraising events since, the most recent of which being Hannah Ryans Indian Movie and Curry Night which I thoroughly enjoyed.

Just a fortnight ago was the week of the school show the sound of music, a production which involved months of preparation by students and faculty alike.

Now, tomorrow,the 10th of December, is the annual fourth year Trade Fair, something that's come around faster than anyone anticipated. The mini company, ysi and junk kouture projects will be on display in and around the GPR so that everyone's hard work can be admired, purchased and read about.

Coming up to Christmas I'm sure students can't wait to see what is still in store.