Extra curriculars
Martial Arts
On the week of the 23rd of October we were fortunate enough to have a two day self defence course. We covered many different aspects of Martial Arts while learning how to block and strike effectively. I took a lot from the course. The instructor talked to us a lot about being aware of our surroundings and to always choose the safest option. He gave us a few scenarios and asked us what we would do. I found this really affective as it forced me to think of all the possible dangers I could come across when I am out on my own. At the end of the course, we were all required to do what he said would be a five minute assessment. It certainly took me more than five minutes. The assessment was based on all the various blocks, strikes and takedowns we had learned during the last two days along with some other fitness exercises such as push-ups and burpees. The test was very challenging and really tired me out. I found the push ups extremely difficult as we were required to do 20 and me and my tiny arms can't even manage to do one. The instructor said he shall be coming back to do one more day in March because we missed out on a lot of the ground fighting we were meant to do because we were short on matts. I'm really looking forward to it.
Public Access to Law
At the beginning of the year, our school gave us the option of various different extra curricular courses. I'm very interested in law and am seriously considering it for college so, naturally, I picked the Public Access to Law course for one of my extra curricular activities.
The course started first thing that Friday morning. We were greeted by a lady called Mary who had been through law school and is now a barrister. For the first part of day we watched two CSI episodes. As we did so she pointed out various things that could help you as a barrister if this case went to trial.
Later on in the day we began to do mock trials. Everyone involved in the trial was given a "book of evidence". This contained everyone's statements and different Laws that were relevant to the case. It was really interesting to watch my fellow classmates carry out the mock trial and when it was finished I was really eager to take part in the next one.
In the second mock trial I was one of the defence barristers. Our client was being prosecuted for assault and by using the book of evidence it was our job to find a loop hole and prove him innocent. The mock trial was a lot of fun and definitely the most enjoyable part of the day.
I really enjoyed the Public Access to Law course and would definitely recommend doing it. I learnt a lot and it has made me a lot more confident in choosing Law to study in university.
The course started first thing that Friday morning. We were greeted by a lady called Mary who had been through law school and is now a barrister. For the first part of day we watched two CSI episodes. As we did so she pointed out various things that could help you as a barrister if this case went to trial.
Later on in the day we began to do mock trials. Everyone involved in the trial was given a "book of evidence". This contained everyone's statements and different Laws that were relevant to the case. It was really interesting to watch my fellow classmates carry out the mock trial and when it was finished I was really eager to take part in the next one.
In the second mock trial I was one of the defence barristers. Our client was being prosecuted for assault and by using the book of evidence it was our job to find a loop hole and prove him innocent. The mock trial was a lot of fun and definitely the most enjoyable part of the day.
I really enjoyed the Public Access to Law course and would definitely recommend doing it. I learnt a lot and it has made me a lot more confident in choosing Law to study in university.
Music Festival
Every year the school holds an annual Music Festival. The Music Festival gives students the opportunity to show off their musical talents in a competition. This year I decided to test myself and took on a really challenging song. I performed "And I am Telling You" from the musical Dreamgirls. I was really happy with my performance and was glad I had pushed my self to try such a challenging song as it has really helped with improvement of my voice while also helping me realise where my strengths and weaknesses lie when singing. It was a great night filled with wonderful performances and a great amount of talent.
Scuba Diving
TY gives us the opportunity to take part in loads of different extracurricular courses. Along with 40 other students, I took part in the scuba diving course. The course consisted of two days; a theory lesson and a practical lesson.
The first day, one of the scuba diving instructors came in to give us a theory class. During this class, our instructor gave us guidelines and highlighted key safety rules. This was to insure our safety and to make us a little more confident so we knew what we would be doing. He showed us some scuba diving gear and explained how everything worked. He also taught us some important hand actions so we would be able to communicate with our instructors under water.
On the second day we all headed to the National Aquatic Centre where we were split into two groups. Each group took in turn to watch the others. We were brought into the swimming pool where we were given wetsuits, flippers, masks and oxygen tanks. With all our appropriate gear on, we were split up into smaller groups and assigned an instructor. Our instructor talked us through everything one last time and we began to go under water.
Under the water the different groups were playing with different equipment. During this, one of the instructors was taking a video of it all so we can all watch it at a later date. Being under water for that long with such ease was such an exhilarating experience. Each group spent about an hour in the water. We all had an amazing time and thoroughly enjoyed the experience.
The first day, one of the scuba diving instructors came in to give us a theory class. During this class, our instructor gave us guidelines and highlighted key safety rules. This was to insure our safety and to make us a little more confident so we knew what we would be doing. He showed us some scuba diving gear and explained how everything worked. He also taught us some important hand actions so we would be able to communicate with our instructors under water.
On the second day we all headed to the National Aquatic Centre where we were split into two groups. Each group took in turn to watch the others. We were brought into the swimming pool where we were given wetsuits, flippers, masks and oxygen tanks. With all our appropriate gear on, we were split up into smaller groups and assigned an instructor. Our instructor talked us through everything one last time and we began to go under water.
Under the water the different groups were playing with different equipment. During this, one of the instructors was taking a video of it all so we can all watch it at a later date. Being under water for that long with such ease was such an exhilarating experience. Each group spent about an hour in the water. We all had an amazing time and thoroughly enjoyed the experience.
Legally Blonde
Just before the October midterm we were told that our fourth Year musical was going to be Legally Blonde. This is already one of my favourite musicals so I was delighted to hear we would be performing it the following February.
We were given the midterm to prepare for our auditions and received our roles two weeks prior to our Christmas break. The auditions were a lot of fun and it was amazing to see so many of us putting in an effort for them (especially the boys). After receiving our parts everyone was really supportive of each other.
The next few weeks consisted of intense rehearsals as we had a very short period to put the show together. It was so lovely to see everyone dancing and having fun together. The rehearsals gave us the opportunity to socialise, bond with and help others in the year that we normally wouldn't be given the chance to do.
The most stressful parts were the days coming up to the shows. Our musical score was extremely difficult and complex and tested everyone's patience during band calls. However, with the help of our music director Jackie Olahan and our director and choreographer Aisling Doyle, it all came together in time for the shows.
All together we put on six shows. A dress rehearsal, two matinees and three evening shows. The shows were by far the best part of the whole experience. It was now left up to us to work together and make the show great. Everyone did a fantastic job from our actors, to our backstage people, to our prop organisers. It was amazing to see the difference between our first dress rehearsal and our last show. By the end of it the show was running so smoothly with hardly any hiccups.
I was most amazed by how much everyone enjoyed being on stage. Especially those who had never done something like this before. Standing up on the stage after our bows on our final night was such a sad yet heart warming experience. It was the closest we had felt as a year group.
The musical taught us all to work as a team and support each other. It brought us closer together and made us mature as a group. It was an amazing experience and definitely my favourite part of TY so far.
We were given the midterm to prepare for our auditions and received our roles two weeks prior to our Christmas break. The auditions were a lot of fun and it was amazing to see so many of us putting in an effort for them (especially the boys). After receiving our parts everyone was really supportive of each other.
The next few weeks consisted of intense rehearsals as we had a very short period to put the show together. It was so lovely to see everyone dancing and having fun together. The rehearsals gave us the opportunity to socialise, bond with and help others in the year that we normally wouldn't be given the chance to do.
The most stressful parts were the days coming up to the shows. Our musical score was extremely difficult and complex and tested everyone's patience during band calls. However, with the help of our music director Jackie Olahan and our director and choreographer Aisling Doyle, it all came together in time for the shows.
All together we put on six shows. A dress rehearsal, two matinees and three evening shows. The shows were by far the best part of the whole experience. It was now left up to us to work together and make the show great. Everyone did a fantastic job from our actors, to our backstage people, to our prop organisers. It was amazing to see the difference between our first dress rehearsal and our last show. By the end of it the show was running so smoothly with hardly any hiccups.
I was most amazed by how much everyone enjoyed being on stage. Especially those who had never done something like this before. Standing up on the stage after our bows on our final night was such a sad yet heart warming experience. It was the closest we had felt as a year group.
The musical taught us all to work as a team and support each other. It brought us closer together and made us mature as a group. It was an amazing experience and definitely my favourite part of TY so far.
SVP Hamper Packs
Every Christmas the fifth years organise a hamper pack up for St Vincent de Paul. Once the hampers are made, the fifth years go around and deliver them to the families in our local community. This year the fourth years were asked to go down to the sports hall to help pack the hampers. We were split into groups and each group packed about 20 boxes. These hamper packs are a great way to give back to our community this Christmas.
Legally Blonde Helix
Not long after the performance of our TY musical, one of the girls in our year saw an advert for an open audition for the production of Legally Blonde with Sean Gilligan in the Helix next September.
I decided to go for the audition as it would be a good experience even if I didn't get in. Much to my surprise I received a call back for dancing. I was over the moon and was definitely not expecting it as dancing would be my weakest point in musical theatre. I went to the callback and found the routines extremely challenging. It was really difficult to keep up as so many of the other applicants had loads of training.
To my pleasant surprise, two weeks later I received an email to say I was accepted as a dancer into the show. I was absolutely chuffed when I first heard. Although it is going to prove to be a great challenge I'm really looking forward to the rehearsals which start in August. I love musical theatre and am considering it when I leave school but really need to improve in my dancing so this will be a fantastic opportunity to push myself, strengthen my weaknesses and improve. I'm really looking forward to it and wait with anticipation for it all to begin.
I decided to go for the audition as it would be a good experience even if I didn't get in. Much to my surprise I received a call back for dancing. I was over the moon and was definitely not expecting it as dancing would be my weakest point in musical theatre. I went to the callback and found the routines extremely challenging. It was really difficult to keep up as so many of the other applicants had loads of training.
To my pleasant surprise, two weeks later I received an email to say I was accepted as a dancer into the show. I was absolutely chuffed when I first heard. Although it is going to prove to be a great challenge I'm really looking forward to the rehearsals which start in August. I love musical theatre and am considering it when I leave school but really need to improve in my dancing so this will be a fantastic opportunity to push myself, strengthen my weaknesses and improve. I'm really looking forward to it and wait with anticipation for it all to begin.
First Aid
First Aid was another extra curricular option given to us at the beginning of the year. I was really glad I took the course as it was extremely beneficial.
It was a three day course where we were taught CPR, bandaging and many other aspects of of First Aid. Our instructor went through the drill of CPR and the safety precautions one must take before beginning CPR. On the first day we were all given a book that outlined these precautions as well as any information a first aided may need. Along with this, we were given a face mask to use when giving breaths during CPR.
On the last day we did a written test followed by three or four practicals which tested our knowledge and covered everything we had learnt in the past two days.
I thoroughly enjoyed the first aid course. I found it extremely beneficial and learnt a lot from it. I passed the tests with 100% and am now confident in the practice of first aid.
It was a three day course where we were taught CPR, bandaging and many other aspects of of First Aid. Our instructor went through the drill of CPR and the safety precautions one must take before beginning CPR. On the first day we were all given a book that outlined these precautions as well as any information a first aided may need. Along with this, we were given a face mask to use when giving breaths during CPR.
On the last day we did a written test followed by three or four practicals which tested our knowledge and covered everything we had learnt in the past two days.
I thoroughly enjoyed the first aid course. I found it extremely beneficial and learnt a lot from it. I passed the tests with 100% and am now confident in the practice of first aid.
Summer Concert
On the 26th of April we put on our annual Summer Concert. The Summer concert showcases the talents of the students in the school and also displays the work that the choir have done throughout the year. This year I participated in the choir numbers as well as performing a trio and a solo piece. I performed my trio with Amy Mac Nulty and Abbie McCarthy. We sang the Glee version of "Shake it Out" by Florence and the Machine. It was the first trio piece we chose and put together ourselves so we were extremely proud of ourselves. For my solo piece I performed my solo song "Ireland" from Legally Blonde which I performed earlier in the year as the character of Paulette. The concert was a great success and an enjoyable night for all.
IT Newsletter Committee
At the beginning of the year I decided I wanted to emerse myself more in school life. In doing so, I put myself forward for the IT and Newsletter Committee. We were the group held responsible for putting the TY Newsletter together every term. As I, myself, am not very good with computers or anything of the likes, I helped write the articles on the various events we had done throughout the year. This really helped me with my writing skills during the year and it was nice to get involved and be part of it.
Student Council
In an attempt to further involve myself in school life, I decided to put my name forward to be elected for student council. Much to my pleasant surprise, I was voted on by my peers. Throughout the year the student council would meet and discuss various events that we were in charge of organising. We helped to run the bizarre and also organised non uniform days in aid of different charities. I really enjoyed being a part of this and will definitely put myself forward for it again.
Bake Sale in Aid of Operation Smile
On the 26th of April, one of the students in our year, Ben Hogan, held a bake sale in aid of Operation Smile. He organised the event very well and many of us helped him out with selling the cakes and keeping everything in order. Altogether we raised enough for 10 operations.
Three Peaks
This year for our difference day, we will be heading over to St. Catherine's Specil Needs School to build them a new playground. In order to do this we needed to raise money. We were all given a sponsorship card to do the Three Peaks Challenge with a goal of €100 to raise for the cause. We headed to the Big Sugar Loaf on Friday morning and began our hike. We went over the shoulder of the Big Sugar Loaf, over the Little Sugar Loaf and then over Bray Head and finished on Bray Beach. We had amazing weather for the walk which we were all delighted with even though we were dying from the heat. We had a great day and really enjoyed it.