It's been a long time.......but we've all been really busy between work experience, Schools Across Borders, talks and more. We had a talk from women working in Intel, about STEM - Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths. We had a talk on Monday from a women who works for Plan Ireland, about educating girls in the developing world, and also about child brides. I'm in Kinsella's Pharmacy for my work experience, and tomorrow is my last day. We have all been blogging in our NGO blog, Cailíní Saor, to keep everyone updated. We've been working on things for the big presentation on the 8th May with Schools Across Borders and the NGO Fair.
We made a video to send to students in Malawi in response to their questions about Ireland. Here's their video: Questions From Malawi to Ireland. I'll post ours when we finish it. Bye for now, I'll blog more soon. A lot of catching up to do!
Tuesday 8 April 2014
Thursday 13 February 2014
Monday 10 February 2014
Girl Rising
Wow, I haven't posted anything in about 2 months! Oops...........I have been busy though. First week back to school we had the Junk Kouture fashion show in school. I was a bit nervous getting up in front of the whole year plus some second and fifth years, but I managed no problem. Mostly because I forgot to put in contact lenses, so I couldn't see a thing. Oops again. It went well though, after we finally got our outfit finished. I'll post some pictures later.
One Thursday we went to the RDS to see the Intel Young Scientist Competition. That was really interesting as the projects were really good, and they were by secondary school students. Some of them were unbelievably sciency, and I could't understand them. Oh well, it was a nice trip out anyway.
We did presentations for the SciFest @school competition recently. I was in a group with Katie and Aoife. Our project title was ''Is listening to music while studying beneficial?'' We tested a class of first years for this. Half listened to music while studying for a test and half studied in silence. We then gave them a test, collected them again and corrected them. We found that the students who listened to music did better on average than those who didn't listen to music. We didn't get through to the next stage, but we were happy with the way the day went.
In Religion we watched a documentary film called Girl Rising. You can find out more about it here: http://girlrising.com/ . We then made mini movies in IT class with Movie Maker. It was tricky getting the hang of it, but once I got the knack it was fine. Here's the finished product, enjoy!
Monday 16 December 2013
Happy Hollydays!
Last Wednesday all of TY went into town. 'Not again!' I hear you cry? This time it was for a charity collection. We were selling holly badges for the Irish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children. Or as I tried to say it that morning to my neighbour's little sister, the Irish Prevention of the Society for Children Cruelty. I mix up words a lot. We went into a hall in Dublin and were given the badges and collection boxes. We were told where to go, I was with Jayne and we were outside Topshop near St Stephens Green shopping centre. The badges were €2 each, but a lot of people put in lots of change and didn't even take a badge. It was freezing! I was so glad I wore leggings under my skirt, but I could have done with extra socks as well. My feet were blocks of ice. I wore thick gloves too, but my fingers still froze. Not fun. For lunch afterwards guess where we went. McDonald's again! Then we went home.
On Thursday we had our last ever Zumba class :(. Sad face. It was really fun, and the instructor put on Christmas music at the end for the stretches. I think I'd like to do it outside of school, but I don't have any time! And I'm broke.
Friday was our Christmas dress up day. I wore a Christmas jumper and hung glittery gold baubles from my earrings. I got lots of compliments on my creativeness for using baubles. The truth is they were on the kitchen table when I was leaving, so I just grabbed them. Walking to school I had them in my pocket, and now my coat pocket is full of lovely gold glitter. Yay! I love glitter.
I can't wait until Christmas. I'm so excited! I just love Christmas. We put up our tree at the weekend, and now its so Christmassy when I'm watching TV with the tree and all the lights. I am looking for a new phone and a McWilliams sail bag. It's an Irish sailing brand, the bags are made in Cork out of sailcloth and apparently is practically indestructible. Practically everyone who does sailing has one, and I really want it!
On Thursday we had our last ever Zumba class :(. Sad face. It was really fun, and the instructor put on Christmas music at the end for the stretches. I think I'd like to do it outside of school, but I don't have any time! And I'm broke.
Friday was our Christmas dress up day. I wore a Christmas jumper and hung glittery gold baubles from my earrings. I got lots of compliments on my creativeness for using baubles. The truth is they were on the kitchen table when I was leaving, so I just grabbed them. Walking to school I had them in my pocket, and now my coat pocket is full of lovely gold glitter. Yay! I love glitter.
I can't wait until Christmas. I'm so excited! I just love Christmas. We put up our tree at the weekend, and now its so Christmassy when I'm watching TV with the tree and all the lights. I am looking for a new phone and a McWilliams sail bag. It's an Irish sailing brand, the bags are made in Cork out of sailcloth and apparently is practically indestructible. Practically everyone who does sailing has one, and I really want it!
Friday 6 December 2013
Rathbeggan Lakes and Roadshow in Punchestown
On Wednesday we went to Rathbeggan Lakes, Dunshaughlin, Co. Meath for a Project Maths Trail. We were put into groups of four or so and we each got a clipboard. Then we started off with the activities. The fist one my group got was a nice easy one. It was probability with a deck of cards. I thought it was really easy, I suppose because I play cards a lot in the summer. We also had to balance a beam with weights to figure out a formula, make an octagon out of twine and a few others. Apart from it being it freezing cold (to the point where I couldn't feel my fingers for most of it!) it was really fun.
On Thursday we went to the Kildare Road Safety Expo at Punchestown Racecourse. There were stalls everywhere from the RSA, Drink Aware, the Irish Road Victims Association and many more. There was a ''roll over'' car which simulated a car that rolled over, like in some crashes. It looked a bit scary, even though it rolled over slowly. Then there was a talk from reps from Drink Aware, the HSE, An Garda Síochana and the Road Safety Association as well. There were some videos about the importance of not using your phone and wearing a seat belt, as well as wearing luminous and reflective clothing when out in the dark walking or cycling.
Today in school we had a flash mob! It was for Calamity Jane, which our school is doing in February for this years musical. There was a rehearsal for the launch as well, which is tonight. I'm doing lifts for it with other people from TY.
On Thursday we went to the Kildare Road Safety Expo at Punchestown Racecourse. There were stalls everywhere from the RSA, Drink Aware, the Irish Road Victims Association and many more. There was a ''roll over'' car which simulated a car that rolled over, like in some crashes. It looked a bit scary, even though it rolled over slowly. Then there was a talk from reps from Drink Aware, the HSE, An Garda Síochana and the Road Safety Association as well. There were some videos about the importance of not using your phone and wearing a seat belt, as well as wearing luminous and reflective clothing when out in the dark walking or cycling.
Today in school we had a flash mob! It was for Calamity Jane, which our school is doing in February for this years musical. There was a rehearsal for the launch as well, which is tonight. I'm doing lifts for it with other people from TY.
Monday 2 December 2013
Schools across Borders
On the 21st of November all of us TYs went to the City West Hotel for a Global Citizenship Conference. Each school group had to make a short presentation about what they had learned so far. Myself, Ailbhe, Karen and Aoife had to present our class's project. It was based on poverty, especially its effects on women and children. After that we watched a play called Burma for One. Darren Irvine spoke with members of the Rohingya community from Burma who are living in Ireland. He also spoke with members of the Palestinian community in Ireland. Then it was lunch time, we had chicken and chips which were yum. After that we went from the main ballroom to another room for the activity hub section. There were reps from Amnesty International, Trocaire, Concern and lots more. We also did a Graffiti Wall where we all drew and wrote our opinions and thoughts.
In English last week we were studying short films. One was an Irish film called Atlantic, which was a bit sad. Watch it and you'll know why!
Friday 15 November 2013
Trip to town and Zumba!
On Thursday all of us TYs went into got a bus (well 2 buses) into Dublin to go to the National Library, the National Museum and the National Gallery.
First up my class went to the National Museum to look at Irish Bronze Age jewelry and Bog Bodies. The gold necklaces were called Lunulae. The tour guide described how they might not have been worn by people as they were never found with people, but in rural areas. One theory is that they were put on statues, as the edges are quite rough. There were also ear spools that looked like circular boxes, some with beads in them. They went into a stretched earlobe and would rattle as the wearer moved. They looked pretty painful to me! next we went to look at the Bog Bodies exhibition. We looked at three, all of which had no legs. Only one had a head, but it was perfectly preserved.
Next we went to the W.B. Yeats exhibit in the National Library. It was a display showing pictures and documents from throughout his life. It was really interesting to learn all about his life. It had a timeline of events running all around the room, with interactive screens to find out more.
Then it was lunch, so we all walked down to Grafton Street to eat. (That rhymes!) I went to McDonald's with some of my friends. Then we went to the Disney store! It was so cool, I had never been before so I was very excited. There were princesses and Mickey Mouses and more. We also went to Dubray Books, where I bought a book called Fuse. It's the second in a series, I read the first, Pure, over the summer. On the way to our designated meeting area (!) I got some gelato (Italian ice-cream) from a Gino's stall. White chocolate and caramel yum yum!
After that was the National Gallery, where we looked at some paintings by Jack B. Yeats like The Liffey Swim. We looked at one by Pablo Picasso as well, one by Vermeer and one by an Italian painter who I can't pronounce or spell his name! It was really interesting.
Today, Friday, we had Zumba! Usually my class has it on a Thursday but we missed it because of the trip yesterday. I hadn't done Zumba before as I was at a talk last week. It was tiring but really fun! i really enjoyed it.
First up my class went to the National Museum to look at Irish Bronze Age jewelry and Bog Bodies. The gold necklaces were called Lunulae. The tour guide described how they might not have been worn by people as they were never found with people, but in rural areas. One theory is that they were put on statues, as the edges are quite rough. There were also ear spools that looked like circular boxes, some with beads in them. They went into a stretched earlobe and would rattle as the wearer moved. They looked pretty painful to me! next we went to look at the Bog Bodies exhibition. We looked at three, all of which had no legs. Only one had a head, but it was perfectly preserved.
Next we went to the W.B. Yeats exhibit in the National Library. It was a display showing pictures and documents from throughout his life. It was really interesting to learn all about his life. It had a timeline of events running all around the room, with interactive screens to find out more.
Then it was lunch, so we all walked down to Grafton Street to eat. (That rhymes!) I went to McDonald's with some of my friends. Then we went to the Disney store! It was so cool, I had never been before so I was very excited. There were princesses and Mickey Mouses and more. We also went to Dubray Books, where I bought a book called Fuse. It's the second in a series, I read the first, Pure, over the summer. On the way to our designated meeting area (!) I got some gelato (Italian ice-cream) from a Gino's stall. White chocolate and caramel yum yum!
After that was the National Gallery, where we looked at some paintings by Jack B. Yeats like The Liffey Swim. We looked at one by Pablo Picasso as well, one by Vermeer and one by an Italian painter who I can't pronounce or spell his name! It was really interesting.
Today, Friday, we had Zumba! Usually my class has it on a Thursday but we missed it because of the trip yesterday. I hadn't done Zumba before as I was at a talk last week. It was tiring but really fun! i really enjoyed it.
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