Tuesday 25 October 2011

English lover's dream day out :)

Last Wednesday we had a very fun Transition Year day out.
We set off on our buses, Fodla buzzing on the mini bus (again!). We broke into our classes, all we had to do was find Sarah Kelly who had disappeared to Eiru and then we set off to our first stop.

In the National Library we saw an exhibition of old Irish artifacts and drawings. It was really enjoyable when Ms.C explained the maps to Sive and I.

Next we went to the National Museum where we saw the bog bodies! It was so surreal. Some of the bodies were still so intact. It was hard to believe that they had been there so long. The bodies really reminded me of a book called 'Bog Child' by Siobhan Dowd which is one to read! In the National Museum we also saw an exhibition called The Faddan More Psalter. It was so interesting! I watched a short video here and decided on the spot I want to be an archaeologist. Well, I change my career path about every month but it's nice to have options. If you want to become an archaeologist too here's the link to The Faddan More Psalter project on the National Museum website. It's a great website, have a look around it. Or better yet, visit the museum. It's great... as museums go ;)

Next we went to the Yeats exhibition. I loved it! It was filled with primary sources from the W.B Yeats and his family. It was so interesting to see his school reports, diaries and family tree along with so many poems and plays. I was really shocked by how many poems he had wrote. There was interactive boards at the exhibition and they showed a timeline of pretty much everything important in the life of Yeats. I really did learn a lot, I'm not trying to impress the teachers.

Then was lunch on Grafton street. Walking around with Shannon and we see a camera man from Rte, being Meg, I asked him could we be on the TV and he said yes please! So airing today (Tuesday) at 4 o'clock on Rte2 you will see Shannon and I play our very small, and not so important part in this TV show. What it's about? You'll have to tune in to see :)

Finally we went to Juno and the Paycock in the Abbey theatre. It was a great performance and the acting was really strong. Mary and Johnny's acting really impressed me, maybe it was because Johnny was so good looking though. Everything from the stage direction to the lighting was excellent in this performance.

Thanks to the English teachers for organising a great day out, it was enjoyed by all! :)

xo-M

Tuesday 18 October 2011

The Hills are Alive with THE SOUND OF MUSIC

This year in St.Wolstans we are preforming 'The Sound Of Music'.


I'm an assistant director along with Shannon G and Lana. Ms.W is the overall director and I do not envy her, she has so much work to do with the musical but I know she's enjoying it.
That's where the three of us assistants come in, we try to help with everything we can like helping to direct scenes, making sure everyone shows up to rehearsals, organising props and costumes and so much more.
We have rehearsals four times a week for about an hour and a half, sometimes more, sometimes less but mostly more! Everyday we cover more ground of the musical and we see everything coming together a little bit more.
I really enjoy directing and I defiantly will think about it as a career. Before 'The Sound of Music' I didn't think directing was something I'd like but now, thanks to Ms.W, I have yet another career option.
'The Sound of Music' takes place from December 5th till December 8th and no doubt it will be fabulous! For more information visit "The Sound of Music' blog!
Great work in the musical so far everyone, hope it all pays off.

xo-M

Oh wow, Cluster Maps!

Mrs. L thought us how to add gadgets to our blogs in I.T class. We added a 'Clsuter Map' which shows you how many people are visiting your blog and more excitingly where they are coming from.
We all thought we'd have a few views of Kildare, Dublin, places around Ireland but not... wait for it... CALIFORNIA!
Whoever the wonderful people from California are who are visiting our blogs, from St.Wolstans Ty we'd like to say thanks! ;)
Please comment on our blogs so we can visit yours and so the blogging continues....

xo-M

Tuesday 11 October 2011

Educating Essex... In Wolstans

Over the past few Religion classes we have been learning about bullying. Of course it's alot more interesting than it sounds, everything is in Ty!
We're watching the channel 4 show Educating Essex. It's about a school, in Essex, that deals with all kinds of problems. We watched the bullying episode.
The show focuses on two very different students. Gabby who is head girl and an all rounder and Sam who doesn't take school to seriously. Both are victims of bullying in different ways.
Gabby has been dealing with a group of girls she use to be friends with giving her a hard time. She thinks it's coming to an end when she starts to get scary texts saying things like 'I know where you live'. Gabby tells the school and her mom straight away and the culprut is found. I won't tell you what happenes next you'll have to watch it here to find out :)
Next is Sam, he isn't the best student but he does make the effort when he asked nicely. The bullying between Sam and his 'friend' Dean is very two-sided constanstly calling eachother names. Once again to watch what happens between the boys click here
Educating Essex is a great show and surprisingly did educate us. Click on the link and watch it too. You know you want too ;)

xo-M

Thursday 6 October 2011

5 things to do... very soon

So Mrs. L has dissapeared today but she has left us with a blogging task, 5 THINGS TO DO THIS WEEK. Problem is it's Thursday, so this is a little bit of a challenge. Good thinking Mrs. L!

No.1: Make our (insert secret design here) for fun walk! Sorry it's a secret but all shall be revealed tomorrow.

No.2: Go to my first directors rehersal of our school's production of the 'Sound of Music'. Shannon Gannon, Lana, Sive and I are working with Mr. W to direct the musical. I'm so excited and cannot wait to boss people around!

No.3: Go to hockey training! Yaaay for hockey, haven't been out training for a week and half and hopefully it won't be too tirering.

No.4: Fun walk! On Friday we're all dressing up and doing dances and going on a nice long (hyper) walk around celbridge. The fun walk is awesome and this year we've spent extra time preparing as we're Ty's and alot is expected from our Fun walk dance routine. I can't say what we're doing yet but shall upload a video of the whole thing as soon as possible. The excitment is THRILLING!

Last but without a doubt not least no.5: Go to see 'The Lion King in 3d' -cue screams!! You may think it doesn't have much to do with Ty, but our home ec project is making an outfit and ou theme is 'The Lion King' so really it will be a very educational trip and I am BUZZING for it. 'The Lion King' is an all time favourite of mine and I can't wait to see how they change it up in 3d.

p.s I have to add a little note to say goodbye to Sive. Shes gone to New York City for a few days and here in Fodla we're already missing her loads! Have a blast Sive and bring Fodla back some sweets :)

xo-M

Tuesday 4 October 2011

Around the world in a geography class

In Ty geography we're travelling around the world in groups of two and three. Rebekah and Sive are my partners on this adventure.
We're going to six different countries, we have to organize two countries each flights, accommodation and everything else. We'll be spending two months in each country so altogether  we're off for a year!
The countries we're visiting are Austria, Chad, Haiti, Hawaii, Sri Lanka and Australia. I'm in charge of Hawaii and Sri Lanka :)
Some things planned so far in Hawaii are; surfing lessons in Wakiki, beach days on Kuhio beach, visiting Leahi (Diamond head state monument) and boat trips to the smaller islands. In Sri Lanka we'll be going on cultural trips, tasting and practicing the cuisine of Sri Lanka and visiting places such as Colombo and Jaffina Lagoon. And that's only the start of it!
I'm surprised how exciting I'm finding this project. I definatly have to visit both Hawaii and tSri Lanka some day... I really wish this trip was real. This website is great for all types information on Hawaii and the pictures are amazing.
Incase you haven't guessed though, we aren't actually going to these countries. It is all virtual but oh well, some day maybe!

Saturday 1 October 2011

Mini Company Crash.

'...yeah mini companies great, but you have ALOT of fights' 

That's mostly what I've heard from past Ty students about the mini company project which makes me nervous, cause well, no one enjoys fighting! 
Although, luckily, we haven't fought in our group yet we cannot seem to come up with an idea that everyone agrees will sell. I really want a great idea but I just can't seem to find the inspiration for something whacky, which seems to be everyone's problem in my group. We've thought about doing some sort of fashion and beauty advice computer program, a GPS locator for keys and mp3 (etc...) and alot of other casual ideas. Nothing is getting us excited though! We've set up a Facebook group to try and get us motivated so hopefully we'll have a shockingly genius idea and be sent on a trip to Hawaii as champions :)