Driving

On Monday the 27th April our class went to the Leinster Driving School.  We were all very excited as we were the last of the three TY classes to go and had heard a great deal about it.  When we got there we were asked to split into 2 groups.  After that we were asked to get into groups of 3 and 4.  Our group decided to do the theory test first so we were brought into a room and the man explained to us what the theory test was all about.  In our groups we were given a mock theory test and were asked to compete it.  The first time round my group scored highest which was a score of 38 out of 40.  You need 35 to pass.  They were then given back to us and we were given a chance to change our answers and then he corrected them again for us.  We scored 37 this time.  After a third time he then told us what answers we had gotten wrong.  I learned that it is very important to study if your going to complete your theory test.  We then headed out into the yard where we all had to line up and one by one we were given a pair of beer goggles and we had to pick up a cone and place it on top of another cone and then high five the instructor.  It was very funny watching everyone complete the task as it was very hard to do.  The purpose of this was to warn us how dangerous it is to drive whilst drinking.  We then had lunch and headed out to the driving track where we got into our groups of 3 and 4 and chose a car.  I was in a group of 3 and our instructor was a woman called Margaret.  She was really nice and talked us through everything.  I was quite nervous at the start but once I started off I found it quite easy.  We each got about 25 minutes on the road.  It was really fun and I really enjoyed it.  Overall I think it was the best thing we did in TY this year.  

Mini-Company

Today we had our mini-company final.  At 9;05 we all went into the hall to set up our stands to display our products.  We had an hour until the judges came.  We were all stressed trying to add the finishing details to our display and reading over the report to make sure everything was included in it.  When the judges came in they walked around each stand and looked at the products we had produced.  They asked us a few questions about where our ideas came from and how we made our product.  They only spent about 2 minutes at each stall before moving on to the next.  After they had gone around to all the different groups we all had to bring up our chairs in front of the judges' desk and group by group we went up and explained our pitch to them in a three minute presentation.  When it was our turn we were very nervous.  We walked up to them and one by one we clearly stated our name and our role in the team.  For example I told them my name was Beth and that I was the finance manager.  We briefly told them what each of our job was and what we had to do in order to produce and advertise our product.  After we had finished talking they asked us a few questions which we answered as best we could and then they thanked us and we left.  We were all delighted that we had finished and the nerves disappeared.  We went back to our seats and waited till all the other groups were finished.  Then we had lunch and came back to the hall to hear the results of which groups got through to the county final.  The 2 groups who got through were iProtect and Bam Beauty who were both very good.  There were 3 other awards given out for best presentation, best marketing method and best business report.  Our principle then came out and thanked us for all our hard work.  We then cleaned up the hall and went back to class.  

English Play

Last Tuesday our whole Ty year got the bus to Mullingar to perform our English play.  Out of the 3 Ty classes there were about 7 different plays.  In our english class we had come up with the script ourselves.  The plays were about a variety of things including a girl dying from cancer, Schizophrenia, a love story and a court trial.  Mrs. O'Reilly's english  class's play was about the war and the Jews.  Mrs. Guilfoyle's class's play's were about gay marriage and child abuse.  We had been practising in our groups for  months and on Tuesday we got to go to Mullingar to perform them in front of judges.  It took about 40 minutes to get there and when we did we went in to our dressing rooms and started to get ready.  We started performing soon enough and we all got to watch each other's plays.  After each group performed the judge brought them into the green room to give them feedback on their performance.  We found that he was a bit harsh and critical on our performances overall.  There were also other schools there who we got to see perform.  They were good.  The guys in the last play didn't know their lines at all and it was pretty funny to watch. After we performed we were allowed out and we got to go to mcdonalds we just had to be back by the time the bus came. Overall we had a good day and we all enjoyed it.  It was a great experience being able to perform for an audience on a proper stage.  

Carton House

On Tuesday the 18th of November we went to Carton house to see the art exhibition.  We left school at 2pm and we got the bus to Carton House which is in maynooth.  We looked around at the art pieces and filled out our worksheets.  The art exhibition was really nice and the pieces were beautiful.  They were all unique and stood out from one another.  We heard that the Irish rugby team were training at carton house so after looking at the art we went on a hunt to find them.  This guy in a golfcart told us where to find them so we ran towards the gym.  They were all in the gym working out.  Our whole year was just standing outside looking at them.  The walls were glass so everyone was just staring in and even taking pictures.  The team ended up calling security twice on a few of the girls.  I think we creeped them out a bit.  Some girls even got pictures with some of the players as they were leaving the building.  Unfortunately we had to leave at quarter to 4 but it was a good outing overall and everyone was happy that we got to see the Irish rugby team.  

Work Experience

Yesterday was my 5th week at work experience with the solicitors in Clane.  Yesterday was different because I went to Court.  The other weeks I have just been working at the computer in the office but this week he brought me to the District Court in Naas.  When I first went in the solicitor had to talk to his client and I wasn't allowed to listen so I had to go stand at the door of the court room and wait for it to be opened.  It was a bit awkward though because I was standing on my own and everyone was looking at me.  I waited patiently and was looking around at all the solicitors who were talking to their clients.  Some had the traditional white wigs on and most wear wearing the traditional black cloaks.  There were a few guards also who were standing with two guys in handcuffs.  When the doors opened I followed the crowd in, I didn't know where to sit so I sat at the back with the public.  After a few minutes when Arthur came in, he brought me up to the front to sit with him and the rest of the solicitors.  It was a bit embarrassing because some of them thought i was sitting in the wrong seat but I got comfortable after a while. After about ten minutes the judge came down and ordered silence in the court.  He called each case and both the solicitor and the client stood up and argued the case.  The judge made a decision which was mainly just another court date and then moved on to the next case.  It was kind of difficult to understand what they were saying and to follow what was going on.  It was a very long day as there was 70 cases to get through.  It was really funny though because a lot of phones kept going off during the court and the Judge was getting pretty angry.  He even said that the next person who interrupted the court would be put in prison.  Thank God nobody's phone went off after that.  Most of the cases were about tax and traffic issues but there were a few about drugs and burglaries which were interesting.  It didn't finish until ten past 2 and I was home in Clane at half 2.  The solicitor I am doing my work experience with had to go back and argue his next case which was a family law matter so I wasn't allowed to listen to it anyway.  It was a very long day but I enjoyed it as it was something different than just working in the office.  

Walk In My Shoes

Last Friday was Mental Health awareness day! We all got to wear our own shoes to raise awareness for this issue.  Some people really made an effort and wore crazy shoes.  Some wore slippers and some wore wellie boots.  Some people also wore a red button to raise awareness which I believe was very effective.  It was great to see all the students participating in something important like this.  We all had to pay 2 Euro and this money was donated to mental health.  Mental health is a very important issue especially among teenagers in this society.  A lot of awareness was raised because of this day, which is great to see.

                                                                                                      

Last Thursday we had our annual fun-walk.  We normally have it on a Friday but the weather was supposed to be very bad on Friday so it was changed to Thursday instead.  Fortunately Thursday was a very sunny day.  We had been practicing a dance for weeks that we would perform in front of the judges.  Everyone got a bit stressed out making the dance and organising everything but it was worth it in the end because we won out of the other TY classes.  At the start of our dance all the bad people came out in white masks and scared the crowd.  Then all the good people came out and took off our masks and the bin bags we were wearing as if to say they made us good.  Then we all did a dance to the jitterbug song.  It was really fun and a good laugh.  We watched all the classes perform from first year to sixth year.  Some dances were very good and others not so much.  After we all performed our dances, we went on a friendship walk around Celbridge.  It was very short as we did not have a lot of time. Overall it was a fun-day and I look forward to next year.