Junk Kouture Final 2016

Well done to 'Ethereal Dreams' designed by Dagmara Dobkowska which lit up the stage of the massive 3 Arena. She blew away the judges with her design and was awarded the Junk Kouture Hair and Make-up Prize along with 200 euro worth of vouchers for Blank Canvas Make-up. It was a night to remember and the supporters enjoyed this exclusive event.

Bring Your Brain Back into Study Habit

Believe it or not, Transition year is nearly over and it's time to face the music and bring your heads back into the books. Here are a few helpful tips on getting back into the study habit.

1) Find your learning style: People process information in different ways.Classic studying, which is reading straight from a book and writing notes works for some people. For others they need to listen to a recording of the information they need to learn. Find a learning style that works for you. Your studies will then flow by smoothly.

2) Invest in colourful stationery: This will not only brighten up your notes, but your brain will associate the colour of the notes with a certain subject or section you learned, making you more likely to remember the information.

3) Create a study timetable: If you organise your time into regular 20 minute study sessions instead of 6 hour monstrosities to prevent cramming in information and allow time for much needed breaks.

4) Take regular breaks: Taking a break such as listening to music, exercise  and reading allows you to process all the information you have studied over your study session.

Transition Year Musical

The TY Musical, “Seven Brides for Seven Brothers” was held from the 19^th - 22nd April. Transition year students performed exceptionally well each night with the help of the Costume and Make Up Team, PR, Set Design, Props and Lighting. The leads, Katie Phelan and Niamh Price worked well together on stage and the chorus’s performed well by dancing and singing. Overall, the musical was remarked as "funny and creative" by the people who watched it.

The TY musical would like to thank all the teachers who were involved in the preparation of the musical.

 

Semi Final Mock Trials 2016

On the 16th of April, a team of transition year students went to the Criminal Courts in Dublin to compete in the Semi Final Mock Trials. We had prepared two cases which we would try to win in a series of three court sittings. Before it began there was an opening ceremony which introduced us to the barristers who would be our judges for the day and the importance of the competition. We faced Eureka as the prosecution and won the jury's verdict but not the Judge's in a close battle of scores.

We won our next two rounds as defence against a school from Portlaoise and another school from Galway. All the schools we competed against were great opponents and really friendly people. It was a great day and we all wanted to do it again but unfortunately we did not make it through to the finals. However, Grace O'Driscoll won first prize as court photographer which is a huge achievement within the Mock Trials. 

On behalf of the Mock Trial team, we would like to thank Mr. Daly and all the fifth and sixth year students that helped us prepare, gave us insight and encouraged us on the day.

                                     

                                           

                                  

                                          

                                         

                                          

TY Mock Trials 2016: Preparation

Orla Thompson

I am a witness (Briefni Breathnach) in the Mock Trial case. My role as a witness is to testify at court about the events that occurred on the day in question. Preparation for this includes learning my script off by heart and this, therefore, gives an air of professionalism on the day in question. I have to be ready for any questions that make me seem guilty and to make sure I can be sure the jury will prove me innocent. I look forward to going to trial on Saturday 16th April. 

The Busy Barristers

As part of the Transition Year mock trial auditions, there have been central roles assigned to barristers. These are students who present the case in court and who either take the side of the defence or the prosecution. 
This year, the barristers are Amelie Bates, Mahnoor Choudhry, Maria Louise Fufezan and Orla Thompson. They are working on either prosecuting or defending the witnesses of their cases. 
This years' cases are the Pat Parker and the Jackie O' Faolain cases. The Pat Parker case refers to a referee/ P.E. teacher who allegedly assaulted Chris Connor, a student and player in the match on the day in question. Therefore, the barristers must speak to the witnesses of both the defence and the prosecution and portray Pat Parker as either guilty or innocent, depending on their side.
In the Jackie O' Faolain case, the barristers must either defend or prosecute the accused, with the initial statement being that Jackie O' Faolain assaulted Breifni Breathnach during a conflict that resulted from a road incident.
At the moment, the barristers are working closely with the witnesses, in order to make sure that;

 i) questions for the witnesses are strengthened 

ii) that the witnesses' statements are strengthened. 

Also, the barristers have to prepare opening and closing speeches for the defence and the prosecution. In these 3 minute speeches, they try to outline their strongest points in the hope to persuade the jury members and the judge to believe their side of the stories. 
The solicitors are also very helpful in undertaking research for the barristers and in advising them and their witnesses.

This years' TY mock trial team guided by Mr. Daly is hopeful that Loreto Balbriggan can get a high position in the competition that will take place on Saturday, 16th of April in the Four Courts in Dublin, if not even get through to the finals that may result in travelling to America for the international stage later this year.

History Trip

On the 10th of March, students from the transition year history classes went on a trip to the Michael Collins Barracks, Asgard Museum, Arbour Hill and Glasnevin Cemetery.

The students explored the '1916' museum within the Collins Barracks and were deeply interested by the facts and objects from the rebellion. Students were able to use interactive computers to look up interviews with survivors for the 1916 and see the surrender letters between Pearse and General Lowe.

Next, the students visited the Asgard Museum where the restored Asgard, the boat used in the Howth gun-running, is situated. There, students saw the restored boat and some artefacts related to it such as uniforms, materials and the guns they were transporting.

After the Asgard, students visited Arbour Hill where the seven signatories of the Proclamation and other leaders were laid to rest. It was a very peaceful and inspiring place to visit. 

In the afternoon we visited Glasnevin Cemetery. It was a guided tour and we learned many interesting facts about the Irish Greats and about burials in the cemetery as well as the guarding of the cemetery when it was founded.

We were all delighted to be a part if this trip and the TY Blog would like to thank Mr.Cox and Ms.Buckley for the opportunity.

                             

                                   

Junk Kouture Semi Final 2016

The Junk Kouture Eastern Semi-final took place on the 7th of March. It was a fantastic and exciting event where Loreto Balbriggan's costumes were presented to the judges along with schools from all over Leinster. The fabulous Creations that lit up the Catwalk were Pink Crocodile by Ella Ceban, illuminated Cells by Maya Brezing and Aoife Scott, Meltdown by Aisling Egan and Megan O'Regan Artaud, Intothevein by Cara Dowling and Katie McManus, Dream Queen by Ciara Murray, Roisin Bentely and Rachel Downes, Queen Galactica by Giovanna Elliot and Sophie Hardman, Capsulated by Ciara Fullam, Chloe O'Neill and Sarah Harris, Spring loaded by Rebecca O'Reilly, Mary McKeown and Amy Louise Hall and Ethereal Dreams by Dagmara Dobkowska. 

The judges were impressed with the overall creativity and hard work of the Students in Loreto Balbriggan and chose Ethereal Dreams to go to the Grand Final in the 3 Arena on April 14th in which the Editor in Chief of "Vogue India" and Louis Walsh will be featured in the judging Panel. How exciting!

TY Mini Company Award 2016

Before Easter Niamh Corry, a transition year student, won the overall “Fingal Mini Company” prize. Niamh told us about her project and the experience.

How did you come up with the idea for the business?

I have a massive binder at home full of notes from the Junior Cert and every time I had a test I had to drag this binder out which I hated doing so when I found out I would be doing Mini Company I immediately thought of that binder and how I could make easier for students.

What was your business about?

My company which is called 'Skim it Quick' is an educational playing and revision card company.

I custom designed these cards in a range of subjects and topics. The topics and subjects were compressed into shorter versions of the curriculum.

Who was your target audience?

I aimed the cards originally for Junior Cert students but I realised on 'Market Day', the business fair in school, that a lot of Leaving Cert students were also interested so I extended my market.

What were the prizes that you won?

I won a large trophy and a trip to Barcelona which I'm very excited about!

On behalf of the school, TY Blog would like to congratulate Niamh on her fantastic win.

TY Driving Course 2016

On the 14^th and 15^th of March a number of transition year students attended a driving course for the full day in Mondello park, Co. Kildare. Experienced, professional race instructors had three classes prepared for us; Safety Class, Driving Class and a tour of the park. In the safety class we were explained the rules of the road and how important it is to follow them. We were shown short video clips of what could happen if the rules of the road weren't obeyed. Everyone leaving the class felt more aware and alert of road safety.

Following the road safety talk we then proceeded out onto the race tracks to get into a car with our driving instructors. There were two people per car and each person did four laps around the race track learning and practicing how to drive a car. We were shown how to properly steer the car, how to hold the wheel, how to make a turn, how to stop and how to change gears. The experience was very helpful and exciting.

Lastly to finish the day off we got a tour of Mondello Park. We were shown around the race track and brought up to the watch towers where instructors would monitor the races. We were also brought to the emergency room and shown how a racer would be treated if an accident was to occur. We were then lastly brought to a museum situated in the park which contained a collection of old and new racing cars. The Driving Course was well worth attending and was an extremely fun and exciting experience. All of the transition year students were delighted to have participated in this course and would like to thank the instructors for their time and effort.

History Week 2016

Last week it was “History Week” and we commemorated the centenary of the 1916 Rising. Our history classes decorated the Atrium in honour of 1916 with projects, artwork and letters.

Last Friday, we also had a former student and who is now a member of the Irish Defence Force read out the Proclamation followed by a film created by 4th years, Jordan Kane and Amy Louise Hall on 'Being Irish'. We had a variety of events on in the school which included talks with different guest speakers, a 4th year history trip to Collins Barracks and Glasnevin Cemetery, a re-enactment of the rising on Friday and announcements that reported the events that happened during the week of the rising. We also received a flag to be raised in a national ceremony on the 15th March.

Here is a collection of some of the projects that were on display last week. 

                                     

                               

Six Schools, One Language Initiative

On Monday, two of Ms. Ryan's Sign Language classes went to Cabra in Dublin 7, to record the annual deaf song which will be posted on YouTube in the coming weeks. The classes had learned the signs and the song over the midterm and also practiced as a group in school before the day.

On the day, the girls and Ms.Ryan travelled to 'St.Mary's school for Deaf Girls' to record the song with 5 other schools (non-hearing and hearing). Some of our students took part in the harmony which was swaying or bouncing their legs to show the non-hearing a change in the song's beat. They ran through the song with the other school before recording it multiple times.  It was a great experience in which we got to raise awareness of Irish Sign Language and to interact with non-hearing students!

The girls plan to teach the song to the rest of the year to perform as part of our end of year graduation.

TY Work Experience 2016

Personal Experience: Polina 

On the 1st of February I had the amazing opportunity to complete a week of work experience at Smiles Dental Clinic, Balbriggan. It was by far the most interesting and educating work experience I have completed. The staff and clients were very friendly and helpful. During my work placement I was shown how to use dental software and which further enhanced my computer skills. I learned how to review a patient’s medical history and treatments that are going to be done, how to book an appointment, how to fill in the right details of a patient in the right place, how to reschedule an appointment as well as remove one. 

Along with doing secretary work I got the chance to sit through a few procedures, including a root canal, tooth extraction, composite filling and the usual polish and scale. During the procedures the dentist explained what was happening and why. I was also shown how to set up a room for procedure and what instruments are used by the dental nurse. I was taught the name and use of every instrument in the clinic and later on in the week I was able to clean all of the instruments and set up a room for a procedure with all of the right instruments in the right place independently.

Personal experience: Orla

It feels like a lot of fourth year leads up to the Work Experience placements you complete in February, and I personally had a very positive experience. My second week of work experience was probably my most enjoyable. I spent it at a PR company and I will never forget, from the moment I got there to the moment I left, everybody showed me such kindness and really tried their hardest to make me feel at ease and help me learn as much as humanly possible. I was definitely lucky because to be perfectly frank, I was a bit nervous about going to such a big company. However I was included in everything that went on throughout the company and even got to attend to PR events. It was also a very exciting place to be throughout the general elections. The company itself made me feel like I was learning a terrific amount and the whole experience made me feel perfectly integrated within working society.

It wasn't all easy work, I would be the first to admit that, however I learnt lots of useful skills like how to do excel spreadsheets, I had to call clients and make lots of cups of teas but all this work helped me develop organisational skills and time keeping skills. I also initially struggled with the hour long commute so early in the morning and the journey home but I personally think that prepares you for later in life when starting at a new job. It also taught me how to adjust to my surroundings depending on what clients I was working with. Work experience was such a valuable experience for me and one which I will always remember! 

Personal Experience: Ruth 

I thoroughly enjoyed my three weeks at a local pet shop, Drogheda Grammar school and Gormanston Wood Nursing Home but my favourite week was in Drogheda Grammar Secondary School. I shadowed History and English teachers as they taught their classes and this was amazing to see how they really loved their work. The mocks were on at that time and I enjoyed seeing how much effort it took to run the school and make time or room for the years doing their exams.

I was even allowed to teach two first year classes history! I loved that experience and I now realise, to a small extent, how much work a teacher has to do that is not classroom based! At lunch, they gave me advice on what to do and what not to do if I pursued this career!

All the teachers were so friendly, allowing me to mind their classes and take notes on their teaching style. It was a week I will never forget as it has helped me to seriously consider second level teaching.

Personal Experience: Melanie

For Work Experience, I went to St. Molagas S.N.S, Our lady of Lourdes Hospital in Drogheda and a local creche. Overall, my favourite placement was in the hospital. In the Primary school I helped to laminate sheets, organised paperwork and photocopied. One of the tasks I enjoyed the most was helping children with learning difficulties which was very interesting. Likewise in the creche, I worked with different children of all ages. During my placement in the hospital, different workers within the hospital and professors from RCSI gave presentations about their work within the hospital. This helped me to decide on a career choice that I would enjoy in the future.

BT Young Scientist and Technologist Award 2016

Maria Louise Fufezan and Diana Bura have proudly claimed the BT Young Scientist 2016 overall award. The two freshly crowned Young scientists worked very hard since the beginning of the school year on their project. 

The winning Project that crowned them Young Scientists of the year is called "An Investigation into the Effects of Enzymes used in Animal Feed Additives on the Lifespan of Caenorhabditis Elegans." The group was entered into the intermediate section of the Biological & Ecological Sciences category.

The pair received a reward of €5000, The BT Young Scientist Trophy and the opportunity to take part in the BT Young Scientist of Europe in Brussels. They made various appearances on RTE as well as our filmed assembly. Keep up the fantastic work girls, we are all very proud!

St. Vincent De Paul Charity Concert 2015

Junk Kouture 2015