Blog Transition Year

TY students recount their recent Work Experience

March 7, 2011

Frontline defendersEmma O'Brien (TY) writes about what happened on her work experience. "I decided to do my work placement at Frontline Defenders, an organisation that defends human rights defenders. I had various tasks involving shredding, the database, organising books, an interview and writing an essay. I found that Frontline were really involved in my work experience, giving me jobs that actually have something to do with Frontline and not only just office jobs.  I’m really glad I chose Frontline because I learnt a lot about human rights and human rights defenders. Work experience taught me that I would not like to work in an office but instead do more hands on things, not just working from behind a computer."

Basketball basketCraig Derham (TY) recounts his work experience. "I did my work experience as a PE teacher with Ms. Finnegan. It was good fun and I learned new skills. I helped Ms. Finnegan teach classes, organise classes, set up new equipment and do some jobs. I learned how to work with children and how to teach them. Ms. Finnegan was a great help to me and thought me many things during the duration of the week. I would like to work in sport in the future as a career."

Brambles BistroFearghal Keller (TY) outlines his work experience. "For my work experience, (14th-18th February) I went to work in a restaurant called Brambles in Terenure as a chef. The reason I wanted to work there was I have always liked cooking and I wanted to see what the kitchen of a restaurant was like (i.e. how meals are prepared, what it is like when a kitchen was busy, etc.). The first day I started there, after meeting and talking with the head chef called Alex; I was put to work chopping and peeling vegetables under the supervision of a chef named Deedee. I also met two of the other chefs as well - Liam and Vincent. After the first day it was decided that I would work from 9:00am - 3:00pm (six hours) every day, with the exception of Wednesday, when I worked from 3:00pm - 9:00pm to see what the kitchen was like when it was busy and to allow me to see how they prepared various meals such as desserts and main courses. There are sixteen people working there: the management (two people), the waiters and waitresses (six people) and the chefs (eight people). The people themselves were very kind, friendly and generous to me and I am very grateful to them for their hospitality and help. I thoroughly enjoyed both working there and with the chefs themselves. I felt that at times I was too slow for them when tasked with chopping or peeling vegetables, but I tried to make up for it by doing my best and working hard for them. I have felt that I have improved both my cutting and cooking speeds and have gained an invaluable insight into what goes on in the kitchen as a chef."
An Garda SiochanaPeadar Charles (TY) explains what he did on his work experience. "For my work experience I got a placement in Tallaght Garda Station.  My father had originally worked in the Gardaí and fortunately he told me to write to them early so as to avoid disappointment because at the time I wasn’t aware of the large waiting list.  I think as far as work placements go the Gardaí was a terrific experience because unlike most work experiences I was with a group of  students all around my own age and we weren’t just sitting around the station for the week but were brought to a number of different units such as the Mounted and Dog units.  It gave me a good insight into what a Garda does on a day-to-day bases.  I really enjoyed it."           
 

[Images: www.frontlinedefenders.org, www.sxc.hu, www.brambles.ie, google.ie/images]

Categories: Career Guidance, Transition Year. Tags: , , , , , .

TY students and staff attend the National Holocaust Memorial Day Commemoration 2011

March 7, 2011

On the 30th January 2011, Transition Year went to the National Holocaust Memorial Day Commemoration held at the Mansion House. It was an incredibly moving night.  Holocaust survivors Zoltan Zinn-Collis, Jan Kaminski, Suzi Diamond and Tomi Reichental were there and gave short and yet extremely powerful addresses.  There were also addresses from John Dolan on behalf of people with disabilities, Beata Molendowska on behalf of the Poles, Sr Stanislaus Kennedy on behalf of the Gypsies, Michael Finlay on behalf of the homosexuals, Clement Esebamen on behalf of the black and ethnic minorities, Pat King on behalf of the Political victims, Colm O’Boyle on behalf of the Christian victims, they were all brilliant speakers and you realized that how many people were affected by the Holocaust. It was quite eye-opening. Another deeply  moving part of the night was when a scroll of names of victims of the Holocaust were called out. Tami Sheridan, Irena Williams and Fearghal Kelleher were the Stratford College representatives. Again it was an overwhelming experience as the list seemed never-ending. The musical interlude was performed by the Zimratya Choir directed by Dr. Yuriel Aaron.  It was a beautiful break which happened at two parts of the night. The whole night was an incredible experience and one I will never forget.

Sara Epstein (TY)

 

On Sunday, 30th January, the TY class joined by Mrs. Kenny and Miss Gordan attended the National Holocaust Memorial Day Commemoration ceremony.
 
We listened in silence as speaker after speaker outlined the horror and sheer inhumanity of the Nazi system.
 
There were a variety of speakers which each outlined the Nazi policies on various groups. We heard speeches on the Nazi persecution of Poles, Gypsies, Homosexuals, Ethnic minorities, political opponents and Christians from representatives of various organizations that were connected to those groups. Above all, we listened to the persecution of the Jewish people who were the Nazis' main targets and endured the worst discrimation and treartment. Throughout the evening we listened to the music of Zimraty Choir who gave a sombre yet uplifting tone to the evening.
 
At the end of the ceremony we had a minute's silence and then the lighting of the candle to represent the different victims of the Nazis.
 
It was a once in the lifetime chance to go to this event and I think I can speak for my entire class that we found it extremely interesting and very moving.

John Nolan (TY)

 

 

 

Categories: General School News, Jewish Studies, Transition Year. Tags: , .

TY students go Mountain Biking

February 18, 2011

TY Mountain BikingTY Mountain BikingTY Mountain BikingOn Thursday, 10th February TY students went mountain biking in Avon Rí in Blessington. We learned how to use bikes in different ways we didn’t know beforehand. We learned how to use the gears in new ways, and new skills which helped us when we went for a cycle in the forest. We all really enjoyed the day.

Craig Derham (TY)

[Photos: Ms. Finnegan]

 

Categories: Sports, Transition Year. Tags: , .

DEBRA Ireland talk to TY students

February 9, 2011

DEBRA Ireland flyerOn Tuesday, 8th February, Robin Hood from the organisation DEBRA Ireland, came to our class to tell us about the work they do. He told us his own personal story about his extremely brave daughter who lost her life to the skin disease Epidermolysis Bullosa (EB). The class found Robin's talk very moving. Some have decided to do some fundraising for them and some are thinking about doing their Community Week here!

Tami Sheridan (TY)

[Images: DEBRA Ireland]  

DEBRA Ireland

Categories: Transition Year. Tags: , , , .

Les cours de français

February 2, 2011

jean de floretteEn Année de Transition en classe de français, nous avons etudié les films français, la mode, Delphi, la géo et les chansons françaises. Nous avons ecouté Zaz, Manu Chao, Raphael, Yannick Noah, Noir Désir, Stromae et Johnny Hallyday. J’aime Manu Chao, les chansons- “Petite blonde de boulevard brune” et “Dans mon jardin.” Zaz est une chanteuse superbe. Sa chanson “Je veux” a été élue chanson numéro 1 pour 2010. J’adore Noir Désir. “Le vent nous portera” est ma chanson favorite en français.

Jake Regan (TY)

[Image: Google Images]

Categories: French, Transition Year. Tags: , , , , .

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