Debating and Driving

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This week I competed in the first round debate of the Leinster Schools Debating Competition. My partner (who is also my sister!) and I proposed the motion that 'This House Would Introduce Third Level Fees'. After a tough round, especially since it was only Round 1, we found out that we got through to the second round! We were delighted, and I'm really looking forward to the second round.

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  This week we also had a road safety talk from the Drive 4 Life program. It was a really eye opening talk, and it made me really consider how dangerous and risky driving actually is. We were told about driving precautions, how crashes happen, the effects of car crashes, and we even took a theory driving test! Since the talk, I have found myself noticing everything my parents do while driving the car much more often, and I am much more aware of how dangerous an activity driving actually is.
  So keep careful on the roads everyone, and I'll be posting again soon! :)

Friendship Week

This week in St. Wolstan's was Friendship Week, a week dedicated to being friendly and making new friends. Every year, the highlight of the first school term is the last day of Friendship week, when the annual FunWalk is held. Each class chooses a song and makes up a dance based on the theme of Friendship, and dresses up in their designated colour. My class, Tabei, chose to be yellow taxis.

After rehearsing our dance for the week, to the mash up done by Will Smith on the Graham Norton show, we performed it in front of the school on Friday - it was great fun!

I'll be posting again soon, hope you're all well!

Making Videos and Museums

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On Thursday, all of the Transition Year Irish classes went on a trip to the Pearse Museum - a museum of the Irish school that Pádraig Pearse used to run, St. Enda's.
  When we arrived, we went straight into the museum and watched a video about the life of Pádraig Pearse. Pearse was an active participant in the 1916 Easter Rising in Ireland, and set up the school as an Irish-speaking school for boys.
  We then received a tour of the museum, and learned about the lives of Pádraig Pearse, the other teachers and the students themselves.

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  After this, we took a tour of the grounds and gardens, and were told about all the different trees and plants there.
  We filmed a few funny videos afterwards, with Ms L, Ms O'C and Ms B, as well as a Class Tabei rendition of Lana Del Rey's 'Summertime Sadness'. It was very funny! :)


 

Workshops!

For the past 3 Wednesdays while we didn't have work experience, we have had workshops in school to prepare us for our entry into the world of work (temporary though it will be!).

  

  We started off with a workshop called 'Life Without Limits'. In this, we were told how not to limit ourselves and to be confident in everything we do. I really enjoyed this workshop and had a fun morning too!
  We then spent some time with Gilíosa learning how to give shoulder and head massages (which were unbelievably relaxing), as well as being told about the somewhat abstract concept of 'energy'.

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  Over the weeks we had several Positive Parties with Denise - we put on funny masks and wigs and sang silly songs, while being talking about our qualities and strengths. We also did laughter yoga - which everyone (including me!) may have been a little too tired to participate fully in, but all the same we had a good laugh! :P

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  My favourite of the workshops would probably be the Etiquette and Deportment classes from BK InniÚ. I got the chance to walk the red carpet wearing high heels, learned how to apply makeup, how to care for my hands and nails, and what skin tone I am (warm tones all the way!).

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   Also, on Saturday I went to a debating workshop in UCD (University College Dublin) in preparation for the Leinster Schools Debating Competition. This is a debating competition for students in Transition Year, 5th year and 6th year and it is run by Ireland's two biggest universities - Trinity College and UCD. I can't wait for the competition to start, and I will keep you posted on everything I get up to related to it!
  For the most part I did enjoy the workshops, and I look forward to spending the rest of my Wednesdays in work experience!
  Hope everyone is well,

Melissa :)