Retreat

Yesterday we had our retreat in Maynooth college. The first thing we did was we were introduced to the speakers and then we played a game. The game that we played was very intense. We had to link arms and four people in the middle of the circle would have to try pull us out of the circle. I started off good but then Caroline tickled me and I was gone. After that game we had another game which was we had to pretend we were on the titanic and whenever the speakers would call out a number you would then grab the amount of  people you need. Roisin and Chloe ended up winning that game because Roisin is very competitive and she was pushing people out of her group and since at the end there was pairs Chloe won with her. After break we got into groups that each got cards with hypothetical questions on them. Our question was: if you found out that the baby you raised for one year was actually not your baby and the hospital had made a mistake and swapped the babies, would you keep the baby you have had for a year or get your biological baby back. Our group said we would keep the baby we had for a year but still see the biological baby. We then talked about each of the groups questions and then we went home. I really liked today and I think it was the best retreat we have had so far.


-Aoife.

Swim a mile

Yesterday we went to the National Aquatic Center to do the Ian Daly's swim a mile with a smile. I wasn't swimming so I counted how many laps people did and when they got to 64 lengths they were then done. You could do it in groups or the really good swimmers would do it on their own. I had done it before a couple of years ago and I think it is a very good way of raising money. The money that was raised is going to Crumlin Hospital and Barretstown as Ian Daly had cancer. Ian Daly also loved to swim so his family organised the swim.
After the swim we went to Blancherstown to get food. I had M&S cookies and then we walked around Blancherstown. It was a very enjoyable day and it was one of my favourite trips in TY.

                                                                         
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-Aoife.

Hip-Hop

We have had Hip-Hop twice now, We have it during our P.E classes. We are learning a dance for our TY night in front of our parents. The song for the dance is by Ariana Grande and it is called Break Free, There is also a dance to a Beyonce song and it is called 'Run The World (Girls)'.
I am really enjoying the Hip-Hop even though I am not a good dancer. Our instructors name is Karen and she is very nice. Next week we have to make up a dance for the next part, which I hope goes well.

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-Aoife.

Gaisce Experience

Friday started off normal, we went to our normal classes until two and then we went on the bus for our Gaisce trip. Gaisce is a presidential award and you have to do a sports activity, a new skill and helping the community. I did athletics, guitar and I trained the little group in athletics. And lastly you do a hike. We did our hike on Friday . We arrived at our accommodation at about three. Our house was very nice and there was nine people in my house even though we were only supposed to have seven but Eimear and Eve slept on the couch.
We then started our hike, it was very hard, warm and longer than I expected but I enjoyed it overall. We then got back at our house at around nine and made our dinner. We had pasta bake that Eve's mam had already made and we had pizza and chips to go with it. The pasta bake was very nice but the pizza was kind of burnt but it was okay. We then watched a movie and another house came over for a while. We then went to bed at around half twelve.
We then got up and had our breakfast at half seven and cleared our house and went over to the high ropes. This was my favorite part of the trip. We then split into groups and our group started with the climbing wall, we then did the vertical wall which was very hard but it was fun. We then did abseiling which was very scary but im glad I did it. Lastly we then the leap of faith which was a shaky pole that you had to climb up and then jump and grap a pole. I didnt think I was enjoy this but it was very fun.
We then went to get ready for our next walk. I thought this was going to be easier as it was suppose to be shorter but it was not easy at all. I went with the slow group which and we went off first. Just as we got off the bus it started to snow so that was a great start. It didn't stop snowing until the end. I was also very mucky, wet and cold.The start was actually okay. Sadhbh had her music on her phone so we were just listening to papaouti. But one the cold got to us it was no longer fun. The snow stung my face and my clothes were all wet and my feet were gone numb, the only good thing about it was my feet were numb so i couldn't feel the soreness. I also had socks on my hands to keep them warm but they were shoaking in the first ten minutes as the water went through my rain jacket.
The water also went through my bag so my lunch was all wet and my phone got wet too. When we stopped to get our lunch we went under weird plastic parachute thing that we tried to get under which was very foggy and kind of kept the wind off us. We then finally got back and all went to change in the house. As my spare jumper was in my bag it had gotten wet so I didnt have a jumper. I then went home and got food from the chinese and it was the nicest chinese I have ever gotten.

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-Aoife.

Driving

On Monday, our first day back from the Easter Holidays we went to the Leinster Driving School. The first thing we did was we split into two groups. The first group went to drive while the group I was in went to do the theory test. We then went into groups of three and did the theory test. We got 34 in our theory test so we failed the first time we did it. When we did it the second time we got 34 again. But got 35 the third time so we passed!
We then went outside and put on beer googles and tried to put a cone onto another cone and then high five the guy. In theory it sounded easy but it was really hard but also funny watching everyone attempt to do it.
After lunch it was our turn to drive. We got into our groups of three and then took turns driving. We learned the basics of driving and we learned how to reverse and do a hill start.
It was a very enjoyable day and I learned a lot. I also cant wait to start driving again.


                                         
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-Aoife.

French speed chatting

On Thursday we had a french speed chatting afternoon in salesians boys school in Celbridge.
We had to go to the boys school after our lunch. We got to their school and then we sat down in front of someone and then we would talk to them for two minutes in french. I was very nervous at the start but I soon got the hang of it and became more comfortable speaking french to different people.
I really enjoyed myself and I think it has improved my french orals.

-Aoife.

Lá Glas

Bhí seachtain na gaeilge an seachtain seo caite mar bhí sé lá St. Patricks ar dé Máirt , agus ar an Aoine bhí gach duine sa scoil ag caitheamh glas. Bhi mé ag caitheamh geansaí Cill Dara.
 Bhí paráid beag ag an lón. An chuid is fearr cóirithe bhí roghnaíodh ansin ag an muinteoir agus fuair siad duaiseanna. Bhí freisin damhsóirí na hÉireann a bhí ar fheabhas.

-Aoife.

Busy Week

This week has been a very busy and enjoyable week.
On Monday we had a percussion workshop for the day. A man called David came in to our school and brought a jembe for each of us to learn on. This workshop was very fun as we got to learn about the background of the jembe and got to make our own music. We learned about what the jembe was made of which is wood, goat skin and animal fur.

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On Tuesday we had our first two classes and then after break we went to the cinema to see Selma. The movie is about a Martin Luther King's campaign in Selma to insure equal voting rights. The famous march was from Selma to Montgomery, Alabama in 1965. After this we went home and Eve, Ellen, Eimear, Hannah, Alison and I went to Peter Pan on ice in the Bord Gais because they had won tickets when we went to elf. It was very enjoyable and the tricks they did on the ice, on ropes and with fire were all amazing. It made all of us want to become professional ice skaters. We saw the proformers outside when we were going home but we were too afraid to go up to them.
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Wednesday was work experience which I am doing in colortrend, I really like doing work experience here.
Today we had a break from activites but tomorrow is Lá Glas so we have to dress up as it is seachtain na gaeilge. I dont know what im going to dress up as yet.

-Aoife.

Mini Company Competition

Today we had our mini company competition. We first set up ours stands and then the judges came in to look at our stalls.
My groups mini company is called Book Free Study, it is a USB with study notes and tips for third years so they don't have to carry home a heavy bag.
When we set up our stands the judges then came  around to see our stands and ask us our company names. Then we had to go up to the judges in our groups and tell them about our business and answer any questions they may have. I was very nervous to do this but luckily it was fine.
After lunch we came back down to the hall to find out the results. Two groups made it into the final, They are  and Bam Beauty. Iprotect is a company that sells a product that protects your iPhone chargers and earphones from breaking. Bam Beauty is a company that sells make-up bags.

-Aoife

Mullingar

Yesterday our TY group went to Mullingar arts centre to show our dramas.
We had seven groups from our school who performed dramas at the competition. Our dramas were judged and if we get through, we go to Cork to perform our dramas again. We wrote our the scripts ourselves and we have been practising them since the start of the year.
Our play is about child abuse and even though we were all very nervous it went very well. It was our first time performing the play on stage with all the lights. I was working with the props and making sure we had all the right props and I also was an extra in the play. After the play the judge told us what went wrong in our play so we could know what we needed to work on. We will hear soon if we have made it to Cork.

Mullingar Ats Centre

                                                   





                                                   
 
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-Aoife.

BT Young Scientist

On Thursday our year and second year went to the BT young scientist at the RDS. A group from our year had a project in the competition. Eimear Delaney, Emily Thomas and Aimee Finegans project was called Ideal Conditions for learning, their project got highly commended.
The day was very enjoyable, we walked around and looked at the projects, we also walked around and looked at all the stands while getting free pens and bracelet.
Ryan Tubridy and HomeTown where at the young scientist so we saw them and HomeTown sang but sadly I missed it.
We then went home on the bus where we played heads up until we got back to school.
                                                                                                                                                                         
     
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-Aoife