Sci-Fest Wednesday!

Last Wednesday, the 9th of May, all TY's went to Tallaght IT, for the Sci-fest Competition. When we arrived we set up our projects and waited as the judges came around to our stalls to judge our project. There were many other schools also and there was lots of great projects. We had four judges come and judge our project. Well done to all the girls who won prizes!! We also went to talks that were on in the college. One was about forensic science, which was my favourite! We also went to a Talk about chemistry which was really good too. Over all it was a great day out and one to remember!

Sports Day!

Yesterday, the St.Wolstan's girls and teachers had their annual sports day. This has to be one of my favourite days of the year! Spirits were high yesterday morning, and to make things even better, it was a roasting hot day!!! All the students and teachers gathered outside at half twelve, and stayed outside until 4 o'clock. There was so many races and competitions but hats off to Emer Reilly, who won the high jump! woohoo for Emer! My favourite was the three legged race, that I did with Caitriona. Unfortunately we didn't win, but we didn't fall which was a major bonus! So many girls got sun burnt yesterday, and are walking around like giant tomatoes! Best Sports day yet I must say!

My Geography Project

Here's My Geography Project! Happy Reading! :)


Blog 1: Ice Road

Blog 2: World's Worst Road

Blog 3: Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race

Blog 4: The Dakar Rally

Blog 5: Rallying, Back to Ireland

Rallying - Back To Ireland!

The last part of my Geography project brings me back to Ireland. I am looking at Rallying in Ireland and also Mondello Park. Rallying is a form of racing that takes place on either public roads of private roads. Specially built road legal cars are raced. They race from point-to-point, each point is called a stage. Rallies can be won by pure speed throughout the stages or by completing it within a set time.

Rallies can take place on many different surface types, such as gravel, tarmac, snow and ice.

Modello park is an international motor sport venue in Caragh, Co.Kildare. it is Ireland's only  venue like this. It has hosted events like the Irish Championship Car, Kart and Motorcycle race and international GT and Rallycross events. It holds car and motor cycle track days, where any road legal vehicles can be driven.

Mondello Park is home to JapFest, Ireland's only Japanese car show, which takes place every September.

The park also has a small museum containing some cars from the past 30 years!

The park is situated on 110 acres , including a 3.5 kilometre race track, 24 race garages and 12 hospitality suites. A 3 kilometre extreme-off road race trail and a 5 acre off-road activity centre.

The Dakar Rally.

The Dakar rally is an off-road type of race that takes place once a year. It is organised by Amaury Sport Organisation.

It was founded by Thierry Sabine. The race started in 1977 after got lost on his motor bike in a different desert rally in Libya. Saved from the sands in extremis, he returned to France promising himself he would share his fascination with as many people as possible. His motto for his inspiration is “A challenge for those who go. A dream for those who stay behind.”

 Originally going from Paris to Dakar in Senegal, but now the destination has changed.

The race started from Paris every year from 1979 to 1994, and in 1998 and 2001. Due to various political disturbances and violence in some of the countries, the route changes annually. In 2009 it changed drastically, and moved to South America. The Dakar Rally is a very popular race; the organizers of the rally traditionally had to stop accepting applicants 6 months before the deadline.

The Dakar Rally requires extreme endurance and navigational skills. Navigation skills are always the key to winning the race, as the majority of races take place in the desert.#

The Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race.

The Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race is the most popular sporting even in Alaska. It is a long distance sled dog race run that takes place every year in the month of March. The team consists of 12-16 dogs, and ‘Mushers’, the term used for the people who are in the team. The race lasts between 9 and 15 days.

The teams often race through blizzards causing whiteout conditions, sub-zero temperatures and gale-force winds. Temperatures can go to as low as -73 degrees Celsius.

The race starts in Willow, in central Anchorage, a city in Alaska. The trail runs from Willow, up the rainy pass of the Alaska Range, along the shore of the Bering Sea, and Ending in Nome in the West of Alaska. The mushers trail through harsh landscape of tundra and spruce forests, over hills and mountain passes, and across rivers.

World's Worst Road

The next type of driving i looked at was on the Worlds most dangerous road. The Yungas road in Bolivia was titled the worlds worst road by the Inter-American Development Bank in 1995. It is situated at the San Pedro Waterfall in the Yungas region of Bolivia. It is a 69 kilometre road from La Paz to Coroico. It is estimated that up to 300 people are killed along this road every year. The Yungas road is one of the few routes that connects the Amazon rain forest region of northern Bolivia to it's capital city. The road ascends to around 4,650 meters at La Cumbre Pass, before descending to 1200 meters at Coroico. The road is extremely dangerous, as it has a single lane width, with the road being no more that 10 feet wide. Rain, fog and dust can also reduce visibility, and many areas of the road is muddy.
A local rule of the road is that the downhill driver never has the right of way and must move out to the edge of the road. In 1983, a bus came off the Yungas road into a canyon, killing over 100 people. It is described as Bolivia's worst road accident.

Ice Roads.

Ice Roads. The first type of driving I looked at was ice roads. Ice roads are man-made frozen structures on the surface of bays, rivers, lakes or seas in the north of the earth. Their purpose is to link dry land, frozen waterways and winter roads. They allow transport temporarily to areas with no permanent road access. They are found in isolated regions of north Canada, Alaska’s Bush, Russia and Northern Scandinavia. They allow movement of large or heavy objects and it reduces the cost of shipping. The first ice roads were built in the 1930’s in Canada. Today the ice roads are found mainly in the northern parts of Canada in such places as Yukon, Nunavut and Northwest Territories. The Tuktoyaktuk Winter Road in the Northwest Territories links various isolated communities and mineral exploration sites to their highway network. Hundreds of Trucks drive across Ice Roads, and in 2000, the History channel aired an episode called ‘Ice Road Truckers’ which followed the job of driving trucks over the ice roads. The series looks at the troubles they face and how hard it is for them to do their job. Here’s some pictures of the Ice Roads:

Driving. What?

For our geography class, we have to do a links project. This project involves taking something, in my case, driving, and sees how it changes, or is done differently around the world. My project is about driving, and I explore the different types of driving, the different ways in which it’s done, and some events that take place around the world. I will be putting them on my blog so watch this space!

Time for Retreat!

Last Tuesday, 17th April, class Eriú went on retreat to Glendalough in Wicklow. We left school at 9am all wrapped up expecting all sorts of weather. We had a long bus journey, but everyone was excited for the day ahead. When we arrived, we saw many other gropups of people that were also on retreat. We saw a group of Buddist Monks from France. We walked through the mountains and sat by the lake. It rained a lot throughout the day, but we didnt mind! We sat for an hour having lunch on the picnic benches and admired the views. We left for home at 2 o'clock, and we were all so tired from our day, that not a single person talked the whole journey! It was a good day overall and everyone enjoyed it!

Here's A Project I Did on Princess Diana

Shannon's History project

Work Experience- Round Two!

On the 27th of February, the TY's went on there second round of Work Experience. I did mine in Pelco Ltd in Blanchardstown.
On Monday morning I woke up excited for the day ahead. When i arrived i got to know the staff. Then i started off in the accounts department. Later I went to the Human Resources Department. Here i watched as people were interviewed. On Tuesday, I travelled around each of the Branches of Pelco. We travelled around Dublin and did stock takes. On Wednesday I did the rosters for each of the branches and I also sorted through the staff files. On Friday I was in the accounts department and had to count the money and also did the wages. Overall i did really enjoy my work experience!

Lolly Lolly Lolly!

On Friday the 24th Of February, we all went to Dublin City Centre to sell lollipops as part of Lollipop Day to raise money for the Oesophagus Cancer fund. We left school at 9.05 all excited in our t-shirts and hats we were given. We arrived in the city centre and we were given a map with our groups names and where we had to go. Leah, Caitriona and I were standing outside the Shelbourne Hotel. We raised lots of money and sold lots of lolly's. Its safe to say that it was one of the Best days of TY so far!

Mini Company Competition

On Wednesday 22nd of February, we had our Mini Company Competition. We were all very busy preparing our stand and getting all our information together for weeks before, and so the day of the competition came before we knew it. 'My Busy Bag' came together very well and all our members went for the sophisticated look, dressing all in black. The competition took place in our school hall, with each company having their stand set up for everyone to see. The judges came and unfortunately, My Busy Bag didn't get through to the finals, but we all enjoyed the day!

In the name of the cross!

Yesterday was St.Brigid's day, and in religion we made St.Brigid's Crosses. With ALOT of help from Ms.Bennett, class Eriú  made successful crosses!!
And to mark the holy day, next Tuesday all of us ty's are going to Kildare town, on a walking tour to see the monasteries and the wells that lie there since the time of St.Brigid.

3,2,1,... Action!!

On Tuesday, all the Transition Years went to Mullingar for the Briary Gap Drama competition. We had been working on our dramas since October, so all our nerves were building as the day came closer. On Tuesday Morning, we all walked to the bus, arms full of props, from hats to gravestones, and we headed off for Mullingar. After a loud (thanks to Laura Smyth attempting to sing Super Base -.-) and exciting bus journey, we arrived at the Arts Centre in Mullingar town. We had a quick rehearsal, and went straight off to change, before being called the stage to preform our version of Seamus Heaney's poem 'Mid Term Break'. Before we knew it, our performance was over and we watched the rest of the ty's plays. After everyone play was over, we were free to go around Mullingar town! We went to McDonald's and had as great time before heading home.
Overall it was a really great day!!

English, English & English?

Last Wednesday, class Eriú went to 'Fighting Words' in Dublin for a creative writing workshop. We left school at 1 o'clock and when we arrived, we straight away started some creative writing. We brainstormed together to start an essay, and before we knew it, we had written the first page of an essay about two 16 year olds who are best friends. After we had the basis to a story, we were divided into groups of three, and we each finished the essay however we liked. It was an enjoyable day and it helped us how to think when starting to write an essay.

Back to Basics!

It's January, and I am very happy to say I survived Christmas! A few hiccups along the way but before i knew it, We were sitting back in our wine uniforms!!
Tomoro is the young scients (GASP) and i can safely say, All the TY's are so so excited for the day!! Not to mention the excitment of seeing the few ty girlies who got through to the competition!!
And today is thursday.. which means our activity afernoon :)
AND our timetable for the afternoon has changed to massage classes, band practice and... drum roll... ZUMBA!!!! I LOVE zumba and am so excited for it :D
overall i am happy to be back at school and excited for the next term of ty :)