|
All Students are encouraged to take the Transition Year Programme
after their Junior Certificate course. This programme has
been run in St. Brigid's College since 1980 and aims to:
• Allow each student to develop life skills in a more
experience based learning environment;
• Encourage each student to take more control of her
own education;
• Enable students to choose their Leaving
Certificate options with a greater degree of confidence
and maturity.
Thanks to the school’s excellent links with the local
community, students are given the opportunity to take part
in work experience. The curriculum for Transition Year aims
to allow students to maintain their contact with the core
subjects for the Leaving
Certificate while also giving them the opportunity to
take on new subjects.
The students have time-tabled classes for the following subjects:
Core Subjects: English,
Irish,
Maths,
French
Non Examination subjects: Religion,
P.E.,
Computer
Studies, Mini
Co., Career
Guidance
As well as the above subjects each student gets the opportunity
to study 8 subjects from the following modules:
Module 1: Biology,
Home
Economics, Music,
German
Module 2: Chemistry,
Art,
Geography
Module 3: History,
Accounting,
Business
Module 4: Physics,
Home
Economics, Biology,
Business
The following Certificate courses are also provided:
First Aid, Safe Food Programme, Speech & Drama.
All TY students are given the opportunity of partaking in
the School Musical and the Fashion Show.
As an aid to fostering self-esteem, confidence and personal
relations many extra curricular activities are provided and
encouraged. These include courses in Genealogy, Staying Alive,
Interior Design and Dress design. Students take part in the
Gaisce
Awards, The
Claddagh Group, Leadership Skills and Personal presentation.
Dance and film workshops are provided and each student is
assessed and interviewed on an end of year portfolio.
Social and cultural trips to Colleges, Historical trips and
visits to Outdoor Pursuit Centres in France are organised.
Guest Speakers are invited to talk on career options, social
issues etc and students are encouraged to become involved
in Voluntary organisations.
To say our musical went well would be an understatement.
‘Brilliant’, ‘Best musical ever’ and
‘Better than the original’ were just a few of
the comments made after the show. And although we had great
fun doing it, there was still lots and lots of hard work put
into it. Back in September we had no clue the effort we were
about to put in. When we were told we would be performing
the 50’s classic “Grease” most of the group
were really enthusiastic, and as we got into auditions the
excitement for it grew more and more. The cast was eventually
named and scripts were given out.
 |
|
 |
Mrs O’Grady looked after the acting, Ms E Ryan the
music and Ms Sheehan the Art Department, but the choreography
was probably everyone’s favourite part. Michelle Wise
came out to teach us the movements after school hours and
everyone took part and really enjoyed it. We learned dances
to “Summer lonn”, “Beauty School”,
“Dropout”, “Greased Lightening”, “We
go together”, the hand jive and “You’re
the one that I want”. As the weeks rolled on slowly
but surely the show started to come together. On the night
everyone was really excited and nervous. The hall was packed
and the audience were full of praise. There was a great buzz
of energy on the stage that we couldn’t help but be
delighted about it.
On the 2nd March, Aromatherapist Bríd Neary, visited
the fourth years for the afternoon and introduced us Aromatherapy.
Aromatherapy is the art or science of using pure essential oils,
for psychological and physical well-being. Bríd gave
us a brief run down on the history of aromatherapy. She also
advised us on what essential oils we should use and their functions.
To our delight Bríd started teaching us the practical
side of aromatherapy. We all learnt and received neck and shoulder
massages. It was the most relaxing experience ever. We all left
on cloud nine.
Bríd returned the day after the fashion show. This time
she taught us how to do head massages. This was just what the
doctor ordered after our hectic night on the catwalk.
When we returned to school after the Easter holidays, we got
straight into practising and preparing for the fashion show.
Everyone in the year wanted to be involved and were all so enthusiastic
about it. We divided ourselves into groups of two and three
and started practising our routines. Karen Morrissey, of Hype
Model Agency came into our school and thought us how to walk
and “strut our stuff” like real models. She also
thought us a lot about make-up, and showed us how to apply it
properly. She was a great help to us. We all practiced extremely
hard each day. Everyone was so excited about doing it and couldn’t
wait to see what shops we were modelling for. Design Edge, Aqua,
Monsoon, Company, Benetton, Pauls and Maxima were all the stores
that very kindly agreed to let us model their clothes. We went
into Kilkenny to the shops, and got fitted for our outfits.
Everyone was thrilled and very grateful with what they got.
On the night of the fashion show we were all extremely nervous
and very anxious. But once we hit the cat walk the first time,
those feeling were soon over come by excitement and everyone
was mad to go out and model again. We got two outfits each
and we also had to model a Debs dress. I must say every single
girl on the catwalk looked incredible and their routines were
very professional.
The atmosphere in the hall was great, and all the models got
a big cheer when they went out. It was a night that was enjoyed
by everyone and I can honestly say if asked we would definitely
do it again. Everyone did a fantastic job and had great fun.
Ms Bradfield and Ms Sheehan were very generous with their
time and expertise in helping us to organise the show. All
the hours spent practicing and preparing for it really paid
off and overall it was an incredible experience.
|
All the 4th years participated in a couple of sessions
of Line dancing with the famous Deirdre Cullen. We all
immersed ourselves in this activity and Deirdre was
really impressed with how quickly we picked up all the
steps. The assembly hall came alive to the sound of
Shania Twain and other country singers. By the end of
the session we were all ‘yee-hawing’ to
dances like the Electric Slide, Rockin’ Robin,
Disco and many more. |
 |
 |
|
SPORTY TYPES |
|
 |
|
| NO PRESS PLEASE |
|
|
On the 20th April 2007, the 4th years not involved
in the Dress Design Class, wearily made our way down
to the hall for our Shiatsu Class. To be honest nobody
was really looking forward to it as we had been practicing
for the fashion show all week and our legs were killing
us from skyscraper stilettos. There was also the small
matter that not one single person had a clue what
Shiatsu was, not even Ms. Bradfield.
We were delighted to find that shiatsu was not Ms
Bradfield’s revenge on us for driving her bonkers
all year (honestly, she should be nominated for sainthood.
|
Shiatsu is actually a form
of therapeutic massage except you don’t use oils.
It is widely practiced in Japan and China and is used
to help people with all kinds of aches, pains and ailments.
Our instructor partnered us up and showed us how to
practice shiatsu on the other person. All the moves
were really relaxing but the most memorable one was
when one person had to stand on the soles of the other
person which believe it or not is really relaxing. We
finished the fantastic session with a relaxing massage.Shiatsu
was absolutely and every single person loved it!! |
On the day Ms Bradfield
suggested we go surfing in Tramore, the sky was blue,
the sun was beating down and it seemed like such a good
idea. But Wednesday 9th May dawned cold, wet and most
definitely not conducive to surfing. Ms Bradfield tried
to persuade us that it was an ideal day for the job—we
were not convinced.
Our destination was “Oceanic Manoeuvres surf School”
in Tramore. On our arrival we reluctantly fot off the
bus and entered the surf school to the accompanying
sounds of—chattering teeth, the pitter patter
of rain, and unbelievably a delighted Ms. Bradfield
still insisting that we had chosen an ideal day.
It wasn’t long before we were all togged out in
really warm wet suits. The instructor gave a lesson
on how to surf, and made it all sound very easy. Then
we were off down to the sea, carrying our surf boards.
We had so much fun. Incredibly the water was actually
warm, the waves were really big and in a very short
time, everybody was up on the surf boardsand gliding
over the waves.
|
|
|
Everybody really enjoyed their time in the water,
actually it passed far too quickly
I have often seen people surfing on T.V., it didn’t
occur to me that It might be something that I could
do and enjoy. My friends and I have decided that we
are definitely going back to Tramore to surf again. |
Gorge Jumping
|
Feeding Time
|
Out for a spot of French culture in Agde |
The accommodation
|
on the beach
PGL - Vias Plage, Languedoc
|
The TRip to france took place was one
I'm sure no one who was there will forget. With water
sport from sailing to snorkelling, we had at least tow
activities a day during our week there, either on the
beach just outside the site or by bus. We had the time
to tour this beautiful and historic part of france including
a trip to the medieval walled town of Carcassonne, with
some time for shopping.
Breakfast, lunch and dinner were all served and waiting
for us, and we were never left hungry. After dinner
we had beach games or on site team games.
After the day's activities ther was time for a quick
shower, a phone home and on to the disco! Two hours
filled with music and dancing. We had the chance to
talk to the pupils of other schools who were there.
This was a great experience for everyone, it helped
some girls get over ther fear of deep water, so even
if you see yourself as not the sporty type, you'll still
have lots of fun!! |
|
