9 October 2020
TY trip to the Secret Valley – report by Dobroslawa Staszewska and Kate Doyle
On 22nd, 28th and 29th September, TYs took turns to visit the Secret Valley Wildlife Park and Zoo. Girls spent an educational but exciting day investigating the flora and fauna of the park, ranging from ordinary hedges and brambles to exotic animals from the furthest corners of the globe.
With the help of 4th Year Science teachers and the park staff, the girls took a deeper dive into their biology course, discovering how microscopic critters and unique plants make up the flourishing web of wildlife that surrounds us.
Percentages and statistics were uncovered in quadrat-square habitat studies carried out by the students on a grassland, where each life form had adapted distinctive methods to survive in the wild.
Pooters, sweep nets and beating trays were used for an invertebrate study around the park. The invertebrates caught were studied and identified by the girls.
In the animal encounters building, the girls were presented with creatures from around the park. Through this presentation they learned of the animal’s adaptations through time and how they help the animals to survive in their habitats. They discussed the dependent and interdependent relationships in nature and the importance of the food chain in the animal kingdom.
The trip was a great eye-opener and definitely an experience to look back upon!
TY Mini Company 2020 – “Left Brain Creations” – report by Shauna Cullen (5th year)
Shauna Cullen, Ciara Rees, Siobhán Rossiter, Jessica Ruane and Muireann O’Gara started their mini company “Left Brain Creations” in 2019. Our idea was to create tailored 3D printing and sticker designs.
We were highly successful and during the Christmas period, we decided to go to the Christmas craft fair in Blackwater. At the fair, we were selling plain 3D printed trolley tokens when a representative from the company and charity ‘It’s Good 2 Talk’ approached us and made an inquiry for us to create promotional 3D trolley tokens for their business.
‘It’s Good 2 Talk’ Counselling & Psychotherapy Support Services Ltd., offers affordable professional counselling and support to the Wexford community, facilitating 18 year olds to the elderly, with mild to moderate psychological difficulties. In my opinion, this company is amazing as when you need to talk, they are there to listen.
The company ordered 1,000 promotional 3D printed trolley tokens with ‘It’s Good 2 Talk’ logo and contact details on them.
We had arranged to exchange the tokens back in March 2020 but unfortunately this was put on hold due to COVID 19 restrictions at that time.
So, on 1st October 2020, the CEO and two other representatives of the company, along with a photographer, came to our school to exchange the tokens. It was an honour to be able to help promote their organisation. A photograph of the transaction will appear in the “Wexford People” paper this week.
TY Bonding Day 2020 – report by Kiera Dempsey , Rachel Goff and Lucy Fitzgerald
On Thursday the 17th of September, the Transition Year Students participated in a well organised Bonding Day, which took place around school grounds. Our Co-ordinators, Ms. Zimmerman, Ms. Martin and Ms. Smyth prepared a variety of activities ranging from mindfulness and yoga to a competitive song competition. We started the day off by being split into our class groups, which meant we would get to know our class better, the whole aim of the day. 4.4 started off with a mindfulness class with Ms Jordan and Ms O Donoghue. This began with a peaceful meditation and then we had a chat about the different essential oils which are available. We then moved on to Yoga with Ms Busher which was all about flexibility and movement. It was a very peaceful and sacred activity. Both yoga and mindfulness are very good way to relax and cleanse your soul. Both activities were very interesting and can definitely be included in the lives of busy 4th years.
Next we went to the poly tunnels with Ms Skelton for an interesting game of “Would you rather?” which involved getting to know each other (and Ms. Skelton!) even more . Ms Skelton’s games were definitely one of the best activities on the day. After a very busy morning it was wonderful to see the Mr. Whippy ice cream van pull in to the school car park. All the girls enjoyed 99s at lunchtime outside on the GAA pitch and even Mr. O Shea and Mr. McGinnity joined the queue!
The last activity of the day was the TY song contest. Each TY class group participated in making their own class song that represented Transition Year. The TY students did this under the supervision of Ms. Martin. Their task was to create a new, unique anthem that displayed what Transition Year meant to them as a whole. This exercise helped the pupils to work and converse together to come up with ideas and lyrics for their song. At the end of the day, each Transition Year class group had to go against each other and showcase their song in front of the whole year. 4.5 won with their upbeat song adapted from the melody of ‘American Boy’. Some classes were upbeat while others even added their own choreography. There was one main theme that each class sung about and that was Covid-19. Every class chanted, sung and expressed in their songs that the Corona Virus was incapable of ruining our TY. After all, it’s our TY to take, it’s our TY to make. The bonding day was definitely a huge success and the TY’s got to know each other even more. A huge thank you to all the teachers who made this bonding day possible, without you all it wouldn’t have been so successful. All activities on the day followed the government Covid 19 guidelines.
School News
- A letter to families will be issued on Monday next, 12 October setting out some updates relating to our Covid-19 Response Plan.
- The school’s Guidance Department will issue a presentation to the parents of 6th year students on the CAO/Going to College process next week.
- The principals of the five post-primary schools in Wexford Town have issued a letter to parents/guardians in relation to current Covid-19 guidelines. Please click here to view the letter.
Digital Leaders
The following students have offered their expertise and commitment to help promote IT literacy in their respective year groups. They will work in close co-operation with Ms. Curran.
| Class | Digital Leaders |
| Juniors | |
| 1 | Sofia Barron
Kayleigh Aylward Louise Doyle Mairead Doyle Veda Hanley-O’Leary Ella Mythen Madison Margolin Keelin O’Reilly Emma Siggins Emilia Rogan Sheil |
| 2 | Aideen Harpur
Keisha McNamee Auj Khan Katie Kehoe Zoe Wildes Jagoda Staszewska |
| 3 | Charlotte Buckley
Ailbhe Cullinane Grace Corrigan April Jordan Scarlett Ramsey Sidhi Sinnott |
| Seniors | |
| 4 | Grace Donovan
Lily Forde Newal Naeem Nicole Power Nicole Casey Lucy Fitzgerald Maeve Hayes Iseult Becker Meabh Laffan Sophie Ennis |
| 5 | Nel Bates
Holly Sheridan Kate Bone Shauna Cullen |
| 6 | Ciara Mc Millan
Grace Rossiter Noon Abubakar Breda Murphy Abaigh Martin Tiarna Jones Muirinn Carty |
