Transition Year
The Green Mile 2009-2010
The Transition Year Class of 2009- 2010 decided to take on the Green Mile Project to manage the project going forward. The year has been successful even with the huge expectations after winning Eco-Unescos Overall Young Environmentalist of the Year 2009. We hoped to bring the project into the wider community to manage the product because we felt we had brought the project as far as we could without the help of the wider community. There was a town meeting held at the Park Hotel which was a huge success as we managed to form a town committee.
We raised awareness of the project by doing presentations to The Chamber Of Commerce and to St. Josephs. One of our main success’ of the year is the new link we have gained with St. Josephs as we continue to work in sync to help one another reach.
We plan to have a big launch on the 23rd of April. Which we hope will be a big pr event to launch our green mile season and our new car pooling website. The year has been a very successful one with us so far reaching all our goals.
We hope to continue our work even when in the leaving cert cycle and even when we leave school.
Trip to Ballyhass
In September our TY group made a bus journey to Ballyhass lakes Adventure Centre.
It was here that the group began to explore the importance of working as a team to support and encourage one another. The group found that this trip helped build self-confidence, team bonding, friendship and experiences. Three days of activities including abseiling, rock climbing, swimming, fishing, kayaking and team building exercises resulted in fun for all. Each student developed their own skills in the area of adventure sports but also learned how to work as part of a team, which was crucial for the success of other TY ventures including the mini-company. The students were guided by the leaders at Ballyhass lakes Adventure Centre and an enjoyable if exhausting time was had by all.
First Aid
For the first term of the year, the Transition years were given the opportunity to learn the basics of first aid every Friday morning for a double class. We were taught invaluable information about the early signs and symptoms of certain medical conditions and incidents e.g. epilepsy, anaphylactic shock, diabetes, fainting, stroke, nose bleeds, choking and heart disease, and we learned how to deal with them.
These classes were unique as our knowledge of the course was tested practically and in a written exam. Practical challenges tested us on how to perform CPR (cardio-pulmonary resuscitation) safely and effectively, how to bandage a casualty with severe bleeding, and the method carried out when placing an unconscious casualty in the recovery position. This course also reminded us to first and foremost ensure the safety of ourselves before dealing with the casualty at the scene of an accident
We were shown videos and DVDs which illustrated the possible dangers in sports and the importance of early CPR. Certain learning styles helped us to remember information better. For example, the FAST method (Face, Arm, Speech, Telephone) used for strokes.
At the end of the course a booklet was handed out to all students which contained all the information we were taught throughout the course. Each student was also given a certificate at the end of the course to certify that we completed the course successfully. The TY students came away from that course with life saving knowledge.
EU Forum Winners Enjoy Brussels Trip
Almost two months ago, four Transition Year students won a fully paid trip to Brussels as part of the National Forum on Europe with a project entitled ‘How Europe Should Lead the Way On Green’
On 26th April Graham Dinneen, Stephen Hourigan , Ryan McCarthy, Kieran Cooney along with their teacher Ms Mulroe set out on their journey to Brussels along with a group from Dunmanway. Before leaving Shannon the group had an unexpected meeting with Hillary Clinton, US Secretary of State, who was changing planes at the time.
The group spent three nights at the Irish College in Louvain, a medieval town 30km outside brussels.On the first day they visited World War 1 sites. The next day the group spent some time shopping in Brussels and then visited the European Parliament Buildings. They were met there by MEP’s Colm Burke’s assistant who took them on a tour of the building before meeting Colm Burke ( who sponsored the trip)and Gay Mitchell MEP who discussed various topics with the group such as the Gaza strip, the Environment and the Lisbon Treaty with the group.Later that evening they attended an Art Exhibition which highlighted the impact of climate change in the Arctic circle.
On the last day the boys visited Bruges and took a boat trip on the canals, visited the Basilica of the Holy Blood and ate lots of chocolate!
On the way home at Charleroi airport the group bumped into EU Commissioner Charlie McCreevy and Nobel Prizewinner John Hume .
TY Class Win Trip To Brussels
On March 5th four Transition Year students, Ryan McCarthy, Graham Dinneen, Stephen Hourigan and Kieran Cooney took the early morning bus to Cork determined to do their best at the Understanding Europe competition. Their project ‘Why Europe Should Lead the Way on Green’ incorporated the schools’Green Mile Project.The presentation to judges included a slide show and a clay model of Charleville.
Because the standard of entries was so high it was decided that the top two projects would go to Brussels.CBS Charleville were delighted to come first in the competition. Well done to the boys and their teacher Ms Mulroe.
TY Mini Company 2008-09
From the beginning of our TY year, we were all very anxious to get into our TY mini company. It took a week or two before we even started talking about what kind of product we were going to produce.
First of all, we had interviews for the various positions of our mini-company, such as Managing Director, Human Resources Manager and many more. For many of us, applying was a tough task, especially those aiming high. We had to make our own C.V., along with a letter of application, and then we had the interview. This was a good experience for most of us, as many had never been through an interview. A few weeks later, the jobs were handed back, and we were all satisfied! Ryan McCarthy and Gary Morris were appointed MD and Assistant MD.
Most of October was spent coming up with a product. We went through many ideas, a computer game, Irish signs, Learning aids, quiz games, party packs. It was a hectic few weeks of brain storming. However, we all pulled together and agreed that an Irish board game was a good idea. Primary school students find Irish a tedious subject to learn, we wanted to put an end to this. With the Irish board game, we were filling a sizeable gap in the market. We also knew that the Irish language was dying out. We all felt good and enthusiastic about this project. Then, the name of our company. It was decided that we would call ourselves Fís, the Irish for vision, something that there is an abundance of in our Transition Year.
The game plays as follows: there are four different colours, each corresponding to family, school, the town or the house. If you land on that coloured square, you are then asked a question on that area. Whoever answers the most questions as Gaeilge at the end of the game wins.
However, making all this happen is not at all as easy as it sounds. We all did our part however and pulled through, especially in the week before the Trade Fair. There was so much work had to be done, it was phenomenal. It felt harder than running an actual company! But it all paid off, at the Trade Fair, we won the prize for most innovative product, as well as having a good time, and learning what we had to do next.
Before the Trade Fair, we had a presentation to deliver to many prominent faces around Charleville. This was challenging, important people coming in just to see what we were about, after all, we did have to live up to their expectations. There was Mick Walsh, a self made business man, people from the AIB, and a representative of the North Cork Enterprise Board. They gave us their words of wisdom, and in the end, seemed fairly pleased with our products.
Transition Year Induction
By John O’ Keeffe
At the beginning of the year the new T.Y. students along with Mr. Hogan and Ms. Merrick held a two day induction for the new T.Y. class. Most of the students knew each other but we had two new students in the class. We started off with an exercise that would help us to get to know each other. This involved telling the others our name and one other detail about ourselves. Mr. Hogan gave us some activities called ice breakers to take part in. one of these activities was that we had to make a circle and hold hands with two people that were not standing alongside you. We then had to untangle ourselves. This helped us realise that we could work as a team. It also helped us to see that there was success in our future.
Cannon Cotter came down to the school to say Mass for us on the first day. We took part in the Mass by receiving Holy Communion and lighting candles at the end of the Mass.
We had to join as a group and come up with mission statements. This took us quite a long time because all the class had to come up with one and we couldn’t decide on which was best. Eventually we were happy with our chosen mission statement and on our wall we hung
“Together We’ll Make It!”
T.Y. Trip to Tralee
During the first term of the school year the Transition Year group visited Tralee IT. We went to the college in order to see a range of options for our future careers. When the students arrived they were met outside by one of the lecturers at the college, who was very friendly and helpful, and showed them around the different classrooms and sections of the campus. They were shown the new building that the college had invested in, including a replica ward for the trainee nurses and doctors. There was also a new cookery lab, for the trainee cooks, which was quite an interesting room. When the guide had finished showing the students around we were taken into the computer lab that had been designated to us for the day as we were to complete a workshop based on computer design and animation.
We were given an hour and a half to have a crash course on graphic design. It was a brilliant experience and we all enjoyed it. We were also given courses on how to design web sites and basic animation, where we used the same software that was used in films such as ‘Pirates of the Caribbean’ and ‘Lord of the Rings’. Overall it was a great and informative experience and we were grateful to have the opportunity to complete it.
By Timmy Rea
TY Film Trip - Mean Creek 22nd October 08
There was great anticipation leading up to the film trip to Cork. The film, Mean Creek, was largely unknown to most of the class and the synopsis had us awaiting the bus in high hopes. It turns out that this is the first year this schools TY group have been a part of this film sector consisting of three showings. Our class group is very appreciative of this opportunity and happy to make the most of the outings.
Mean Creek, a small-scale film from 2004, seemed an exciting prospect to us as we could relate to the characters and their problems and emotions. The key message in the film was bullying and its morals. It opened with an underwater shot of the “mean” creek. Slow flowing music surrounded us, engulfing the viewers like the water might. The opening scene begins in the schoolyard and gives us a look at the main character and the bully.
We had previously had a look at some techniques used in film making and were looking out for the main styles used in the film. But this was a tough task as the plot thickened and we became enthralled with the characters hatred and fear. As teenagers we were able to relate with Sam and Rocky but the eventual incident left us reeling in bemusement. The sheer horror of what seemingly average teenagers were capable of was full of power in itself.
This among other things made the film so easily watchable and enjoyable too. I would not want to spoil such an emotional piece by explaining the struggle and demise of certain characters but I can at least tell you that this is definitely a film worth watching. It was of huge benefit to myself and my class group and will impact on all who look upon it.
Fascinating answers to questions on the teenage mind could be uncovered from this film, as it is such an eye-opener. It is an in-depth study of the fragility of the mentality of humans put into a motion picture. We see how differently some people react and deal with traumas in their live. One can run and hide, bury the evidence. You can face your troubles head on, or you can do absolutely nothing. This film explores these possibilities and looks at the drastic consequences that can occur. In truth it is a disturbing film and could be quite a rough experience for the more fragile viewer. But the message within is etched into ones mind after seeing this film, and there are some words said that you may never forget.
We look forward in anticipation of our next trip which will be a viewing of an Irish film 32A.
