TY Activities

Transition Year E.E.S.

2010 / 2011 was another eventful and successful year for the Transition Year module, Environmental and Economic Studies.  During the course of the year, the Transition Year Students, along with Ms. Corkery and Ms. Cullen, and later Ms. Donnelly, had the opportunity to visit many cultural and historic sights around Dublin.
We began the year with a trip to the magnificent Botanic Gardens in Glasnevin.  We then visited Collin’s Barracks, the Natural History Museum of Ireland and the Archaeology Museum.  Dublinia, the Viking and Medieval Dublin exhibition and Christ Church Cathedral were next on our hit list.

Later in the year, we were lucky enough to catch the Tutankhamen exhibition when it came to the RDS.  Here we learned more about the short and ill-fated life of the Pharaoh and caught a glimpse of King Tut’s many tombs and his rare and priceless treasures.  We also visited Dublin’s newly refurbished Wax Museum and got the opportunity to see two Oscar winning films, The King’s Speech and True Grit. May saw us in Dublin Zoo, where we were some of the first to see the zoo’s newest resident, a beautiful baby gorilla.

However, the E.E.S. module isn’t all about trips and outings.  During the course of the year we had many guest speakers come in to talk to our Transition Year students about various topics and social issues.  The gardaí delivered presentations on Knife Crime and Road Safety and we also had speakers from organisations like Focus Ireland and UNESCO, to name but a few.
E.E.S. also provided us with the opportunity to take part in Junior Achievement Ireland.  Last year, the TY students completed two Junior Achievement modules, namely ‘Learn to Earn’, delivered by Rachel from the Bank of Ireland.  The ‘Learn to Earn’ programme introduces students to the importance of making wise financial choices. Students also explore the role that money plays in life. During the five week programme, students were taught to recognise the importance of money in achieving personal goals as well as finding out how to protect themselves against financial difficulties. 

 
The second Junior Achievement programme students completed last year was ‘Success Skills’, facilitated by Eamonn from BBH.  ‘Success Skills’ develops students’ interpersonal effectiveness and problem-solving strategies, all necessary for the workplace. It also focused on the skills of building rapport, influencing others and teamwork, all critical interpersonal skills. This second programme culminated with a trip to the BBH offices on Harcourt Street where students got a taste for the high-powered life of teleconferencing and boardrooms and underwent an individual interpersonal skills assessment, in the form of a mock interview.  These interviews were carried out by Eamonn and two other members of the company’s Human Resource team and proved to be an invaluable opportunity for our students.  The following is the feedback we received from Eamonn

 ‘We were all very impressed with how confident and mature all the students were.’  Some of them would have been in the running for the Graduate positions for College Level students. A great testament to you and your school. Please let them all know they were fantastic.’

Last, but by no means least, on Friday afternoons, the E.E.S. module provided an opportunity for Lizzy and Mary to first audition and later rehearse with our Transition Year students for the annual school musical which, last year, was the ‘Slipper and the Rose’.  Once again, the Transition Years and their talented mentors worked tirelessly to produce another successful musical which was performed for the public on two consecutive nights in February.  Well done to all involved.
So as you can see, 2010 / 2011 has been another exciting, busy and active year from an E.E.S perspective.  This year’s Transition Year Students and Ms. Corkery are accompanied by Mr. Dexter on their many outings and excursions.  We have already completed one module of the Junior Achievement programme and have visited many of the sights our wonderful city has to offer.  Meanwhile, rehearsals are well under way for next year’s musical which promises to be as entertaining and successful as previous years.