TY Class Participates and Wins the Liam O’Connell Debate in Kildare County Council

On Tuesday the 24^th of February 2015, the Kildare County Council offices saw six teams of budding debaters arrive to participate in the Liam O’Connell Annual Debate. We sent along two teams, one made up of members Hannah Egan, Roisin King, and Jenna Brannock, and the other Caitlin Breen, Fionn O’Sullivan, and Sadhbh Donoghue. Holy Family, Clongowes, Rathangan and Gaelcholaiste Cill Dara also took part.

This particular debate was established by the late councillor Liam O’Connell. His particular focus was on encouraging the youth to use their voices in relation to politics. His aim was certainly met on the day, with eighteen TY students contributing to a heated discussion. The motion was “Political Protest Aims to Subvert Democracy.”

Each team opened with a six minute statement. Hannah, Jenna and Roisin, as proposition, argued that political protest is not always safe, and that “swarm” mentalities stand to represent the needs of just a select portion of the population. The opposition of Fionn, Sadhbh, and Caitlin contended that political protest is crucial to ensure that all of society is heard and has their needs met. The floor was then opened to a lively open discussion. Once we all figured out how to switch on the microphones, it ran quite smoothly! The prize for best speaker award went to the captain from the Gael Cholaiste.  Roisin, Hannah, and Jenna were then shocked and delighted to learn they were taking home the prize for best over-all team. They received a crystal trophy each, and a perpetual plague for the school. They winning team appeared in the Leinster Leader and on KFM.

The standard from each team was extremely high, and the debate was a thoroughly enjoyable experience for all! Many thanks to Miss Carey for all her help.

By Hannah Egan

Classic Novels - Branding

Ms. R Kelly’s TY students have been analysing Advertising this month. TY’s analysed the PBS documentary, The Merchants of Cool.

Students were challenged to re-brand a well-known product in an effort to make it ‘cool’ for teens. They had to come up with a new way to market a dull product and make it attractive to a teen audience.  Fionn, Sadhbh, Emma, Sam and Roisin took on the challenge of Classic novels. Here are their findings and results.

Book Branding

TY Poetry Project

TY English Students have been examining some canonical Leaving Certificate poets. Ms. R Kelly's English classes TYA and TYF have created a selection of magazines specific to these poets. Their creations have been compiled into this Issuu publication. We hope you enjoy!

TY Research Paper on W.B. Yeats

'Seventy-five years after the death of William Butler Yeats, his brooding form still towers among the giants of world literature. The first of only four Irish Nobel literature laureates, he was more than just a great poet, he was a man of letters, a spiritual seeker, political activist, philosopher, senator … and more and more.' (Darragh McManus - Source)

To help mark the anniversary of his passing, Ms R. Kelly's TY English class were asked to complete a research paper on the great Irish poet. Please find below just one entry from M. Ryan.

W.B Yeats by M Ryan

TY Key Skills: Preface Task

TY English teachers are developing Key skills with their classes. One such skill is critically thinking. Ms.R Kelly’s English class critically examined Wordsworth’s Preface to The Lyrical Ballads and Oscar Wilde’s Preface in his novel The Picture of Dorian Grey. This spurred students to think about what is Art? Here are two examples by Laura Hannon and Blaithnid  Corless.

TY Preface B. Cor.

TY Preface L. Han.

TY Orson Welles Projects

First performed Halloween 1938

Ms. R. Kelly's Transition Year classes have been working on radio broadcasts inspired by H.G.Well's. novel The War of the Worlds.  In 1938 the original performance, by Orson Welles, caused panic for a public audience. Here are some of their projects based on the Welles' performance

listen to ‘Amy and Rosie War of the Worlds’ on Audioboo

listen to ‘Ms Kelly's Class Wwr of the Worlds’ on Audioboo

Transition Year Production

It's that time of year again....the TY Production!!  

On Tuesday 30th April, students will be transported to an ancient Chinese palace complete with an Emperor and of course a love story.  This is no ordinary tale, and to make it more intriguing it is relayed through the eyes of three Leaving Cert students.  Don't miss this comic but heart-wrenching narrative.  

Ms Murphy

Transition Year Music Video

Transition Year students particpated in a movie making module in their Media Studies Class in which they created their own productions. This music video was created by a group of students from TYA.

TY Photography Projects - Francesca McAllister

Black and white photopoint

Hairytale Land

Hairytale Land is a TY production.

Hairytale Land

When: Thursday May 3rd at 7.30. 

Where: Newbridge College Theatre.

Tickets: 3 Euro  and are available at the door. Parents, pupils and the general public are all welcome.

Hairytale Land is a facetious story that relays the bizarre situation of two ordinary school kids who are thrown into a strange world with fairytale characters they have only ever read about. Don’t miss this great opportunity for a fun night out at the theatre!

(Cameo appearances from teachers on the night!)

Photography Series: Edel Kelly

The second in a short series of TY photography projects can be found below. Edel Kelly completed her project with the theme of 'Moments'.

Photography Project Edel Kelly

T.Y. Photography Projects

Today Transition Year pupil David Devaney shares with us a photography project he recently completed. David undertook the project as part of his Tranistion Year Media course. This is the first in a short series that will be posted to the Blog.

TY Photography

Collaborative TYE Poem



 Each pupil contributed one line between 1 and 10 syllables



TYE Class Poem

Third year’s done, time for fun.
Put together at the start of the year,
The birth of new jokes.
We make this transition together
Making the most out of our TY.
The way we click,
You couldn’t pick,
A cooler bunch of kids.
The top of Mount Joust, TY rose,
1s and 5s in music brings us closer,
Class vs. Class soccer match with Greg in PE
The games in Corbett’s class.
We gel like the silicon in the windows.
We bond like a pack of wolves in the forest.
The banter in Bradshaw’s beats the rest,
The craic and the jokes are mighty.
It’s that time of day again, the sun is in its prime,
It’s very quiet and there’s never anyone in.
Our class is kind of mental.

Hairytale Land

 Hairytale Land is a TY drama production.

As the TY production of Hairytale Land draws closer, the production team give us a quick insight into what to expect!







 

Hairytale Land – TY Drama Production

Newbridge College is to host a new and exciting Transition Year drama production this forthcoming May.  Hairytale Land is a facetious story that relays the bizarre situation of two ordinary school kids who are thrown into a strange world with fairytale characters they have only ever read about.  Katherine Murphy will be playing the fashion fanatic Amy, with Tom Higgins as the rugby star Tommy.  Their lives are altered forever when they find themselves in the territory of the evil, Black Snow played by Sarah Coller.  The situation worsens with the presence of the philandering and slimy Prince Sleazeball played by Mark Sutton; he is always waiting for any opportunity to use his excessive charm.  Amy and Tommy find many obstacles in their path but also some comedic performances from various famous characters.  A weird and wacky experience will be had by all.  Watch this space!