Transition Year News
October 2009
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Horticulture at Kilkenny College by Transition Year Students.
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OCTOBER 2008
The year kicked off in early September with five day trips to Dunmore East Adventure Centre.
Yearlong courses and shortcourses are up and running. A new program on offer this year is Karate.
Extra non-compulsory modules on offer to students are the ECDL program, STEER Clear program and the Cartoon Animation program.
Over 50 students are participating in GAISCE. 30 students have volunteered for the Homework Clubs.
The first of our Trips has taken place with 27 students in Manchester last week. Up coming trips for the 4th years are Italy and Vietnam after Christmas.
We had two representatives at the Glencree Conference at the end of September.
A number of students are involved in the French Exchange program which takes place after Christmas for 6 weeks.
Work experience takes place from 23rd February - 9th March.
Students have participated in a music workshop and car safety workshops to date.
March 2008
Congratulations to the pupils involved in The Power of 1 project and their teachers Ms. Chapple and Ms McNiece. The Future Boosters team of Katherine Cooke, Laura Taylor, Laurie Dool, Wendy Michael, Aine Murray and Nadia Mahfoud has got through to the final in Croke Park on 30th April.
Well done to Mary Fitzpatrick who won the Transition Year business class law exam organised by the Public Access to Law organisation at the Law Library.
Also to Eve O’Connor, on her trip to China with the Dublin Youth Symphony Orchestra and Laurie Dool, who is in the National Youth Orchestra.
ART EXHIBITION
CLICK HERE TO VIEW A SELECTION OF THE EXHIBITS
YATES HOUSE 26TH-27TH MAY
This exhibition spans two years of work by Kilkenny College Transition Year Students.
Each year was given a very specific design brief.
Design Brief for 4th Year (2007 Transition Year)
To design and make a wall hanging based on one of the following themes: - Art; Kilkenny’s History; UrbanDevelopment; Pollution; Renewable Energy; Community; Friendship;our Environment and Cultures.
The brief also required the use of Mixed Media, with particular emphasis on textiles.
Design Brief for 5th Year (2006 Transition Year)
To study and investigate the techniques and subject matter of acclaimed Kilkenny artist, Tony O’Malley. Tony O’Malley passed away in January 2003 at his home in Callan. His wife, Jane, is an artist in her own right and she had a huge influence on his career.
As part of their research, the 5th Years went to see the exhibition in the Butler Gallery in 2005 entitled VisualDiaries. They also listened to an interview on Rattlebag from a previous year.
Both years were encouraged to work out of their normal comfort zones by using materials and methods they had not explored before.
The results, as we can see, are a credit to them. They all made a big commitment to the projects and we would like to take this opportunity to congratulate each and every one of them. We would also like to express our appreciation to the staff of the Art Department for their dedication and commitment to the students, without which this exhibition would not be possible.
The exhibition provides an opportunity to raise funds for Habitat for Humanity and the O’Neill Centre in Kilkenny. Kilkenny College students have an ongoing programme where they participate in Habitat for Humanity projects in Romania. Currently, they are helping to build houses for a community devastated by flooding. The O’Neill Centre provides services and support for children with physical disabilities and other special needs. Your support for both these charities would be greatly appreciated.
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2007
Transition Year action to date:
Much has been going on in the lives of our transition years. A large number of them had the opportunity to attend a drive safely demonstration. This demo was presented by Michael Gleeson (MOG) who brought in a car with the body parts removed. The students learned about seatbelts, oil, tyres etc.
The first of the GAISCE day and night hikes took place in early November. Enthusiastic, soggy, cold students and staff tramped up and down hills with a little help from hot chocolate and some songs!
We had the privilege of a talk given by Zoltan Zinn Collis who is a survivor of the Holocaust. He spoke of his traumatic experience with touches of humour to an enthralled audience.
A large number of students got to try their hand at African drumming with our friend Klaus and his huge range of percussion instruments. A noisy musical affair for all!
Karen Morrissey was in big demand this term and as usual educated many of our students in the world of fashion, makeup, hair and skin care.
The first of the Safe PASS courses took place in December with all our candidates passing which opens the door for them to work on construction sites.
Job placement weeks are fast approaching. These occur from 26th February to 9th March.
A selection of other activities are ongoing; the Rape Crisis Centre are giving talks, a number of students are attending the Young Scientist exhibition, a number of students have applied for the RTE TY radio, a number of students will take part in a new module based on imagery and cinema.
A number of 4th years spent a few days over the October midterm in Germany but it is now in the spring term that the trip season really begins. Students impatiently wait for the trip to New York, Manchester, Romania and the exchange to Slovenia.