Jembe Drumming Workshop.

Tys recently did a full day drumming workshop. A man called Dave came into the school and brought all kinds of jembe drums and instruments with him. We all got to play them and we learned a lot about drumming. It was a very long but very fun workshop :)

Second Work Experience

For my second work experience I went to the Preschool in Stewarts Hospital, Palmerstown

For the duration of the week I played with the children and looked after them. I participated in their learning and brought the children out on walks, to the playground and to the Swimming Pool. I helped with art and craft. Every day was different.
I worked from 10:00am to 1:30pm and I got a 45 minute lunch break where I ate in the canteen with some of the staff from the Preschool.
I really loved working here and I learned so much from it. I learned a lot about different conditions and how they are cared for. I participated in the children's "Story Time" and "Circle Time" this is basically their class time, their learning and I found this very interesting. Everybody in the Preschool was so friendly and helpful and so willing to tell me about their job.
From Working in the Preschool I would definitely like to work with those with intellectual Disabilities in the Future.

For anybody interested in Childcare, Nursing or Caring for those with intellectual disabilities this is a great experience and I would really recommend this work experience to future Tys as you really do learn from it and it is very enjoyable. I contacted the head of the Preschool of Stewarts Hospital to get this work experience.

English Review - Room.

"Room" by Emma Donoghue.

Seven years ago, Jack's mother was taken and held captive in a man's soundproof garden shed. "Room" is eleven feet square, it is her prison - but to Jack, Room is the whole world.

Told in an innocent Jack's perspective, Room tells the story of Jack and his mothers life as they grow and try to cope in this single room. Room is a dreadful story that plucks the heartstrings but is filled with such love and hope between the pair that the reader has to empathise with them.

Things are very different from Jack's perspective, Room is the whole world and nothing on tv is real. Trees and grass and mountains and buildings are tv. Spongebob and Dora are his friends. Ma and Old Nick are the only two people, other than himself that exist.

By the way the story is told, you get an insight of the impact of growing up in isolation from the rest of the world would have on a child and how influenced a child can be by television. 

The story is so cleverly told that when Jack explains something he experiences, we can tell straight away what it actually means. 

Donoghue sets the scene of room very well by the description of her characters. 

Jack is Five. He has long hair that goes way past his shoulders. He has never been exposed to sunlight and his eyes have never focused on an object more than eleven feet away. He has never worn shoes. Jack is a very intelligent child who can remember big words and their meanings for his age, he is very patient and never complains. His mother is everything to him. Now that Jack is five he is starting to get more curious and is beginning to question her.

Jack's mother has been in room for seven years now. To her, Jack is the only thing keeping her going, he brings her hope. Through determination and fierce motherly love, she has created a life for him. She is Jacks teacher, he learns everything from her and takes in her every word. She cares for him and keeps him safe from harm. 

The theme of motherly love emerges in Room. Jack and his Mother have a strong, loving relationship like no other between a mother and a child. They depend solely on each others company. Without the help of his mother, Jack would be lost in a world of unknown. She is his teacher, his carer, the only person he truly knows. Without Jack, Ma would not have hope or the will power to keep going. Donoghue shows the importance of a loving relationship between mother and child. 

Another theme that Donoghue may suggest is that of media and technology and how reliant we are upon it. Jack's only view of the outside world is through the television and he relates what he sees on his favourite cartoons to real life. 

This novel really showed me life in a different perspective and had me hooked from the very first page. It is a very unique novel, chilling but compelling and I always wanted to read on. The only aspect to this novel that may put a reader off is the way it is narrated by a five year old and it can be irritating. I would recommend reading this novel as it is an easy but satisfying read.

Lollipop Day

The 24th of February was Lollipop Day so Tys were given t shirts and hats and then set off to the streets of Dublin to sell lollipops and badges in aid of the Oesophageal Cancer Foundation. It was hard work and we managed to raise a lot of money between us.
To read up more about lollipop day click the link below :)

http://www.lollipopday.ie/

Mini Company Judging

On Wednesday the 22nd of February the judging of the Mini Companies for the Kildare Enterprise Competition took place in the school hall. Every stand looked fantastic, lots of colour and very professional and almost every mini company had a product to display. This was the First round of the Competition and the final will be held on the 5th of March. The judges seem to be very impressed with each mini company and 3 were shortlisted ! illuminate, Codladh and our own mini company Bláthsom ! 
Congratulations to Illuminate mini company who managed to get through to the final and did very well :) 

A little bit about our mini company:

Bláthsom is a fashionable, wearable, unique pocket that is worn on your wrist. It is accessorised with a detachable flower so the pocket is disguised. It is great for security and holding small essential items such as a key, money and a ticket.  
Here is Bláthsoms blog which will be updated soon !

Trip To Kildare Town

On Tuesday 7th of February, Tys were brought on a trip to Kildare to learn about the History of St. Brigid. We first went to Kildare Towns Heritage Centre to watch a video about the history of the town and of St. Brigid. Then we went to the Church of Ireland, which is built on the land where St. Brigid built her Monastery. It was a beautiful church with Stained glass windows that told the story of St.Brigid. We also got to ring the church bell ! :D We then went out onto the church grounds where we looked at the round tower, the fire temple of St. Brigid and St. Brigids Kitchen, which was an underground stone room. 
After we took a break and had a look around the Kildare Village Outlet, we visited two wells, the first was a small well where we walked around a circle and blessed ourselves with the water from it. It was a long walk to the second well, this was the well of St. Brigid. It was a beautiful, peaceful place. Locals tied pieces of material from their homes on a tree near the well to be blessed, candles were lit for loved ones and a statue was devoted to St.Brigid there. We said the rosary around the well and said our own personal prayers. 
It was a lovely, peaceful day and I enjoyed learning about St.Brigid. 

 St. Brigids well.

 St. Brigids Cathedral.