Now that we are enjoying the Halloween  holiday here is a flavour of some of the activities that have taken place in the classroom and beyond in the first weeks of TY.

In Development Education with Mr Flynn they have been looking at the social aspect of religion as part of a study of Anthropology. They visited a mosque, Sikh Gurdwara, Donnybrook Catholic church and Tibetan Buddhist shrine. This is to work on students’ own social and cultural awareness, their personal spiritual awareness as well as preparing them for India.

Higher level Irish class are reading the Leaving Cert play “An Triail” and went to see a performance of it on 10th November.

In French they are writing a magazine in four sections which will be published on12th November.

In Science they have been working for the past few weeks solve the dastardly murder in Delahassey house using Forensic Science Techniques

In English they have been writing speeches for debates and have begun short story writing with a view to publication before Christmas. There will be a full creative writing project later in November.

Auditioning for the Shakespeare play, Twelfth Night, which will be performed in May has been taking place along with lots of improvisation work and debating practice. The  first Concern debate was scheduled for Thursday 5th November but unfortunately Gonzaga college could not organise a team.

The project classes on Thursdays and Fridays have had plenty of variety with rapping from Big Stu, a cookery course, health care lessons and much more.

Art classes have also been active ways of expressing talent, individuality and team work. Three projects are running concurrently, a school mural, individual work and care for the elderly through art in local care homes.

Work Experience was highly successful with everyone finding useful employment. I visited them in their placements and they are all reflecting on their learning. Mrs Maguire Timmins did a wonderful job of organising it all.