Hazelwood College

Transition Year @ Ballyhass

Hazelwood College Transition Year students participated on an induction programme at the Ballyhass Lakes Activity Centre. Students participated in a series of physical challenges in order to build bonds and to prepare them for the unique challenges and learning environment offered by Transition Year. The programme is designed to instil individual confidence and independence, while strengthening the group’s identity and awareness. The development of both the individual and group confidence are key in the TYP, where students are encouraged to become self-directed and autonomous learners, able to work collectively and individually on practical and academic challenges, without the pressure of state exams.

‘Pedal to Success’

Hazelwood College ‘Pedal to Success’.

Recently, First Year, Second Year, Transition Year and Fifth Year students took part in a 5 mile cycle. The cycle was a huge success and over €1200 was raised.

In total over 100 students took part. The cycle departed from the school at 10.30 and returned at 12.30. The chosen route saw the students take the Newcastle West road before turning for Broadford and then returning to the school.

The students were blessed with fine weather on day as it stayed dry and sunny for most of cycle.

Everyone who took part thoroughly enjoyed the cycle. Everybody in TY wants to thank Mr Finn, Ms O’ Connor, Mr McCarthy, Ms Ryan, Mary O’Doherty and Mr Fealy for helping out with the cycle in every way possible. The TY students would also like to thank all the other students in the school who participated and contributed.

It is hoped that this cycle will become an annual event to promote health and fitness in the school community.

Gaisce Walk

Gaisce – The President’s Award is Ireland’s National Challenge Award for young people between 15 and 25. It is the country’s most prestigious and respected Award programme and a challenge from the President of Ireland

The Award has 4 different challenge areas. To earn an Award the student must take part in
each of the 4 challenge areas.

The 4 challenge areas are:
1. Community Involvement 2. Physical Recreation 3. Personal Skill 4. Adventure Journey

The Transition Years completed their adventure journey in Skibereen, Co. Cork. They planned, prepared and fundraised to complete a 2 day, 1 night adventure journey covering distance of 25km.

The adventure walk was based around Irelands first Natural Marine Reserve Lough Hyne. This marine lake is fed from the sea by a narrow tidal channel known as ‘The Rapids’. This unique lake and its surrounds are home to a rich and varied range of plants and animals, including many rare and beautiful species. Since it was ‘discovered’ by marine biologists in 1886, scientists have carried out pioneering research in experimental ecology. Their continued research into the factors governing the distributions of marine animals and plants make Lough Hyne one of the most- studied marine sites of Europe.

SongSchool

Song School

Hazelwood College Transition Year students recently took part in a workshop entitled “SongSchool”. The Songschool workshop gave students a first hand insight into life as a professional songwriter / musician and an overview of song writing and the music business. Students wrote, performed and recorded their own songs during the workshop.

Seachtain na Gaeilge

Hazelwood College Transition Year students helped run a céilí for the first year pupils as part of Hazelwood College’s Seachtain na Gaeilge celebrations. They are pictured here with some students who won the seanfhocal competition in second year. Back row left to right: Eleni Mc Kenzie, Charles Butler, Kieran Guina, Billy Foley, Darragh O’Brien, JJ Browne, Charlie Dickens, Caitríona O’Sullivan, Gráinne Fitzgibbon, Lorraine Morrissey. Front Row left to right: Danielle Aherne, Mícheál Nolan, Rachel O’Brien, Patrick Walsh, Gráinne Buckley.

Pictured also are Hazelwood College students who won a seanfhocal competition for second years, which was held to encourage the creative sue of Irish. From left to right: Danielle Aherne, Mícheál Nolan, Rachel O’Brien, Patrick Walsh, Gráinne Buckley.

‘Young Social Innovator’

Transition Year students from Hazelwood College participated in the ‘Young Social Innovator’ Exhibition in City Hall in Cork recently. Transition Year students chose to concentrate on issues relating to literacy and how to encourage and promote literacy in school and at home. They carried out this project under the guidance of Ms Christine Brennan.

Limerick Diocesan Pilgrimage

Hazelwood College Transition Year students (left to right) Mariah Culloty, Íde Forde, Grainne Fitzgibbon and Vanessa Daly prepare for a fund raising event to allow them to travel as part of the Youth Section of the Limerick Diocesan Pilgrimage to Lourdes. They are pictured here as they prepare to hold a Coffee Morning in the Hall in Broadford on Sunday, April 21st, from 9:30am to 1pm.

Pop-in-Bank Launches Website

The school Bank team have launched their own website as part of their entry to the National Finals of the Schools Build a Bank Competition.

Best of Luck to the girls.

Your can visit the site by clicking on the image below

Urban Design Study for Hazelwood Students

Hazelwood College’s Transition Year students recently completed a walking tour of Shannon, Ireland’s first planned town. The purpose of the tour was to study how Irish planner’s thoughts and ideals have evolved over the past sixty years. Students learned how urban planning and design changed from Shannon’s early days as a dormitory town to its current 21st century design. Students saw how housing changed from the original apartment based living of the early airport workers to the introduction of families and children in the 1960s, when the government tax breaks encouraged large industry, right through to the compact urban jungle of the Celtic Tiger era. The students also learned about how Shannon, lying almost 2 metres below sea-level, defends itself from the daily threat of flooding through a network of embankments, culverts and pumping stations.

Hazelwood Winning Ways Continue in Concern Debate

Hazelwood College’s Concern Debate team continued on their winning ways when they beat Charleville CBS on a 2-1 scoreline after successfully proposing the motion that “The UN belongs on the scrapheap of History”. The team made up of Grace Morey (captain), Billy Foley, Ellah Grufferty and Alannah Matthews, all Transition Years, faced a mature and experienced Charleville team in the final debate of the Concern Debates league phase.
The team, who had been preparing since the start of the new term, were supported by several other Transition Years. The Chief Adjudicator praised both teams for their effort and the range of skills shown, before delivering the result to a jubilant home team and their supporters.