Tag: Transition Year

Hazelwood Duo Charmed in China

by Ronan Cahill and Máiríde Bennis

Recently, Hazelwood College Transition Year students Ronan Cahill and Máiríde Bennis travelled to Shanghai University via Amsterdam. The trip was in conjunction with UCC Confucius Institute. When we arrived there we got on a 2 hour bus journey to the university, which brought our total travelling time to 24 hours since we left Cork. On the first day we went to a tea culture show which was interesting but was a very long process. The first meal we ate was in the Sheraton Hotel, it was a lunch buffet. Ronan tried wasabi and loved it! Wasabi is a traditional Chinese sauce which is very spicy. The next day we went to an ancient water village in Zhujiajiao. The village was over 400 years old and smelt very bad due to the polluted river. Throughout the 2 weeks we studied Chinese calligraphy and Mandarin Chinese. The classes were 2 or 3 hours long apiece. Calligraphy was very technical and it was hard to get the brush strokes right. In Chinese we learnt basic words and phrases so we could order food and talk about our family. We also went to a Chinese acrobatic show which was surreal.

We also had some Taiji classes in which we learnt basic self-defence, and the Chinese martial art of taiji.
We also went on an overnight trip to Suzhou and Hangzhou where we visited an ancient Chinese temple, which was over 1000 years old. In Hangzhou we went on a river cruise and saw a water light show. We visited a silk factory and saw the process of making silk from the worms to the shop.

The Oriental Pearl tower was amazing. We went up to the second highest floor because the top floor was closed. The glass floor was mesmerising. We also had to do a social evening performance, Máiride did Irish dancing and Ronan sang in a group.

There was a lot of Western food available in the supermarkets. We were told not to eat street food because we didn’t know the reputation of the business or how clean their food was. We tried dumplings, wontons and noodles. It was very spicy but no unbearable. We also had some unusual things like chicken legs and beef jerky. The food at the buffets that we went to was really nice they served things like crab curry and seafood pie.
Overall it was an unbelievable experience and we both agree that we would go back in a heartbeat.

Junk Kouture

By Ciara O’Callaghan

This year two groups of Transition Year students had the opportunity of exploring Art in a different way and showcasing our creativity by designing and making two dresses made out of recycled materials. Junk Kouture is a national contest which encourages young designers in second level education to create striking couture designs and impressive works of wearable art from everyday junk that would normally find its way into the bin. Both of our teams were really happy when we had finished our dresses and when one of our dresses, Illoominate, was lucky enough to get through to the regional finals in UL, it just made all those months of hard work pay off. Getting the experience to make a kouture dress entirely from scratch was such an amazing opportunity. The Junk Kouture competition allowed us greater freedom to express our creativity than what we would normally be able to in the class room.

Being at regionals was a mind blowing experience, when we first walked into the room with all the other competitors it was like an explosion of creativity, seeing their costume ideas and wondering how they could have pulled off something so amazing. As a student who didn’t study Art for my Junior Certificate, I have now a completely different view of Art. Sitting in the audience on the night and seeing our dress up on stage modelled by one of our team members was a heart pounding moment none of us will forget. We would like to thank Mr. O’Grady, Ms. Horgan, Ms O’Neill, Ms. O’Flaherty, Ms. Ryan and Aisling Enright for all the help and support they gave us with our dresses and routines. A very special thank you to Ms. Curtin; without her help, guidance and knowledge we definitely wouldn’t have been able to create the dresses we did or gotten as far in the competition and for that we are all thoroughly grateful. Junk Kouture for us was one of the highlights of TY and is something we would highly recommend you try.

Hazelwood College entrants in the Bank of Ireland Junkkouture Competition. Pictured are (left to right) Ms Maria Curtin, Hazelwood College Art teacher, Molly Kirwan, Edel O’Flynn, dressed in ‘Illoominate’, and Ciara O’Callaghan. this group have reached the regional final.

Hazelwood College third year student, Megan Grufferty, with her group’s entry for Junkkouture ‘Purple Reign’.

Transition Year Graduation

Hazelwood College Transition Year Student of the Year winner CIara O’Callaghan is congratulated by Principal Brendan Burke at the recent Transition Year Programme graduation.

Picture b: Ethos Award winners (from left to right) Edel O’Flynn, Eliza Reidy and Máiríde Bennis with the awards presented to them at their Transition Tear Graduation.

Picture c: Transition Tear students (from left) Katie Ryan, Ciara O’Callaghan, Ciara O’Flynn, Edel O’Flynn and Molly Kirwan, involved in Junk Kouture receive their awards at the recent Hazelwood College Transition Year Graduation,

Picture d: Katie Ryan presented her TY Leadership Award at the recent Transition Year Graduation at Hazelwood College by Year Head Ms Cliodhna Ryan.

Picture e: Muiris O’Keeffe is pictured receiving his Special Achievement Award from Mr Danny Sheahan.

Picture f: Transition Year students (from left) Ava Mullane, Katie Ryan, Ciara O’Flynn, Edel O’Flynn, Eliza Reidy and Mary Kate Fehin receive their Certificates of Achievement and awards from their teacher Ms Ciara Broderick,

TY @ Cappanalea

The Transition Year class recently began to wrap up their school year with a trip to Cappanalea Outdoor Education Centre. While there they camped out overnight and took part in a number of activities. The students spent most their time on the water, learning how to build rafts, kayaking, windsurfing, and stand up paddling, and in case this wasn’t enough some orienteering to stretch the legs. Despite the the best efforts of the ghost stories around the campfire everyone made it home safe and well!!!

For the full set of photos visit here on the school Facebook page.

TY Cappanalea gallery on Facebook

Transition Year First Aid

Eoin Enright, Hazelwood College Transition Year Programme student receives instruction from Tommy Gray, of the Irish Red Cross, on performing CPR. This skill is one that could potentially enable Eoin and other TYP students to save lives.

Picture 2 Hazelwood College’s Transition Year Programme student Blaithin Matthews (far left) demonstrates the skills she has learned in practicing CPR on an infant before Amy Ryan (centre) and Ger Doody of the Irish Red Cross.

Bright Business Brains Buzz

Bright Business Brains Buzz at Hazelwood College Market

Thursday the 9th of February the Transition Years of Hazelwood College, with the help of their Business Studies teacher Ms.Griffin, held a Transition Year Enterprise Market Day in the school from 11am to 1pm. The Market Day was open to the whole school as well as anyone from the area who wanted to witness the fabulous innovations the students had to offer on the day. There were seven teams in total taking part in the Enterprise Market showcasing their wonderful creations which they had been working on since the beginning of the school year with their teacher. The companies taking part were Luaschartaí Éasca, GAA your way, Cable Catchers, Grip it, Think Tidy, Handy Hurleys and Bathtub Bliss. The inventions were endless, ranging from bath bombs, phone gadgets, football gloves, Irish flashcards, minature hurleys to cable organisers. Each was original in its own way. These stands were accompanied by a stand from the Brothers of Charity who had homemade Valantine’s Day gifts for sale. The Hazelwood College AIB School Bank, The BumbleBee, who were there offering help and assistance with any questions their customers had. There was a stand from the Green Schools Committee on Bio-Diversity. The Home Economics Department also had a stand full of homemade buns for sale on the day. Each of the competing teams were assessed by the four judges, Patrick Laide from AIB Newcastlewest, Garry Lowe from the Local Enterprise Office, Ann Buckley from Dromcollogher Credit Union as well as a business teacher from the school, Mr. O’Grady. The winners on the day were, Luaschartaí Éasca who won the Overall Winner prize sponsored by Dromcollgher Credit Union, GAA Your Way who won the Runner up prize sponsored by AIB Newcastlewest, Cable Catchers who won Best Business plan also sponsored by AIB Newcastlewest. Grip it, won the Most Innovative prize which was sponsored by Weener Plastic Dromcollogher. They also sponsored best stand which was won by The Brothers Of Charity Stand. The School Food Company also sponsored lunch vouchers for the school canteen. As well as that there was also a raffle for the customers on the day with a variety of prizes.


Ciara O’Callaghan, Edel O’Flynn, Katie Ryan, Ciara O’Flynn and Molly Kirwan are pictured with their company at Hazelwood College Market Day

Hazelwood College students Mairíde Bennis (far left) and Clodagh Walsh (second from left) presented with their award by their teachers Ms Margaret Griffin (centre) and Mr Noel O’Grady (right) as well as Anne Buckley from Dromcollogher Credit Union.

Hazelwood College’s Ms Noreen Daly (back row, far left) pictured with first years who prepared food for Hazelwood College’s Market Day.

Pictured from left to right Anne Buckley Dromcollogher Credit Union, Hazelwood College Business Studies teacher Mr Noel O’Grady, Michael Brennan, Martin Daly, Millie Mulcahy and Ben Murphy with their Bathtub Bliss products along with Patrick Laide from AIB Newcastlewest and Garry Lowe from the Local Enterprise Office at Hazelwood College’s recent Market Day.

Hazelwood College students from left to right Neasa Fahy, Ava Mullane, Eliza Reidy and Mary Kate Fehin of Luaschartaí Éasca are pictured being presented their award by Anne Buckley of Dromcollogher Credit Union for their participation in the Hazelwood College Market Day.

Pictured from left Hazelwood College Business Studies teacher Mr Noel O’Grady, Anne Buckley of Dromcollogher Credit Union, Muiris O’Keeffe, Barry Murphy, Alan O’Leary and Jake O’Sullivan of Handy Hurleys along with Garry Lowe of the Local Enterprise Office and Patrick Laide of AIB Newcastle West

Blaithin Matthews, Amy Ryan and Megan Nolan of Think Tidy are pictured at the recent Hazelwood College Market Day.

Pictured from left Anne Buckley of Dromcollogher Credit Union, Garry Lowe of the Local Enterprise Office, Eoin Enright and Ronan Cahill of GAA Your Way as well as Mr Noel O’Grady Hazelwood College Business Studies teacher and Patrick Laide of AIB Newcastle West at the recent Hazelwood College Market Day.

Ty’s on Live95fm

Three Transition Year students from the schools bank, The BumbleBee Bank, were live on air on Limerick’s live 95 FM today to talk about their upcoming sleep-out in aid of Focus Ireland. The sleep-out requires the TY students and teachers to brace the cold for one night. Each student has a sponsorship card to fill to raise much needed funds and awareness for the homeless charity.

Here is the girls interview:

Transition Year Induction

Hazelwood College Transition Year students are pictured at the Ballyhass Lakes Activity Centre in the course of their Induction Day. The day allows students to participate in activities that encourages independence and team building. Pictured are (back row, left to right): Muiris O’Keeffe, Eoin Enright, Mary Kate Fehin, Ronan Cahill, Megan Nolan, Blaithin Matthews, Neasa Fahy, Ava Mullane, Jake O’Sullivan and Martin Daly. Front row (left to right): Ciara O’Flynn, Edel O’Flynn, Kate Ryan, Eliza Reidy, Aisling Enright, Eilis Reidy, Amy Ryan, Clodagh Walsh, Molly Kirwin, Mairide Bennis, Millie Mulcahy, Michael Brennan and Alan O’Leary.

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Treks and Trails in the Burren

As reward for all their hard work over the year and to help some students attain their Gaisce Award, Transition Years recently went on a two day hike in the Burren in Co. Clare.

After a bite to eat after our long bus journey to Turlough in the heart of the Burren UNESCO World Hertiage Site we set off on what was to be 17km of spectacular walking. Despite the grey skies we held good hope for what was to come based on the mornings forecast and by the time we had reached the highest point of the day the sun began to shine.

That evening in the Burren Outdoor Education Centre under the watchful eyes of Ms Reily,  the students cooked themselves an especially tasty Spaghetti Bolognese, although our taste buds may have been distorted by hunger. A balmy evening was passed by probably the longest game of soccer ever played and some competitive table tennis. So competitive in fact the game wouldn’t even be interrupted by Aoife to blow out some birthday candles!!!

Next morning after a good nights sleep, a feed of almost 100 sausages prepared us for the day (Again cooked by the students and freshly prepared for us the day before by O’Connors, Dromcollogher, Thanks!!!). Eight more spectacular kilometers of walking in once again beautiful weather awaited us.

Here is a flavour of some of the more difficult sections of scrambling/walking enjoyed by the group.

Burren Panorama