Avondale Community College

TRANSITION NEWS 2012 / 2013


November:
Wild & Slow Festival
This year’s Wild & Slow Festival in Macreddin Village, was again a huge success! Students worked tirelessly on the project, making Sloe Jelly and Rosehip Syrup. These products were then packaged, labelled and decorated. Students also made Bakewell Tarts and Blueberry Fairy Cakes to sell. During this time students took turns in selling their ware at their school stall. They received much interest from the public including, culinary figures Donal Skehan and Darina Allen.
Youth Talk
On the 7th November Transition Year students were invited to a focus group workshop , with the intention of setting up a Youth Club in Rathdrum. The speakers were very interested to hear the ideas of the students.
Personal Development Course
Trans 2 took part in a Personal Development Course facilitated by Colette Garvey O’ Doherty. The course runs for a period of six weeks, up until Christmas. The aim of this course is to boost the confidence of the students and to bring them out of their shell.


October:
Visits to Valley View
On Monday, a small group of Transition Year students commenced the first of their regular visits to Valley View, a local centre for the intellectually disabled. The students engage with and even cook with the residents! The students attending are involved in a wide range of activities – including painting, board games, general conversation, cooking and more.
Sponsored Walk
For the school’s annual Sponsored Walk, the Transition Year students helped out and contributed to the organising of the walk. Some students were involved on the route while others volunteered to give out a bar and drink to each participant at the halfway point
Dun Avon
As well as visiting Valley View, several Transition Year students are visiting Dun Avon, a home for the intellectually and physically impaired. Here they engage in a variety of activities and pastimes with the clients.
Be the Change!
Three speakers gave an all-day workshop based on the principle “Be the Change”, based on Mahatma Gandhi’s philosophy; “Be the change you want to see in the world”. The project is known as “Awaken the Dreamer” in America. Throughout the day, the students were shown a variety of videos and images which were based on the symposium “creating a world that is environmentally sustainable, spiritually fulfilling and socially just”. The speakers covered many topics such as climate change, global warming, animal extinction, population explosion and fuel consumption. Students found the presentation highly informative and thoroughly interesting.



September:
Junior Certificate Results
The management and staff of Avondale Community College wish to congratulate last year’s Junior Certificate students who recently received their results. Well done to all.

Killary
Following the success of their Junior Certificate results our Transition Year students are looking forward to the annual trip to Killary. Over 40 students will travel to Killary in Co. Mayo to participate in a variety of fun outdoor activities.

Fire Safety
This week two fire-fighters from Rathdrum Fire Station, Peter Kelly and Brendan Mason, visited the school. This was an extremely interesting talk. The students were given information about the fire station in Rathdrum and fire prevention.

Improving the School Community
This year Transition Year students are once again improving the school community. This year’s theme is English Literature. Students are painting inspirational quotes from some of our most famous writers on the walls. This project will promote literacy and inspire creativity among the student body. Who knows, we may have the next W.B. Yeats in our midst in Avondale Community College!

Killary Trip
Following the success of their Junior Certificate results our Transition Year students are looking forward to the annual trip to Killary. Over 40 students will travel to Killary in Co. Mayo to participate in a variety of fun outdoor activities.

Tidy Towns Talk
On the 7th September, Transition Year students met with Mr Liam Kinsella, who is the co-ordinator of the Rathdrum Tidy Towns Committee. Mr. Kinsella spoke to the students about the work of the Tidy Towns Committee. Students found it highly interesting and very inspirational to learn about the sheer amount of work that these dedicated citizens do for their local community and town. Future plans were discussed and it was decided that the students would help the committee to plant a few thousand daffodil buds outside the school and in other areas around the town. Everyone found the talk informative and thought-provoking.

Cultural Walk
On the 20th September, Transition Year students, went on a cultural walk around Avondale, known locally as the ‘fishpond’, accompanied their teachers, Ms. Griffith and Ms. Byrne. This was a great opportunity to visit the local area. The Transition Year photographers were also busy as there were many photo opportunities! The walk was enjoyed by all.

School Painting
For the last week, several enthusiastic Transition Year students have been contributing to the school’s appreciation of creativity and literature by assisting in the painting of memorable and historic quotes around the school. The vast majority of the quotes are from Shakespearian plays, which are both relevant to modern-day life and also the studies of the students in the school.