Transition Year First Aid Training Course

On Friday past, Transition Year students in Crana College were being educated about an extremely valuable skill – First Aid.

Facilitated by Siren Training & Consulting, we underwent the course in one school day. On Friday morning, all TY students gathered in the school gym, before being greeted by our tutor for the day, who would be teaching us the ‘Basic First Aid’ course single-handedly.

From 9:10 until 11:00, the course consisted of a theory based lesson, in which we firstly learned about topics such as our ‘ABC’s’ of first aid. The ‘ABC’s’ of First Aid is a mnemonic based around what most be done before undergoing, further first aid. The letters stand for certain topics as follows:

• A -Airway: Is the casualty’s airway still functioning (ie: can you hear, see or feel them breathing.)
• B – Breathing: If the patient is conscious or unconscious, which way are they breathing (ie: is their breathing shallow/deep, are they taking short or long depths, can you hear a wheeze or other breathing difficulty)
• C – Circulation:  How is the casualty’s circulation? (ie: what pace is their pulse, how quick is their ‘cap refill’, is their skin pale or ashen)

Following the theory in the morning session, it was time to put our theory into practice, when we were taught how to perform CPR (Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation), which was extremely eye-opening, and extremely valuable. It was really interesting to see how this process was done, and I was really happy to get a personal and facilitating experience to train and learn about this valuable skill. In this session we also learned about topics such as hart conditions like, cardiac arrests and strokes, as well as many other topics.

In the evening time, the programme continued, where we learned about different processes such as bandaging, wounds, burns, breaks and fractures. Again, this evening session was a very valuable and insightful.

Overall, the Basic First Aid programme, was an unbelievable experience, and it was an amazing and valuable insight into many varying topics. I am extremely glad that I have underwent the programme.

Work Experience at Highland Radio draws to a close!

Sadly, today was my last day in my second work placement at Highland Radio.I Honestly cannot believe that another placement has passed by me so quickly, and that I am preparing for my third and final placement of my TY!

Since the start of the New Year, I have been working as part of the Highland Radio staff, and to sum-up my eight weeks there in one word it would be -‘Unbelievable’. This placement was simply amazing, and was something that was right up my street. I enjoyed my time there thoroughly, and to say goodbye and walk out the front door was very hard for me!

Despite only being here for eight days in total, I feel as if it had been my busiest placement to date. Over the course of only eight Wednesdays, I learnt so much!  During my time in Highland Radio, I was working in all aspects of Radio Production & Administration. Through this I have worked in all of the Departments in the Largest Local Radio Station in Ireland. I have worked and observed: Advertisement Production, Radio Production, News Correlation & Research, Sports News Research, Music Library Administration, Front Desk & Public Relations (Administration), Radio ‘Traffic’ Filing, Sales, Promotions & Selling and Marketing, as well as working in the Newsroom. I was also been able to be of a general assistance around the station, helping with tasks such as photocopying, researching topics for radio shows, fling, arranging the music library and general assistance.

During my time at the radio station, I was also given the opportunity to broadcast live across the North-West to a potential 170,000 listeners, in which I was allowed to play about 15 minutes of one of the radio show’s Music & Advertisements – This was simply unbelievable!!

Not only did I learn a huge amount from my time in Highland, but I also got to become more aware of how much work goes into creating one single broadcast. It is totally unknown to the listener that there is a potential team of at least 20 people behind a radio broadcast, helping in some way, either directly or indirectly!

It was not until my final week in this placement, until I realised how similar blogging and radio production are. When working with one of the newsreaders at the station – Catherine Gaffney, I realised the link between the two mediums. Both are mediums which are growing in popularity, and both are mediums which are almost totally digital at this stage. They are public domains which anyone can ‘tap-in’ to, and they are areas where people can share their thoughts, opinions and views.

Words cannot describe how much I enjoyed this placement. The station is a credit to the North-West, and it is also is a credit to its staff. Each and every one of the staff members have also been more than accommodating, and each of them have tried their up-most best to educate me on every aspect of radio.A special thanks has to be given to the staff member who had to put-up with me the most – Linda. She was an unbelievable employer, and an even better guide. I hope to return to Highland Radio some day. It will not be the last time that I will set foot in a radio station.

Thank You Highand Radio,

–Darragh

Preparations for Seachtain na Gaeilge begin #SNaGaeilge

Irish has always been one of my strongest subjects in secondary school, and Transition Year Irish Studies, has immersed me in the Irish Language, Culture, Traditions & History.

One of the most prominent celebrations of the Irish Language is Seachtain na Gaeilge (Irish Week), which is celebrated every year on March 1-17, celebrating Irish language, and all of its benefits! This year, Transition Year Students in Crana College have been entrusted to arrange all of the celebrations in the school.

Along with our Irish teacher, and Transition Year Coordinator – Ms Bradley, my class – TY1 have began to arrange the celebrations! Our class was split up into smaller groups to organise varying events to occur over the seventeen days. I have been arranged into a group along with four other students in my class – Ciara, Sonia, Niamh & Máiréad, to arrange a ‘Tráth na gCeist’ or a quiz.

In this we have decided to go paperless, and arrange the quiz, and host it on the online quiz site – http://www.kahoot.it, which was introduced to us by our Media Studies teacher – Mrs Morrison, earlier this year. It is unsure as of now, if we will go in to quiz all 5th, 2nd and 1st Year classes in the school, or if my will zone in  one one specific year group, however it is almost certain that it will be a digital and paperless quiz, and we are certain that it will promote Seachtain na Gaeilge, the Irish Language, and Irish Culture!

The Transition Year Recruitment Programme – Inciting TY 2016/17

One of the aspects of Transition Year, that I take in an active interest in, is the positive portrayal of the Transition Year Programme in Crana College. After the mocks have been underwent in Crana College, the next major date in the calendar is subject choice, in which 3rd Year and Transition Year Students must choose the subjects which they will choose to study for Leaving Certificate in 2018. In this time, 3rd Year students must choose if they will participate in the TY Programme 2016/17.

To make this a slightly less confusing, and or daunting task, our TY Coordinator – Ms Bradley, has set up a presentation in which she and a group of three Transition Year Students (Gerand, Zoe and I), go around and talk to the the present 3rd Years about the programme – who it is for, its benefits, and the general structure of the optional year.

Today, we were talking to 3D about the benefits of the programme, and I had to talk to them about my own experiences in TY. Although, still challenging, I felt quite at ease whenever I was talking to the class. I wasn’t that nervous, nor did I feel scared or worried. I didn’t stop or stammer. I was really proud of this, as I had felt that I have overcame one of my main goals, that I had set out at the start of my Transition Year – Becoming a more confident public speaker!

Thinking back to February of 2015, I realise how different of a student I was, and how the Transition Year Programme has changed me for the better. I have became more confident, I am able to speak in public, I have become a better self-directed learner, and foremostly I have learned the importance of taking initiative. Over the space of 6 months, I have became a lot happier going to school also – and I still have 3 months in my TY!

I am really happy to act as a guide for the incoming Transition Year Students in September, and if any of them are anyway unsure about the programme, feel free to contact me, and I will be more than happy to guide them in the right direction!

The ‘Leadership for Life’ Programme – My initial perceptions

One of the very practical, hands-on and beneficial modules that I have been studying in my Transition Year is ‘The Albert Schweitzer – Leadership for Life Programme’, which has been brought to our school with the help of Foróige.

This module, is parallel to my previously-studied Road Safety module, and in my own opinion has proved very insightful. This module is timetabled to occur on a Thursday Evening, during the final class of the day, and it is taught to us by one of the Crana College teachers – Mrs Gill, with the help of local Foróige representatives.

The programme, is a very interactive and captivating, and is structured on and around a series of 15 sessions, over one module. It aims to “give an opportunity to young leaders and build on their innate leadership capabilities and develop new and existing skills that empower them to become great leaders and to take a proactive leadership role now!”.

So far, my class – TY1 have completed 3 of the 15 sessions, and in my own opinion, I have started to become much more aware of the skills and qualities that a good-leader must have, as well as how we can all work together to achieve an end goal.

The programme, in my eyes has been one of the most useful modules so far for later life, and I am really looking forward to further perusing this module. Out if this programme I really hope to become a somewhat more level-headed, confident and creative leader!

Continuing with ‘Chain Reaction’ Key Rings!

Rome Tour Key Ring Design

In our Enterprise Module, we have been very busy continuing to create new products for my mini-company – ‘Chain Reaction’ Key Rings, which has been trading since November of 2015.

We have recently began to work on a Business Plan, which will function as part of our May Portfolio Assessment. The business plan can be also used as an essential document for our mini-company, detailing all about the Marketing, Accounts, Sales, Promotion, Finance and Production of Products in our company.

In light of the upcoming school trips this March (Rome/Sorrento & Skiing), our mini-company thought it only fitting to be able to provide a personalised luggage tag that will act not only as a luggage tag, but also a souvenir of the trip to either destination.

Designs of the key rings can be seen below:

  

The keyrings will be sold at the students discretion, retailing at €1, and it is hoped that it would be possible to begin asking students travelling with either school trip group, to place an order with us through a varying number of means!

If you wish to order a key ring, you can contact us through the following means:

Contact Us Personally: Darragh Harkin

Denis Cabla

Adam McGlinchey

Aaron McDaid

Email Us: chainreactionkeyrings@gmail.com

Tweet Us: @KeyringReaction

Message Us on Facebook: ” ‘Chain Reaction’ Key Rings’

What I’ve been at over the last two weeks – Exam Monitoring

Monitoring the Mock Examinations

Over the last two weeks, I have been given the task of something very different, and something that I have never had any experience at before. This is ‘Exam Monitoring’ in which I am asked to attend to and facilitate the Leaving Certificate and Junior Certificate Mock Examinations in Crana College. 

I, during the last week and this week, with another TY Student – Gerard, have been very busy working three shifts a week (Tuesday Evening, Thursday Evening and Friday Evening). As part of this supervision and attendance we are required to undergo various tasks, including: 

• Taking all mobile phones off examination students.
• Providing staff whom are supervising the examinations with an attendance document, which they must fill out.
• Collect the attendance document  and returning them to the school reception.
• Making sure all examination centres have been kept clean and are set up for the next examination
• Provide and lay out stationary  (ie; exam paper, log tables, answer booklets, graph paper, sketching paper, T squares & rulers) for the forthcoming examination.
• Re-route studnets whose classes are being used for examinations .
• Return mobile phones to students.
• Tidy the examination centres.
• Collect all log & attendance sheets.

I am really enjoying this process so far, and I am really happy that I have been given both the task and responsibility to undergo this task!

Working with Local Architect – Breedge Galbraith

Working with a Local Architect

On Tuesday morning, TY1 Students were working with local architect – Breedge Galbraith. Continuing with the Irish Architecture Foundation’s TY Architecture module, a local architect has been drafted in to inspire and support us in the designing section of the module, in which we aim to upcycle an old ‘Fruit of thr Loom’ plant, to function as a possible new school campus fro Crana College

The new Crana College Design Task, is only hypothetical, however we will still be designing a new school, to  go through the process of creating an architectural feature. I am really interested in this task, however I am evern more interested to plan, design and promote this new school design. I also can’t wait to survey students, the community and staff to see what they would like from the new school, and then try to create a design as best as possible!

Overall, I am feeling very inspired by the task!

Month in Review – January

To take note of all that I have done in January, I will review and reflect my top 5 highlights of January.

1. Starting Work in Highland Radio

This month, I started my second placement in Highland. At the very start of the month, I arrived for my first placement. Over the past few weeks I have been extremely lucky to get the chance to work in such a large broadcasting outlet, which reaches out to over 178,000 people daily. During my time in Highland Radio, I have been working in all aspects of Radio Production & Administration. Through this I have worked in almost all of the Departments in the Largest Local Radio Station in Ireland. I have worked and observed: Advertisement Production, Radio Production, News Correlation & Research, Sports News Research, Music Library Administration, Front Desk & Public Relations (Administration), Radio ‘Traffic’ Filing, Sales, Promotions & Selling and Marketing. I have also been able to be of a general assistance around the station, helping with tasks such as photocopying, researching topics for radio shows, fling, arranging the music library and general assistance. I am really enjoying the placement so far, and I am very sad to say that I have only got two more weeks of the placement left.

2. Taster Day in The LYIT

Transition Year Students were invited to the LYIT (Letterkenny Institute of Technology, to get a sample of some of the courses that are on offer in the IT. The day was organised through our Career Guidance module, as we are all at this stage considering what courses we will study in the near future. The LYIT, is also one of the largest providers of third-level education in the North-West of Ireland. The IT, has just under 4,000 students, many of whom hail from the local area. I had found this day extremely insightful and helpful in helping me choose potential college courses and I really appreciated getting the chance to experience what college life is really like.

3. Beginning the work for ‘Gaisce’ – The President’s Award

 

Although I have been working for Gaisce on an ongoing basis, it was in January before I had began to acknowledge and record the work that I had been doing since the start of the academic year, and read into what the award requires. I am quite far on into the process, and have to keep up my some of my activities for a few more weeks, before I will be eligible to obtain my Bronze Award. I am really enjoying my experience with Gaisce so far, and hope to work together with my PAL (President’s Award Leader), to undergo the award, and complete it before the end of my TY!

4. The Irish Architecture Foundation’s Architecture Module 

Since the completion of our Cube Project in our Design & Woodwork class, TY Students have been working on their ‘Architecture’ Module. This module is provided by the Irish Architecture Foundation, and is taught to us by our Woodwork teacher – Mr Boyle. I really like this module as it allows students to be as creative as they like, and it also, in my own opinion, changes the way in which I think about buildings and structures. The module has allowed me to see Architecture as something more than just lines and angles, and it has inspired me. Overall the Architecture Module is proving very successful, and in my opinion is one of my favourite modules of my Transition Year so far!

5. The ‘Business & Tourism’ Project

The ‘Business & Tourism’ Project in is an Enterprise Project, in which Business and tourism have been combined. This project is being ran, called Charlie McCarron, who coincidentally supervised us on our Hill Walking Trip, which happened in December , last year. Through this project we must create a proposal for a business that tourists would avail of when visiting Inishowen. I really like this project, as I have never experienced anything with tourism yet in my Transition Year, and it has allowed me to think about many varying ideas which may attract tourists in Inishowen. It is also highly commendable that within the space of less than a month three guest speakers – Paul McCusker, Patricia Stratford & Emmett Johnston, were good enough to give up their time to help with this project.