Transition Year Students receive Journalism Awards
Well done to two 4th year students, Ali and Sarah, who won awards in the Press Pass writing competition which is an annual journalism competition for Transition Years. It is run by Newsbrands Ireland. This year, there were over 7,500 entries and our school was the only school that brought back two national winners. 
Ali and Sarah were 2 of 14 finalists 
who were invited to the award ceremony that took place on the 14th of March in the Convention Centre, located in Dublin. Ali wrote an article, entitled, 'Nathan Carter; A Sit Down With One Of The Nation’s Leading Country Artists.' She received a trophy for coming 2nd place in the Features category. Sarah also wrote an article, called, 'Irish History's Most Valuable Gift.... And Why We Must Strive To Preserve It'. She received a trophy for coming 3rd in the Features Category. Well done to both students and their teacher Ms.McLoughlin.
Transition Year Mini Company
Transition year students have been busy over the past few months forming mini companies. On Wednesday 10th Feb they presented their companies to the judges. Below is a sample of some of those companies.
Mini Company
Mini company 2.jpg
http://www.stmaryscollegenaas.ie/images/ty20152016/Mini company 2.jpg
Mini company 1.jpg
http://www.stmaryscollegenaas.ie/images/ty20152016/Mini company 1.jpg
mini company 3.jpg
http://www.stmaryscollegenaas.ie/images/ty20152016/mini company 3.jpg
mini company 4.jpg
http://www.stmaryscollegenaas.ie/images/ty20152016/mini company 4.jpg
mini company 5.jpg
http://www.stmaryscollegenaas.ie/images/ty20152016/mini company 5.jpg
mini company 6.jpg
http://www.stmaryscollegenaas.ie/images/ty20152016/mini company 6.jpg
mini company 7.jpg
http://www.stmaryscollegenaas.ie/images/ty20152016/mini company 7.jpg
mini company 8.jpg
http://www.stmaryscollegenaas.ie/images/ty20152016/mini company 8.jpg
Mini-company is a competition run by the Board of Enterprise Ireland for Transition Years, giving them an opportunity to see how business are sourced, run and operated, with bonuses like learning about communication, marketing and effective team working.
Two examiners came in from the Board, and first looked at the stands the groups set up in the hall, and then had each group up to speak about their mini-company, and essentially pitch their idea to the examiners. All the groups did particularly well in this aspect, with no one letting their nerves get in the way!
However, not everyone could get through, and the winners (who will now go on to the county finals) were Sixth Sense, Ineffable and Sofizzticated.
Sixth Sense provides sensory kits for young children or children with special needs targeting the five senses and the sixth sense is fun. The kit contains a toy for each sense. Sight- light up balls. Sound- A maraca. Smell- Flowers. Touch- Bean bags. Taste- Recipies. And fun- A shoelace toy! If you are interested in buying this product, Barker and Jones Naas are now stocking them. The team members are Ciara Kealy, Sherena Flynn, Niamh Evans, Emma Martin and Anna MacGabhann.
Ineffable provides good quality, affordable make up brush sets. These sets sold out quickly, so if you are interesting in getting one, you better be quick! The team members are Kerry Henthorn, Madeline Hearney and Orla Maguire.
Usually, the examiners can only allow two teams through. However, due to a great mini-company and fantastic
presentation, they bended the rules and allowed a third mini-company through, Sofizzticated! Sofizzticated
sell homemade and hand crafted bath bombs! Coming in a range of scents, one can buy bath sets which include two bath bombs and a candle. The team members are Allie O’Brien, Eimear Ryan, Ciara Jacob and Eva Murphy.
Transition Year Parents Booklet 2015-2016
Transition Year Trip to the Zoo
The Zoo- 7TH May- Christina Anderson
On Wednesday the 7th of May an excited group of T.Ys, joined by an equally excited group of teachers, headed to the Phoenix Park for an Environmental Studies trip to Dublin Zoo.
We arrived at the Zoo at around 10 o’clock and were split into groups for talks. After that we were allowed go off on our own and tour the Zoo ourselves. The weather was mixed going between the two extremes of heavy rain that turned into beautiful sun. Maps in hand we visited each enclosure and marvelled at the wonderful animals.
We were lucky enough to have a talk by an actual Zoo Keeper at Dublin Zoo who talked to us about the History of the place but mostly about conservation and what is happening to the lives of rare and endangered species worldwide and what Dublin Zoo is doing to protect these animals. It was an interesting and informative experience.
For lunch the T.Y 2014 group were sat around together enjoying the brief moments of sunshine on the grass. It was a completely different scene than at the start of the year when everyone kept to their own group of friends but now you could clearly see the development everyone had made as we all sat as one, talking together and sharing sweets. As the end of Transition year approaches, it was a lovely trip to spend time together and I have a no trouble saying everyone had a fantastic day.