TY Newsletter 14th - 18th September
Killary Trip - What to Bring
Junior Cert Other Areas of Learning & Other Areas of Wellbeing
RCSI TY MiniMed
Gaisce Bronze Award - Sign-Ups Close Monday
Guitar & Piano Lessons
Volunteer Thank-Yous
Hospice Coffee Morning - Save the Date (22nd Oct)!
TY Trips Update
Amended Activities Week Rotation Dates - Correction
🏕️ Killary Trip, 20th - 22nd September: What to Bring
With the TY Adventure Trip to Killary Adventure Centre fast approaching, students should now be preparing for the trip and making sure they have everything they need.
Sunday 20th September: Meeting at the Ailesbury Road 8am
Returning to school Tuesday 22nd September for 6pm approx
The following what-to-bring list has been circulated this week to all students travelling.
It includes:
What to Expect
A Typical Day
What to Bring
Phone Policy
Other Important Information
Students should pay particular attention to the requirements for outdoor and water-based activities and ensure that they have suitable clothing and footwear for the Connemara weather.
We will be organising groups and accommodation arrangements over the coming week.
⚠️ Junior Cert - Other Areas of Learning & Other Areas of Wellbeing
Please see an important note from Mr Clynes regarding Junior Certificate reflections. This is needed by FRIDAY, 18th September.
For your Junior Certificate Certificate, you must complete two short paragraphs (100 words maximum each) reflecting on:
Other Areas of Learning
Other Areas of Wellbeing
These should reflect on your experiences over the previous three years.
Other Areas of Learning
Examples might include learning and developing skills through sport, music, hobbies, CBAs, clubs or other activities.
For example:
Through rugby I was able to learn some key life skills such as gaining trust and good relationships with my fellow teammates which helped us when we were playing together, how to persevere through setbacks such as an injury or being dropped from the team.It helped me stay fit and healthy and helped me to set different goals and personal achievements I wanted to complete throughout the rugby 3rds campaign.My participation in completing the CBAs allowed me to develop different views about the world and respect everyone's different views. I also improved my cooperation skills.
Other Areas of Wellbeing
This could include experiences through PE, SPHE, CSPE or other activities that contributed to your physical, mental, emotional or social wellbeing.
For example:
Throughout my 3 years of PE, I have loved it because it's good exercise and gives me a break in between classes to have some fresh air. SPHE helped me to learn about the effects of drugs and alcohol and the importance of sleep and staying healthy. My favourite part of CSPE was learning about human dignity and rights, civil rights movements around the world and the different types of democracies.
Please make sure that your first name and surname are included on the Google Form and complete this ASAP.
Please talk to Mr Clynes if you have any questions.
🩺 RCSI TY MiniMed & MiniDentistry - Student Nominations
We are inviting students with a strong and genuine interest in medicine or dentistry to put themselves forward for the
RCSI TY MiniMed and MiniDentistry in-person programmes taking place in March 2027.
Please note that places are very limited and will be allocated through a school lottery.
In-Person Programmes
TY MiniMed
📅 Monday 1 – Wednesday 3 March 2027
Three-day in-person programme
TY MiniDentistry
📅 Friday 5 March 2027
One-day in-person programme
Who Should Apply?
Students should only put their names forward if they have a keen interest in pursuing medicine or dentistry and would genuinely value the opportunity to experience the field.
As places are limited and demand is high, this opportunity is intended for students who have a particular enthusiasm for medicine or dentistry, rather than students who are simply looking for a general TY activity.
For MiniMed, students must also be able to commit to attending all three days in person.
By putting your name forward, you are confirming that you would be available and willing to attend the full programme if selected.
How Will Places Be Allocated?
Students who wish to be considered should submit their name via the form below by:
⏰ 1pm, Monday 14 September
A lottery will then be conducted on Wednesday 16 September among students who have expressed an interest.
Please remember: submitting your name does not guarantee a place, as places are strictly limited.
Online TY MiniHealthSciences Programmes
There will also be online TY MiniHealthSciences programmes open to any student (this will run in-school) in March 2027:
TY MiniMed: Monday 1 - Wednesday 3 March 2027
TY MiniPharm: Thursday 4 March 2027
TY MiniPhysio: Friday 5 March 2027
Important: The school lottery is for the RCSI TY MiniMed and MiniDentistry in-person programmes only.
🏆 Gaisce Bronze Award - Sign-Ups Close Monday
Sign-ups close this Monday, 14 September.
The Gaisce Bronze Award is a fantastic opportunity to grow your confidence, develop new skills, contribute to your community and make the most of your TY experience.
The Bronze Award involves completing one hour per week in each of the following areas for 13 weeks:
🤝 Community Involvement
🛠️ Personal Skill
🏃 Physical Recreation
As a Bronze Award participant, you will then complete an additional 13 weeks in one of these three areas, choosing whichever activity you prefer.
There is also an Adventure Journey.
If you are looking for a meaningful challenge that will allow you to develop skills, contribute to your community and get the most from your TY year, Gaisce is an excellent opportunity.
If you are interested, make sure you sign up before the deadline on Monday 14 September.
Please also read the Gaisce Bronze Award Information Pack for full details of the award requirements.
A meeting will be held this month to go though any questions - if you have started your Gaisce activities already, don't worry - we just need to go through how to keep an ongoing record of them.
🎸🎹 Guitar & Piano Lessons
If you would like to take guitar or piano lessons in school, please complete the form by:
📅 Monday 14 September
Once you have completed the form, a teacher will be assigned to you and you can then arrange a time that suits both you and your teacher.
Lessons are usually 30 minutes
Cost: €20 per lesson
🎯 Gaisce Personal Skill
If you are still looking for a Personal Skill to work towards as part of your Gaisce Award, guitar or piano lessons could be a great option to consider.
🙌 Volunteer Thank-Yous
A huge thank you to all of the students who have already put themselves forward for volunteering opportunities. Your willingness to give your time and support others is a hugely important part of the TY experience and will also provide valuable opportunities for those completing their Gaisce Community Involvement.
🎾 St Mary's Tennis Club
Thank you to the students who have signed up to help with the tennis sessions for children with additional needs at St Mary's Tennis Club.
This is a fantastic opportunity to support younger children with intellectual disabiliites, develop confidence and teamwork and make a positive contribution to the local community.
🏊 Swimming Pool Open Day
Thank you to everyone who has expressed an interest in helping with the swimming pool Open Day. Further details will be provided to students involved.
🤝 Benincasa Special School
A huge thank you to all the TY students who volunteered with Benincasa this week. We received a lovely message from the Vice Principal of Benincasa, who was full of praise for how fantastic our boys were with the children.
The students got stuck in, worked brilliantly with the kids and represented the College in such a positive light. It was a fantastic start to the programme, and we are delighted to hear that the students themselves are already looking forward to their remaining sessions over the coming weeks.
This is exactly what TY is about - getting involved, giving back to the community and making a positive difference.
Well done, boys! 👏 You should be very proud of yourselves and we look forward to seeing you continue to make such a positive impact throughout the programme.
🔗 TY Links Group
A big thank you to everyone who applied to take part in the TY Links Programme. We really appreciate the time, effort and thought that you put into your applications.
The TY Links Programme will provide a great opportunity for the students selected to get involved, develop new skills and to help suppoort our 1st Year students.
For those who were not selected, or who may not have applied, please don't worry. There will be many other volunteering and community opportunities throughout the TY year, including opportunities with St Mary's Tennis Club, Benincasa, St John Ambulance and a range of other organisations and initiatives.
There are lots of ways to make a positive contribution, develop new skills and work towards your Gaisce Community Involvement.
☕ Hospice Coffee Morning - SAVE THE DATE!
We are delighted to confirm that our Hospice Coffee Morning will take place on Thursday, 22 October.
This will be an important TY community initiative and an opportunity for students to come together to support a very worthwhile cause.
Further details regarding the event, including arrangements for students and how everyone can get involved, will be shared closer to the date.
📅 Date: Thursday, 22 October
A very special thanks to TY PA Reps Emma and Kara for all their help and work on this.
TY Trips Update
There are a number of exciting TY international trips and activities planned for 2027.
We will be providing much more information next week about the trips, including details on how students can sign up and approximate costs.
Keep an eye on the newsletter and the Google Classroom next week for further information and details on how to register their interest.
More details to follow! 🌍✈️
📅 Amended Activities Week Rotation Dates - Correction
Please note a correction to the previously published TY rotation dates.
The rotation dates have been amended to align correctly with the school calendar. Please disregard the previous dates and refer to the updated rotation schedule for the correct information.
Students and parents should use the updated schedule when making any work placement arrangements.
Apologies for any confusion caused.
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