Enjoy

Enjoy mid term break. See u all after the hols. Remember to keep saving for carlingford. Money due in soon.

Blog for PE

Hi all - please take note that I could not send out a tweet to do with PE tomorrow -so please can everyone just check the actual blog for PE tomorrow

Thanks

Shoe Box appeal

Any one that put your name down for this shoe box appeal - please see me tomorrow Thursday for a few mins at 1020 at my office - pass the word - thanks

Build a Bank

Well done on the launch today - excellent launch with a great guest speaker - tys could def use this facility to save up for various school trips - something to think about and something that the build a bank team could look at pushing a bit - good all round for everyone - students save money and the team builds up their accounts - think about it - but again well done on today - everyone worked well together - best of luck for the rest of the year with the bank - a bit like TY - whatever u put into it u will get back out!

PE for tomorrow

Just have all your gear and report to the Sports Hall at 150 - have plenty of gear because u may be inside but u prob will be outside - so be prepared

Well done today

well done to all today - hope u all enjoyed - everyone seemed to enjoy - that's the main thing - a few people were throwing a bit of water - some were even throwing barrels of water!!!!! But don't worry - there are more trips coming and more time to get people back so watch out!!!!!

Well done to all for having the money with u - it proves that u can all do it - this leaves it much easier for us so please try to have your money with u whenever it is due - as I said like today it leaves it so much easier for us - please do this all the time

Some people still owe a euro from last week from the hill climb - please get this paid before the hols

Remember the next big payment is Carlingford - remember and look at the letter and have the money in on time - no excuses

Finally well done again today - u were a pleasure to take away and keep up the good vibe now in TY - I will let the other teachers know how great u were

Musical

Well done to all - great show - so impressed - a massive well done to all

Paintballing - meet in Canteen after reg

I told u that there have not been many trips because of the musical - on the 22nd Oct - a Tuesday -this date may change but hopefully not -  we are all going paintballing - and we will also be doing a range of team building fun games - u will need wellies - if u have them, old trainers, a complete change of gear as u are all going to get wet and dirty as at this time of the year everywhere is wet and a packed lunch - u will have to pay a contribution of 8euro - the school are paying 10 euro per person - take the money on the day - hopefully u will all enjoy - its a very good price!

It will be a good day out

Please go to reg and meet in the Canteen - please sit in your classes to speed things up
Please do not forget your money - otherwise - u may not be able to do it - as always if there is an issue with money please come and see me asap - thanks - please see me before we get on the bus if there any issues

No uniform required - we may stop at shop - if we have time - we will see

Main aim of the day - to get everyone involved and to have fun and to create a good atmosphere in TY

If u want to get more bullets at the paintballing u will have to pay extra but to be honest I think that u get loads of bullets anyway

PE today / test yourself!!!

Well done to all today - hope u enjoyed - a beautiful day on Lough Salt - we had a few people who fell a few times - thats all part of the fun!!! If u made the top - well done - if u didnt - there is always the next day but make sure always to give 100% effort - as u have done - and hopefully everyone the next day will make it up - but remember - reaching the top isn't everything - even making it half way up is a massive achievement for some - keep up the great effort

If anyone is interested in a challenge - and I mean a real challenge - i have some info from the AILO Ireland - All Ireland Linguistics Olympiad - the problem solvers' challenge - its all to do with testing yourself against the world's toughest puzzles in logic, linguistics and lauguage - if u fancy this and would like more info - please see me asap about it - thanks

Enjoy work experience and have a good weekend

Musical - excellent

A massive well done to all involved in the musical last night - it was a really great show - very impressed indeed - best of luck for the rest of the week - very obvious that there is massive talent in this TY group - well done again

PE Tomorrow

PE for this week - thur class

We will be leaving the school @140 sharp - be changed and ready to go - we are climbing a mountain!

We will be climbing mt errigal with another school later in the year so this is a practice run at a smaller mountain - its only a small hill tomorrow!!!

Bring comfortable walking boots if u have them - or old runners - warm clothes/a bit of energy food - have your lunch before we go - have clothes that u dont mind getting dirty as it may be wet and it may be cold - however in this country it may also be warm and dry so be prepared for everything - remember the higher u go the colder it sometimes gets so be prepared!!

We will be back for the buses - 1 euro each is required - just a contribution for the bus

Many thanks

Work experience

Just a short notice to remind u all that all TY students are expected to go to work experience as usual on October 25th.  This attendance will be checked after mid-term break. Thanks

Surfing money

I do not want to be keeping money off students so if u missed surfing - as I have already mentioned before - u may be able to get some money back - please see me asap on this issue

My computer classes today!

The first thing that u do every week in computers is check the blog so u should be reading this!!!!!

I have a match today so check the blog, get updated with everything, check photobucket and get on with whatever work u need to get on with - print off whatever u need - u should have plenty to do - use the time well

Road Safety Show

All TYs are going to the road safety show on Tues next (15th) in the Aura Leisure Centre in Letterkenny. No money required. Students may go for lunch at 1225 as we must all be on the bus at 1245 sharp. We will be back for the buses. Anyone in TY not intending to go must let Miss Fitzsimons know asap as we need to know how many buses to organise. Thanks. Full school unifrom to be worn.

Please note to do with absent/lates

This is very important to take note of - at the end of the year u will get marked down at the interview stage - I did this last year and it worked very well and I am going to do it again this year - so if u are late/absent a lot u will get marked down a certain number of marks - this could be the difference between a distinction and a merit or the difference for example between a pass/fail - this is only fair I believe beacuse this system rewards the students who are in all the time and marks the students down who miss a lot of school or who are late on a regular basis. It is important to note this system only comes into effect for students who are absent/late on a regular basis 

Gasice Students from Mr Walsh

All bronze - Gaisce students - due to circumstances outside my control it is not possible to organise the Adventure Challenge for before the October mid-term. As a result it will be left now until around Easter time next year. Msg from Mr Walsh

Dementia

Well done in the talk on Monday - the man spoke highly of u - thats the way it should be - so well done - keep this up - some more facts are laid out below - if u would like any more info on this topic - please see me as I have loads and loads of info that I can give u - please just come and ask - maybe u might like to do a project on it and maybe u might like to raise awareness in the community of this area - any ideas u have please come to me with them - thanks

Dementia – Everything You wanted to Know but forgot to ask.

 ‘Alzheimer’s’ and ‘dementia’ what’s the difference? Just as leukaemia (bone cancer) is a form of cancer, so Alzheimer’s disease is a form of dementia.

What is dementia? Dementia is a progressive illness of the brain where brain cells die causing the person with the illness to lose the ability to remember, to retain knowledge and skills, to make appropriate decisions and to look after themselves.

What are the two kinds? Senile dementia is caused by small blood vessels in the brain bursting and the cells that are deprived of blood flow die – this generally effects older people. Dementia caused by disease (mainly Alzheimer’s but there are others) happens when a plaque (like you would fell by rubbing your tongue on your unbrushed teeth) forms on brain cells and kills them – this can effect people at all ages – some as young as their 40s.

How does memory work? Brain cells send messages to each other by producing a substance called acetylcholine – this links thoughts in your head (to match a name to a face or a voice) like files in a filing cabinet or on a computer drive. Dead cells cannot produce the acetylcholine to make the memory links.

What can some drugs stop dementia? No drugs stop dementia – but they can slow it down if dementia is diagnosed early enough. The drugs help the brain to re-use the acetylcholine still in the brain – like re-using a tea bag to make a second or third cup of tea. But, eventually, the tea-bag will not be making tea anymore.

How many people are affected by dementia? One in every twenty people [5%] over 65 get dementia, rising to one in five [20%] over 80. This means that over 2,000 people live with dementia in Donegal (out of 44,000 in the Republic of Ireland) – but that will rise to 5,000 by 2035 (out of 100,000 nationally) because people are living longer and there are more older people. About 10% of all cases are people with ‘early-onset’ dementia – that is under 65 years of age – so that is 200 people in Donegal. The youngest person diagnosed in Donegal was 38 years old.

What is like to have dementia? Imagine if you were unable to answer most or all of the questions put to you each day – not just difficult ones but whether you wanted tea or coffee, or if you were warm or cold. Imagine the frustration of knowing what you want to say but being unable to find the word – imagine your annoyance if people constantly finished your sentences for you. Imagine your embarrassment at not being able to put a name to a face, or the loneliness of feeling you have no friends or family (because you can’t remember them) and on being dependent on someone to help you do the simplest tasks.

What can a person with dementia NOT DO? As the illness progresses, difficulty with memory mean that people with dementia cannot look after their financial affairs, drive, make meals and perform toileting tasks. Most people become doubly incontinent.

What can a person with dementia DO? People with dementia can still recall events from way back (even if they are confused about the facts). They can still remember songs from their youth. They can recognise someone who cares for them (even if they don’t remember the name or relationship).  And most importantly, they can still LOVE and BE LOVED.

Shoe Box appeal / Build a bank

Build a Bank meeting - next thur morning at 930 - please speak to me before next thur about this - we need to organise a room - thanks

Shoe box appeal - 12 students are required to go and help in Letterkenny on Monday Nov 4th to help pack the shoeboxes - please let me know first thing on Monday if u would like to do this - I will put a sheet outside my office door - in the shelves provided - please fill your name on it - if I get more than 12 names then I will have decide how I am going to pick the 12 but if interested get your name down there asap

Rubbish on bus!!!!!!!!!!!

Rubbish on the bus yesterday - people on to me about it - come on guys - come on - this is small stuff - that I should not have to deal with - but if someone complains to me about it - then I am gonna complain to u about it -

Not impressed!!!

Well done to the classes who were away in Letterkenny yesterday - I hope that u enjoyed and I hope that u got something out of the experience - one point - if u are given food and I think that it was great that we got lunch provided - please only take one helping of food unless u are allowed to take more - a number of the boys went back up and as a result the hotel ran out of food - not on - please do not do it again - reflects very badly on the school and the rest of the students

On anothor note - there was a guest speaker here on Wednesday and he was not at all impressed with a bit of jeering and laughing going on - again this reflects very badly and this will have implications for your class and TY as a whole - respect people who come in and give their time - two classes mentioned - N Orla and N Oisin

I gave another strike out yesterday for not regurlarly checking the blog and as a result the student did not know what was going on in TY - again u have all been warned - the way things are going - someone is going to miss a trip soon and there is plenty coming up - if u are working, behaving yourself and getting on with things u have nothing to worry about - if u are not doing these things then u do have something to worry about - I am not gonna let anyone spoil TY - if u have any concerns please come and speak to me - concerns about anything - money, other students, work - anything - please speak to me - thanks

I want everyone to enjoy the year and to be respectful at all times both to teachers in the school and to guest speakers - it is important to note that I am very aware that it is only a few people playing up a bit - the rest of the students are excellent - but the few can spoil it for everyone and no one wants that

Dragons Den - well done

Well done to all the students who have been presenting work for Dragons Den all week - I have been very impressed with the presentations and the products - well done to all who have put in a massive amount of work

It is very obvious when u are sitting listening to the presentations - the people who have or who have not put in much effort - so please make sure that u put in the required effort and best of luck to all with your products

I can't wait!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I told u that there have not been many trips because of the musical - on the 22nd Oct - a Tuesday -this date may change but hopefully not -  we are all going paintballing - and we will also be doing a range of team building fun games - u will need wellies - if u have them, old trainers, a complete change of gear as u are all going to get wet and dirty as at this time of the year everywhere is wet and a packed lunch - u will have to pay a contribution of 8euro - the school are paying 10 euro per person - take the money on the day - hopefully u will all enjoy - its a very good price!

It will be a good day out

Build a Bank / PE

Well done to all 8 who were interviewed for build a bank yesterday - I got great reports about all of u and there was nothing in it between all of you and it was difficult for them to make a decision - I hope that the two not chosen take up the offer of helping out as i think that it will be good for u - it will be a good experience and I know that u were made aware what will happen at the competition so that u know from the start - I hope that u are not too disappointed - again well done to all - u all represented the school very well

Well done in PE yesterday - photos on photbucket - hopefully u enjoyed - it was somthing different - most people got to the top so well done - we will hopefully do some more of this in preparation for errigal later in year

Strike for not wearing full school unifrom

I have given out a strike today for not wearing full school uniform - not good - very slack way to get a strike against your name

U were warned and u are being warned again

N Oisin and N Orla

Mental health workshop all day tomorrow in letterkenny - we will leave the school at 915 - go to canteen after registration and we will be back for the bues - lunch will be provided - but u may want to bring a little bit yourself if u want - full school uniform to be worn - no excuses - people involved in the mucical - i would imagine that u will not be allowed to go - please let me know what the story is - thanks

This talk is run by the Donegal Youth council - its all about managing stress and well being in your life - no money required

The other two classes - I can not get u fitted in tomorrow - I am working hard at getting u to one of the other roadshows on another day - hopefully I can sort this

PE for this week

PE for this week

We will be leaving the school @130 sharp - be changed and ready to go - we are climbing a mountain!

We will be climbing mt errigal with another school later in the year so this is a practice run at a smaller mountain - its only a small hill tomorrow!!!

Bring comfortable walking boots if u have them - or old runners - warm clothes/a bit of energy food - have your lunch before we go - have clothes that u dont mind getting dirty as it may be wet and it may be cold - however in this country it may also be warm and dry so be prepared for everything - remember the higher u go the colder it sometimes gets so be prepared!!

We will be back for the buses - 1 euro each is required - just a contribution for the bus

Many thanks

Adrian

Colour

I have been asked to add in colour - hope u like it!!

Negative points

A few people are very close to getting strikes due to small things that I am getting fed up checking - such as uniforms / ties etc and also landing into school late - I am also getting fed up asking people about checking the blog so I have told some students that if I ask them and they do not know about the most recent msgs - then they are going to get a strike - again - I am fed up asking about these small things - if u are not checking the blog then u are not keeping up with the latest things in TY - u have all been warned - I do not want to give out strikes for small things but if I have to then I will

Good luck over the weekend and we will see u on Monday at 9.03

Gaelic coaching

Last call for names - some people have told me that they have read the msg on the blog with regard to the coaching certificate and they do not understand it - I have read it again - a lot of information - yes - but I believe that it is pretty straight forward aswell - basically a 2 day coaching course in Ladies gaelic football - u will end up maybe coaching some primary school girls - great for your cv - boys and girls can apply - cost is 10 euro - I will collect this later in the year - this will not be held until Jan 2014 - just have to book it now

Thanks

Talk on Monday for all

There will be a talk to all TY students on Monday at 945 in the Demo Room from Demantia Donegal - they will want us to follow up on this talk aswell and do something in the community to raise awareness of this issue - talk will take approx 1 hour - go to the Demo room at 945 - thanks 

Build a Bank

Interviews on Tuesday at 945 in programme co-ordinators office (beside 306) - please be prepared as I have no idea what format they are going to take - best of luck to all of u - remember full school uniform

Carlingford trip/Surfing money/Money in general

Letter for carlingford trip - most people have got them - if u have not received one please see me ASAP thanks

Money still owed from surfing. Please have this in by Monday. As always if there is an issue with money please come and speak to me and I will be very understanding! But if u fail to bring it in because u keep forgetting that is a different issue. And I will not be impressed - a bit like today. I have bills to pay aswell! But please speak to me and as always if there is an issue with money please speak to me confidentially

If u did not do the surfing - please see me asap as u will be entilted to some money back. This depends on how many PE classes u were at.

PE today and thur!! And general comments

Well done to the two classes today - we completed a number of activities in PE today - very competitive classes - not sure who won in the end - we will have to finish the competitions another day!!!!

PE for thur - we will be going to Fanad - leave at 1 sharp - please have all money with you - thanks

It has been so far so good - a lot of great reports but please do not let the standards slip (I had to speak to a few people today about behaviour) - please get on with the work - complete it and hand it in on time - no excuses - u are a very good group - keep this up - enjoy the rest of the week

Please note that due to the musical - there are a lot of teachers (and TY students) busy with different things - the trips will hopefully follow once things settle down - keep getting the work completed for now and we will see what happens after the musical - thanks -

Remember - u will get out of TY what u put in

Build a Bank

Could the 7 people who applied for the Build a Bank please speak to me tomorrow please - interviews are next Tuesday at 945 so we need to go through a few things - thanks