Reflecting on a perfect transition at St Mary’s

TRANSITION Year students at St Mary’s Secondary, Macroom, celebrated their graduation in the school last Thursday. It was a special afternoon during which students gave presentations to their parents and teachers on their experiences throughout the school year.

Topics included work experience placements, first aid, French and German exchanges, sign language classes, STEM conference and the Apprentice Chef competition, among a whole lot more.

The girls spoke enthusiastically about their very successful fundraiser for the Kevin Bell Repatriation Trust, when they raised over €3,000. All these presentations were accompanied by a slideshow of pictures from the year.

Students were presented with the Ladies Football coaching certificates along with certificates for fundraising, visiting the hospital and being part of the Buddy system. Each student received an award for their approach to work over the year and most students achieved a Distinction, Pass with Merit 1 or pass with Merit 11.

The students broke up the presentations with an extract from their TY Show and performed their entry into the Walton’s Music Competition for Schools where they were one of the top 10. They also handed out free merchandising from their Mini Co. and taught their parents a little Mandarin Chinese.

Impressive indeed, and on a personal note on behalf of The Corkman, the editor wants to thank the pupils for their impressive submissions to the Macroom page which provide a behind-the-scenes view of Transition Year life at St Mary’s.

Students were presented with Journalism Club Certificates on the day. Well done to all.

Photo byJohn Delea. St Mary’s Secondary School Music class play a piece of music at the Transition Year Students’ Awards that was performed at the Walton Music competition in which they were highly commended and ranked overall in the top 10.

Photos by John Delea. Vicky Pardy and Alana Murphy, talk to the gathered parents and teachers about the Kevin Bell Repatriation Trust for which they raised €3,070. She was speaking at the Transition Years Students Awards, held in the school on Thursday.

Eilish Galvin, Joanne Kelly and Principal Ciarán Cooke (far right) present a cheque to Irish Cancer Society representative, Padraig O’Connell for €7,182, raised by TY students.

Students, Alana Murphy, Vicky Pardy and Principal Ciarán Cooke present a cheque to the Kevin Bell Repatriation Trust representative, Rosemary Murphy for €3,070 raised by TY pupils.

St Mary’s Secondary School student, Eva Long, takes first prize from Head of TY, teacher, Eileen Deasy, for the best exhibition of her Transition Year work.

Aoibhe Murphy talks to the gathered parents and teachers about the benefits of the ‘Buddy System’ afforded to First Year students as they start their second level education.