Pres TYs head for Amsterdam

A HECTIC week awaits all of the Transition Year girls in Presentation College, Tuam. Final arrangements are being made for our class trip to Amsterdam, dance routines are being perfected, and projects for Young Social Innovators (YSI) are always top priority. Last week, we were fortunate to have Mandy Maher join us in preparation for our show. Mandy is teaching us the art of modelling so we can look the part this coming March. The class was basic for our first week and we strode in a line up and down the school canteen, learned to turn correctly and to move gracefully with our hands on our hips. [private] After a few hours of this in high heels however, it becomes a bit of a challenge. Needless to say, it was a welcome relief to slip back into our school shoes at the end of the lesson. We look forward to Mandy's return on Wednesday for round two. Another aspect of our TY show is our dancing. There will be dancing of all sorts in the show from Swan Lake to Beyonce. All of our dances have been set by our teacher Ms Brennan who works patiently with us as we try to coordinate the many moves. Today we hosted our latest debate. TYs from Dunmore came to the school to discuss the topic: 'Mixed schools are best'. Our all-girls school versus their co-educational school made for a very interesting debate. Many statistics were thrown back and forth between the teams. Afterwards we all enjoyed biscuits and sausage rolls, thanks to Ms Mohan, our teacher in charge of the school's debating. We are very proud of how well our girls spoke this afternoon, all arguing their points very well. We are all very eager for our next inter-school debate. This week, it is not only the TYs who are busy. All of the staff and students of Presentation College are anticipating this year's open night. The school will be welcoming sixth-class girls from around the area to come and see all we have to offer. The TYs will be involved, of course. We will be singing with the choir as well as showing off some of the work we have done this year. Every nook and cranny of the school is being primped and polished in preparation for the event and everyone is getting involved to show the school at its best. This is the last week before our long-awaited trip to the Netherlands. We are packing all of our winter woollies and making those crucial decisions about what jumper to bring. All of our sleeping arrangements have been made, whether or not we actually sleep when we get there! We will be getting the bus from the school next Friday morning and then jetting of from Dublin for four fun-filled days in Amsterdam. [/private]