Week 2:

Dear Diary,
It is officially the first full week back in school from the Christmas break so let’s
see what exciting things happen. Let’s go!
Our first class on Monday morning was double art. We started off by playing a art
quiz on different artists and pictures. It was a very easy quiz and I got all of them
correct. The teacher then started to explain our end of module project, which is to
draw a portrait of ourselves or someone in our families. Which I am not excited
about because it’s the one thing that I hate drawing, but I am still going to try my
best and I will see how it turns out in the end.
After break we were supposed to have Siamsa but then we discovered that from
now on third-class Mondays, we have Coding!!! Yay! I think in the whole entire
class I was the only one that was happy about that change, but that’s ok. We started
off by learning about variables in scratch and how to use them. It was easy for me
because I already knew how to do the stuff. He said next week we will be moving
on to learning python, which I am super excited for.
Mathematics came after coding, we started learning about indices. They are not
hard to do if you know the rules off by heart. I also think this was a good subject to
revise from junior cert. She then gave us a fun worksheet to do that had some
indices problems. The goal was to find the word. They were enjoyable but I also
think they were a bit too long. In Thursday’s mathematics class we continued
learning more about how to solve indices. They are getting harder but I like
completing them. We also finished the worksheet that she gave us on Monday
which we revealed a very long word.
After lunch we had Siamsa where we continued doing our unit worksheets.
Honesty I am bit far behind on them because when they were handing them out last
module, I was sick, but that’s ok because I am doing them at home as well.
Thursday’s Siamsa class we continued watching the Riverdance documentary and
it is getting better and better throughout the film. The dances overall are so detailed
and its also relaxing watching them perform the pieces.
Last class was English where we continued watching the film that we started last
week. Its actually getting more interesting but we shall see. We also continued it
during Thursday’s English class.
First class on a Tuesday was Computer Studies where I finished my first diagnostic
test and now, I have to do a second one. Wednesday’s class I finished the second
one so next week I will be completing my cert test. I think I will pass; the word
documents diagnostic test wasn’t hard.
Afterwards we left the school to go for our Skiing classes. Yay!! The class that I
am a bit scared of and excited for. We took the luas to dundrum and then from
there we waited ages for the bus. Finally, it arrived and it took us to the ski resort.
When we arrived, we immediately went into putting on our boots and carrying our
extremely heavy skis to the first slope. Then the coaches told us how to attach the
boots to the skis, which was hard to do at first put them you get used to it. They
then showed us how to position our feet. After that they showed us ho to climb up
the slope, which I thought was the worst! because you have to walk sideways in
those thick boots and long skis. My toes hurt badly after climbing that much. When
we mastered going up the slope and going down, they then let us use the lift to get
up, which was so much better. I also fell a few times but that’s ok. Overall, I really
enjoyed our very first class, but the only thing I hated was the fact that my trousers
was completely socked, because there were water sprinkles along the slope. My
legs were freezing on the journey back home. I reminded myself that next time, I
will bring a full change of clothes and some waterproof trousers, or else I am going
to get a cold, and I don’t want that.

Wednesday morning, we had double home economics. Where the teacher said we
were supposed to cook but she didn’t tell us to bring in any ingredients, because
she sent the recipe to a different TY group. I was a bit sad about that but its ok
because we will be baking next week. Instead for the first hour we learned about
fiber and how healthy it is for our bodies. For the second hour we watched “The
Great British Bake Off”. It was very funny to watch how the contestants failed at
making their desserts.
After break we had Religion, where she explained to us our end of module project.
Which is to make a project on any weird religion. I picked Pasatflarism, which is
belief in “the Flying Spaghetti Monster”. I know it sounds hilarious and it also
looks ridiculous. I can’t even believe that people actually worship this “creature”.
Anyway, I think my class will enjoy my project when I get to present it in a few
weeks.
Thursday morning, I had French where we continued learning topics for our
project. This class, we revised over different types of transport. I think this topic
was easier than the revising numbers. Then on Friday’s class we onto revising
pieces of clothing and what essentials to pack on our vacation. It was fun to pack
imaginary items in an imaginary suitcase. We then listen to a song on that topic bit
I didn’t really enjoy it. It was weird but still a good way to learn.
After break we had Fencing, and this time we started to learn how to walk
correctly in fencing. It wasn’t too hard; you get used to it after a while of walking
up and down. He said next time we might use the swords, and I am so looking
forward to that.
Second last class we had self-defense where we started to use the shields to start
punching them. She taught us how to punch and also how to hold the shield
properly so the next person can have their go. It was fun but also scary at the same
time.

Friday morning, we had first aid where we started to learn about how to treat
someone when they are having a stroke. Firstly, half of the class went outside that
class not knowing what injury the other half are going to act out. The plan was to
take a pencil and act like you can’t feel your hand, or move your fingers, so
whenever you drop the pen, they give it back to you, and then you drop it again,
and again until they realize that you are having a stroke. I think I annoyed my
partner so much that she started to forcefully moving my fingers so I can hold the
pen :). Then finally she discovered that I can’t feel my arm and that I am
experiencing a stroke. It was interesting to learn about that topic because now I
know the symptoms of the stroke and how to calm the patient down. Then again
everything I learned and will learn in first aid is very useful.
Next, we had career guidance where we had a substitute teacher where she started
off by asking us all where we worked for our November work experience, which I
think was a good thing to do because I heard where other people did theirs and if
they enjoyed it or not. We then completed a worksheet/questionnaire that told us
an approximate guess on what leaving cert subjects we can take. Unfortunately, the
ones that I really wanted to take, the school doesn’t provide, but that’s ok. For
example: Computer Science and Graphical Design. The subjects that there is, is
still really good.
After break we discovered that instead of coding and enterprise, we have double
enterprise, because coding got moved to Monday. We started off with thinking
deeper into our product, which was a self-defense necklace that has a tracker and a
camera. We spent a full hour just thinking about how we were going to do that and
we are hoping it will work. Then the next hour we had a zoom call with the head
director of the whole competition and he showed us different product that students
came up with in the past years, which was really cool to see what they had
achieved with their product.
After lunch we had choir where we still couldn’t sing because of covid, but I am
still not upset by that. We continued reading and this time it wasn’t that cold
because we were allowed to read sitting beside the radiator which was so much
better.

Let’s see what happens next week

Diana Hambardzumyan