Athboy C.S Hold Taster Days for 6th Class N.S Students

Athboy Community School held Taster Days recently for feeder schools in its catchment area in advance of the school’s Open Night on Wednesday September 30th. Students and their teachers from different feeder schools were invited into Athboy C.S. for a series of morning tours, workshops and talks over a few days in the last two weeks.

Each group was met by a senior staff member and given a short induction talk. Then they were divided into groups for a series of workshops. Depending on the day visited, there were Home Economics, Geography, Art, Woodwork, Metalwork and Music workshops.

The local 6th Class students enjoyed a fun and practical introduction to Home Economics. Students learned essential kitchen safety and hygiene skills before putting their cookery skills to the test by making their own pizzas and finishing the lesson by cleaning up their workspaces.  

In Geography they did a Geo-detective Map challenge to plan and build a new town, as well as Operation Mount Aroha where students tried to outsmart a volcano by using maps and clues to save lives in an eruption.

In an Art workshop they made decorative laminated bookmarks with tassels and in Woodwork they made bookends to take home. For the music workshop, students experimented with different sounds by creating and performing body percussion and using boomwhackers. They also took part in some music listening activities and drawing, or describing what comes to their mind when they hear certain pieces of music. 

In the Woodwork workshop, students each made a personalised phone holder. The Processes Included measuring marking, cutting and sanding. In the Engineering workshop, the task was to shape a piece of acrylic plastic into a photoholder. The visiting students first had to prepare the edges of the plastic before using a strip heater to bend it into shape. They also received a demonstration on some of the machines in the workshop and were informed about what is involved in Junior Cycle engineering. Each student left with their completed photo holders along with a gift of a keyring from the engineering department.

In between workshops, refreshments were served, and the students enjoyed a Powerpoint presentation given by one of the school’s Prefects on the courses, subjects, facilities and day-to-day life in the school. Deputy Principal Mr. O’Dowd also spoke to the students about the school and held a questions and answers session along with Prefects and Junior and Senior Student Mentors.

On Monday September 7th the school welcomed students from O’Growney N.S. and Rathmore N.S. The following day students from Ballivor N.S, Kildalkey N.S. and Killyon N.S. visited. On Wednesday 15th, students attended from Delvin, Crowenstown, Clonmellon and Killua National Schools. On Thursday 17th pupils came to Athboy C.S. from Bohermeen, Boyerstown and Cortown. Finally, on Friday 18th, students attended from Coolronan and Kilbrde N.S.

All students in 4th, 5th and 6th classes and their parents are cordially invited to the Athboy Community School Open Evening on Wednesday September 30th  from 6:00-8:30 p.m.