Athboy Community School have been holding Taster Days all this week for feeder schools in its catchment area in advance of the school’s Open Night on Thursday October 2nd. 

Students and their teachers from different feeder schools were invited into Athboy C.S. for a series of morning tours, workshops and talks on each day. 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, Art, Woodwork, Metalwork, Music and Business workshops.  

In Home Economics the students made pizzas which they then enjoyed on their break. 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 Business workshop, students played a Business Bingo game using key words and a Needs vs Wants game using flashcards. They also used a Case Study to design packaging for a confectionary product and explored ways in which the product would be sold.  

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 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-today life in the school. Deputy Principal Mr. O’Dowd and Principal Miss Garrihy 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 15th the school welcomed 73 students from O’Growney N.S and Rathmore N.S. The following day there were 69 students in the school from Ballivor and Kildalkey N.S. Later this week, on Thursday 18th students will attend from Delvin, Crowenstown, Clonmellon, Killua and Kilskyre National Schools. Finally on Friday there will be over 70 students from Bohermeen, Boyerstown, Cortown and Kilbride. 

All students in 4th, 5th and 6th classes and their parents are cordially invited to the Athboy Community School Open Evening on Thursday October 2nd  from 6:00-8:30 p.m.