Transition Year offers a range of co-curricular activities designed to aid in maturing and development.
These include: Community service, participation in the musical, work experience, a three-day residential adventure sports course, participation in many competitions such as the Young Scientists, Junk Kouture , and the production of our school magazine Spectrum. These, along with visiting speakers and workshop animations, ensure that each girl’s interest in the arts and social issues is fostered.
 
A Year at a Glance
A typical year calendar shows the wide variety of activities which are open to the girls in Transition Year.
Note: as this calendar is based on 2012-13, you will some changes this year.
September
  • Induction Day,
  • Projects launched: Young Scientist, Young Social Innovators, Gaisce, Log on, Learn, Young Social Innovators, Junk Kouture, Young Entrepreneurs, AIB Build a Bank
  • Non Uniform Day
October
  • St Hilda’s Swimming programme begins,
  • Adventure trip to Horizon Outdoor Activity Centre, Westport,
  • Tag rugby course , inter schools competition,
  • Visiting Speakers from European Commission and Mental Health Matters

November:
  • Work Experience Week I,
  • Workshops: Songschool , Yoga and Artscope Dance workshop,
  • Maths Table Quiz,
  • Auditions for Musical,
  • Visiting speaker: Vincent de Paul,
  • French Film
December:
  • Auditions for Drama
  • First Aid course
  • Rehearsals begin for Drama competition,
  • Junk Kouture internal selection,
  • Young Social Innovators campaign,
  • First year Talent Show and Christmas party,
  • Ice skating in RDS
January: 
  •  YSI Loose change challenge,
  •  Young Scientist Competition,
  • Briery Gap Transition Year Drama Festival Mullingar,
  • Visiting speakers
February:
  • First Aid II,
  • Young Social Innovators ‘Speak out Forum’ Galway,
  • Musical : Grease 2020
  • Gaelic Coaching Course
March:
  • Team Theatre presentation
  • DATS tests,
  • Drama Workshop,
  • Skincare, Haircare and Grooming Workshops,
  • Work experience II ,
  • Junk Kouture Regional Final,
  • Build a Bank Regional final,
  • Westmeath Student Enterprise Competition
April:
  • Self defence classes,
  • Ballroom Dance classes with Marist College,
  • Workshops on Mental Health,
  • Contemporary Dance programme with Suzanne Hogan,
  • Film making Workshop,
  • National Finals ‘Junk Kouture’ , Dublin,
  • Scifest AIT ,
  • Visiting speaker (Pamoja programme)
May:
  • Drama Workshops (All Ireland Drama Fringe)
  • Sage Accounts Training programme,
  • YSI National Final Citywest, Dublin,
  • Visit to National Gallery and Science Museum TCD,
  • Table Quiz with Marist College
  • Gaisce Adventure Journey
  • Work Experience III

 

Community Service
 
The community service aspect of TY means that students give of their time and energy. Bower students participate in the following voluntary activities:
Log on, Learn, which is teaching older people computer skills after school hours, giving one-to-one support to disabled young people by volunteering in the nearby St Hilda’s Special Needs School, helping in the Special Olympics weekly training, and many other individual contributions. Gaisce volunteers give up to six months’ voluntary service in the school or wider community. Girls are invited to take part in Comhairle na nÓg.
The Transition Year girls in Our Lady’s Bower are responsible for fundraising in the school which supports two projects: money for the La Sainte Union projects in Africa and Haiti, and money for St Vincent de Paul’s Christmas collection. They are asked to help other national and local projects by fundraising outside of school time.