• Teacher Spotlight - Hannah Heskin
• European Day of Languages
• Gaisce Activities
• Footee Ireland

Every Friday we feature one of our teachers in our Teacher Spotlight! This week, we spoke to Maths and P.E. teacher Hannah Heskin about her teaching career and joining the Alex community this year.
 

What interested you in teaching?

My grandmother was always like, “You’re going to be a teacher!” when I was 5 years old so I suppose it was always in the back of my mind. I did think of being an actuary, or becoming a physio, but I ended up finding the perfect combination of the two in teaching. I really love helping people learn, and I find it so rewarding to see them improve. 

Why is teaching your subject exciting?

Maths is always good for a challenge. Students are always wondering how maths is applicable in real life, so it’s really nice when you can bring in the real life applications and see that there is more to maths than algebra. They always find financial maths with mortgages and income tax so interesting because they can see how it’s useful.

I love teaching P.E. because even though it’s a non-academic subject, it has such importance in other ways. It’s so important to wellbeing and mental health, and it’s a great medium to give students a break while still teaching valuable skills. It’s really nice to see a different side to the students in P.E. 

The two subjects do compliment each other, as well. If you’re good at decision making and spatial awareness in sport, that also compliments itself in maths so that you know how to come to the next step in a problem or can mentally picture geometric figures.

The ACA AGM will be held on Tuesday 29 September 2020 at 7 pm on Zoom. The ACA is the parent teacher association of Alexandra College Senior School. The Zoom link will be sent out in advance of the meeting on Tuesday 29 September 2020.

The ACA has a key role in supporting the Board of Management and the College students. Each year group elects two representatives to a two year term on the ACA. This year we have vacancies for 2 First Year Reps, 2 Third Year Reps and 1 Fifth Year Rep.

If you would like to put your name forward as a Year Rep, please click the link below and register your name.

Any questions for the committee, including the Principal, should be emailed to hilaryodonnell@alexandracollege.ie. by today, Friday 25 September.

The 2nd Year Italian class did the challenge on guessing languages from all around the world and the winner team (Mabel, Katie and Emily) are showing their "talk to me" bracelets. They will be wearing them in the next couple of days to make conversation in different languages in the college!

Gaisce is one of the many tasks that we do in our Transition Year. There are four elements involved to complete this programme; community involvement, personal skill, physical recreation and adventure journey.

The first task Community Involvement is all about giving back to the community, it gives you the chance to make a difference. Examples include volunteering for your local hockey club, charity organisation or taking your neighbour’s dog. Personal Skill focuses on developing existing skills that you may already have or trying something new. Examples include trying a new sport or hobby that interests you.

Physical Recreation is good for both body and mind and is essential for a person’s wellbeing. In this section you can take up an activity that you already do or start from scratch. Examples include a physical activity such as running or dancing.

The last activity is an Adventure Journey which bonds the entire year on a trip to Glendalough which we spend two days and one night. Each participant must commit an hour per week for thirteen weeks for every task plus an additional 13 weeks for one chosen challenge area.

One of the many options that Alex provides for TY is a course in First Aid. It takes place in res and the girls are thrilled to participate.

Ranelagh Gaels also offered some coaching spaces for our TY girls to help out with training.Yoga is another one of our many options our girls can do for Gaisce which helps with wellbeing and self care. Another option is Self Defence, which will be provided by school to add to our after school physical activities, which will take place in Terenure.

Gaisce is a wonderful opportunity for the TY students to engage in as much as possible, while having fun and still having a challenge at the same time. Even if you don’t end up finishing it until the end, everyone ends up learning life skills anyway that normally we wouldn’t be able to take part in because of our busy schedules last year.

Emily Tempany, Rebecca Dennison, Lily McAuley, Kate Ishchenko, and Niamh ODonoghue

On Thursday last week Alex organised us fourth years to partake in an activity involving many games and team sports . There was a point system allocated to each game so at the end there was a final where 2 of the teams played against each other in dodge ball.

The first activity my group took part in was archery . We all liked the archery but it took a while to get into . We all found using the bow and arrow hard at first but everyone got into it after a while
The next activity was doge ball which was our personal favorite. We played many rounds and it was a lot of fun.

After that we did relay games like egg and spoon and sack race. We also did a team game where we stood on wooden planks where we all had to work as a team to get to the other side without falling.

Then we played bubble football. We were in our own separate bubbles and had to play a game of football while in the bubbles. One of the best parts was getting knocked over and rolling around. It was so much fun and we all thoroughly enjoyed it. Then we had to kick a football at a huge inflatable dart board and for football and it was really fun. This was a great opportunity for everyone to engage in team sports and socialise with people they might not have talked to before. It pushed people out of there comfort zone which was great and we’d definitely recommend it for the future fourth years.

Lydia, Niamh, Aoife, and Layla

Last week I attended my first Gaisce activity, a singing lesson outside of school. It’s on every Wednesday from 8:30-9:00. The other half hour I use for practicing. I didn’t know what to expect going in, and after doing some strange singing and breathing exercises, I ended up really enjoying it. I’m even thinking about continuing it into fifth year. The teacher was extremely nice and very enthusiastic, and gave me Disney and theatre songs that would suit my voice to practice at home. 

Charlotte Wynne

I am currently on my second week of my personal Gaisce experience. I have decided to do a medicine course online from DCU every Saturday from 2pm to 4pm. During these classes we cover a variety of topics with my teacher who is a student at RCSI. In only two classes, I have covered the circulatory system and diseases that come with it including diabetes, heart attacks and blood clots. I have also covered various forms of skin cancer and how they metasise across the body and also learned about types of doctors and exams they must study for and what fields they can specialise in. While these classes only last 2 hours every week, we cover so much and learn about so many important topics that would usually only be taught in leaving cert biology or even college level. I believe that this is a great chance for me to learn and improve my personal skills and interests going into the leaving cycle. 

Eve Bailey

TY students took part in a Selfie Treasure Hunt Challenge during Ms. Ryan's French class this week to celebrate European Day of Languages 2020. This is one of many fun classes that have been organised by the Modern Languages department over the coming week to celebrate languages and language learning with students. Here are some of the very creative selfies that our students took as part of their challenge. The winners of the most creative selfie will be announced next week in Ms. Ryan's class. Chapeau, les filles ! More updates on what other classes got up to during Languages Week to follow over the next week!

Over the past week some of our 4^th year girls have been designing Posters for our theme days in Residence.

Friday is “Pancake Day”. They will all be having delicious Pancakes after dinner on Friday 25 September prepared by our Chef.

Sunday 27 September is “ No Excuse Day”  (e.g.: If you are in bed and know you have to do something and are making all the excuses not to do it. Sunday is the No Excuse Day )

Thanks Pia, Kiki, Katerina, Catarina, Aviyah, Margaux, Katya, Alejandra, Kayta, and Isabella!

We are delighted for Rameen Khalid (Alex Class of 2019), who will be studying in Royal College of Surgeons this year. Rameen received her first choice offer in the first round and will be beginning classes from 5 October. Well done, Rameen.