Activities
TRANSITION YEAR IS A TIME WHEN THE STUDENTS CAN GET INVOLVED IN A HUGE AMOUNT OF ACTIVITIES. HERE IS A FLAVOUR OF WHAT GOES ON!
2022 -2023
Surfing 2022!!
2021 – 2022
Surfing returns this year with four half-day surfing sessions for all TYs in Strandhill. Great fun for all!
2020-2021
The end of the TY year was marked by lots of outdoor activity, including SUP-ing on the lovely Garavogue River.
Despite Covid-19 restrictions Sligo Grammar School’s TY programme continues (almost) unabated. Workshops, Talks and activities have punctuated the term since Christmas – on-line as well as “in the flesh”! These included a talk/workshop with funny man, Rory O’Connor, who talked about his personal mental health journey. John Lonergan, former governor of Mountjoy Prison also spoke to the TYs . They also had an on-line HR talk. Workshops included a drumming workshop and “boxercise” classes (photos below), a Disability workshop, and a Stripe workshop. TY students also competed in the BT young Scientist competition on-line in January, while some pro-active individuals did on-line courses in diverse areas such as Law, Drama and IT skills. Two of ourTY 2021 Irish Angus teams progressed to Stage 2 of the competition.
At the end of September the TY classes spent a day dedicated to promoting wellbeing. Following morning workshops in the school they then went with their Form Teachers to climb Knocknarea and have pizza together in Strandhill.
Surfing
Previous Years
CHARITY SEA SWIM
Every November the TY class does a sponsored Sea Swim for charity. the dress up in fancy dress and brave the cold waters of Rosses Point. The funds raised go to a variety of local charities.
TY Bonding Trip
TY students and some of their teachers go to Killary Adventure Centre for an annual bonding trip. The students get involved in activities such as swimming in bog-holes, climbing walls, and generally communing with nature in a very hands-on way! The trip includes an overnight stay in the Adventure Centre. It is a great way to get to know one another.
An end-of-year camping trip gives the TYs a chance to close this exciting year together.
TY Mentor Programme
The Transition Year mentoring programme for first years starts at the end of August with a preparation course. TY students show the new students around and tell them everything they need to know about life around the school. The TY students find it an excellent experience which helps develop their leadership skills. First year students find it helps a lot with settling in especially if they didn’t know anyone before they arrived to the school
Talks and Workshops
Talks and workshops are part and parcel of TY. These can range from Road Safety to Drumming. The students often attend workshops outside of the school, while some are held within SGS.
Poetry Slam
Poetry Slam is a creativity workshop that all TYs get to do. It is highly successful and very popular with the students. Here are two offerings.
Tearing Down Walls
Forced to search for meaning and devotion
With my friends and peers
Life is always in comparison.
Rebuilding the wall that I once tore down
Just for that one person I put trust in
But now I regret to cause deep within
I know in only myself I trust
Only will this brick walls turn to dust
When one gives me a reason to strive
Only then I will know my purpose in life.
Trusta Kamy Uchendu
Sligo city
I walk these streets day and night
Know it better than most people do
I see things that make me think
I don’t talk I keep it all in my head
But any smart person knows Sligo city is a system
It’s like a ham and cheese sandwich
The gangs who run the city are the bottom bread
The cheese are the rich high end of Sligo but “SOFT”
The “HAM” or “BEEF” the middle class the less well off the strong to cut
The top bread is da police who make sure it’s all G.
William Moore
Surfing
As part of the Transition Year P.E. course students get the chance to do four weeks of surfing. It usually takes place during P.E. class in Strandhill. 
EDUCATIONAL TRIPS
TY students go on many trips throughout the year. The following are some trips they went on in the past.
- The Transition Year Expo in Punchestown, Dublin. This was a place for students to learn about TY and pick up ideas about what they might want to do during their year.
- Trips to the Hawks Well Theatre to see plays, comedy and shows are part of the TY year.
- Cultural trips are organised eg. a boat trip on Lough Gill to see the lake and view the Lake Isle of Inisfree. They also got a chance to visit Parkes Castle. A trip to Croke Park allowed the students absorb some of their own cultural heritage as well as giving our many International students a flavour of Irish culture. The TY class also has the oportunity to go on a cultural trip abroad.
- TY Students go to the RDS in Dublin to attend an event run by I Wish. The aim of the organisation is to encourage girls to pursue a career in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths)
- Class groups go on educational trips , for example the TY Spanish class went on a trip to Grange to Streedagh beach to learn about Spanish culture in Ireland. The class listened to a talk on the beach given by a local on the Spanish Armada and their involvement there.
WORK EXPERIENCE
Work Experience is an important part of TY in Sligo Grammar School. Students must organise a total of three weeks of work experience during the year, one block of two weeks and one block of one week. Students are encouraged to think carefully about the work they choose to do as this is an opportunity for them to try out work that they think they might enjoy. Often students find out that what they thought they wanted to pursue as a career is, after all, not the job for them. For this reason alone, TY work experience is invaluable.
DEBATING
Debating and Public Speaking is part of TY and all students get a chance to try it. The SGS DebSoc meets regularly in the Khansama after school on Wednesdays and many TY students are involved and are very promising debaters. They competed in public speaking and debating competitions during the year.
TRIP TO UNIVERSITIES
TY students get a chance to visit some of our Universities as it helps them decide on the subjects they might need for their Leaving Cert. In 2016/17 Students went to Trinity, UCD and DCU. This gave them an opportunity to see for themselves what the Universities had to offer.