School News -13-04-2018
Four students from Coláiste Phobal Ros Cré travel to Shanghai University on a two-week scholarship
By Eve Du Berry and Nadia Fletcher
Over the Easter holidays, four transition year students – Eve Du Berry, Nadia Fletcher, Kayleigh Grannell and Tadhg Hogan, travelled to China to take part in a two-week scholarship to Shanghai University. They went with a group of 108 students from around the country. The programme is run by University College Cork Confucius Institute and aims to strengthen the bond between Ireland and China by giving Irish students the chance to experience Chinese culture and lifestyle.
The Irish students stayed in the newly-renovated International Student Dorms on the Yanchang campus.
The students spent time in the university studying the Chinese language and taking part in calligraphy and Taiji classes. They were taught basic Chinese, learned how to write some Chinese characters and had two Taiji classes which they thoroughly enjoyed.
They also went on many day trips to visit both ancient and modern China. The students first went to see the Oriental East Pearl TV Tower in Shanghai where they walked on the 260m-high glass floor. They cruised on the Huangpu River and enjoyed the sights of the Shanghai skyline lit up at night.
One of the highlights of the two weeks was the two-day trip to Suzhou and Hangzhou. They spent the first day in the water town of Suzhou and toured the silk factory. They then stayed overnight in a hotel in Hangzhou. On the second day they toured West Lake in Hangzhou and visited an ancient Chinese temple.
The Irish students travelled to the Baoshang campus to meet with some Chinese students that study in the university. A talent show was held where the Irish students performed traditional Irish song and dance and the Chinese students played traditional Chinese instruments and gave a calligraphy demonstration.
The transition year students also got to visit the ancient water town, Zhujiajiao. They toured the town built on a river and visited authentic Chinese markets and food venders.
Overall, the trip was a greatly beneficial, learning experience that broadened the students’ minds and provided them with first-hand experience of Chinese culture, language and lifestyle.
Many thanks to Mr Slattery who accompanied the students on their trip.
Irish- German Exchange Programme
Irish Students’ Journey to Kiel!
By Laura Gilmartin
On the 4th of December 2017 Ms Nielsen (German Teacher) travelled with a group of eight students studying German from Transition Year at Coláiste Phobal Ros Cré: Tiffany O’Riordan, Laura Gilmartin, Eve Du Berry, Niamh Geraghty, Julie Brennan, Catherine O’Connell, Fiona Scully and Kayleigh Grannell, on a 10 Day language exchange programme to Secondary School Gymnasium Wellingdorf in Kiel in Northern Germany. This was the second time a group of German students from Coláiste Phobal Ros Cré travelled to Gymnasium Wellingdorf in Kiel as part of a school exchange.
We had an early start when we awoke at 2am on Monday morning 4th December, we arrived in a snowy Kiel at lunch time. When we arrived at the school, Gymnasium Wellingdorf, we met with our partner-students, the exchange teachers, the principal and our host families. Everyone was over the moon to finally meet each other after a couple of months emailing and messaging each other!
Most days we attended school classes as normal with the partner students. It was interesting to see the differences between schools in Ireland and Germany, such as how early school begins in Germany (7:40am!) and how all students finish at different times, even if they’re in the same year.
On Wednesday we went on a historic tour of Kiel where we saw many attractions, for example: war monuments and St. Nikolaus’ Church. We went on a ferry ride across the Kiel Canal and walked around the Christmas Markets.
On Friday we went to Lübeck, a beautiful medieval city near Kiel. While we were there we attended a production of Oliver. We found it difficult to understand the dialogue but the dancing and singing was excellent!
For the last 2 days we went to Hamburg with our German exchange partners where we also met with Mr O’Connor. We went to “Miniature World”, a display of the world in mini version. We also went shopping in the Hamburg Christmas Markets. They were amazing!
On Thursday the 14th it was time to say goodbye to our new friends. We were already looking forward to seeing each other again in March!
German Students’ Journey to Roscrea!
By Eve Du Berry
On the 9th of March 2017, the Irish students’ exchange partners returned to Ireland for the second leg of the exchange. They arrived on Friday evening and met with the host families, for a busy ten days ahead of them all.
We and our partners attended the All-Ireland Camogie final, in Crinkill, which the school team was playing in. The German students got to experience Ireland’s national sport, and better again, a victory for the school!
The German students shadowed their Irish partners’ school timetable for Monday and Tuesday, where they partook in Irish and English classes, Irish dancing lessons and even played some hurling.
On Wednesday the German students and the Transition Years travelled to Durrow, Co. Laois and participated in the very challenging Gaisce 14km hike. We all managed to make it to the end despite torrential rain and difficult underfoot conditions. Bruises and blisters didn’t dampen our spirits. We then travelled to the picturesque Avoca Manor in Wicklow and took part in climbing activities, fire-building and a religious retreat.
For the last weekend, German exchange students and their host families celebrated a traditional Irish St. Patrick’s Day parade, traditional Irish food, and the bit o’ craic!
The students from Germany had an emotional departure from Roscrea where tears were shed and headed for Dublin on Monday morning, where they did some sightseeing and then spent the night. They flew back to Kiel on Tuesday morning, Tschüss Freunden!
Both the Irish and German students thoroughly enjoyed the exchange. They improved their language skills and made friends for life.
