The Importance of Saying 'NO'

"NO"

In our lives the word “No” is regularly used. It is very important. It is a simple word but it helps us not to bow to peer-pressure. If necessary there is no guilt in saying ‘no.’ but in moderation it helps us; saying no to everything can hinder us in our lives. Sometimes people suggest the right things for us even when we might not think it. But no is still very necessary in our day-to-day lives.

It can help us keep out of the involvement with drugs, crime, peer pressure or even personal things. One simple word of no could keep somebody’s life on track; something small can turn into something big and could possibly change somebody’s life but the simple word “No” could change all that. Saying no is the best self care.

By David King, 6th class

Balicki's Diary 15 January 1945

We've just read an extract from Ian Serraillier's 'The Escape'. Joseph Balicki is a Polish teacher who has been imprisoned by the Nazis in a P.O.W. camp for having turned a photo of Hitler around to face the wall during prayer time in his class. The story takes place during WW II.

This is a diary extract for Joseph written by Luke Byrne Kelly, 4th class.

Dear Diary,

6th day in prison.Hard. Morning fine - just a few scratches wiped away.But it is hard.Prison is not easy.I miss my kids and darling wife - on my mind always.A few of the lads are also Poles.I have guards watching me. Escape plans are in place.Kevin, David and a few more men are escaping with me. The officers don't know I have this. I was forced to burn my photos beside the grave of a once great man who has risen a curse.The pain of fear. Guns loaded.I will get out. I promise.If I don't, I lived a good life. The curse has struck into the heart of 12 men.This is a wrong that must be righted. 

Poetry in the Senior Room

Last week we began our yearly Poetry Anthology. So far we have covered four poems...

1. 'City Dweller' by our own Christy Brown
2. 'One question from a bullet' by John Agard (Last year we did his poems 'Half Caste' & 'Rainbow. He's a Caribbean poet.)
3. 'A  Child Victim' by Irish man Felix Halton 
4. 'Popularity' by Irish poet Gabriel Fitzmaurice

Each of us had to write about what poetry means to us first...
This is my account...

A poem is more than feelings... it’s emotions, a hidden message and a theme. I can’t say I love “all” poems because there are many types of poetry, but I love poems that rhyme. Poetry can be about anything and everything, poems are like songs - they can be soft and sweet or loud and hateful.

By Chloe Cottrell 5^th class

Wonder

Augusts thoughts on starting school 

Recently we started reading a new novel  in the senior room. The novel is 'Wonder' by RJ Palacio. We were set a task to describe the feelings of the main character August about starting school. August has a deformed face  and has never been to school before even though he's eleven years old. This is my piece.

I’m starting school, I forget when, a few days or something. I’m nervous but I’m excited too. If there are a lot of normal people there I probably won’t last long, but if not, I’m bound to make friends, aren’t I? I mean it smells like a hospital so there is bound to be people with special needs. I always think people are jealous of people like me. The reason being we are special, different than all the rest. At least that’s what mum tells me. If there are “normal” people there I will not fit in at all. I mean Zach, Eamonn and Christopher and my “old” friends were normal but they were a once off I know it.       
They had their own problems but not on the outside but deep within their minds.  I am the exact opposite, my problems are on the outside but deep within my mind is like anyone else.  I just go to bed and turn my problems inside out, my perfect side on the outside but the bad on the inside. But I can’t hide my problems on the outside, and by people I have seen, it seems ridiculous but I think it is harder to hide problems on the inside than on the outside.  

By David King, 5th class

My Left Foot

Recently we watched "My Left Foot". It is a very good movie. After we watched it we had to make an interview for Ma' Brown. Here is my interview. (I played the part of Ma Brown in class with everyone firing unprepared questions at me. Teacher was very impressed with the depth of my answers.) We're planning on acting it out and recording it.

Ma’ Brown Interview

Q. What was it like having a handicapped son in the 1950’s?

A. It was hard but we managed.                                                                                         

Q. Was it very sad that only 13 out of 22 of your children survived?

A. It was and we always had our own funerals, I will never forget them all 9 of them that died.

Q. Was your marriage with Paddy arranged?

A. I fell in love with him when I was young and I asked my father to approve of him and he did.

Q. Was it hard to raise a family with such a small amount of money?

A. It was, we had very small food portions but we got by.

Q. Did you like being a stay-at-home mum?

A. Not really I would have preferred a job so I could get some more money for food but I had to stay with Christy.

Q. After you got married did you ever see your parents?

A. I saw them at family weddings and funerals, but apart from special occasions no.

Q. Did you like living in the city or would you have preferred to have lived in the countryside?

A. I liked living in the city because there were more jobs available but if I lived in the country side I think I would have loved it.

Q. If Christy didn't see the tin in the fire do you think you could have kept the money a secret?

A. Maybe for a bit longer but they would have found out soon.

Q. How do you know that Christy’s voice sounded like hope?

A. I heard his voice every day but I hadn’t ever heard him speak like that before I knew he was going to be let down somehow.

Q. How did Paddy die?

A. I never found out how the post-mortem results never came back, it was very unexpected.

By Kate Brosnan, 5th class

Inspirational People

Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela
This year we wrote some accounts on inspirational people. We were able to pick our own, some people did pop stars, some did soccer players, historical characters eg. Pelé, Taylor Swift, Lionel Messi, Gandhi, Sir Francis Drake, Stephen Hawking, etc.... I decided to go with Nelson Mandela because he showed us all no matter what race we are we should treat each other the same.   

Nelson’s childhood

Nelson Mandela was born on the 18th of July 1918 in the tiny village of Mvezo, South Africa. Nelson got his political ways from his father, he served as a councillor for several years. When Nelson was young he and his family moved to an even smaller town north from Mvezo called Qunu.  

Fun facts

• ·      Nelson Mandela was the first president of South Africa. He was born in Johannesburg Gauteng South Africa.

• _·         "Rolihlahla" in the Xhosa language literally means "pulling the branch of a tree," but more commonly translates as "troublemaker."

·       He was born on 18th of July 1918.

·       And he died on the 5th of December 2013 (aged 95)

·       He was arrested in 1962 for leading the ANC (African National Congress).

·       He was in jail for 27 years. He spent 20 years on Robben Islandand 7 years in Pollsmor prison.

·       He was in office for 5 years 10th of May 1994 – 14th of June 1999.

·       Nelson Mandela won the Noble Peace Prize in 1993.

(Although his name translates as troublemaker he was one of the best peacemakers ever.)

by Paul Byrne Kelly, 5th class

What about Gran?

Today we read an extract from "Number The Stars" by Lois Lowry. It is set in Denmark during WWII and Ellen and Annemarie's hometown  has been occupied by the Germans. Little Kirsti is so used to the German soldiers on the streets that she sees them as common as lamp-posts.

We created our own piece in response to the extract and here is mine. 

What about Gran?

For some reason today I was scared. I think it was because my Jewish friend Marie was taken right in front of my own eyes. They did not take me because I am not Jewish but the soldiers really did hurt my wrist when they were checking my wrist for a band, but that was nothing compared to what they are going to do to Marie.

Since I couldn't share my feelings with Marie now, I decided to talk to my mum. But she was not my first choice - since the only time I interact with her is when I am in trouble! 

I explained to my mum that I was scared and what had happened with Marie but all I got back was that Marie and her family were none of my business. I didn't know what to think because my mum is great friends with Marie's family?

I suddenly had a vision of Gran being taken since she was a Jew, so suddenly I just shouted out "What about Gran?" When mum didn't answer I knew I would never see Gran again!

By Ciara Maher, 5th class