Carrick-on-Shannon Community School News

Reporters - Grace Collins, Zusanna Lubienska, Freya Flynn, Ruby Moffat, Aisling Fallon, Dallas Poore.

Yet another busy week in Carrick-on-Shannon CS. Everything from ‘Willy Wonka Wonders’ to ‘Wonderful Welly Walks’. This week's reporters have been keen to supply you with a little tour of it all.

LCVP Students in a Willy Wonka Wonderland
As part of their LCVP programme, Carrick school’s 5th year students took a trip to Butler’s Chocolate Factory, located in Dublin, on the 21st of March. Arriving at the school at 8.45, equipped with anticipation and excitement, the students filed into several buses, guided by their teachers.
The day was promised to be intense and busy, so the year split up; half the group headed to the Chocolate Factory first, while the others were driven to Blanchardstown Centre for some light shopping and food.
Upon arriving at the factory, students were made at home in a cinema, where they learned about the history of Butler’s and the process of the cocoa bean. They found this very informative, and mentioned that the guide was full of facts and knowledge.
They toured the factory, over the glass-panelled floor, soaking up facts in the museum and watching employees at work. They saw how computers and machines picked up chocolate with utmost precision and placed them in boxes, as well as all the different flavours spread out across conveyor belts.
However, the real fun began in the lab! Students, decked out in lab coats and caps, got a chance to make their very own Easter eggs. They blended right in with the employees at Butler’s, and had a very tasty souvenir to take home with them from their trip.

Ballyhaise Trip for Leaving Cert Ag Students
On Tuesday 21st of March Agriculture science teachers, Ms Garvin and Ms Farrell, and their classes attended Ballyhaise Agricultural College. The event was organised by AgriAware throughout different Agricultural colleges. The students got a tour of the college while also learning about different aspects of the leaving cert agricultural science course. Some items explored on the day included farm safety, animal production, dairy, soil and grassland management. Hugely beneficial day and one which the students thoroughly enjoyed.

Junior Cert Home Economics Cookery Practical
Move over Jamie Oliver and Nevin Maguire, our third years are ready for the heat of the kitchen. This week our junior cert home economic students completed their cookery practical. It was a very important few days for the students as it’s worth 50% of their grade in this subject.
Many skills were on display within the hour and a half they had, such as chopping and time management, with dishes ranging from curry’s to cupcakes. Everyone put their best foot forward for the examiner. Special thank you to all the home economics teachers for their help and guidance through the years but especially during this week.

Leaving Cert Music Practical
Our Leaving Cert Music class filled every corner of the school with beautiful melodies over the last few days. While it was certainly a daunting experience for our students, we can happily report that there were loads of smiles and sighs of relief as our students emerged from the examinations. Well done all, another hurdle crossed. Thanks to our wonderful music department for their help and support.

Juvenile Boys Football
Well done to the lads this week who played a strong game against Strokestown in Bekan, Co Mayo. Unfortunately, it wasn’t their day on this occasion.

Order Order!
Transition years took part in a very interesting Law Seminar during the week where they had the opportunity to meet and learn from barrister James Fahy. Thanks to those who organised this event.

My TY Work Experience Diary by Dallas Poore - The Leitrim Hill creamery
Working here for my TY work experience sure was an experience in itself.
As much as Lisa Gifford, the founder of this establishment feels like family, working here for me and for both nearby and distant customers traveling for what this place has to offer, it also feels like family, with their pleasant greetings and wonderful cheese, milk to other edible delicacies soon to come, its delightful and sure feels quite like home.
The Leitrim Hill Creamery is a goat farm, all their goats are given the freedom, the space and most importantly the love and care to live their lives to the fullest whilst their milk is being produced into freshly homemade goats' cheese, delicious fudge or even just a lovely batch of milk to replenish your thirst, in summer the creamery is looking forward to creating homemade ice cream into its ever-growing list of delectable foods.
If there are any cheese fans out there this really is no place for a second thought, go! you will not regret it, or even if you would like to learn the process of how cheese is made by making your own, there are classes to safely make cheese.
For all the residents here at the creamery, Lisa Gifford, Gypsy, Richelle, and most of all, the adorable little Shiloh, thank you all for your hospitality.