A Year to Remember for the TY Class of 2026!

The celebrations continued at Clonaslee College with our Transition Year Graduation on Friday, May 22nd. We were delighted to have so many parents and family members in attendance to hear about the great year our students had.

Our Principal, Mr. Cotter, opened the celebration by speaking about the new Transition Year programme that our students embraced. He highlighted the students’ involvement in work experience placements, trips, electives, exploring new subjects, participating in competitions, and developing new skills and confidence along the way. He took the opportunity to thank all parents for their support and encouragement throughout the year, acknowledging the important role they played in helping students make the most of their Transition Year experience. He then welcomed several TY students to the stage to share their experiences. Niamh, Áine, Senan, Jamie, Óran, and Mary-Kate spoke about their Transition Year journey, providing the student perspective on a very busy year.

A number of staff members then highlighted some of the distinctive opportunities and successes that students experienced during their Transition Year journey. Mr. Madden spoke about the ‘Intro to Ag’ competition, one of the many competitions entered by TY students this year. He acknowledged the outstanding achievement of having three Clonaslee College groups reach the final fourteen and represent the school at the Intro to Ag final in the Aviva Stadium, Dublin. He praised the students for the dedication and hard work they put in over their Easter break to prepare for the final, which took place on their first day back after the holidays. He then presented the three groups with certificates to mark their achievement.

Next, Ms. Fitzpatrick spoke of the inaugural TY Media Team, highlighting the fantastic work they carried out throughout the year capturing and sharing the story of our school from a student perspective.  She noted the growth in confidence she had witnessed among the students and the pride they took in showcasing everyday school life. She thanked the team for their hard work and commitment before inviting them to the stage to receive their certificates.

Ms. Wilson followed by speaking about the introduction of a new TY-exclusive module – Filmmaking. Our school was fortunate to receive filmmaking equipment through our involvement in the LOETB Digital Arts Programme, in collaboration with Laois and Offaly County Councils. Ms. Wilson commended every student for their involvement in all aspects of creating their own short film, including scriptwriting, filming, acting, and editing. All students involved were invited to the stage to receive certificates acknowledging this achievement. She also congratulated Ashleen Gorman, who received the award for Best Performance at the LOETB Digital Arts Programme Awards in May. Finally, she shared a preview of snippets from the students’ films, which everyone thoroughly enjoyed.

Speaking about another aspect of the Digital Arts Programme, Ms. Maher highlighted the Podcasting module. She commended the hardworking group involved and invited them to the stage to receive their certificates. Mr. Todd then introduced another new project undertaken by TY students this year – Virtual Reality. He praised the group for their work and highlighted how beneficial this project will be for incoming students. He also congratulated them on their achievement of being named VR Runners-Up among nine LOETB schools at the LOETB Digital Arts Programme Awards.

Next, Mr. Cotter took a moment to acknowledge the addition of students who joined TY for the year from Spain, that added so much to the school year. He invited Pol on the stage for a small presentation from his friends and the staff at Clonaslee College.

The ceremony then moved into the awards segment of the graduation celebration. As part of the new TY Programme, students were recognised across four key student dimensions- Being a Learner, Personal Growth, Career Exploration and Civic and Community Engagement. The winners were determined by a staff vote, and we congratulate the recipients:

The ceremony then moved to the announcement of the nominees for Overall TY Student of the Year. Mr. Cotter presented certificates to Rebecca, Mary-Kate, Senan, Michelle, Cadhla, Áine, Grace, Niamh and Áine in recognition of their nominations. He then spoke about the eventual winner, highlighting the many qualities that had earned them the respect of both staff and fellow students. Teachers described a kind and inclusive person, a natural leader with great initiative and energy, who approaches every task with enthusiasm, attention to detail and a strong work ethic. He was delighted to announce Áine Conroy as the recipient of the Overall TY Student of the Year Award. Congratulations to Áine and to all of the nominees on this wonderful achievement!

The graduation ceremony brought to a close a memorable year for the first students to experience the new Transition Year programme. Their enthusiasm and willingness to embrace every opportunity made the year a great success. Congratulations to the TY Class of 2026 on all of their achievements!