The President's Award

Diarmsquid

Our TY co-ordinator (fancy name for form teacher) told us about this President's Award, where you do 4 different parts to it: Community Involvement, Personal skills, Physical Improvement and a Venture Activity.
You do all these and you get a President's Award medal. Bronze, silver or gold, depending on how long you do the activities for.
The medal is nationally recognised on CV's.
I'm going to do it this year, when I have the extra time from study and all that. Along with about 5 others in my class
He said a lot of TY-ers do it.

I was just wondering if many others here are doing it?
And what are you doing for each of the activities?

Aisling(",)

Is that the gaisce award?
Because I'm planning on doing that when I'm in ty.
I know some people who learned to swim to do it and others who learned different languages

PurpleFistMixer

Yeah, it's a pretty standard thing to do in TY in my school.

As far as I know, I'm doing yoga for the physical, archiving school photographs for the community involvement, and I'll probably just use my violin as the personal skill. I wanted to take up cello but apparently I already do too much.


Also, why in GOD'S NAME are you doing study during TY? o.O

Diarmsquid

Aisling(",) wrote:

Is that the gaisce award?

Yeah, also called the Gaisce Award.

PurpleFistMixer wrote:

Also, why in GOD'S NAME are you doing study during TY? o.O

I'm not, I meant that I have more free time in TY, that I didn't have last year or won't have next year, because of study.
Get me?

Anyway, I'm visiting the elderly in an old folks home for the Community, improving on guitar for personal skill and doing weights for physical. I need it, I'm so weak .

And for the adventure, our teacher is organising something for the six of us.
I think we're going canoeing!

*MmmPie*

Diarmsquid wrote:

Our TY co-ordinator (fancy name for form teacher) told us about this President's Award, where you do 4 different parts to it: Community Involvement, Personal skills, Physical Improvement and a Venture Activity.
You do all these and you get a President's Award medal. Bronze, silver or gold, depending on how long you do the activities for.
The medal is nationally recognised on CV's.
I'm going to do it this year, when I have the extra time from study and all that. Along with about 5 others in my class
He said a lot of TY-ers do it.

I was just wondering if many others here are doing it?
And what are you doing for each of the activities?

Yep, my whole class is doing it, so I'm doing tennis for the Physical, guitar for Personal, helping out at the Homework Club for Community and doing an anventure weekend thingy for the Adventure.

Aisling(",)

Diarmsquid wrote:

Anyway, I'm visiting the elderly in an old folks home for the Community, improving on guitar for personal skill and doing weights for physical. I need it, I'm so weak

Smurf are you seriously saying that you will be lifting WEIGHTS!!!

Wonder how that will turn out :rolleyes:
Ah well good luck

Diarmsquid

Yeah, started last night. Only Dumbells and light stuff. Not the Olympic weightlifting kind of stuff :rolleyes:. 30 minutes twice a week.

Funny thought, isn't it?

Strokesa

I'm doing it...I think everyone in my year is though!
I want to do karate for the sport one...I don't know the proper names btw, for the community one I'm working in an old folks home 'cause we have to do something like that anyway for school and I dont know about the personal one...improve guitar or something probably, but I'd like to do something new...I think I'm going to Glendalough for the other one. To walk or something...

cookiemonst3r

And for the adventure, our teacher is organising something for the six of us.I think we're going canoeing!

youre supposed to organise the trip yourself

Diarmsquid

Well he's deciding on what we're doing but we are organising it ourselves.
I think. We haven't talked much about it.

philologos

this is just a lame award to get people something to write on their CV....

limerick_man

... and for personal development, it means more people will have more skills, and also we are helping out the community! The award is a great idea

Diarmsquid

Jakkass wrote:

this is just a lame award to get people something to write on their CV....

Yeah, That's one of the main reasons I'm doing it. But also, it should be a good experience.

PurpleFistMixer

Well, I do most of those things anyway (except for the community service), so it's just getting certification, which can only be a good thing.

spiderlegs

Anyone Any Ideas For The Community Part Of It? I Just Dont Know What To Do For That Part...know What I'm Doin' For The Others Though

Diarmsquid

I'm going to visit old people in a home near where I live.
One of my mates is joining the Order of Malta and doing the first aid course.
You could also help a younger person with schoolwork, which is really only going into a friends little brother/sister or any kid in your area and helping them with their homework once a week.

Strokesa

Diarmsquid wrote:

I'm going to visit old people in a home near where I live.

The one on the Malahide Road by any chance??

spiderlegs

Diarmsquid wrote:

I'm going to visit old people in a home near where I live.
One of my mates is joining the Order of Malta and doing the first aid course.
You could also help a younger person with schoolwork, which is really only going into a friends little brother/sister or any kid in your area and helping them with their homework once a week.

Ok thanks...I might help in someway like that. I also heard helping out at a scout den counts , so I'll probably do that.

Diarmsquid

Strokesa wrote:

The one on the Malahide Road by any chance??

No, the one opposite St. Paul's Swimming Pool. Sybil Hill, I think it's called.

philologos

im thinking of leaning towards this im not sure atm. I still think its kinda taking advantage of an award just for your CV

Diarmsquid

Jakkass wrote:

im thinking of leaning towards this im not sure atm. I still think its kinda taking advantage of an award just for your CV

What's wrong with that?
But anyway, it's not really because you're helping the community and yourself and you get a good experience.
Go on, go on...

Alvis

It's funny cause there are a few employers I know who dont even know what the award is at all. So there might not be much point in participating if you're doing it just for your CV. But for the experience and stuff it's cool.

BlueRollingPin

My school really encourages TY students to do the Gaisce Award. I thing most people in my year are doing it. I'm being a beaver leader for the community care section, doing yoga for the new skill, going to the gym twice a week for the physical part and then probably hiking somewhere in the Wicklow Way with a friend (who's also doing the award) for the adventure.

I've started yoga and leading beavers, the adventure is being planned so all I've got to do is motivate myself to go to the gym after school... It'll be great fun, I'm sure.

TalkISCheap

Scouts does indeed count... As does Cubs & Beavers. Although why you'd do Beavers is beyond me...

BlueRollingPin

TalkISCheap wrote:

Scouts does indeed count... As does Cubs & Beavers. Although why you'd do Beavers is beyond me...

I like being a Beaver Leader, all the kids are so cute... And being around them makes me feel tall!

EvilPixieOne

I'm working in oxfam for the community bit, doing ecdl or piano for the skill, and hockey, tennis or running for the physical bit. I do all that stuff anyway except for the community work so it seems a bit too easy though...

Strokesa

EvilPixieOne wrote:

I'm working in oxfam for the community bit, doing ecdl or piano for the skill, and hockey, tennis or running for the physical bit. I do all that stuff anyway except for the community work so it seems a bit too easy though...

Aren't you supposed to start new things??
But I guess they'll never know really.....

Diarmsquid

Strokesa wrote:

Aren't you supposed to start new things??
But I guess they'll never know really.....

I don't think you have to. I'm continuing guitar and the teacher said that was fine.

Riveta

MY GOD! that bloody thing really pisses me off!!! all the squeaky clean looser middle class kids do it to impress mummy and daddy!! and to put something on their cv.... ok mini rant over!!

Diarmsquid

I don't know anyone who decided to do the President's Award for "Mummy and Daddy". My Mam and Dad didn't want me to it at all, I wanted to do it for myself. Mainly for the venture part that we should be doing later on in the year, but also for something to put on a CV.

PurpleFistMixer

Haha, 'squeaky clean looser middle class kids'. What, did you come straight out of an american teen movie, or have you just never spoken to a real person before?

My parents are perfectly proud of me already.

EFC-4eva

We're doing the Gaisce yeah. i'm doing Football, Self-Defence, First Aid and then a hike for the bronze medal.

Flashling

Riveta wrote:

MY GOD! that bloody thing really pisses me off!!! all the squeaky clean looser middle class kids do it to impress mummy and daddy!! and to put something on their cv.... ok mini rant over!!

If it's not constructive, no one wants to hear it. Keep your predjudices to yourself please.

For the record, I don't even do the presidents award.

J Campion

Yeah I signed up for this too. Our teacher told us you're supposed to do something new, because that's the whole point of it. I think I'll do SVP or somethin for community, possibly learn to play the bagpipes for skill, train for a mini-triathalon for physical (the teacher is organising the triathalon) and cycle about 120 km, then climbing a large hill for adventure :eek: . Should certainly be interesting!!!

Mimikyu

This post has been deleted.

PurpleFistMixer

Um... http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=307807

Flashling

Woeful merge, I know, but it was my first time!

So, what are you all doing for the venture?

Apple Gal

My friend is starting it in 3rd year. And another girl who hates me is doing it this year(3rd) too!! My friend is hiking up mountains all the time she is soooo tired all the time and looks dreadful not being mean but she just looks tired! Poor girl! Are you even allowed start it in 3rd year!!

Diarmsquid

I think you just have to be 15. Doesn't matter what year you're in.

Apple Gal

Mmm interesting!! I tought it was just for 4th years! Ya learn somrthing new everyday!

Diarmsquid

Flashling wrote:

So, what are you all doing for the venture?

A few of the lads in my class doing the Gaisce are mad into canoeing and they know instructors etc so we're going canoeing on April Fools day.

"..tch.. He's not really drowning..."

We're doing training about a week before someplace, for us non-canoers.
So it's going to be very fun and tiring.:)

Apple Gal

Am not the biggest fan of canoeing or kayake,even though my dad bought me a pink kayak! It all kinda scares me!

Fyr.Fytr

I'm pretty intersted in this. I've just jonied Order Of Malta Ambulnace Corps and believe theres a way of donig it through that so might do it that way. Got to get my basic first aid course out fo the way first

Killaqueen!!!

I'm in 3rd year and we had a meeting for it..I'm thinkin of doing it but I'm kind of stuck for the Community Service part. Any ideas? (Please none that has already been mentioned like going to an old folks home..)

And for the Venture part, you don't have to organise it yourself. In our school, the teachers organise it but there's limited spaces. We got an application form where we have to have all the details in the 4 sections completed out. If we bring it back to our teacher in time, we can get a place for the school venture..if not we have to orgainse it ourselves which sucks.

The annoying thing is, you have to say exactly where, who and when you are working in the sections...EXACT dates and times. How are you meant to organise that? I'll have to ring up a lot of people this week.

Oh and you don't have to take up new things at all. I mean, if you're BRILLIANT at piano there's no point on doing that but if you only know a bit, your challenge could be to pass Grade 1 or something.

marshmallow

Any new 4th years doing An Gaisce this year?

I'm doing Piano for the personal skill..
Church choir for community..
Basketball as my sport..
and then the year goes on some sort of hike further down the road..

sock puppet

I'm doing gaisce. I dont have to take up anything though. I'm doing swimming as my sport, Classical guitar for my skill and in our school TYs organise this concert where the proceeds go to charity and that counts as my community. Then we go on a 2 day hike.

Jello

I'm doing the bronze.

For skill I'm doing the guitar.
For physical I'm doing swimming, or else kayaking.
For the community thing I'm promoting some anti-litter/recycling thing around my school with a few others.

Clodidah

im doing the bronze one too!
im doing ballet for my physical
ecdl for my skill
red cross first aid course for my community
and were going to achill in april fpr our venture

phasers

in my school we are forced to do it.
not many of us are actually interested in it,and they are forcing us which will make us resent it.
I don't have the time to do all of these things,I have things I have to do after school and I can't give it up.

phasers

Killaqueen!!! wrote:

And for the Venture part, you don't have to organise it yourself.

on the form,it says that you do have to take part in the organisation of it.

PurpleFistMixer

phasers - Can you not just put down the things you're doing outside school as activities? That's what I did. Only actually took up one thing which was community, and that was a dos. We just sorted old photos for the school.