Latest news with #HamiltonHighSchool
Irish Times
2 days ago
- Health
- Irish Times
The rise of extreme Leaving Cert study regimes online: 5am alarms and marathon cramming sessions
'Any hour I had, I was studying ... My downtime was a bit of Netflix in the shower,' says Colin O'Donovan, a grinds tutor and TikTok influencer currently advising students on how to prepare for the Leaving Cert exams. The quote is from a recent video in which O'Donovan explains how much study he committed to secure 625 points in the Leaving Cert in 2019. For all of sixth year, he says, he did 'nothing but study to guarantee perfect results'. Plenty of current students are also sharing their extreme study regimes online, detailing exhausting cramming schedules, sleep deprivation and ominous countdowns to individual papers. READ MORE 10 hour study days were light work It may work for some, but experts in education will likely tell you these are mistakes to avoid. Can extreme study routines work? Eoghan O'Leary is a teacher in Hamilton High School, Co Cork, and head of maths at The Tuition Centre in Bandon. In two decades at Hamilton, he has seen plenty of students achieve maximum points, but none have followed an extreme study routine. 'Some of them have been academically very able and you wouldn't be surprised at them getting 625, or 600 in the old days,' Mr O'Leary says. 'Others have been all-rounders who would have balanced their sporting commitments with their studies and still have performed very well. 'There's none of the students I can think of who would have followed a routine like that successfully. I would say it is almost mythical. I'm sure there are people out there doing it but whether it's successful for anyone, I'm not quite sure.' The rise of TikTok study stories O'Leary runs a 21-day maths challenge, which revises the whole maths course over three weeks of daily one-hour lessons. This week, he asked students if they felt they had been influenced by TikTok and other social media accounts advising them on study methods. A significant number said they were affected by videos promoting 10- to 12-hour study days, all-nighters and 5am alarms. They mentioned feeling peer pressure too, particularly around anecdotes of friends taking on marathon study sessions in the library or using productivity apps like Flora to track and compare the hours they spend working. Some students say they have been influenced by videos promoting 10- to 12-hour study days, all-nighters and 5am alarms. Photograph: iStock Danger of burnout Though he is not sure how many of his former students have adopted an extreme study routine, O'Leary has seen the danger of burnout among those that place too much weight on the final few days before exams. It may not seem helpful to those that feel underprepared at this stage, but cramming can be dangerous. 'The vast majority of people – it's a stressful time but they get through and they're out the other end of it in a couple of weeks,' Mr O'Leary says. 'There are a few students I can think of who possibly didn't perform as well in the exam as one would have thought. [ Classroom to College: our expert guide to navigating the Leaving Cert for parents, guardians and students Opens in new window ] 'I would say, if they had perhaps had a more balanced, steady routine, it would have served them better. We all know people can leave things to the last minute and then try to cram in too much, and I do think that can be counterproductive.' Prioritise sleep 'I would say, to any student of mine, to prioritise rest,' O'Leary says. 'If you plan to get up at eight o'clock in the morning to do your first exam in English – well if you want to get eight hours sleep, you have to be asleep by midnight. And then you want to be winding down maybe from 10pm. 'In the hours before that, from the time you get up in the morning until 10pm, what you want is a balanced routine. A mixture of studying but also exercise and diet is very important. To eat well and to stay away from things like caffeine drinks and so on.' How can parents help with exam anxiety? From the survey O'Leary ran with his maths students, most reported feeling nervous, stressed or afraid. Comparing yourself to other students online doesn't help, and oftentimes, neither do well-meaning parents, explains Dr Clare Finegan, a lecturer in education, guidance and counselling at Maynooth University. 'My [advice] for parents would be to see this as a milestone, not just for young, budding adults, but one for parents equally to transcend,' she says. 'My recollection of being in this bubble as a parent remains very visceral even today. It was like being wrapped in slimy cling film for what felt like forever, in order to keep yourself together and appear supportive. 'There's a slow dawning emerges that there was actually no sense to all the hype and that somehow, you've been conned. There's almost a sense of guilt at what you've put your students or children through. 'The dawning is that not only is there an endless choice of career pathways – there are more sensible, mature [routes to those careers].' Dr Finegan worked as a teacher, guidance counsellor and psychotherapist with children for years, and has seen the impact of anxiety and stress on students approaching their Leaving Cert exams. They tend to understand the situation better than parents, in her view, and as such warrant a level of trust. 'What I would suggest is that really, parents should look after themselves and make themselves scarce if they are feeling stressed,' Dr Finegan says. 'If that means being silent and saying nothing, then they'll be in a better place to be able to do that. At the end of the day, it's about entrusting the child with going through this journey of resilience and coming out the other end. And supporting that journey regardless of what the outcome is.' Comparing yourself to other Leaving Cert students online doesn't help, and oftentimes, neither do well-meaning parents, says Dr Clare Finegan. Photograph: Dara Mac Dónaill What can you control? Over the years, Mr O'Leary has found that one pearl of wisdom seems to stick with his students more than any other – 'if you don't know what to do, do what you know.' It is a piece of advice that can be useful for any exam, job interview or dilemma. In a Leaving Cert context, days out from the start of exams, it might encourage students to focus on their strengths, and to tackle problems incrementally. Even if you are faced with an unfamiliar question or title in a paper, you might know how to take the first step towards answering it.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Looking for the coolest splash pad in metro Phoenix? Check out these 10
Summer in metro Phoenix can be brutal, but one of the best things about living here is the ability to fight that triple-digit heat with all sorts of cooling weapons, from misters at outdoor shopping centers and restaurant patios to a plethora of splash pads for kids. Parks, malls and aquatic centers throughout the Phoenix area have splash pads. Kids can get a bucket of water dumped straight onto their heads at Sunset Palms Park in Glendale, play in the fire-fighter themed Soak Station 309 at the new Rescue Oasis Park in Surprise or cool off at the splash pad near the AMC theater at Desert Ridge Marketplace in Phoenix. Here are 10 of the best splash pads in metro Phoenix for summer 2025. This splash pad opened in 2023 and has 15 water features, including giant sprayers, various waterspouts and a huge dump bucket. Its sprinklers are set to go off every 4 minutes. Details: Noon-7 p.m. daily from May 24-Sept. 1 and Labor Day. 5402 W. Sweetwater Ave., Glendale. Free. The newest recreation area in Surprise is Rescue Oasis Park, which contains the Soak Station 309 splash pad and the Oasis Swim Center. Soak Station 309 is a firefighter-themed splash pad with a firetruck that doubles as a slide with hoses and sprinklers that spray water. It also has a hoop with sprinklers to run through and several waterspouts to spray your friends with. And the best part? It's shaded. The Oasis Swim Center has three pools, six slides, a walking channel, climbing walls and more. Details: Soak Station 309 is open 8 a.m.-8 p.m. daily through Oct. 31. Open swim at Oasis Swim Center is noon-6 p.m. daily through Aug. 31. 12361 N. Perryville Road, Surprise. Soak Station 309 is free; see Oasis Swim Center fees at This splash pad is completely shaded and has 15 water features for all ages, including one that dumps water on older kids and the dandelion dome for little kids. Colored LED lights illuminate the pad at night. Details: 10 a.m.-8 p.m. daily through Oct. 15. 29799 N. Lake Pleasant Parkway, Peoria. This facility at Hamilton High School has a competition pool, a zero-depth play pool, a 115-foot interactive play structure, a water vortex, a lazy river and two water slides. Details: Hours vary; see the schedule online. 3838 S. Arizona Ave., Chandler. $1 for ages 2-17, $2.25 for ages 18-54 and $1.25 for ages 55 and over. A good splash pad for toddlers and younger children with spouts that bubble straight up in varying strengths. It's near Barnes and Noble and has some shaded seating nearby. Details: 11 a.m.-9 p.m. Mondays-Saturdays and 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Sundays. 2000 E. Rio Salado Parkway, Tempe. Free. Tempe's largest splash zone is The Cloud at the north end of Kiwanis Park. It's shaded and has water that sprays up from the ground as well as down from large archways. Details: 7 a.m.-10 p.m. daily through October. 5233 S. Ash Ave., Tempe. Free. More summer fun coming soon: Water park debuting tallest waterslide in Arizona with 'toe-curling 65-foot drop' This splash pad features buckets that drop water on kids, a spray tunnel, various floor geysers and jets, and a water-style merry-go-round, plus two shade canopies nearby. Details: 8 a.m.-8 p.m. daily through Sept. 4, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. on weekends Sept. 9-Oct. 31. 101 E. Lower Buckeye Road, Avondale. Free. Catch a movie, do some shopping, grab a bite to eat and let the kiddos splash around on the splash pad near the AMC theater. Details: 9 a.m.-11 p.m. daily. 21001 N. Tatum Blvd., Phoenix. Free. park's splash pad has a 15-foot water wall and is partially shaded. Pioneer Park also has a playground, ramadas, a basketball court, picnic tables and more. Details: 10 a.m.-10 p.m. daily. 526 E. Main St., Mesa. Free. Every summer, McDowell Mountain Ranch Aquatic Center opens up its waterslide, lazy river, zero-depth play pool and spray pad complete with numerous water features. Details: 1-5 p.m. Mondays-Thursdays, 1-5:30 p.m. Fridays-Sundays through July for the water park. 15225 N. Thompson Peak Parkway, Scottsdale. $7 for adult residents, $5 for child residents; $10 for nonresident adults, $7 for nonresident children. Meredith G. White covers entertainment, art and culture for The Arizona Republic and She writes the latest news about video games, television and best things to do in metro Phoenix. This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Best splash pads in Phoenix from Rescue Oasis to Pioneer Park
Yahoo
21-05-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Vegetation fire forces evacuations near Aguanga
Firefighters are battling a vegetation blaze in Riverside County Tuesday afternoon that has grown over 100 acres and forced evacuation orders and warnings. The fire, called the Crossing Fire, began just after 1:30 p.m. at Lower Ranch Road and Pete Crossings in Aguanga, Cal Fire said on social media. About an hour later, it had grown to 35 acres in size and 'continues to burn in light brush with a moderate rate of spread in rugged terrain,' Cal Fire added. Ground crews and aircraft are on scene to knock down the flames. 'Two additional water tenders have been requested to support ongoing suppression efforts,' Cal Fire added. By 3:30, the fire had grown to 112 acres. Evacuations were ordered for this area: North of Dove Drive South of Pico Lane East of Shortcut Trail West of Summerset Way/Ridgecrest Trail Warnings were issued for this area: North of Amaretto Way/Pico Lane South of Highway 371 East of Shortcut Trail West of Tule Valley Road Hamilton High School, located at 57430 Mitchell Road in Anza, is serving as an evacuation shelter. For more information and an evacuation map, click here. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
28-04-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
NFL Draft: Which local high school grads are joining pro squads?
Apr. 28—One area high school grad was selected in the 2025 NFL Draft while a handful more will still get a chance to make a team this spring or summer. Connor Bazelak, a quarterback from Alter High School who played at Missouri, Indiana and Bowling Green in college, signed with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Advertisement They have locked up Baker Mayfield as their long-term starter and entered the offseason with Kyle Trask as his backup. The Atlanta Falcons signed Malik Verdon, a safety from Hamilton High School who earned All-Big 12 honors at Iowa Stae, while the New York Giants signed Trotwood-Madison graduate Jaison Williams, an offensive lineman from Youngstown State. Tippecanoe High School graduate Ben Sauls will be staying in the same city where he became a standout kicker — Pittsburgh — after signing with the Steelers. While Pittsburgh might not need a new kicker with Chris Boswell entrenched there, reported the veteran does not kick much in the preseason, so Sauls could get a chance to showcase what he can do for other teams. Advertisement Two other players reportedly are set to have tryouts at rookie minicamps. Jestin Jacobs, a linebacker from Northmont who played at Iowa and Oregon, is headed to Miami to try out for the Dolphins while defensive lineman Shane Cokes, who graduated from Dartmouth then played two seasons at Colorado, will get a shot with the Broncos and the Seahawks. Kaleb Johnson of Hamilton High School went to the Pittsburgh Steelers with the 83rd pick in the draft. He was the fifth running back taken, following Ashton Jeanty of Boise State, Omarion Hampton of North Carolina, Quinshon Judkins of Ohio State and TreVeyon Henderson of Ohio State. Advertisement At 6-foot, 225 pounds, Johnson ran for 2,779 yards and 30 touchdowns in three seasons at Iowa, where was named the Big Ten Running Back of the Year and a consensus All-American last fall. He was No. 44 overall in pre-draft rankings from The Athletic, No. 57 according to Pro Football Focus and ranked No. 64 by ESPN. Johnson ran for 1,002 yards in eight games as a senior for the Big Blue and made the All-GMC first team in 2021. He is the first player from Hamilton High School to be taken in the NFL Draft since Brandon Underwood, a defensive back who played at Ohio State and Cincinnati before the Green Bay Packers chose him in the sixth round in 2009. The last Big Blue alumnus to play in the league was offensive lineman Adam Pankey (West Virginia), who spent time with the Green Bay Packers and Miami Dolphins from 2017-21.
Yahoo
26-04-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
NFL Draft: Pittsburgh Steelers snag Hamilton grad in 3rd round
Apr. 25—The Pittsburgh Steelers picked Hamilton High School graduate Kaleb Johnson in the third round of the NFL Draft on Friday night. He was the 83rd pick overall and the fifth running back taken, following Ashton Jeanty of Boise State, Omarion Hampton of North Carolina, Quinshon Judkins of Ohio State and TreVeyon Henderson of Ohio State. Advertisement At 6-foot, 225 pounds, Johnson ran for 2,779 yards and 30 touchdowns in three seasons at Iowa, where was named the Big Ten Running Back of the Year and a consensus All-American last fall. He was No. 44 overall in pre-draft rankings from The Athletic, No. 57 according to Pro Football Focus and ranked No. 64 by ESPN. Johnson ran for 1,002 yards in eight games as a senior for the Big Blue and made the All-GMC first team in 2021. He was among a group of about a dozen players from area high schools to enter the weekend with hopes of being drafted or at least signing with an NFL team by the end of the weekend. Advertisement Johnson is the first player from Hamilton High School to be taken in the NFL Draft since Brandon Underwood, a defensive back who played at Ohio State and Cincinnati before the Green Bay Packers chose him in the sixth round in 2009. The last Big Blue alumnus to play in the league was offensive lineman Adam Pankey (West Virginia), who spent time with the Green Bay Packers and Miami Dolphins from 2017-21.
