Geography in Our Lady's  Secondary School, Castleblayney.

Mission statement :

               We shall strive to awaken in our students an awareness of the wonder and workings of the world and it’s peoples.

   Origins :

                Geography was created by the ancient Greeks from the roots “ge” for the earth and “grapho” for to write. These people sought a means of explaining and communicating to others their explorations and adventures to various lands and thus the word “Geography” was born.

                However there is much more to geography than describing “foreign places”! It is an all- encompassing discipline that seeks to understand the changing inter-relationships between the physical and human worlds. It is now viewed as the bridge between the human and  the physical science. Geography students become socially and environmentally sensitive,  and  informed and responsible citizens .

   Geography Today:

             We live in a world of much change and so geography is a dynamic subject.  On a local / national level for example, - services change in our towns,  farmers may abandon traditional farming practices , by-passes are built  and  new traffic measures adopted , students from other countries are being integrated into our schools.

 On an international scale, natural disasters occur such as the Japanese Tsunami . Climate change is occurring as deserts are growing (desertification) and ice caps are melting.

             The geography student learns the skills to analyse such change and make informed judgements about issues at local, national and international levels.

Computerized mapping and data analysis is known as Geographic Information Systems (G.I.S.) and is a new frontier in geography. Spatial data is gathered on a variety of subjects and fed into a computer.   G.I.S. users can create an infinite number of maps by using portions of the data.   Using Google Earth or O.S.I. (Ordnance Survey Ireland ) geography students can view multiple map windows, create a trail file,  create a 3 D dimensional map and even “fly” around such a map!

                        However geography is not tied to the classroom or computer room. The Geographical Investigation or fieldstudy is a core area of study for all students. Fieldstudy is exploration and it is discovering the geography of a place by going out and seeing what is there; – using instruments to make measurements, carrying out surveys or questionnaires and recording observations made in the field. (Local settings, where appropriate, are particularly attractive, as living in an environment means it affects you and you affect it).

                      Geographers are highly employable and generate economic benefit and influence government policy.  They are involved in many diverse areas such as Flood Hazards , Climate Change , Water Pollution, Social Exclusion Issues, Migration, Urban Planning, The Census, Meteorology, Coastal Defence, Forestry, Ecosystems, Environmental Influences on Health and of course, Education.

A geographical perspective improves our understanding of the world and its’ peoples, and develops policy solutions and helps to improve the quality of life for all.

FIFTH YEARS ON THEIR FIELD TRIP IN CASTLEBLAYNEY

Geography Club

Geography~club is held every Wednesday in Room 14 at 1.10pm