High School of Dundee Review 2017 by HBRutherford

Review 2017

Inspiring education through play

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Review 2017

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Contents Rectorâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Report...................................................... 2-3 Prize List 2017 ..................................................... 4-5 Staff News........................................................... 8-11 Performing and Visual Arts.................................. 13-42 Writing.............................................................. 43-55 Let your lives speak.......................................... 57-108 International Education................................... 109-119 Sport............................................................. 121-133 Out and About................................................ 135-151 High School of Dundee Euclid Crescent Dundee DD1 1HU Tel: 01382 202921

Editorial This was an intriguing start to a new chapter in my career but one which, I am delighted to report, has been a journey full of pleasant surprises and a glowing confirmation and extension of all that I thought I knew of the school when I arrived. From the joy of the junior years at their Christmas Nativity to the determination of all to do their utmost in the classroom, on the sports fields, performing musically or at the debate, there is not a single day at the High School when something just a little bit extraordinary does not occur. In this Review, you will find youngsters at play, working hard for others in numerous charitable activities, travelling the globe and simply enjoying the huge range of activities that are available to them. Challenged physically or intellectually, the pupils, staff and parents of the school rise magnificently to answer that call and the evidence is here for all of us to see. No work of this size can ever be completed by just one person and this Review would not have been possible without the assistance, efficiency and expertise of Mrs Audrey Davie, Mr Graeme Mutch and Mrs Irene McGrath nor without the kind contributions of so many pupils, staff and parents. My special gratitude goes to Stuart Wright and his team from our ever patient publishers HB Rutherfords who have helped bring this publication to life.

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This is a very real story of the High School over the last year and I hope that you enjoy the experience as much as I have done.

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Review 2017 - Rector’s Report

Rector’s Report At Prize-Giving this year we welcomed Prof Dame Sue Black, the renowned Professor of Anatomy and Forensic Anthropology at the University of Dundee, as our Guest of Honour. Her inspirational speech to the school was a wonderfully uplifting way to end such a busy, purposeful and successful session. She reminded us of the need to develop our own individual resilience and to aspire to personal excellence. However, she also reminded us that we only achieve that with the help and support from the team of people who surround us as we move through life. That journey – pardon the cliché – involves flexibility and the willingness to embrace change. That, in turn, implies a grounded confidence in one’s own resilience and ability to metamorphose these changes from threats to opportunities. Values, perceptions and experiences we have shared for decades have been unsettled by the shifting sands of politics, technology and globalisation. At the High School, we have, therefore, decided our improvement theme for this session and next will be to focus on the golden thread of Resilience. For us to prepare our pupils for the 21st century and beyond we focus on the perfect triangle of support and challenge which focusses on our pupils at the heart: the triangle of the academic, the co-curricular and the pastoral. In terms of our pupils’ academic attainments, our 2016 SQA results ensured that we remained in the very top echelon of Scottish schools. I wonder if any other schools in Scotland can match the fact that HSD pupils secured the top or equal top grade in the whole of Scotland in 6 different subjects at SQA: Advanced Higher Modern Studies, Higher Maths, Higher Biology, Higher Chemistry, N5

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Maths, Spanish and Geography? A remarkable testament to the talents of the pupils and the supportive dedication and professionalism of the staff. I should also stress that we do not focus only on the highest achievers. N5 English, for example, is taken by all but a small handful of F4 pupils. Every single one passed! This success is closely linked to the involvement of our pupils and staff in challenges that go beyond the constraints of the SQA curricula. To select a few examples, in Technology, one of our pupils secured a prestigious Arkwright Scholarship, another won a prestigious national award for an outstanding contribution to cancer research, and a small group won the top award from the Institute of Physics with their research entitled Pictures of Gravity. Each year over 90% of our leavers move on to Higher Education. Nonetheless, we were so pleased to hear that every single F6 pupil who applied to UCAS received an offer. Medicine is fiendishly difficult to get into but, despite the cuts and increased competition for places, this year all 15 of our applicants for medicine received offers! Quite remarkable - and this has not

happened before in my nine years at HSD. To cap it all we received three offers of places at Oxbridge. None of this happens by chance, and a massive contribution to this success, apart from the input of the teaching staff, and the unstinting support of many parents, is the work done by our Guidance team in nurturing and developing our young people. We have invested heavily in terms of time and expertise in the development of resources to monitor and track effectively the mental wellbeing of our pupils, including the effectiveness of our counselling provision. We are, therefore, developing our own Core Values and Active Reflection project, involving Form 6 mentors in delivering/supporting this programme. In addition, we have identified a range of PHSE strands to work on, from Online Safety to Emotional Wellbeing, mental health lessons within the Junior Years, the development of LGBTI support, substance abuse and Citizenship. The contribution made by our outstanding Guidance team to our young people’s success cannot be overstated. The third point of the triangle is of course our rich co-curricular programme, which complements,

Review 2017 - Rector’s Report enhances and also reinvigorates the other two areas of school life. Sport, music and drama are writ very large, as ever, with massive uptake in all three, and our concerts and productions are truly sector leading. But, elsewhere, 111 pupils achieved the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award, 21 at Gold, and we are looking forward to the centenary of our dynamic CCF in February 2018. This year we have revitalised the Pipes and Drums and our musicians won various Rotary competitions as well as the prestigious Leng Gold Medal for singing. Two of our debaters were selected to represent Team Scotland at the World Schools’ Debating Championships in Bali in August. Congratulations also go to the many sportsmen and women who achieved district or international selection, including a number who excel in individual sports. In all of this we are indebted to our parents who dedicate themselves to driving their offspring from pillar to post in support of their sporting and other co-curricular aspirations on behalf of the school. This year we have had additional reason to be grateful as we now have a roster of medical doctors amongst our parents and others linked to the school who are willing to provide specialist expertise at our home sports fixtures on Saturdays, and thereby ensuring that our medical cover is second to none. Thank you! One thing that is often referred to eloquently is the strength of the HSD Community, and this has been manifest throughout the past session. This commitment stretches to the wider community ‘beyond the Pillars’. We have developed a fruitful link with the philanthropic Rank Foundation, with our first Rank Foundation Fellow being appointed in F5. We were also pleased to help out with the Dundee Foodbank this year, amongst many charities, and this session our Charities

Committee and Interact Club raised a staggering record total of £41,413.67 for local, national and international charities. Before I finish I would like to thank all those who have helped make this year such a resounding success. The Board of Directors give many hours of unpaid time and expertise in providing strategic leadership to the school. They deserve a huge vote of thanks. Our staff are of course the school’s main ‘resource’. In addition to the teaching staff and class assistants, we are indebted to all of our colleagues throughout the school, the caterers, cleaning staff, janitors, groundsmen, Mayfield staff, office and bursary staff, technicians, for their hard work, professionalism and dedication over the past session. Thank you! Thank you to our Parents and the Parents’ Association for all your support, as well as the Old Boys and Old Girls Clubs, the FP Clubs for Sport, the Appeal Trust Fund, Nine Trades, the Guildry, as well as numerous other trusts. In short to all members of what Sue Black would describe as the ‘team’ around the school!

On a final note: It’s not the richest or the most intelligent who will be the most successful citizens of the world. It’s those who can manage change and meet that challenge with open arms and positivity. Remember three things. First, be true to yourself and where you come from. Second, imagine your destination and what you want to achieve. Third, remember the reason why. We don’t live in a vacuum and you can move forward in life doing good in the world, always changing it and improving. In the words of Sue Black: “You have one life. Live it to the full. Don’t find a job: find a passion. Do something that makes you happy and make a difference.”

Dr John D Halliday Rector

Above all though, thanks to all the pupils of the High School. Led by the Head Boy and Head Girl it is they who make our jobs worthwhile and who never cease to surprise, inspire and amuse!

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Review 2017 - Prize List 2017

Prize list 2017 L3, L4 and L5 Russell Trophy for Chess Krish Akula Prize for Bagpipes Alan Cunningham Marshall Prize for Recorder (joint) Zoe Loveday Stark Cup for Public Speaking Emily Macdonald Marshall Prize for Recorder (joint) Hannah Petrie

L6 Academic Merit Prize Neil Bhat Jack Fleming Hamish Lowrie Calum McDowall James Westwood Tie for International Recognition (Sailing) Rory Gifford Academic Merit Prize Special Prize for Chess Ramit Kanodia Academic Merit Prize Old Girls’ Prize for Piano Prize for Strings Daniel Higgins

L7 Academic Merit Prize Jonah Phillipson-Masters Tie for International Recognition (Tetrathlon) Kate Dalglish Old Girls’ Trophy for All-Round Ability in L7 Angus Gibson Walter Smith Memorial Prize for Drama in L7 Ollie Hall Hutton Prize for Environmental Studies in L7 Parisa Hossain-Ibrahim Dr Rita Forrest Prize for Art in L7 (joint) Naomi Sibson Lewis Simpson Leng Silver Medal for Singing (Girls) Old Girls’ Prize for Creative Writing in L7 (joint) Rebecca Bonnyman Academic Merit Prize Woodman Trophy for Mathematics in L7 (joint) Angus Clark

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Academic Merit Prize Prize for Guitar Maishah Mason Leng Silver Medal for Singing (Boys) Robbie Prize for Public Speaking Tie for International Recognition (Choir) Cameron Fish Academic Merit Prize Woodman Trophy for Mathematics in L7 (joint) Prize for Woodwind Zamin Okhai Old Girls’ Prize for Creative Writing in L7 (joint) John McLennan Prize for Proxime Accessit Archie Macdonald E M Stewart Prize for Dux of the Junior School Isla Hutchinson

Form 1 Academic Merit Prize Jennifer Bonnyman Academic Merit Prize Eve Campbell Academic Merit Prize Giulia Cotroneo Academic Merit Prize Sophie Elder Zoe Faloon Ross Mauritzen Tie for International Recognition (Sailing) James Gifford Betty Sword Prize for Academic Improvement in Form 1 Anisha Sangmor Academic Merit Prize Tom Durrheim Memorial Quaich for Recitation in Forms 1 - 3 Sneha Sripada Robertson Prize for Proxime Accessit of Form 1 Kaixi Liu Alexander Mill White Prize for All-Round Ability in Form 1 Florence Whytock Memorial Prize for Dux of Form 1 Ksenia Kapelyukh

Form 2 Academic Merit Prize Steven Chen Academic Merit Prize Anna Dalglish Georgia Douglas Academic Merit Prize Archie Gilmour Lewis McLennan Malavikha Sudarshan Catriona Taylor Dominic Westwood Jack Williams Betty Sword Prize for Academic Improvement in Form 2 David Logan Maggie Stewart Memorial Salver for AllRound Sporting Ability in Form 2 Girls Reave Kilcullen Andrew K Paton Memorial Trophy for AllRound Sporting Ability in Form 2 Boys Laurence Petty Larg Prize for Bagpipes A S Drummond Prize for Public Speaking in Forms 1 - 3 (first) Andrew Lothian Academic Merit Prize Prize for All-Round Ability in Form 2 Girls Jenny Shang RSL Macpherson Prize for Proxime Accessit of Form 2 Rohan Tauro Neil Fraser Cup and Prize for All-Round Ability in Form 2 Boys RSL Macpherson Prize for Dux of Form 2 Ethan McColgan

Form 3 Academic Merit Prize Michael Anderson Edward Appleton Brooke Fairweather Eilean Mauritzen Reece McLennan Hannah Meade Suzanne Stirling Tie for International Recognition (Netball) Fiona McKechnie Tie for International Recognition (Hockey) Isla McRobbie

Review 2017 - Prize List 2017 Tie for International Recognition (Choir) Catriona Paterson Old Boys’ Club Prize for Creative Writing in Forms 1 - 3 Burgess Cup for Short Story Writing Emily Baxter Chris Rea Prize for Games in Form 3 (Girls) Ailsa Millar Chris Rea Prize for Games in Form 3 (Boys) Tie for International Recognition (Hockey) Jamie Golden Academic Merit Prize A S Drummond Prize for Public Speaking in Forms 1 - 3 (second) Tie for International Recognition (Choir) Alex Fish Jane Spiller Prize for Proxime Accessit of Form 3 Charvi Kanodia Jane Spiller Prize for Dux of Form 3 Jonathan Lang

Form 4 Academic Merit Prize Robert Connolly Brown Alex Denholm Kirsten Grant Anna Hudson Rebecca Humble Bogdan Kapelyukh Shona MacTavish Sid Sripada Luke Wyatt Tie for International Recognition (Netball and Touch Rugby) Shona Campbell Tie for International Recognition (Cycling) Alfie George Tie for International Recognition (Gymnastics) Sarah McKenzie Tie for International Recognition (Choir) Laura Murphy Tie for International Recognition (Hockey) Rachel Strachan Jane Ray Prize for Home Economics Orlaith Joy David Mathers Trophy and Prize for Improvement in Mathematics in Forms 3-4 Christian Ramsay Leng Silver Medal for Singing Matthew Rawcliffe Academic Merit Prize Beckingham Trophy and Chess Club Prize Joshua Brown-Cargill

Leng Gold Medal for Singing Tie for International Recognition (Orchestra) Ruairidh Cowieson London Angus Association Trophy for Reading and Public Speaking in Forms 4 - 6 (joint) G H Philip Prize for Public Speaking in Forms 4 -6 (joint) Emily McLean RSL Macpherson Prize for Proxime Accessit of Form 4 Sophie Levin Armitstead Trust Prize for Dux of Form 4 Hannah Alijani

Form 5 Academic Merit Prize Alice Raitt Nikhil Snape James Stevenson Memorial Prize for Higher French Jordi Bugler-Lamb James Stevenson Memorial Prize for Higher German Joe Carstairs Prize for Higher Latin Phoebe Duncan Larg Prize for Vocal Charlotte Jennings Tom Durrheim Memorial Prize for Writing in Forms 4 - 6 Lucie Kelly Tie for International Recognition (Dressage) Lorna McKechnie Larg Prize for Vocal Kirsty McRobbie Games Merit Scarf (Motor Sport) Sandy Mitchell Prize for Higher Philosophy James Shearer Prize for Higher Computing Science James Taylor Academic Merit Prize Isabella Hunter Award for Higher Art Lily Bircham Graeme Matheson-Bruce Prize for Higher Music Southgate Prize for Musical Ensemble Abhisri Chaudhuri Academic Merit Prize J B Meiklejohn Prize for Higher Mathematics in Form 5 (joint) Brian Zhuan Hua Lim Academic Merit Prize Christopher and Philip Daft Prize for Higher Physics Joshua Small

Academic Merit Prize Prize for Higher Drama Prize for Higher Mandarin Mandy Zhang Edinburgh Angus Club Prize for Higher History Larg Prize for Woodwind Southgate Prize for Musical Ensemble Tie for International Recognition (Orchestra) Sarah Elgin Academic Merit Prize Robert Biggar Prize for Higher Geography Tie for International Recognition (Sailing) Games Merit Scarf (Sailing) Anna Sturrock E M Stewart Prize for Higher English J B Meiklejohn Prize for Higher Mathematics in Form 5 (joint) Prize for Higher Spanish Tie for International Recognition (Football) Caroline S Low Prize for Proxime Accessit of Form 5 Caitlin Mitchell Glenday Award for Higher Biology Sandy Wardlaw Memorial Trophy and Prize for Higher Chemistry Prize for Higher Economics Dennis J Paterson Prize for Dux of Form 5 Special Prize Asad Jafferbhoy Institute of Physics in Scotland ‘Pictures of Gravity’ Competition 2017 Ivan Kapelyukh Oran McNair Elle Wyatt Luke Wyatt

Form 6 Form 6 Leaver Award Elizabeth Bearn Scott Brand Emma Brown Euan Brown Marcus Brown Joan Bugler-Lamb Xander Cameron Angus Campbell James Cowie Alex Cunningham Kyle Davidson Alexander Dickson Shona Floate Euan Foulis Taskeen Gani Sean Gauld

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Review 2017 - Prize List 2017 Rebecca Gold Grant Hall Olivia Hayhow Aaron Inglis Humairaa Jamal Kerren Jollands Rachael Kennedy James Lawton Hannah Levin Cara MacLeod Rebecca Malik Caitlin Mann Cameron McComish Lucas McConnach Holly McKendry Oran McNair Duncan Menzies Hester Mitchell Charlotte Morrison Caitlin Ormsby Ryan Oâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Rourke Sara Paton Bruce Pattullo Olivia Pierronnet Caitlin Reid Iain Rennie Jonty Roberts Imogen Samuel Janek Siwecki Hayden Smith Nicholas Stirling Sophie Stobbs Matthew Turnbull Mia Vidman Iona Wallace Ailsa Wedderburn Claire White Mae Williamson Findlay Young Larg Prize for Brass Form 6 Leaver Award Sandy Adamson Prize for Higher Physical Education Form 6 Leaver Award Neil Bennett Bain Prize for Outstanding Service to School Form 6 Leaver Award Verity Brown Duke of Edinburgh Gold Award Form 6 Leaver Award Isabel Campbell Duke of Edinburgh Gold Award Form 6 Leaver Award Angus Dandie

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Simon Newton Memorial Trophy for Duke of Edinburgh Gold Award Commitment in Music and Sport Form 6 Leaver Award Southgate Prize for Musical Ensemble Catriona Dobie Form 6 Leaver Award Bain Prize for Outstanding Service to Simon Allen School Duke of Edinburgh Gold Award Form 6 Leaver Award D Arnot Shepherd Travel Scholarship Iona Fraser Form 6 Leaver Award Duke of Edinburgh Gold Award Stefan Baldacchino Form 6 Leaver Award Duke of Edinburgh Gold Award Jill Fraser Bain Prize for Outstanding Service to Tie for International Recognition School (Swimming) Form 6 Leaver Award Form 6 Leaver Award Kirsty Barron Eilidh Grant Block Prize for Creative Writing in Forms Bain Prize for Outstanding Service to 4-6 School Duke of Edinburgh Gold Award Form 6 Leaver Award Holli Halford-McGuff Form 6 Leaver Award Malcolm Campbell W E Crichton Prize for Dux in Computing Prize for Higher Classical Studies Science Duke of Edinburgh Gold Award Form 6 Leaver Award Form 6 Leaver Award Ben Hasselgren Katrina Crowe Edinburgh Angus Club Prize for Dux in Sir John Leng Trust Prize for Dux in History Modern Studies Armitstead Trust Prize for Higher Modern Form 6 Leaver Award Studies Kirsty Leighton Form 6 Leaver Award William Laird Prize for Scottish Studies Jennifer Coull (Scottish Literature) P Gordon Grant Trophy for Games Form 6 Leaver Award Games Merit Scarf (Rugby) Laura MacKenzie Form 6 Leaver Award Duke of Edinburgh Gold Award Angus Fraser Form 6 Leaver Award Sibbald Prize for Dux in Geography Katie McLennan Duke of Edinburgh Gold Award J Torrington Bell Prize for Dux in Art Form 6 Leaver Award Form 6 Leaver Award Hannah George Emily Norman Duke of Edinburgh Gold Award Tie for International Recognition (Science) Dr John M Morgan Prize for Outstanding Form 6 Leaver Award Service to School Maria Pisliakova Form 6 Leaver Award Duke of Edinburgh Gold Award Lewis Keddie Form 6 Leaver Award Mhairi Henderson Cup and Prize for Dux in Joshua Rawcliffe Physical Education (Girls) Southgate Prize for Musical Ensemble Duke of Edinburgh Gold Award Form 6 Leaver Award Form 6 Leaver Award Sandy Taylor Mhairi Millar Dr John M Morgan Prize for Outstanding W E Crichton Prize for Dux in Spanish Service to School Eiko Takahashi Prize for Excellence in Form 6 Leaver Award Modern Languages Cameron Todd Form 6 Leaver Award Rectorâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Prize for Deputy Head Girl Catriona Murphy Duke of Edinburgh Gold Award Duke of Edinburgh Gold Award Form 6 Leaver Award Dr John M Morgan Prize for Outstanding Mariam Alijani Service to School Form 6 Leaver Award Gregor Vagg

Review 2017 - Prize List 2017 Duke of Edinburgh Gold Award Bain Prize for Outstanding Service to School Form 6 Leaver Award Emily Wilson-Pearce High School Quaich for Best All-Round Instrumentalist Larg Prize for Piano Form 6 Leaver Award Robert Zhan Prize for Higher RMPS Duke of Edinburgh Gold Award Bain Prize for Outstanding Service to School Form 6 Leaver Award Susannah Butter Armitstead Trust Prize for Dux in German William Laird Prize for Scottish Studies (History Duke of Edinburgh Gold Award Form 6 Leaver Award Yvonne Kaufmann Dott Prize for Dux in Music Larg Prize for Strings Rectorâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Prize for Deputy Head Boy Form 6 Leaver Award Lynden Nicely Alan Hall Prize for Dux in Technology Duke of Edinburgh Gold Award Dr John M Morgan Prize for Outstanding Service to School Form 6 Leaver Award Logan Thomson William Laird Prize for Scottish Studies (Geography) Duke of Edinburgh Gold Award Bain Prize for Outstanding Service to School Form 6 Leaver Award Alexandra Vagg W E Crichton Prize for Dux in Economics Armitstead Trust Prize for Dux in English Bain Prize for Outstanding Service to School D Arnot Shepherd Travel Scholarship Form 6 Leaver Award Alice Inman Dallas Allardice Cup and Prize for Dux in Physical Education (Boys) Tie for International Recognition (Cricket) Games Merit Scarf (Cricket) D Arnot Shepherd Travel Scholarship Form 6 Leaver Award Rory Johnston

Graeme Adamson Prize for Dux in Drama Illsley Trophy for Outstanding Performance in Drama Tie for International Recognition (Choir) Dr John M Morgan Prize for Outstanding Service to School Form 6 Leaver Award Finlay McKillop Prize for Dux in Classical Studies Prize for Dux in Latin Low Memorial Prize for Latin and English Duke of Edinburgh Gold Award Form 6 Leaver Award Kristin Vagg Tie for International Recognition (Debating) Dennis J Paterson Prize and Trophy for the Best Individual Speaker in the Inter House Debate Cambridge Gavel for Contribution to Debating (joint) Dr John M Morgan Prize for Outstanding Service to School D Arnot Shepherd Travel Scholarship Form 6 Leaver Award Steven Roy James Smart Prize for Investigation at Advanced Higher Chemistry Tie for International Recognition (Debating) Cambridge Gavel for Contribution to Debating (joint) London Angus Association Trophy for Reading and Public Speaking In Forms 4 - 6 (joint) G H Philip Prize for Public Speaking in Forms 4 - 6 (joint) Dr John M Morgan Prize for Outstanding Service to School D Arnot Shepherd Travel Scholarship Form 6 Leaver Award Ivan Kapelyukh William More Prize for Dux in Applied Mathematics Dott Memorial Prize for Dux in Mathematics (joint) Jacuk Prize for Dux in Physics Duke of Edinburgh Gold Award Form 6 Leaver Award Elle Wyatt

Brian McNeill Prize for Dux in Biology Anderson Prize for Investigation at Advanced Higher Biology T S Murray Prize for Dux in Chemistry Armitstead Trust Prize for Dux in French Dott Memorial Prize for Dux in Mathematics (joint) Frank Young Prize for Dux in Natural Science Form 6 Leaver Award Alex Smith Rorie Trophy for Inter House Debating Airlie Inter House Shield for Champion House Lowson Prize for Head of School (Girls) Mhairi Millar Erskine Prize for Head of School (Boys) Joshua Rawcliffe Rectorâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Prize for Proxime Accessit Elle Wyatt Harris Gold Medal and David Gray Book Prize for Dux of School Alex Smith

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Review 2017 - Staff News

Welcome to ... Billy Craig Billy Craig is retired British Army Major with 34 Years service. Having served with the Royal Engineers in many countries over the years, such as the Falkland, Belize, Kenya, Canada, Cyprus, Gibraltar, Oman, Kosovo, Northern Ireland, Germany, and later in his career, Iraq and Afghanistan. His first job in Civvy Street after leaving the Army in 2013 was to work as a Group Facilities Manager for a Care Home Group. Billy joined the school in September 2016 as our Director of Estates and is looking forward to making a real impact in bringing the school’s facilities maintenance and servicing up to date; he is a fully qualified Health, Safety and Fire professional. Sadly, many years of parachuting and physical fitness in the Army have taken their toll on his knees and now he opts for gentler sports such as Mountain biking and golf. Billy has been married to Irene for 32 years; they have a daughter Leanne 28, and son Billy who is 26.

Charlotte Jones Originally from Bonnyrigg in Edinburgh, Charlotte moved to Dundee as a young PE teacher and worked at Harris Academy, Lawside R.C. Academy and St Paul’s R.C. High School before taking early retirement in 2015. She may have retired from teaching but is busier than ever, volunteering her time and energy to help others in many different ways. Charlotte has been hugely involved in hockey all her adult life. She enjoyed a successful playing career as a goalkeeper and has been an influential coach within Scotland for well over 30 years. Charlotte has coached aspiring young schoolgirls at both district and national level for many

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years. Possibly most notably, Charlotte led Grove Menzieshill Ladies to 10 National League titles and 9 Scottish Cup victories within a 15 year period as 1st team coach. It is fair to say Charlotte has dedicated her life to hockey and is now passing on her knowledge and experience to the pupils at the High School of Dundee in her role as a part time hockey coach. She is definitely a great addition to the PE department; you often hear her before you see her but is welcomed with open arms… especially when she arrives with cakes and chocolate!

Eoin Tonner Eoin is a native of Dundee, and began learning the trumpet at an early age. Whilst at school, Eoin received a scholarship to attend the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland juniors and won the Gilbert Innes prize for brass on three occasions. Eoin was also the principal cornet of both the National Youth Brass Band of Scotland and the European Youth Brass Band. In 2009, Eoin accepted a place to study for his Bachelor of Music in trumpet and conducting at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland and graduated in 2013. Whilst studying, Eoin had the opportunity to work with the Royal Scottish National Orchestra, BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra and the Orchestra of Scottish Opera. At the time, Eoin was also the assistant conductor of the National Youth Brass Band of Great Britain and guest conductor of the National Youth Brass Band of Scotland. After graduating, Eoin worked on UK tours and productions of various musicals, including “The Producers” U.K. tour (2015), White Christmas (2015) and Scrooge (2016) at the Pitlochry Festival Theatre. He is also currently the principal conductor of Brass Band Sachsen in Germany, who are currently German and European Champions.

Jane Fulton We welcomed Jane Fulton to the English Department in May, 2016 fresh from Craigie High School, where she was Acting Principal Teacher for English and guided the department there through an HMIE inspection. She is an experienced SQA Marker at both National 5 and Higher levels. Known throughout the city for being an excellent teacher, she has a passion for Shakespeare, Larkin and Plath. Jane worked at the High School of Dundee a number of years ago, when she taught English and Drama. She has quickly reestablished herself as a popular, talented and humorous teacher with pupils and colleagues alike. Originally from the beautiful Isle of Harris, thus her musical accent, Jane lived in Edinburgh and then Newcastle before settling in Angus.

Nigel Clarke Nigel Clarke joined the High School of Dundee as Deputy Head at the beginning of December 2016. A burning desire to see the world (and play some cricket) after he had finished his schooling in Harrogate, North Yorkshire, led Nigel to South Africa, where he did play cricket and also included a part time job as a surveyor for a platinum mine. The discovery that his cricketing talent was not going to earn him a living led him back to the UK where his first University studies were in the scientific fields. Employed by a leading Petfood manufacturer he continued his research and briefly became the world’s leading authority on Budgerigar Nutrition. A change of direction saw Nigel return to University where he studied Maths and Computing before completing his teacher training at Strathclyde University. Nigel taught for 19 years at The High School of Glasgow where he was a guidance teacher before becoming Head of Computing.

Review 2017 - Staff News

Paul Smith

James Salmond

Paul re-joined the Mathematics department in January, after two and a half years teaching at Bell Baxter High School. Paul studied engineering at the University of Cambridge for both his MEng and PhD, and then stayed to teach undergraduate mathematics and computing. Interested in the use of automatic camera technology in sport, Paul also did research for a Formula 1 company and led several undergraduate projects related to the Hawk-Eye system in cricket and tennis. He later moved to research posts in Oxford, Galway and St Andrews before completing a PGDE at the University of Dundee in 2012.

James joined the IT department in March of this year. Brought up in Carnoustie, he is now living in Arbroath with his wife and young daughter. James graduated from Robert Gordon University with an honours degree in Computing Network Management and Design. He worked in IT for 8 years in a number of industries including, Retail, Oil & Gas, Food Manufacturing, Medical Research and Education. Outside of work, James is a keen piper playing, teaching and competing with the Arbroath Pipe Band.

Paul is a keen cricketer and tennis player, enjoys singing, and loves to cook fancy desserts. However, what spare time he has nowadays is mostly spent entertaining his two young children.

Susan Colgan Susan is a graduate of the University of Aberdeen where she qualified as a classroom music teacher. She then went on to study musical theatre at The Royal Academy of Music in London. Susan is a professional singer and a fully qualified vocal instructor. She has worked as a soloist and ensemble member in a variety of works up and down the country and is currently enjoying performing with a close harmony trio. Susan has worked at the High School for three years and has enjoyed her first year as a full-time member of staff.

Niall Joss Niall Joss began working as a Supply Teacher in the Junior Years in October 2015, and has worked with all year groups. In August 2016 he was appointed to cover a maternity leave and taught L7. From August 2017 he joins the teaching staff on a permanent basis, beginning again in L7. Niall was born and brought up in Dundee, and studied Modern History and Political Science at Dundee University before moving to Edinburgh for a postgraduate teaching qualification at Moray House. He then returned to the City to teach at Ancrum Road PS. He was seconded to the City Council Education Department, and subsequently appointed an Education Officer for a number of years. He returned to schools in Perth as a Depute Head Teacher, before leaving teaching to look after the family. During this time he worked part-time as Youth Worker at Central Baptist Church, and as administrator for Grove Menzieshill Hockey Club. Niall is interested in all sports. In hockey he has represented Scotland at Universities, Under 21 and Over 45 levels, and has coached extensively at school, district and with clubs. Niall is married to Judith, and they have three children attending HSD Katie in F5, Claire and Matthew in F2.

Hatches and Matches ... 2016 – 2017 was a very busy time for the staff of the school and not just in their day jobs. Various happy events were shared:

Births The PE department were highly productive again with a number of new additions. Louise Baxter - Poppy Baxter was born on 25th August 2016. Big sister Lily is delighted to have a little sister to ‘look after’ and lead astray! Linda Clement - Tom Anderson was born on 6th of September 2016. He has already been on a hockey tour to Munich – a future international in the making! Chris Allan - Milah Allan was born on the 30th May 2017. Chris is now overrun by ladies in his house as she teams up with mum Hannah, along with sisters Tamzyn and Aurora. In the New Year Jane Broom of Chemistry celebrated with Hamish Broom arriving on Jan 5th 2017 weighing in at 8lb 1oz. The junior years’ teachers were not to be outdone and produced their own set of bouncing balls of mischief. Gillian Johnson – William was born in September. Katie Goldie – Xander arrived in October. Ruth Leburn – Clara arrived in for an early Christmas in December.

Marriages The PE department also celebrated a wedding over the holidays. Miss Clement returned as Mrs Anderson following her and Chris’ wedding in the Black Isle. Emily Robinson of the Chemistry department was married on the Unicorn in August to Michael Nicholson. Emily will be keeping her current name so remains Dr Emily Robinson. We wish both the happy couples long and happy futures.

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Review 2017 - Staff News

Farewell to ... Carlijn Findlater

Eilidh Whatley-Marshall

Louise Campbell

Carlijn Findlater joined the High School in August2012 to teach Latin and Classical Studies having worked previously at the Gymnasium Juvenaat in the Netherlands, a Dutch Grammar School; before that her previous career had involved teaching Classics in Richmond in Yorkshire and also in London.

Eilidh Whatley Marshall joined the English Department in 2012 and throughout her time here at HSD she was a very popular teacher. Eilidh always had a strong emotional connection with pupils and a passion for introducing them to wide ranging literature from around the world. Being a voracious reader, she established a Literary Society for pupils to broaden their experience. Eilidh continued to pursue her academic studies, always seeking to develop her capacities as a teacher and learner. This drive to help pupils across the learning spectrum, led her to take up a post in the Learning Skills Department at Arbroath High School.

Louise joined the PE Department for a year to cover maternity leave. Her bubbly personality and sense of humour allowed her to fit in well in the department! Louise has played hockey to an extremely high level, representing Scotland and she transferred her extensive knowledge to the F1 hockey programme. However, due to Louise’s petite stature, most weeks she was misinterpreted as a new entrant instead of the coach! A graduate from Edinburgh University, Louise is set to return to Edinburgh to take up her new job at St George’s next year. We wish her all the very best for the future.

Carlijn has been an excellent colleague and teacher and a superb linguist. In her five years with us she has been fully involved in the life of the school, taking trips away on a yearly basis to Italy, to Hadrian’s Wall, and was involved in the Charities Committee, organising the various events held over the year. Carlijn, however, was offered a job at George Watson’s in Edinburgh, and having commuted from Edinburgh for five years on the train, three hours a day, she has seized the opportunity of the short daily bus ride! We wish her well in her new employment.

Dawn Keogh Dawn Keogh joined the English Department in 2001 and immediately brought a supportive, enthusiastic and modern approach to teaching literature and language. At heart Dawn is an oldfashioned girl with a passion for Victorian novels, metaphysical poetry and Gothic fiction; her pupils will know her better for her varied choices of media texts as she also has a strong love of film. She is well-known for being a hugely committed Harry Potter fan and has passed on her love of Gothic fiction to her pupils. For many years Dawn edited the Sixth Form Year book and her desire to support pupils in any capacity has been evident throughout her long service to the school - she particularly enjoyed singing with the Senior choir! Dawn has a wicked sense of humour and her love of themed events has trickled into her classroom whilst providing the inspiration for many significant social events which have marked the past sixteen years. She will be greatly missed but we wish her well in her future life in the West of Scotland.

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Emma Patton Emma joined the PE department at the start of the 2017-18 session for a year long maternity cover. Her infectious positivity and tremendous work ethic allowed her to take this first year of teaching in her stride (however small her stride may be!). Emma also managed to balance her busy work schedule with the completion of a Master’s level degree. Emma’s took on the role of the F2 hockey coach, guiding them through a successful season and in addition, she acted as super sub Netball coach, assisting with the F3 girl’s in their Scottish Schools Cup Bronze final. Emma is looking forward to moving back to her hometown of Belfast after six long years of ‘studying’ in Dundee and Liverpool. We wish her all the best for her future career.

Andy Blackburn Andy Blackburn joined the staff of HSD in 1984 when it was affectionately known as DHS. His ties to the school were in his blood; his Mum was a DHS English teacher. He had a brief ‘respite’ to study Mathematics at the University of St Andrews followed by a year of teacher training before returning to the High School to begin his teaching career in the Mathematics Department. Content to ‘just teach Maths’, Andy resisted the temptation to pursue promotion and gave his time to co-curricular football where his passion for the game and encyclopaedic knowledge were legendary. Andy made a substantial contribution to the many SQA successes in the Maths Department over the years. Many of his pupils will remember him for making them feel confident that if Mr B could do Maths, then anyone could! Andy Blackburn had a unique impact on generations of High School pupils and staff. We wish him well as he moves on to pursue his teaching career.

Review 2017 - Staff News

Felicity Wilson After 14 years at the High School, we have said farewell to Mrs Felicity Wilson who was, herself, a former pupil. Starting in the Junior Years as a probationer under her maiden name Miss Ramsay, Mrs Wilson taught in the early years and upper stages of the school and has left her mark on many children and their families. Her particular blend of creativity, fun and pragmatism endeared her to all her pupils. We wish her well in her new post with Angus Council where we are sure she will continue to flourish.

John Mordente John Mordente joined the Maths Department of the High School of Dundee in August 1994 and in 1998 was appointed Head of Department, leading and managing a team of six other colleagues. During his time at HSD he developed the subject and navigated the department through the major curricular changes of the past two decades, including those associated with Curriculum for Excellence. Under his leadership the department participated in a range of Scottish and UK mathematical competitions over the years with some success. In recent years he introduced iPad software and materials into the department. We wish him well as he leaves HSD to pursue new challenges.

Morag Mordente Morag joined the High School in August 2000, as a probationer teacher. She taught L6 for several years before moving to L2, to gain experience in the Early Years. Following her marriage to John, Morag left school to start a family and Sophia was born. She returned to teach L4 for a short period and then moved into the Learning Skills Department. Morag thoroughly enjoyed the opportunity to work

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with pupils across all stages of the Junior Years. Three years later, Morag left school to have Luca. She returned to school to work in L3, before moving to teach L1. It was here, in nurturing and encouraging the youngest members of HSD, that Morag really discovered her ‘calling’. Her particular blend of warmth and challenge empowered the young people in her care to achieve beyond their expectations. All our best wishes go with her as she moves to teach in Angus.

Charles Sharp Charles Sharp joined the school as Bursar in May 1998, having qualified as a CA and worked with distinction in the coal industry, becoming Chief Executive of Bruce Lindsay Brothers Ltd. Once here, he quickly demonstrated the many qualities that earned him huge respect and – amazingly for a Bursar! – affection from colleagues and parents alike. Dedication and stamina were allied to an open, generous and friendly manner. Scrupulously fair, supportive and reflective he brought a huge amount of experience and wisdom to the role. He was responsible for primarily the financial stability of the school but also corporate management, HR, property and project management, bursaries and awards and health and safety. However, he never lost sight of the primacy of education in the lives of young people and saw this as his greatest responsibility. In the course of his 18 years at HSD the entire school campus has undergone a programme involving the complete refurbishment of the school. His first major project was the creation of the Robert Fergusson Building, followed by the school’s first new-build - Mayfield Sports Centre. Two synthetic turf pitches at Dalnacraig, and the construction of a purpose built nursery bore witness to his many skills and and whilst ly there has been little evidence of work on the PO Building a huge amount has been internally in stripping out and preparing the building for the construction phase of the proposed Performing and Visual Arts Centre. A remarkable record. Since stepping down as Bursar, Charles has been in acting as Clerk to the Board so

his influence lives on. We thank him most warmly and wish him a happy retirement with his wife Kate.

Val Vannet Valerie Reid first joined HSD in L1 in 1959 leaving in 1972 at the end of F6. Val was Head Girl and Dux in English, and she subsequently married the Head Boy, John Vannet, son of the Head of Art WP Vannet. Their children Jilly and Peter both attended the school. Having taught in schools locally and further afield Val returned to HSD in 2000 as Head of Geography, a subject she galvanized and made one of the most popular and successful. An excellent teacher, Val’s energy, drive, enthusiasm and unwillingness to leave any stone unturned were second to none, and her pursuit of excellence was combined with an extraordinary eye for detail. Not surprisingly this was recognised by her peers in the Royal Scottish Geographical Society and the Scottish Association of Geography Teachers, where she was past president. She received an RSGS Award for Outstanding Geography Teaching in 2007, a fellowship in 2008 and more recently, the prestigious Tivy Medal for lifetime achievement. Val has never lost that glint in her eye when she talks about anything geographical….! In 2008 Val was appointed Deputy Head and then in 2011 Deputy Rector (Academic), a role she performed with distinction, whilst somehow finding time to demonstrate the huge range of her her interests and expertise, including French literature, music, debating, baking, pantomime and sport! Curriculum development, SQA coordination, tracking, school calendar, Prize-Giving – these and many more responsibilities were tackled with equal energy, thoroughness effectiveness and no little flair. We thank her hugely for her many successes, achievements and contributions to life at HSD over many years and wish her well in what has already been an unsurprisingly aspirational retirement.

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Performing and Visual Arts

Contents An Amazing Igloo.................................. 14 Easter Egg Art....................................... 14 Senior Art competition........................... 14 Autumn in L1 ........................................ 15 L3 River Tay Art..................................... 15 Graphic Design Mindfulness.................. 15 Pupil Design.....................................16-17 An Artistic Achievement......................... 17 Rainworks........................................18-19 Languages and Art & Design Project..... 20 Easter Nests.......................................... 20 Energy Lesson....................................... 20 Fair Trade Fortnight................................ 21 iCook Book........................................... 21 F2 Design a Lunch................................ 22 Max’s win makes it a tasty treble for the High School..................................... 22

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L3 Trip to Home Economics.................. 23 L7 Mandarin.......................................... 24 Rotary Chef........................................... 25 Pupils enjoy a hola lot of Spanish cooking!................................... 25 Midsummer Night’s Dream...............26-27 Mr Humbug Sees the Light!................... 28 Seussical Jnr....................................29-31 High School of Dundee Pipe Band........ 32 Annual Piping Competition.................... 32 Celebration to mark the retirement of Mrs Valerie Vannet, Deputy Rector and Mr Charles Sharp, Bursar............... 33 Senior Music Competition and Southgate Prize..................................... 33 Guitar Day............................................. 33 Big Band performance at the Dundee Flower and Food Festival.......... 34 Rotary Young Musician Competitions.... 34

Autumn Concert in the Caird Hall .......... 35 Charity Concerts November and December....................................... 36 Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols...... 36 Campaign Concert................................ 37 Junior Music Competition...................... 37 Jazz Soirée............................................ 37 Senior and Junior Piano Days................ 38 Spring Concert in the Caird Hall: “The Auld Alliance”................................ 39 The Chronological Cabaret.................... 40 Music Medals........................................ 40 Leng Medal Competitions...................... 40 Cantabile sing joint Choral Evensong with St Paul’s Cathedral Choir................ 41 Performance Platforms.......................... 41 Monstrous Bodies................................. 41 Summer Strings Soirée.......................... 42

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Review 2017 - Performing and Visual Arts

An Amazing Igloo

Easter Egg Art

We built our own igloo in the nursery as part of our project about the Arctic. We collected over 1,000 milk bottles and spent lots of time constructing our igloo to play in at nursery.

We made Easter Eggs for the bears at Camperdown Zoo. We had great fun painting and decorating the eggs we made.

Senior Art competition

A talent for drawing inspiration from the little things in life has earned a trio of High School of Dundee pupils recognition on a national scale. F6 pupils Emily Norman, Holli HalfordMcGuff and Holly McKendry have been announced as runners-up in the Friends of the Royal Scottish Academy, Schools Art Award Chairman’s Challenge, a competition open to all S5 and S6 pupils in Scotland who are taking Art & Design courses. This year’s contest required pupils to

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produce postcard sized monochrome artworks on the theme of ‘minutiae’ and having impressed the judges with their attention to fine detail in their portraiture entries, Emily, Holli and Holly will now have their compositions displayed at the RSA annual exhibition at the Royal Scottish Academy, The Mound, Edinburgh. The three pupils, who entered the competition as part of their portfolio course, were invited to attend a private viewing of the exhibition ahead of its opening to the general public on 1 April.

Art teacher Michelle Angus said, “The work produced by all three girls was of a very high standard and they should all be very proud of their entries. “To be included in such a prestigious exhibition, which is in its 191st year, at Scotland’s best known gallery is a major achievement and a wonderful opportunity for these young artists.” Copies of the artworks have also gone on display on the Art department noticeboard within the School.

Review 2017 - Performing and Visual Arts

Autumn in L1

At harvest time lots of crops grow in the fields. They are golden and shiny. Holly Smith L1

Up at the farm there are mice in the fields – it is harvest time. Stella MacKinnon L1

Our owls are beautiful. They have white feathers and brown, wide wings. They have sharp claws so they can sit down in the trees. Jessica Donaldson and Daisy Fisken

L3 River Tay Art Graphic Design Mindfulness

We have been learning about rivers in L3, but all about The River Tay in particular, where it starts and ends, and about some of the interesting things which have happened in and around the river.

Every picture tells a story, but some pictures can tell two stories at once! We drew two pictures of a river, one on a lovely calm day and one of a stormy scene near the coast, using oil pastels. The pictures were cut into strips, and the strips alternated to make one big picture, which was concertina folded. The picture then creates an optical illusion if you look at it from different sides!

“You can’t live a positive life with a negative mind”

This is the second year that Art & Design Teacher Mrs Ross has introduced a Social Education Art & Design Project to the Department focusing on the areas of mindfulness, stress, anxiety and depression. The pupils were to focus in on one of the areas and research and design a graphic design outcome that could both raise awareness of the topic and potentially help and support a person with this issue. The outcomes were exceptional with excellent maturity and sophistication shown from the pupils. They ranged from posters to handouts to interactive visuals. Mrs Ross plans to get some of the outcomes professionally printed and distributed around the school. One of the pupils Rebecca McConnachie said “I enjoyed learning more about mental health. I learnt that everyone that has a mental problem is different and what helps one person might not help another. I learnt more about mental health and the help that is out there”.

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Review 2017 - Performing and Visual Arts

Pupil Design

The Higher pupils showed great creativity in their creation of a wide variety of costume pieces. Colourful fabrics, materials and techniques were combined to great effect to produce some excellent finished articles. Lily Bircham produced an Apocalypse themed costume with a scavenger type look. She experimented with various textiles techniques, including: knitting, Batik, embroidery, crochet and felting to present a beautifully eclectic result. Ellie Williams used lizards and reptiles as her inspiration and created a striking top and skirt,

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successfully encapsulating various textures, colours and patterns. Zoe Smith presented a fun, androgynous style jacket inspired by Chinese Dragons. The manner in which she combined an exciting range of media and presented her ideas was excellent. National 5 Headgear Project National 5 pupils also triumphed with their attention to detail and the originality of their headgear designs. Pupils experimented with all of the media available to them and succeeded in producing some carefully executed final pieces.

Review 2017 - Performing and Visual Arts

Pupil Design

An Artistic Achievement Sophie Duncan, who is currently in Form 5, was awarded a well-deserved 100% from the SQA for her Expressive Still-Life Project this year. Sophie was to chose a personal still-life theme drawing the objects from first hand sources. She then had to produce studies using different

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Review 2017 - Performing and Visual Arts

Rainworks

Rainy days are now something to look forward to after school embraces special project The High School of Dundee has become Scotland’s first ever participant in an art project which aims to make rainy days something to look forward to. Every rain cloud now really does have a silver lining after the School installed in its playground a series of Rainworks, pieces of positive street spray art which only appear when they get wet. With Scotland enjoying its traditional mixed summer weather, the pupils have already had more than a few opportunities to witness messages like, ‘Be happy’, ‘Shine like the stars’, ‘Smile’ and ‘Dream big’ come out of hiding to provide inspiration. Art teacher Michelle Angus organised the School’s installation as part of a wider F2 focus on mental health. She said, “The purpose of Rainworks is to give people a reason to smile on rainy days. It ties in very well with the work we have been doing on promoting positivity and wellbeing. “After stumbling upon the Rainworks idea, which was mainly based in the US, I knew it was something that would really engage our pupils’ creativity and carry a strong positive message. Pupils in the F2 year group created the design stencils that were used when spraying the artworks into place and F2 pupils also made short films documenting the project and promoting mental health awareness. “These were aired during assemblies to help spread the news about the installation and to encourage pupils to consider their own wellbeing,” said Michelle. She added, “We had been looking to do a mental health project within the Art department for some time and I thought it sounded like a really exciting concept for our young people. “I thought they would enjoy the spray art with its element of mystery, but the response from both pupils and staff has been tremendous.” Backing this up, Adam, F2, said “On the way in this morning I saw ‘Dream big’, and it gave me the confidence I needed for the day,” while Aidan , F2, commented, “I saw ‘Turn that frown upside down’, and it made me feel happy.” The Rainworks project began in Seattle in the United States, but has now grown to include locations across the world. “It’s fantastic to have Scotland’s first ever installation here at the school,” said Michelle.

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Review 2017 - Performing and Visual Arts

You can find out more about Rainworks at https://rain.works/ and you can find the School on the worldwide installations map at https://rain.works/where/ 19

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Review 2017 - Performing and Visual Arts

Languages and Art & Design Project

Earlier this year Mrs Murdoch and Mrs Ross from the Languages and Art & Design Department worked together to produce an interdisciplinary set of lessons combining the Chinese language with Art & Design. The Primary 7 designed and produced both a Chinese calendar and Chinese ink study recreating Chinese blossom and Chinese symbols. The pupils were given an insight into both areas â&#x20AC;&#x201C; the Chinese language and Chinese art in each of the 2 lessons. The results were very successful with the pupils especially enjoying using the ink dabbers to create the blossom leaves; a very messy but fun experience.

Easter Nests

L1 visited the Home Economics department as part of the L1 Easter Challenge Day. The 45 pupils were split into two groups and were introduced to the kitchen for the first time. They followed a simple recipe to produce little birds nests, learning about cooperating with others, weighing and measuring, food hygiene and other cookery skills. The pupils were very excited to be in the department and appeared to enjoy their visit very much, as did we.

Energy Lesson

Form 1 pupils were involved in a project. The project involved three curricular areas. The Departments involved were PE, where pupils learnt about pulse, resting heart rate and maximum heart rate; Mathematics, where pupils plotted their results and calculated their training zones; and the HFT department, where they made a choice of two recipes for energy bars. Pupils then calculated the calorie content in their energy bar. Pupils learnt about the food energy in their foods and different calorific values of ingredients. This was a fantastic opportunity for pupils to learn about the foods they eat and the energy they obtain from certain food groups. The pupils were fully engaged and loved the lesson. We hope in the future to continue with the project next academic year.

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Review 2017 - Performing and Visual Arts

Fair Trade Fortnight All year groups were involved in this event to highlight to pupils the Fairtrade organisation and celebrate Fairtrade Fortnight in February. In class, pupils made banana and chocolate muffins to be sold in the Junior School along with other Fairtrade products. As part of the lesson, pupils learnt what Fairtrade was, discussed ethical issues and explored the various Fairtrade products available. This also linked into the topic Citizenship which was being taught in F1 PSE. The Fairtrade Interval was a great success, all muffins sold out, and pupils very much enjoyed selling the Fairtrade goodies.

iCook Book New ‘HSD Cook Book’ written by Mrs Lesley Ross Head of Health and Food Technology Head of Health and Food Technology, Lesley Ross, has just put the finishing touches, or rather applied the seasoning, to ‘The HSD Cookbook’, a sumptuous electronic collection of some of the most popular recipes which have graced the department’s kitchens in recent years, along with a few of Lesley’s own personal favourites. Aimed at cooks of all abilities, the iBook features over 70 delicious dishes which have been tried, tested and trusted by the School’s pupils, ranging from Coconut Pork with Crispy Noodles, Beef Massaman Curry to White Chocolate and Raspberry Tartlets. Lesley said, “Over the years I’ve had a number of requests from former pupils looking for the recipes of dishes which they had prepared - and presumably enjoyed! - during their time at the School. I thought an iBook was a great way to do it as it makes the recipes easy to refer to whilst cooking, or to browse away from the kitchen.” All of the proceeds from sales of the iBook will be donated to the School’s campaign for transforming Dundee’s former Head Post Office on Meadowside into a landmark centre of excellence for performing and visual arts, which will provide a new home for the Health and Food Technology department. Lesley said, “It’s very exciting to think that in the future we will have the chance to create some of these dishes within brand-new, state of the art facilities in the Centre of Excellence.” You can buy the book, which costs £4.99 on iBooks: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/hsd-cook-book/ id1186033006?ls=1&mt=11

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Review 2017 - Performing and Visual Arts

F2 Design a Lunch

For the third year as part of the F2 Curriculum, pupils carried out a Food Technology project in conjunction with Chartwells to design a dish suitable for lunch time service at the school Dining Hall. Pupils who reached the final had to design, make and produce the dish for 200 lunches! Very positive feedback was received from F2 pupils, Chartwells, and teaching staff. The wining groups were ‘Wingin It’ – Adam Flynn, Sam Hargraves, Christina Kennedy, Hannah Forrester, Sophie Mason and ‘Chicken Kebabs’ – Angus Neville, Ben McKenna, Lewis McLennan and Finlay Maclean.

Max’s win makes it a tasty treble for the High School Serving up a delectable dish has earned a budding chef a top prize, and the High School of Dundee a tasty treble! F1 pupil Max Cruickshank was awarded the title of Junior Young Baker of the Year at Dundee & Angus College last week after his Blueberry Scone, served with Blueberry Jam, went down a treat with the judges, who also commended the youngster for his calm demeanour in the heat of kitchen-based competition from pupils from seven other Dundee and Angus schools. Max’s victory, which earned him a trophy, a cheque for £50 and the chance to meet the celebrity chef at this year’s Dundee Flower and Food Festival, means the competition has now been won by pupils from the High School of Dundee for three years in succession.

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Review 2017 - Performing and Visual Arts

L3 Trip to Home Economics L3 went to Home Economics to make Egyptian flatbreads as part of our History project on the Ancient Egyptians. When we got there we met Mrs Anderson who had already put out the things we would need. Firstly, she gave us our aprons and she had kindly made us Egyptian hats to wear. We worked with a partner and we put some yoghurt into flour and mixed it together. After, we kneaded the dough into an oval shape then put it on to a tray. Finally, the teachers put the trays under the grills to heat the flatbreads. While the flatbreads were cooking we decorated paper bags with our Egyptian names. We brought the flatbreads back to class and some of us enjoyed them for snack. Mrs Anderson gave us all a copy of the recipe so we can make flatbreads at home. Edward Walker & Allegra Polignano

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Review 2017 - Performing and Visual Arts

L7 Mandarin

For the first time L7 pupils experienced a food technology lesson in Mandarin, making Chinese spring rolls with Mrs Murdoch and Mrs Ross. This proved to be a highly successful and popular activity for the pupils, who were delighted with their creations. Pupils learned about different Chinese ingredients using Asian mushrooms and Chinese five spice to name but a few.

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Review 2017 - Performing and Visual Arts

Rotary Chef

A group of High School of Dundee chefs have staged a masterclass in the art of taste bud tantalisation! Three pupils in F2, F3 and F6 recently took part in the Regional Final of the Rotary Young Chef Competition 2017, in which they vied to impress Rotarian judges, with three mouth-watering courses each. The impressive selection included: Confit of Salmon (Katie Tonks F2), Milk Chocolate Cointreau Mousse (David Bruce F3) and Escalope of Salmon with a Champagne Sauce (Matthew Turnbull F6). All pupils performed extremely well at the Regional Final demonstrating tremendous creative culinary flair. Matthew Turnbull was awarded second place, but sadly was not selected for the National final.

Pupils enjoy a hola lot of Spanish cooking! A High School of Dundee Modern Languages class has been doing a hola lot of cooking! Members of Ana Agueroâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s F2 Spanish class recently complemented what they have been learning about Spanish gastronomy and the Mediterranean diet in their lessons, by paying a visit to the Health and Food Technology Department to have a go at making the typical Andalusian dish, Huevos a la Flamenca. Helped by Health and Food Technology Head Lesley Ross, and teacher Ottilie Anderson, the pupils cooked up a storm, with Head of Modern Languages Neil MacKinnon judging the efforts of Jasmine Darroch and Innes Chalmers to be the tastiest and therefore the most deserving of a special prize of Spanish aprons.

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Review 2017 - Performing and Visual Arts A Midsummer Night’s Dream By William Shakespeare

Trinity Hall

7pm

Wednesday 22nd - Friday 24th February Tickets: Adults £7, Concessions £5

Midsummer Night’s Dream

In March, under the inspired direction of Drama teacher Ellie Ashton, pupils of the school produced a unique High School version of Shakespeare’s famous play. F2 and F3 pupils not only made up the cast but also staffed the production team – organising everything from costume to lighting – and the School’s Director of Music Dr Lionel Steuart Fothringham provided original music to complement and complete the performances. In preparation for the retelling of the famous play, Trinity Hall’s stage was transformed into an enchanted forest fit for the fairies Puck, Titania and Oberon, and the star-crossed young lovers who become entangled in the web they weave. With David Bruce inspired as Oberon; Mirah Okhai playful as Puck; and Alex Fish pure entertainment as Bottom the pupils brought colour, comedy and drama to the stage when they performed Shakespeare’s classic tale. Ellie said, “The rehearsals went really well, and we were all so very excited to have the chance to show everyone what we had been working so hard on.” The company went on record to thank everyone who helped with the production. Especially our fabulously patient Technicians and Janitors!

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Review 2017 - Performing and Visual Arts

The full cast list was: A Midsummer Nightâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Dream, starring... The Athenians: Duke Theseus: Leon McNair Hippolyta: Emily Baxter (Wednesday/Friday) and Molly Ross (Thursday) Egeus: Rebecca Stewart AND Hannah Meade Philostrate: Ben Kidd (Wednesday/Friday) and Malachy McCrimmon (Thursday) The Lovers: Helena: Lily Shaw Hermia: Catriona Taylor Lysander: Catriona Patterson Demetrius: Inez Spence The Fairies: Oberon: David Bruce Titania: Nafisah Kashmiri Puck: Mirah Okhai First Fairy: Grace Tang Peaseblossom: Katie Martin/Kirstin Petrie Mustardseed: Freya Purdie/Zahra Gueve Cobweb: Georgia Douglas/Flory Speed Moth: Toluwani Idowu/Phillippa de Vos The Mechanicals: Peter Quince: Ailsa Millar Nick Bottom: Alex Fish Francis Flute: Fraser Houston Tom Snout: James Houstoun Snug: Sarah Spalding Robin Starveling: Ishbel Stuart The Chorus: Laura Connolly Anjini Snape Tegan Brewster-Black Maisie Ross Jessica Ritchie Robyn Lansburgh Elyn Monson Malavikha Sudarshan

Production Team Costume Design: Rebecca McConnachie Jessica Slingsby Hair and Make-up: Eve Jarron, Hailey Kline, Emily Beaton and Amy Ovenstone-Jones Lighting Design: Alasdair Richmond Sound Design: Matthew McIntosh Properties Manager: Fraser Cowie Fairy Song melody by Mrs Ashton, with melody and arrangement by Dr Lionel Steuart Fothringham. Production assistant: Mrs Drummond Assistant director: Euan Foulis (F6) Director: Mrs Ashton

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Review 2017 - Performing and Visual Arts

Nativity Play 2016

Mr Humbug Sees the Light! This Christmas past, the pupils of St Ebenezer’s High School of Dundee were devastated to learn that their grumpy headteacher, Mr Humbug had cancelled Christmas. And Miss Broadway (St Ebenezer’s flamboyant drama teacher) was heart-broken when she realised that her Nativity Play had been abandoned. Mr Humbug was resolute; the school couldn’t afford to celebrate Christmas and that was that!

wonderful! For several weeks they had memorised lines, learned the songs and rehearsed dance routines. They were tireless in their pursuit of perfection!

As luck would have it, a few ghostly visitors (including Miss Penny Pincher, his former Deputy Head) persuaded Mr Humbug to change his mind. Hurray! Now it was a race against time to stage the Nativity Play before the end of term.

As you may have guessed, the clock is ticking and before long the sparkly costumes will appear and the excitement will rise - as the Early Years’ pupils get ready to entertain you all over again at the 2017 High School of Dundee Nativity Play!

Once again the Early Years’ pupils stole the show! They were

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I am delighted to announce that the collection over both performances raised £2028. This was shared between Tourette Scotland and Barnardo’s. I would like to thank the High School community for their unending generosity in support of these charities.

Review 2017 - Performing and Visual Arts

Seussical Jnr “Now I’m here, there is no telling what may ensue… …with a Cat such as me and a Thinker like you!” The world of Dr Seuss is indeed a strange one. Where else would you find an egg-sitting elephant, a bird with an amazing tail, a very bad-tempered kangaroo and a world on a dust speck inhabited by Whos? Conceived by Lynn Ahrens, Stephen Flaherty and Eric Idle, this year’s Junior Years musical, Sussical Jnr, is based on the works of Dr Seuss and wove together a fantastical blend of words and music. The 135 cast members transported us to a land of magic, fun and excitement and a hint of danger for poor Horton the Elephant, as he tried to save the Whos and hatch an elephant bird, in a world of ‘thinks’, created by Jojo and his friend the Cat in the Hat. The creativity and hard work of the production team of Shona Fish, Shona Morgan and Helen Brian came to fruition as after months of rehearsing this year’s Junior Years musical brought the audience to their feet with their energy and enthusiasm.

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Review 2017 - Performing and Visual Arts

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Review 2017 - Performing and Visual Arts

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Review 2017 - Performing and Visual Arts

High School of Dundee Pipe Band This year has seen an expansion in our Pipe Band program, with the appointment of a full-time Pipe Major, David Wilton, and a part-time Drum Sergeant, Steven Graham. Mr Wilton is also Pipe Major of the top Grade 2 Pipe Band, the Lomond and Clyde, and Mr Graham was a founding member of the Red Hot Chili Pipers. This has had a big impact on enthusiasm within the Pipe Band and in their playing standard, as has been made clear at their performances all around the city of Dundee. The band has become an essential part of ceremonies within the school and local Universities, adding prestige and class to every occasion. One special highlight this year was spending a morning at King’s Park School, where the band was welcomed warmly from staff and pupils; many of our pupils receiving hand-drawn images of pipers from the Primary 2 class. The band practices once a week on a Thursday, making steady improvements throughout the year and will be looking towards the competition field next year, with the inception of the Competition band.

Annual Piping Competition In April, piping pupils had an opportunity to pit themselves against each other, vying for the opportunity to be crowned the school’s best piper. Clare Wilton, Bagpipe Instructor for Angus Schools, and wife of our Pipe Major, David Wilton, judged this year’s competition, and was very impressed with the high standard on offer. A list of the prizewinners below: • Beginner Chanter (Slow Air and March): David Barrie • Advanced Junior Chanter (Slow Air and March): Mitchell Clark • Senior Chanter (Slow Air): Christina Kennedy • Senior Chanter (March): Angus Macfarlane • Beginner Bagpipes (Slow Air and March): Alan Cunningham L5W

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• Intermediate Bagpipes (Slow Air and 4-part March): Ross Mauritzen 1Ai1 • Advanced Bagpipes (4-part March, 4-part Strathspey & 4-part Reel, Jig): Andrew Lothian 2Ai2. Next year the intention is to introduce drumming competitions, solidifying the expansion within the program.

Review 2017 - Performing and Visual Arts

Celebration to mark the retirement of Mrs Valerie Vannet, Deputy Rector and Mr Charles Sharp, Bursar The Music Department was very happy to provide musical entertainment at this celebration, as both Mrs Vannet and Mr Sharp had long been strong supporters of music within the school. Alongside Instrumental numbers from the Big Band, the focus was largely on vocal performances by pupils who had played such a memorable part in last session’s production of “Les Misérables”. Finlay McKillop, Charlotte Jennings and Lynden Nicely sang their solo arias from the show, and Finlay joined Verity Brown in vocal numbers accompanied by the Big Band. Tribute was paid to Mr C. Sharp in the form of Beethoven’s famous “Moonlight” Sonata in C-sharp minor. Emily McLean sang a very powerful rendition of Sam Smith’s “Writing’s On The Wall” from James Bond film “Spectre”, and Joshua Rawcliffe joined forces with Lynden and an expanded Big Band to sing Amy Winehouse’s version of “Valerie” with specially altered lyrics in tribute to Mrs Vannet. The event was very enjoyable for the audience and the pupils felt privileged to perform for such a memorable occasion.

Senior Music Competition and Southgate Prize music ranging from C.P.E. Bach to Stephen Sondheim. Robert Zhan won the Premier Quaich for his spellbinding performances at the piano of Grieg and Debussy. Prizes were also awarded to Charlotte Jennings on voice, Sandy Taylor on oboe and Sarah Elgin on flute.

There were a fantastic 133 entries made for the Senior Music Competition in November. Instrumental and vocal pupils of Grade 3 standard upwards prepared solo pieces to showcase the hard work they had been putting into their lessons and private practice over the preceding year. The competition is a valuable chance to gain solo performing experience and feedback and, although playing or singing alone in public can be daunting, all the pupils found the courage to embrace this opportunity, gaining strength from the supportive audience of family, friends and peers. The well-respected Edinburgh pianist Mrs Margaret Murray McLeod adjudicated the higher levels of the competition. She was delighted with the variety of instruments, voices and styles of music on offer and made appreciative and helpful comments to the musicians.

Sandy and Sarah were successful too in the other half of the evening when their saxophone quartet with Simon Allen and Abhisri Chaudhuri won the Southgate Prize for Chamber Music. Eight chamber groups using a combination of piano, wind and string instruments entered the competition showing a pleasing spread of ages from F3 upwards. Abhisri also took second prize for her trio with Mhairi Millar and Lynden Nicely and the third prize went to Aisling Ellis, Eilidh Fish, Anna Hudson and Lucy Smith for their clarinet quartet. Mrs Murray McLeod also made special mention of Sandy Adamson who performed his own composition ‘The Rocks’ in a trio with Hannah Levin and Catriona Murphy.

Mrs Murray McLeod went on to preside over the Premier Quaich for players of around Grade 7 and over as part of the event’s evening concert. Nine accomplished musicians playing or singing two pieces each gave a thoroughly enjoyable hour of

Guitar Day Guitar Day is a celebration of the musicianship of the seventy pupils at the High School who learn the classical, acoustic, electric and bass guitar. The pupils gave intimate performance classes to their peers during the school day, then came together for an Evening Recital, at which the Segovia and Bream guitar ensembles performed alongside many solo and duet items. The Recital was a wonderfully calm evening of reflective music, punctuated by classic rock music of the 1970s.

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Review 2017 - Performing and Visual Arts

Big Band performance at the Dundee Flower and Food Festival

The session opened with a bang for the Music Department as the Big Band performed at the Dundee Flower and Food Festival in Camperdown Park at the very beginning of September. With quite a short time to prepare, the Band put together a half-hour programme of classic jazz items that wowed the audience and earned the Director of Music an interview on Wave 102 with local star DJ Alistair Smith.

Rotary Young Musician Competitions November saw the annual round of Rotary Young Musician competitions recommence with the five Dundee Rotary Clubs’ competition for pupils at school in Dundee and Monifieth. Singers and instrumentalists compete for separate awards, with both competitions this year being won by High School pupils: Lynden Nicely won the Vocal cup after his compelling performance of “Bring Him Home” from “Les Misérables” and Robert Zhan won the Instrumental trophy for his impressive Grieg Piano Sonata. Four out of the five vocalists put through to the District (North East Scotland) round in Perth were High School pupils. These included Charlotte Jennings and Kirsty McRobbie, who both went on to become the only two vocalists selected to represent the District at the Regional level (all of Scotland and the North of England). Charlotte also won the Mary Leslie Cup for Best Female Performer at the District round. Meanwhile Robert won the Bill Leslie cup for Best Male Performer at the District round and went on to represent the District in the Regional Instrumental competition.

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Review 2017 - Performing and Visual Arts

Autumn Concert in the Caird Hall This concert is one of the biggest events of the year for the whole school, involving as it does nearly four hundred pupils in L4-F6. The repertoire is highly varied to suit the particular educational needs and extraordinary abilities of the pupils. The ensembles involving older pupils were able to take advantage of the presence of a particularly strong crop of musicians in F6 to perform complex and demanding works, while the enthusiasm and potential of the next generations of pupils was clear to see in the performances given by younger groups. There are precious few schools who could field a programme featuring Disney songs and the latest chart hits alongside enduring works from the 18th and 19th centuries. Space precludes the possibility of mentioning all performances individually, but highlights of the concert include the Head Boy Joshua Rawcliffe personifying Coldplay’s Chris Martin in an a cappella rendition of “Viva la Vida” with Cantabile, and the Head Girl Mhairi Millar leading the Symphony Orchestra in a blistering complete performance of Beethoven’s 5th Symphony. The L4-5 Choir’s graphic performance of “Humpty Dumpty” (which tells of the painful truth behind the nursery rhyme) was highly memorable, and the L6-7 Choir anticipated their extraordinary performance at this year’s Junior Years Musical “Seussical” with their characterful interpretation of Randy Newman’s “You’ve Got A Friend In Me”.

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Review 2017 - Performing and Visual Arts

Charity Concerts November and December The end of November saw the start of the High School’s customary musical contribution to charities at Christmas. Events started with the Pipe Band’s being the opening and closing act at the Help For Kids concert at the Whitehall Theatre. Help for Kids was founded very recently with the aim of raising money for the 18,000 children in Dundee who live in poverty. The concert included a variety of professional pop bands and dance acts by local schools, but the High School was the only school to provide a musical ensemble. The Pipe Band, playing a mix of marches and retreats, did the High School proud, being received enthusiastically by the supportive audience. String Sinfonietta, our F1-3 string ensemble, and the Segovia Guitar Ensemble gave an afternoon concert for the Parkinson’s Society at the Steeple Church. The music ranged from Vivaldi to an Argentinian tango, then all the musicians joined together to provide music for audience carol singing. The pupils particularly enjoyed the tasty array of snacks laid on for them by their hosts.

The school’s Chamber Orchestra, made up of our most advanced string players and wind soloists, once again took part in the annual CLIC Sargent Carol Concert in the Caird Hall with Dundee, Angus and Fife Medical Choirs and the Mike Bennet Brass Ensemble. As well as supporting children with cancer and leukaemia at this event, the Chamber Orchestra performed two Christmas concerts in the community. They played for Heart for Art Scotland, which enables pupils from Dundee Secondary Schools and art students from Duncan of Jordanstone College to paint and draw with care home residents from Dundee and Angus who are experiencing Dementia and Parkinson’s disease. The string players were also joined by singers from Cantabile to visit Barchester Grange Nursing Home in Monifieth to play and sing carols with the residents. Cantabile then went on to visit Bridge View House in Dundee to celebrate Christmas with the community there.

Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols The annual Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols in St. Paul’s Episcopal Cathedral is a much-anticipated Christmas event in the school calendar. As in previous years the Cathedral was filled to capacity with parents, pupils and friends of the school who wished to take the time to calm their thoughts during this busy season. After an introduction from the Chamber Orchestra and a welcome from The Very Rev’d Jeremy Auld, the Provost of St. Paul’s, the congregation heard the atmospheric singing of Cantabile from the back of the Cathedral in James MacMillan’s “O Radiant Dawn”. The choir then processed up the aisle to the soaring voice of Cameron Fish who took the traditional solo in “Once in Royal David’s City”. The Girls’ Choir, the Boys’ Choir and the L6-7 choir performed many favourite carols including “O Come, O Come Emmanuel”, “Away in a Manger” and “O Little Town of Bethlehem”, often joined by the congregation and embellished by descant lines played by the school’s brass players. Each lesson was read by a pupil from a different year, culminating in the ninth lesson read by the Rector, Dr Halliday. The congregation were then invited to a mulled wine and mince pie reception in Trinity Hall to chat with friends and look forward to the coming festivities.

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Review 2017 - Performing and Visual Arts

Campaign Concert The Music Department is excited about the plans for the new Centre of Excellence for Performing and Visual Arts and all the wonderful facilities it will bring to the school and the city. Our concert in Trinity Hall in December was put on in aid of Campaign 2015-2020. The evening was a treasure-trove for music lovers of all sorts and was performed by pupils ranging from L3 to F6. The audience enjoyed the captivating sound of the Clàrsach Group performing with the Fiddle Orchestra and were treated to a snippet of “Jason and the Golden Fleece” played by Little Heifetz, complete with narration by Amy Paterson. Senior string group String Sinfonietta made reference to the season with music from “The Snowman”, and our youngest string group, Tutti Strings, injected a Christmas flavour with “Jolly Old Saint Nicholas”. This was picked up by the Senior Big Band who gave us “Here Comes Santa Claus” and “Santa Baby”. Verity Brown and Finlay McKillop gave stirring vocal solos with the Big Band, and the Saxophone Ensemble energised the evening with their version of “New York, New York”.

Junior Music Competition February saw the chance for musicians and singers in Junior Years to stand up and share their skills and love of music with an audience in the Junior Music competition. The classes covered all the orchestral instruments as well as piano, guitar, recorder, clàrsach and voice, and ranged from Grade 1 upwards. This was the first time that some of the musicians had played a solo in front of an audience, and they benefited from the atmosphere of mutual support and understanding that was apparent amongst the young players. Dr Steuart Fothringham gave feedback from the school’s Music Department. All the young musicians came out as winners for being willing to show what they could do and many were awarded prizes. Special mentions go to Polly Parker, Zachary Gray, Rebecca Bonnyman and Daniel Higgins who all secured first place in two different disciplines each.

Jazz Soirée In March, the Music Department held the annual Jazz Soirée in Trinity Hall. There was an eclectic mix of Jazz and Light Music, with the evening featuring the Big Band, directed by Mr Love. They performed many classic Big Band charts, including “How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved By You)”, featuring Finlay McKillop, and “All Of Me”, featuring Verity Brown. There were also performances from other groups, soloists and singers, including the wonderful Clarinet Ensemble who performed “A Whole New World” from the Disney film “Aladdin”.

The prize-winning Saxophone Ensemble gave an accomplished performance of “I Feel Pretty” from “West Side Story”, and the Brass Ensemble performed upbeat arrangements of “Soul Bossa Nova” and “Singin’ In The Rain”. The vocal department was also showcased with Abhirsi Chauduri singing the Ray Charles classic “Hallelujah I Love Him So”, and Findlay De Vale singing “What A Diff’rence A Day Makes”. The Soirée had a relaxed and informal atmosphere with mood lighting, the audience sitting at tables and light refreshments provided throughout the evening.

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Review 2017 - Performing and Visual Arts

Senior and Junior Piano Days On 7 March 2017 our Senior Years pianists in Trinity Hall gave around ninety individual solo piano performances. Sixty performances were given during the day where pupils played a favourite piece to the other pianists in their year group. This was followed by an evening recital given by thirty pianists to an audience of family, pupils and staff. Once again this was an exciting and at times moving concert with performances from pupils of around Grade 1 up to Grade 8. No one player needs singled out as every performance brought with it its own special message. The Piano Day, now in its twelfth year, continues to be a very special and exciting event in the Music Department Calendar. In April it was the chance for our Junior Years pianists to perform in Trinity Hall. Once again, every pupil who has lessons in or out of school was invited to play in our celebration of the piano. On this occasion we had a special L3 Piano Recital. This was the first opportunity for our new L3 pianists to perform to an audience of family, staff and all of L1, L2 and L3! Each of our excellent beginner pianists showed that they are keen to perform and share their love for playing the piano. In the evening more than thirty pianists performed to staff, family and other pupils in the evening recital. Another first was each pianist was asked to write something about why they play the piano. Each sentence was printed in the programme for the audience to see. This was a very exciting event for everyone to share their love for the piano.

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Review 2017 - Performing and Visual Arts

Spring Concert in the Caird Hall: “The Auld Alliance” The school celebrated the music of Scotland and France in its second largescale concert of the session – the title of the concert refers to the strategic alliance of the two countries that lasted from the end of the thirteenth century to the middle of the sixteenth. Following on from previous national celebrations of music such as the “Evening of British Music” concert in 2012, the programme incorporated Mendelssohn’s “Hebrides” Overture and a multitude of Scottish folksongs. On the

French side, there was orchestral music by Bizet and Charpentier, classic songs such as “Les feuilles mortes” and “Chanson d’amour”, and pieces celebrating the culture and landscape of France, including a medley from the Disney version of “Beauty and the Beast”. Also included were the French national anthem, “La Marseillaise”, and “Scotland the Brave”. The Pipe Band opened the concert in its habitual rousing fashion, and our new Pipe Major, Mr David Wilton, joined Sinfonia –

the school’s orchestra for pupils in L4-F3 – in a rendition of “Highland Cathedral”. The combined Girls’ and Boys’ Choirs from the Senior School encouraged and received mass audience participation in “I’m Gonna Be (500 Miles)” by The Proclaimers, and the Symphonic Band concluded the evening with the riotous music from the 1970s French farce film “Le retour du Grand Blond”.

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Review 2017 - Performing and Visual Arts

The Chronological Cabaret With such a large number of excellent solo singers in F5-6, it was decided to put on a special showcase of their talents. Conceived, taught and choreographed by our newly full-time Singing Instructor Mrs Susan Colgan, the programme consisted of a diverse range of chorus and solo numbers, alongside poetry readings, carefully chosen to suit the individual pupils’ voices and characters. Starting with a 16th-century Mass by William Byrd, the items traced the history of classical, folk and popular song through the ages, with a strong representation of Music Theatre from the 20th century, complete with fully-costumed productions.

The singers were joined on stage by the Chamber Orchestra. The evening was full of drama (some planned, some unplanned), and took place in the University of Dundee’s Bonar Hall. Standout performances included the company’s interpretation of Victorian and Edwardian Music Hall classics, the boys singing “Greased Lightnin’”, the girls singing “All That Jazz”, and the concluding excerpts from “Wicked”: Shona Floate stole the show with her impersonation of Glinda the White Witch in “Popular”, and the whole cast came together for a wistful performance of “For Good”.

Music Medals This year the Music Department has further developed its use of Music Medals for our younger learners. The Medals are awards run by the Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music and are available in five levels: Copper, Bronze, Silver, Gold and Platinum, with Platinum being approximately level with a traditional Grade 3. Fifteen of our violin, viola and bassoon pupils have been awarded Medals of different hues

this year including our first Platinum, which was achieved by Rebecca McConnachie. A Medal involves videoing then submitting a performance of a solo piece and an ensemble piece, which can be played with friends. Our pupils have had great fun doing them, have felt a real sense of achievement and are so proud to be allowed to wear the award on their blazer at school.

Leng Medal Competitions The annual Sir John Leng medal competitions are open to pupils in P7-S4 across the Dundee area. Competitors are required to sing a traditional Scottish song without any accompaniment. Within each school, competitions are held for a Silver Medal at Primary and Secondary level. Within the High School this year, Rebecca Bonnyman (“Ae fond Kiss”) and Cameron Fish (“Will ye no come back again?”) received medals at Primary level, and Matthew Rawcliffe (“Mary of Argyle”) won the Secondary medal in a competition with a very high number of outstanding performances. All Silver Medal winners assemble in the Bell Street Music Centre in late April each year to compete for the Gold Medal; one is awarded to boys and one to girls. Ruairidh Cowieson won the Boys’ Gold Medal this year for his performance of “The Mist-covered Mountains of Home”. Pupils from the High School have won this medal four times in the last five years – a testament to the high quality of our boys’ singing.

Cantabile sing joint Choral Evensong with St Paul’s Cathedral Choir The school’s premier choir, Cantabile, returned to St Paul’s Cathedral, Dundee to sing Evensong with their choir after two successful joint performances in the 2015-16 session. Cantabile members very much enjoyed singing in the beautiful surroundings, and were inspired by the support of the experienced St Paul’s Choir to sing a varied repertoire of items for Remembrance Sunday with heart and soul. They certainly appreciated the contrast between learning ecclesiastical repertoire for this occasion and the music sung at the Autumn Concert.

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Review 2017 - Performing and Visual Arts

Music in May On 24 May, the Music Department displayed the talents and hard work of the pupils in L3 up to F4 with the annual Music in May concert in the wonderful setting of St Paul’s Cathedral, Dundee. The Concert Band kicked off the evening with a lively arrangement of “Disney Film Favourites” and there were very accomplished performances by Little Heifetz, the Scots Fiddle Ensemble together with the Clàrsach Group, and the String Sinfonietta. Little Heifetz gave the audience a taster of a selection of movements from “Jason and the Golden Fleece”, which they were to go on to perform the whole work in the Strings Soiree in June. The Scots Fiddle Ensemble and Clàrsach Group performed a selection of Scottish tunes, including “Highland Cathedral”. The concert was also an opportunity for some smaller ensembles to perform, including the Junior Concert Band, F1-3 Big Band, Junior Saxophone Ensemble and a Violoncello Quartet. The school’s Leng Silver Medal winners performed their prize winning songs and Leng Gold Medal Winner, Ruairidh Cowieson, treated the audience to a rendition of “The Mist-covered Mountains of Home”.

Performance Platforms The Music Department Performance Platform concerts continue to be very popular at school. These concerts are open to any High School pupil of any standard learning an instrument in or out of school, and exist as an opportunity for solo performance or performance in a small ensemble. The purpose of the concerts is to provide a regular opportunity for pupils to get used to performing and presenting themselves on stage. They might, for example, be used as an opportunity to try out a piece in a performance setting prior to playing the same piece in an ABRSM or SQA exam, or prior to a performance at a competition

Monstrous Bodies

or voice day, or similar event. Ideally, however, they should be seen as simply an opportunity to learn and practise the art of performance without ulterior motive. Pupils receive guidance on how to present themselves on stage from the attending member of the Music Department staff. This session has seen 21 concerts with around 100 pupils performing over the year. If you have lessons outside school and would like to play or sing in one of our Performance Platform Concerts please speak to anyone in the Music Department.

Keen F3 pupils enjoyed the excellent production of ‘Monstrous Bodies’ performed at the Dundee Rep Rep. The play had a dual narrative. One story was about Mary Shelley, author of ‘Frankenstein,’ who at one time lived in Dundee with a family when she was just 14. Unlike many women of her time, Mary Shelley was highly educated and had already published a poem with Coleridge at the age of 9. This story covered the position of women in the 19th Century when they were owned by their husbands and had little freedom or educational opportunity. The other narrative was about a Dundonian school girl who had a photo taken of her, without her permission, when she was incapacitated by alcohol. The photo was subsequently sent around school. This story line dealt with the was the female body can become used as an object and aimed to get youngsters to link about their boundaries in the social media world we live in. The play included three of our pupils, who acted as school girls and danced beautifully on stage: Freya Clarke, Olivia Russell and Angini Snape.

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Review 2017 - Performing and Visual Arts

Summer Strings Soirée The Chamber Orchestra now gear up for their annual Summer Strings Soirée at the Dundee University Chaplaincy Centre where they will perform such gems as Tchaikovsky’s ‘Serenade for Strings” and Bach’s “Brandenburg Concerto No.3”. This concert is paired with one in which our three younger string groups show off their hard work. Tutti Strings will be performing ‘Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious’ and Little Heifetz “Jason and the Golden Fleece” in its entirety (complete with costumes and props) and the String Sinfonietta will start summer with a bang by playing excerpts from Handel’s “Music for the Royal Fireworks”. Contributions by Stephen Armstrong, Gill Simpson, Joanna Petrie, Lionel Steuart Fothringham, Eoin Tonner, David Wilton.

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Writing

Contents English Department Competition Winners.......................44-50 L7 Old Girlsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Prize for Creative Writing....................................51 Personification Poem............................51

Picture Description...............................51 L3 Poetry Competition .........................52 L2M Snowflakes...................................52 L1 Early Writing....................................52 L1 Later Writing....................................52 L3 Autumn Term Novel Study Charlotteâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Web.....................................................53

Persuasive Letter to Mr Arable..............53 L6 Setting the Scene............................53 Cinderella.............................................54 F1 Creative work - Haiku......................54 Creative work - poems from F2............55 L2M Fireworks Poem............................55

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Review 2017 - Writing

English Department Competition winners Each year the English Department enters our pupils into local and national competitions, as well as running our own. These are the winning entries. Life and Death in Mosul Malcolm Campbell, Advanced Higher

Her body a spectre, a splinter, a shadow, Of the young girl that once looked through her eyes.

BLOCK PRIZE FOR CREATIVE WRITING

Her aura was dead. But her body endured; Scraping, grasping onto the thin entrails Of life that it so blindingly, foolishly tormented itself with retaining.

Streams of light emanated in, like dazzling arms outstretched; Through smouldering bullet holes in the crumbling wall they offered futile help. Swirling, luminous, in the sweltering air, dust glowed Like Diwali lanterns under the light of the silent sun. The harsh light blinded her waking eyes; Throbbing violently, flesh, purple, swollen, Pulled tight across the light, closing out the world. A wave of nausea crashed inside her, retching, Her body clawed at nothing.

She begged for the end, but the end would not come. Time washed over her, Dead Sea waves In which she could not drown. Hours turned to days And they did not return. Each day the agony moved further away, Her body no longer her own. The warmth of the pain grew distant, colder. She shivered, defeated, under the Arabian heat. Blood congealed, organs slowed, fingers, now numb, Failed to grasp at reality. Lungs deflated, each breath A soft wheeze. Her heartbeat faint, murmurous Tappings in the walls of her rib cage.

Distant explosions shook the room, gently, They urged her to leave. Dust fell from the ceiling: she opened an eye, irritated, dry, And through blood and dirt, tears dripped off her chin. Her body lay, emaciated. Embalmed In damp, fetid cloth she was theirs to use.

She beckoned him into her mind, hopeful, His face, his smile the last thought of her life. But he kept slipping, like sand through her fingers, falling and Bleeding into the dusty road. Young hands grasping at cruel bullet holes. Slowly the blood dried, memories dissolved, she let go Of the pain, of the trauma, of a life so full of Promise cut short by men of violence.

Attempting to sit up, her skeletal neck, weak, strained under the weight. She raised a head, full of memories too dark to remember - too awful to forget. Slowly - cautiously - wincing until the forgotten chain Yanked her back. Jolting her frail body, it forced her down. Back in her place, captive, forgotten. Rusted metal echoed in the shattered consciousness of self. Her vision blurred, her limbs; limp, she fell Into a sleep of raw, searing torture, acrid, the memories burned deep.

Silence filled the room no longer rattling with destruction. Dust settled, softly, on the concrete carpet as the call for prayer echoed out, defiant.

Hot bullets filled the trembling air, a cataclysmic coruscation, Crashing, clanging, shattering shards of shrapnel, Brutal blasts of detonation threw metal, Molten. An infinite inferno, bricks, homes, fell Like rattling rain, saturating the apocalyptic Land, flooding with free-flowing fire the desolate destruction.

Outside, a single white flower caught the eye Of a soldier, growing from debris, he picked it. Roots cut short, soon to be dead. Inside she was ready, for the cold, for the void, For the expanse of nothing which she expected before her. Her heart beat with the joy of the end One final beat To end them all: it was time. The shackles of life loosened its grip on her soul.

There. Through the smoke. Alive. Standing alone on the dusty road he smiled, angelic, As merciless bullets shot through his tiny chest, Through his favourite blue shirt now stained with young blood. The toy bear dropped out of his soft hand, His green eyes looked down and then up, innocent. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Mama,â&#x20AC;? he whispered. Dead.

Not cold, not empty; but different, unimaginable, Indescribable sensation, no longer numb. She felt it begin, flickering into light, Soft and white, a warmth, a calm. It flowed from her chest and into her arms, her body filled With resplendence, divine. Aura from above, engulfing Her in light, burning the pain into soft oblivion. Glowing Warmth she dazzled, ethereal, Incandescent, a white Flower picked from the debris she shone, sublime. Something stirred her heart; a hand, soft and small, Reached out, she took it, overcome, overjoyed. This time he would not leave, this time; forever.

She burst into consciousness screaming and shaking, Her body writhed in twisted despair. Her soul ached relentlessly in deep throbbing convulsions, Her body spasmed in heart-wrenching pain. Agony burned inside each nerve of her body, Every fibre of her being Drowned in anguished torment. He was just there, she was with him - and now... A bird flew into the crumbling room, Silently, it saw her and stayed. Her lip trembled as her tears ran dry. Its eyes met hers; understanding? If it could would it help?

The final release, the chains fell away, Mercy brought by the end. Relinquishing her suffering, restoring her peace, She departed the world; free. Streams of light emanated in, like dazzling arms outstretched, Illuminating the body, cold and thin, an innocent girl, dead.

Would anyone help? Or had the World grown indifferent whilst she Willed for death, sang for it under each strained Breath? An aria of hopelessness sung till the end. Her faith ran dry, like the dust of the desert beyond her confinement.

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Review 2017 - Writing

Kate O’Shanter (née Souter) A Confession Lucie Kelly, F5

WINNER OF THE TOM DURRHEIM MEMORIAL PRIZE FOR WRITING IN F4-6 Ah semple Tam, it gars me greet Tae think o’ a’ the lang deceit, The lies I’ve tauld ten years or more Since first I rove to Carrick Shore, The tangled web seamlessly woven To veil my visits to the coven. Your “nights out” meant I had the chance To grace the weekly Witches’ Dance. Your bousin’s been a fine excuse While you were fou…I was footloose! I tauld thee weel thou was a skellum, A blethering, blustering, drunken blellum; That frae November till October, Ae market-day thou was nae sober; That ilka melder wi’ the miller, Thou sat as lang as thou had siller; That every naig was ca’d a shoe on The smith and thee gat roaring fou on; That at the Lord’s house, even on Sunday, Thou drank wi’ Kirkton Jean till Monday. I prophesied that late or soon, Thou wad be found, deep drown’d in Doon, Or catch’d wi’ warlocks in the mirk, By Alloway’s auld, haunted kirk. But Ayr has earned its reputation, Known length and breadth of this great nation, For honest men – not honest lasses. In truth, my scheming far outclasses Maist ither acts of great deceit. But I must now repent this feat.

semple, gars , greet

simple, makes, weep

bousin’ fou

drinking alcohol drunk

skellum blethering, blellum

rogue, scoundrel talking nonsense, babbler

ilka, melder lang, siller naig gat

each, grain grinding session long long, silver (money) horse got

wad catch’d, mirk

would caught, gloom

maist ither

most other

wae

woe

hame fidgin’-fain auld, lang kent, brither

home eager, excited old, known for long, brother

kenn’d anter cannie waddit syne bourtree wad chief, thegither sinsyne

knew venture knowing, pleasant, good married then, directly after, next elder tree married friendly, together since

For a’ the while I wasna’ blameless, Involved in exploits plainly shameless. But since thon Sabbath eve now past I’ve vowed, of witchcraft, that’s my last! The journey to Kirk Alloway Had, in itself, been full of wae. The wind blew as ‘twad blawn its last; The rattlin’ showers rose on the blast. First, heading to Jean Souter’s hame, She there awaits me – fidgin’-fain, My auld acquaintance – (Jean lang kent Since with my brither John she went. We kenn’d her then as Jean O’Shanter. Each night to her hame John would anter. Soon, John and her - a cannie pair Were waddit well within a year, And syne... Jean’s brither, Tam, and me Were waddit ‘neath the auld bourtree. We lasses wad the ither’s brither. Soon, Tam and John grew chief thegither. Now that’s been twa score years sinsyne – That John’s been Jean’s and Tam’s been mine. A guid, lang while!)

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Review 2017 - Writing But to our sonnet! Jean’s brankie in her hap and bonnet. Though now we’re crankie, crochly, crookit, We brave the storm – ere lang baith drookit. Then near the thorn, aboon the well Whaur Mungo’s mither hang’d hersel’, And thro’ the whins and up the brae Intent upon Kirk Alloway, (Jean never passes by the cairn Whaur hunters fand the murder’d bairn), And past the birks and meikle stane Whaur drunken Charlie brak’s neck-bane. By this time we had reached the ford, Whaur in the snaw the chapman smoor’d, And hirplin’ thro’ the raging storm, When Jean, as aye, starts cursin’ John. Altho’ the Souter’s her ain choosin’, The man’s a man owre fond o’ bousin’. So on and on, wi’ clishmaclaver - Jeannie has lang been gi’en tae haver.

sonnet, brankie, hap crankie, crochly, crookit drookit aboon

tale well-dressed, shawl unsteady, slightly lame, crooked drenched above

whins, brae

gorse bushes, hill

fand birks, meikle neck-bane

found birch trees, large neck bone

smoor’d hirplin’ aye

smothered limping, hobbling always

owre clishmaclaver gi’en, haver

over idle talk inclined, gossip

Then onward head we to our splore, We’ve howpit for a year or more, Whiles glowrin’ at our cantraip charter, Whiles holdin’ fast Jean’s bluidy garter, (I’ve never spiered from whaur it came Jeannie’s aye been a sleekit dame) To place upon the Kirk’s high altar We hasten on and never falter.

splore howpit glowrin’ cantraip bluidy spiered sleekit

party anticipated staring with wonder, magic bloody asked sly

For in the kirk’s bright bleezin’ light, Before us lay an unco sight. The witches’ ceilidh underway, Unseen by light o’ any day.

bleezin’ unco

blazing strange

The kirk now viewed frae this aspect, From floor to rafters lay bedecked With objects furnishing the scene. And vow! Sic objects - coarse, obscene. The rev’llers in the piper’s thrall, Weel wordy o’ a witches’ ball. And ere the night had grown much older We carlins had grown ever bolder. And at the centre of the rant, Jean’s Nannie, dressed in claes sae scant.

frae

from

vow! Sic

an exclamation of surprise, such

wordy

worthy

carlins rant claes

witches boisterous frolic clothes

Now lang syne, Jean had scrimp’d sae sair, Wi’ thoughts o’ Nannie – chuffie, fair, Her lass’s bairn – a bonny mite, And coft for her a sark – snaw white, Wi’ twa pund Scots (‘twas a’ her riches). Now here it grac’d this dance o’ witches!

lang syne, sair chuffie

long ago, very, ard fat-faced

coft pund

fat-faced bought pound

Tho’ Nan had grown fae bairn tae quean, Her sark the same fate hadna’ seen. For like the snow falls in the river, A moment white – then melts for ever, The days o’ childhood quickly pass – Wee Nannie’s noo a strappin’ lass. A cow’rin, tim’rous bairn she’d been But here sae cantie - turn’d eighteen And growin’ ever fain and thick, With eldritch piper – ‘twas Auld Nick!

quean

girl, young woman

strappin’

tall, handsome

cantie fain thick eldritch

lively amorous, friendly frightful

And still the gleams the darkness swallow’d; Loud, deep and lang the thunder bellow’d. But on arrival at the kirk, We left behind the storm and mirk.

Inspiring Education

Review 2017 - Writing The piper loud and louder blew, We dancers quick and quicker flew. We thought na on the lang Scots miles, The mosses, waters, slaps and stiles That lie between us and our hame. We danced as tho’ we were na lame, And tho’ not in our early youth, We reel’d and jigg’d wi’ rattlin’ fouth. Queens may be blest but we were glorious, O’er a’ the sleights o’ death victorious. And how young Nannie lap and flang, A souple jade she is and strang, Just then, there came a sudden shout As “Weel Done Cutty Sark!” rang out! And then it was, I caught the sight O’ guidman Tam, at dead of night. Glowrin’ and gawpin’, amaz’d and curious, At sight of him, the thrang was furious. As dark descended, out they flew – The angry crowd would Tam pursue. But ere the guidman got tae hame, (Expecting there a sullen dame!), I knew I had to forrit skelp, (He had the horse – that didna’ help!). Nae time tae bid fareweels tae Jean – I had to wing my way unseen. As I maun shank through dub and mire Whiles dreamin’ o’ hame’s bleezin’ fire And fearin’, on approaching Doon, I wad be found deep-drowned there soon. But then… the dwalling… hame at last! The race is over; the flight has passed; The secret safe – nae mair tae fear.

slaps

swampy ground

fouth

abundance

lap, flang souple

leapt, danced supple

cutty sark

short shirt

guidman gawpin’ thrang

husband staring open-mouthed crowd

forrit skelp

forwards move rapidly

maun, shank, dub, mire

must, cover on foot, puddle, peat bog

dwalling

dwelling

stoiters mair raiblin’ hale

stumble, Stotter more babbling whole

nappy sheerly ken, brawlie baith, weel-faured, waulie

strong ale, liquor surely know, entirely both, well-favoured, jolly

loosome

loveable

Now, when will drunken Tam appear? At last, he stoiters through the door, Mair fou than any night before, Raiblin’ an’ whinging aboot “Meg’s tail”, And how it had na’ come hame hale. Sinsyne that night o’ devilish tryst, Each Carrick coven’s meet I’ve missed. My wiccan ways I’ve left behind - and Tam – now sober’s gude and kind. Since he’s been stayin’ aff the nappy, We’ve sheerly never been so happy, And noo I ken what’s what fu’ brawlie, We two are baith weel-faured and waulie. Of cantraip ways I swear I’m done I’m glad the winsome Tam I’ve won! Who’d hae thought it? – Tam sae loosome, But noo we mak’ the perfect twosome! So wha this tale o’ truth shall read, Ilk lass and guidwife tak’ ye heed: Whene’er to witchcraft ye’re inclin’d, Or dancing warlocks fill your mind, Think! maybe best to stay at hame, And play the sonsie, couthie dame!

Tom F W Durrheim taught English at HSD for over 25 years. A gentleman in every sense of the word, Tom was an avid Robert Burns enthusiast. Well loved by all his pupils, he was held in the highest regard by all his colleagues and was renowned for his recitation of Burns’ poetry. The Tom Durrheim Memorial Quaich for Burns poetry recitation is awarded each year in his memory.

www.highschoolofdundee.org.uk

Review 2017 - Writing

Is Aid a Roadblock to Economic Development? Charvi Kanodia F3 WINNER F1-F3 ECONOMICS ESSAY WRITING COMPETITION Great Britain provides a relatively large proportion of their GDP to the rest of the world through “aid”. Roughly £5.6 billion of their GDP is invested in bi-lateral aid and £3 billion is invested in multilateral aid. The aid is given to many countries in the world including Ethiopia, India, Pakistan and Sierra Leone. The purpose of this aid is to help these poorer countries in various ways such as supporting poverty elevation, skill development and support programmes. These often help to stabilise post-conflict environments. But is the “aid” really helping? Firstly, there are several types of aid. Bi-lateral aid is aid given directly from one country to another whereas multi-lateral aid is aid that is not given directly but channelled through international bodies e.g. World Bank. Another type of aid is project aid. In this, the aid is given as funds which are used to finance projects in the recipient country such as schools or hospitals. Another type of aid is technical assistance in which expertise is provided to the recipient countries to promote development. Humanitarian aid is usually provided to countries who have suffered from a crisis of some sort. This can be given in the form of emergency disaster relief, food aid, refugee relief and disaster preparedness. Soft loans are also given to countries. These are loans made to countries on a concessionary basis with a lower rate of interest. Debt relief is the cancellation, rescheduling, refinancing or reorganisation of a country’s external debts. Tied aid is when the donor country provides a loan to the recipient country provided money is spent on the goods and services produced in the donor country. Aid helps these LEDC countries in many ways. Countries like Haiti who have had natural disasters such as earthquakes use this aid in disaster recovery. Countries like Sudan in which a civil war has taken place use this aid in stabilising their post-conflict environments. Aid also helps to overcome the savings gap. Project aid can fast forward investment in critical infrastructure projects. As well as these, long term aid for health and and education projects can build human capital and stronger social institutions as well as projects for enterprise. Projects that develop clean water and sanitation can lead to improved health and living standards. Also, aid can support countries in developing their natural resources and power supplies. Aid that is well targeted may add about 0.5% to the growth rate of Charvi Kanodia these poorer countries. This benefits the donor country as well since trade between countries grows. While aid has its advantages, it also has its drawbacks. Although the intentions of the donor country is to give the aid to the countries which need it, it does not always reach those countries. The aid often ends up leaving the recipient country and ends up elsewhere. Even aid that reaches the recipient country is sometimes used to finance corruption. While aid is thought of as help given to the recipient country, if often results in the country being dependent on it. A problem is that not all aid is given as a gift. It is often a loan. Due to having become dependent on the aid, the countries may struggle to repay the loan when the time comes. While it may be thought that aid is given by the countries through “goodwill”, it seldom is. Often giving aid is a measure taken by the donor country in order to put political or economic pressure on the recipient country as it will end up owing the donor country a favour. As mentioned earlier, donor countries often start up various projects in the recipient country. However, projects often do not benefit smaller farmers as they are large scale. Infrastructure projects may end up benefiting employers instead of employees. Conditions may also be such that the projects are run by forgein companies which would mean that a proportion of the profits and resources will be send abroad. Some development projects may also lead to water and food costing more. Overseas aid may also lead to a distortion of market forces and loss of economic efficiency as well as risks of inflation. Instead of giving such aid, countries can help by finding vaccines for diseases such as malaria, relax trade barriers, ease immigration restraints and accept more newcomers. All these will help the country in crisis. So while aid helps countries in several ways, it also disadvantages them. Well targeted aid can really help a country in need provided the aid is reaching the people who need it the most and is not being diverted. Also, donor countries should not give aid for selfish purposes but rather to help these developing countries.

Inspiring Education

Review 2017 - Writing

Is Foreign Aid a Help or Hindrance to the Economic Development of a Country? Ethan McColgan F2 SECOND F1-F3 ECONOMICS ESSAY WRITING COMPETITION Foreign aid may be defined as money, food, or other resources given or loaned by one country to another. In 2016, the UK Government gave £12.23 billion in foreign aid of which Pakistan received the most money (£351.4 million) closely followed by Ethiopia and Nigeria. The U.S gave over $35 billion in foreign aid in 2016. Given the implications for poverty reduction in developing countries, foreign aid is an important topic. Furthermore, it is one of the most controversial subjects in economics. This is because, despite a vast array of economic research, there appears to be no correlation between the amount of foreign aid a country receives and its rate of economic growth ( Dreher, 2015). Economists appear to be divided as to whether or not foreign aid is effective. According to Angus Deaton, a Nobel prize winner in economics, ‘(by giving foreign aid), The rich world is corrupting the less economically developed countries (LEDCs) governments and slowing their growth’. In contrast, world-renowned economist, Jeffrey Sachs, states, ‘the critics of foreign aid are wrong... aid works’. In this essay, I will discuss whether foreign aid is a help or hindrance to the economic development of a country. I will consider points of evidence on the matter before deriving a conclusion. There are many economists who argue that foreign aid helps the economic development of a country. A study by Karras (2006), concludes that foreign aid of $20 per person results in a permanent increase in the growth rate of GDP per capita by 0.16%. This in depth study also showed that the effect of foreign aid on economic growth was not just positive but long lasting. In addition, McGivallry (2005) showed that aid to African countries not only increased economic growth but also reduced poverty. Furthermore, in research conducted by Gomanee et al (2005) involving a sample of 25 Sub-Saharan African countries from 1970-1997, results showed that foreign aid had a significantly positive affect on economic growth. Moreover, it is claimed that foreign aid helps the economy of a country by providing free healthcare where needed, aiding agriculture and food production, helping to reduce debt, decreasing infant mortality rate, and transferring goods and technology (Williams, 2015). In addition, Swanson (2015), states that specific aid aimed at providing education and life saving vaccinations can help the economy of the receiving country. Whilst some anti-aid arguments revolve around the idea that the receiving country has to have a good policy in order for foreign aid to help the economy, a study by Ram (2004) proved that there was no substantial evidence to support this claim. A large number of economists, however, argue that foreign aid is a hindrance to economic development. A paper by Easterly (2003) shows that as the level of foreign aid increased into Africa through the 1980’s and 90’s, the African economies were declining. This argument is supported by a number of other papers including Acegmoglu and Robinson (2014), and Subramanian and Rajan (2005) which also show a negative correlation between foreign aid and economic growth. Interestingly, Subramanian and Rajan’s study (2005) showed that countries receiving less aid had higher economic growth. Economists, including Deaton, Acemoglu and Robinson, argue that the reason for this is that money given as foreign aid can be a corrupting influence on LEDC governments. Indeed, there are many examples of humanitarian aid being used to support corrupt regimes including in Zaire, Rwanda, Ethiopia, and Somalia ( Swanson, 2015). Many economists such as Deaton and Acemoglu hold the view that an LEDC country will not develop economically despite large amounts of foreign aid, unless that country has a strong and effective government. Their consensus is that that foreign aid can undermine a government. Acemoglu and Robinson summarise by stating that , ‘Corruption, nepotism and fear of change, all play a big part in keeping the whole system in place’. To substantiate this argument, studies conducted by Burnside and Dollar (2000) and Brautigam and Knack (2004) prove that foreign aid has a negative effect on growth. Furthermore, studies by Mosley (1987), Boone (1996) and Jensen and Paldam (2003) find evidence to suggest that foreign aid has no impact on economic growth. Moreover, an extensive paper by Ekanyake and Chatrna found that foreign aid had an overall negative effect on the economic growth of 85 developing countries. Finally, it is well documented that China and Vietnam have both experienced sustained and rapid economic growth over the last two decades without receiving any foreign aid ( Swanson, 2015). In comparison, countries like Ethiopia and Nigeria have received vast quantities of foreign aid, yet have not experienced anything near to this growth. In summary, having considered the evidence, I believe that the majority of the economic literature supports that foreign aid is a hindrance to the economic development of a country. A strong example of this are the African countries which have been receiving significant amounts of foreign aid for around 40 years now, yet there is little evidence to show that the economies of these countries have grown. In fact, evidence shows that these countries have declined economically. Furthermore, the economy of countries that have received little or no foreign aid, such as China, have grown.

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Review 2017 - Writing

Bridge Beyond the Grave Emily Baxter, F3 WINNER BURGESS PRIZE | WINNER OLD BOY’S CLUB PRIZE FOR CREATIVE WRITING IN FORMS 1-3 EMILY WAS INSPIRED TO WRITE THIS STORY BY THE TAY BRIDGE DISASTER. IT WON HER FIRST PLACE IN THE BURGESS WRITING COMPETITION. SHE WON A VERY IMPRESSIVE LOOKING TROPHY, WHICH WAS PRESENTED TO HER AT A CELEBRATORY EVENT AT THE CITY CHAMBERS HOSTED BY THE LORD PROVOST. HER STORY WAS PUBLISHED BY THE COURIER. The icy, biting wind, rattled the aged, wooden window frames of ‘Bouch Bridge Designers’ Offices, as the violent storm continued. The office over looked the Howff Graveyard and, in the far distance, gave a panoramic view of the Tay Rail Bridge. A flash of strong white lightening dashed the pitch black sky. A roar of thunder and shriek of the bitter wind which was enough to slice to the bone, any flesh bared to it. In the office, a fresh faced, school girl, Alice Bouch, was working late. She was tidying away old files and throwing out unwanted documents, dreaming of her chance to own the office herself one day and become the very first female engineer in Scotland. The office was ornately furnished in oak with leather. Alice rose from her desk-chair, she paced over to a tall, filing cabinet, and lifted out some yellow tinted files. “Nothing in here needs kept” she said, gently flicking the pages between her fingers. Just then, the window behind her rattled harder than ever and Alice got a cold shiver running through her body. The file blew open, pages dispersing into the air like confetti at a wedding. She noticed a single piece of crumpled up parchment had fallen out. Picking it up, she read, “Sir, we wish to alert you to failing in the castings of the last batch of steel we supplied....” It was from the foundry in Falkirk. “We have had numerous complaints about the maintenance and the quality of the castings.” “Was this the steel used in my father’s bridge construction?” she mused. The letter was stroked and scored with red ink, as if it had been read but the contents not intended to be made public. Puzzled, Alice slotted the paper back into the file, trusting her father’s judgement. Realising the time, Alice tidied away the remaining files and blew out the only source of light in the room, a wax candle. Making her way back home, bustling streets had turned eerily silent. Only rustling of branches and the clicking of the tram, broke the silence. She spied the typesetters in the D.C Thomson offices, “What will the headlines be tomorrow?” she pondered. As a shortcut, Alice cut through the Howff. Most people were terrified by the graveyard, but for some reason, Alice never was. Maybe the thought of her mother, who lay here following her untimely, mysterious death, comforted her. Two lonely gas lamps, gently started to flicker on, off, on, off. The wind picked up, stronger, faster, louder... Alice felt as if someone was watching her, or was standing beside her. But no one was there. Thinking she was going mad, Alice walked on. Suddenly the wind whistled lustily in her ear, as if to say something to her. She heard a gentle voice “Alice.... Alice... The bridge... The bridge”. “Mother?” she turned in confusion to see a row of grave stones emitting a soft glow of light. She began to slowly walk towards them, crouched to a kneel and brushed away the dirt, uncovering the name. It read ‘John Campbell, aged 36, died 28 December 1879’. “But that’s today...” Alice murmured. “Alice, the bridge...”, the voice had gotten stronger. Then, all of a sudden, it dawned on her... Bong! Bong! The Steeple Church bell struck seven o’clock. Alice, without waiting, ran to the water’s edge. Any moment now the train from Wormit would cross the bridge, with many innocent passengers on board. In the distance she heard the relentless chattering of train on tracks. The constant snowfall made the lights unfocused but gradually the circles grew larger and larger. Alice had to move, but found herself restrained by a strong, broad hand. She turned to see her father standing before her. “How did you know?” How did you find out?” He yelled “Find out what?” “What would be happening here tonight.” “I heard voices...” “Voices?” “Yes, in the graveyard.” “Ahh! That explains a great deal. Did you have visions too?” “Yes, on the grave stones.” Alice paused “ And the letters of complaints. Father there’s no time, the train is coming, and we must help!” “No. If we try and save them, they’ll realise I knew about the bridge. It will ruin me Alice, I cannot let you do this.” “I trusted you!” Alice insisted, pushing past her father. Grabbing a lantern, she ran towards the track. But in her haste she lost her balance and it just took the slightest of pushes, from behind, to send her over. “You always were like your mother. Now you can join her...” The last whistle of the train and creek of the falling bridge blocked out Alice’s last scream... 70 passengers on board died that night, and one gifted school girl...

Inspiring Education

Review 2017 - Writing

L7 Old Girls’ Prize for Creative Writing This year’s Old Girls’ Prize for Creative Writing was won jointly by Rebecca Bonnyman and Archie Macdonald BAVMORDA THE BANEFUL

COTTAGE O’ THE ANCIENTS

I heard a loud bang and suddenly, smoke cascaded through the late-night sky. Then as if appearing from thin air was a lanky, misshapen figure, hobbling towards me. She was hideous in appearance, mumbling to herself with a dreamy, ghastly smile. Her gnarled, skin was like molten lava, erupting over her monstrous, grotesque face. A mangled, raven like nose, sitting unevenly on her face was nothing but a bumpy collection of warts letting out a quiet hissing noise. Blowing ferociously in the wind was her matted slate-black hair, similar in colour to her loosely hanging, jet-black robes. With her leathery tongue she licked her bloodless lips casting a feeling of fear to all those in her presence. She wielded her long, old fashioned broom like a weapon, capable of killing. Her hazel, serpentine eyes stared at me, longingly and sorrowfully as if trying to tell me something. Then suddenly with another puff of smoke, she disappeared into the abyss. That was the last I would see of Bavmorda the baneful.

I opened a thick wooden door and entered into the mysterious woodland cottage. I was in a dirty cave-like room. There was a strange, musty aroma, wafting through the stagnant air, sending sorrowful thoughts to mind. All around were artefacts of a life lived and hastily abandoned. A thick layer of dust lay over every surface like dirty snow, covering the ground. Shafts of morning sunlight burst through the gaps in the curtains like water cascading down a waterfall. Along with the ticking of the grandfather clock, cold water rhythmically dropped from the blistered window frames onto a small wooden table, laden with small, gothic trinkets. As I continued to venture through the room I heard faint whispers silently echoing. Dirt encrusted, cinnamon brown wallpaper was peeling gradually off the decrepit wooden walls. Hanging over a stately queen-size bed was an ancient, bedraggled plant, struggling to carry its own weight. Suddenly, there were more strange noises. Someone was there. The door creaked… open. Who could it be? Archie Macdonald

Archie Macdonald

FAYLINN THE GOOD WITCH

BRAMBLE COTTAGE

Sparkles floated gently downwards towards the soft, sweet smelling, grass as Faylinn the good witch drifted slowly to the ground. A beautiful flowery scent travelled through the air like a perfumed invisible cloud that had wandered down from the sky. Faylinn’s light, meringue like, candy floss, pink dress landed softly on the grass with a melodic thud. The group of children that had gathered around her all stared in awe as she walked towards them, her soft ginger hair blowing gently in the morning breeze. She secured her magnificent, silver crown that was scattered with gems before she began to sing a soft and soothing song. Faylinn waved her sparkling golden wand at the children and immediately they all began to sing along as if they had known the song all their lives. Her voice was a golden harp being strummed gently. Faylinn’s eyes shinned like diamonds as she heard the children’s soft voices. Her pale pink lines curved into a beautiful smile. With that, Faylinn gripped her golden wand, waved it and disappeared into a puff of colourful glitter.

The delicious scent of freshly baked pancakes floated gently out of the open window of the beautiful thatched cottage. The white washed walls shone brightly in the warm, morning sun. Bright pink flowers blended in with the green bushes like a flower covered meadow with green grasshoppers hiding in the long, sweet smelling grass. Freshly mowed grass sat on the ground as the bright sun made the dew twinkle in the morning sunlight. Two tall chimneys poked out of the thatched roof like newly born birds peeking out from their straw nest. Bright white clouds floated in an ocean blue sky like lambs floating in the sky. A sign nearby swung gently in the summer breeze and flowers cascaded over the words, bramble cottage. Bees buzzed around in the trees they surrounded the house like Belgium chocolate fingers surrounding a gingerbread house. Suddenly everything went pitch black. Street lamps flickered on. A cold and icy breeze blew leaves off the trees.

Rebecca Bonnyman

Personification Poem He sneezes loudly as he feeds the beautiful greenery, He spits out mud from his running nose on to the shrubbery Spluttering, he blows water on to everything in his path after every dry space in the garden, Then he is rolled up and sits under the window, ready for the next rain drought. He flies across the air spinning in to the hands of others, He avoids the opposition getting their hands on him, Whistling, he spirals through the air after a big kick to the posts, Then at the end of the game he is put back in the bag. He reacts cleverly to the touch of a finger, He blinks and turns black when you are done with him, Pausing, he does everything you ask of him and helps all the time, Then he is blacked out and put away in the drawer. James Westwood, L6C

Picture Description Autumn was in full swing; the leaves were as yellow as a wasp. As for the sky, it was as grey as an old lady’s hair and looked like it would just pour all its water onto the silent country below. Some-where in the empty countryside was a wooden path. The path at this particular time of year was damp from the rain that had fallen. Right in the centre of the path was a bench, alone, staring at the deep dark jet black lake. The only life was ducks happily swimming. As the water fell from an unknown source into a murky pool, the emerald forest blew in the wind. The cave was silent as ever with the sound of wind and water and the occasional rabbit scurrying by. The massive evergreen trees stood proud watching over the vine green jungle. The cave had over the years had been a home for an enormous cobra and a family of ocelots. The vines hung over the cave like chains forever enclosed in the hot, hot jungle. Blair Murdoch, L6C

www.highschoolofdundee.org.uk

Review 2017 - Writing

L1 Early Writing

L3 Poetry Competition Congratulations go to Charlotte Steuart Fothringham who won the L3 Poetry Competition in March this year. All the L3 pupils entered the competition which comprised two preliminary rounds and a final. Miss McFarlane, our adjudicator, was impressed by the high standard of the finalists. Miss McFarlane commented, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Charlotte was a worthy winner! She captured the attention of everyone in the room and she let the words of the poem speak for themselves.â&#x20AC;? Well done to Charlotte and all the finalists!

L1 Later Writing

L2M Snowflakes Snowflakes, mesmerising, hypnotising, illuminating, soft, cold, icy, crunchy. Sprinkling down like sparkling diamonds. Snowflakes.

Snowflakes, soft, icy, lacy, magical, sparkling, glinting, dancing. Falling like little specks of stardust. Snowflakes.

Snowflakes, twinkling, swirling, white, soft, glistening, shimmering, dancing. Fluttering down like soft white feathers. Snowflakes.

Snowflakes, hypnotising, mesmerising, icy, unique, illuminating, lacy, spiralling. Falling like little bits of white candyfloss. Snowflakes.

In L2M we made some unique, sixsided snowflakes out of polystyrene. They look very effective. They inspired us to write these wonderful Snowflakes poems.

Inspiring Education

Review 2017 - Writing

L3 Autumn Term Novel Study Charlotte’s Web During the autumn term, the pupils in L3 study the novel ‘Charlotte’s Webb’ written by E. B. White where Fern, a young girl, saves a runt of a pig, Wilbur. He then strikes up an unlikely friendship with a spider called Charlotte. The children participated in a number of activities linked to the story throughout a range of curricular areas such as English Language and Art. Lessons included writing a persuasive letter to Mr Arable to convince him to save Wilbur the pig and creating a lovely display of paper plate pigs and spiders with webs to represent the main characters in the story.

Persuasive Letter to Mr Arable High School of Dundee

High School of Dundee

Dundee

8 September 2016

Dear Mr Arable

I’m writing to you to ask you not to kill Wilbur the pig. Please save him because people eat turkey at Christmas, not pig! Could you please not kill Wilbur because he is a living creature.

I’m writing to ask you not to kill Wilbur the pig. Please save him because he’s my friend and he talks to me. Could you please not kill Wilbur. He’s too little – he won’t make many sausages. I implore you not to kill him.

I’m writing to ask you not to kill Wilbur the pig. Please save him because he’s a living creature with feelings. How would you like it if your dad killed you? Charlotte loves him. Please don’t kill him.

Yours sincerely

Yours sincerely Olivia

Ayanah Charlotte Steuart Fothringham

L6 Setting the Scene The haunted house (26th January 2017) Theatrically, the house looms over the surrounding area, lightning crackling and gale winds rushing overhead. As the town clock strikes midnight, storm clouds rumble above. Dilapidated gates lie askew and unclosed, once proudly presenting the house’s former glory, its intricate work dented, still stubbornly bearing the worn title “Sinistaria Mansion” in large letters. The stench of rotten wood penetrates the air briefly before being swept away while shattered windows rattle and horned gargoyles leer at each other maliciously. Heavily weathered stone steps lead up to the slowly decaying porch and a stained, but still imposing door, the only reminder of the past magnificence of the dwelling. The building itself seemed to radiate an aura of pure fear and evil, especially on a night such as this. Skeletal, long since dead plants shook on either side of the path, younger weeds entwining around their roots, proof of years of abandonment and neglect, rotting leaves littering the few pieces of paving that was not obscured by the thicket of branches. The sheer size of the building, along with its once-beautiful furnishings, set in one’s mind that the owner had been someone who was determined to impose and impress. Booming thunder claps accompanied the faint creaking from the wooden deck of the veranda. Sloping roofs, their tiles mostly fallen, rose like small spires, all dwarfed by the main tower. But the most ominous thing was not any of these. It was the small, isolated light shining in the highest window, in the freezing, unimaginably dilapidated house. Neil Bhat

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Review 2017 - Writing

Cinderella Once upon a time, in a land far, far away there was a joyful kingdom. All of its population be it family, friends or acquaintances, lived in harmony. To many, this kingdom seemed like the happiest place on earth. Surrounded by great stone walls, the kingdom was very safe. Anyone entering the kingdom was welcomed as they passed through the tremendous iron gates by the sight of the king’s great silver castle. Towering over the city, the castle with its sixteen turrets, glistened in the sun and made the whole kingdom brighter. No one fought, no one suffered, no one hated. Everyone was content. This seems like the perfect fairytale setting. But every fairytale always has a dark corner... The kingdom was situated next to a forest that expanded as far as the eye could see. No one dared enter the forest as very few ever returned. The forest was dark. According to survivors, when inside the forest you felt cold, lonely and full of fear. You would find yourself huddled in a corner, your eyes peering for something that may or may not be there; jumping with fright at every creek and whisper. Darkness cloaked the forest and suffocated it and any life inside. Only evil and misunderstandings survived in this forest. According to local legend, in this forest, along with its evil and mystery, there was an old haggard woman. She lived in a wooden hut. Its panels were slowly rotting showing the scars and wounds left by the forest and its harsh climate. The hut was small with only enough room for one person. As for the woman, she was troubled. The years of living with only the company of the surviving animals had played with her mind and she had become mad, (although it was said she had been mad since she was born). Rumors claimed that, if you looked over the kingdom walls late at night you could sometimes see her. Walking around in her dirty, wet rags, discoloured by time and with filth, her clothes were a horrible colour that hid her effectively in the dark. She looked as though she was trying to find a way back into the kingdom and could be heard muttering: “Charming, Charming”. This was all that was known about the old woman in the kingdom. To them, she was and remains a mystery. But we know more… This old woman had not lived in the forest her whole life. In fact, she had once lived

F1 Creative work - Haiku Inspiring Education

in a stately home, in a village near the kingdom. Her mother had died when she was young and her father had remarried the most ghastly woman. When her father died a few years later, her new stepmother inherited everything. The girl was brought up by her stepmother along with her two step sisters who treated her as a slave, forcing to do the chores and work. The young girl started to wither away. Eventually, by chance, she married into the royal family and became a Princess. But that didn’t last for long. For decades, she lived in the forest, alone and unloved. Her name? I hear you ask. Cinderella. Now we all know the tale of Cinderella. But how did she come to be an old hag living in the forest? Let’s start at the beginning. When Cinderella’s father died she was, as we said, forced to work: to be the family maid. During this time, it is said that Cinderella went mad. She believed she could speak to animals and was often heard talking to them as she did her work. They helped her get ready in the morning. They were her best friends. Her stepmother was unsure of what to do with her. The best option would be to send her to an asylum but the shame that it would bring on the family was too heavy a cost. So Cinderella worked and stayed out of her step mother’s way. Then, of course, there was the ball. The ball that changed Cinderella’s life… After Cinderella and her Prince Charming married, they went away on their honeymoon. At this time, Cinderella found it very hard to talk to the Prince. After all, she had only really been in his presence for about four hours. She knew nothing about him and he knew nothing about her. It was very...awkward. So Cinderella went about asking questions. What did he want to do with his life? How would he rule the kingdom when his time came? And the Prince answered. And so vice versa, the Prince tried to get to know Cinderella. On the third day of their honeymoon, the Prince asked Cinderella how she had come to be at the ball looking the way she did when she was just a servant girl? (Not very sensitive I know, but this was hundreds of years ago) Cinderella did the unthinkable. While lying in the silk sheets of the king-sized bed, she told the Prince the truth. Starting with the animals, she told the

Prince how they were her friends. They helped her and she hoped that the Prince would make way in his castle for the animals to live inside with them. Then she told him about her fairy godmother: a dear old woman with wings who could perform magic and make your wishes come true. She had come to Cinderella after her ugly step sisters had destroyed the dress that the mice and birds had made for her. The fairy godmother transformed her dress into a magnificent ball gown. Feeling faint, the Prince started to see amber lights. Then she told him how her fairy godmother had turned a pumpkin into a coach, her mice friends into horses and her dog into a footman. She was given glass slippers and the spell was broken at midnight. The Prince was speechless. Of course, he thought he had married someone insane. He quickly made plans to travel back to the kingdom and to divorce Cinderella. And, as a consequence, she drifted into madness: screaming and crying about how it was all true and he couldn’t leave her. When they arrived back at the kingdom, Cinderella was taken against her will to the asylum where she stayed for several decades. She was eventually forgotten and the Prince re-married one of the ugly stepsisters. And they subsequently had several ugly children. Cinderella kept escaping from the asylum. She aged centuries. Shock therapy had fried her brain and made her desperate for her Prince. Eventually, she was banished from the kingdom for trying to cause grievous bodily harm to her exhusband. Twisted inside, she wanted her revenge. Her beloved phony of a Prince had killed her soul. Without him she thought, in those rather unenlightened times, she was nothing. And that’s where our story ends. Now she lives in the forest. Alone and forgotten. So what is the moral of this story? Well, ladies. Never invest all your happiness in happy ever after- develop you own independence, relationships and become your own fairy godmother. But when you marry your Prince, leave out all the details regarding magic in your story. Men don’t tend to understand those elements. Hannah Cowieson

On Nature The flower stalk bends

A storm is coming.

To wind’s commanding presence.

Crashing waves against my face.

Springs back graciously.

Stuck on an island.

Rebecca Ritchie

Eleanor Anderson

Review 2017 - Writing

Creative work - poems from F2

L2M Fireworks Poem The Owl who was afraid or the dark enjoyed the boy scouts fireworks. L2M also had a good time on Bonfire Night and wrote these poems in class. Our adjectives are fantastic. Fireworks Poem I see… shining and shimmering, popping and glowing, flashing and flying Fireworks in the dark night sky. I hear… zooming and whizzing, smashing and swooshing, exploding and roaring, Fireworks in the dark night sky.

Fireworks Poem I see… glinting and swirling, popping and shining, flying and glowing Fireworks in the dark night sky. I hear… zooming and crackling, smashing and wailing, roaring and fizzing Fireworks in the dark night sky.

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Let your lives speak

Contents Armistice Parade..................................58 Recruit Camp.......................................58 Biennial Inspection................................59 Summer Camp.....................................60 School raises money for World’s Biggest Coffee Morning........................61 Christmas Fair provides festive fun........61 Comic Relief.........................................63 Red Nose Day......................................63 High School presents cheque for over £1,000 to Tourette Scotland.................64 BBC Children in Need...........................64 Interact Report.....................................64 Charitable/Enterprise Activity................64 Marie Curie Great Daffodil Appeal.........65 Movember Report................................65 Archie Foundation................................66 High School of Wullie comes home!......66 Pyjama Day..........................................67 Race for Life.........................................67 L7 Rotakids..........................................68 Rotary Swimarathon.............................69 World Book Day...................................69 Junior Years Digital Leaders..................70 F1 and F2 Science Club.......................71 History Film Club..................................71 L4-L7 Chess Club Report.....................71 L2 Hama Bead Clubq...........................72 L4 Badminton Club..............................72 L5 Climbing Club..................................73 L5 Construction Club............................73 Mock Court Case.................................74 Model Boat Building Club.....................74 Tennis Racquet Stringing Club..............74 Debating takes you places...............75-76

Debating - A Pupil Perspective.............77 Dyson Application.................................78 F1 Classification Poster competition.....78 Pregnancy Zone Protein Research........79 Nuffield Research Placement................80 F5 Business Management - Mackie’s Factory Tour.........................................81 Target 2 point zero team.......................81 Dundee and Angus Schools’ One Day Enterprise Competition.........................81 LIV-LVII Public Speak Competition........81 F3 Enterprise Club................................81 Salters Festival of Chemistry.................82 Schools Analyst Competition................82 The F1-3 Burns Recitation Competition..........................................82 Burns Night..........................................83 Professor Christopher Whatley OBE.....84 Rotary Competition...............................84 Senior Schools Speaking Competition... 84 Holderness...........................................85 Field Work............................................85 Creative soil profiles..............................85 Mass Extinctions and the Dinosaurs.....86 Reading Records!.................................86 Dundee and the Great War Seminar.....87 Professor Kirsty Gunn...........................87 Literature to Life!...................................88 Statistics Conference............................88 Mathematics in Action..........................89 Senior Maths Challenge........................89 Scottish Maths Challenge.....................89 Languages...........................................90 Dr Matt Graham...................................91 Model United Nations...........................91 Joes Fitzpatrick MSP............................92 Togs for Tots to Teens...........................92

Dundee Foodbank................................92 High School Pupils Ask the Big Questions.......................................92 Arkwright Scholarship...........................93 FMC.....................................................93 Scottish Engineering Leaders Award....94 And the Result......................................94 F2 Design Technology Competition.......94 Christmas Fun......................................95 Christmas Parties.................................95 IPad Competition..................................96 Electrical Models..................................97 Healthy Eating Week.............................97 L1 and L2 Authors Visit Michelle Sloan......................................97 L1 at World Book Day..........................98 The Cat in the Hat visit..........................98 L1 Easter Fun.......................................99 L1 Easter Egg Nests.............................99 L1 General Activities...........................100 L1 Spring............................................100 L1 SSPCA Visit...................................100 L2 Community Building Models..........101 L2 Potatoe Harvest.............................101 L3 Science Forces..............................101 L3R Assemble....................................102 A word from the Guide Dogs..............102 L4 Celtic Game...................................103 L4 Pirate Day......................................103 L4 Roman Visit...................................104 L6 Mandarin.......................................104 L7 assemblies....................................105 Mandarin............................................105 Winter Fun..........................................105 Photography Competition............106-107 5 Lessons from the Year in the Life of a Probationer...........................108

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Review 2017 - Let your lives speak

Armistice Parade

Over 100 cadets paraded for the annual Armistice Parade with the Banner Party being commanded by Head Girl Mhairi Millar and the Banners being carried by Sgt Hayden Smith and Sgt Sandy Taylor. The Guard of Senior Non- Commissioned Officers was commanded by Senior Cadet Sergeant-Major Alice Inman and Pipe Major Emily Wilson- Pearce played the solo lament. The Parade as ever proved to be very poignant with all ranks acquitting themselves most professionally.

Recruit Camp

Some 40 F2 cadets went through their recruit induction at Barry Buddon, where the learning curve got ever steeper and the pressure increased. New skills, ranging from toilet and floor cleaning to weapon handling and drill had to be acquired quickly with recruits having to work as a team but also push themselves as individuals. The core values of DHSCCF of courage, integrity, discipline, selfless commitment, loyalty, respect for others and indomitable spirit were outlined and explained to the recruits. By the end of the camp, all were aware of the importance of these values and standards not only to the CCF and the Army but also to life in general.

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Review 2017 - Let your lives speak

Biennial Inspection Lt Colonel RSJ Hedderwick, Commanding Officer of the Black Watch, 3rd Battalion The Royal Regiment of Scotland inspected the contingent during a 48 hour field exercise at Barry Buddon in March where he observed a range of activities and competitive disciplines. In the follow up report he stated: â&#x20AC;&#x153;DHSCCF is in superb form and a shining example of what is possible. The standard of cadet was impressive; those I spoke to were eloquent and committed. I was left in no doubt that they were enjoying the CCF and valued the opportunities it afforded them. â&#x20AC;&#x153;As is so often the case, success is dependent on the group of leaders who set the tone and culture of an organisation. With the group of instructors that the School currently has at the helm, I see no reason why it should not continue in the same impressive vein.

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Review 2017 - Let your lives speak

Summer Camp In June the Contingent returned to Penally in South Wales for annual camp. The weather proved to be somewhat more challenging than we had experienced the previous year. However, as expected, the cadets thrived on all the challenges they encountered and demonstrated considerable grit and resilience as well as indomitable spirit. These challenges included a 36 hour survival and tactical exercise as well as full bore shooting, adventure training and leadership activities.

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Review 2017 - Let your lives speak

School raises money for World’s Biggest Coffee Morning Home baking ensured that backing a great cause had never tasted so good! As part of its charities and outreach programme the School raised £731.87 for MacMillan Cancer Support’s World’s Biggest Coffee Morning through pupil and staff bake sales which, it’s fair to say, went down very well! Claire Reid, teacher and Charities and Community Outreach Coordinator for the School, said, “I’d like to say a big thank you to all the pupils and staff who contributed such a fantastic array of delicious home baking. “The School has supported the MacMillan Coffee Morning for a number of years and we were delighted to be able to get behind it again in 2016.”

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Review 2017 - Let your lives speak

Christmas Fair provides festive fun As the countdown to Christmas got underway the School was delighted to offer up a cracker of an event! The School’s annual Charities Christmas Fair gave members of the public and the HSD community the chance to soak up some seasonal cheer, grab some early Christmas bargains and raise money for worthy causes.

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Delivering a sackful of fun for all the family, the event, which took place in Trinity and Baxter Halls, featured a range of stalls run by charities, local traders and pupils selling goodies like crafts, art, cards, jewellery, festive items, homeware and more. An elves grotto featuring face-painting and other fun activities provided yuletide magic

for younger visitors, while refreshments and tasty home baking were also on offer, along with a raffle. As always, profits from the Fair in the sum of £849.81 went to a number of good causes and the event also acted as a drop-off point for donations to the ‘Bring a Smile for Christmas’ appeal.

Review 2017 - Let your lives speak

Comic Relief Supporting Comic Relief was taken as ‘red’ at the High School of Dundee in March 2017! To celebrate Red Nose Day, pupils and staff throughout the School donated cash to take part in a dress-down day which was unsurprisingly dominated by a particular colour. Red noses sold out repeatedly as pupils attempted to collect all ten of the new designs with over 1,000 noses sold in Junior Years alone. To raise further money for the charity appeal, our High Helpers organised a bake sale featuring tasty treats made by pupils and staff. A grand total of £2909.35 was raised to support this wonderful cause.

Red Nose Day

We had a dress up day for Red Nose Day. Throughout the day we did lots of activities including baking ginger bread men to sell to raise money for Red Nose Day.

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Review 2017 - Let your lives speak

High School presents cheque for over £1000 to Tourette Scotland The High School of Dundee presented a cheque for £1014 to Tourette Scotland. Ruth Smith and Mark Lincoln from the charity came into the school to receive the funds from School Secretary Pat Duncan, classroom assistant Laura Duncan, who is Pat’s daughter, and Laura’s daughter Chloe Burns, who is a P5 pupil at Ardler Primary School and suffers from this condition. The money was raised via donations at the School’s Early Years Nativity performances, with Chloe, Laura and Pat generating a further £515 for the organisation through a stall which they ran at the School’s Christmas Fair and online through a Just Giving Page. Mark, who is trustee and trainer for Tourette Scotland, said, “We’d like to say a big thank you to the School, to Chloe and to everyone who has been involved in raising this magnificent total. “All the money raised will go towards supporting people, mainly children, with Tourette Syndrome and, more particularly, will help to fund the setting up of a local support group in Tayside.” Tourette Scotland is the only Scottish charity that supports people with the neurological condition Tourette Syndrome. Approximately 1 in 100 people in Scotland have Tourette Syndrome, yet the public perception is that it is a rare condition, with sufferers shouting out and swearing – these symptoms occur only in a very small percentage of people with the condition. More details about Tourette Syndrome and Tourette Scotland can be found online at www.tourettescotland.org or on Tourette Scotland’s Facebook page.

BBC Children in Need

Interact Report

Pupils at the High School embraced the challenge of making Friday, 18 November 2016 Spotacular in aid of Children in Need! Pupils throughout the Nursery, Junior and Senior Years, as well as High School Wullie and some members of staff, sported a range of spotty attire, including scarves, socks, jumpers and more, with the aim of showing their spots to raise lots! £547.07 was raised for this wonderful cause.

Interact, the school’s pupil led charities committee, has had another extremely busy and successful year fundraising for various charitable causes. Interact gives the unique opportunity for pupils to take a leading role in hosting a whole range of fun and original events and entrepreneurial endeavours. This year, the team have been especially busy with the F1, 2 and 6 Halloween Party, a bespoke candy cane delivery service, a Christmas fayre stall and even pulling out all the stops in a dazzling Christmas staff pantomime. Interact’s keystone event was its F5/6 1920s ball, seeing Trinity Meadowside transformed and thrown back to the roaring 20s for an evening of glitz and glamour, encompassing the razzle-dazzle of the time period. Interact has raised an astonishing £3221.64 this year. We chose to support Dundee Disabled Chilldren’s Association as our local charity and the English Speaking Union as our international charity, both two very worthwhile charities doing great work in the local area and around the world. As President, I would like to thank the many committed members of the committee for their hard work throughout the course of the year, and also pass on my best wishes to next year’s elected members! Lynden Nicely

Charitable/ Enterprise Activity The HFT Department has had a creative and busy entrepreneurial year creating various baked items for School Events. This has included Macmillan Coffee morning with 300 toffee crisps tray bakes, Fair Trades, over 250 muffins and Comic Relief Red Nose Cakes. HFT were delighted to be able to contribute to several charities.

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Review 2017 - Let your lives speak

Marie Curie Great Daffodil Appeal On Friday, 3 March 2017, four Form 6 pupils took to the streets of Dundee to raise money for a very worthwhile cause. Elizabeth Bearn, Laura MacKenzie, Ailsa Wedderburn and Catriona Murphy enthusiastically interacted with passers-by and collected money for the Marie Curie Great Daffodil Appeal. In just over an hour, on a beautiful sunny morning, the girls collected £138.77 and every penny raised is helping Marie Curie Nurses to be there for more people living with any terminal illness. This was a wonderful opportunity for our pupils to participate in the life of the city and be part of the community.

Movember Report

Movember, the month formerly known as November, is a moustache growing charity event held during November each year that raises funds and awareness for men’s health. This year a team of six High School of Dundee Form 6 pupils and 10 staff took on the feat of growing a ‘tash’ of many shapes and sizes for the whole of the month in order to raise awareness and more importantly, raise funds, for this worthwhile cause. Some men struggled to grow, some men flourished. Some chose handlebars. Some chose goatees. Over the 30 days of growing, the ‘Tash Team’ raised an incredible amount of money equalling £998.60. £233.60 of this money was raised in collection buckets situated throughout the school by pupils, parents and staff, along with a very kind donation from Coffee & Co on Reform Street. A staggering £765 was donated to the team online through the Movember page. Mr McAdam, the self-proclaimed winner of Movember, concluded that, “Pupils have been asking me if I’ll shave now that Movember is over but I’ve actually got to like my moustache. I told them that it has really grown on me so I’ll be keeping it”.

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Archie Foundation The efforts of the High School of Dundee community to give a popular ‘pupil’ a permanent home have resulted in a donation of over £4,500 to the ARCHIE Foundation.

Parents, staff, pupils and friends of the School joined together to try to raise enough money to buy High School Wullie - the statue which the School sponsored and decorated as part of Oor Wullie’s Bucket Trail – when he was auctioned off, along with the 69 other ‘Wullies’, at the Rep Theatre in September. In spite of generating the fantastic figure of £4,511.93 in less than a week, the School was outbid. However, with all the money pledged still being donated to ARCHIE’s campaign

to raise £2m for a new twin operating theatre suit in Tayside Children’s Hospital, and with the statue of the cheeky chap ultimately being generously returned to the School by the successful bidder, former pupil Graham Paterson, there was a happy outcome for all involved! Rector Dr John Halliday said, “We are absolutely thrilled that through High School Wullie we were able to contribute to a project that genuinely captured the imagination of people across Dundee and beyond and raised such a wonderful amount of money for the ARCHIE appeal. “The best thing in all of this has been the community working together to help others creatively.”

High School Wullie comes home! After a painstaking wait, the High School of Dundee celebrated the return of a much loved member of its community – the High School’s Bucket Trail Wullie! In a playful move which the infamous rascal would surely have approved of himself, when the School’s pupils and staff were gathered together in the playground, the Rector Dr John Halliday surprised them by unveiling the colourful statue, which had not been seen since the Oor Wullie Bucket Trail auction in mid-September. Wullie was then given a hero’s welcome as, accompanied by pipers and cheering, he was carried up on to the school Pillars by Head Boy Josh Rawcliffe, Head Girl Mhairi Millar, Deputy Head Boy Lynden Nicely and Deputy Head Girl Mariam Alijani, before being presented with a School blazer and scarf! Sporting a unique outfit which was designed by pupils Rebecca Hamilton, Jennifer Bonnyman and Evie Campbell (all S1), and brought to life by F6 pupils studying Advanced Higher Art, the School-

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sponsored statue had originally been on display in front of the school gates throughout July and August. Along with the 69 other Wullies that made up the hugely popular, summer-long Bucket Trail, the sculpture was then auctioned at Dundee Rep to help the ARCHIE Foundation raise £2m to create a new twin operating theatre suit in Tayside Children’s Hospital. Despite a valiant effort by the School community to raise enough money to give the cheeky chap a permanent home, the sculpture was sold to an unknown buyer, leaving the School community guessing about where their renowned rogue might end up. In spite of a heartfelt plea from the Rector for information that was published in the Courier newspaper, his whereabouts remained unknown until former pupil Graham Paterson stepped forward to reveal himself as the mystery buyer and generously offered to return Wullie to the School!

Dr Halliday was delighted to welcome the wee rascal back. He said, “In the relatively short space of time that he was sitting in front of the gates, High School Wullie became a muchloved part of the school community and we are therefore extremely grateful to Mr Paterson for so generously bringing the sculpture back to the School. “We were absolutely thrilled that, through High School Wullie, we were able to contribute to a project which genuinely captured the imagination of people across Dundee and beyond and raised such a wonderful amount of money for the ARCHIE appeal. High School Wullie coming home is a fantastic surprise for everyone at the School, but the best thing in all of this has been the community working together to help others creatively. “We will now be consulting the rest of the High School family on where to place Wullie so he can be seen by as many people as possible.”

Review 2017 - Let your lives speak

Pyjama Day On Friday, 26 May 2017, Junior Years celebrated UNICEF’s ‘Day for Change’ in an alternative way by asking all pupils to come to school in their pyjamas. Dressing gowns and slippers were appropriate accessories for the day of fun had by all. This event was run in conjunction with our Pupil Voice committee who are working towards the attainment of our Rights Respecting School Award which focuses on the U.N. Convention on the Rights of the Child. £421.00 was donated to UNCIEF to help children in Liberia, a country with one of the highest child mortality rates in the world. Helping to fundraise for this charity could help more malnourished children there grow up healthy and strong.

Race for Life

The High School of Dundee took part in the Race for Life events in a variety of ways over the course of the weekend. Julie Rose and Helen Allan ventured through the dirt and obstacles participating in the Muddy 5km on Saturday and the HSD Butterflies briskly walked the 5km on Sunday. Thankfully, the weather was kind to us all which made for a very enjoyable time. Julie and Rachel Rose raised £285.00, Helen Allan raised £328.00 and the HSD Butterflies team raised £407.61 so an allround great effort for a very worthwhile cause.

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L7 Rotakids The Rotakids Team are our Junior Years version of our Interact Team in Senior School and are therefore by the Rotary Club of Dundee. The group has just been introduced into L7 this session and provides young citizens with the opportunity to develop the strength, knowledge, skills, enthusiasm and determination to keep on finding ways to change the world, locally and globally, into a more peaceful place where people can enjoy their lives. Rotakids believe achievement, peace, friendship and fun go hand in hand.

Christmas Fair. They created framed prints of the cheeky chap sitting outside our school. They sold these along with Oor Wullie decorated cupcakes and gave visitors the opportunity to take selfies with Wullie himself. A number of charities have benefited from the money raised this session which comes to a grand total of ÂŁ5400.77. Some of these charities were Poppy

Throughout the course of the year, the team have embarked on a number of projects from designing Christmas cards to creating a yearbook for their peers. They have faced challenges along the way but have had the determination and perseverance to overcome these barriers and find a successful solution. The biggest challenge of the year was finding more red noses for Comic Relief as they sold 800 in four days! They thoroughly enjoyed using their entrepreneurial skills to incorporate the Schoolâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s involvement in the Oor Wullie Bucket Trail into our annual Charities

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Scotland, CLIC Sargent and Comic Relief. Also chosen as beneficiaries by the Rotakids were the Maggieâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Centre Dundee, Orkidstudio who build schools and hospitals for communities in a variety of developing countries and The Yard Dundee which is an adventure play service for disabled children, young people and their families.

Review 2017 - Let your lives speak

Rotary Swimarathon

A group of High School of Dundee swimmers put in a marathon fundraising effort on Sunday, 19 February 2017.

pool as they could in 25 minutes to raise money for their own chosen charities or organisations, as well as the Rotary End Polio Now campaign.

The six-strong ‘Dippies’ team of Rachel Flack, Lorna Husband, Anna Findlay, Stephanie Mitchell, Eleanor Anderson and Janey Speed made a splash for the charity The Literacy in a Box Trust by taking part in the 2017 Rotary Swimarathon.

Part of the world’s biggest one-day swimming event, with Rotary Clubs all over the globe holding events to raise cash for good causes, last year’s Dundee Swimarathon generated more than £20,000, with 280 swimmers from 48 different teams completing a total of 3060 lengths - a distance equivalent to 47.5km!

The annual event saw squads of six swimmers completing as many 25m lengths of Dundee’s Olympia training

The Dippies have been taking part in

the event since its inception in 2013 and the funds they raise this year will help their chosen charity advance education in schools in Africa by distributing boxes, costing £325, which contain enough educational material and resources for 25 children. In 2016, the team scooped the award for the most lengths achieved by a school squad, in the process generating enough money to buy three boxes and they have done equally as well this year with a total raised of £1,100.

World Book Day

A love of reading allowed children at the High School of Dundee to help generate a donation of over £1,000 worth of books for Kingspark School. On World Book Day, pupils in the Junior Years were able to order a selection of books from the publisher Usborne which were on display in the school library.

With Usborne committing to donate to Kingspark books to the value of 60% of the total amount ordered by the High School of Dundee pupils, the Glenaffric Terrace school was able to select a fantastic £1,053 worth of titles.

Junior Years classes read for one period. Iona McFarlane, Librarian at the High School of Dundee, said, “I’d like to say a big thank you to Rona McColgan from Usborne for letting us know about this wonderful donation scheme. “The children were really excited by the plethora of books which Rona had on display and by the opportunity to help generate such a tremendous donation for pupils at Kingspark.”

Some High School pupils recently visited Kingspark to see the books and to hand over a cheque for £300 that was also raised on World Book Day through a ‘Ready Steady Read’ session in which all

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Review 2017 - Let your lives speak

Junior Years Digital Leaders Some conscientious High School of Dundee pupils are leading the way when it comes to sharing digital knowledge. A group of 15 children in Years L5 (P5)-L7 (P7) have been passing on their expertise on a range of IT matters to fellow pupils, staff and even parents as part of a special co-curricular activity, the Digital Leaders programme. Throughout the year the team took part in a variety of activities; Theses have included an online safety event for L6 parents, linked to the Rights Respecting Schools initiative. Through a variety of group activities, the children supported parents to discuss and explore key aspects of how children access the internet, what the internet is used for as well as the positive and negatives of using the internet. The team also took part in a training session, run by a member of iTeach, the company who supports our Digital Leaders team. Mr Coutts provided a wealth of information and enabled to children to explore an app called Assembly. The children designed and created digital badges which can be used to reward work in the area of digital literacy. They now have lots of plans for staff and pupil training which will be rewarded with a newly designed series of digital badges! The young IT-enthusiasts have also run a co-curricular L3 (P3) movie making club and given tutorials for the School’s Board of Directors covering various aspects of their own digital learning. In addition, with all pupils from L6-F6 at the High School using iPads as part of their everyday learning, and with younger pupils also having the chance to make use of the technology, the group members ran further parental workshops and pupil drop-in sessions on using the device and some of its applications. L6 teacher Lisa Carrie, who runs the Digital Leaders group, said, “Digital Leaders is truly a pupil lead team. They have driven this initiative more than we could have anticipated a year ago. Their enthusiasm has been infectious and we are looking forward to further developing their skills and ideas next session.”

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Review 2017 - Let your lives speak

F1 and F2 Science Club

On 27th March 2017, Dr Daniel Price from the University of Glasgow came to enrol us in the Schools Collaboration Crystal Chemistry Project, SCCCP. The overall aim is for pupils to create new “double salts” that have not yet been discovered. These will then be analysed at the University of Glasgow, using X–ray diffraction to determine the arrangement of atoms within the crystal. Pupils will measure the conditions under which crystals are obtained from mixed solutions. This provides a map of crystallisation, which will indicate if a new double salt is likely to form. They will also look out for new crystal forms, which indicate either the presence of a double salt or a new polymorph of an existing compound. The project will run for the rest of this year and continue next year. Pupils will record their results and then write a report, which will allow them to qualify for a British Association CREST Award.

History Film Club

This year has seen the establishment of History Film Club in the History and Modern Studies Department. The club runs on a Tuesday lunchtime for Form 1 and Form 2 pupils and a Wednesday lunchtime for Form 3 to Form 6 pupils. The club involves watching then discussing historical films such as Braveheart, The Book Thief, The Boy in Striped Pyjamas and many more! Discussions topics this year have included symbolism in films, characters, plot, setting, lighting and mood. In June, History Film Club ventured out on a trip to the DCA to see the film Churchill. The club will run again next session and Miss K Douglas already has some other cinema outings lined up.

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Review 2017 - Let your lives speak

L4-L7 Chess Club Report Pupils have enjoyed blocks of chess and a tournament this session. Chess skills and strategies have been greatly enhanced through the expertise input from Mr Alastair Dawson, a chess coach who has represented Scotland at Senior level, and Mrs Smith. In addition to pupils coaching weeks, 52 pupils participated in the Chess Tournament. After playing in many rounds of the tournament, it was a very closely fought final. Congratulations go to Ramit Kanodia (L6) who was runner up and the winner, Krish Akula (L5). Well done to all who participated. Mrs Smith

L2 Hama Bead Club

The L2 lunchtime Hama bead club proved to be very popular, with pupils producing some amazing designs.

L4 Badminton Club The L4 Badminton Club was set up this year â&#x20AC;&#x201C; providing a new co-curricular opportunity for Junior School pupils. Two groups of children engaged with badminton this session, experiencing a range of activities to encourage good coordination and more effective play. The backhand serve was taught and used on court and pupils had opportunities to play with different partner combinations. The pupils showed lots of enthusiasm for badminton and plenty of progress was made during their weeks pf play. This sport has provided an enjoyable way for young pupils to exercise together, cooperate, have fun and learn helpful physical skills. Miss M. Cardno and Mrs J. Chalmers Badminton Club was fun. I enjoyed doing forehand shots the best. I would recommend badminton to other people. Zara Mason - L4 I think Badminton Club was a very good club because you learned how to play the game â&#x20AC;&#x201C; I had never played before. I managed to keep hitting the shuttle 40 times before it dropped! I made very good progress and had fun. Daniel McConnachie L4

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Review 2017 - Let your lives speak

L5 Climbing Club Many personal and physical targets were achieved, and the support the children gave each other has helped to build confidence and team spirit. Many have been motivated to continue this sport in Dundee and elsewhere.

Once again the L5 Climbing Club was a popular choice for many pupils in L5. After school on Mondays between October and April, a total of 24 pupils visited Avertical World, Dundee, where they learnt bouldering and climbing skills with Mr Ross and Mrs Powrie.

L5 Construction Club Pupils who have engaged with the L5 Construction Club this session have been involved with model making and building with both LEGO and K’Nex kits. Eye-catching models have been produced through the ability to follow plans with care and attention to detail. Other striking models have been created without plans – drawing on pupil imagination and creativity. Bright and vivid Construction Club models have been displayed in the Junior School during term time, enhancing the corridor space. Construction modelling enables pupils to work on personal projects and to engage individually and co-operatively with others. Pupils have fun and valuable skills are gained through Construction Club activities.

I really enjoyed Construction Club because we got to try out lots of ways of being creative.

Miss M. Cardno

Fraser Doig L5

Emily Macdonald L5 I loved it because we got to make new things we have never made before and we got to use different kits. Caris Hamilton

I very much enjoyed Construction Club because we got to use our imagination lots and create interesting designs. Jessica Forster

I thought up my own design for a pharaoh to wear. I used no instructions – just used my imagination. Mitchell Clark

Being in Construction Club is very creative – it helps grow the imagination! I particularly like LEGO and making up my own models.

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Review 2017 - Let your lives speak

Mock Court Case In February the Defenders team from the L7 Young Speakers club competed in the national final of the Mock Court Case Project in Central Hall, Edinburgh. The team of lawyers and witnesses faced five other schools from across Scotland and performed in front of several lords and a judge from the General Court of the European Union as well as an audience of over a thousand people. The lawyers, Rebecca Bonnyman and Iona Kennedy won the advocacy award for the Tayside region and the whole team received a runners up award. They all performed extremely well and thoroughly enjoyed taking part in the competition.

Model Boat Building Club

The model boat building club started this year in August with the intention of constructing a number of small working sailing yachts to the Wee Nip design. The models are made with balsa and ply wood, and the design has to be copied from paper plans and drawn out on the wooden sheets and then cut out and glued together. In these days of social media and computer games, this group have been learning a whole range of new skills, working in wood, measuring things out, cutting with saws and knives and gluing with different glues, as well as working with a range of metals to construct the fittings such as rudders and masts. Progress has been a little slow and the boats are not quite ready for the water yet, but the group has only had a Thursday lunch time to work in. We are looking forward to the launching of the current fleet at Dundeeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Swannie Ponds sometime in the Autumn term!

Tennis Racquet Stringing Club This session has seen the start of the HSD Stringing Club. Pupils have been learning how to string tennis racquets and tie the various knots. This session we have strung racquets for the PE department as well as enabling pupils to string their own racquets.

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Review 2017 - Let your lives speak

Debating takes you places... Of the five national finals in which HSoD A (see accompanying piece by Ivan Kapelyukh and Steven Roy F6) have competed this session, the one of which we were proudest was Durham. At a tournament attended by 108 teams from the UK’s top debating schools, reaching it involved 5 preliminary rounds (in the 4th of which the boys beat the eventual winners) quarters and semis. To see the team compete in the final against two Dulwich teams and the winning pair from Eton was to be hugely proud of their range of achievements this year, emphasised by the conversation which immediately followed the debate. While the final was taking place, the tabmaster (computer geek running the program which manages clashes and allocates rounds, positions and judges, adding data from previous rounds on a cumulative basis) had secured the agreement of the OrgComm of the

Oxford IV (one of the largest and most prestigious competitions on the InterVarsity debating circuit) that Ivan and Steven would be invited, expenses paid, to join their tab team in November. This is a great honour for Computer Science freshers, as they will then be; puts them in touch with all the right people to build a CV and is but one illustration of the extent and value of the networking which is enabled through schools debating. A good deal more networking was undertaken at Oxford Schools. With an initial entry of almost 1000 teams throughout the UK and beyond, of whom 100 qualified to compete at the worldfamous Oxford Union on finals day in March, we were well pleased to break 6th overall, going out in the semis to the eventual winners (Eton again …). It seems that the Union’s brass plaque is in even more need of polishing then it was

last year! Concluding our account of the UK competitions, the Cambridge Union tournament also attracts worldwide entries amounting to 700 initial teams; of the 56 competing at finals day, at least 15 were from overseas, including Canada and Malaysia! We think we may have finished 11th and were the highest-placed Scottish team; no tab ever appeared. Photo shows us with our friends from GWC and St Columba’s, in the chamber, with Ivan adopting a presidential pose. Within Scotland, the boys won through three rounds and semis in the Mace and the Law Society tournaments to reach both national finals, developing their ability to research and craft arguments for long-prep motions. The Law Society afforded not only Ivan and Steven, but also Bogdan and Alex (shown keeping

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Review 2017 - Let your lives speak an eye on last-minute prep in the lobby) in the floor debate, the opportunity to speak in the Chamber of the Scottish Parliament (image courtesy of their photographer). We came home as runners-up, with a cheque for £250 for the School and £150 in book vouchers for the Library, plus pewter quaichs for the boys. Short prep is much more fun though! With the A team breaking top in Aberdeen and 2nd in Glasgow, it was disappointing that Ivan was prevented by illness from defending our win last year at St Andrews. However Steven still managed to come third on tab, accompanied by Logan Thomson F6, who had begun the year as a complete novice and by the end of it had turned himself into one of our most valued supporting speakers. Other senior participants were Elena Cotroneo F4 and Joe Carstairs and Oliver Imrie-Cook F5. Meanwhile the younger debaters enjoyed a range of success in their competitions. In the NJDC competition held at RGS Newcastle, Bogdan Kapelyukh F4 and Anoushay Okhai F5 lost the final on a 3-2 split, with Anoushay finishing 2nd out of 70 on the speaker tab. Alex Fish F3 and Dominic Westwood F2 participated in the Edinburgh, East of Scotland and Craigmount Juniors competitions, came through three rounds before going out in the semis of the long-prep ESU Juniors tournament and reached the finals of the short-prep Auld Hoose competition held annually by Robert Gordon’s College. The third team at the latter event were Ksenia Kapelyukh (bit of a dynasty going on here) and Sneha Sripada F1, who came home with chocolate trophies as the best of the 16 novice teams on tab. As Ivan remarks elsewhere, for some of our pupils the spark which leads them to debating is kindled by the annual

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House debate. The winners this year were Alex Smith and Ivan Kapelyukh for Airlie, with Steven Roy named Best Speaker. The panel was chaired by our former debater Cameron Tisshaw, who has just graduated from St Andrews in International Relations. On the subject of former pupils, and returning to the networking with which this piece began, last year’s star debater Ciara Mitchell, now studying Politics and Social Policy at LSE, has already been selected to compete at Euros in Tallinn and the World Universities Debating Championships held in The Hague, finished 5th on tab at the Cardiff Open, and been a semi-finalist and best speaker at UCL President’s Cup and a finalist at the SOAS IV. Debating definitely takes you places. At the start of August it took Steven and Ivan to Bali, as members of the five-strong Team Scotland which competed at the World Schools Debating Championships. This was only the second time we had had two High School debaters in the team, although they do constitute our 13th and 14th international places in the years since 1999. Ivan’s comments on the experience included the following: ‘We were able to gain invaluable insights not only into Indonesian culture, but also into a global range of perspectives on many political, economic and social issues, including the chance to discuss how theocratic beliefs in society affected gender equality with Team Kuwait, to chat with Israeli delegates who were about to be conscripted into the IDF and to learn about different views on British history with the Irish team. These were only a few of the memorable experiences of international unity and understanding which made WSDC such an honour to participate in.’

Mrs McGrath, coming to the end of her four years as secretary of the Worlds tournament executive committee, accompanied the team. Scotland has won the World Championship on four occasions; on three of these, the team has included an HSD pupil. Teamwork, logical thinking, the ability to select and justify evidence and the presence of mind to think on your feet and translate those thoughts into fluent presentation; these may sound on paper like a rather heavyweight teaching plan. In a competitive environment in debating rooms all over the country, when the adrenalin kicks in and you start to relish your ability to persuade, they translate into a set of immensely useful life skills.

Review 2017 - Let your lives speak

Debating - A Pupil Perspective to know so many people on the Scottish debating circuit that you will look forward to every competition as a social meet-up as well. It is worth noting that debating can - almost sneakily - become a huge time commitment; this year we have had months with every single weekend sacrificed to one debating event or another.

During our time at the school we have had the chance to become involved in competitive debating - an activity where school or university students compete in teams by trying to out-speak each other on a variety of social, economic and political issues. Even though speaking in public - especially in a very critical environment - can feel intimidating at first, schools debating has quickly proven itself to be not only a valuable pastime in terms of developing communication and logical thinking skills, but also a great way to make lots of friends from other schools throughout the UK and beyond! Many debaters are inspired to sign up by watching a house debate. Topics are chosen to be both current and interesting, with recent motions including airstrikes in Syria and Trump’s presidency. Because house debates are performed on stage in Trinity and with a “floor debate” at the end, they give the audience an interactive taste of whether competitive debating might interest them. Aspiring speakers are always welcome to come along to the lunchtime debating club, where you can begin your debating journey by learning the basics of various competition formats, preparing for upcoming tournaments and discussing current affairs that interest you - anything from big international developments dominating the news headlines that

you have been wanting to find out more about, to sugar taxes, animal rights and medical ethics. You will also be able to benefit from expert coaching, for which we are very grateful to Mrs McGrath and Mrs Ovenstone-Jones, who have guided so many speakers from when they gave their very first speeches - when your top priority is to not burst into tears - to being confident debaters hopelessly addicted to that hobby. After you have been taken to your first junior competition, you will find yourself hooked and motivated to do better and better. Keeping up to date with current affairs, reading quality journalism (try The Economist) and watching debates on YouTube is a great way to improve your world knowledge and speaking abilities. We would also recommend attending the ESU’s Debate Academy, which is a debating summer school. Generous bursaries are available, and not only will you have the chance to receive expert coaching on speaking style from debating world champions and fascinating history lectures from Cambridge historians, you will also make friends with debating enthusiasts from all over the UK. Then put it all into practice by going to as many Saturday debating competitions as you can - this is the quickest way to get better, and as you become more experienced you will get

But the reason we make that commitment is that every one of those competitions has been so enjoyable; the thrill of having only 15 minutes to write your case or the adrenaline rush from picking apart the arguments of the other team in front of a full Scottish parliament chamber never goes away, even after years of debating. Being able to go toeto-toe with Eton and Westminster in the enchanting atmosphere of the Oxford Union makes all the diligent preparation worth it. This year, after selection for the Scottish national team, we both had the opportunity to travel to Bali for the World Schools Debating Championships. Despite the horror of having to spend two weeks on the tropical beaches of an island tourist resort under the Pacific sun, we came to the conclusion that - on balance - the trip was probably worth it: only by participating in an international debating tournament do get the chance to learn more about the effects of economic globalisation from Ugandan students, or see how the next generation of aspiring politicians from South Korea views our foreign policy. We also look forward to sharing Scottish perspectives on socio-political issues with a worldwide audience. Schools debating is a valuable opportunity to develop confidence, teamwork, communication and logical thinking skills, and a chance to engage with people from all over the world in a critical environment. Continuing to speak at university will further broaden your social and academic horizons. We hope that you find debating as enjoyable and enriching as we have. Ivan Kapelyukh and Steven Roy

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Review 2017 - Let your lives speak

Dyson Application Normally to become an engineer you would go to university after leaving school but this is not the only way. There are now a significant number of degree apprenticeships not only in engineering but other disciplines as well including law and accounting. Next year I am hoping to be starting work for Dyson, one of the UK’s largest engineering businesses, as part of their new Dyson Institute of Engineering and Technology. For the next four years I will be working full time as an engineer at Dyson in their Research, Design and Development department with one day per week of lectures delivered by lecturers from the University of Warwick and by Dyson’s own engineers. At the end of the 4 year programme I will have a Bachelors in Applied Engineering and a whole wealth of practical engineering experience. The process of applying to this programme is different from the UCAS system used for all other universities. The selection process consisted of four stages; first an online application requiring me to upload a CV and to write 200 words about why I would like to study engineering and technology and 100 words on why I would like to

undertake an degree apprenticeship. There was also the option to upload a portfolio of a design or engineering project that I have recently been involved in. For this I wrote about a small tent I had designed and made the year before. After being successful in the first stage I was then asked to complete two online assessments testing my problem solving and mathematical reasoning. There was a time limit placed on each question and they got harder and harder towards the end, really pushing my maths and problem solving skills to the limit. After the online assessments came a half hour long phone interview aiming to find out more about me as a person. This was strange not being able to see my interviewer but she was very friendly and the interview was quite relaxed.

A couple of weeks after my assessment day I received a phone call telling me that I had been successful in getting an offer based on my Advanced Higher results. All going well, I will start work in September 2017 and hopefully never look back! Logan Thomson

The final and most intense part of the selection was an assessment day down at Dyson HQ in Malmesbury where we completed group challenges and two more interviews, one by a senior engineer at Dyson. We also were shown around the campus to see the environment we might be working in and we had the chance to meet current Dyson employees.

F1 Classification Poster competition January saw the final voting process for the F1 classification posters and Madihah Chohan from 1LI2 triumphed with a poster on the Tiger Shark! As part of a topic where pupils explore the differences between the Kingdoms and consider the myriad lifeforms present on planet earth each pupil produces a scientific poster based upon an organism of their choosing. The poster must include information on the organism’s F1 class habitat, diet, predators and classification as well as any other interesting facts. Individual posters are then judged by class peers who vote to determine the best poster from each class. These ‘winning’ posters are then displayed in the library where members of the whole school community are able to vote on the one they feel is best. As the competition has been running for several years, older pupils

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research using printed and online resources which enhances their abilities to select relevant information and present it in a coherent and well-ordered way. We are very grateful to the Librarian Iona MacFarlane who leads a session with each class on how to go about managing a research task, teaching the pupils to move away from a simple ‘google it’ culture and develop some critical appraisal of their sources. winners, overall winner Madihah Chohan (centre) In a time when so much often remember their own entries with information is so easily fondness and are therefore engaged in accessible it is more important than the voting process. ever to develop strong research skills to With this project we hope to develop help pupils determine fact from opinion the pupil’s independent transferrable and truth from lies. skills. They have to take responsibility When asked why she had chosen for a large homework project and to research Tiger Sharks Madihah manage their time to complete different answered “it was straightforward really, I aspects according to a suggested like tigers and sharks and this combined framework. They must conduct some the two!”

Review 2017 - Let your lives speak

Pregnancy Zone Protein Research which gave some exciting results. There appears to be a correlation between PZP levels and bronchiectasis severity. Perhaps, just as it does in pregnant women, PZP plays an immunosuppressant role in bronchiectasis? (All speculative at the moment). In the future, maybe PZP could be used as a biomarker of bronchiectasis severity. There is also the potential to regulate PZP levels in patients, which could reduce their disease severity. What was also very interesting was to find that the lung PZP levels were higher in women than in men. Seeing as women tend to suffer from more severe bronchiectasis, this is an exciting finding. My next step was to investigate what produces PZP. I first optimised an antibody for western blot (an analytical molecular biology technique used to detect specific proteins). I then carried out cell culture and stimulated different types of white blood cells with various chemicals. Using my ELISA and western blot tests on the stimulated cells I could determine if PZP had been produced by any of them. The results suggest that PZP is produced by neutrophils, a phagocytic white blood cell.

Shirley-Anne Somerville MSP, Minister for Further Education, Higher Education and Science and Alex Smith F6 pupil. Photo credit: Photo by Gary Baker Photography

While my research findings are very preliminary, they have generated many interesting ideas needing further work and have potential clinical impacts for bronchiectasis in terms of detection and targeted treatment. I have been accepted to give an oral presentation to present my work at the European Respiratory Society Congress in Milan, September 2017 – what an exciting (but terrifying) way to begin my career in medical research!”

On the 9th November Alex Smith, F6, attended the Science in Parliament day at Dynamic Earth in Edinburgh, where she was presented with a certificate from the Royal Society of Biology in recognition of having gained the highest mark in Scotland in Higher Level Biology. She received her award from Shirley-Anne Somerville MSP, Minister for Further Education, Higher Education and Science. Since then Alex has settled into studying for her Advanced Higher Biology Qualification. One of 23 pupils studying the subject at Advanced Higher Level, Alex has had to work to complete a student led project in addition to her regular classroom lessons. These projects run from September to March and offer a fantastic opportunity for young biologists to take responsibility for their own investigation; researching, designing, running, analysing and finally presenting their findings. These projects take place in our newly refurbished dedicated Advanced Higher Biology Laboratory under supervision of the Biology teaching staff with direct support from the school’s lead science technician. Alex worked on nitrogen use in algae but projects range from investigating yeast in a biocell to observing the effect of caffeine on water flea heart rate.

Alex Smith Alex begins her degree in Medicine at the University of Cambridge in October.

Before starting her Advanced Higher project Alex had gained some experience of real research on a summer placement she organised working with a team at Dundee University. Here she tells us what it involved. “My research looked into the role of Pregnancy Zone Protein (PZP), an oestrogen-regulated anti-proteinase, in the lung disease bronchiectasis. Until recently, PZP had only been found in the blood of pregnant women. However, during a proteomics screen my Principal Investigator had identified PZP in the lungs of his bronchiectasis patients. My job was to investigate why this may have been. My first step involved designing an ELISA (a biochemical detection method) to detect and quantify PZP. I used this to test hundreds of bronchiectasis patient (sputum) samples,

Alex Smith F6 working in the dedicated Advanced Higher Biology Laboratory

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Review 2017 - Let your lives speak

Nuffield Research Placement In March Maria Pisliakova, F6, presented her work at the Big Bang UK Young Scientists & Engineers Competition. The competition seeks to recognise and reward young people’s achievements in science, technology, engineering and maths. Maria’s research, carried out over five weeks last summer through a Nuffield Research Placement, suggests that by stopping the production of the c-Myc protein in a cell (the ‘mRNA capping’ process), it could be possible to prevent the generation of c-Myc. She conducted her research in the lab of Professor Victoria Cowling in the University of Dundee’s School of Life Sciences, who has discovered new possibilities of preventing some cancers by inhibiting the ‘mRNA capping’ of the c-Myc, an oncogene present in 50 per cent of all cancer cases in either a mutated or overexpressed form. Maria said, “I entered my project into the Big Bang competition and when I got the email to let me know that I’d made it to the final I was really thrilled. I know it’s a prestigious event so it’s a great honour to have been invited to share my research.” Maria enjoyed a very successful time at the event where her project was well received. She was able to discuss her work with professional university, industry and celebrity scientists as well as being inspired by the other projects on display. Several companies expressed an interest in funding her through academic apprenticeships or potentially employing her in the future. “My experience in the labs, working on the research has convinced me that I want to go into Medical Research when I leave school, to have the chance to be involved in this kind of work which can have such beneficial consequences.”

Maria Pisliakova F6 pupil outside Dundee University’s Life Science Building

Form 5 pupils studying science at the school are encouraged to apply for Nuffield Research Placements as they present such a fantastic opportunity to develop their skills and understanding outside the classroom. These placements are difficult to obtain and Maria should be congratulated for making such good use of hers.

Maria Pisliakova F6 and Professor Victoria Cowling discussing some preliminary results in Dundee University’s Life Science Building during Maria’s Nuffield placement

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F5 Business Management - Mackie’s Factory Tour

Dundee and Angus Schools’ One day Enterprise Competition

With Factory Manager Stephen Urquhart and Marketing Manager Dani McCann, and a privileged sneaky peek at the company’s new Christmas range before its official launch.

Target 2 point zero team

We had a great team entered in the competition again this year, spanning F4-F6. The challenge was to prepare a pitch for a small business product focused on meeting the needs of the increasing tourist market around Dundee and Angus. Our team developed a fantastic app, which would allow the user a number of tools including looking back at the historical layout of the street, as they walked through Dundee. They received praise for their confident presentation and well developed idea but overall the winning concept was an expansion of Dundee Airport.

LIV-LVII Public Speaking Competition On Thursday 18th May in the Margaret Harris Hall, the final of the LIV-VII Public Speaking Competition took place. The evening saw nine finalists perform beautifully for the adjudicator, Mrs Michelle Sloane, a former teacher in the Junior School and a children’s author. This was a culmination of many months work with each child in LIV-VII taking part. On the evening of the competition, the children had to say one poem that they had performed already and one set by the adjudicator. As well as reciting their poems, they had to work on a short speech from topics only seen on the night. Target 2.0 is a competition run by the Bank of England. Pupils taking AH Economics this year had to present their interest rate, forward guidance and quantitative easing decision for December. The pupils competed against other independent schools across Scotland and did exceptionally well with lots of great feedback from the judges. During the year, F5 and F6 pupils studying Higher and Advanced Higher Economics gained expert insight into a range of micro and macro matters thanks to a series of events. These included the Scottish Economics Society pupil conference in Perth, the RBS Economic Review meeting in Dundee and a talk by Gregor Hamilton of Dundee City Council on Dundee’s current economic status and the impact of the Waterfront development.

Mrs Sloane congratulated all of the finalists, saying she had had a very difficult choice choosing a winner and runner-up because of the high standard of performances, with each finalist showing different strengths. Mrs Sloane decided to award the Robbie Prize for runner-up to Cameron Fish in LVII and the winner of the Stark Cup was Emily Macdonald from LV. A special mention was also given to Cameron Brown, LV.

F3 Enterprise Club

F3 Enterprise Club took part in the UK Coca Cola Challenge, a national competition which sees teams develop a healthy fruit drink in support of the Special Olympics Foundation. They produced a lively smoothie called Tartan Temper, following an excellent taste survey at the Open Morning and had to send in their presentation covering all aspects including ingredients, production, promotion and sustainability.

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Review 2017 - Let your lives speak

Salters Festival of Chemistry

Photo L-R: Eve Campbell, Sophie Aitken, Zoe Faloon, Rebecca Hamilton

In May, four Form 1 pupils visited the University of Glasgow Chemistry Department to take part in the Salters’ Festival of Chemistry 2015. The day consisted of two challenges with a forensics theme, where the team had to use their practical skills to solve both a murder and a kidnapping. For both challenges their knowledge and accuracy were given marks, and they achieved third prize for solving the kidnapping, a tricky challenge set by Glasgow University. The girls time management and delegation skills were particularly excellent, helping them to finish lots of experiments in a very short amount of time. After a fun day in the laboratory they were then treated to some exciting chemistry experiments, which they enjoyed greatly.

Schools Analyst Competition

Photo L-R: Dr Emily Robinson, Kieran Forster, Prof Andrew Morrisson (RGU & RSC), Brian Lim, Dr Graeme Kay (RGU), Asad Jafferbhoy, Dr Eva Krupp (RSC).

A team of Form 5 pupils, Kieran Forster, Brian Lim and Asad Jafferbhoy, attended the Northern Scotland Heat of the Schools’ Analyst competition. The even was hosted by Robert Gordon University’s School of Pharmacy and Life Sciences in partnership with Aberdeen University and the Royal Society of Chemistry. Eight teams took part from a variety of schools across the region, taking part in three practical activities to solve a number of analytical chemistry puzzles. They got hands-on experience of a University laboratory, and were marked on the accuracy of their results, and on their team work. Kieran, Brian and Asad demonstrated excellent practical skills and came joint second place on points alongside Speyside High School. Our team came third place overall based on their tie-breaker question, but were very proud of their achievements. Congratulations to Kemnay Academy who will represent the North-East in the national finals this summer.

The F1-3 Burns Recitation Competition Pupils in F1-F3 celebrated the memory of High School English teacher Tom Durrheim by participating in the annual contest, which was set up in Tom’s honour following his death in August 2011. Those taking part were challenged to learn one of the national bard’s poems, from a choice of four, before reciting it to fellow contestants and a panel of judges, including Tom’s close friend, and former High School Computing Teacher, Colin Stuart. The winner, for Up in the Morning Early, was Sneha Sripada (F1), with Zoe Faloon (F1) the runner-up for A Man’s a Man for A’ That. English teacher Morven Ovenstone-Jones stated, “Tom was a passionate fan of Robert Burns and I think he would have thoroughly enjoyed the competition, which we try to keep informal and intimate, much in the spirit of a Burns Supper. “It’s a fantastic way to honour Tom’s memory.”

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Burns Night

Highland dancers kicked off proceedings with a pacy performance, before the haggis was expertly piped in by Emily Wilson- Pearce allowing Marcus Brown to deliver his hilarious rendition of ‘Address to the Haggis’. After an excellent meal, we enjoyed the musical talents of the Chamber Orchestra performing McMozart with foot-tapping flair. Josh Rawcliffe’s exquisite singing awed all the guests

into stunned silence before an almighty applause. Performing a Norah Jones song, Verity Brown’s jazzy selection gave a modern twist to the music. Our speakers were unforgettable. The articulate, intelligent and entertaining Steven Roy gave the ‘Immortal Memory’ toast. He was followed by Bruce Pattullo’s ‘ Toast to the Lassies’ which did not spare their blushes. However, Hannah Cowieson’s ‘ Reply’ put

Bruce in his place with a witty speech delivered in verse. Our guests revelled in the opportunity to ceilidh dance to a live, very accomplished band and used every second they had to kick up their heels and celebrate Burns. All in all, it was a fun, musical, celebratory night and not one any of us will forget for many years to come.

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Professor Christopher Whatley OBE It was an honour to welcome Professor Christopher Whatley, father of our own Eilidh Whatley-Marshall, to Trinity Hall to deliver an excellent lecture on ‘Burns’ Legacy’. His talk was structured into 3 parts. Firstly, Burns’ legacy in terms of putting Scots back on the map at a time when the Scottish people were being encouraged to use Standard English- thus encouraging renewed national pride. Second, political influence and support for the working classes especially. And, thirdly, his poetry namely: ‘Auld Lang Syne’, ‘A Man’s A Man’, ‘Tam O’ Shanter’.

Rotary Competition Hannah George came 2nd in the Senior category of the Young Writers’ Rotary Competition and Shona Floate was also Highly Commended. Both girls interpreted the title of the competition’ Reflection’ in an imaginative and original way. Shona explored an analogy linking her childhood memories to an attic room, rich in treasures. Hannah’s piece highlighted different film clips, reflecting on her relationship with a childhood friend.

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Senior School Speaking Competition

Important matters were on the agenda when Senior School pupils took part in the speaking competition which is run by the English Department. The annual event saw talented young orators from F1-F6 take to the stage of Trinity Hall to present their views on a number of diverse, thought-provoking topics to a distinguished judging panel and an audience of F2 pupils. The winner of F1-F3 category, for his humorous speech ‘Life is the best university of all,’ was Andrew Lothian (F2), whilst the joint winners of the F4-F6 section were Emily McLean (F4), for her powerfully delivered speech on Body Shaming, and Ivan Kapelyukh (F6), for ‘Fear the Reaper’, a lively warning about the potential for our future world to be dominated by machines gifted with artificial intelligence.

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Holderness

Higher Geography pupils precariously made their way along the vulnerable Holderness coastline, Europe’s most rapidly eroding, in November in a bid to understand the underlying causes of this change and the impacts on the communities living with these daily threats. Time was spent assessing the impact of coastal management on the settlement of Robin Hood’s bay and the impact of tourism on the wild shores of Whitby where pupils heard tails of shipwrecks and vampires.

Field work

A full programme of field work was kicked off by the new F1 who carried out a ‘Mission Explore’ challenge to orientate themselves around the campus and some of the sites important to their learning in F1.

The Form 2 ventured to Dynamic Earth in October to carry out a Hazard Risk assessment on the city of San Francisco. They had to use their knowledge of natural disasters to help minimise the threat of unpredictable natural events on some of the most populated places on the planet. The F3 were both geographer and tourist as they headed to the Cairngorms in October. They ascended Cairngorm mountain in search of some of the most stunning landscapes in the UK, picnicked on the shores of Loch Morlich while carrying out Environmental Impact Assessments and sought solutions to some of the problems created by tourists in Rothiemurchus.

Creative soil profiles

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Mass Extinctions and the Dinosaurs On Thursday 9th February, 10 pupils in L7-F2 were selected to attend a ‘Mass Extinctions and the dinosaurs’ event held at St Andrew’s University for the 5th anniversary of Geobus visiting schools. The morning involved an exciting mix of active learning activities including creating volcanic eruptions, mimicking meteorites hitting the earth, and moulding fossils. In the afternoon Paige dePolo, a post graduate research student and paleontologist at the University of Edinburgh, gave a fascinating talk on ‘Tracking down the Dinosaurs of Scotland’ on the Isle of Skye. L7 pupils Jonah Phillipson-Masters, Andrew Loveday and Lewis Simpson said “The day was really educational. We enjoyed looking at real-life fossils and loved lifting a giant piece of iron meteorite. Paige’s talk was excellent and we feel that palaeontology sounds like a good way to explore the earth whilst doing something worthwhile.” F2 student Cassius Haresign agreed and said his favourite part of the day was the talk by Paige where he learnt more about dinosaur footprints and fossils, presented in a way that was “understandable to pupils.”

Reading Records! 2016/17 has been a record year in the Library with huge numbers of books borrowed! Since August, pupils have • borrowed 11000 fiction books • borrowed 6000 non-fiction books • added 1551 new resources to their library The most borrowed books this year were The London Eye Mystery by Siobhan Dowd, My Head Teacher is a Vampire Rat by Pamela Butchart and Harry Potter and the Cursed Child by J.K. Rowling

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Dundee and the Great War Seminar Some High School pupils have been learning more about the impact of the First World War on the city of Dundee with the help of three visiting academics.

Donald (Abertay University) came to the

Dr Derek Patrick, Dr Billy Kenefick (both Dundee University) and Dr Iain

to home, with pupils studying Higher

School’s History department to share their expertise on the Great War, and in particular the effect that it had closer History.

Head of History, Gordon Fyall, said, “It was an invaluable opportunity for our pupils to hear from experts in their field of study and complemented very well the work which the pupils have been doing on Scotland and the Great War as part of their Higher History course.”

Professor Kirsty Gunn

On 5th December, all Advanced Higher English pupils received a special visit from Kirsty Gunn, a novelist and professor of writing practice at the University of Dundee. Kirsty talked to us about some of her work such as the ‘The Big Music’, a novel published in 2012, inspired by bagpipe music and the Highlands of Scotland. It was interesting to hear that much of her work is influenced by location and the stories that can exist in places she has been to. She also talked to us about her collection of stories called ‘Infidelities’, published in 2014, and read an extract from one, asking us to discuss our initial thoughts on the characters and themes. It was also fascinating to hear about Kirsty’s writing process; her relationship with her publisher Faber & Faber, and how she balances her time with her job at the university. We then enjoyed a short workshop for us on creative writing. We explored how to describe setting and she gave us contrasting characters and scenarios, which then became the beginning of a short story. Kirsty discussed different writing platforms and literary magazines that we can access in order to inspire our writing and we all left the room with renewed energy to tackle our English Folio! Hannah George

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Literature to Life! We transformed the Library twice this year in honour of two of our favourite authors, Roald Dahl and J.K. Rowling. To celebrate the Roald Dahl centenary we festooned the Library with Charlie and the Chocolate Factory style giant sweeties, Mrs Twit was suspended from some huge balloons and a particularly large peach could be seen floating above the picture books! We added some happy thoughts to the BFG’s Dream Jars and we all made our own BFG ears, pictured here. Roald Dahl’s books fairly flew off the shelves and we look forward to creating more magical displays and activities this year.

annual Harry Potter week saw the library become Sybil Trelawney’s Divination classroom. No trapdoors unfortunately! We read our tea leaves from Sybil’s finest china teacups and were relieved to find out that most of us would pass our O.W.L. exams! In Hagrid’s ‘Care of Magical Creatures’ class we enjoyed creating our very own Bowtruckles which you may recognise from the Fantastic Beasts film! These activities always help to renew interest in the Harry Potter series and introduce the books to another generation of readers.

In February a dim crimson light fell and a multitude of red scarves cloaked the bookcases… Our now

Statistics Conference On the 2nd of March 2017, four pupils from Dr Spiezia’s Advanced Higher Statistics class attended the much awaited AH Statistics conference for pupils and teachers held at Dollar Academy, a yearly event that brings together pupils from all over Scotland and their teachers to discuss Statistics in an informal environment and share experiences and ideas. The pupils involved this year were James Cowie, Katie McLennan, Steven Roy and Ailsa Wedderburn. The day started with an insightful presentation by Professor

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John McColl from the University of Glasgow on the importance and relevance of Statistics in the modern world and his own professional journey. He also gave the pupils and their teachers an overview of the new AH Statistics course, linking many of the core ideas together. This was followed by an interactive talk by Mr Peter Edmund, principal assessor for Advanced Higher Statistics. He gave valuable advice to pupils and staff about the SQA AH Statistics exam, followed by a demonstration of graphical calculators and their use in statistical calculations.

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Mathematics In Action Enterprising Maths

Team Challenge

On 22nd September the High School entered Enterprising Maths, a national competition for teams of four pupils from Forms 3 and 4. The qualifying round for independent schools was held at Hutchesons’ Grammar School in Glasgow. Mr Middleton accompanied the enthusiastic team which consisted of Cosmo Bobak F3, Hannah Meade F3, Sophie Levin F4 and Ruairidh Cowieson F4. Twenty-eight teams competed fiercely in a variety of different mathematical challenges. Our team competed gallantly but finished the day just outside of the qualifying positions.

On the 9th March Sneha Sripada F1, Roman Stirrat F1, Ethan McColgan F2 and Dominic Westwood F2, accompanied by Mr Middleton, represented the school in the Regional Final of the UKMT Team Maths Challenge, held in the School of Informatics at the University of Edinburgh. In a very closely contested competition and after four rounds of rigorous problem solving, the team just missed out on the prizes. They all thoroughly enjoyed the experience.

Pictured are the team of Sophie Levin, Cosmo Bobak, Hannah Meade and Ruairidh Cowieson

Pictured at the University of Edinburgh engaged in some serious Maths are Dominic Westwood, Sneha Sripada, Roman Stirrat and Ethan McColgan.

Scottish Maths Challenge

Senior Maths Challenge

On 7 June 17 nine pupils went to Stirling University with Mr Mordente to collect certificates and ‘mugs’ for excelling in the Scottish Maths Challenge. They heard a lecture on ‘Maths and the Movies’, which highlighted some good and bad practices in the TV and Movie industries.

In November 2016, the High School team set off for Edinburgh for the UKMT Team Maths Challenge. Caitlin Mitchel and Joe Carstairs of Form 5, and Alex Smith and Maria Pisliakova of Form 6 were up against other schools racing to solve a variety of maths problems. Although we didn’t rank top, we progressed well through the rounds and had a fun day out.

Brian Lim -- gold Evan Kapelyukh -- gold Elle Wyatt -- gold Aleksandra Jovanovic -- gold

Alex Smith

Ethan McColgan -- gold Sneha Sripada -- silver Mathew Lowdon -- silver Ian Chalmers -- bronze Aidan Fullerton – bronze

Charvi Kanodia -- gold Sid Sripada -- gold Josh Cargill -- gold

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Languages Session 2016 – 17 got off to a good start in Modern Languages, in the light of excellent SQA results, including scores of 100% in National 5 Spanish by Caitlin Mitchell and Alice Raitt. This has been a busy year in the Modern Languages department, not least because of the introduction of Mandarin in both Junior Years (L5, 6, 7) and in Forms 1 and 2. Pupils have been introduced to Mandarin language and some aspects of Chinese culture, including Chinese calligraphy and paper cutting, the MidAutumn festival and of course the Chinese New Year in late January. The department was joined for some weeks by a teacher from Toulouse, Madame Françoise Marfaing, who enjoyed meeting and working with our pupils both in the department and across the whole school community. The annual European day of languages, held each year in September, was marked here in HSD by a series of assemblies by Mrs Yellowley, highlighting the importance and usefulness of being able to communicate in other languages. The department were delighted to learn that we had been recognised as a centre for excellence in teaching German by the Goethe Institut, who had found out about

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Mr Nolan’s excellent versions of traditional fairy tales, brought to the stage of Trinity Hall. Firstly, we were treated to a riveting performance of Rotkäppchen, followed by the hugely successful ‘Goldlöckchen’, featuring current Form 4 pupils, Mrs Wedderburn and ‘Opa’, namely Mr Nolan himself. We await Mr Nolan’s next theatrical venture with interest. The school was represented in the SCILT Scotland-wide Word Wizard multilingual spelling competition, reaching the Final in Edinburgh in May. Sneha Sripada (Form 1) performed outstandingly well in the competition and finished in an excellent second place in the French beginner category. An annual highlight of the year in Form 2 is Mr MacKinnon’s French trip to the Cantal region, based in ‘La Châtelleraie’, a privately-owned château in stunning surroundings in rural France. This year’s 28 intrepid travellers set off at the crack of dawn one Friday at the end of May, via Manchester and Toulouse airports and enjoyed a variety of cultural and outwardbound activities in mostly glorious weather. Visits included the UNESCO World Heritage site of Rocamadour, famous as an important pilgrimage destination for 1000 years. The party headed underground one day

– 103 metres underground to be precise, on a visit to the Gouffre de Padirac, an incredible cave system containing an underground river and gorge and a huge cavern. Visiting these by boat was an amazing experience. Horse-riding, canoeing, a challenging highropes course and visits to markets and even a snail farm were highlights, despite a couple of mishaps, including a biting horse! 3 a.m. on Saturday saw 28 weary travellers safely returned to their parents. And the verdict? “The best trip ever!”

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Dr Matt Graham those subjects when Dr Graham answered questions relating to their dissertation research topics, which included the role of social media in South African politics and elections, and the impact of Proportional Representation on the outcome of the country’s elections.

World affairs were on the agenda for High School of Dundee pupils as they received an expert insight into the sociopoltical situation in South Africa. Dr Matt Graham, a specialist in South African History and Politics at Dundee University, met with pupils studying Higher and Advanced Higher Modern Studies to discuss political and social issues in the country, as well as the nation’s current international relations.

Head of History & Modern Studies, Gordon Fyall, said, “It was a lively and engaging seminar which provided a terrific insight into some of the key issues which the pupils are studying as part of their Modern Studies courses.”

Advanced Higher pupils had the chance to delve deeper into

Model United Nations On March the 10th, 12 of our most internationally minded pupils headed to Scotland’s largest annual Model UN Conference at George Watson’s College where they spent the weekend working together, in the spirit of diplomacy and world peace, with more than 500 pupils from almost 40 other schools; some from as far away as Iran! Throughout the weekend, the High School of Dundee delegation represented the Caribbean nation of Jamaica in a variety of situations, debating topics as far ranging as the zika virus, direct democracy, space junk and Donald Trump’s wall! Our pupils worked tirelessly in their committees by debating, lobbying, giving speeches, writing resolutions, making amendments and voting on solutions these global crises. They all impressed with their knowledge and debating skill. Jonathan Lang, F3, was able to snag himself an

award for best junior delegate whilst Euan Foulis, F6, won a commendation for his work in the politics committee. It wasn’t all hard work, however! On Saturday night the delegates made their way to the dance floor to enjoy a traditional Scottish ceilidh with the new friends that they had made throughout the day. Our pupils were also able to enjoy lectures from eminent guest speakers such as BBC analyst Professor John Curtice, the Director of the Advanced Space Concepts Lab, Professor Massimiliano Vasile as well as Mr Andrey Pritsepov, Consul General of the Russian Federation. On Sunday, the final day, our 12 delegates gathered in the General Assembly for their final debate session. With successful resolutions and vibrant speeches, the High School of Dundee delegation had proven themselves to be true diplomats!

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Joe Fitzpatrick MSP Higher and Advanced Higher Modern Studies pupils were delighted to meet with Dundee City West MSP Joe Fitzpatrick in November 2016. Mr Fitzpatrick visited the department to discuss the Modern Studies courses on Democracy in Scotland and the UK, and to answer questions on political issues generally. This was an invaluable opportunity for our senior pupils to question one of their elected representatives and to gain an insight into the workings of our Parliamentary Democracy. We are extremely grateful to Mr Fitzpatrick for giving up his time to share his experiences as an MSP with our pupils and for answering questions from our Form 4 pupils during their recent visit to the Scottish Parliament.

Togs for Tots to Teens Dundee Foodbank Jordan Butler, who runs Togs for Tots to Teens, came in to the School to talk to Higher Modern Studies pupils as part of their work on social inequality, which includes looking at groups that are vulnerable to social inequality, such as children, and third sector responses to inequality. The session focussed on inequality in Dundee, which provided pupils with local examples to include in their exam and the chance to answer questions, which can count towards research for their Higher Modern Studies Assignment. Jordan said, “Togs for Tots to Teens runs in a similar way to foodbanks, providing clothing and equipment for young people in families in poverty. “We are really grateful for this donation which includes so much brilliant stuff which will now be distributed to families in the local area.”

In November, the department welcomed Ken Linton, Dundee Foodbank Manager, to deliver a talk to Higher Modern Studies pupils. He spoke to pupils about the work of foodbanks, discussing why people use them, what is in a typical parcel and how much the Dundee center typically gets in and distributes in a week. On the day of the visit, the High School of Dundee also handed over a 376kg donation to the Dundee Foodbank! The colossal collection, which was made up of contributions from pupils, staff and parents from the Nursery, Junior Years and Senior Years, was organised by the History and Modern Studies department in collaboration with the School’s Charities Committee. Dundee Foodbank Manager Ken Linton, who came in to the school to receive the donation, said, “We are truly grateful to the pupils, parents and staff for their very generous donation to the Foodbank. “This will go a long way to providing a nutritionally based emergency three-day food parcel for people in poverty within Dundee.”

High School Pupils Ask the Big Questions On September 27th 2016 the High School sent the budding politicians of the F4 Modern Studies cohort to the Scottish Parliament in Edinburgh in order to ask tough questions of their elected representatives. Upon arrival pupils were quickly immersed into the world of Scottish politics; a demonstration in support of Palestine that had been arranged for the day and pupils were keen to examine the permanent ‘Indy Camp’ set up outside Holyrood in order to pressure MSPs into a second independence referendum. Once inside the parliament building the pupils were treated to a photography exhibition by acclaimed Scottish photographer Harry Benson. Our F4

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pupils were keen to explore the exhibition and comment on iconic photographs Benson had taken of Donald Trump, Muhammed Ali, the Beatles and many more in his long career. After enjoying the exhibition the pupils were warmly greeted by the parliament’s education officer who led an interactive lesson on the history, role and relevance of the Scottish parliament. Our pupils did well not to let on that they knew it all already! Afterwards the F4 group was met by local MSP for Dundee West and SNP Chief Whip, Joe Fitzpatrick. The pupils asked some tough questions relating to his role as an MSP in the constituency, his work in parliament and the record of the SNP

government, all the while taking copious notes. Liam Kerr, Conservative and MSP for the North East region soon joined us and received an equally thorough interview! Topics ranged from Brexit, to Scottish independence, to the renewal of Trident and even to the effect of the media on voting behaviour! All in all, the F4 had a great time exploring parliament and engaging with their political representatives. They displayed the great level of maturity, interest and respect that is always expected of pupils at the High School of Dundee. Joe Fitzpatrick was so impressed he even made a point of visiting the High School to meet with the pupils once again!

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Arkwright Scholarship A pupil from the High School of Dundee has won a prestigious engineering scholarship. Jack Davies, F5, has been identified as a future leader in the field after receiving a 2016 Arkwright Engineering Scholarship, a highly soughtafter award granted to the most talented STEM* students in schools in order to ensure that high-potential young people stay engaged in the engineering careers pipeline in the critical 16 to 18 age range. The scholarships, which are open to pupils in S5 and S6 across the UK, are highly respected by university admission tutors and industry recruiters and are regarded as one of the most prestigious accolades that a sixth form student can receive.

organisations who help to develop each scholar’s experience of engineering in a real world context by providing mentoring and industry visits. As well as receiving such enrichment activities from Pearson Engineering, under the scholarship Jack will also receive £300 this year and next to assist with his development as an engineer. Jack, who received guidance on meeting the challenges of the selection process from Technology teacher Dave Preston, received his award at a presentation ceremony in Edinburgh, said, “I’m delighted. I’m very happy to have received the scholarship. I’ve always been fascinated by how things work.

In all, just over 400 scholarships have been awarded in 2016 to applicants who successfully demonstrated they have the skills and potential to become leaders in the industry by coming through a rigorous selection process involving an assessed application form, a two-hour aptitude exam and a university-based interview.

“It was the fantastic opportunities and work experience offered that encouraged me.”

The awards scheme is supported by almost 200 sponsoring

* Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths

FMC

Following on from the success of fellow High School pupil Logan Thomson in securing an award last year, Jack’s scholarship means that the School currently has two Arkwright scholars in its ranks.

A supply of real life engineering experience is now flowing at the High School of Dundee, thanks to the donation of a piece of equipment straight from the oil and gas sector.

“Being able to take the valve apart, examine its various parts and reassemble them gives the pupils a great insight into engineering and design in the real world.”

TechnipFMC, a leading supplier of equipment and services for the energy industry, has provided the School’s Technology department with a gate valve, a complex high-pressure component that is typically used to control the movement of oil or gas on an oilrig or on land.

James Robb, Global Product Delivery Manager at TechnipFMC, said that the donation of the equipment was part of the company’s work to promote engineering in local schools.

After James Robb and Ross Orkney from TechnipFMC visited to deliver the valve, pupils studying Engineering Science and Graphic Communication took full advantage of the chance to get to grips with a bona fide piece of real world, high-level equipment. Forbes Walker, Head of Technology at the School, said, “Having access to the valve provides our pupils with a wonderful opportunity to gain experience of working with a complex bit of kit that plays a vital role in the oil and gas industry.

He said, “We work hard to promote engineering, manufacturing and design in schools in Scotland to encourage confidence in engineering and manufacturing as career opportunities. “We are delighted to have been able to donate the valve to the School so that the pupils can see engineering in a real life context.” In the coming months, the School and TechnipFMC will be working together to launch an exciting competition which will challenge pupils to construct replicas of the valve using the School’s 3D printer.

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Scottish Engineering Leaders Award

High School of Dundee pupils were able to call on some expert help as they sought to plot a course towards success in an engineering contest.

David Elder, Naval Architect and Technical Director with IMRANDD, paid a visit to the School to talk to pupils in F1 as part of their participation in the Scottish Engineering Leaders Award 2017 Competition. With the award challenging Secondary pupils to research engineering, interview inspiring engineers, and consider the question ‘If you were an engineer – what would you do?’, David was on hand to inspire the youngsters with an introduction to naval architecture and an insight into some of his own work experiences. Organised as part of the Primary Engineer

programme, which seeks to raise the profile of practical engineering in schools by putting engineers into the classroom, the competition asks pupils to identify a problem and then design and submit a solution to it, along with a letter to persuade the engineer judges to make it. Over 12,000 pupils registered for this year’s contest and as well as going on display at public exhibitions across Scotland, shortlisted entries will stood a chance of actually being manufactured. David Elder said, “The Leaders Award is a really worthwhile initiative. I was delighted to be able to come along to meet the

pupils and talk to them about what a naval architect does and how to become an engineer.” Head of Technology at the High School, Forbes Walker, said, “The award is a fantastic opportunity for our pupils to engage with engineers who will convey the importance of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) in their daily working lives.”

And the Result ... An enlightened way of producing electricity won a High School of Dundee pupil the prestigious engineering prize. F1 pupil Hamish Doig was announced as the winner of the S1 category in the Scottish Engineering Leaders Award. Putting his mind to the challenge of enabling safe, affordable electricity to be available to people in all corners of the globe, 12-year-old Hamish fixed upon the impressive idea of filling hexagonal tubes with bioluminescent bacteria mixed in a nutrient gel in order to create light which is then converted to electrical energy using photovoltaic cells surrounding the tubes. After coming up with his novel plan, like the 12,000 other pupils who entered this year’s various age categories, Hamish had

to write a pitch letter to persuade, or rather, illuminate, the judging panel about its merits. But, with the bacteria non-toxic, the gel biodegradable, and a trigger mechanism causing the bacteria to automatically regenerate and increase light production once it falls below a set level, Hamish was clearly on to a winner in their eyes. Hamish, who was presented with a trophy at the competition awards ceremony in Glasgow, revealed that the inspiration for his design actually stemmed from an idea he had had when he was younger. He said, “When I was about 8, I remember thinking about how to make an underground city, and wondering how you would power it. For the competition I worked on some of the ideas I’d had back then, developing

them to make the process more efficient and to allow storage of the energy.” He added, “I was quite surprised to win as I knew there had been lots of entries from lots of other schools.”

F2 Design Technology Competition Some exemplary cross-departmental teamwork has resulted in a top sports prize for the High School of Dundee! Ahead of the School’s Sports Awards Dinner, which was organised by the PE department, the Technology department ran a competition which set Form 2 pupils the challenge of designing the Sports Personality of the Year prize. Once all the entries had been received, a joint Technology and PE judging panel declared the winner to be Jed Barron whose design was then manufactured within the Technology department into the pristine finished article which was presented to swimmer Eilidh Grant at the gala event at the Apex Hotel. Jed, who said he had based his winning design on a combination of a running track and the School’s iconic Pillars, was presented with a certificate in assembly and will have the opportunity use the Technology department’s laser cutter to make his own copy of the award declaring him as the F2 Design Competition winner. The Technology department made a further winning contribution to the Sports Awards Dinner by manufacturing all of the other prizes which were presented on the night.

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Christmas Fun

In the nursery, we learned about why Christmas is celebrated and had great fun performing at our Christmas sing along. We also watched the Junior Years nativity performance. We had a delicious Christmas lunch and a fantastic time celebrating the festive period.

Christmas Parties Christmas means parties and this year the L1-7s enjoyed their annual get together in the Margaret Harris hall for games, music and dancing. As you can see from our photographs, everyone had lots of fun with their classmates and Santa Claus even found time for a special visit to our infants.

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IPad Collaboration

Pupils from L1-L7 have working together this year, exploring ipad apps. Pupils from the upper stages visited early years classrooms to share their expertise and give younger pupils an opportunity to see the learning potential of technology within the classroom. I liked being with the girls from L7. They Hereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s what some of them thought helped me and were kind to me. I I felt really happy. I learned how to enjoyed learning about the ipad. Google an image of something then save it.

Sidney Watson L1

Ayanah Adam It was really good fun because I learned new things.

I liked collecting items for the ipad project. Abdur helped me film them â&#x20AC;&#x201C; it was fun.

Hannah Petrie

Matthew Roberts L1

I liked using the iPad. My favourite bit was choosing the pictures.

It was really fun working on the project with Sally from L7. She showed me some of the ipad games.

Emily Patterson I loved that I got a chance to work with an L6 and do my work on their iPad. Edward Walker

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Holly Smith

It was lots of fun doing ipad work with Adam from L7. We used Book Creator and I enjoyed it. Michael Dorman

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Electrical Models

Children in L7 enjoyed making electrical circuit models in Science. An assortment of different models were made. Rudolf’s nose lit up, camera lights flashed, Christmas bows lit up.

Healthy Eating Week As part of the week the L1-3 children enjoyed some delicious smoothies and there was lots of fruit and vegetables on offer in order to encourage the children to try something new and have their five a day. On one morning the children even enjoyed breakfast in their classrooms ! An enjoyable and successful week was had by all.

From 12th-16 June 2017 was Healthy Eating Week in the Early Years Lunch Hall. Run by the British Nutrition Foundation, the purpose of the Week was to raise awareness of healthy eating and drinking, cooking, food provenance and being active to promote key health messages and habits to young people. The key messages of the week were : have breakfast, have five a day, drink plenty, get active and try something new.

L1 and 2 Author Visit- Michelle Sloan

Our L1 and L2 children were excited to welcome back former teacher and new children’s novelist, Michelle Sloan to debut her new picture book, ‘The Fourth Bonniest Baby in Dundee’. Michelle treated us to a reading of a big sister’s hilarious recollection of a trip to Dundee’s Bonnie Baby Contest with her little brother, and all of their sticky adventures on the way. The children thoroughly enjoyed meeting and interacting with Michelle’s ‘son’ Andrew, and loved helping him remember his triumphant albeit messy day out!

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L1 at World Book Day

We enjoyed World Book Day in the library. We looked at some exciting books. Michael Dorman

The Cat in the Hat visit

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L7 pupil Ollie Hall, in his role as Cat in the Hat from this yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Junior Years musical, paid a visit to the library to share some Dr Seuss stories with L1 pupils.

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L1 Easter Fun

L1 Easter Egg Nests The mixing was lots of fun â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Joshua helped me. We liked the Easter egg nests. My Easter bonnet is very pretty â&#x20AC;&#x201C; I like the pink ribbon best! Daisy Fisken

Harry Finnegan L1

I like my yellow bonnet with the polka dot spots and the bow under my chin. Stella MacKinnon L1

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L1 General Activities I made a shape picture – it was fun. My favourite shapes are triangles.

I made a tower with a red rectangle and a purple triangle.

I did the alphabet jigsaw with my friend, Sidney – it was fun.

We liked the shape we made with the dominoes – it was fun.

The way we set out the dominoes looked interesting.

Daisy Fisken

Elise Harris

Fraser Rowan

Ben McLaren

Alice Hutcheson L1

L1 Spring I enjoyed making the yellow daffodil. My friends made daffodils too. Sophia Zhou

I liked using pink and white tissue paper to make the pretty blossom for the spring tree. Emily McKenzie L1

L1 SSPCA Visit

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A visit from the SSPCA to the Junior Years gave pupils a chance to find out more about the work the society does and how we can help make sure our pets get the best care possible.

100

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L2 Community Building Models As part of their school and community project, the L2s were challenged with designing and creating a model version of a local building. The pupils chose between Dundee Central Mosque, the Caird Hall and our main school building. For homework, they made detailed plans of how to make their models and sourced the materials they needed. Following an afternoon spent constructing their creations, fantastic models of all shapes and sizes were presented to the class who then reviewed each otherâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s buildings with some positive peer feedback.

L2 Potato Harvest

Last June L2 started their Food and Farming topic by planting potatoes ready to grow over the summer. In September, the pupils then harvested the potatoes and each made their own delicious potato salad with help from the schoolâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Home Economics department. Everyone thoroughly enjoyed their experience of potato growing especially tasting their final product.

L3 Science Forces

The children carried out an experiment that would test a toy car on different surfaces to show low and high friction. The children realised that to carry out a fair test only the surface could change and all other aspects of the experiment should remain the same. The four surfaces used were vinyl, sandpaper, carpet and corrugated cardboard. The children predicted that the vinyl would have the lowest friction due to the smooth nature of the surface and the corrugated cardboard would have the highest friction due to the bumpy surface. The children tested the car on all four surfaces and recorded the distance the car travelled using a metre stick. Their predictions were absolutely correct.

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L3R Assembly

There were no shortage of red noses at the L3R assembly in March, the theme of which tied in with the biannual school fundraiser, Comic Relief. The pupils were delighted to be given the opportunity to take part in a class assembly and used the opportunity to explain the purpose of Comic Relief and what the money raised would be used for. They had fun dressing up to show their audience the selection of red noses on offer this year. Finally, they performed the Comic Relief Song, ‘Put a Nose on It’. All in all, great fun was had for a wonderful cause.

A word from the Guide Dogs On Tuesday, 20 June 2017, L3 were lucky enough to have a visit from a guide dog speaker called Patricia, her daughter, Deborah and a lovely guide dog puppy by the name of Wilma who is 7 months old. Patricia explained that Wilma goes to puppy classes with other guide dogs about once a month but when she is 12 months old she will leave Patricia and receive proper guide dog training. Before they begin training, guide dogs are tested to ensure their senses are effective and they won’t be scared of things like loud noises. Some guide dogs go to ‘school’ during the day and then go home to a family in the evening to give them a break from training. The guide dogs can also be taken out by volunteer walkers to ensure they have fun time. When Wilma is two years old she will be placed with a new owner who

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needs her support. Owners can be aged between 11 and 90 years old. The dogs are chosen very carefully so they match their new owner’s needs perfectly. We learned there are 5000 active guide dogs in the U.K. but this is not enough as many people who need a guide dog don’t have one. That’s why there are also lots of guide dogs in training. We had the opportunity to try on different kinds of glasses to see what it might be like for a person with a visual impairment. We also got a chance to touch brail letters which blind people can use to read. L3 enjoyed lots of cuddles with Wilma and we learned lots too. Patricia was delighted with our donation of £100.00 as it costs £5.00 every day to train a guide dog. by L3R

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L4 Celtic Game

Following on from class work on The Celts, the L4s made their own Celtic board game. This included pupils designing the board, making their own stepping stone counters and game cards. They then took it in turns to play each other and great fun was had by all.

L4 Pirate Day It was all hands on deck as the L4 pupils took part in Pirate Day, giving them the opportunity to show off their boat building skills. After a morning building their vessels, the pirates took to the high seas (or rather a paddling pool in the courtyard garden) to test the speed and buoyancy of their designs in a fiercely fought competition. Most survived the voyage unscathed, although some of the crew had to abandon ship and make use of the lifeboats provided! The worthy winners were Fastest Ship:

Pirate Ship Design:

1st Arya Sanu & Fergus Subbings-Tilley with ‘The Smuggler’

1st Emily Hough & Nina Ver Der Kuyl with ‘Fearful Float’

2nd Eilidh Petrie & Sameea Hossain-Ibrahim with ‘Song of the Sea’

2nd Meghna Chandrasekar & Nafia Kashmiri with ‘Twilight Pearl’

3rd Daniel McConnachie & Sam Blackhall with ‘The Doom Pearl’

3rd Eilidh Petrie & Sameea Hossain-Ibrahim with ‘Song of the Sea’

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L4 Roman Visit

As part of the L4 Roman Topic we had a fantastic visit from Mr Fotheringham dressed as a Roman Soldier. He grabbed everyones attention in he strode into the classroom with the banging of his spear and shield. Mr Fotheringham was a great source of knowledge and brought the ancient world to life.

L4 Class Assembly ‘Advent’ The class of L4S discussed the forthcoming season of ‘Advent’. Using ipads to research, the class worked together and, produced a script on what Advent means, how it is celebrated and some of its associated customs. By L4S and Mrs Smith

L6 Mandarin

In November, L6 enjoyed putting their newly acquired Mandarin vocabulary to the test. Since the start of the term, the children had been learning Chinese numbers and symbols, focussing particularly on numbers to ten. A game of Chinese snakes and ladders provided the perfect opportunity to develop their understanding of numbers and symbols to include numbers to one hundred! Both the game boards and the dice had Chinese numbers which gave the children an excellent way to apply their learning. In addition to using numbers to one hundred, the children also learned the art of Chinese calligraphy and explored how to create Chinese symbols using the correct strokes.

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Mandarin

L7 assemblies The theme of the L7C assembly was ‘Give It All You’ve Got’. After looking back at a few of the successful Olympians from the Rio Games, we had great fun retelling the story of the hare and the tortoise. Hopefully the audience got our message about persevering in the face of all difficulties and giving 100% effort. It was an important message for the start of session.

Mrs Murdoch, the school’s Mandarin teacher, came to visit the nursery us to teach us more about Chinese New Year. Throughout the celebration, we did food tasting, performances and lots of arts and crafts. We had great fun celebrating!

Winter fun The nursery children spent time playing in the snow and exploring the Mayfield grounds during the lovely winter weather. We had great fun building snowmen and going on adventures.

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Photography Competition The school’s annual photography competition, run by Mr Allan Wilson of the Computing department, this year attracted a record number of entries over several categories. Pupils, parents and staff were invited to submit their chosen picture, together with a few lines describing the subject and why it was the one that they selected as their entry. Competition was fierce, with all photos displayed in the school library for several weeks and the winning entries selected by public vote.

The Junior winner was Daniel Youssef L6L, whose picture The Overall winner was Zara Barron L6C, who said, “It was a special picture to me as it of pebbles on a beach appealed to a wide spectrum of voters. brings back good memories from that day with two of my dogs hanging out the car window.”

In the Secondary category, Amy MacAndrew’s atmospheric “Misty Morning” was placed first and continued the nature theme with Amy commenting, “This photo was taken near Crieff, in the middle of nowhere. It is special to me as it was taken after I spent a night sleeping in a teepee with my friends, which you don’t get to experience very often!” Inspiring Education

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Second in this group was Indira Sharma L2M The public were by now strongly into the theme, with Indira’s early-morning photo of the first flower that has grown in her new garden also gaining a substantial number of votes.

Review 2017 - Let your lives speak

In the Pet category, Alex Rouse 1AY2 unsurprisingly took the award with her self-titled “First Love”, which was a beautiful photograph of Alex and her very first pony.

Last but by no means least, the Parent category again proved to be highly competitive with a record number of entries. The winning picture rounded off the theme which had proven to be so popular with the voters this year. Judy Robertson entered her “Winter Sunset at the Western Necropolis” with the description: “This photo was taken at Balgay Hill cemetery looking out to the River Tay estuary. I love this old place, so steeped in history. The seasons and weather change the outlook all the time. I never tire of wandering around, reading the gravestones and wondering about the lives of the people who lie there with their ever-splendid view of the Silvery Tay!”

The winner of the Staff section was the stunning “Picturesque Prekistolen”, described by Helen Brian as follows: “When I lived in Southern Norway, Prekistolen became a regular hiking route for my friends and me. This particular day, as we meandered up the mountain, the weather was fairly murky. Thankfully as we reached the peak, the sun began breaking through the clouds and shimmering brightly; an ideal photo opportunity! A moment I will never forget.” A fitting winner, continuing the unofficial theme of the year.

Thanks are due to Allan Wilson and the Library staff for all their hard work in administering the competition, but principally to all those who took the time to enter and make the competition so memorable.

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5 Lessons from the Year in the Life of a Probationer Lesson 1: Create a support network I would be lying if I said I had made my own support network at HSD. The truth of the matter is that I was lucky enough to join a pre-made one in the form of the History and Modern Studies Department. They have supported me tremendously over the past year and have been on hand every day offering up advice, chocolate, and laughs! I could not have wished for a more welcoming and inspirational department to have started my career in. Lesson 2: You walk past what you are willing to accept This past year I have learned that it is important to keep high standards with regards to uniform, behaviour and the school environment. As a teacher, you walk past what you are willing to accept as a standard. As a result, I have endeavoured to pick up litter on the stairs and remind pupils about their behaviour in the corridors

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because I want to work in a school that boasts tidy and positive surroundings. Lesson 3: The time you invest in pupils is always re-paid This year I have made a real effort to attend as many school trips, drama performances, sports events and music concerts as I can. I have loved going along and supporting the very talented pupils and in turn being entertained by them! In the short time I have been at the school I have seen this investment of my time pay off. Any time I have required pupils to help at History Film Club, to join the school Race for Life Team or help me on a trip I have had a wealth of volunteers and I cannot thank the pupils enough for this. Lesson 4: If you wash your mug once a term you are doing well In the madness that is the school year things get very busy very quickly and lunchtimes vanish. At home I would never

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dream of using the same mug twice for a cup of tea but I have learned to accept that giving pupils feedback, running History Film Club and re-arranging your classroom into a courtroom are all far more important and meaningful lunchtimes tasks than maintaining high standards of cleanliness! Lesson 5: Say yes to everything and figure out the rest later Someone gave me this piece of advice at the end of my year as a student teacher and it has stuck with me. As a probationer, I have tried my best to say yes to everything and it has ensured I have had a fun and fulfilling year. I never expected to sign up my registration class up to do a whole school assembly, to be face painting at the Christmas Fair or to be running my first 10K representing the school. However, I would not change any of these experiences for the world. Miss Karlene Douglas.

International Education Contents Classics Trip to Italy....................................... 110-111 French Exchange to Limoux........................... 112-113 History Trip to Kradow................................... 114-115 Diary of the hockey tour to North America...... 116-118 Ski Trip of Pila........................................................119 Barcelona..............................................................119

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Classics trip to Italy Half past one in the morning outside the school gates is never a good time to be up and about but on the last Wednesday of the Spring term, here were nearly forty excited pupils and a number of bleary eyed staff. We took the coach to Edinburgh airport, we waited for our plane and we flew over the Alps to Naples and never did the excited chatter cease. Who needs sleep when one is on an adventure to Italy? Our first stop was a tiny farm in Sorrento. Cows, goats and chickens filled the sheds. Olives, lemons and oranges hung from the trees. We looked down through the warmth and sunshine, and citrus scents onto the azure blue of the Mediterranean Sea. We watched a demonstration of the traditional making of Mozzarella cheese by a lady called Maria who knew only one English word. She showed us the mozzarella she’d just made, grinned broadly and said “cheese”….. a photo opportunity. And then a feast of local produce, home made bread, the mozzarella, olives, salad, and salami enjoyed by all. Our first full day in the Bay

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of Naples was spent visiting the volcanic area of Solfatara, the hydrothermal vents reeking of rotten eggs. Then to the nearby amphitheatre of Pozzuoli, almost as large as the Colosseum in Rome and with a far better preserved under stage area of animal cages and lifts. Then to the centre of Naples and the Archaeological Museum with its collections of statues and artefacts from Pompeii and Herculaneum. Paestum was the next day’s adventure. A Greek city abandoned almost two thousand years ago in a malarial swamp, as it was then and discovered again in a forest in the eighteenth century. It contains three of the best preserved Greek Temples of the classical world dedicated to the goddesses, Athena, Hera and Ceres. There was also a fabulous museum, the highlight of which was the so-called tomb of the diver, a painted slab of a boy diving into a swimming pool over two and a half thousand years ago. One must not forget however the real high light of most people’s days – lunch – freshly cooked pizza and freshly made

ice-cream. So many toppings and so many flavours! Saturday began with a visit to a Roman farm that had been buried by Vesuvius in 79AD. It was striking how similar it was to the farm visited on our first day. There was a fascinating museum of the

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finds found here and at nearby archaeological sites. There was even a loaf of bread cooked but not eaten found in the baker’s oven. From there to Herculaneum, the other town discovered that had been buried by Mount Vesuvius. The ruins are up to three storeys tall in places. No

Review 2017 - International Education imagination is needed to picture the life of the Roman world. And after lunch – pizza again and a chance meeting with the Duchess of Rothesay, we visited a Roman royal palace, a vast house that had belonged to Poppaea, the Emperor Nero’s unfortunate wife. Farms, towns and palaces all in one day with real royalty to boot. The highlights of Pompeii were the newly restored houses, though the place was busy with crowds of visitors as this was Sunday. Still it is an extraordinary place, where it becomes easy to imagine the Roman world so similar and yet so different to our own. We arrived in Capri wind-tousled after a rather rough and exhilarating crossing. We boarded two tiny buses to navigate the narrow streets and lanes up to the heights of Anacapri. From there the intrepid climbed aboard a chairlift that took them in twenty minutes to the very top of the island with a glorious view down across the bay to Naples and Vesuvius and Sorrento. We returned for lunch in Anacapri and then to walk down the thousand feet or so of paths that led down to the port of Capri, our way leading through gardens of wisteria and bougainvillea with their beautiful mauve and pink flowers. Our last day was spent on the Amalfi Coast, World Heritage Site for its extraordinary natural beauty – its cliffs dropping down thousands of feet into the sea. We stopped for lunch in Amalfi itself, visiting its Medieval cathedral and its shrine to its patron saint and ours, Saint Andrew. Later the bus climbed the steep pass to Ravello, the hill top settlement with its ancient and beautiful cathedral built out of recycled Roman archaeology in the ninth and tenth centuries. And then all too soon, and not before yet another ice cream had been eaten, it was time to return from the sunshine of the Med to the grey gloom of Edinburgh. This time the coach was rather quieter as tired but happy youngsters were dropped off at school to continue their Easter break. Many thanks to the staff members who gave up some of their holidays to make this all happen – Mrs Findlater, Mr Kerr, Miss Heenan and Mr Faulkes.

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French Exchange to Limoux An intrepid group of 11 F3 pupils were the pioneers on a brand new French Exchange with a private collège/lycée called Institut Saint Joseph in the beautiful market town of Limoux in south west France. The exchange was organised by Mrs Wedderburn who is passionate about this region of France, having recently lived in the area for a few years. Mr McAvinue from Modern Languages also assisted with the trip. The group flew from Glasgow to Carcassonne and spent seven days in the company of their French exchange partners, living in the Internat boarding school and spending three nights over the weekend with their host families. We received an outstanding welcome from the Rector, Deputy Rector, head of English Elizabeth Authier (a native Scot) and the team of

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English teachers, along with the pupils from the 4ème year group. Highlights of the trip included several excursions. We visited the salt marshes at Gruissan near Narbonne on the Mediterranean coast, with stunning colours as the salt is produced in the bassins around the bay, including a trip to the beach at Plage des Chalets for some rugby and sunbathing. We were also able to shop in the stunning local market in Limoux, held in the famous town square. Pupils sampled the local cuisine of this region with cassoulet (a sausage, duck and bean casserole) in a renowned local restaurant. We also visited the world famous Sieur d’Arques wine cellars for a guided tour, home to the local sparkling wine known as Blanquette de Limoux.

Pupils returned home with their exchange partners over the weekend to a huge variety of locations including coastal second homes near Collioure and Narbonne, and others in the rural foothills of the Pyrenees. The weather was incredible during the entire visit with temperatures reaching 35-37deg C. Many of the pupils were able to profit from swimming pools at home or visits to lakes, beaches and water parks with the families.

company, including a guided tour of the production site of the enormous A380, the largest passenger aircraft in the world.

We visited the UNESCO world heritage site of the medieval walled city of Carcassonne, a breathtaking example of a fairytale castle, with a guided tour and plenty of time for shopping, sampling cafe culture and exploring the cobbled alleyways of the old town.

We are so incredibly grateful for the warmth, generosity and kindness shown by the school and for the enthusiasm they displayed for this inauguration visit. Pupils picked up a lot of new French and really fell in love with the region. We look forward to reciprocating the hospitality during a return visit by the French pupils in Autumn 2017/Spring 2018.

Our final excursion was to Toulouse to visit the European headquarters of the Airbus

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The HSOD pupils became immersed in life in a weekly boarding school, socialising with their new French friends, participating in activities such as rugby, football, musculation, baby-foot, pétanque and eating in the canteen. They also had the opportunity to participate in school lessons, attending Maths, History and Music.

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History Trip To Krakow Would it really be a school trip if we didn’t meet at the school at 3am? So we set off bright and early on our travels, awaiting an action packed day in Krakow city, starting the minute we landed. After arriving in Krakow on a glorious summer’s day, we began a walking tour of the city led by a local tour guide. This began in the infamous town square, located in Podgorze, the Jewish ghetto of WW2. Prior to WW2, Krakow was home to around 68,000 Jewish people who accounted for a quarter of the city’s entire population. By 1941, around 52,000 Jewish people had been forced to resettle, with the remaining 16,000 squashed into the Podgorze Ghetto. This town square was the point used for rounding up the Jewish people for head counts and when important decisions were being made, as well as executions carried out by Nazi soldiers. It was very moving standing there and imagining the people who had stood there before us. The square has now been filled with an art exhibition of 70 metal

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chairs, symbolising subsequent absence of Jewish people in the city. Our tour continued through the Kazimierz district: the original Jewish Quarter of Krakow. It was fascinating to see the bustling Jewish culture still very much alive in this district. Next stop was Wawel Castle and Cathedral, situated at the top of Wawel hill. After a trek to the top in the June heat, an ice cream was on the cards whilst we basked in the sun. We finished our tour in the Krakow old town square, famous across the world for its beautiful architecture. After a short wander, we walked back to the hotel for dinner and an early night after our action packed day. On Thursday, we visited the Galicia Jewish Museum, which also included a talk from a survivor of the Auschwitz concentration camp. This woman was sent there as a young girl, and spent longer in Auschwitz than any other child. She told of the many horrors of the camp, and showed us the tattoo number she still has on her arm. It helped us all to appreciate how real the

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Review 2017 - International Education Holocaust was by hearing the stories from someone who lived at the heart of the persecution. This certainly had a profound impact on all of our group. After lunch, we continued onto Oskar Schindler’s Factory which has been turned into a fascinating museum. We walked through a timeline of Krakow both before and during WW2, as well as gaining insight into the heroic acts of Oskar Schindler. We lightened the mood in the evening with a trip to a local shopping centre where we stocked up on fizzy water. Friday would be the most challenging day of the trip, particularly having met with the Holocaust survivor the day before. Her story was at the forefront of our minds as we travelled to Auschwitz and Birkenau concentration camps. The scale of the camps was simply staggering. We spent two hours in the original part of the camp entering the camp through the infamous gates under the sinister words ‘Arbeit Macht Frei.’ We then travelled by bus to the second part of the camp which was created to meet the demands of the

Nazi’s ‘Final Solution’ following the Wannsee Conference in Berlin in January 1942. Having visited the Wannsee Villa in Berlin as part of last year’s History trip, the decisions made in the rooms that I too sat in twelve months earlier became even more vivid in my memory. It was at this conference that the preparations for the atrocities at Auschwitz and camps across Europe were made. Of the estimated 1.3 million people taken to Auschwitz, only around 200,000 would survive the camp. It was difficult to comprehend just how it was possible for this to happen. The impact of the visit was clearly evident on everyone in the group.

lunch and plenty more fizzy

trip that we have all learned

water, we visited the famous

so much from. The sites we

Wawel Dragon and its fire

have seen will last long in the

breathing display and on to the

memory. The views of Edmund

main square for some souvenir

Burke will stay with me as

shopping. An awesome pizza

I remember the sites which

was a great way to finish our

we visited ‘The only thing

last day in Krakow before flying

necessary for the triumph of evil

home late in the evening!

is for good men to do nothing.’

It was an incredibly moving

Hannah Levin, Form 6.

Our last day was a visit to the Wieliczka salt mine which was a fascinating and fun visit to the vast salt mines. Our guide shared amusing stories throughout our visit. The salt carvings were amazing. This was a fun and interesting contrast to the previous day. After

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Diary of the hockey tour to North America

SATURDAY

On the 8th of July we readily embarked upon our hockey tour to the USA. We started off with an early start and even though we had a long day of travelling ahead, we were all excited to finally get going! After flying from Edinburgh to Dublin and then onto JFK airport we arrived on American soil after many many hours of travelling. We then jumped aboard our coach in which the driver took us to our first destination called Spooky Nook, situated in Pennsylvania. Once we arrived at the hotel situated within the sports complex we were all very tired and ready for our beds, only after 22 hours of travelling!

SUNDAY

We woke up early the next morning and made for the pitch at 9 am for our first training session. It was hot and dry but we kept each other going and spirits high for the match later that day. We played the Alley Cats first; they were a very athletic team with a very strong set up and middle players. Fighting off the heat and jet lag proved difficult for the whole team and although we tried our very best, we lost 11-0. Post match we were indulged with an American Tailgate: this involved lots of food, drinks and a good chat to the opposition. After a hard dayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s work and a well deserved shower, our coaches treated us to a night in the hotel arcade. This was a great night to relax and have lots of competitive fun with both team mates and teachers.

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10 JU LY TUESDAY

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Our second day of the tour was an opportunity to see a high level of hockey being played at The National Club Championships. Throughout the day we watched many of the games in the tournament and were able to gain an insight into how other team approach their games and pick up on some skills they used. This definitely helped with the games in America and will be of use for the new school hockey season. In the evening we were split into groups and all allocated a country we should represent in a mini olympics. With a budget of zero each team had to dress appropriately for the country they were given. We all got to participate in fun team games with a great way to end our stay at Spooky Nook and to start the tour off. After devouring the dream American breakfast of bacon, scrambled eggs, French toast and so much more, we boarded the coach and set out on our journey to Washington DC Although we were sad to be leaving the extensive sports facilities of Spooky Nook, there was a buzz in the air as we ventured on to the first big city of our trip. Once what must have felt like hours (at least to the teachers!) of questionable sing-alongs and spontaneous acapella bus performances, we reached our hotel in Tysonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Corner. Although it was not quite as luxurious as Spooky Nook, it did have one very important feature- an outdoor pool! We took full advantage of this, all 30 of us piling into the pool at which had probably been designed for a number closer to 10. As the day came to an end, we rode the metro for the first time to the mall. Even after a night filled with pizza and shopping, our job was not done here- we would be back tomorrow after our DC Day!

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Review 2017 - International Education WEDNESDAY

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THURSDAY

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to SATURDAY

It was another early start on Wednesday to get a yellow school bus into Washington for our three hour segway or cycling tours. After nervously (for some) getting on our segways, we were straight out onto the busy road and there were definitely some cries for help within the first few minutes of the tour! Despite a shaky beginning, the rest of the tour went smoothly and we saw many significant sites, such as the Washington Monument, the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial and, of course, the White House. Later in the day we returned to the hotel, where we took advantage of the outdoor pool and some of the girls put on an entertaining (although perhaps questionable) show of synchronised swimming. In the evening we got the metro to Tysons Corner Center, where we had the opportunity to properly explore the shops (and do some significant spending!) as an end to the busy day. We arrived at The Marriott hotel after a hard match against Mystyx Falls which we unfortunately lost 2-0. We collapsed onto our welcoming beds and were rudely awoken the next morning to be dined with waffles, bagels and much more. The teams prepared for the match and we set off to our final and toughest match against the WC Eagles. Both teams left nothing on the pitch but unfortunately the outcome wasnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t a win. Even though we were exhausted after 3 matches in a row we still had enough energy for shopping. Arriving at the hotel laden with bags filled to the brim and our purses considerably lighter, we then set off for an exciting tour of Philadelphia. We saw the liberty bell and took photos on the iconic rocky steps.

SUNDAY

After leaving Six Flags, we got on the bus and travelled to NYC, the final destination of the tour. It was so exciting seeing the famous New York skyline as we drove up to the city and also spotting lots of sights around the city as we travelled to the hotel. Our hotel was right in the centre of New York, a few blocks away from the Empire State Building and right opposite Madison Square Gardens. We dropped our bags off in our hotel rooms and walked into Times Square for the evening. It was amazing to see the big screens of Times Square in real life and to experience the buzzing atmosphere of New York at night.

MONDAY

On Monday the 17th July we set off early from Hotel Pennsylvania to cram in as many tourist spots as we could in our first day in NYC. We started by walking to the Empire State Building which was only a few minutes from our hotel and not exactly hard to find. We were brought straight up to the viewing decks, hardly having to queue. From the top we could see a brilliant 360 view of New York.

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Having captured some good angles we wasted getting the subway to the Statue of Liberty boat. On the boat we could see the skyline of New York as we approached the statue. After arriving we got to meet the statue up close and some of the girls fitted right in after buying a Statue of Liberty hat. After having lunch on the island there was another short boat journey to Ellis Island. Here we visited the immigration museum. Even after fitting all this in we still managed to get back into the city to visit Ground Zero, the 9/11 memorial. After walking around the museum and pools we headed back to the hotel to get ready for our Italian meal later on at Bucci di Beppo. Still going after the full on day, we headed back up to the top of the Empire State Building for an even better view at night. Our bucket lists are definitely a lot shorter after this day.

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After a very long day on Monday we were all a little bit too tired to walk across the Brooklyn Bridge as Miss McMullan had proposed so it seemed good idea to have a slightly more relaxed day. We woke up early so we could get to the Rockefeller Centre on the subway which was really exciting, although very hot. When we got to the top we realised there was still two more levels for us to climb up on the stairs. From the top there was an amazing view of Central Park which looked slightly out of place amongst the huge skyscrapers and concrete of the streets. After we made our way back down to the ground we walked to the American Museum of Natural History. This building was HUGE. Trying to find our way back to the entrance, me and rachel got completely lost in the American Forest section but got some good pictures! The best bit was that we could recognise parts from “The Night at the Museum” and we could see how realistic some of the animal displays were. Right opposite the exit to the museum was an entrance to Central Park and some food stalls where we got lunch. It was a really sunny day so we were all happy to eat and lie down in the trees for a while. Next we had a long walk through the park which felt very surreal; in the middle of the green grass we didn’t think we were in New York City, but when we soon found the streets again it was time for a few hours of shopping. Wandering the streets of New York with our best friends was one of the most exciting experiences ever, and we made sure we could fit in as many shops as we could in the 2 hours we had. Every shop seemed ten times bigger than they are at home and we had a lot of freedom to go where we wanted as long as we stayed in small groups. After tiring ourselves out at the shops it was time to go back to the hotel and get ready to out for our last meal together of the trip. We were all very excited as we were walking to Times Square to eat at Bubba Gumps, but it was really sad that it would be our last night altogether as a group. After we finished our meal we all remembered all of the great experiences we’d had as we went back to the hotel to pack our bags.

WEDNESDAY

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After the late night out at Bubba Gumps in Times Square, we woke early for one last round of shopping in New York City. We visited Macy’s which was just around the corner from the hotel, and searched the 8 floors for any last minute items. After a few hours we boarded the bus, sad to be leaving the USA. There were emotional goodbyes for Miss Campbell and Miss Paton at the airport, but we all returned home in one piece.

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Ski Trip to Pila On the 17th of December 2016, a group of Form 3 pupils and staff left Dundee behind for an amazing 6 day ski holiday in Pila, Italy. Pila is a beautiful historical town in the north of Italy and was the closest town to the resort. Each day the teachers woke us up before sunrise to make sure we could get up the mountain before it got too busy. Each evening the staff planned an activity for the pupils, we had great fun at a disco, pizza restaurant, bowling alley and free time for us to explore the town. The skiing itself was amazing and the view over the alps was jaw dropping. Everyone really enjoyed the trip and would love to go back this year. Sandy Bonnyman

Barcelona

Advanced Higher Geography pupils commenced their course on the Mediterranean coast where they had an opportunity to assess the impacts of tourism on this fragile environment. Time in Barcelona was spent exploring social and economic changes in the city with a little time for taking in the spectacular sights of the famed Segrada Familia and lunch on Las Ramblas. The field work supports pupils in developing a variety of different skills that they use to complete their own independent field work research back in the UK.

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Sport Contents Athletics............................................122 Aquathlon.........................................122 Sailing........................................123-124 Hockey......................................124-126 Rugby........................................127-129 Motor Racing....................................129 National Honours..............................130 Football............................................131 Cross Country...................................132 Sports Awards..................................132 Netball..............................................133 Sports Day.......................................133

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Review 2017 - Sport

Athletics It has been a very successful season on the track (and field) for the High School of Dundee in 2017. 5 matches took place both home and away from Mayfield for our F1-F3 athletes against the likes of Morrison’s Academy, Dollar, Strathallan, St George’s and Stewart’s Melville College. To be the best, you have to test yourself against the best and our pupils had a couple of terrific results. They also came very close (a couple of points to be precise) to getting terrific results. These matches were terrific practice for those athletes competing at Scottish Schools and Dundee Schools. Laurence Petty and Anna Dalglish both won silver and bronze respectively in their 1500m and 800m events at Grangemouth at Scottish Schools which is a tremendous achievement for both. The medal haul for Dundee Schools reached 55 with a large mix of Gold, Silver and Bronze for all individuals. Our High School of Dundee F1-F6 Girls had a clean sweep in their relays at Caird Park with the Boys relay teams also doing well, winning 2 out of the 4 relays. Athletics in the school has grown hugely throughout the last couple of years and our F2 group has seen the biggest number of athletes compete in 2017. The successes of our athletes this year has been down to the hard work that they put in after school and during games and have been rewarded duly. Let’s hope their success continues.

Aquathlon Some High School of Dundee pupils used one event to show off their athletic ability on two fronts. Five energetic youngsters demonstrated they could make a splash in swimming and keep up with the pace in middle distance running when they took part in the recent Scotland Schools Aquathlon Championships at Stirling University. Holding her own in the S3 category, which involved a 400m swim and a 3km run, was Emily Baxter, while rising to the challenge of covering 300m in the pool and then 2km on foot in the S1 competition were Reese Brown, Lucy Timney, Alex Douglas and Rhona Byers. More than 240 pupils from 50 schools competed in the event.

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Review 2017 - Sport

Sailing A talented High School of Dundee sailor has left the opposition in her wake to score the biggest prize of her blossoming career. The wind was in the sails of F5 pupil Anna Sturrock as she and helm Bella Fellows steered their boat to victory in the girls 29er class event at the RYA British Youth National Championships at Hayling Island in Hampshire. The title was a just reward for some serious hard work, coming as it did after a demanding series of 18 races over five days which culminated in a title-deciding final race in which the pair crossed the line without knowing if they had done enough to seal the overall win. Once their victory was confirmed, Anna said, “It was a pretty exciting feeling after a pretty full-on week! I didn’t really believe it for a while!” The 16-year-old had previously enjoyed great success in

Photo credit: Paul Wyeth/RYA single-person boats, winning a number of national titles, earning Scottish and UK squad call-ups and taking part in World Championships in both Topper and Laser class. However, after deciding that she would have to move to a double handed boat to further her sailing, the Royal Tay Yacht Club member joined forces with Bella, with whom she had

distance partnership work!

previously sailed as part of the British Topper Junior squad. With Bella based in Plymouth, and Anna in Letham, the logistics of their pairing wouldn’t typically be classed as plain sailing. But with both girls now members of the British Youth 29er squad and the Scottish 29er squad, the duo have been able to use training meet-ups to make their long

As a result of their win the pair have also earned a spot in the British squad for this summer’s 29er European Championships at Quiberon, France. “It should be fun,” said Anna. “It will be a great experience and we’ll be looking to do as well as we can.”

Sailing A trio of High School of Dundee pupils have been busy making waves in the world of sailing. Talented sailors Tom Mitchell (F1) and brothers Rory (L6) and James Gifford (F1) racked up the miles, both nautical and road, competing for their country, and individually, in a series of events across the UK and beyond. All three pupils represented Scotland in the 31st Eric Twiname Home Country Championships at Rutland Sailing Club, with Tom finishing as 2nd Scottish boat in the Topper class and Rory finishing as 1st Scottish boat in the Optimist class. That event came after the trio’s participation in the Inland Championships at Grafham Water in Cambridgeshire had yielded a placing of 4th, out of 150 boats, in his age group for Tom in the Topper class. Proving that they were willing to venture even further afield for competitive action meanwhile, the brothers travelled all the way to the Netherlands to take part in a regatta at Braassemermeer. Closer to home, each of the boys secured podium finishes at the Peterhead Travellers event, Tom sealing 3rd place in the Toppers, and Rory and James taking 2nd and 3rd place respectively in the Optimist class. And there was no let up for the boys over the summer holidays, with Rory and James competing in the British Optimist Championships at Weymouth, and Tom the British Topper Championships at Pwllheli in Wales.

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Review 2017 - Sport

Sailing

A talented quartet returned from an inclement Loch Earn with medals High School of Dundee pupils passed a stern test of their sailing abilities to secure a title and medals at a national competition. At the Scottish Schools Sailing Championship Brown Cup at Loch Earn, the squad of Ross Mauritzen (F1) in an RS Tera boat, Tom Mitchell (F1) in a Topper, and James Gifford (F1) in an Optimist, swept the opposition aside to win the team silver medal. With strong winds and rainsqualls sweeping the loch, and some serious spray in play on the faster sections of the circuit, the trio proved an admirable ability to stay the course as they homed in on their podium place finish. And there was further reward for Tom and James as they secured individual medals within their classes. Topping off a spectacular sailing indeed with boats engulfed in spray on the faster legs of the course! Rory Gifford (L6) sailed individually under the school banner and secured a medal for a remarkable 2nd place in the Optimist Class and to add a silver lining to a great day for the School, also an impressive trophy for Lead Junior School Pupil at the event!

Hockey Senior Boys Hockey

Hockey Umpires A group of High School of Dundee hockey players are ready to take charge on the pitch. Five F4 pupils – Anna Hudson, Katie Joss, Mairi McAdam, Rachel Rose and Charlotte Sharpe – travelled through to the National Hockey Centre in Glasgow to complete their Scottish Hockey Youth Umpire Award. Having already passed the theory section, the quintet demonstrated outstanding knowledge of the game to negotiate the practical element and earn the award, and with it, the right to umpire youth level matches. The practical session took place during the NASUWT National Primary Festival, an annual event that brings together young hockey players from throughout Scotland to play and hone their skills in a fun yet competitive environment.

The past year was a very interesting one for boys hockey. The first half of the year was disappointing results-wise. However, even as we were losing every week the entire team stayed committed to training and improving more and more. What started out as a disorganised and inexperienced team grew into a unit that started challenging teams that had dominated us in earlier fixtures, before finally getting our win in the last home match of the season. With such a young team this year, I have no doubt that future years will bring further success for this team. Gregor Vagg 6Li2

European Hockey A pupil from the High School of Dundee lined up alongside some of her teachers as a Dundee hockey club took a shot at glory in a major European hockey competition. F4 pupil Rachel Strachan joined her High School hockey coaches Linda Clement and Jude McMullan as part of the Grove Menzieshill ladies squad which completed in the EuroHockey Club Trophy tournament in Munich. Having just recently turned 16, goalkeeper Rachel, who is also a member of the Scotland U16 girls squad, was only just old enough to have been selected for the annual competition, which, as the second most prestigious European club tournament, represents the highest level a Scottish ladies club team will have competed at. In it, the High School trio were seeking to help their side overcome opponents from Belarus, Ireland and Spain in the group stages before cross over matches to determine final standings took place. The High School contingent was further bolstered by the inclusion of coach Charlotte Jones as part of the travelling party’s management team.

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Review 2017 - Sport

1st XI Girls Hockey

2nd XI Hockey

The hockey girls have a lot of fun together on and off the pitch this season. One of their best performances was in the cup match against St. Georges, one of the top teams in the country. HSD pulled together, worked well and every player on the pitch kept fighting until the final whistle, resulting in a well deserved 2-0 win. Like any team, there have been highs and lows of the season but the teams’ great attitude, commitment and determination stayed consistently strong. A special mention to Cara MacLeod, Mhairi Millar, Heidi Sampson, Shona Campbell and Hannah Alijani who were all selected to play in the interdistrict tournament for their respective age groups. The hockey girls 7s team participated in the 7s Goldenacre tournament at the end of the season. They won several games against highly regarded oppositions so were unlucky to miss out on reaching the final. Regardless, they were thrilled with their performances and really enjoyed the different experience.

The 2nd XI had a great start to this hockey season with a series of very solid wins that included numerous goals scored and not many conceded which is always a good way to start off any season. Outstanding games against Albyn (4 - 0) Robert Gordon’s College (3 - 1) and Glasgow Academy (1 - 0) showed the team at it’s very best, strong in defense but with the ability to score goals upfront. Throughout the season, we either won or drew over 60% of our games which is an impressive statistic and reflects the hard work and dedication of the whole team. We faced some tough opponents and some frustrating score lines but together the combined efforts of the team produced some well-deserved wins too. We approached each match with a positive attitude, determination and the belief that we could win. The effort put in by

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the team during training sessions and fitness was fundamental to our game play for the Saturday fixtures and the reason for our notable results. Outside of school hockey our very own goalkeeper, Rachel Strachan, was selected to play for the U16 Scotland team and we also had players selected for the U18 Midland Indoor District Championship which was won by our district. It has been a pleasure to Captain the 2ndXI and with no shortage of help from Vice Captain, Jessica Fotheringham, we have improved our communication on the pitch, worked tirelessly in training, learned to support each other and built a comradery throughout the year that we should be incredibly proud of. Thank you, girls, for a great season! Rachel Flack 5Ai1 2ndXI Captain

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Review 2017 - Sport

Girls Hockey 3rd X1 Girls Hockey F2 In Form 2 hockey this year we have had a few good wins but also a few losses. Overall, it has been a very successful year for the 3rd X1. Our season wasn’t as long as we had hoped due to matches being called off because of bad weather but the games that we did play were exciting and mostly turned in our favour. In 2017, we had 4 fixtures and won 3 of them, showing our ability and sportsmanship as a team. Our first match was against Dollar and despite the lack of players, we beat them 3-1. Our next two fixtures were at Mary Erskines where we pulled through as a team and won them both 2-0 and 2-1 respectively. For our final fixture of the season we played Queen Victoria. Although the score was 3-0 to them, we played a fantastic game of hockey and left the pitch with our heads held high. Katie Bonnyman

One of the highlights of the year was in October when the A team hockey girls jetted off to Belfast for their short but successful trip, winning all three matches comfortably. This year we have had a big help from Miss Patton who has been a great influence on us all, giving us the skills and the team work we need. We have been very lucky to have benefitted from her skills and knowledge. She has been encouraging and motivational especially when it was cold and rainy - which is quite a lot of the time as we are in Scotland! Near the end of the season we took part in a school tournament where we did better than expected winning quite a few games. This year we have gained good skills and better tactics in attack and defence that have been a great contribution to games notably beating Dollar at the beginning of the season. Other key successes include Annabel Dow and I playing for Midlands in the U14s Inter District tournament with Abbie Graham and Katie McPherson picked for the mixed team. A great day in Edinburgh where teams from across the country are competing to be the best in Scotland with Midlands making it through to the semifinals. At the tournament there were scouts looking out for girls with potential for the future Scotland team. Overall it has been a great season for everyone. As a team we have become really good friends on the pitch and off. Annie Johnston

F1 Girls Hockey

The Form 1 hockey team had a successful season and adapted well to playing 11-a-side. We were still playing 8 aside at the start of Form 1. We began the season with a win over Albyn which was a great way to start. We were playing well but we just couldn’t seem to get a win against Dollar Academy, and so we set this as one of our goals of the season. In the New Year we began to play 11 aside. This took a while to get used to as it is a very different game with many different new pieces of play that we had to get used to. Everyone trained very hard and then we began to get into the flow of things again. All of our hard work paid off when we managed to win 2-0 against Dollar so we were very pleased! We continued all of our hard work at training but we still struggled to get another win – until our fixture against Firrhill High School when everything worked well and we got a 9-0 victory. Our last fixture of the season was the Kilgraston Tournament. We were in a very tough group for the first stages and even though we played well we came last in our group. This meant we were either going to come 5th or 6th. We played against the hosts, Kilgraston, and we were able to get a 2-0 victory and even though we only came 5th we were still pleased with how we played. We all enjoyed the season and were pleased with how we played throughout the season. We would like to thank Miss Campbell for all of her coaching and patience with us this season. Claire Joss

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Review 2017 - Sport

Rugby

Senior Rugby Over the summer, four of our 1st XV players played for Caledonia U18s in the Inter-district Championship. This included a winning performance in the final at Murrayfield against Borders.

L6 Rugby

Another impressive Junior Years rugby showing saw the L6 team take the runners-up spot in Merchiston Castle 7s. The boys of the High School of Dundee L6 rugby side proved their mettle in the face of fierce competition by taking the runners-up spot in the Merchiston 7s tournament. A victory against Boroughmuir and draws against Dollar and Merchiston Castle in the group phase, followed by a semi-final win over Edinburgh Academy, meant the team reached the final with an impressive undefeated record in hand. In the decider, the boys put in a gutsy performance before eventually being defeated by their opponents from George Watson’s College. Coach Phil Godman said, “The boys showed incredible grit and determination to finish as runners-up. “They were playing all the top junior school sides in Scotland, so to get to the final was a fantastic achievement.”

Following preseason training, we started with friendlies against Glasgow Academy and Hutchesons’. We then entered the Schools Blue Conference with games against Bell Baxter, Fettes, Glenalmond, Loretto and Robert Gordons. Overall, HSD came joint second behind Fettes. The highlight of the Conference was a Friday night game at Glenalmond. The squad put in an exceptional performance to beat the College 23-37. This set a marker to the rest of the Conference teams. It also showed all squads across the school how important we saw the Conference and inspired performances at every age group. In the Cup, we passed Hawick, Glasgow Academy and George Heriot’s in the initial rounds before losing out in the quarter finals to eventual winners Stewart’s Melville. As well as the Cup and Conference, we played friendlies against a range of teams including Dollar, St Aloysius, George Watson’s, The High School of Glasgow and Culford School from England. After Christmas, our hooker, Angus Fraser, was selected to be a member of the Scotland U18 squad, playing against England and Wales. As the weather started to improve, our focus shifted to 7s. We took part in 5 tournaments, playing some great rugby, beating some strong sides along the way and reaching finals at Hutchesons’ and Caritas (George Watson’s). As I look back on the session I realise how much the team has improved. It was a pleasure for me to be leading them out every Saturday. Thank you to every player for their efforts and commitment throughout the season. A big thank you also goes to Mr Godman and the rest of the coaching team. Angus Campbell 1st XV Captain

F1 Rugby This has been a thoroughly enjoyable year in F1 rugby. It was a tough season but we learnt a lot. With help from the amazing coaches at HSD we could become a great team. We have won a few games and had some very close matches. A memorable match was the away game against Glasgow Academy. It was a close first half. With a good performance in the second half, and a lot of great teamwork, we upped our game and won 12-10. Another match that sticks in my mind was the one against Queen Victoria School. This home game started badly. By the end of the first half they

were three tries up. However, after some supportive chat from our coaches we returned to the field to score three tries while letting in only one. Due to some good kicking from our stand off Iain Chalmers, Queen Victoria took the game by only two points. Our biggest win was a game against Bell Baxter. We played a brilliant game going on to win 33-7. The B team had a challenging but enjoyable year as well, scoring some great tries and upsetting a few teams who thought it would be easy to beat them. At the end of the season,

William Learmonth of 1Ay1 moved to England. I think the whole of our squad would like to wish him the best in his future school and sporting career. He had a big impact on and off the pitch, always being positive and keeping the team upbeat.

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Most importantly, it was great to have such a big squad of Form 1 boys so committed and dedicated to rugby. We are all looking forward to rugby in Form 2, to continue with our development and keep improving.

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Review 2017 - Sport

F2 Rugby This season has been very successful for the F2 team. We started off the season very well winning every match until we met a travelling side from Ireland. We then continued to play good rugby and win games. We had a good performance in the conference, but lost some winnable games. After Christmas we continued to play well and ended the season playing good rugby. Towards the end of the season we had a sevens tournament at Merchiston School. Although we played well some decisions didn’t go our way and we ended up coming 7th. At the end of the Easter holidays the rugby team went to Amsterdam to play at the Hilversum Rugby Festival. The trip was very fun and the good memories come “flooding” back to me when I’m reminded of it. We arrived on the Friday then played a warm up match on Saturday to prepare us and wake us up for the tournament the next day. When we arrived on Sunday at the tournament it was raining very heavily, but that didn’t dampen our spirits. We were in a tough group but we gave it our all. Once again some decisions didn’t go our way and we ended up getting 1 win, 1 draw and 2 losses. Overall this season the team has put in a lot of effort and has to turned out to be a success.

Form 3 - Under 15’s The season started early for many of our team with various summer rugby camps and pre season training at Mayfield with our new coach Mr Allan. We welcomed an Ayr/ Wellington team to Mayfield before term began for a pre-season friendly in which we earned a confidence boosting win even before the season got going for real. We kept the momentum going against Glasgow Academy on a sunny day at Mayfield at end of August with a great win, our first against them. This was followed by good wins against both Hutchesons’ and Merchiston then a narrow loss to Dollar. We had developed into a side that could score plenty of tries and many opponents didn’t learn their lesson and continually kicked away possession, usually into the hands of our backs. Our conference games were a mixed bag, a win against Glenalmond, and two narrow high scoring losses to Robert Gordon’s & Loretto, were followed by our most disappointing performance of the season away at Fettes. A good win against local rivals Bell Baxter meant we finished the conference on a high. Before Christmas the Edinburgh Schools showed us what we are striving to achieve, and after Christmas and a couple of cancelled matches we got back to winning ways in Glasgow against Hutchesons’, St Aloysius and at home to Linlithgow. We enjoyed success on the sevens stage at Merchiston, Stewart’s Melville and recently Morgan where we won the plate. The team have improved a lot this season and are looking forward to working with Mr Allan next year where we will represent HSD at U16’s in the league and the Cup.

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Review 2017 - Sport

L7 Rugby A High School of Dundee Junior Years rugby side returned from a keenly contested tournament with a title to show for their efforts. The L7 team won the Bowl competition at the Erskine Stewart’s Melville P7 tournament in Edinburgh after defeating George Heriot’s 1-0 in a hard-fought final. Coach Phil Godman said, “It was a very competitive competition and the boys saved their best till last with a couple of cracking victories to earn their medals.”

U16 Rugby

It was a long season for the U16 rugby team. Before Christmas we were yet to win a game but that never dented our confidence in trying again. Every Saturday we would always have 15 out representing the school no matter what. By the time 2017 came we were sick of losing and wanted to make a change. Training became more intense and it payed off as we started playing as a team although we still hadn’t won a game the margin of scores were getting smaller and smaller. A midweek game against Montrose we knew we were in with a huge shout of winning. We took what we learned in training into the game and we won by a good few tries. We felt a lot more confident after this game and started backing ourselves a lot more. Saturday arrived with an away game to Stewart’s Melville. A game we knew would be tough but we knew if we pulled together as a team then we could do it and we did with a second win in 2 games. Our confidence grew and grew and started playing proper rugby. We then had a midweek game against Dundee Schools, an early try to our opposition but our heads wouldn’t fall that easily as we scored a few tries in return. In the final minute Dundee High were winning but a late try from Dundee schools made the result 26-24 in their favour. Going into our final game of the season we wanted to end on a high against Dundee Rugby club. We went out with confidence and aggression to win. In the final minute we were winning but once again our opposition score late in with the game ending 2424. A tough season but was proud to be part of it and could never fault the rest of the U16’s efforts. Fergus Barron U16 rugby

Motor Racing High School of Dundee pupil Sandy Mitchell is set for another high-octane year in his motor racing career! The F5 pupil will be getting behind the wheel of a 180mph McLaren 570S car for the forthcoming British GT Championship GT4 season after being announced as one of the Black Bull Garage 59 team’s drivers for the 2017 campaign. Sandy, who along with team-mate Ciaran Haggerty was named British GT Rookie of the Year in 2016, will be looking to build upon an impressive debut season at GT level in which he not only became the youngest driver ever to compete in British GT, but also the youngest to claim a pole position, a fastest race lap and a victory! Sandy said, “I’m delighted to be back in the Black Bull Garage 59 car with Ciaran. “Last year was a fantastic debut season for both of us in sportscars, and we’re definitely looking to build on the success we delivered for the team.”

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Review 2017 - Sport

National Honours High School of Dundee pupils continued to receive national and regional squad call-ups. In netball, after excelling for the Perth & Kinross district netball team, F3 pupils Fiona McKechnie and Isla McRobbie earned themselves spots in the Scotland Development squad trials. Meanwhile, on the hockey field Jamie Golden (F3) and Rachel Strachan (F4) have again been selected to join the boys and girls, respectively, Scotland U16 training squads. In October, Rachel was also part of the first-ever Scottish side to take part in the Futures Cup, a prestigious competition played in front of GB selectors in St Albans. Both Jamie and Rachel had earned their first call-ups to the squad a number of Shona Campbell, F4 was selected for the Scottish U18 Touch Rugby squad which made its way to Dublin in August to compete in the Junior Touch European Championships. The 15-year-old’s progression to international recognition in the touch form of the game has been a fast one. Although she’d been playing rugby since the age of 5, firstly in mixed form for Montrose, and then in girls rugby for Angus Girls, Shona only switched her attention away from the full contact version of the sport this season.

years ahead of schedule, and following in their footsteps, in September goalkeeper Matthew Joss was picked for the Midlands U16 side for an interdistrict tournament at the age of just 12! After impressing the selectors during trials, also making the Midlands U16 girls squad for interdistrict fixtures were Hannah Alijani and Shona Campbell (both F4) and Corrie Hay and Isla McRobbie (both F3). Heidi Sampson (F5) and Mhairi Millar (F6) won places in the U18 squad. Away from dry land, Tom Mitchell and Anna Sturrock continue to make waves in sailing. Tom, F1, finished as 2nd boy in the Topper class at the RYA (Royal Yachting Association) Home Countries Youth Zone Championships at Largs, receiving his And ironically, Shona’s rugby call-up came as a result of her attempting to protect her netball career! She said, “I’ve been playing netball as well since I was tiny and I was delighted to get a place in the national training squad this year. I stopped playing full contact rugby because of the risk of getting injured for netball, but I was desperate to keep playing so I turned to Touch instead.”

However, after quickly getting to grips with Touch and then impressing the squad selectors in a series of trials, the wing earned her spot for this summer’s showpiece tournament. Shona, from Logie, said, “I’m really excited to have been selected for Scotland. “The touch rugby is really good and it’s very competitive. “It’s fast and it’s good fun and there’s more skill to it than people sometimes think.” Remarkably, with Shona also already a member of the Scotland U17 netball training squad, the multitalented pupil has now been picked for her country at two different sports.

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silver medal from Charlotte Dobson and Luke Patience of the GB Rio Olympic Sailing Squad who had flown north to attend the event. Performances like these have earned Tom a place in the 2016/17 Scottish Topper Development Team. Anna, meanwhile, signed off on her Laser class career by finishing as 1st youth girl in her final event, a UK competition at South Shields. The F5 pupil has switched to two-person boat sailing with instant success, winning a place in the Scottish squad for the 29er vessel by virtue of finishing as second all girls’ boat, with helm Bella Fellows, at the national qualification event at Rutland. As if excelling at those two sports didn’t keep her busy enough, Shona is also a keen, and successful, hockey player, having been a member of the Midlands U16 squad this year. She said, “I’ve been told before that I should pick one sport but don’t want to give any of them up because I love playing all of them.”

Review 2017 - Sport

Football

The High School of Dundee boys football team enjoyed a very successful season and even had a shot at creating a bit of sporting history. Under the expert coaching and support of Mr McBride and Mr Kerr the School’s U18 squad was crowned the winners of the SISFA (Scottish Independent Schools Football Association) Northern Region league, courtesy of a perfect record of six wins from their opening six matches of the campaign. As a consequence, the boys went through to the subsequent national knockout stages where they had the chance to compete for the overall Scottish title. As if this wasn’t enough, the team’s 100% start was achieved with a goal difference of +35, and a healthy squad rotation policy which saw a total of 28 players, from S3

through to S6, receive game time.

risen to the challenge.

Perhaps just as impressively though, with their opening win coming in a match in which they had found themselves a goal down after one minute, and 3-1 down at half-time, the boys showed an ability to mix admirable resolve and determination with their undoubted talent.

On the 26th April, the School attempted to win the Scottish Independent Schools Football Association U18 Championship for the first time when its 1st XI side played Stewart’s Melville College in the competition final at Stenhousemuir FC’s Ochilview Park.

And as the tournament switched to knockout format, the team members continued to show their character, and an admirable ability to hold their nerve, by coming out on top in a nail-biting penalty shootout which decided their semi-final tie against Dollar Academy.

As well as the glory of lifting the national title, at stake for both squads was the chance to match the achievements of famous sides such as Arsenal 2003-04, AC Milan 1991-92 and Juventus 2011-12 by going the entire season undefeated.

Adam Kerr, Head of Art, said, “This is the first time the School has played in the SISFA league for almost a decade and we are really proud of the way the boys have

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Sadly that proved to be a hurdle too far and despite the vociferous travelling support and the team’s best efforts, Stewart’s Melville ran out 4-1 winners on the night.

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Review 2017 - Sport

Cross Country High School of Dundee pupils ran their way to a series of impressive results at the Dundee Secondary Schools Cross Country Championships. Going up against seven other Dundee schools on a challenging course at Baxter Park, six of the High School’s teams earned podium place finishes, with a number of

pupils also winning individual medals. PE teacher Christy O’Donnell said, “Over 250 competitors took part so the pupils should feel very pleased to have returned from such a competitive event with so many excellent performances and results to show for their efforts.”

RESULTS F1 Girls (Team Silver) Individual Gold – Rose Ryan Silver – Jenny Bonnyman F1 Boys (Team Gold) Individual Gold – Alex Douglas Silver – Matthew Lowdon S2/3 Girls (Team Gold) Individual Gold – Anna Dalglish

F2 Boys (Team Gold) Individual Gold – Laurence Petty Silver – Ethan McColgan F3/4 Boys (Team Bronze) F4-6 Girls (Team Bronze) Individual Silver – Eilidh Grant

Sports Awards

Becky Merchant, speaker; Angus Fraser, rugby; Rachel Strachan, hockey; Shona Campbell, netball; Sarah McKenzie gymnastics; Dino Leddie, football; Austin McPhee speaker. Pupils from the High School of Dundee came together to celebrate their sporting achievements in style.

accomplishments, whilst the Team of the Year (U18 football) was also announced.

Goals scored, tries converted, scintillating swims and a whole host of other success stories from a range of sports over the last 12 months were to the fore as the High School’s PE department staged the School’s second annual Sports Awards Dinner, at the Apex Hotel.

Video portraits of the pupils nominated for the awards, music and swirling lights augmented the sense of occasion.

After enjoying a meal and hearing the reflections of PE staff and the various sports team captains on the past year’s action, pupils in F4-F6 waited with baited breath to learn who would be announced as the winners of a number of prizes in swimming, athletics, netball, hockey, football and rugby. A series of awards, including the coveted Sports Personality of the Year (swimmer Eilidh Grant) and Outstanding Sporting Potential prizes*, were also handed out to pupils for an array of outstanding individual

Inspiring Education

And adding even more inspiration to the evening were guest speakers A , Hearts FC and Northern Ireland Assistant coach, and Becky Merchant, current Scotland women’s hockey co-captain, who both also presented the awards, each of which were manufactured by the School’s Technology department. Becky spoke about some of her own sporting experiences, focusing in particular on the importance of being able to bounce back from setbacks. In spite of having won almost 130 caps for her country, she said, “I still consider some of my all-time favourite sporting memories to be school ones.” Speaking about the importance that

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sport had played in his life, Austin said, “You have got a fantastic opportunity here – a great start with your sport and your studies. “Sport can really help you in lots of aspects of your life. It can give you focus, discipline, contacts, friends and motivation. Keep it in your life for as long as you can.” Head of PE Ewan Jack said of the event, the success of which owed much to the organisational efforts of PE teacher Christy O’Donnell, “It was a fantastic evening that allowed our senior sportsmen and women an opportunity to reminisce about the sporting year just passed and to hear some great advice and motivational words from our two inspirational guest speakers. “It was also a wonderful opportunity to reward and pay tribute to our various teams and individuals for the outstanding commitment, effort and ability which they have shown.”

Review 2017 - Sport

L7 Netball Team Between October and December 2016, the Junior Years L7 Netball team played in the Dundee District Primary Schools’ Netball Association Winter League. They played five matches at Ward Road Gym after school on a Thursday against St. Joseph’s, Craigowl, Blackness, Longhaugh and Craigiebarns. The team played exceptionally well and won all their matches in their league which meant they qualified for the finals which were played on 15th December at Ward Road. The girls drew their first match of the final against Fintry 2-2. The second game against Eastern was a hard fought match with the girls coming back strongly in the second half. However, Eastern maintained their lead and won 6-4. The L7 girls were therefore third in the Winter League. Well done ! A great success for the team’s first tournament. Kirsty Bett, Daniella Bruce, Sally Connolly, Maddie Inman, Iona Kennedy, Maishah Mason and Daisy Porter are pictured below with their medals. (Kate Dalglish and Phoebe Jennings are absent from the photo).

Sports Day

Scintillating sporting action on display at a sun-soaked Mayfield. Pupils from throughout the Junior and Senior Years provided an afternoon of amazing athletic activity at the High School of Dundee’s annual Sports Day. With the sun shining on Mayfield, parents, family members and friends of the School gathered to give the youngsters plenty of encouragement as they competed in a series of events, ranging from sprints, sack races, the long jump and skipping for the Junior Years, to the high jump, 1500m, tug of war and shot put for the Senior Years. And the event was rounded off in traditional, and exciting, fashion with the whole school, inter house relay, which this year was won by Lindores.

We spent time practising for the different races in our sports day. We enjoyed taking part, the most competitive race was the parent race! 133

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Out and About Contents F5 John Muir Explorer Award..................................136 An Autumn Walk.....................................................137 L1 and L2 trip to Active Kids...................................137 L1 Easter Bunny Hunt.............................................137 L1Gruffalo Visit to the Nursery.................................137 F1+2 John Muir Discovery Award............................138 L2 Discovery Trip ...................................................139 L2 Community Visits...............................................140 Edinburgh Zoo Visit.................................................140 Megginch Castle.....................................................141 L3 RNLI..................................................................141 L4 Crannog Visit.....................................................141 L6 Visit to St Andrews Botanic Gardens..................142

L6 Visit to Scottish Parliament and Dynamic Earth........................................................142 L7 London Adventure.............................................143 L6 Visit to Dalguise .........................................144-145 L3 visit to Port Allan................................................146 Pupil Voice Visit to George Watson’s College...........146 Safe Taysiders.........................................................147 Science Techno Challenge......................................147 Bucket Trail.............................................................147 F1 Residential - Nethy Bridge..................................148 F1-3 Outdoor Adventure Trip...................................149 ‘Alice In Wonderland’..............................................150 Trip to see ‘Frankenstein’........................................150 ‘Romeo and Juliet’..................................................151 Edinburgh Book Festival.........................................151

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Review 2017 - Out and About

F5 John Muir Explorer Award

Throughout the year, we (a group of 9 Form 5 pupils) have been carrying out the John Muir Award. This consists of four sections discover, explore, conserve and share. For the discover and conserve parts of this we have been doing some conservation work, whilst visiting Tentsmuir, such as clearing ponds for dragonflies and litter picking on the beach. We worked with Daniela Muir, who came from the Scottish Dragonfly Society and talked to us about Dragonflies and the work the society does. In June, we went to Sutherland, for the explore section of the award. This included going for walks in the local area, for example, walking up the mountain Stac Pollaidh and making our way along an old river bed, to see some caves. To further our conservative work we visited Culag Community Woodland to find and record dragonflies, as they were known to be there. We saw some species of damselfly and our recording of this should aid the work of the British Dragonfly Society. We plan to share our new knowledge and the experience in a talk to Form 5â&#x20AC;&#x2122;s. We would like to inspire them to take part in this worthwhile experience, just as we did.

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An Autumn Walk The nursery children have spent time exploring our local area this term. We have been on trips to Baxter Park to explore the changes in the environment as the seasons change and it becomes autumn.

L1 and L2 trip to Active Kids

The weather stayed fair and everyone had lots of fun. There is a new pirate ship activity that proved popular as well as the fort, go-karts, jelly belly, animal paddock, astro-slide and trampolines. In class groups, the children rotated round the whole park to experience everything. There were a few tired children on the bus trip home…!

L1Gruffalo Visit

to the nursery

The children at the High School of Dundee Nursery called on the help of their old and new friends from L1 to explore the strange sightings and noises coming from the Mayfield woods! On a cold and dull autumn afternoon, the nursery and L1 pupils set off on a hunt for the famous children’s character. Footsteps led the way to each animal and a clue read to the budding detectives! Soon the children were able to capture (and run) from the purple prickled character! After all the excitement, the children could relax in the welcoming nursery and explore Gruffalo themed activities and snacks! A wonderful way to spend an afternoon!

L1 Easter Bunny Hunt

We went on an Easter Bunny Hunt – it was fun. The bunny left chocolate for us in Mrs Braid’s office! Matthew Roberts L1

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Review 2017 - Out and About

F1+2

John Muir Discovery Award

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L2 Discovery Trip As part of the L2 Famous People topic this year, the pupils learned about Captain Scott and his expeditions to Antarctica. This led to an exciting trip to the RRS Discovery where the children spent time exploring the ship and learnt how to dress for the extreme weather conditions. All the pupils had a great time and were so inspired that some even began planning their own future expeditions to Antarctica.

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Review 2017 - Out and About

L2 Community Visits For their final topic this year, the L2s learned more about our school and the nearby community. This involved trips to various local buildings including Dundee Central Mosque and the Caird Hall. On their visit to City Chambers the pupils learnt about the local council and Dundee’s Lord Provost. They also had the chance to play the organ during their visit to St Andrew’s Church and see inside the cells of the local Dundee police station. This was a great opportunity for the pupils to learn more about the community as well as explore inside many places members of the public often do not see.

Edinburgh Zoo Visit

On the 15th June, pupils from L3 visited Edinburgh Zoo. After a cool start, the sun came out and with it lots of animals to see. The pygmy hippos were bathing in their muddy water and looked as if they were covered in melted chocolate, the chimpanzees were enjoying their rope swings, the penguins were racing under the water and the otters were enjoying their mid-morning fish snack. We enjoyed our picnic lunch in the sunshine, accompanied by Faye’s lovely birthday cake, and then headed off for a very interesting team challenge in the Education Centre. We learnt lots about endangered species and the threats they face before the Water Buffalo team pitted their wits against the Lion team – a very close competition indeed! We were not disappointed with our visit to the giant pandas as the final destination on our visit. The 23 stone male panda, Yang Guang, decided to have his bamboo meal whilst sat next to the glass. A sunny and interesting day for everyone!

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L3 RNLI

On Thursday 6th January, L3 visited the Lifeboat Station in Broughty Ferry. Murray and Scott told us all about the work of the lifeboats and lifeguards around the coast of Britain. They have taken part in some amazing rescues and saved hundreds of lives, as well as some unusual rescues involving dolphins and wild boars! We learnt lots about keeping safe too. We were shown around the station and saw lots of the equipment that they have to take and wear, Lewis and Ben even got to dress in a smaller version of the outfit. We found out that the lifeboats cost a lot of money to buy and maintain, so we were more than happy to give them a donation from the year group.

L4 Crannog Visit All the children in L4 went on a visit to The Crannog on Loch Tay as part of their Celts Topic. We had a glorious day and enjoyed the hands on activities inside and outside the Crannog. We had a lovely picnic beside the Loch including celebrating Evieâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s 8th birthday.

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L6 Visit to St Andrews Botanic Gardens

In March, the pupils in L6 visited St Andrews Botanic Gardens to support and extend their learning in Geography and Science. The “Rainforests and Deserts Trail” allowed the pupils to experience the ecosystems they had previously explored in class via their work on hot and cold deserts and the Amazon Rainforest. Differences in temperature, humidity and rainfall were explored, as were the adaptations plants make to enable them to survive in these extreme environments. A visit to the butterfly house proved hugely popular, as the children were able to come face to face with some of the species of butterfly from the Amazon region. The children also learned that the butterfly house supports small businesses in this region, as local people are involved in the breeding of butterflies, which are then sent to butterfly houses across the world, providing both a sustainable income for Amazonian people and protection of parts of the rainforest. Pupils were able to investigate elements of the science curriculum by pond dipping. The children investigated the type of plants and animals resident in the gardens’ pond and were able to effectively sort these into different species.

L6 Visit to Scottish Parliament and Dynamic Earth

To celebrate the end of a successful unit focused on Scottish Politics, L6 embarked on a journey to our country’s Parliament. Whilst there, we learned all about how Parliament works, the roles of our MSPs, and we even discussed devolved and reserved matters. When in Edinburgh, we were lucky enough to visit Dynamic Earth where we explored a number of exhibits linked with our science and Geography units studied this year. We gained further knowledge on a number of subjects including space, Arctic animals and ocean life. All had a great time and it was even warm enough to eat lunch outside!

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L7 London Adventure

In March, amid great excitement, 65 L7 pupils visited London for 4 days of education, culture and fun. Our visits to the Imperial War Museum and the British Science Museum allowed us the opportunity to learn more about L7 History and Science topics while a flight on the London Eye and a coach tour of the sights gave us a fabulous view of the city. Our visit to Madame Tussauds was great fun and we have a host of selfies with famous faces to remind us of our day! A highlight of the week was our tour of the Harry Potter Studios while a workshop at the world-famous Pineapple Dance Studio helped us to perfect our drama, song and dance skills. Sadly, due to unforeseen circumstances, our much anticipated trip to the theatre to watch ‘Matilda’ could not take place, however the disappointment didn’t last long when a cinema visit to watch newly released ‘Beauty and the Beast’ was arranged in its place. Eating out with friends and an evening walk to Wembley Stadium all added to make it an extremely busy and enjoyable time. It was a memorable week!

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L6 Visit to Dalguise

“Our time at Dalguise was a great experience. Dalguise was a great opportunity to learn how to choose the right meals, eat healthily without being told to and becoming more independent. During the weekend I think we all learned something about ourselves that we didn’t know beforehand. Most of us slept well most nights and were ready and raring to go, which is more than can be said about others. All of the activities that we did were enjoyed all the pupils and the campfire was great as it got everyone together on the first night. All of the daytime and evening activities were absolutely amazing. On the last night, we had a disco and most people loved the loud music and loads of shouting. During the day, we had four activities, all of which were extraordinarily exhilarating. Everyone really enjoyed the weekend away at Dalguise and we wish we could go again.” Angus Ledlie L6C

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Review 2017 - Out and About The time we had at Dalguise was an experience that I won’t forget. We learnt things we would never would expect to, like when some people say that they can do things but when it counts they can’t do it. I think that is a big lesson. Being with my friends for the whole weekend gave me an insight what their daily routine is and my friends learnt more about me. We had the most amazing people to guide us. They were called groupies. They helped us get around, lead our campfire songs and encouraged us to do things out of our comfort zone. Getting that encouragement could just change the whole weekend for that person. Dalguise isn’t all about reaching the highest point. It is about learning about others and yourself. I think that everyone should go to Dalguise, not just for the fun, but for the learning part. You will find things out that you would never expect. As they say at Dalguise, “Challenge by choice”. You set your own goals and reach your own targets. Heather Grant L6C

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L3 visit to Port Allan

On Friday, 7th October, we visited Port Allen after a visit to Megginch Castle, as part of our learning about The River Tay. We saw the reed beds that, until quite recently, were regularly harvested for roofing thatch, and the old pier. Many years ago the port was used to transport crops across the Tay, particularly apples which were a large part of the harvest from the local area. In the woods next to the port, we learnt about the local trees and planted some of the seeds we discovered.

Pupil Voice Visit to George Watson’s College In September, Junior Years Pupil Voice Representatives from L3-L7 were invited to visit George Watson’s College in Edinburgh to find out more about their journey to becoming a Rights Respecting School. The pupils learned about the creation of the United Nations Charter on the Rights of the Child, and about the fifty four articles which outline the rights every child has. Through a game of “Globe Bingo” the children were able to meet pupils from a number of other schools before a group task which enabled them discuss what these rights look like in the daily lives of children around the world. Members of the George Watson’s Rights Respecting School steering group shared the various stages of their journey to achieving Level One of The Rights Respecting School award programme. A tour of the school allowed our pupils to explore the ways in which this was achieved through the creation of Class Charters, links with the local community and links with their twin school in France. Our pupils learned a great deal from the trip and came back to High School filled with enthusiasm and excitement about how to take some of these ideas forward in our own school.

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Safe Taysiders We learned how to be responsible in public places and experienced real life situations in a safe environment. We all had fun, especially when we tried on the beer goggles and couldn’t do things as we usually do. Our favourites were when we learned what to do if strangers come up to us and how to stay safe around fire. Isla Hutchinson (L7C) and Abdur Shammas (L7J)

Science Techno Challenge On Friday the 28th April Jan Van Der Kuyl, Angus Gibson, Angus Clark and Archie Macdonald competed with around 30 other schools in the Techno-Challenge at St Leonard’s School, St Andrews. We participated in a range of different challenges that put our skills to the test. Many of the activities included teamwork and communication, such as working together to create a moving vehicle with only cardboard, wheels, straws, cellotape and a balloon

and a catapult with straws, elastic bands and a plastic spoon. Our moving vehicle was impressive and travelled quite a distance but our catapult did not fire paper balls very well at all! We also had to use our maths skills in problem solving as well as a maths relay race.

Bucket Trail The nursery children spent time throughout the summer and into the new term completing the Oor Wullie bucket trail. We recorded the different Oor Wullie statues that we found on nursery trips and with our families; we worked together and managed to find them all! To celebrate a group of us went down to the Oor Wullie Farewell Event in Slessor Gardens.

Overall we tried extremely hard to do our best and although we didn’t win we did ourselves proud and enjoyed the day out at the historic school of St Leonards.

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F1 Residential - Nethy Bridge

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F1-3 Outdoor Adventure Trip

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‘Alice in Wonderland’ Around 90 F1 pupils enjoyed a fantastic night out to The Lyceum in Edinburgh to see a truly sparking, magical and entertaining production of Lewis Carroll’s ‘Alice in Wonderland’. The highlight was the staging of the Mad Hatter’s tea party on a revolving stage, giving an extra absurd dimension to the scene.

Trip to see ‘Frankenstein’

Inspiring Education

The Blackeyed Theatre Company produced an excellent version of Mary Shelley’s ‘Frankenstein’ in an unusual production which featured The Monster performed by a ginormous puppet! The themes of nature and nurture were conveyed well with the audience feeling empathy for both the scientist and the monster in turn at key moments in the play.

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‘Romeo and Juliet’ Laughter filled the room as a delighted group of HSD pupils enjoyed a very raucous, fun-filled and farcical interpretation of ‘Romeo and Juliet’ aboard The Unicorn ship in Dundee. Members of the audience were asked to participate in a close embrace with the Nurse and also Juliet’s last moments with Romeo, before she took her last breath. The Handlebardettes, all woman theatre company are gifted with the ability to make Shakespeare accessible to all age groups, as well as injecting a sense of spontaneity into their shows.

‘Jekyll and Hyde’ The famous story of Stevenson’s Dr Jekyll’s attempts to separate his conscience and good instincts from his evil side by transforming himself into Hyde was brought to life on stage in this gothic production. Whilst the show lacked some of the dark elements one might expect, it held the audience’s attention and our pupils enjoyed seeing the story unfold.

Edinburgh Book Festival Almost as soon as we started back in August, L7 were off to the Edinburgh International Book Festival to see two popular authors speak about reading, writing and their new books. Our first author was Ali Sparkes who entertained us with optical illusions and shapeshifting foxes. Ali was kind enough to sign her books for us, which was a real treat! Pupils have been clamouring for Carjacked, Frozen in Time and the Shapeshifter series all year long, so she certainly made a good impression! Our second author was Tanya Landman, who vividly set the scene for her moody thriller Hell or High Water. We learned about the murky docks near London where the action happened and Tanya explained that the places she visited as a child inform her writing now. With that in mind there might be a Dundee based novel coming soon from some of our L7s! A bonus was the very generous £3 voucher (each) for the brilliantly stocked EIBF bookshop. The children chose some wonderful books for the school library as well as buying many of their own. A wonderful day filled with inspiration and enthusiasm for books, reading and writing.

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Review 2017

Inspiring education through play

High School of Dundee

High School of Dundee Nursery

Review 2017