Winter Newsletter
North Berwick High School Winter Newsletter 2012
SQA Results 2012 The school has had another very good set of results in the SQA examinations of 2012. These results are the accumulation of individual results by individual students and illustrate the hard work of staff, pupils and parents in partnership. I hope that these results will be the spring board to further success this year. Our results for 2012 are as follows: Fourth Year 5 or more awards at Credit Level 58% 5 or more awards at General Level 90% 5 or more awards at Foundation Level 98% Fifth Year 5 or more Highers 26% 3 or more Highers 48% 1 or more Higher 67% (of original S4 group)
Sixth Year 1 or more Advanced Higher 32% (of original S4 group)
Inside this issue: Attendance/Registration Allergies 2 Dropping Off Pupils
The work for the examinations starts from the moment our pupils come into First Year when we build upon the work of our partner primaries. We can never take good results for granted and indeed we are always looking for ways in which to improve. Our aim is, as always, to ensure that all our students attain as highly as possible in their examinations.
Art Trip Homework Careers
There are many ways in which parents can help us in our efforts. Two of them are homework and attendance (particularly not taking holidays during term time).
4
Cool Down Crew Spanish Exchange
5
Pupil Support Dept
6
Auschwitz Football News Football Results Ukulele Orchestra Mixed Hockey
African Drumming
We have been doing it for about ten weeks now and I really enjoy it. For the last three weeks primary 6s and 7s, from Law Primary have been coming up to the High School and we have been teaching them how to play the Djembe Drums.
Drama News Young Chef of the Year
German 7 Construction Challenge
Mr Sutherland
As an enhancement period, myself and six other pupils are doing African Drumming.
3
We have also been learning how to play and make up certain rhythms. We have made up one main rhythm and the starting bit was inspired by “We Will Rock You�. I would definitely recommend this enhancement period to any upcoming S2s.
8
9
Morocco
10
Morocco contd.
11
PTA Dates for your Diary Marys Meals
12
Lyceum Theatre Trip
13
Parent Council
14
Music for MacMillan Fidra Fair Kilt Modelling Contest
15
School Session Dates
16
Winter Newsletter
Page 2
Attendance and Registration
Dedicated Absence Line 01620 894716
In order for our students to attain highly, they must of course be present in school. I therefore urge you in the strongest possible terms not to consider taking family holidays outwith the normal term times. This point cannot be stressed too highly. In addition, regulations from the Scottish Government mean that family holidays are classed as ‘unauthorised absence.’ Thank you for your cooperation and support in this vital matter. I am pleased to report that our attendance level is running at over 95% and pu-
pils are arriving punctually to school apart from a small percentage who – and they are not the same pupils every day! – do arrive a few minutes late. Clearly they are cutting it too fine and I would ask you to ensure that they leave home ten minutes earlier so that they can arrive in school with a few minutes to spare. I ask for your assistance with this if your child comes into this category. We have been operating our parental contact system for quite a while now, in
which we contact you by telephone if your child is not at school with no reason for absence. This has been going well and I know that it is greatly appreciated by parents. It is vital that parents do keep us up to date and this includes telephoning the school in the morning to tell us why their child is absent. The contact number is 01620 894716 and this is a dedicated line for this purpose. Mr Sutherland
Allergies to Nut Products, Especially Peanuts Please remember that there are a number of pupils in school with an allergy to nut products. An increasing number of our pupils suffer very serious reactions when they are in contact with any peanut products, for instance. They do not even need to eat the peanuts to suffer from such a reaction.
Could you please help by not providing your child with any snacks for school which contain peanuts, and by preventing them from buying these products to bring into school. This includes peanut butter, chocolate spread and chocolate bars such as Snickers.
Our school must be a ‘nut free zone’ at all times.
Dropping Off and Picking up at School NO STOPPING OR PARKING AT ANY TIME IN FRONT OF THE SCHOOL
.As you know, we have several pupils who need to be dropped off and picked up as close to the front door as possible to allow them to access vehicles easily. Please do not stop or park directly in front of the school at any time, because our pupils may need this access throughout the school day in addition to
the beginning and end of it. Please use the turning circle area outside the Sports Centre instead. Thank you for your support in this matter.
Winter Newsletter
Art Trip "I am always doing that which I cannot do, in order that I may learn how to do it" - Picasso. As an Advanced Higher art class, we were lucky enough to be given the opportunity to visit the very well renowned 'Picasso and Modern British History' exhibition at the Modern Art Gallery in Edinburgh. For some of us, this was our first ever gallery visit, and it is safe to say that we were all really excited to see what it had in store for us, especially the fact that the exhibition was on the very exciting and well known artist, Picasso. Upon arrival at the Gallery we were all suitably impressed with the landscaped gardens and the impressive Georgian architecture of the gallery. Once inside, we made our way around the first half of the salons, starting chronologically at Picasso's early work, which personally was my favourite. Each salon tended to show some of Picasso's work, and then other artists’ work from Britain, who were influenced directly from him, whether it be by his use of line, colour, pattern or medium. It was clear to us that Picasso stuck by his work and his style throughout the exhibition definitely developed greatly. A quick stop off for some really yummy lunch in the Gallery's cafe, and then we were back looking at the rest of the exhibition. It is safe to say that everyone had a different favourite piece of work in the exhibition, and opinions were varied (Beth was very interested in David Sutherland's historical significance in "Crucifixion" ), but it was really interesting and enjoyable to hear everyone's opinions on selective pieces. At the end of the day we all agreed that it was a really worthwhile and enjoyable day out, we all loved the exhibition and took different ideas and inspiration from the variety of work we saw that day. The value of the exhibition was really through the deep understanding we could gain that you would not grasp from text. We would fully recommend it as a great day out! Lucy McKay S6
Page 3
Homework I am pleased to see our youngsters making good use of their diaries, which should be used for recording homework, assignments, ‘things to do’ and achievements gained. Success comes from being well organised and the planners should assist in this process. I ask all parents to take an active interest in these diary/ planners. Ask to see them regularly and contact the school if you ever feel that there is an issue about homework.
Careers Update There have been changes over this term and I would like to bring some of these to your attention. The three colleges in Edinburgh have now merged and are now called Edinburgh College. Their website is www.edinburghcollege.ac.uk and courses available in January 2013 are now recruiting. The next major closing date for university applications is 15 January 2013 and potential applicants should be finalising their choices and personal statements. The UCAS site at www.ucas.com contains lots of useful information, workbooks and mindmaps to help with this process. To support students, Skills Development Scotland is currently offering support via the website at www.myworldofwork.co.uk until 15 January 2013. With regards to school activities, I have delivered sessions to all S4/5/6 students and offer individual careers appointments as appropriate. A group of S6 students are completing an employability programme which we hope to extend next term to other groups of students and will also include input from Morrison Construction. See Edubuzz online at http://careersinterviews.wikispaces.com/ and you can receive updates via Twitter at mickburns2. Mick Burns Careers Adviser mick.burns@sds.co.uk
Page 4
The Ballad of Pondlife McGurk Catherine Wheels Theatre Company visited on 25th September for two performances of their critically acclaimed one-man show, The Ballad of Pondlife McGurk. In addition to the performance, one lucky S1 class were treated to a special post-show workshop. The visit of this internationally renowned East Lothian theatre company was a great experience and gave some pupils their first taste of the theatre. "It was a super show" Kristian Frommel -1L "I thought it was acted out very well" Sarah Kinnear - 1G "The actor was very good at playing all the different characters" Megan Watson - 1L "Really good production, funny and imaginative" Amy Owens - 1G "I thought it was very funny, but it also had a serious message about friendship" Joshua Harrison- 1G "I want to go and see it again!" Katrina Richmond - 1G
Donation of Theatre Equipment The school forged a new collaboration with the drama department at Queen Margaret University this autumn. New drama teacher, Mr Fitzgerald, contacted a lecturer at his old university, Scott Anderson, looking for any equipment they might have going spare. The response was fantastic. The department was gifted with a huge amount of lighting and sound equipment. This has already been put to good use, having been utilised in lessons from S1 to S6. The response from pupils has been fantastic and already the S5/6 class have started to use the lights to very imaginative effect to enhance their productions. The following pupils were present for the handover of equipment and the inevitable publicity shot:: Annie Adkins-Wilson, Maia Berney, Rebecca Thomson, Emma Watson, Chloe Aird, Craig Donaldson, Shannon Haughey, Fiona Shearer, Paige Wilkins. It is hoped that the relationship with the East Lothian university will continue to thrive and the opportunity for further collaboration in the future was certainly discussed by both parties.
Winter Newsletter
Young Chef of the Year Matt Cunningham (S4) and John Crawford (S4) represented our school in the East Lothian Young Chef of the Year competition in October. This competition has been developed to raise awareness of local and Scottish produce, especially with school pupils in S4, and promotes a career in the Hospitality Industry. The theme for the competition was seafood and Matt and John worked with staff in the Home Economics department to devise their competition dishes: Smoked mackerel and horseradish fishcakes served with a beetroot salsa *** Pancakes with an apple and pear compote served with Luca’s ice cream All competitors attended Preston Lodge High School on Friday 26th October and were given an hour and a half to prepare, cook and serve their dishes. John and Matt worked extremely well as a team and received many compliments on the taste of their dishes. However Matt and John both agreed that the standard of the Knox Academy entry was very high and their winning dishes could easily have graced the table of a quality restaurant. Thanks to Matt and John for all their hard work and representing the school so well in this important competition.
Winter Newsletter
Page 5
The Cool Down Crew During October some of our young people attended the Cool Down Crew at North Berwick Fire Station. Cool Down Crew is a diversionary programme based on fire service activities (ladder climbing, pump drills, etc.). This unique experiential learning opportunity gives young people, who would benefit from the positive role model the fire service can provide, the opportunity to learn practical skills, build self-confidence and promote good citizenship by encouraging effort, teamwork and good behaviour. Included in the programme is information on: fire safety and the dangers of hoax calls/wilful fire raising speeding, drink and driving first aid; issues such as drink/drug awareness and other personal issues. At the end of the course participants attend a closing ceremony where they put on a fire safety display and were presented with certificates of achievement from the Fire Board.
From left to right: Lara Galloway, Diana Ferguson, Mr McDowell, Kris Harley, Lachlan Fergie, Glen Drummond, Leonardo Butler-Moya and Darren Foote.
Spanish Exchange: The Badajoz Trip In June, twenty North Berwick families welcomed twenty pupils for the first ever visit from our new exchange programme partner, the IES Maestro Domingo Cáceres in Badajoz. They were absolutely delighted with their time here and were keen to welcome our pupils with open arms on our return visit. Amy Neison, S6, said: "When we went to Badajoz in October, we were all excited to see everyone again and finally put our Spanish
to practice. Being on our own with the families, we had to put in that extra effort of speaking Spanish and get involved in their culture. Meeting and spending time with the people involved on the exchange, it is sure to say that we have all made friends that we will keep in touch with for a long time. It was an amazing experience!" The NBHS pupils spent a day in school, where having learnt a local jig, some of our boys took it upon themselves to teach some of the younger
pupils a traditional barn-dance. We visited the UNESCO world heritage cities Mérida and Cáceres, the Vostell modern art museum, the town of Badajoz itself, as well as enjoying the hospitality of Spanish culture. The trip was a great success, and private plans to visit each other are already afoot amongst our young people, as we now look ahead to the future.
Winter Newsletter
Page 6
Pupil Support Department This has been an incredibly busy term for The Pupil Support Department with very many activities taking place.
prise which they have embarked on but the group have worked very
Muirfield Riding Therapy
Hearts Onside
Four of our young people have once again been attending Riding Therapy on a Tuesday afternoon. The therapy provides riding, achievement and enjoyment for our young people and we feel very lucky that we are so close to one of the National Centres. The school is raising funds in December for Muirfield Riding Therapy by holding a coffee morning, organised by our young people who attend.
Inspire Me – Enable Scotland This term two groups of S3 and S4 have participated in the Inspire Me Programme run by Enable Scotland. The programme is designed to promote life skills and in doing so increase the self-esteem of our young people. The group had a visit to Hirsel Farm as part of the Farm to Fork programme which the Co-op run. The pupils had an opportunity to see where our basic foodstuffs start (wheat/corn in the field) and how they turn into what we eat. The pupils also made a healthy pizza whilst at Hirsel Farm. At the end of the programme all pupils were presented with a certificate and a cd of their time at Hirsel, truly inspiring!
Prince’s Trust – XL Club As part of the Prince’s Trust Programme the group have been working very hard producing pin boards, Christmas cards and chocolate truffles to sell at the North Berwick Fidra Christmas Fayre. It has been a fairly large scale enter-
well. Thanks to Ms Ireland for all the additional support she has provided.
Merry Christmas from the Pupil Support Department
Three of our S4 pupils are attending a six week programme in conjunction with Hearts Football Club. The programme aims to build confidence in the participants and help them to understand the consequences of their behaviour. This in turn will lead them to becoming better citizens and meet the challenges of growing up in a positive and productive way. The Pupil Support Department continue to use our community facilities such as the swimming pool and the Bodyworks gym. The group also continue to do their weekly shopping trip to Tesco. The Pupil Support Department also represented the school at a recent presentation at Tesco, North Berwick. The school were presented with a goodie box by Iain Gray MSP for participating in the Tesco vouchers for school scheme which saw us purchase some resources for the whole school.
Paired Reading This has now started with S6 being paired up with some S1/2 young people. The S6 pupils have been trained in the skills necessary to help develop the reading skills of the young people identified.
Christmas Fair
From Farm to Fork
Winter Newsletter
Page 7
German Our work exchange programme with Forst is now in its tenth year and this year our German pupils were joined by representatives from the Landkreis Spree Neisse, Harald Altekrueger, Chariman of the Council and his Head of Department for Youth, Culture, Health & Education, Hermann Kostrewa. Herr Altekrueger and Herr Kostrewa met with members of East Lothian Council and also spent a morning in North Berwick High School, where they were warmly greeted by our Head Teacher, Mr Colin Sutherland. This fruitful meeting highlighted the importance of exchange visits to the school community, for language learners and for their wider impact on all areas of the school and community. At North Berwick High School we hosted Max Demmelmeier and Sophia Zech, both 16 years old, who were excellent ambassadors for their schools. Max and Sophia spent a week in our school visiting a variety of classes with the S4 year group, from maths to hairdressing, and comparing our comprehensive school system with their own, more tiered system, in Germany.
Law Primary School also welcomed two exchange pupils, with mutually glowing reports. Whether our local youngsters have sent our German visitors home with a Scottish twang is another matter, but it was certainly an enriching experience for all concerned. Grateful thanks go to Naomi Barnes, of Dunbar Grammar School, who organised this year’s exchange, Jana Handrischeck , Head of International Relations for the Landeskreis Spree Neisse, and our partner school teachers, Conny Henze-Özdemir from Friedrich-Ludwig-Jahn Gymnasium in Forst (www.gymnasium-forst.de), and Ilke Scheffel from Pestalozzi Gymnasium in Güben (www.gymguben.de). In November 2013, North Berwick High School will again be joining with Dunbar Grammar School to take members of our new German Higher classes to participate in this long-running exchange. Wir freuen uns sehr darauf! (We’re really looking forward to it!). Miss Ritchie
Construction Challenge On Thursday 25th October, a team of ten S2 pupils, five girls and five boys, took part in the first heat of the Edinburgh and Lothian's Construction and Built Environment Challenge (CABEC) 2011-12 at Telford College. The challenges faced included roof tiling, laying paving blocks and making a 3D roof structure from paper tubes. The teams were judged not only on results but on their understanding, communication and team-work throughout the event. It was a very close fought competition with only a point separating the top teams.
Unfortunately, this year we did not get through to the final but the team had a great time and we can be proud of all the contestants for putting in their best effort, working very well together and successfully completing all the challenges to a very high standard.
Winter Newsletter
Page 8
Lessons from Auschwitz Our participation in the Lessons from Auschwitz Project started with a seminar in the King James Hotel in Edinburgh, listening to Holocaust survivor Ziggi Shipper. An inspiration, he told of his horrific experiences such as stepping over dead bodies in the ghetto, starving and focused on survival, as well as being separated from his grandparents. To hear first-hand from a survivor the terror and brutality of the Holocaust was something that simply cannot be matched by any book or film. Ziggi’s hardship made me put into perspective the stresses of everyday life and realise how lucky we are to live in a democratic and fair society. The seminar was followed by the visit to Poland. After negotiating past steely border control officers at Krakow Airport, I was expecting a grey, overcast picture to match the gloom of such an atrocity as the Holocaust. I was surprised, however, to see a landscape similar to that of the countryside at home, accompanied by a blue sky. I imagined the connection with the Holocaust would have halted life surrounding the camp but that was not so. On arrival to Auschwitz One, I felt a cold and nervous feeling. Seeing the infamous sign “Arbeit Macht Frei” above the imposing electrical fences was when it really hit me that I was at Auschwitz, a place where up to three million people had suffered horrendous and tormentful deaths. The awfulness of Auschwitz was in abundance. The shooting wall was built such that prisoners in nearby blocks would hear gunshots and screaming, inducing unthinkable fear. I was horrified at the suffocation chambers. A concrete room, no bigger than a telephone box, would barbarically hold four prisoners where they would repeatedly collapse due to suffocation and a shortage of food. I couldn’t, and still cannot, come to terms with how one human being could inflict such unspeakable treatment upon another. The gas chamber at Auschwitz One is one of the most poignant memories which I have of the trip. Entering into a cramped, claustrophobic building, dimly lit and walls black and scratched, it was shocking to imagine the scenes which would have taken place. After absorbing the atrociousness of Auschwitz One, we then proceeded on to Auschwitz Two. The party was allowed to enter the guard tower overlooking the track where prisoners would be brought in. This was an awakening experience as the size of the camp was far beyond my expectations. Rows upon rows upon rows of long wooden buildings stretched as far as I could see, divided by the railway track. Seeing people’s belongings before entering the camp, such as a set of house keys and hairbrushes, highlighted how it was individuals, not numbers, that were involved in the Holocaust. Overall, my experience of Auschwitz was one which I have learned a lot from and one which I will never forget. The unspeakable conditions and horrors exhibited at Auschwitz have made me strive to ensure that an atrocity like this can never be permitted to repeat itself. Richard Keatinge 6L2 and Hannah Burke 6L1
Winter Newsletter
Page 9
Football News Football Training
S2 and S3 Coach
Team Sponsorship
The S1 and S2 footballers train on a Monday night on the school astroturf from 45pm over the winter. The boys and girls should wear appropriate footwear – no metal studs allowed. A rain jacket for training is also advised.
Mr McGeever from the geography department has kindly offered to coach the S2 and S3 teams this season.
North Berwick company, Firemac, have kindly donated a sum of money to sponsor the senior football team this season. The new strips and rain jackets will sport the company logo during the season. The money will also help to buy new footballs and training equipment for all age groups.
S1-S2 Football training Monday Nights 4-5 pm on the Astroturf
Football Results Recent league and cup results are as follows: S2 Scottish Cup , 2nd round James Young 6 North Berwick 1 (Gregor Griffiths) East and Midlothian league Musselburgh Grammar 2 North Berwick 3 (Matt Brady 2, Gregor Griffiths) S3 Scottish Cup, 2nd round Currie High School 1 North Berwick 3 (Ben Stirling, Nick Allan, Cameron Law) Seniors - S5/6 Scottish Cup, 2nd round Currie High School 1 North Berwick 5 (Mark Samson, Peter Jeffries, Nathan Evans,3) Lothians League North Berwick 10 (Nathan Evans 4, Nick Thomson, Sam Hobbis, Mark Samson 2, Peter Jeffries, Adam Corrie) St Augustines 0
Ukulele Orchestra New batch of uke players and singers have joined. So far played 7 gigs including taking part in a concert at Newbattle HS to raise money for Macmillan Cancer research.
We have another 4 gigs lined up before Christmas holidays. Although the ukulele is probably the easiest instrument in the world to play, it is hard to play well. Ukuleles make an ideal Christmas present (ÂŁ15 upwards) and very good resources are available on the internet.
Mixed Hockey Club (S1 - S6) We have over 15 pupils playing each week. The purpose is to learn a bit of hockey, get some exercise and meet other people. If you decide to play please bring a mouth guard and shin pads and appropriate clothing (jumper/ rain jacket).
Winter Newsletter
Page 10
Morocco In June of 2012, fifteen senior pupils from S5 and S6 set off on an expedition. We met unnaturally early in the morning in the school car park. A bus awaited us to take us on the first leg of our journey which would ultimately lead us to the summit of Mount Jebel Toubkal at 4,167 metres - the highest mountain in North Africa. Upon landing in Marrakesh, we were greeted by a spectacular dust storm, our very friendly guide Khaled and a fantastic pink bus! First stop was dinner after a long day of travelling. The group really enjoyed their first experience of Moroccan food. After we had refuelled we headed on foot to the famous Moroccan souks. You could hear the atmosphere from a long way off, people singing, dancing and children playing. It was very much a communal area. While exploring the souks we had been told to be very careful with our possessions. This gave the locals a good laugh referring to our rucksacks on our fronts as ‘fashion disasters’, we looked like proper tourists. Following a long night we headed back to the hotel for an uncomfortable night’s sleep where water bottles were used as cooling aids. Woken up by the call to prayer, the group headed out for a walking tour of Marrakesh. Here we got to see and learn about many historic and cultural sites such as the Koutoubia Mosque and the Saadian tombs. Many stray animals were seen which proved to be very amusing for us. Feeling sufficiently informed about the history of the Moroccan Dynasties it was back aboard our pink bus and heading up into the mountains. Once our bus arrived the mules were loaded and we completed a steep climb to our mountain base, a typical Berber house, where the group had the first of many mint tea services. Here our guide Khaled gave us a climb brief and gave us a geographical overview of the many mountain ranges in Morocco. On the third morning we were up at a very early hour in order to complete our acclimatisation walk to the saddle in Aremd. At the top we were very amused to find a shop selling fresh orange juice and various chocolate bars. Descending the slopes, the more adventurous of us tried out rock sliding: this took a lot of skill and luckily we managed to stay on our feet! Following a hard day’s climb the girls and boys separated to take a well-deserved trip to a local hamam (Turkish bath). It was an experience none of us will forget! A local Berber woman visited the gite later that evening to do some henna on us. We had a rather delayed but delicious dinner, then packed up all of our belongings once again in preparation to continue the ascent of Mt. Jebel Toubkal the following morning. After a gruelling six hour climb, with motivational team singing, the group collapsed into our base camp at the Neltner Refuge. Following a well-deserved sleep, our reluctance to eat due to altitude was cured by Berber donuts and jam. Mr Jones provided the entertainment that evening with his ukulele and our guide taught us his game ‘villagers’ which caused great hilarity. A five o’clock start was needed in order to beat a storm up to the summit of Mt. Jebel Toubkal. It was a very steep, draining climb. From our base camp the slope looked impossible to climb. However, with team work and some more motivational games and singing we managed to haul ourselves up. We met many people who had got up even earlier than us to climb who gave us lots of encouragement. When we reached the summit, Mr Rutter’s phone got signal for the first time in days so what better way to use it than calling Mr Sutherland to share our excitement at reaching the summit. While enjoying a celebratory lunch and photos we discovered that you can take the farmer out of the farm but never the farm out of the farmer. Gus and Craig, our farming experts, spent half an hour herding sheep down the side of the mountain.
Winter Newsletter
Page 11
Morocco contd. A quick descent down the mountain was required to stay ahead of the thunder storm. Reaching the camp, a few of us decided to walk up to the refuge hut to take a well-deserved shower. This resulted in a very fun run through the storm to reach the group’s tent. We never thought thunder and lightning could make people so hyper. After a fun and exciting night in the group tent with the storm battering us we crawled into our tents to restore our energy for the descent the next day. Still reeling from our sense of achievement from reaching the summit of Mount Toubkal, the group descended the mountain at an amazing pace, motivated mostly by the prospect of our return to civilisation. After stopping off for lunch in the mountain village of Imlil, we set off on the long mini-bus journey heading west to the Atlantic coast and former pirate’s lair of Essaouira. Upon arrival at our hotel, we were welcomed with a cooler temperature, a great relief after enduring the sweltering heat of the bus which hit 50 degrees. There was much excitement amongst the group while settling into our rooms. Never have we been so happy to see a real toilet! At the first opportunity, all of us took advantage of the swimming pool and then went for yet another lovely dinner. A great day was concluded by a blissful night’s sleep in our hotel beds, which felt luxurious after sleeping on camping mats for two days. A buffet breakfast was a pleasant sight to be met with in the morning, and those with a sweet tooth even opted for chocolate cake! We took the last day in Essaouira at a leisurely pace and spent our time buying presents and exploring the labyrinth of colourful markets. Bartering was a great way to interact with the locals and to get an insight into the Moroccan culture. In the afternoon, some of the group went to the beach for a camel ride along the coast. Later on we had a very social dinner in the hotel, making the most of our last evening of the trip. The next morning we were woken with an early alarm. After breakfast, we packed up our possessions one last time and put them onto the bus that would take us back to Marrakech to catch the flight home. When in Marrakech, we visited a traditional Berber pharmacy where we got to try out samples of several different natural balms and scents, and Mr Rutter even modelled some khol eyeliner for us! Shortly before our departure, we were taken on a tour around the city on horse carriages which allowed us to take in some of the famous sights before heading back to Scotland. The trip to Morocco was such an amazing experience. Everyone in the group returned home with incredible memories, photos and friendships. It is most certainly not going to be forgotten and we would do it all again in a heartbeat. Mr Rutter, Miss Ritchie and Mr Jones, a massive thank you for leading the trip! Morag Ainslie and Maggie Goodlad S6
Winter Newsletter
Page 12
PTA The PTA have got off to a hard working start this year to raise funds for the school and pupils. So far this year we have been present at parents’ evenings to provide refreshments and chat to the pupils and parents regarding what we should try to raise funds for. We have put this to the Pupil Council who are going back to the whole school to ask for their ideas and we wait in anticipation to hear their ideas. We have also held the annual coffee morning where we raised £320 and took
two tables at the Fidra Fair, one for a hamper raffle and one for Christmas baking where so far we have raised £400.
with either decorating the hall, doing the food preparation or serving on the night we would be most grateful.
The senior pupils are taking photographs at the Christmas dances and the pupils will be able to buy these on disc and the PTA will be providing refreshments at the Christmas Concerts on 11th and 12th of December.
We are currently short of a Treasurer on the PTA and I would ask that any parent who could take this job on contact me on 01620 893016.
Our next big event will be the 6th year Burns’ Supper on 1st February. This is a huge event for us and if any parent would like to come along and help us
Thank you Evelyn Patrick PTA Chair
Support your PTA
Dates for your Diary
Mary's Meals Backpack Appeal
December
A huge thank you to all the families who contributed backpacks to our recent appeal.
Wednesday 5th Monday 10th Tuesday 11th Wednesday 12th Thursday 13th Monday 17th Tuesday 18th Thursday 20th
Senior Citizens’ Concert Christmas Concert Christmas Concert S3/4 Dance S5/6 Dance S2 Dance S1 Dance School closes for holidays
January
Monday 7th Tuesday 8th Tuesday 15th Thursday 17th Friday 18th Monday 21st Monday 21st
Staff Inservice Day School re-opens for pupils Parent Council Meeting S5/6 Parental Consultation Evening Holocaust Memorial Day S2 Ski Trip (All Week) S4 Work Experience (All Week)
February Friday 1st Thursday 7th Friday 8th Monday 18th
PTA Burns’ Supper and Ceilidh S3 Parental Consultation Evening School closes for half-term School re-opens for pupils
Together with our cluster primaries and the North Berwick Nursery we collected an amazing 696 bags. These have now been collected by the Mary's Meals team and are on their way to Malawi. I am sure they will be received with delight and will encourage many young people to attend school and gain the education which is such an important step in the fight against poverty. Well done everyone, International Group Mrs Lowe
Winter Newsletter
Page 13
Trip to the Lyceum Theatre On 6th November, a group of pupils from the school, accompanied by Mr Fitzgerald and Mr Maxwell, set off for an exciting theatrical experience. It was a trip based around one of the many well-known works of Shakespeare, ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream’. The trip started off with a workshop at the Lyceum Theatre in Edinburgh. We began with an introduction and a brief summary of our knowledge of the play. Some of us knew lots about the play from previously acting in it, others knew little and of course Mr Maxwell had taught the play so was well acquainted. We then moved on to an exercise that condensed the plot line. Caroline (the coordinator), read out a brief version of the play and each of us jumped up to act a part as she read. It made for quite an amusing exercise as nobody really knew what they would be asked to do, whether it was to play a man with the head of a donkey, an enchanted fairy queen or a love stricken Athenian. Following that we moved on to something more active, running around in pairs, one person trying to escape the other and the only thing we were allowed to say was either ‘I love you’ or ‘I hate you’ depending on whether you were chasing or being chased. It was very funny watching one and other profess their love whilst running after their partner. This warmed us back up and prepared us for the next part of the workshop. In this we were given a section of interesting dialogue between Demetrius and Helena. Helena is in love with Demetrius but he is in love with someone else and hates Helena. We were split into pairs again and told to perform a part of the dialogue. This was especially interesting as most pairs chose the same section of the speech,. However, we all acted it very differently, each group with different staging and tone. After that we were given a soliloquy to look at. It was from the closing section of the play where Puck (the devilish fairy) is ending the show. We experimented with the punctuation and the rhythm of speech with the text then split into groups to perform it. We all performed it in similar ways, yet very differently. I think everybody enjoyed the workshop as it gave us all a further insight into the play and for those of us who already knew about ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream’ it was interesting to learn about the characters and the text in more depth. Once the workshop was over we all went for a lovely meal then headed back to the theatre to see the play being performed by professional actors in the Lyceum Theatre Company. Doing the workshop before seeing the play was very useful because it made everything more relevant as we had all just analysed the script and worked with the plot line. The play was amazing. Everything about it was really clever and well-constructed. The set was simple yet really effective; it could function on many different levels and wasn't intruding over the actors, drawing the attention away from the performance. The costumes were also visually stunning, especially Oberon who wore a feathery cloak and hat. The play was engaging and extremely funny! It completely changed my view on Shakespeare as before I saw this performance I thought all Shakespearean plays were totally serious with no humour, but this isn't true! It was funny, well produced and it completely changed my opinion on classical theatre. Overall, it was a great trip. Ivy Pottinger-Glass S4
Page 14
Winter Newsletter
NBHS Parent Council The year started with a warm welcome to many new faces at the AGM on 25 September and the election of 2012-13 members of the Parent Council. Phil Denning, the Area Lead Officer for Education Scotland, gave a very interesting presentation about school inspections, maintaining educational standards and Curriculum for Excellence. As part of a pilot study by Education Scotland, he will be returning early next year to present a seminar entitled “How Good is our School?” NBHS is privileged in being the only High School in Scotland to take part. There are four places available and if you would like one of these please contact the Parent Council.
The Parent Council members are as follows: Jeff Knight (chair), Victoria Hogg (vice-chair), Penny Lochhead, Ian Armstrong, Evelyn Patrick, Lorna Scott, Pam Floyd, Chris Freer and we welcome the following new members: Jane Pye, Michael Ingram, Kath Thomson, Liz Noar and Odile Haugan. Jane Law has returned as an associate member. Parent Council meetings now regularly exceed 25 people and all parents are most welcome to attend. Issues discussed include Curriculum for Excellence, homework, exam results, etc. We have seen increasing numbers attending meetings which are held about seven times a year and last about two hours.
The school website has been unavailable for most of this term and it has been disappointing that we have been unable to communicate with parents or provide feedback from the Parent Survey that was undertaken earlier this year – we hope to publish the results from this shortly. As the East Lothian website has been taken off-line twice within two years for extended periods, the Parent Council is looking into setting up its own independent website. If you can assist please contact us.
This year we are especially pleased to welcome three new reps from the teaching staff (Joanne Bloomfield, Chris Young and Ailsa Gairdner).
The main focus this year has been seeking to secure the land immediately adjacent to the school for additional sports fields and preparing submissions to mitigate the adverse impact of the proposed housing developments surrounding the school. The Parent Council submitted a response on behalf of the Parent Forum to the public consultation for the Gilsland Farm development of 120 houses. More recently, we attended the public consultation for 400+ houses adjacent to the school, which was held by Walker Homes during the October half term, when many parents were unable to attend. We subsequently submitted a detailed written response setting out our concerns. It is disappointing that North Berwick Trust, which holds the land in trust on behalf of the North Berwick community, has been unwilling to engage with the Parent Council to discuss these issues. We were heartened to hear that, as the result of considerable lobbying of East Lothian Council for over a year by NBHS and Law Primary School Parent Council, the Education Department has reviewed their pupil projections and confirmed that they did not reflect the increase due to the proposed 600 houses and general forecast increase in population. The forecast school roll has now been significantly increased and hopefully this will secure the expansion of the sports fields into the designated areas. We will continue to monitor developments as there are still a number of areas which cause us real concern. .
At each Parent Council meeting there is normally a short presentation from a senior member of staff about new developments within one of the faculties. The Parent Council would like to thank parents for supporting us throughout the year and we wish you the very best for an enjoyable and pleasant Christmas break. We look forward to meeting you early in 2013. The next meeting is on 15 January at 7pm in NBHS and all parents are welcome to attend.
Forthcoming Parent Council Meeting Dates (2013) Tuesday 15 January Tuesday 5 March Tuesday 23 April Tuesday 18 June
Winter Newsletter
Page 15
Music For MacMillan Playing guitar at North Berwick High School has been a much enjoyed aspect of our school routine for a number of years and has been a wonderful experience. Members of three different guitar groups, we were strangers to performing, be it chordal or classical guitar styles. So when asked to perform in a concert in aid of MacMillan Cancer Support, we jumped at the opportunity to play our part in what promised to be a fantastic occasion. We played amongst a variety of talented performers ranging from strings and voice
to piano, as well as fellow pupils from NBHS. In spite of seeing numerous acts leave the stage contented, there was still an element of nerves as we made our way onto the stage to receive a brief introduction from our teacher Alan Coady. We gave our rendition of No Surprises by Radiohead, which seemed to go down well with the numerous audience members. We left the stage with applause ringing in our ears and a sense of relief as yet another performance was completed. We were pleased to have done justice to the
song, especially in aid of such a noble cause. NBHS’s Music Department is unparalleled in its resources and effort and has really helped us to develop as guitarists. It has given us the confidence to offer our services in such events which reflect a compelling feeling of generosity in the wider community and are testament to the hard work invested by the young and elderly alike in charitable causes. James Fox and Matt Gibb
Fidra Fair
“The Fidra Fair raised £1150 for various school charities which is simply fantastic”
On Wednesday 21st November we held our 5th annual Christmas fair. This event was organised by the Fidra House Captains Connie Dale, Findlay Glynn, Gregor Wood and Matthew Wallace - with the help and support of several staff and fellow pupils in 6F. There were a huge number of sellers including many local craft and trades people selling jewellery, delicious homemade foods, children’s toys, clothing, paintings, wax candles, Turkish lamps etc. There were also a number of local businesses selling vouchers for adventurous experiences such as horse-riding
treks and kite surfing. The PTA sold raffle tickets for beautiful hampers and for the second consecutive year we held a very successful art sale, exhibiting the work of pupils as well as local artists. Special thanks to Kirsten Boston (Hangar Framing/Artist), Emma MacKenzie (Parent/ Artist), Caitlin Rollison (6F) and Lydia Rylance Murdoch (6F) for setting up and co-ordinating this impressive display. A painting donated by Wendy Portway, of the Bass Rock, raised £130 in a separate raffle and was won by a very delighted Lindsey Harley.
This year we also set up a Children’s Area with various activities including cup cake decorating and Santa’s Grotto. Customers enjoyed a glass of mulled wine and shortbread on arrival, a welcoming festive atmosphere, live music courtesy of the school’s Ukulele band, and many took the opportunity to purchase some original Christmas gifts. We raised £1150 for various school charities which is simply fantastic. Well done to all those involved in the organisation and thanks to everyone who came along on the night to support this event.
Kilt Modelling Contest In November we ran a modelling competition which 24 pupils and 4 staff took part in. This event, sponsored by Imagine Kilts, was great fun and well supported. Pupils paid 50p to see each of the models strut their stuff down the catwalk to music! Our panel of judges selected Finlay Pratt (5G) to be runner up and Kyle Graham (1G) to be the overall winner. Both boys will receive free kilt hire for their forthcoming Christmas Dance. The event raised £165 in total.
Winter Newsletter
Page 16
School Session Dates Below are the school session dates for 2013/14 School Session dates can also be found at: http://www.eastlothian.gov.uk/info/860/ term_holiday_and_closure_dates/932/school_term_dates
TERM 1 INSERVICE DAY 1
Monday
19 August 2013
INSERVICE DAY 2
Tuesday
20 August 2013
Pupils Resume
Wednesday
21 August 2013
September Holiday staff & pupils break
Thursday
12 September 2013
September Holiday (schools closed for staff & pupils)
Friday Monday
13 September 2013 16 September 2013
All Resume
Tuesday
17 September 2013
All Break (October break)
Friday
11 October 2013
October break
Monday-Friday
14 – 18 October 2013
INSERVICE DAY 3
Monday
21 October 2013
Pupils Resume
Tuesday
22 October 2013
Friday
20 December 2013
All Break (Christmas)
= 80 pupil days = 83 staff days TERM 2 All Resume
Monday
6 January 2014
Pupils break
Friday
7 February 2014
February break
Monday – Friday
10–14 February 2014
INSERVICE DAY 4
Monday
17 February 2014
Pupils resume
Tuesday
18 February 2014
All break (Easter)
Friday
4 April 2014
Good Friday Easter Monday
Friday 17 April 2014 Monday 21 April 2014 = 59 pupil days = 60 staff days
TERM 3 All Resume
Tuesday
22 April 2014
May Holiday
Monday
5 May 2014
INSERVICE DAY 5
Tuesday
6 May 2014
Pupils Resume
Wednesday
7 May 2014
Victoria Day Holiday
Monday
19 May 201
All resume
Tuesday
20 May 2014
Term ends
Friday
4 July 2014 = 51 pupil days = 52 staff days
Winter Newsletter
Merry Christmas & Happy New Year from all the staff and pupils at North Berwick High School
Page 17