Paddle Canoeposted by Gavin Brebner, Senior Worker – Outdoor Education

Earlier this year a Forfar Community Youth Group undertook a project to build a canoe from lemonade bottles!

We believe that this is the first time that any group in Angus has attempted this. The group used a problem solving, experiential approach to the design and construction techniques by looking for answers to challenges as they were encountered and trying out different solutions.

Bottles were sourced by the group and also through support given by Barrs, Strathmore Water, in Forfar who also supplied some of the 216 bottles used to build the canoe.

The canoe was cheap to build, costing no more than £50 in total for glue and other materials.

It was completed in July and launched at Monikie Country Park later that month.

The group were confident that the canoe would float and support the two paddlers. However, there was still some surprise, and a lot of satisfaction, at how well it performed! It was stable and easily paddled! All in the group had a turn at paddling the canoe. It was paddled across the pond and back again without any problems.

Along with the significant achievement of paddling a canoe that they built themselves, the team also gained by developing problem solving and teambuilding skills.

The building of the canoe included a number of educational outcomes; literacies, health and wellbeing, and technologies. However, the project could be used in connection with many areas of Curriculum for Excellence.

Glamis Primary School has expressed interest in building and paddling one of these canoes in connection with their Junior Award Scheme. It is hoped that others may also be keen to take up this challenge.

If any schools are interested, the Outdoor Education Team would be happy to let them see the canoe and give advice on how to build one.

Please contact:
Gavin Brebner, Outdoor Education Team, Monikie Country Park. Tel: 01382 370613 BrebnerG@angus.gov.uk

 

 

posted by Isabelle Gall, Principal Teacher of Modern Languages, Carnoustie High School

For the fourth year running, the Modern Languages Curriculum Group in Carnoustie High School celebrated the European Day of Languages with a ‘Languages Week’ (September 28th- October 2^nd) Pupils had the opportunity to join learning lunches where they could experience a taster of a language along with a taster of food.

On Tuesday, Mrs Fraser and her colleagues, assisted by senior prefects, ran a British Sign Language café, where pupils, in complete silence,  ordered their food and drink by signing. On Wednesday, Mrs Joss introduced the learners to the basics of German and they tried out some German specialties. On Thursday, Ms Jiang had prepared senior Mandarin pupils to deliver a performance for the Moon Festival, which celebrates the September full moon. The event was led by School Captain, Rebecca Cook. Kevin Shand in S5, very bravely sang a traditional Chinese song and Fiona and Susan Muirhead, both in S6, recited a poem about the Moon Goddess. The young audience then had a chance to try Chinese food and practice their chopstick skills.

During Modern Languages lesson, learners were given the opportunity to experience other languages and cultures in games and activities. The aim of the week was to allow the pupils to enjoy the diversity of human communication and cultures and to encourage them to gain awareness and confidence as active global citizens.

posted by Isabelle Gall, Principal Teacher of Modern Languages, Carnoustie High School

Enthusiastic support from SCILT (Scotland’s National Centre for Languages) brought speakers from widely varying fields to Carnoustie High School on June 18^th to talk about the importance of Modern Language skills in their area of expertise. This special event aimed to set ‘Languages for Life and Work’ in a relevant context for the S3 pupils who are all working to achieve the SQA award.

SCILT Development Officers, Meryl James and Janette Kelso, opened by demonstrating the value of language skills in all aspects of life. The learners were then excited to meet local top game designer Russell Kay, one of the original creators of ‘Grand Theft Auto’. Russell explained the linguistic and cultural challenges of developing computer games for the international market. Glamis Castle guides, Chimene Samson and Pauline Cawdery, stressed the economic importance of Tourism in Scotland and the employment opportunities within it.

Lucy Wakefield, from The Dundee Science Centre, illustrated how STEM and Modern Language skills can be an empowering combination. Stewart Miller vividly described Raptors International’s global conservation projects, while his stunning eagle owl, the star of the day, added amusing bird communication. Ben Haldane, a recent returnee from a Project Trust year, closed the event on a high note, fascinating everyone with his command of a Namibian language.

The S3 learners also chose workshops led by pupils and teachers from across the school community and by Ray Chenrui of J&D Wilkie, Kirriemuir. The workshops included British Sign Language, Team Communication, Polish, Greek, Mandarin, Japanese and German. Pupils and staff concluded that it was an informative, stimulating and enjoyable morning.

Exciting longer-term business links were established through this SCILT event. All S3 pupils are about to undertake an international marketing competition with Glamis Castle. Later in the year, learners in Science and Modern Languages will track eastern imperial eagles with Raptors International.

posted by Derek Yeoman, Community Assessment & Review Officer, Bellevue House

“The main impact of the project in our school is a change of mind-set. Rather than going ahead and doing things, we’re really thinking carefully about costs and financial impact on our children and families – the phrase ‘cost of the school day’ comes up constantly now in our planning and discussions. It’s not just an initiative or project where we go back to normal after it’s finished, there’s been a real shift in our thinking.” (Head Teacher, Glasgow)

We are delighted to share the Cost of the School Day report with you, being launched today at an Inclusion and Equalities conference for Glasgow schools. The full report and executive summary can found at: www.cpag.org.uk/costoftheschoolday

Contained in this report are learning and recommendations from over 300 children and young people and over 100 school staff members in Glasgow:

• The key financial barriers affecting participation throughout the school day for children and young people from low income households
• Good practice measures which children say help to reduce costs, ensure equal access to opportunities and reduce poverty related stigma, along with their ideas about what more could be done
• Recommendations for local authorities, schools and other stakeholders
• Resources to support poverty proofing in schools and local authorities along with examples of simple changes made by schools participating in Cost of the School Day.
  
  We hope that you find the report findings and resources useful and that you are able to use them in your own settings. Please don’t hesitate to get in touch with me if you would like to discuss the report or are keen to get involved in the next phase of the Cost of the School Day project.We encourage you to forward this email to any relevant colleagues or networks and to promote it on social media: #CostofSchoolDay
  
  Sara Spencer
  Cost of the School Day Project Manager
  Child Poverty Action Group in Scotland
  Ladywell, Unit 9,
  94 Duke Street,
  Glasgow G4 0UW
  Tel: 0141 548 1056
  Email: sspencer@cpagscotland.org.uk
  I work Mondays to Thursdays 

posted by: Fiona Robertson, Principal Officer Extended Support for Pupil 3-18

Angus Young Carers

Angus Young Carers have been supporting young carers throughout Angus since 2001. They currently offer varying levels of support to around 200 young carers living in the Angus Area.  Angus Young Carers is part of Angus Carers Centre, a local charity established in 1996 and which is part of the Princess Royal Trust for Carers network.

What is a Young Carer?

A young carer is someone aged 18 or under who helps to look after or support a member of their family due to:

• Physical or learning disability
• Mental illness
• Physical illness
• Drug or alcohol problems
• Chronic or terminal illness

The person the young carer looks after might be their mum, dad, brother, sister, grandparent or any other person close to their family. They may look after the person all by themselves or they may help someone else. Many young people don’t even realise that they are a young carer.

Young carers may cook, clean, do shopping, look after brothers and sisters, give medication, help with washing and bathing, or even just keep someone company. Every young carer’s situation is different – it is not necessarily the amount of care undertaken, but the impact that it has on a young person’s life.

Sometimes, a young carer may experience difficulties as a result of their caring situation. They may find it difficult to find time to do things that other people their age do, like homework, go out with friends, or enjoy themselves.

Further information can be found at:

www.angusyoungcarers.org.uk/

www.angusyoungcarers.org.uk/news/the-autumn-2015-newsletter.html

posted by Shabnam Wasim, Public Engagement Assistant, University of Dundee

UNIVERSITY OF DUNDEE EVENTS – October 2015

TITLE       ISAM Lecture
                  ‘Should drugs be legalised on Scotland?’

Venue/Address  Dalhousie Building, University of Dundee, Old Hawkhill, DD1 5EN
Date and time    Saturday 3^rd October 2015, 6pm – 7:30pm

Event/activity/description
Four internationally renowned Scottish figures will participate in the debate for and against the legalisation of drugs in Scotland. Speakers who will argue in favour of legalisation will be retired police inspector Mr Jim Duffy and Dr Brian Kidd, consultant psychiatrist and senior lecturer, University of Dundee. The speakers who will argue against legalisation will be Professor Neil McKeganey, Director of the Centre for Drug Misuse Research and Dr Rowdy Yates, Senior Research Fellow and Facilitator of the Scottish Addiction Studies Group, University of Stirling.

Admission price Free but booking is necessary (see link below)
Contact for further information   Events Office

Telephone No                                 01382 385108/388154
Email                                                 events@dundee.ac.uk
Website
Tickets available at: http://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/isam-public-debate-should-drugs-be-legalised-in-scotland-tickets-18205476069

TITLE         Dundee Arts Café: Childhood, Youth and Poverty on the Streets of Africa

Venue/Address         The McManus: Dundee’s Art Gallery and Museum, Albert Square, Dundee                                         DD1 1DA
Date and time           Tuesday 6^th October 2015, 6pm

Event/activity/description

Child poverty is on the rise.  Poverty is a significant barrier to young people’s well-being whether this be in Dundee, across the UK or the poorest cities across Africa. Now is a timely moment therefore to consider how young people experience poverty and the impact this has for their future adult lives.  Poverty is experienced differently across the World and for many young people living in African cities their lives are lived and experienced on the streets. This creates a unique set of issues and problems for young people around access to shelter, food, safety and money to survive. Through understanding these issues we can more effectively listen to young people regarding their needs as a universal tool for influencing policy across the globe.

This talk from Dr Lorraine van Blerk from the University of Dundee and Dr Wayne Shand explores what life is like for young people growing up on the streets through discussing an innovative longitudinal research project working in Accra, Ghana; Bukavu, DRC and Harare, Zimbabwe. The research investigates the lives of 198 young people over a three year period and takes an innovative participatory and qualitative approach. The research explores poverty, exclusion and homelessness from a capabilities perspective and aims to stimulate debate on the factors that shape life lived on the street and the representation of street children and youth in national and international policy.

The event lasts one hour, and speakers talk passionately about their work for 30 minutes before the floor is opened up to an informal discussion with the audience. All talks take place in The McManus Café, Albert Square, Dundee.

Everyone is welcome. Free. Non-bookable. Places are limited so please arrive early to avoid disappointment. Doors open at 5pm. This event is likely to last one hour.

Admission price        Free, Non-bookable
Website                     www.dundeeartscafe.co.uk

TITLE                                     Jeanette Winterson: The Gap of Time

Venue/Address         Dalhousie Building, University of Dundee, Old Hawkhill, DD1 5EN
Date and time            Wednesday 7^th October 2015, 7pm

Event/activity/ description

In The Gap of Time, Jeanette Winterson’s cover version of The Winter’s Tale, we move from London, a city reeling after the 2008 financial crisis, to a storm-ravaged American city called New Bohemia. Her story is one of childhood friendship, money, status, technology and the elliptical nature of time.

Written with the energy and wit we would expect of the award-winning writer of Oranges Are Not the Only Fruit, Sexing the Cherry and Why Be Happy When You Could Be Normal?, this is a story of the consuming power of jealousy on the one hand, and redemption and the enduring love of a lost child on the other. It’s a very great treat to welcome the tour de force that is Jeanette Winterson to Dundee in this special, pre-festival event.

The Gap in Time is part of the Hogarth Shakespeare project, reimagining Shakespeare for 2016 to mark the 400th anniversary of his death.

Admission price        Free
Contact for further information      Peggy Hughes, Literary Dundee
Telephone No          01382 386995
Email                          literarydundee@dundee.ac.uk
Website                     https://literarydundee.co.uk/

TITLE      Cafe Science Dundee: CSI Dundee: New Forensics with iGEM team, University of                      Dundee

Venue/Address         Avery & Co, 34 South Tay St, DD1 1PD
Date and time            Monday 12^th October 2015, 7pm

Event/activity/ description

Forensic science is used across the World to provide evidence in courts and can have a strong influence on the court’s decision. However, very few new techniques with a sound scientific basis have been developed in the last 30 years.

A team of undergraduates from the University of Dundee, the iGEM team, aim to create a set of devices known as the ‘Forensic Toolkit’ that will improve the efficiency at which crime scene investigators detect and analyse evidence.

These include a body fluid detector that will identify between different types of bodily fluids; a device that will allows us to investigate between fingerprints that are less than a week old, distinguishing them from older fingerprints in the clear; and a device that detects stainless steel that may be left on bones after knife injuries.

The project is part of the international iGEM competition where the University of Dundee has triumphed in recent years.

Come and find out more from Dundee’s iGEM team about their new forensic tools. Join us at Avery & Co, 34 South Tay Street, Dundee on Monday 12th October 2015, at 7pm. This is a free event and everyone is welcome. There is no need to book in advance but arrive early to avoid disappointment.

Admission price        Free, Non-bookable
Website                           www.cafesciencedundee.co.uk
TITLE             The Dow Memorial Lecture 2015

                       ‘Life and healthcare in the era of cures’

Venue/Address  Dalhousie Building, University of Dundee, Old Hawkhill, DD1 5EN
Date and time    Monday 19^th October 2015, 6pm – 7pm

Event/activity/ description

How many diseases can we cure rather than treat? The answer is, not many. By the end of the century will we be able to cure more? If we can, is society prepared to discuss how that is valued, who has access to cures and who should pay for restorative health?

Science is evolving and is offering glimpses of cures in hard-to-treat diseases such as HIV and Hepatitis, some cancers and rare diseases. These will not come without challenging the types of medicines we make and how they are developed. Patrick Vallance, Research and Development lead at GlaxoSmithKline, will highlight the scientific opportunities and the philosophical, ethical and economic questions that society and government will have to face when the prize is much greater.

Admission price Free but booking necessary
Contact for further information    Events Office
Telephone No     01382 385108/388154
Email                     events@dundee.ac.uk
Website                http://www.dundee.ac.uk/events/2015/151019-life-and-healthcare—dow-       lecture.php

TITLE                        Dundee Literary Festival
Venue/Address  Various Venues across Dundee
Date and time    Wednesday 21^st October – Sunday 25^th October 2015 

Event/activity/description

Five days of adventures in books in Dundee! This year we invite you to hear from famous faces with incredible debut books, like Nick Frost and Gregor Fisher. Don’t miss iconic, award-winning writers Jackie Kay and Janice Galloway and Jeanette Winterson. Dive into our events with new voices, such as Lucy Ribchester, Malachy Tallack, Catherine Simpson and William Goldsmith. We want you to bring the whole family along – we have events for kids, for comics fans and talks for the curious, whatever you’re curious about, whether that’s the human body or baking, Ladybird books, censorship or suffragettes.

Admission price      Various costs for different events, ranging from free of charge to £5
Contact for further information    Peggy Hughes
Telephone No          01382 386 995
Email                          literarydundee@dundee.ac.uk
Website                     www.literarydundee.co.uk