Posted by Isabelle Gall, Principal Teacher Curriculum, Modern Languages, Carnoustie High School

On Monday 9 November 2015 a group of 16 Spanish pupils from Santander came for the day to Carnoustie High School.

After an introductory ice breaker session, the pupils spent the day involved in sports and academic activities both in Spanish and English with the Nat 5 Spanish Carnoustie pupils.

In the evening they all took part in a “wee Scottish soirée” at the Station Hotel, where the Spanish folks were introduced to Scottish traditional music, Scottish poetry, highland dancing and a ceilidh.

“It was great fun socialising and dancing with them. The Spanish people were really nice.”

“I really enjoyed meeting the Salesianos, learning about their school and making friends with them.”

“I was a bit apprehensive at first but then I really began to enjoy the day and the experience.”

“The experience will be with me forever as I made new friends.  It was also really educational and helped with our speaking and listening.”

On Tuesday 10 November the 21 Carnoustie pupils studying Spanish Higher or Advanced Higher led their visitors on a tour of St Andrews which they had prepared in Spanish. The visit concluded with everyone enjoying a fish and chip meal at the Tailend Restaurant.

In June 2016 a group of Carnoustie pupils will have the opportunity to take part in a Spanish immersion visit to Santander, where they will meet their new friends again. In September, several S6 pupils from Carnoustie High and from Webster’s High School will undertake a structured work experience programme in the same region of Spain, where they will be expected to use their Spanish skills at an advanced level.

Posted by Jennifer Clark, Teacher of English, Duke of Edinburgh Co-ordinator,  Forfar Academy

Life changing. Fulfilling. Rewarding. Unforgettable. Some of the many words that describe our recent expedition to Nepal.

 We arrived in a bustling, diverse and fascinating Kathmandu for a jam packed two week itinerary. We visited projects helping Nepalese children including the Disabled New Life Centre, the British School and Baraha Secondary School in Ghandruk. Baraha has been destroyed by the earthquake and since returning we are trying to set up links and raise funds to help them rebuild.

The Disabled New Life Centre was one of the highlights of the trip. We enjoyed talking with the children and learning about their interests. We loved joining in their music lesson and seeing how the children got involved in these lessons.”

 We also went on a challenging five day trek in the Annapurna Region surrounded by Himalayan Mountains such as Fishtail and Annapurna South.

 The trek was a challenging experience and allowed us an opportunity that might never be repeated. We stumbled across a school completely destroyed in the earthquake. Pupils are now taught in bamboo structures with corrugated iron roofs. Our aim now is to set up a link with the Baraha School and fundraise to help them rebuild.

 We visited Chitwan National Park learning about the local way of life, enjoyed on an oxen ride, trekked through the jungle, and washed the elephants. We somehow managed to find time to relax and sightsee in Kathmandu, Pkhara and Bhaktapur, a World Heritage site, terribly affected by the earthquake.

Our Nepal expedition was enjoyable and challenging in many different ways. From the physical challenge of the trek, to witnessing the poverty and difficulties Nepali people face every day. It opened our eyes and made us extremely thankful for what we have back home in Scotland. We plan to continue our links with Nepal and help Baraha School to rebuild. We hope that other pupils will have the opportunity to enjoy the experience that we have had.

We are all asking “When can we go back?”

 Mhari Ferrier, Lara Mertes and Jude Murray

posted by Morna Duncan, Administrative Assistant, Schools & Learning

Some of our fabulous, tacky, sparkly seasonal knitwear worn today by People staff members who managed to raise the sum of £114.22.

Thank you to all who participated and donated to the 3 worthy charities, Save the Children, Make a Wish UK and Macmillan Cancer Support.

posted by Amy Gibson, YMI Coordinator & Creative Learning Facilitator

Drake Music Scotland’s Christmas Performance funded through Creative Scotland’s Youth Music Initiative

Photo Courtesy of Drake Music Scotland

Drake Music Scotland – the nation’s leading charity creating opportunities for children and adults with disabilities to learn, compose and perform music independently have been funded through our Youth Music Initiative to work with pupils from Arbroath High, Forfar Academy, Ladyloan Primary and Langlands Primary.

Secondary pupils worked with Angus Percussion Ensemble and performed a truly inspiration performance of Mambo which is also part of the BBC Ten Pieces  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B1IHAtaffS0&feature=youtu.be

Please see this clip to catch a glimpse of what the primary pupils have been up to

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kRWHpUNEoGw&feature=youtu.be

posted by Eileen Jackson, Early Years Collaborative Programme Manager

Plans are now underway for Tam Baillie,  Children & Young People’s Commissioner Scotland visit to Angus on Thursday 14 January. 

This visit has been arranged in the context of the Early Years Collaborative and will include a tour of a range of good practice happening across Angus. 

More information to follow

posted by Eileen Jackson, Early Years Collaborative Programme Manager

Lots of learning has been taking place this week at the Improvement Academy, Ninewells Hospital.

Through the Early Years Collaborative 6 multi agency project teams have been taking part in the partnership facilitated Improvement Science Programme.

Lots of hard work and commitment has been required however projects are now beginning to reap the rewards with good progress and  a greater understanding of the improvement methodology and how this can support day to day service improvement across early years and beyond.

Projects which have been evolving includes: – 

• Play @ Home
• Bookbug
• Just Play Cooking Group
• 600 hour Early learning and childcare – flexibility of delivery model
• Information sharing between health & education
• Birth – 3 years complex needs pathway

The Learning outcomes from this programme include: –  

• Develop, test and implement an improvement idea through the application of improvement methodologies
• Develop a project charter to support the progression of quality improvement work
• Demonstrate knowledge, understanding and confidence in the use of key improvement tools and approaches
• Understand how the Plan, Do, Study, Act (PDSA) cycle can be used to test small scale changes in Early Years Services
• Understand the value of plotting data over time by creating and interpreting a run chart
• Understand how improvements can be sustained and spread

The remaining session is scheduled for January and thereafter approaches will  be considered as to how we  capture and share the learning and sustain this approach.