posted by Rodger Hill, Service Manger, Schools and Learning

Eco-Schools Scotland is changing – the attached PDF briefly highlights the changes. One of the changes in the process is the requirement to report. You will be asked to record annual information on energy use, waste, active travel, biodiversity and water (page 6). The Energy Management Unit can provide you with annual figures for your energy and water use. We can also assist you with any energy and water efficiency topics; we have some renewable energy related educational resources and we can pop along to talk to pupils about energy/water efficiency and renewable energy.

 essrefresh

If you would like any assistance, contact the Energy Management Unit at emu@angus.gov.uk

posted by Eileen Jackson, Early Years Collaborative Programme Manager, Children and Learning

On Thursday last week 82 delegates attended a partnership event at the Reid Hall. Jointly hosted by Angus Early Years Collaborative & Tayside Centre For Organisational Effectiveness (TcOE) the event celebrated the  success of a range of improvement work across the early years.

Projects showcased included: –

• Play@ Home
• Bookbug – Catching the reading bug
• Just Play – Family Cooking Group
• Carnoustie Childcare Project
• SHARING INFORMATION – GETTING IT RIGHT FOR CHILDREN STARTING EARLY LEARNING & CHILDCARE SERVICES
• Child Health Allied Health Professionals 0-3 Years Children’s Pathway
• Pre Birth support

There was such a positive energy and commitment throughout the morning as delegates shared practice, learning and considered next steps. Thank you to all who attended

The Early Years Collaborative (EYC) was launched in October 2012 and is the world’s first national multi-agency quality improvement programme. It is a coalition of Community Planning Partners in Angus – including social services, health, education, police and third sector professionals.

The overall ambition of EYC is ‘to make Scotland the best  place in the world to grow up in by improving outcomes and reducing inequalities for all babies, children, mothers, fathers and families to ensure that all children have the best start in life and are ready to succeed.’

posted by Angela Duce, Senior Clerical Officer, Schools and Learning

The Results are in from Day Two of the 2016 Be Your Best Rock Challenge® and J Rock™ in Dundee!

Five schools from Angus competed in the 2016 Be Your Best Rock Challenge® and J Rock™ and tonight, Forfar Academy were placed first in tonight’s Rock Challenge® competition with their piece ‘Chains of Egypt’. Visually stunning from the start, Forfar’s performance featured an array of creative props and costume designs with intricate details. Transporting the audience to ancient Egypt to explore the story of Moses, Forfar used strong choreographic formations combined with excellent characterisation to captivate the audience throughout. As well as winning an array of awards of excellence Forfar’s performance has qualified them through to the Scottish Final taking place at Caird Hall in June.

Strathmore Primary School placed first in the J Rock™ half of tonight’s show with their theatrical piece ‘Out of the Darkness and Into the Light’. A dramatic building soundtrack set the pace for this vibrant piece. Choreography using juxtaposing sides complemented their theme choice whilst this thought provoking theme mesmerised the audience leaving them with a hopeful message at the end.

Arbroath High School also attended the event and showcased their 2016 premier performance ‘Quarantine’. This dark theme grabbed the audience as Arbroath High School used powerful drama skills to tell a harrowing tale of a deadly virus outbreak in Rio. A mixture of dance styles drew the audience in as an eerie soundtrack built to a climactic and emotive finale with a tragic end for one of the main protagonists. Due to their success in previous years Arbroath High School have automatically qualified through to the Northern Premier Final held at Grimsby Auditorium in July.

The event, held at the Caird Hall, attracted an audience of over 900 people and was supported by PQA, Angus Council, Police Scotland, Choices for Life and Zeamu Music.

Angus Council’s Strategic Director of People, Margo Williamson who presented first place in the senior competition described the event as “Full of energy, full of verve, and wonderful to see so many people from across Angus, Dundee and Perth.”

          Forfar Academy – Chains of Egypt                          Arbroath High School – Quarantine

Strathmore Primary School – Out of the Darness, into the light

Please find below the complete list of awards and placing’s from the 2016 Be Your Best Rock Challenge® at the Caird Hall on Wednesday 16^th March:

posted by Eileen Jackson, Early Years Collaborative Programme Manager

Representation from Angus gathered with Scottish Government Early Years Team members and other colleagues from across Scotland at the Queens Hotel Dundee to discuss the future of the EYC & RAFA

Discussion included : –
– considering a shared vision and ambition for a Children’s Improvement Collaborative that aligns with national policies and priorities
-refreshed draft aims for EYC and RAFA
-reflecting on progress being made across Scotland -exploring how CPP/LA quality improvement activity could be structured and supported locally to achieve results at scale
– considering potential local priorities for improvement at scale.
-feedback from CPP teams on ideas for future structures and potential focus for the next phase of the Collaboratives

Discussion will now progress locally with a view to bringing the 2 agendas together to advance our local improvement science!