We now have official confirmation that the Council have accepted the proposal to build the new school on the “Johnny Kelly” area to the right of the existing school, with the associated additional costs to ensure the school offers the same standard of facilities as originally specified.
See the attached letter for more information.
A reminder to all that Barrhead High staff and pupils are invited to take part in “Christmas Jumper Day” tomorrow. Pupils can wear their jumpers or any other festive wear (hats/ earrings/ tinsel etc) over their school uniforms.
This is a charity event, with collections of food for the food bank, and staff making a cash donation to charity.
SPORTS FOR ALL AGES is back with an exciting selection of opportunities to motivate and inspire you.
The programme runs from January to April 2015.
More information on the sports and courses available can be found here.
Johnathan Gilmour competed in the Scottish National Championships last month.
He won gold in his own Category, securing the title of Junior 16-17 National Champion 2014.
He also fought up in seniors (over 18) teams and won Gold with his team, securing the Senior Team National Champions 2014.
Another fantasic achievement from Jonathan – it is exciting to watch his progress over the years … and who knows what the future will bring?!
By the end of today, all S4 and S5 students will have taken part in a Mindset for Achievement workshop, which encourages students to question their response to an opportunity or challenge in their life.
The course has been delivered by Live-n-Learn, a local company that specialises in motivating secondary school students.
Parents of S4 and S5 students are welcome to attend our workshop, tonight at 6.30pm in Ralston, where you can experience the motivational techniques first hand.
I look forward to our meeting later this evening.
The supported study calendar for December is shown below. Supported study will run for the first two weeks of December only. These sessions are vital in supporting our young people prepare for assessment so please encourage your son/daughter to make full use of the sessions on offer.
| S4 Nationals | ||||
| Mon 1st | Tues 2nd | Wed 3rd | Thurs 4th | Friday 5th |
| N5 Biology | N5 English | N5 Physics | N5 Maths | |
| N5 Art and Design | Nat 4/5 Geog | N4/5 Drama | N5 Chem | |
| N5 PE | N5 Computing | |||
| Mon 8th | Tues 9th | Wed 10th | Thurs 11th | Friday 12th |
| N5 Hist | N5 English | N5 Physics TM R21 | N5 Maths | |
| N4/5 French | N5 Busman | N4/5 Drama | N5 Chem LB | |
| N5 Music | N5 PE DG | |||
| S5/6 Higher / Intermediates | ||||
| Mon 1st | Tues 2nd | Wed 3rd | Thurs 4th | Friday 5th |
| Higher Eng | Higher Maths | Higher Geog NW/LA | Ad Higher/Higher Geog | Higher Eng CR PB 1/2 |
| Int 2 Eng | Higher Busman | Higher French | Higher Art and Design | |
| H Physics | Higher Maths | Higher PE | ||
| Mon 8th | Tues 9th | Wed 10th | Thurs 11th | Friday 12th |
| Higher Eng | Higher Music | Higher Geog | Higher Mod St | Higher Eng CR PB 1/2 |
| H Physics | Int 2 Eng | Higher French | Higher Computing | |
| Higher Biology | Higher PE | |||
| Higher Maths | ||||
Following the success of National PSA Day last year, Unison has rolled out National Stars in Our Schools Day – recognising the work of all our support staff. Today the school thanked all the staff who work hard everyday making the school run smoothly and supporting young people.
All our support staff enjoyed a small token of our appreciation – for some of our heroes, it was an appropriately named chocolate treat!
The Pupil Support Assistants had a lovely morning break with cakes and tea/coffee made by Head Teacher, Mr Sinclair.
It was a good opportunity to make sure the staff were recognised for all their hard work and to show our appreciation.
Thursday 13th November saw Barrhead back at St Luke’s for another speaking competition. We were taking part in the Rotary Youth Speaks Competition.
For the first time we entered the Intermediate competition as well as the Senior competition. For our Intermediate team this was the first time they had ever taken part in a speaking competition. Jonathan Gibson (S2) was our chairperson, Tom MacKay (S3) our speaker and Lee McTernan (S2) was our proposer of the vote of thanks. The boys put on a brilliant performance, discussing whether or not we should bring back the death penalty, and thoroughly impressed the judges. So much so that they won and will now go on to the next round on the 1st February 2015.
Our Senior team was made up of Alexandra Campbell (S6) our chairperson, Fraser Lundie (S5) our speaker and Euan Stevenston (S5) our proposer of the vote of thanks. Again the team put on an impressive performance discussing the risk of remembering the past through rose tinted glasses and not seeing the merits of today. Jim Murphy M.P. referred to Fraser’s speech several times during his feedback to all the teams in the award ceremony. Unfortunately the team were pipped at the post. Several members of the Rotary and teachers from other ERC schools commented on the calibre of the speeches this year. We are very proud of both teams.
A big thank you goes to Mr Maybury for all his hard work getting the pupils ready for the competition.
Pupils interested in joining the Barrhead Speaking Club should meet in Mr Maybury’s room on Mondays at lunchtime.
All S4 & S5 students will be issued with a letter in the next few days detailing a Mindset for Achievement workshop that will be held on Monday & Tuesday, 1st & 2nd December. This fast-paced workshop will challenge student’s attitudes and beliefs; do they have a fixed or growth mindset, how to deal with challenges in their lives and how to motivate themselves.
In addition, we are offering a parents’ mindset workshop on Tuesday, 2nd December at 6.30pm.
If you would like to attend the parents’ mindset workshop, then please return the tear-off slip (see the student letter) to the school office.
We look forward to welcoming you on Tuesday, 2nd December at 6.30pm.
With 2014 marking the 100th Anniversary of World War 1, the Barrhead High School community wanted to mark this year’s Remembrance Day in a special way.
Pupils had already been learning about the war in different ways in various classes – making rations in Home Ec, drill-type PT in Physical Education, ethical issues in Religious Studies and much more. Two serving soldiers visited the school and spoke to pupils about life in the army and the realities of war.
The names of the 49 former pupils of Barrhead High School, who lost their lives in WW1, had been obtained from a plaque the school still has and had been displayed around the Quadrangle. A number of our pupils and staff had realised some were their relatives and pupils in their English classes had written messages on poppies to some of the individuals.
On the morning of the 11th November, the Quadrangle area was decorated with artwork and poppies made in Art and English classes. All pupils and staff watched a powerful video presentation in their classes relating to the war and remembrance and then joined together in the Quadrangle for our own Service.
Head Teacher, Andy Sinclair, opened the service with an explanation of what we were doing and why. One of the school chaplains, Rev Jim Cowan, led everyone in an appropriate meditation and the service was punctuated by different musical contributions by staff and pupils – Fraser Lundie and Miss McArdle playing a guitar and flute duet, Ronan Park-Pattison playing a piano solo and Robbie Ferguson playing a violin solo while Craig Trench read the poem “They Shall Not Grow Old”.
Central to the service was the reading of the names of the 49 pupils who lost their lives. As each name was read by Corporal Forsyth or Lance-Corporal Gillespie, a pupil planted a cross with a poppy. Our Head Boy and Girl laid a wreath and two pupils played the Last Post to lead us all into the minute’s silence. As staff and pupils headed back to class afterwards, Miss Walker played us out with ‘Amazing Grace’ on the bagpipes.
The whole experience was extremely moving and made a huge impact on everyone present. A member of staff commented afterwards, “I was so proud of our pupils – seeing Barrhead High at its finest when we come together as a community”. The service was memorable and appropriate and gave our young people an opportunity to feel part of something bigger – the overall effect was very powerful.
You can get a flavour of the service in the video clip – click on the link below.
