Poland

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Anna Campbell (5a10) has written about her experiences in Poland with Paisley Diocese:

In October, I had the privilege of going on a pilgrimage to Krakòw in Poland as part of the 1+1>2 project with Paisley Diocese. I went with 32 other young people in the diocese, four parish priests, Sister Freida and Bishop John. We spent 6 days exploring Krakòw in the footsteps of Saint John Paul II, visiting the salt mines, Czestochowa and the old Jewish quarters as well as having the once in a lifetime opportunity to visit Auschwitz I and Auschwitz II Birkenau.
When we arrived we went on a guided tour of Krakòw city centre and it was clear from that moment that religion is very important to the city of Krakòw and that John Paul II was a great inspirational figure to all Polish people. That evening Bishop John said mass at the Devine mercy sanctuary, the resting place of Saint Faustina, where during the homily he spoke about the importance of youth and saying yes to God.
We also went on a trip to Czestochowa, where we had a guided tour and were able to see the Black Madonna and have a mass in the Jasna Gora Monastery where Fr Frank explained to us the importance of the Black Madonna.
On our third day we went to Wadowice, Saint John Paul II’s birthplace, in the morning. We went to his home which has now been converted in to a museum and were taught about the inspirational life he led. After this we went to the Church, next to his home, where we were able to renew our baptismal promises in the same font that John Paul II was christened.
Our visit to Aushwitz and Auschwitz II Birkenau was a truly emotional and unforgettable day. Going to the largest Nazi concentration camp is something that nothing can prepare you for. It is very hard to understand the extent of the holocaust until you witness the victims shoes, hair, suitcases and numerous other belongings along with the photos of the victims on arrival at the camp, many of whom were smiling as they believed they were going to be set free. We were able to go to the starvation cell that Saint Maximilian Kolbe was tortured and died in. He sacrificed his own life to save a Jewish man, which was only one of the many influential things he did throughout the Holocaust. On our arrival at Aushwitz II Birkenau, it was beginning to get dark and the air was cold like a winters night. The camp stretched for what seemed like miles with only the remains of the old train tracks, many chimneys and two of the largest gas chambers and crematoriums. The Nazis burnt down the wooden shacks at the end of the holocaust leaving only chimneys, but there are reconstructed stables fit for horses which are identical to those in which the millions of people were crowded in to to sleep. We went to the end of the railway line where we lit candles and had a short prayer service, silently remembering the millions of holocaust victims. Visiting Aushwitz was a very emotional and harrowing day however it is something that everyone should experience as it is important to remember the tragedies that took place during World War II to ensure nothing like this will ever happen again.
On our fourth day we continued our walking tour of Krakòw in the footsteps of Saint John Paul II, visiting the cathedral where he was the bishop in before he became Pope. We also visited the Jewish quarters and the five synagogues there, only two of which are still active. This is because before the war Krakòw was inhabited by 56,000 Jews and after the Holocaust only 2000 Jews stayed there.
We ended our pilgrimage by visiting the Salt Mines. During Nazi rule, religion was frowned upon and if it was worshiped there was a high probability you would be sent to a death camp. So, the people of Krakòw went into the mines and turned them into a place of worship. Everything is carved out of salt, the ceilings, the walls, the floor, the statues and even the chandeliers. We were fortunate enough to celebrate mass in the salt mines, it was an interesting and different approach to mass which each of us thoroughly enjoyed.
The pilgrimage was a once in a lifetime experience in which my faith was truly deepened. Not only was it the holiest but it was also one of the most fun weeks of my life. I now fully appreciate how amazing it is to be Catholic.

SCEN China Youth Summit

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Below is the feedback fom the pupils who atteded the SCEN China Youth Summit:

Ronan Doherty S5
I thought that the SCEN conference was a great success, both in terms of the school’s performance and the general running of events. I felt that the presentation given by our pupils and Mrs. Zhou was very well received by honourable guests and pupils alike. I do not only speak for myself when I say that the conference was a thoroughly interesting and enjoyable experience. I also managed to catch up with some friends I met in my recent trip to Tianjin and Beijing, which was fantastic. I would like to thank the school for giving me this further insight into the rapid and exciting development of Chinese language learning in Scotland.
Daniel Kavanagh S5
The SCEN Confernece was a fantastic opportunity to develop into the brilliant work carried out by the corporation on a daily basis. It was great to connect with children from Hong Kong, and discuss the experiences of my fellow mandarin students. When I had to give a talk in my adopted tongue, I felt confident and nobody seemed to notice my slip-up.
Maeve MacLeod S5
The SCEN Conference was a great experience. I really enjoyed the time we spent in Gleneagles. We were given the opportunity to listen to many interesting presentations; not only from students from around Scotland but also from business owners, university lecturers and MSP’s, who gave us advice about the uses of Mandarin in our professional lifes which will come into use in the future. We also had the chance to present our own achievements. The day, was also a good opportunity to get to know peopple our own age from different schools and also those in different years from our school.
Howie Liu S4
I thoroughly enjoyed the SCEN conference and I learned a lot from this experience. It has expanded my knowledge of the links between Scotland and China and made me more interested to learn more about it. I participated in a speech in the conference which made me very proud to stand up in front of a big audience and deliver a speech which I have never done before. I was also able to meet new people on the trip and socialise with them. Overall I found this trip very enjoyable and fun.
Jenny Cuffe S6
I really enjoyed the whole experience of the SCEN conference and it was very intriguing to hear people speak in Mandarin. There were several different powerpoints and there was also various music performances which I loved listening to and some were very interesting and inspiring. I also thought that the food we received was delicious and I had a great time in Gleneagles, meeting and socialising with other people my age from different schools.
Declan Gallagher S4
I found the SCEN conference extremly interesting and useful for further expanding my knowledge of the connections between Scotland and China through all of the great presentations. Through the varied performances it has also further devolped my knowledge of the country as well as showing a lot a exciting ways to get involved in events such as the Wilson Trail. Most importantly it emphasised how important it is for both countries to work together in things like the Hong Kong connection to further maintain and strengthen the bonds of the two countries that is already proving beneficial.
Alban Joseph S4
I learned a lot from the SCEN conference, it made me aware of many great opportunities, such as the Wilson Trail. It was interesting to listen to people speak about their time in China and I now have a greater understanding of the connection between China and Scotland. The hospitality and food was fantastic, and I hope we are able to partake in events like this again. It was inspiring to listen to children my age talk about their fantastic experiences and this was the main connection I felt, it was truly engaging.
Lucia Doyle S1
The SCEN conference was an amazing experience and it was fantastic to hear that there are many opportunities to study Mandarin. It was interesting to hear how people learn Mandarin. It was good to socialise with the children from the other high schools and academies. I enjoyed thoroughly this event and it makes me want to learn and improve my Mandarin more and more.
Louisa Preston S4
The SCEN conference was very useful in showing us the wide range of opportunities available due to the studying of mandarin and the importance of learning another language. It was very interesting to hear about other peoples experiences while studying mandarin and I am now much more aware of the great link between Chhina and Schotland. It was great to hear so many stories from people my own age, and to see how many people are becoming involved in SCEN. The presentations were fantastic, as was the hospitality we were given during the course of the trip. It was a fantastic event which made me even more determined to take the learning of mandarin further.

Pupil Support Comments

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Pupils in St Ninian’s are supported in a variety of ways by a number of different people.  Here are some pupil comments about the support they received:

“Counselling has helped me gain confidence and self esteem in myself. It’s also very reassuring to have someone care about you and be there to listen to your problems instead of bottling them up. I have learned to trust people and to stop thinking negatively all of the time. Because a counsellor has supported me I have become a happier person and I’m not afraid to express my emotions any more. I think counselling is very beneficial and can help you with whatever you’re dealing with as we as helping you see the light at the end of the tunnel.”

“My Pastoral Support teacher has been very supportive when I was going through an incredibly hard time. She would listen to me and give me good advice whenever I needed it. I can go to her for anything; no matter how big or small the matter is. She is the type of person you can have a laugh with and is easy going; firm but fair.”

“The Youth Counsellor has helped me to regain my confidence after difficult times.”

“The Careers advisor helps me to choose my career/future and informs me of what I need to do to get there.”

“I know that there are many people who can help me during difficult times, for example, the campus cop, Rainbows group, Pastoral Support teacher, year group head and many more.”

“My Pastoral Support teacher suggested that I see the Youth counsellor to help me cope with the stress of exams.  She allowed me to talk about how I was feeling and gave me advice on ways to cope.  It helped a lot.”

S6 Service Comments

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Our S6 pupils are engaged a wide variety of community placements this year, from assisting in local primary and nursery schools to helping out at a Care Home. Below are some comments from our students on how these experiences have enabled them to develop a range of skills, preparing them well for life after school!

“Since returning for Sixth Year, it has been a privilege to be volunteering at Isobel Mair School. Working with the younger children, I have seen their confidence grow and develop. Having spent most of my teenage years mixing with my own peer group, working with these young children with a variety of special needs was a challenge which I fully embraced. I am working hard to build up relationships with the children and to gain their trust and respect. I have also learned that no matter what our disabilities and limitations are, with patience, tolerance and a sense of humour, we can all make a difference to each other’s lives.” 
Nicola Shaw 6a2

“Every Wednesday morning, I go to St.Cadoc’s Primary School and volunteer in a Primary 7 class. I normally assist the primary pupils with their Mathematics and English skills. It has been a good experience, especially as I want to go into teaching once I leave high school. Therefore it has given me a great insight into the classroom from teacher’s point of view rather than from a pupil’s point of view. This experience as made me realise just how much I want to go into teaching and has me strive for it even more.

It has also helped me to develop my communication skills as well as my leadership skills, as it has helped me to overcome nerves I experienced when speaking in front of large groups of people.”
Amy Hughes 6a2

“Isobel Mair is a great community placement as it has developed my skills in many ways. Working with children with special needs or who are disabled has allowed me to improve my patience and interpersonal skills, which are essential qualities needed for the future. Through my placement I have also learnt that each individual requires different levels of care and attention as well as being treated equally. The variety of needs required by the children reveals the versatile skills needed by volunteers, such as showing empathy and communicating in a variety of ways, e.g. verbally, physically, written.”
Daneyh Kenbar 6a7

Lasallian Developing Worlds Project – Ghana 2013

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Nothing could have prepared me for the adventure I undertook this summer.  It was really a very extreme social experiment where twelve young people, most of whom didn’t know each other, were dropped in the Upper West Region of Ghana for five weeks with the task of finishing an accommodation building for teachers. The prospect daunted me but I can now say, with full confidence, that I am so glad I took the risk.

The Lasallians have been building in Kaleo, a small town in the Upper West Region, for twenty-three years and the impact that the projects have had on the lives of people in Ghana has been overwhelming. We spoke to members of the community that remembered Kaleo before the help of the Lasalians and they spoke of it in a very different way from what they thought of it now. However, this does not mean that poverty has been eradicated: I was still deeply saddened by the injustices I saw there.

Raw sewage ran through the streets of the larger towns and many children ran around with ill-fitting shoes (if they had any shoes at all), their clothes ripped, and most suffering from Kwashiorkor. Despite their hardships, the members of the community were the friendliest and most welcoming people that I have ever met. Although they had very little material goods, they were so rich in love and gratitude.

On two occasions, I swapped the building site for the classroom where I was faced with classes much busier and much rowdier than a typical St. Ninian’s one. I felt privileged to have had the opportunity to educate the children in some way as well as hearing about their hopes and aspirations. This happiness was contrasted with the harsh reality that many would be unable to achieve their dreams of going to university just because they could not afford it.

The Ghanaian society seemed to lack a middle class: leaving only the super rich and the extremely impoverished. On several occasions the social divide was made prominent by the rickety shacks and mud huts that were littered around several absurdly large mansions.

The most important things I learnt from the trip though was from the people I met there but I also learned a lot because of what and who I missed from home. Being away made me realise how easy we have life back home and how much we take for granted as well as making me appreciate the love of my family and friends so much more.  During my trip I met some of the most inspirational people I feel I will ever meet and learnt so much about teamwork, leadership and social interactions. My priorities in life were also clarified through the project as I discovered how important faith, love and a positive attitude in life are.

I am delighted to have been granted a place on another Lasallian project, this time a teaching project in Sri Lanka. I would urge everyone given the opportunity to apply for a Lasallian project to do so – I was petrified at first but those five weeks in Ghana contain memories that I know will stay with me forever.

Gráinne Duffy (Graduate 2013)