The new Bishop of the Diocese of Paisley will celebrate our SQA Mass on Thursday 24 April at 7:00pm.  This Mass is intended for our S4-S6 pupils and families before their national examinations. 

All pupils, parents, staff and friends are welcome.

Congratulations to Frankie O’Donnell (2a4) and Lauren Matthews (5a3) who have been selected to carry the Commonwealth Baton in the Queen’s Baton Relay.

We wish them all the best with this once in a lifetime experience!

The next block of Saturday Sports Club for Primary 1 to Secondary 1 pupils is now available to book.  Over 60 children have attended the October to December block.

The cost is £50 for an 8 week block. It starts at 9:30am and finishes at 12:00pm. 

This is a great opportunity to try a wide variety of sports; improving and developing new skills as well as having lots of fun!  It is also a fantastic induction for the pupils who will eventually attend St Ninian’s High School as pupils.  Though friends who attend other schools are also welcome.

All coaching sessions are run by fully qualified coaches and Physical Education teachers who will provide the ideal environment for children to learn and enjoy themselves safely. 

Full details are on the form below which will be delivered to associated primary schools after the holidays.  You can also print off, complete and send/hand in to the St Ninian’s school office where there will also be copies available for completion.  

Saturday Sports Club 26 April – 28 June 2014

If you have any questions regarding these please contact Mr Fuchs.

Please book early to avoid disappointment!

On Thursday 3 April the Music department are showcasing a variety of musical talent at the annual Spring Charity Concert.

The show starts at 7:30pm.

Monday 31 March 2014

The Week Ahead is a weekly bulletin containing news and achievements including pupil and staff successes, photos, upcoming events and trips.

Week Ahead 26 – 31st March

To view all editions of The Week Ahead click here.

Twelve pupils from S3 enjoyed a wonderful spiritual retreat at Castlerigg Manor in Keswick, The Lake District, between Friday 28th to Sunday 30th March. The retreat, a joint venture with St Bede’s, Blackburn followed the theme of “I am the light of the world” and involved prayer, mass, games, art workshops, confession, an outdoor walk up the hills around Keswick and a thoroughly entertaining interactive quiz. The pupils were a great credit to themselves, their families and to the community of St Ninian’s. We look forward to sharing the fruits of our experience with the school community.

Castlerigg Photos

The National Parent Forum of Scotland have produced a new “Revision in a Nutshell”.

Revision in a Nutshell

The information is set in pages and is designed for pupils sitting National 5 exams and consists of questions from past papers and other material.

The following Pointers for Parents and Pupils is another useful resource for learning and revising National Qualifications.

Pointers for Parents and Pupils

The new St Ninian’s showerproof jacket is available to order for the cost price of £13. It protects blazers on the way to and from school and can be worn when outside in PE.  It’s very lightweight and junior sizes come with safety reflectors for road safety.

Order yours from the school office for those April showers and the traditional Scottish summer!

Many thanks to all of the parents and staff who attended the Ladies Night on Friday 28 March.

This was a fantastic night which raised a substantial sum of money for extra-curricular activities.

Please put Friday 2 October in your diary for the St Ninian’s Race Night!

Congratulations to Gemma McDonald (3a2), Morgan Flood (3a6) and Jennifer Quigley (3a9) (team GJMC) who came third out of 633 teams in the Alan Turing Cryptography Competition.

The competition involved pupils solving a series of puzzles using cryptography and ciphers to break codes.

They will receive a trophy and vouchers for Amazon.

Calendar of Events 2013-2014

The attendance at morning Mass has been outstanding and it is has been great to see so many pupils, parents and staff from our school and our associated Primaries. Next week will be the final opportunity to celebrate Mass every day and we encourage as many people as possible to attend.

Also, the SQA Mass for our S4, S5 and S6 students and families takes place at 7pm on Thursday 24 April.

Study Leave Letter 2014 S4 and S5

Study Leave Letter 2014 S6

Many thanks to all pupils, parents and staff who attended the Lenten Service on Thursday 27 March.   This was lead by our pupils and was very special indeed!

Have your say on the school cafeteria by completing the following survey:

School Cafeteria Survey

Easter School Programme 2014

The deadline for pupils submitting forms for Easter School has now passed, however I would be grateful if pupils intending to apply for classes do so by the end of day on Friday.  This will allow us to set up classes for the Easter School programme and to communicate this information to our pupils.

Thank you for your cooperation in this matter.

Do not hesitate to contact me if you require further information.

NS Macdonald
Depute Head Teacher

The Week Ahead is a weekly bulletin containing news and achievements including pupil and staff successes, photos, upcoming events and trips.

Week Ahead 25 – 24th March

To view all editions of The Week Ahead click here.

Monday 24 March 2014

Below is a picture of Sarah Rae (5a4) and Fraser Cameron (5a3) with Bishop John Keenan, after his Episcopal Consecration in St Mirin’s Cathedral, Paisley on the Solemnity of St Joseph, Wednesday 19 March.

Afterwards they said “It was an impressive occasion. We both found it very invigorating for our own faith. Bishop John is really enthusiastic and inspiring and we were really honoured to be there!”

The following presentation which gives detailed information regarding procedures for the forthcoming SQA exams will be delivered to all S4-6 pupils at their next assembly.  Pupils and parents should familiarise themselves with this.

SQA Exams 2014

For all our exam information and help click here.

Well done to Orla McGowan and Marianne McPhee 5th Year  who raised money for Youth to Lourdes.

Wednesday, March 19 is the Solemnity of St. Joseph, husband of Mary, foster father of Jesus.

The Bible pays Joseph the highest compliment: he was a “just” man. The quality meant a lot more than faithfulness in paying debts.

When the Bible speaks of God “justifying” someone, it means that God, the all-holy or “righteous” One, so transforms a person that the individual shares somehow in God’s own holiness, and hence it is really “right” for God to love him or her. In other words, God is not playing games, acting as if we were lovable when we are not.

By saying Joseph was “just,” the Bible means that he was one who was completely open to all that God wanted to do for him. He became holy by opening himself totally to God.

The rest we can easily surmise. Think of the kind of love with which he wooed and won Mary, and the depth of the love they shared during their marriage.

It is no contradiction of Joseph’s manly holiness that he decided to divorce Mary when she was found to be with child. The important words of the Bible are that he planned to do this “quietly” because he was “a righteous man, yet unwilling to expose her to shame” (Matthew 1:19).

The just man was simply, joyfully, wholeheartedly obedient to God—in marrying Mary, in naming Jesus, in shepherding the precious pair to Egypt, in bringing them to Nazareth, in the undetermined number of years of quiet faith and courage.

From Saint of the Day

As you are aware, Fr John Keenan will become fifth Bishop of Paisley at his Episcopal consecration in St. Mirin’s Cathedral, Paisley on the Solemnity of St. Joseph, Wednesday 19th March 2014.

The pupils, staff and parents of St Ninian’s would like to offer him a spiritual bouquet of prayers to help sustain him in his new job as our Pastor.

If you would like to commit to saying one or more Decades of the Rosary for his intentions, please let the school know, by email preferably schoolmail@st-ninians.e-renfrew.sch.uk by Wednesday 26 March. If you prefer you can telephone the school office on 0141 577 2000 and leave a note of your name and the prayers you commit to offer.

We will arrange for noting the collation of the Decades of the Rosary and for making Bishop John aware of them

Many thanks,

Dorothy Graham
Depute Head Teacher

The Week Ahead is a weekly bulletin containing news and achievements including pupil and staff successes, photos, upcoming events and trips.

Week Ahead 24 – 17th March

To view all editions of The Week Ahead click here.

Congratulations to former pupil Callum Gallagher who scored on his debut for Rangers first team in their 2-0 victory over Dunfermline at Ibrox.  The match was screened live across the UK by Sky Sports.  Callum represented St Ninian’s throughout his time at school and was a key part of the team who won the Paisley and District League and Cup double in 2010.

We wish Callum every success in his future career.

Monday 17 March 2014

St Patrick’s Day – Monday 17 March 2014

Over the period of Lent a number of resources will be posted online for pupils, parents and staff.

Ash Wednesday in Two Minutes

What’s With The Ash?

40 Acts – Do Lent Generously

Preparing for Easter

Lent Calendar

Many thanks to the huge numbers of pupils, parents and staff who attended the S1 Choice Evening on Thursday 13 March.

S1 Choice Evening 2014 Presentation

Congratulations to the U14 and U16 football teams who have both reached the Semi Finals of the Scottish Shield.

The U14 football team won 2-1 versus Braidhurst High School on Wednesday 12 March and will now play the winner of St Ambrose v Graeme High School.

The U16 football team won 2-1 versus Grange Academy on Tuesday 11 March and will now play Holyrood.

Details of both Semi Final matches will be posted on the website and school Twitter as soon as they are confirmed.

Saint Ninian’s were represented at the Paralympics Pathway Festival held at Ravenscraig Regional Sports Facility on Tuesday 11 March by the following pupils; Bethany Chrystal (3a5), Paul Eadie (3a3), Jack Schofield (2a6), Charlotte Taylor (1a9) and Matthew Wynne (1a8).

All pupils participated excellently in nine different sports. Athletics, Badminton, Basketball, Boccia, Football, Judo, Rowing, Table Tennis and Tennis.

Some of our pupils have been identified as talented athletes and will hopefully begin their pathway to Paralympic success.

Photos of this event can be seen on the school Twitter account www.twitter.com/stninianshigh