Congratulations to Cara McDickom who has been selected by City of Glasgow Gymnastics Club to compete in the Mardis Gras Invitational competition in Mobile, Alabama, USA in February 2016.  This is a fantastic achievement and we wish Cara the best of luck.

We appreciate that the school car park is busy at the beginning and end of the school day but pupil safety is paramount.  Therefore, we would like to remind parents that pupils should only be dropped off in the ‘drop zone’ on the left hand side of the school car park in the morning or in the bus lane next to the nursery.  Parents should not park at the front of the school as is it not safe to do so and blocks the road leading to safety concerns for pupils.  Access and use of the disabled bays are for parents or pupils with a disabled badge.  During the school day, the ‘drop zone’ and bus lane should not be used for parking and the bus lane cannot be used at the end of the day due to the First Service buses.  There is a strict 5mph limit in the car park at all times.  We appreciate your on-going understanding and support with regards to the school car park.

Today, S3 and S4 practical woodworking pupils who have an interest in the joinery industry had the opportunity to engage with Morgan Sindall Construction and infrastructure ltd through a combination of discussion and practical demonstrations.  The pupils received a brief introduction to the industry and possible career paths.  Pupils participated in a discussion about technical craft and pupils were taken through a range of sample fixings which are used in construction projects.  Pupils then participated in a practical demonstration of the construction of sample partitions.  The school have a successful partnership with Morgan Sindall and we look forward to continuing our work with them in the future.  More photographs can be viewed here.

The Scottish Government has launched a website dedicated to supporting anyone worried about child sexual exploitation.  The website contains information for children, young people, friends and families.  The website is:
http://www.csethesigns.scot/

All S2 pupils have been issued with a letter which provides details of the upcoming Options Information Evening which is taking place on Thursday 28 January from  7pm – 9pm in the Street.  This information evening will help parents to support their child through an important transition in their school careers.  A copy of the letter can be found here.

On Monday 25 January, First Minister Nicola Sturgeon officially opened Jenny’s (S1) fundraising office.  The office provides Jenny with somewhere to further devote herself to her fundraising activities.  Jenny’s office was built by a local East Kilbride company.  Jenny has now raised over £111,000 for her charities which is an outstanding achievement.  We wish Jenny continued success with her fundraising endeavours.

Pauline’s Hair Salon.
An opportunity has become available for a junior hair stylist at a local salon. Interested applicants should be sixteen years of age. Anyone looking for more information about this exciting opportunity should contact Mr McFadden in Pupil Support.

Tesco
Tesco are currently advertising a range of exciting apprenticeship opportunities in their retail, technology and business operations. All interested applicants should speak to Mr McFadden in Pupil Support as soon as possible. More information about the opportunities on offer can be found at.
http://tescoearlycareers.com/apprenticeships-school-leavers/?tab=1496

On Thursday 21 January, Williamwood High School hosted a Burns’ Lunch to celebrate the life and poetry of Robert Burns. We were joined by senior citizens within the community who enjoyed a three course lunch which included scotch broth soup to start followed by haggis, neeps and tatties and finished with tea and coffee with shortbread and tablet.  Entertainment included musical interludes, poetry, the piping of the haggis, the toast to the lassies and the reply to toast to the lassies by pupils from S1 to S6. S4 hospitality pupils also served our guests and were exemplary in their professionalism.  Everyone had an enjoyable lunch and left with a gift bag of goodies including a photograph to remember the lunch.  We would like to thank the Parent Council for their continued support; the PTA for providing the funds for the event;  ER Good Causes fund; the office staff; The Busby Hotel; school technician; BAM janitors; school catering staff as well as East Renfrewshire CHCP for providing transport to all of the guests in attendance.   More photographs can be viewed here.  A short video of the lunch can be viewed here.

The National Parent Forum of Scotland has been working with Skills Development Scotland as part of the programme of work underway in Developing the Young Workforce.  They have produced some tailored information for parents, as a part of their successful ‘in a nutshell’ series, which covers the new Careers Education Standard.  This new nutshell provides parents with information about the role of the programme in schools and some additional information.  Information can be found at: http://www.npfs.org.uk/career-education-a-world-of-possibilities/

Congratulations to Ross Nesbitt (S2) who has been selected  to represent Great Britain  as part of the Youth Alpine Ski Team at the International Youth Games at Abertone, Italy in April 2016. Good luck Ross!
Wilma and Alan  Nesbitt

After a successful win at the Class Clowns Comedy competition at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe last year, former pupil Joe Gardner is now on the mission to get more young people into comedy. He’s organising Glasgow’s first teenage comedy night being held on Saturday 23 January at Café GRO in the city centre which starts at 7pm. Joe was also on BBC Radio Scotland on Monday to promote the event which can be accessed here. Joe credits the fantastic drama department at Williamwood for getting him into comedy after they helped him enter the Class Clowns competition.  As a school, we are incredibly proud of Joe and wish him every success in his comedy career.

S3 Modern Studies pupils had a great afternoon at the Sky Academy in Livingston last week. Presenters Jonathan, Ahmed, Cara, Amy, Harley, Ruaridh and Joe used their excellent communication skills to write a script and be the faces of the news report on ‘Education in Scotland’. However, they couldn’t have completed the work without camera operators and an editing team of Adam, Jamie, Madelaine, Liam, Charlie and Ruth. Well done to everyone involved!

On Friday 29 January the Malawi group will be hosting a Burns Night fundraiser. The night will include a 3 course Burns supper as well as live entertainment, a ceilidh and readings. Tickets cost £12 for adults, £6 for under 12s and can be purchased via the school office, Mr McKenna, Mr Atkins or any member of the Malawi group. All money raised will go towards funding a group project while pupils are in Malawi in June 2016.  Guests are encouraged to B.Y.O.B.