Category Archives: St Mungo’s Academy

November: Book week Scotland celebration at St Mungo’s library

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We had an incredible time in our school library during Book Week Scotland last November! The week was jam-packed with thrilling activities that got the pupils buzzing with excitement.

Our talented library helpers put together a fantastic display showcasing this year’s theme: Advendure. The display takes readers on exciting journeys across different countries and fictional universes. It captivated the imaginations of visitors and inspired them to embark on their own literary adventures.

The S1 classes had a blast with the “Wally scavenger hunt” right in the library. With curiosity buzzing in the air, students eagerly searched high and low, putting their observation skills to the test. The thrill of finding Wally hiding among the shelves and uncovering hidden treasures sparked pure joy and excitement. It was a truly unforgettable experience that left everyone buzzing with enthusiasm.

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But wait, there’s more! We hosted a sensational book giveaway all week long, and guess what? The books were absolutely free! That’s right, you read it correctly – FREE books for everyone to grab and devour! Pupils really went all out and cleared the table completely!

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It was such a delight to witness so many books finding new homes.

This year’s Book Week Scotland was an absolute blast! Cheers to all those pupils who wholeheartedly embraced this celebration in so many wonderful ways. May their passion for reading continue to grow as they embark on countless literary adventures ahead!

 

On a cold Monday morning, the serene atmosphere of the library was abruptly shattered when a diligent cleaner made a horrifying discovery – the lifeless body of the esteemed librarian.

Murder mystery

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Now, a team of talented and committed young detectives has taken charge, leaving no pages unturned as they meticulously investigate every clue at their disposal.

Their unwavering resolve is to unravel this chilling mystery and bring the truth to light.

 

 

Rest assured, justice will prevail in this perplexing case!

St Mungo’s library (finally) re-opened!

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Good news! The school library has now reopened and is once again accessible to our pupils after a major refurbishment.

At lunchtime, pupils have the chance to engage in various activities like reading/ borrowing books, playing board games, doing origami, doodling or become a library helpers. These activities not only promote creativity but also contribute to the development of memory, logic, reasoning skills, and expand knowledge.

In our school library, friendships are formed, ideas are shared, and the overall school community thrives.

Additionally, your children have the opportunity to participate in a variety of library clubs, allowing them to explore different interests and engage in enriching activities.

On Tuesdays, the lunchtime activities at school are devoted to an interesting and beneficial session called “Storytelling for Wellbeing”. During this time, pupils engage in the creative process of crafting stories using various mediums like story cubes, music, and images. These stimulating tools help inspire their imaginations and enhance their storytelling skills while promoting overall well-being.

Wednesday after school is the perfect time for young manga/anime enthusiasts to gather and indulge in their shared passion. These clubs are highly sought-after and offer exciting activities like manga quizzes that challenge students’ knowledge. Apart from the quizzes, these clubs also provide an opportunity to explore and immerse themselves in Japanese culture, allowing them to deepen their understanding and appreciation of this unique art form.

Every Thursday, the “Worldwide Diversity Club” organises a lunch exclusively for its members. During this time, members have the opportunity to share and celebrate cultural diversity through presentations, crafts, and engaging exchanges. It is an inclusive and enriching experience that allows individuals from different backgrounds to come together and appreciate various cultures.

Finally, after school on Fridays, many students engage in the exciting world of role- playing games. These games allow them to step into the shoes of adventurers, encountering fictional situations where they must make decisions and face the consequences. It’s a fun and creative way for pupils to immerse themselves in storytelling and problem-solving.

The library is absolutely bursting with life once again!

Tapping into your MacGyver inner spirit!

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It has been a whole year since I have been waiting for fancy new shelves and snazzy library reception desk.

Instead of waiting around, I took charge and decided to embrace my inner MacGyver and get creative! Transform boxes into display units, pupils tables into an impromptu library reception desk & proud makeshift shelves.

With a little ingenuity, I discovered I could turn ordinary boxes into eye-catching display units, repurposed pupil tables to create a temporary library reception desk, and proudly use makeshift shelves. My creativity will shine through as I make the most of what I have while waiting for our fancy new furnishings.

Remember, sometimes the most innovative solutions come from thinking outside the box!

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Summer reminiscing- St Mungo’s Academy

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As fall settles in and the air turns crisp, with leaves changing colours, I find myself reminiscing about summertime. It takes me back to when the St. Mungo’s library was a part of the P7 transition program.

We had an amazing time welcoming our future S1 pupils and engaging them in some exciting library activities. The games and interactive “get to know each other” exercises were incredibly successful in fostering a strong bond among these young learners. It’s truly inspiring to witness how simple activities can create a positive and inclusive environment for everyone involved.

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During their second day, our future S1 had an amazing opportunity to create their own vision board. Some young people had never been given the opportunity to dream beyond the limitations imposed by their social backgrounds. This activity provided them a chance to dream big, break barriers, and imagine a future that knows no bounds.

The activity was a success, as they spent the entire day in the library, completing their board and envisioning a brighter future.

https://x.com/stmungo_library/status/1676957329689038855?s=20

 

 

 

 

St Mungo’s pupils wrote a book!

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Last week, our school was lucky to host the White Water Writing project.

This project is designed to help pupils develop their writing, editing and critical thinking skills by collaborating to write a book in just one week! Eight of our pupils were chosen to participate in this amazing journey, and they worked together to create a novel.

Glasgow University’s camp leaders provided the perfect atmosphere for students to flourish and explore their creative writing skills. The agenda was carefully planned out to ensure that each student had the opportunity to create characters, write drafts, edit and refine their work.

The camp leaders were dedicated in providing an engaging and supportive atmosphere for the pupils as they went through each step of the writing process. They were there to provide guidance and support when needed, ensuring that all students felt confident in their abilities. With this kind of environment, it was no surprise that the pupils achieved amazing results with their creative writing projects!

 

This book is the result of dedication and commitment from all involved, showcasing the power of teamwork and hard work. It is a testament to what can be achieved when you put your mind to something. The pupils have worked tirelessly on this project, and soon enough their hard work will be available in print for all to enjoy!

The White Water Writing project not only provided an opportunity for our pupils to hone their writing skills but also helped them build self-esteem and confidence. Not only did they learn how to collaborate with each other, but they also learned how to write a novel from scratch in just one week! It was truly an incredible experience for all involved.

Victoria Williamson’s visit St Mungo’s

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As a part of the YAldi – Glasgow School Libraries’ Book Award, St Mungo’s had the chance to welcome one of the shortlisted author, Victoria Williamson. She introduced her book “War of the wind”  to a class of young enthusiastic S2 pupils.

Victoria Williamson’s visit to our school was an amazing experience for the S2 class. She talked about her book “War of the Wind” and engaged the pupils in various activities. The pupils had a great time learning BSL fingerspelling, trying out ‘wind walkers’ run on kinetic energy and cracking some codes in groups. It was an inspiring experience that left a lasting impression on everyone present!

First writer visit of the year!

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St Mungo’s Academy may not have a library yet (#refurbishmentIsTakingForever) but it’s not stopping me to promote reading for pleasure as much as I can and with the resources I have (which are very limited these days…).

So when I saw Scottish Book Trust opportunity to host a fully funded writer visit, I seized the chance and applied for the “ Talk including inspiration, writing journey and readings”. I was really delighted to have been selected to host the writer Manjeet Mann as part of the Scottish Friendly Children’s Book Tour. 

I’m glad to have started this new year with this event. Manjeet Mann stories explore the refugee crisis and identity as well as looking at freedom and rebellion. They are perfect topics to inspire young minds.

She shared her verse novels, “The Crossing” & “Run, Rebel”, and spoke about her journey to becoming a writer. She also talked about her charity, Run the World, a not for profit that uses sport and theater as a means to empower women and girls.

At the end of the session the pupils had the opportunity to discuss with her, to show their own writing, to get some writing tips and to buy a signed copy of her books.

Hosting Manjeep Mann session was an invaluable experience that encouraged reading for pleasure and wider reading in our school. It was an incredible opportunity and a strong support to the whole work done so far to enhance a reading culture in St Mungo’s.

Thank you Scottish Book Trust for this wonderful opportunity.

Now let’s work on the next one 😉

Storytelling for wellbeing special session!

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During the “Storytelling for wellbeing” club, the young people have the opportunity to find new ways of expressing their emotional and mental health concerns. They have been sharing stories through different medium (board games, dream log, craft…).

During the last sessions, they developed their life perspectives and empathy skills by reading short stories and focusing on the characters emotions.

We looked at each of the characters and talked about their color and found a bead that went along with the character emotions. We discussed characters feelings and how we sometimes show those feelings.

Then, they had to associate a color to each emotions and make a bracelet of the characters emotions or with their own emotions. The beads help kids think about others and the world around them.

Making empathy bracelets is as a way to develop social-emotional awareness and self-awareness of others and how they feel. When you use a hands-on activity like this bead activity to teach abstract concepts like empathy, children can stimulate thinking and allow kids to grasp the perspectives of others.

This was a great group and individual activity, they had fun!