Welcome to another week of exciting activities and community engagement!

This week, we continued our fantastic boxing program at Southside Boxing Academy & Community Hub. This incredible local facility is dedicated to empowering young people through sport, fitness, and personal development. Beyond teaching boxing skills, they foster confidence, discipline, and resilience in a supportive environment. We’re grateful for their commitment to our students’ physical and mental well-being!

---

This week we also marked and celebrated Neurodiversity Week. Our school hosted a Coffee Morning where staff and students came together to learn more about neurodiversity and the importance of creating inclusive spaces for everyone.

Our coffee morning was a wonderful opportunity for our community to connect, share conversations, and reflect on how we can continue building a more inclusive and accepting school for all.

---

Finally, a huge shout-out to our wonderful students who took on a challenge this week to make a positive impact! A couple of our young people headed out into our school grounds and local area to litter pick and remove rubbish, showing real environmental responsibility and care for the spaces we share.

Keep an eye out for more updates and happy first day of Spring! 

It has been a lively and rewarding two weeks here at the Caledonia Centre! We recently set up two new BGE classes, and it’s wonderful to see all our pupils feeling much more positive and engaged with the new arrangements. A special moment was when one of our S1 pupils was joyfully reunited with a friend from S2—having spent lots of time together in primary school, their reunion brought smiles all around.

In the BGE Katrine room, pupils have been combining creativity and learning by using playdough to explore French numbers. It’s great to see hands-on activities making language learning fun and interactive!

Last week, we were delighted to welcome a visit from our QIO, Mrs. Sim, who recognized many of our S1 pupils from their primary schools. It was a lovely chance to catch up and share progress.

Our cooking sessions are back in full swing, and this week the pupils made some delicious fruit breads. We’ll be sharing photos soon—stay tuned!

Meanwhile, our S3 pupil has been leading an exciting project, building a bridge as part of pupil-led learning. The big question now is: How many bricks can it hold? We can’t wait to find out! Our S4 English class have been developing skills in communicating straightforward information through letter writing, focusing on clarity and purpose. This practical work helps pupils express ideas clearly in everyday situations.

Read more

This week in Katrine Room, our learners explored 2D shapes, developing their understanding of geometry through hands-on activities. Using a variety of materials, they enhanced their creativity and problem-solving skills while making different shapes.

Our S2 pupil demonstrated leadership and teamwork as team captains in basketball, applying his physical skills and working collaboratively in a fast-paced game.

In Design and Technology, an S3 pupil showed practical skills and creativity by completing a fantastic egg holder project, reflecting the CfE focus on designing, making, and evaluating.

Meanwhile, our S1 students brought energy and enthusiasm to the Friday lunchtime radio  skills through music and broadcasting.

Read more

This week, one of our pupils began a placement at the Clay Cafe, attending one day a week for the next seven weeks. They enjoyed making brownies from scratch, using the dishwasher, and helping with customer service by taking orders. Well done!

Two of our pupils have been working on a self-directed LEGO project during lunch and break times. They were excited to proudly showcase their creative LEGO design  today.

Another pupil completed a 1,000-piece jigsaw puzzle over the week during lunch and break times this week—an impressive achievement!

A massive thank you to the Chemistry department for inviting our S1 pupils to join the Shimadzu Science class this week. They had the opportunity to take part in spectrometry and chromatography—a truly enjoyable experience for all involved.

 

This week, our S1 pupils had their photographs taken for their NEC cards. The NEC card  provides free bus travel and various discounts in shops. If any parents need assistance with lost NEC cards, please feel free to contact us.

At the Caledonia Centre, we proudly watched our senior pupils take an important step in their post-16 transition as they began their weekly college placements. The courses included Professional Cookery, Creative Arts, and Hotel Skills. Our pupils have already formed new friendships, and we look forward to hearing more about their college experiences throughout the year.

Finally, we were delighted to welcome Kirsty from the Marine Conservation Society as part of their Education Road Show. We learned a great deal and had a fantastic time.

To find out more about this opportunity please visit https://www.mcsuk.org/news/the-ongoing-success-of-scotlands-marine-education-roadshow/

Some pupils from the Caledonian Centre had the pleasure of going to Tony Macaroni in East Kilbride.

They enjoyed making their own pizzas starting from simply a ball of dough and then selecting their own toppings.  After devouring their pizzas, they all enjoyed some ice cream.  Thank you to all the team at Tony Macaroni at St James Retail Park, East Kilbride.

Everyone was made feel very welcome and enjoyed this experience very much.