Today the weather is warmer and nice and sunny – just perfect for outdoor play. Also perfect if you happen to be working on a boat in the school garden, as a group of 6th Year pupils from Douglas, Boclair and Bearsden Academies, are doing today. They are working towards a Mark Scott Leadership for Life Award.
The Award is inspired by the life of Mark Scott, a 16-year old schoolboy who was murdered in 1995 in an unprovoked sectarian attack. In response to this tragic event, Mark’s parents, Niall and Judith Scott, established The Mark Scott Foundation in 1996 to help young people to develop their talents.
After a few years, the Trustees of The Mark Scott Foundation decided to develop and focus exclusively on The Mark Scott Leadership for Life Award. Through the Award the Foundation helped to bring together young people often separated by different backgrounds, sectarianism, racism or territorialism. Since 1998, more than 2,300 young people have taken part in and benefited from the Award.
The Mark Scott Leadership for Life Award brings together over 170 S6 pupils from 55 schools across the Central Belt of Scotland. The participants are drawn from different social, economic, religious and cultural backgrounds, to work together to deliver projects to benefit their local communities. The innovative combination of an outdoor learning, residential and urban community based project helps to break down barriers that exist within our communities, supports young people to develop their confidence and provides them with the skills and attributes needed in transition to further education, training and employment.
We are very lucky to have a dedicated, enthusiastic wee team of volunteers, who look set to transform our old boat into a great climbing area, and imaginative play venue for our children. They are accompanied by Dave – from the Outward Bound Trust, who is there to see how the young people organise and carry out the project. One of the young men – Jack Weir – actually is a former pupil of the nursery and the school, and we are delighted to see him again, all grown up and working hard to improve his community.
Our SFA Football Coaching is on today, both morning and afternoon – for our pre-school children.
On Tuesday we welcome back Elisabeth Taylor, who has been on maternity leave with baby Patrick for the past year. Tuesday is also Chinese New Year – we will be learning about the animals of the Chinese Zodiac and talking about the Year of the Pig. We are also making a dragon to take on a dragon dance round the school to bring good luck and prosperity to our school community. Kung hey fa choy everyone!!!
Wednesday is gym day – Red and Orange groups today!!!
On Friday we are looking forward to an exciting musical workshop with Susan and Mr Snappy! I wonder what he’ll have in his back pack this week!
