The school is delighted to confirm the appointment of next year’s Captains and House Captains. Alex Murphy, Karen Perry, Josh Speirs and Adam Lawson are the new Captains. Leading Curran House will be Lucy Dundas, Liam Findon, Mhairi Lachlan and Ross Megahy. Pamela Kerr, Katie Lawson, Kirsty Oliver and Ciara Owens will lead Houldsworth. Sneddon’s new leaders are Tamarra Binnie, Chris Chambers, Eilidh Smith and Sarah Thomson.

Our new school captains have now been formally presented with their badges of office. Mr Sommerville, the Head teacher, and Mr Vincent Lanagan, Depute Head teacher for the Senior Phase, presented the captains with their badges at the first S5/S6 assembly of the session.

Clyde Valley’s Captains play a key role in the life of the school. They represent the pupil voice in discussions with staff and, very importantly, are given the responsibility of organising a range of events and activities throughout the session. The House Captains always enthusiastically organise and support many of the events in the Inter House Championship as they battle out for the overall trophy. Houldsworth House currently hold Inter House title and are determined to avoid having it wrestled from their grasp by either Curran or Sneddon Houses.

Staff, parents and friends of the school gathered to celebrate the achievements of another busy session in the life of Clyde Valley. Prize Giving was also the final event of Clyde Valley’s 20^th Anniversary session.

Mr Jim Allardyce, chairman for the evening, welcomed everyone before introducing the platform party. He extended a warm welcome to Councillors Love, McKay, Harmon, O’Rorke and Taggart. On this historic occasion for the school, Mr Allardyce was also delighted to welcome renowned local historian, Professor Tom Devine as the principal guest and main speaker.

In his annual report, Mr Sommerville reflected upon the achievements of pupils and staff within the context of the school Clyde Valley has become over its 20 year history.  He acknowledged the school was only able to achieve such success on the foundations of school and community partnerships, and especially those with the home. As he looked forward to the beginning of the Clyde Valley Campus Project during the summer, Mr Sommerville reflected the school was well placed to build on its rich history to date.

Professor Tom Devine delivered an inspirational address. He began by asking all of the young people to recognise the debt they owed to their parents and extend family and to their teachers. He considered all of these to be the support behind their individual successes. With poignant and telling reference to his own experience, Professor Devine urged all of the prize winners to pursue their dreams, be brave in the world and never to be afraid of failure. He challenged them to use any failure in life as an opportunity to refresh personal ambition and to return even more determined to succeed. Professor Devine warmly congratulated all of the prize winners before presenting the awards in the senior school. Councillors Love, McKay, Harmon, O’Rorke and Taggart presented the remainder of the awards.

This year’s Joint Winners of the Proxime Accessit (Runner-Up) were Karen Perry and Sara Thomson. They received the Ness Gallagher Prize and the David Colville Silver Commemorative Medal.

This year’s Dux Award went to Jordan Dunnachie who received the Ness Gallagher Award and the David Colville Gold Commemorative Medal.

Prize Giving was a fitting celebration of all of the session’s main achievements and much enjoyed by all those who took part.

 Clyde Valley’s main prize winners: (from left to right) Sarah Thomson, Jordan Dunnachie and Karen Perry.

During the second last week of term, the school held a special Awards ceremony to recognise the achievements of pupils in S1-S3 who had received at least one departmental nomination for Merit or for Endeavour. Guest of honour was Dave Bleakley from the ‘Tree of Knowledge’ organisation, one of the school’s close business partners.

Trained as a motivational speaker, ‘D’, as he likes to be known, reflected on the challenge of moving from his Belfast home during his teenage years to forge a new life in Scotland. He amused the young people with his amusing tales of how language can often mean different things to people from different countries.

‘D’ then spoke of how during teenage years, it can far too often become ‘uncool’ to learn in Scotland and implored all of the youngsters to discard such a mantle of negativity. He spoke of his own pride in qualifying to become a teacher and encouraged all of them to aspire to be the best learners they possibly can be.

He then graciously presented pupils with their individual Certificates of Achievement. The school wishes to thank ‘D’ Bleakley for his words of wisdom and also the Music Department for their wonderful contribution to the afternoon’s programme. A special mention must go to piper, Callum Cowan and snare drummer, Scott Esslemont who played ‘D’ into the theatre with Mr Sommerville.

‘D’ Bleakley with some of Clyde Valley’s S1-S3 award winners and with Callum Cowan and Scott Esslemont.

A party of senior German pupils, and staff, enjoyed a four-day educational excursion to Berlin during the second last week of session. Mrs Elaine Osprey, Mrs Dorothy Delaney, Mr Alan Carrol and Mr Colin Glover led the pupils in a hectic schedule of visits the city’s famous landmarks that included the Brandenberg Gate, the Holocaust Memorial, the traditional Nikolaiviertel District, the Olympic Stadium, Checkpoint Charlie and the zoo.

The party was excited to be passing the American Embassy when President Barrack Obama was actually visiting. Unfortunately the President was otherwise engaged and unable to join the party at any time!

 Everyone enjoyed the atmosphere of the city and visiting such world-famous landmarks, even if the 30 degree temperatures were hard to bear!

Our picture shows Clyde Valley’s senior pupils at the Brandenberg Gate.

As this school year draws to a close, we yet again find ourselves saying a fond farewell to a number of staff – all of whom have contributed a great deal to Clyde Valley. Mr Carrol, Ms Delaney and Ms McPhee are all retiring at the start of the summer, having dedicated over 80 years of teaching at CVHS between them. Mr Carrol, in particular, has never taught in any other school, giving a huge 37 years of his time, knowledge and kindness to this one building. All of them will be very sadly missed and we wish them all the best as they start their retirement.

Staff and pupils sent these popular teachers into the gentler pace of life after school with many cards and gifts. Ian Sommerville, Clyde Valley’s Head Teacher, paid his own tribute:

‘Alan, Dorothy, Heather and Geraldine have all given outstanding service to this school and have helped make us the school we have become over our 20 year history. They have been fantastic teachers and so proud to be members of the Clyde Valley community. On behalf of generations of pupils and parents, I wish them a richly deserved long, happy and healthy retirement.’

 With Mr Carrol now leaving, Mr Lanagan of the English department will shortly step into the role of permanent DHT for Curran House. While this will certainly bring many new challenges, we are confident that Mr Lanagan will not fail to continue the excellent work started by Mr Carroll and we wish him the very best of luck in his new role.

S6 pupils Josh Speirs, Adam Lawson, Alex Murphy, Sarah Thomson and Lucy Dundas present Alan Carrol, Depute Head Teacher in charge of the senior school, with a range of gifts to mark his retirement after 37 year’s service to Clyde Valley and Garrion Academy.

Clyde Valley’s 4 retirees gather to celebrate their last day in school: (from left to right) Heather Murray, Geraldine MacPhee, Alan Carrol and Dorothy Delaney.

Staff and the outgoing sixth year pupils gathered at the Avonbridge Hotel in Hamilton for their annual S6 Formal.

Alan Carrol, Depute Head Teacher, welcomed everyone before introducing school captains, Glenn McBride and Ricky Owens. Speaking also on behalf of girls’ captains, Eilidh McMath and Kelly Powell, the captains fondly remembered their six years at Clyde Valley and, with great humour, recalled some of the more bizarre events from their catalogue of memories. The duo finished off by paying tribute to the staff who had given them so many opportunities over their six years.

Ricky and Glenn then wished Mrs Geraldine MacPhee, Mrs Dorothy Delaney and Mrs Heather Murray all the very best in their pending retirement.

In a special tribute to Mr Alan Carrol, Depute Head Teacher of the Senior School and who also retires at the end of session, the boys thanked him for his wise guidance and support before presenting him with a gift and a card from all of the sixth year.

Replying on behalf of the staff, Mr Sommerville thanked the year group for their special contribution to the life of the school over the past six years.

Staff and pupils then danced the night away to celebrate their happy times together.

Houldsworth House are this year’s Inter House Champions. Houldsworth came out on top in a very competitive annual sports event, with Curran runner-up and Sneddon in third place. With double points being awarded for the sports, this edged Houldsworth into an unassailable lead at the top of the championship table. Houldsworth will now collect the Inter House Trophy at prize giving at the end of term.

Our picture captures one of the sports fun events, tackled with great enthusiasm by the piggy-backing boys!

The school has only just received confirmation that our nominations of pupils to the Diana Organisation for the prestigious citizenship award named after the late Princess have all been successful.

Jon Connelly and Lauren Craig of S6 will receive an individual award for their contribution both this session and throughout their distinguished school careers.

We also have three Diana Group Award winners: our S6 Peer Education Team in the Volunteering category, our Sports Ambassadors also for Volunteering and our School Captains and House Captains for their outstanding Fundraising work. All of the pupils will receive an individual certificate to mark their fine achievements.

Pupils in S1-S3 studying French or German or European Studies have been enjoying a range of activities under the topics of Drink and Leisure. In French, second year pupils enjoyed the unusual experience of an ‘indoor picnic’ that allowed them to sample bread and cheeses, popular in France. European Studies pupils have also been enjoying ‘tasting’ sessions. One of the highlights of the activities has been the opportunity to visit the school’s long jump sandpit, temporarily turned into a ‘boules’ arena! This gave pupils the fun opportunity to take part in one of France’s most popular outdoor, social pastimes.

Our picture captures some of Clyde Valley’s indoor picnickers and aspiring ‘boulers’!

The Science Department recently celebrated the work of first year pupils by taking the session’s top performers on an exciting day’s adventure to Blairdrummond Safari Park near Stirling. Throughout the year, pupils have had their work and commitment recognised through the monthly Science Awards Scheme. Those with the highest number of nominations were then able to join staff on the safari expedition. In glorious sunshine, pupils enjoyed observing the vast range of exotic animals, boating across the Park’s lake to Chimp Island and taking the opportunity to have a go on outdoor slides of various kinds.

Our picture sees (from left to right) Rebecca Martin, Kara Wilson and Leah Turnbull taking a break under the watchful gaze of a very interested giraffe!

Congratulations to Eilidh Murray, of fourth year, for making it through to be one of three finalists in the Young Volunteer of the Year category at the inaugural North Lanarkshire Council Sports Awards. The event was held at the Sir John Wilson Town Hall in Airdrie and recognised the outstanding work of sports volunteer coaches and mentors in schools and organisations across the entire Council. Internationally renowned coach, Tommy Boyle delivered an inspiring key note address to all of the nominees in which he implored them to guide young people to have strong community values as they started their life journey and to use what they learned through sport to better themselves and others.

Eilidh was nominated for her outstanding work with David Kennedy, Clyde Valley’s Active Sports Coordinator, and the school’s PE Department promoting and running a range of sporting opportunities for younger pupils. Although not the winner in the Young Volunteer category, Eilidh can be proud of her achievement of reaching the final three in such a competitive category.

Eilidh Murray, one of Clyde Valley’s Sports Ambassadors, with her Certificate of Excellence, presented to her at the inaugural North Lanarkshire Council Sports Awards.