At the end of October, Josh Speirs and Andrew Morley of sixth year joined senior students from across the whole of the West of Scotland for a very moving one-day visit to the Auschwitz-Birkenau Death Camps in Poland. Run by the London-based Holocaust Educational trust and funded by the Scottish Government, the aim of the project is to give pupils a greater understanding of what happened in the death camps and to learn where prejudice, racism and anti-Semitism can lead.

The group visited barracks, and saw museum exhibits that gave a stark reminder of the cruelty inflicted in these dens of inhumanity. Both Josh and Andrew found the experience powerfully moving. The boys will lead the school in our own Holocaust Memorial Tribute in January 2014 as part of the national week of Holocaust Remembrance.

The recent Wishaw Grand Prix Karate open event. In addition, Kayley’s consistent performances in the 3 other meetings in the 4 game tournament, meant she was crowned the overall Grand Prix Winner. Kayley was presented with a lovely silver trophy in recognition of this fine achievement. The school looks forward to learning of Kayley’s future successes in this most demanding of martial arts.

Kayley Pollock proudly displays the bronze medal and the overall winner’s trophy she collected at the Wishaw Karate Grand Prix events this autumn.

The first year inter house football competition turned out to be a close-fought affair. Sneddon got the tournament off to a flier with a 5-3 win over Curran. Houldsworth also proved too strong for Curran, recording a 3-0 win in their first game. In the decided, Houldsworth continued their good form and ran out 4-2 winners to secure the 3 points available for the championship race. Sneddon picked up 2 points, with Curran adding 1 point to their tally.

After 2 events, the overall scores could hardly be closer. Sneddon lead with 5 points, Houldsworth are a point behind, with Curran a further point behind on 3.

To celebrate National Poetry Day 2013, Clyde Valley High held a poetry competition for S1 pupils. This year National Poetry Day was sponsored by Scottish Water. Unsurprisingly, the theme for the competition was ‘Water’.

During library period, each S1 English class discussed poetry techniques, the theme of water and listened to a recording of poet, Diana Hendry, reciting, “What is the Pond Doing?” Pupils were then set the task of writing their own Water poem.

The standard of work was exceptionally high and the two most descriptive and imaginative poems from each S1 English class were chosen, to be judged by Mrs Lesley-Anne Cimmino, Acting Principal Teacher of English.  Mrs Cimmino chose Iona Orr’s poem as the very deserving, winner. For her book prize, Iona requested a copy of the latest edition of ‘Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone’.

Very deserving runners-up were: Elizabeth Hendrie 1C2, Shannon Sirrell 1C1, Lewis O’Neill 1C1, David Kennedy 1S1, Jade Purcell 1S1, Amy Stewart 1H1 and Porsha Fitzpatrick 1H1

Iona Orr, winner of the S1 ‘Water’ poetry competition with her prize, ‘Harry Potter’ novel.