It’s a New Year, in a relatively new department (where physical location is concerned).  This month we reflect on what has been happening in the Design & Technology Department since their relocation in August 2013.

The new rooms have felt like ‘home’ for a number of months now and thank you to all our new neighbours who have made us feel very welcome. 

It has been business as usual since taking ownership of our new premises.  Pupils in all year groups have been patient, understanding and continue to produce fabulous work.  The following highlights a number of areas where I have seen fantastic examples of pupil work.

S1:  It was great seeing the pupils working on and completing their ‘Soma Cube’.  Personal highlight for myself was watching pupils try to figure out 1 solution for this mathematical puzzle only to be told there are 240 possible solutions!

The ‘Celebrating Scotland’ of work was also a great success.  Pupils embraced the new software that came into the school with the upgrade to Windows 7 and produced professional looking work using some of the new features available on the software.

S1 – S6:  With the upgrade to Autodesk Inventor 2013, pupils have been taking advantage of the department’s subscription to 3dmadeeasy.com.  The Website offers pupils access to a wealth of video tutorials to learn about how to use the new version of ‘Autodesk Inventor’ (3D modelling software) we have in the department.  A number pupils have downloaded this ‘industry standard’ software at home from the ‘Autodesk Student Community’ website and are now able to take advantage of this subscription at home also.

S2: Certificates and Awards

Congratulations to the following second year pupils who have received Certificates of Excellence from the Design & Technology Department for their outstanding work in term

 Pupils nominated for Merit: 

 2/1  Paul Codona, 2/1  Meghan Hill, 2/1  Bobbi Kennedy, 2/1 Daniel McMillan, 2/1  Lisa Megahy, 2/1  Stuart Murphy, 2/3  Jamie Brooks, 2/3  Jamie Brownlie, 2/3  Calum Dunn, 2/3  Nicole Dunning, 2/3  Chloe Hall, 2/3  Nathan Harkin, 2/3  Christopher Jack , 2/3  Jenna McFarlane, 2/3  Gemma Muir, 2/3  Carly Murray, 2/3  Charlie Smith, 2/3  Caitlyn Thomson, 2/4  Rhys Brown, 2/4  Cameron Gray, 2/4  Leah Hannah , 2/4  Ross Hayhoe , 2/4  Adam Hogan, 2/4  Nathan Wale 2/5  Melissa Arnott, 2/5  Sam Campbell, 2/5 Nikola Carswell, 2/5  Jack Gregor, 2/5  Brandon McCorquodale, 2/5  Paige McLelland, 2/6  Lauryn Brown, 2/6  Chloe McKean, 2/6  Kayleigh Moon,

Pupils nominated for Endeavour:

2/1  Nicole Busby, 2/1  Aleksandra Komarek, 2/1  Annabel Rae, 2/1 Lewis Scott, 2/1  Rachel Taylor, 2/2  Reegan-Jaye Boal, 2/2  Lisa Conlon, 2/2  Kayleigh Hart, 2/2  Stephen Morton, 2/3  Louise Cumming, 2/3  Ailiesh McInnes, 2/3  Jason McLeary, 2/3  Megan McLelland, 2/4  C Chelsea Armit, 2/4  Jamie Clydesdale, 2/4  Callum Hamilton, 2/4  Rebecca Martin, 2/4  Rachael McEwan, 2/4  Abbie Nelson, 2/4  Leah Turnbull, 2/4  Jay Wilson, 2/4  Kara Wilson, 2/5  Arran Dickson, 2/5  Rebecca Kilpatrick, 2/5  Sasha McKenna, 2/5  Sophie Paterson, 2/5  Amber Proudfoot, 2/5  Megan Thomson, 2/6  Kerr Brown, 2/6  Claire Forrest, 2/6  David McMillan,  2/6  Karah Millar, 2/6  Rachel Murdoch, 2/6  Ashleigh Park, 2/6  Linzi Penman, 2/6  Nicole Rogan, 2/6  Amy Speirs, 2/7  Ryan Boyd, 2/7 Euan Bradshaw, 2/7 Katelyn Campbell, 2/7 Laila Dougan, 2/7  Ellie Louise Forsyth, 2/7 Katelyn Kenmuir, 2/7 Zoe Knox, 2/7 Amy MacFarlane, 2/7 Amy McLeod, 2/7 Kira Melville, 2/7 Aaron Miller, 2/7 Jaqueline Sweetin.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

S1 ENTERPRISE CLUB:

The Enterprise Club continues to be well attended by a number of S1 pupils meeting on a Friday at lunch time.

During the weeks leading up to Christmas the pupils decided to create and donate a ‘Nativity Scene’ to our senior community friends at the Law View Sheltered Housing Complex in Wishaw which was gratefully received.

Eco-Schools 

Miss Kelly and Miss McGough have been working tirelessly with the members of the Wonderful World Club to make pupils across the school aware of environmental issues.  A ‘Picnic Day’ was one activity organised in October where the pupils were able to sample some seasonal produce. Since then they have been busying themselves with other activities, including making ‘Bird Balls’ to attract the local birds, ensuring their survival as the winter months approach. Shortly, they will be undertaking a project to try and tackle the problem of dog-fouling in the community which seems to be a massive blight on the environment and poses health risks also. In the new term Miss Kelly will be launching a Biodiversity Competition with pupils being asked to capture pictures of things that encapsulate ‘Biodiversity’ with the pictures being displayed in the House Blocks. More details can be sought from Miss Kelly. The school is due to renew its ‘Green Flag’ status and it is hoped that all the hard work of the Wonderful World Club and their two leaders will lead to our status being renewed.

 

Fairtrade 

The Fairtrade Steering Group met earlier this month and it was decided that the annual ‘Beat the Goalie’ competition should take place in December. The 3-day event was very successful and pupils queued up to take their chances against some famous goalies like Mr Bruin, Mr Conway, Mr Thomson, Mr Ford, Miss Hughes, Mr Keating and Miss Kelly. On the first day we had a celebrity goalie in the form of Mr Malcolm Taylor, Football Development Coach at Motherwell FC. Our sixth formers, Ross Megahy, Ross Garrard, Josh Speirs, Andrew Morley, Adam Lawson and Calum Glover all helped boost our stock of talented goalies. The winner….( I will let you know who this is afterwards) received two tickets to the Hamilton Accies game which had been kindly donated by Mrs Franks. Mr Sommerville was on hand to take photographs and show off his footballing skills. Thanks to all who made the event a success and a special thanks to Miss McGough and Mr Jones who were on hand to supervise. Mr Jones couldn’t resist the urge to take a penalty kick, despite hanging up his football boots last year after sustaining a knee injury. He scored a couple of goals but was soon banished to the sidelines by the boss.The total funds raised from the event will go towards purchasing Fairtrade gifts for the residents of Law View Sheltered Housing.

Work Experience 

‘Work Experience Week’ ran this year from 28th Oct- 1st Nov. Pupils enjoyed a break from the routine of coming into school each day and instead sampled the world of work. Please see some of the testimonies. All had a positive experience with one pupil impressing their employer so much than he was offered an apprenticeship with Arnold Clark.

Enterprise 

An S1 Enterprise Group was launched in December. Mr McDonald supervised the pupils in a pilot scheme of making  ‘nativity scenes.’ The pupils hope to sell these to staff before the end of term. Thanks to Mr McDonald and Mr Martin for helping pupils with this task. Hopefully as the group expands, new and innovative ideas will be turned into money-spinning activities in the new year.

Vocational Courses 

Hairdressing, Construction and Childcare continue to be popular course choices with students at Clyde Valley High School. Please see the testimonies.

Fire Reach 

12 S3 pupils were invited to take part in a Fire Reach programme in October at Coatbridge Fire Station. The lucky individuals were subjected to the same rigorous training as a new recruit.   All came back having found the exercise worthwhile with some expressing an interest in following a career in this field.

Check out the gallery below for a variety of photos!