40 S1 and S2 pupils recently travelled to the heart of rural Perthshire for the annual visit to Teen Ranch Scotland. In glorious sunshine the group bade farewell to family and friends as they set off on the two hour coach journey to their Teen Ranch base.

Party leader, Mr Clark Govan of the PE Department, has been running the Teen Ranch club two lunchtimes each week throughout the session in preparation for the stay which is always one of the year’s highlights. At Teen Ranch, pupils stay in surrounding set out like an authentic Wild West ranch, with even wigwams on site.

Over a busy three-day programme, pupils tackle mountain-biking, pony trekking, Canadian canoeing, and water sliding and archery.

Our picture captures Miss Clare Hughes (front and centre) leading Clyde Valley’s pony-trekkers during a training session at Teen Ranch Scotland.

A party of avid readers from S2 and S3 travelled to the Mitchell Library in Glasgow last week to meet with Children’s Laureate, Malorie Blackman. The event was one of a number of ‘Meet the Laureate’ seminars organised by the Scottish Book Trust.

Award-winning author, Malorie, enthralled the young people with her passionate description of her love of literature and the craft of writing. She entertained her young audience with her often amusing tales of the period when she was a struggling young writer and her endless search for a publisher. Her esteemed position as Laureate certainly proved to be one story with a happy ending!

Malorie then took time to answer questions and to sign individual copies of her books.

Clyde Valley’s S2/S3 readers with Children’s Laureate, Malorie Blackman.

Pupils in first year enjoyed a day off timetable last week to take part in the annual S3 Health Day.

Principal Teachers of Pupil Support, Mr Ian Love and Mrs Mari-Claire Barclay, worked with the school’s PE Department and a number of partner organisations to deliver a busy and varied programme of personal development and health activities.

All of the pupils took part with great enthusiasm as they tried their hand at mountain biking, dancing, judo and several other sporting challenges. Colleagues from the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service and Police Scotland delivered CPR training, drugs awareness education and the consequences of knife crime.

Third year pupils captured mountain-biking during Clyde Valley’s S3 Health Day.

Pupils in Clyde Valley’s S1 and S2 classes have adorned the Library Resource Centre with a colourful display of Book Marks. The pupils undertook this challenging design task as part of the celebrations of the World Book Day on 25 April.

Pupils worked on this task in a joint project with the Art Department under the guidance of Miss Wendy McKenna and Mrs Julie Menzies.

All of the finished originals were posted to London for consideration by the National Book Week judging panel. The Clyde Valley pupils will eagerly await the outcome and will have fingers crossed that one of them might scoop the £250 and £100 main prizes.

Miss Clare Daly’s S3 English class recently visited the Falls of Clyde Woodland Centre to undertake field study work linked into the themes they have been working on in their recent novel study. Having read about woodland activities and wildlife conservation challenges, the class were thrilled to visit the peregrine falcon nest site and learn of the 24-hour surveillance undertaken to protect the eggs against poachers.

At the Centre, pupils also learned about the range of plant species to be found in the locality and how the Woodland Trust works to preserve the beauty of the stunning natural surroundings.

In keeping with their thematic study, the pupils were inspired to create their own ‘survival guides’ taking due account of the natural resources at their disposal. Everyone enjoyed a fascinating trip and having a picnic in the lovely spring sunshine.

The Clyde Valley third year pupils and teachers during their recent visit to the Falls of Clyde.

The school is delighted to announce Ryan Devine of S5 will be this year’s Dux of School. Joint recipients of the Proxime Accessit Award for runner-up to the Dux will be fellow S5 pupils, Gary McFarlane and Heather Waugh. Ryan, Gary and Heather will receive their David Colville Memorial Medals at prize giving on Monday 23 June.

Congratulations to Taylor Hamilton of third year on becoming the Scottish Junior Open Boxing Champion. Craigneuk lad, Taylor’s achievement was all the more remarkable as he scooped the title in his first ever competitive fight. Despite impressing trainer Jack Parvin by his determination and fitness, there was a slight hesitancy about setting Taylor’s first competitive bout in the environment of the national championship in Glasgow. However, Jack’s confidence in Taylor was rewarded when he captured the Scottish Junior title, without losing a single round. The school now looks forward to watching Taylor’s boxing career progress in the future.

Taylor Hamilton stops by the Head Teacher’s office to show off his championship medal and fighting stance!

Mr Ian Sommerville, Clyde Valley’s Head Teacher for the past 19 years has announced his intention to retire at the end of the Session. Mr Sommerville succeeded Mr Jack Gallagher, Clyde Valley’s first Head Teacher, in May 1995. He informed staff, the Parent Group and, of course, his pupils last week, letting them know he is very much looking forward to continuing to work hard with them in his remaining months in post. It is anticipated the Head Teacher ‘vacancy’ will be advertised shortly.

Last week, Clyde Valley’s most senior pupils gathered for two final photographs as they prepared to venture into the world beyond school. They assembled for their year group picture, with the blazers they have worn with pride throughout S6. On a lighter note, they then posed in their leavers’ hoodies before gathering with Mr Sommerville, the Head Teacher, to look back on their six years at Clyde Valley.

Of course, their final farewell will come near the end of June when staff and the seniors will gather at the Avonbridge Hotel in Hamilton for the S6 formal dance.

Clyde Valley’s S6 pose on their last day at school.

The last week of term heralded the eagerly awaited annual charities week. This year’s chosen cause was ‘Make a Wish Foundation’. Under the direction of Mr Vincent Lanagan, Depute Head Teacher, sixth year pupils and staff joined forces to provide fun and laughter throughout the week. Their sole purpose was to raise as much money as possible for ‘Make A Wish’ and, as always, the sixth year hoped to smash the record of £6,100 reached on two previous occasions.

The week began on Sunday morning, when seniors completed a sponsored, fancy-dress walk around Strathclyde Park. On Monday morning it was clear madness was in the air as most of the sixth year arrived in pyjamas, night dresses, dressing gowns and slippers for the annual ‘Pyjamathon’. Staff also enjoyed a coffee morning at the interval and were also able to bid for the services of a sixth year slave.

At lunchtimes pupils gathered in the theatre to enjoy the rewards of their ‘Golden Ticket’. Monday was  Departmental ‘The Voice’. Staff from Performing Arts, English, Humanities, Home Economics, Maths and Catering Manager, Danny Muir, all provided a wonderful start to the week, with Humanities triumphing with their unique rendition of Beyonce’s ‘Single Ladies (put a ring on it)’.

Tuesday saw Clyde Valley’s ‘Big Fat Quiz Meets the Bush-tucker Trial’, with forfeits for wrong answers, including delights such as cup cakes with tooth paste and paprika and raw onions! The packed theatre revelled in the on-stage retching!

Wednesday was ‘Strictly Come Dancing’, with staff and pupils combining to entertain with dazzling footwork. On Wednesday evening, the highlight of Charities Week was again ‘Clyde Valley’s Got Talent’ hosted by school captain, Josh Speirs. After a wonderful night’s entertainment the worthy winners were ‘The Highland Prancers’, second year pupils Kaitlyn Kenmure and Amy Mcleod with a wonderfully energetic display of Scottish Highland Dancing. 

Thursday’s lunchtime offering was Clyde Valley’s version of ‘Take Me Out’ with some of the ‘beauties’ on offer looking more beast than beauty! In the afternoon, senior pupils and staff paid for the privilege of tackling an inflatable assault course in the games barn. Sumo fights also broke out as staff and senior pupils challenged each other to bouts of honour!

On Friday morning, staff and pupils filled the theatre to capacity for the final day’s programme. Events included an encore of the winnign acts from the previous days’ events, as well as on-stage sumo fights. 

Sixth year pupil, Emma Mooney, then accepted the challenge of having her hair shaved off for the ‘Make A Wish’ cause. Emma’s mum, Karen, appeared on stage, clippers in hand, to perform the transformation from ‘long-hair’ to ‘no-hair’ for brave Emma. And, Emma’s bravery and determination added a remarkable £1,000 in sponsorship to the overall total!

The sixth year brought the house down with a brilliantly choreographed and complex dance routine to lead Charities Week to its traditional conclusion, with ‘Gunge a Teacher’.

To the raucous approval of a packed theatre, Mr Lanagan revealed the victims.  A week of underhand tactics was not enough to save Mr Burns from being first to endure the deluge of gooey, brightly-coloured mixture of beans, custard, porridge oats, syrup, flour and hundreds of thousands!

 No sooner had Mr Burns plodded from the pool of doom, when the theatre roof became endangered when Mr Lanagan announced the second gungee would, indeed, be Mr Sommerville! To his credit, and obvious shock, Mr Sommerville then took his seat before suffering the waterfall of gunge to the loud approval of the audience.

At the end of a tremendous week, Mr Lanagan and his sixth year team were proud to announce that, thanks to the generosity of staff, pupils, parents and friends of the school, they had raised a staggering, record-breaking total. The final total of £7,300 completely smashed all previous amounts!

Well done to everyone for a fantastic effort.

Our pictures capture some of Clyde Valley’s Charities Week highlights.

All second year pupils recently took part in a motivational workshop delivered by staff from the Tree of Knowledge organisation. Pupils learned about the different areas of the brain and how that knowledge can be used to learn more effectively.

Pupils then enjoyed taking part in a number of team-building tasks that ranged from paper-tower building to untangling tangled skipping ropes without letting go of the rope. The solution to each of the challenges set was to think creatively and work together in a more abstract way than normal.

All of those who took part thoroughly enjoyed the workshop activities. Tree of Knowledge will return after Easter to work with S4 pupils to help with their SQA examination preparation.

Congratulations to Taylor Walker of fourth year for raising a magnificent £147 for the ‘Cancer Genetics Education Fund’ at the Southern General Hospital in Glasgow. Taylor was inspired to raise the money through various sponsored activities after learning that members of her extended family were in danger of carrying the BRCA2 gene, a cause of certain cancers. Although she herself will not become a gene carrier, Taylor was determined to help others who may face health challenges in the future.

Among the activities Taylor completed was to avoid wearing make-up for an extended period. She was delighted to receive sponsorship from family, friends, fellow pupils and teachers, all of whom were pleased to support her heart-felt commitment to raising much-needed funds.

Taylor dropped into the West of Scotland Genetics Research Centre at the Southern General Hospital in Glasgow last week to make her unexpected donation to staff. Staff were pleased to take time of our their busy schedule to express their gratitude to Taylor and to explain her donation will help the centre hold education events for patients and families to share their experiences with each other and staff.

Taylor Walker (third left), with Gordon Lowther (Head of Service – Genetics), Ms Catherine Watt (Principal Genetic Counsellor) and Lesley Snadden (Principal Genetic Counsellor).

Students in the S4 SkillForce group have successfully completed their industry standard First Aid course. Over several weeks, pupils learned the key principles and life-saving skills from their instructors Paul Craig and Jim Carrick. As well as learning how to respond to sprains and fractures, the students learned how to recognize the symptoms of heart failure and how to respond accordingly.

Mr Ian Sommerville, Head Teacher, presented each of the students with their Health and Safety Executive First Aid Certificate at a special ceremony. Instructors Paul and Jim were delighted with the application and concentration the class demonstrated throughout the course and commended them for their commitment.

SkillForce instructors, Paul Craig (left), Jim Craig (right) and the fourth year SkillForce group proudly displaying their First Aid course.

Congratulations to our team of rowers who captured a clutch of team and individual medals at the recent North Lanarkshire Indoor Rowing Championships. Well done to all of the team for their sterling efforts and enthusiastic support of their team members throughout a grueling test of stamina and determination.

S1 Girls: Hannah Devine, Elizabeth Hendrie, Emily Lang, Iona Orr, Lucy Whitehead; S1 Boys: Logan Lawrie, Callum Curly, Ben Miller, Hayden Muir, Lewis Wilson, Dominic Yuill; S2 Girls: Abbie Nelson, Gemma Muir, Nicole Dunning, Leah Hannah, Rebecca Martin, Leah Turnball, Kara Wilson; S2 Boys: Reegan-Jay Boal, Ryan Boyd, Euan Bradshaw, Jordan Brown, Jamie Brownlie, Nathan Harkin, Brandon McCorquodale, Aaron Miller, Jay Wilson, Nathan Wale; S3: Sam Murdoch; S6: Andrew Morley

Clyde Valley’s Indoor Rowing Team

Congratulations to the school’s badminton team who finished as runners-up in the North Lanarkshire Schools League. After another outstanding display at the final, round-robin event of the year at Ravenscraig Sports Complex, Clyde Valley’s S3/S4 team narrowly lost out on the gold position to St Aidan’s High School. This event was supported by Morth Lanarkshire Leisure Trust.

Well done to Zak Reid, Jack Reid, Matthew Turnball, Derek Tyson, Taylor Strang, Donald Hannah, Grant Wood, Nicholas Carle, Craig Tart and Andrew Glover whose consistency throughout the tournament has been outstanding.

And, a big well done to all our badminton players from S1-S6 and for making the badminton club one our most popular and successful sporting activities.

The S3/S4 badminton team proudly display their silver medals after a highly successful season

The school was delighted to learn that Eilidh Murray of fifth year, will be one of the relay team of Baton Bearers carrying the Commonwealth Message to the Glasgow Games Opening Ceremony.

A champion swimmer, and one of the school’s Sports Leaders, members of the Pupil Council nominated Eilidh to be Clyde Valley’s representative in this prestigious challenge in recognition of her outstanding work in promoting sport across the school and within the wider community.

Eilidh will enjoy her brief moment in the Commonwealth Games spotlight when the Commonwealth Baton passes through the Wishaw area on Monday 23 June.

Eilidh Murray, who will carry the Commonwealth Games Baton

Congratulations to David Kennedy, Active Schools Coordinator, and his Clyde Valley team of Sports leaders for organising last week’s highly successful Primary Transition Dance Festival. The festival has become one of the primary secondary liaison programme’s most popular event, with entries from all of Clyde Valley’s 9 partnership primary schools.

This year’s event was another colourful, creative and energetic celebration of the dancing skills of our link primary pupils. The Sports Leaders launched the festival with a dynamic solo performance from Rachel Moon of S5. And, our S2/S3 dance troupe also provided their own imaginative contribution to what was a fantastic day’s entertainment, very much enjoyed by the staff and parents who formed the appreciative audience.

At the end of a fantastic contest the troupe from Newmains Primary School captured the Partnership Shield with their own very special tribute to the music of Michael Jackson.

The Clyde Valley Sports Leaders and Dancers who organized this year’s dance festival.

Bulldozers moved in to the school grounds this week as the Clyde Valley Campus project progressed to physical adaptation of the existing site. The area around the tennis courts has been excavated and will form part of a temporary car park, likely to become operational before the summer holidays.

A new bus drop off and pick up zone will be formed in the current car park, as well as changes to the pedestrian walkways. This will see the main entrance becoming the end of the podium at the Gowkthrapple end to allow the playing fields and current bus bay areas to become an active site for the construction of the new school.

The Clyde Valley Campus project gets underway.

Pupils from the S1 support group recently visited WH Smith in Wishaw as part of our celebration of World Book Day.

After a good look around the book store the pupils took advantage of their WDB £1 book tokens and purchased a book each. Staff at WH Smith, very kindly, provided the group with crisps, sweets, pencils and ‘WBD’ book marks.

The pupils instantly started to read their newly obtained books, a true celebration of World Book Day! Miss Marie McGough, our school librarian, Mrs Evelyn Neilson, Depute Head Teacher, and our Partnership Officer, Mrs Esther Craig accompanied the group and were fulsome in their praise for their enthusiasm and impeccable manners.

The school would like to record its sincere appreciation to all the staff at WH Smith for their generous and warm hospitality.

Members of the S1 Support Group with the books they chose during their recent visit to WH Smith in Wishaw as part of the World Book Day celebrations.

Members of the Pupil Council have launched an anti-dog fouling campaign. Members have been disgusted by dog owners who have accessed school grounds and the areas around our boundary and allowed their pets to foul grass and pavement areas.

Environmental Officers from North Lanarkshire Council have been delivering presentations to all junior school Social Education classes to highlight the problems such irresponsible dog ownership can cause. Council members have themselves been active around the school promoting this campaign.

The Council has secured a supply of waste bags form NLC and has been distributing these to pet owners in school to encourage good practice amongst our own dog owners.

There has also been a real fun element to the campaign with senior members of Council adorning dog suits and wandering ‘responsibly’ around the podium and playground areas during lunchtime. Our ‘pets’ proved very popular in the ‘selfie’ market!

Goods doggies! Clyde Valley Pupil Council members with first year pupil, Caitlin Jeffrey as they help promote their anti-dog fouling campaign.