On Thursday, 16th May, our S1 pupils participated in the Tinto Hill Challenge. This Challenge is open to S1 pupils in Lanarkshire schools and is a great day out for pupils and staff who can fundraise for St Andrew’s Hospice while enjoying the great outdoors and participating in some fresh air, fun, exercise, team work and achievement. Our staff and pupils were lucky to climb Tinto Hill in glorious sunshine and had a fantastic time completing the Challenge.
More than 3000 pupils are expected to take on the Challenge this year and it is an excellent way to raise money for the Hospice.
Well done to everyone who took part.
If you would like to read more about St Andrew’s Hospice, please click here.
Congratulations to our S4 Achieve class who recently collected their Dynamic Youth, Saltire and Paths for All certificates in recognition for their hard work within the community. Thanks to Kyrstie and Iain from GBT for their support.
The Wishaw/Shotts Netball Qualifiers took place at Calderhead High on 18 April. Well done to all schools for taking part and congratulations to Kirk O’Shotts Primary and St Brigid’s Primary who will now go through to the North Lanarkshire Active Schools Finals.
S4 pupil, Mackenzie, visited New York earlier this month with the North Lanarkshire Schools Pipe Band. The Band led the Tartan Day Parade in Bryant Park and were a huge hit in Grand Central Station!
Well done to Mason and Jay who won our World Book Day competition for the funniest joke and book review. Thank you to everyone who participated – we loved reading all your jokes.
S3 pupils from Calderhead High and Taylor High School attended an intensive five day Fire Reach course with Scottish Fire and Rescue Services at Coatbridge Community Fire Station recently. The pupils learned about teamwork, resilience, health and safety and first aid as well as experiencing the role of being a firefighter. Well done boys!
All pupils in S4-S6 have been issued with a copy of the Easter School timetable. Pupils should make teachers aware if they plan on attending. Transport is not provided to and from Easter school. Pupils must bring their own lunch/snacks as canteen will not be open.
Revision tips for pupils (and parents and carers)
With this year’s exams fast approaching, there are some great revision tips and advice contained in the links for pupils on our Study Skillspage.
Parentzone Scotland also has a supporting study section providing advice on how parents and carers can support pupils preparing for exams, including managing their time, getting organised, studying and keeping well.
A link to this and other useful links are available on the parents’ page of the website.
S3 examinations will soon be taking place in Calderhead High School. The purpose of the S3 examination diet is to give pupils and staff an indication of the progress pupils are making on courses and also to help pupils prepare for SQA examinations in S4.
Please click on the image below for more information and a copy of the timetable for the S3 examinations.
The YAY YA Festival took place on 12 March and was a day of events dedicated to the “Teen Reads Scene of Scotland”.
Held in the iconic Cumbernauld Theatre, pupils were treated to talks and readings by many Scottish authors and were delighted to be able to meet them ‘up close’ and ask them questions about their writing.
The authors included:
Kirkland Ciccone
Kirkland Ciccone has written many excellent young adult books and gave an extremely funny opening talk. Kirkland was also largely responsible for organising the Festival so deserves special thanks!
Ross Sayers
Ross Sayers writes the sort of ‘effortless cool fiction that teens should be reading’. He has published a novel for young adults called ‘Mary’s The Name’ and his new book will be coming out in May.
Alex Nye
Alex Nye has written some wonderful ghost stories steeped in Scottish history. She has just published a book about Mary Queen of Scots which will no doubt apperaing in the Library soon!
Danny Weston
Danny Weston/ Philip Caveney, revealed his dual identity to the group and gave us all shivers with his scary books, ‘The Slithers’ and ‘The Scarecrow’. His books are always popular with our readers in the Library!
LJMcWhirter
LJ MacWhirter is the author of ‘Black Snow Falling’ which has been longlisted for CILIP Carnegie Award. ‘Black Snow Falling’ is set in the past (over 500 years ago) and sounds like a fantastic read!
Paul Murdoch and Moira McPartlin
Moira McPartlin is the author of the fantastic Sun Song Trilogy, including her new novel ‘Star of Hope’, which we can’t wait to read! Paul Murdoch‘s new book ‘Sunny’ tackles racial discrimination and we had a fascinating talk with him about his new book and a diverse range of subjects including Bali, the belt and sectarianism!
Pupils also got a chance to get their books signed by the authors and to take some selfies (as you can see!). We had a great day out and as well as encouraging eveyone to read more, I think we’ll have a few more aspiring writers!