Its 2020 and this years JMAC has already put there first 2 podcasts of the year. Jack the Ripper and The Mandela Effect. Both are on our youtube channel. Make sure to go check them out!
Month: January 2020
Reading Ambassadors
St Aidan’s high school began running a reading ambassadors programme to bring S1 and S6 together and promote reading. Mr McCrory, an English teacher from St Aidan’s, started the programme to encourage kids from a young age to start reading and uses the help of the S6.
S6 and S1 pupils come together and read books to talk about. One of the S1 involved said “We get to talk to S6’s which is good because we don’t really get to talk to them. Their asking you what’s going on and they listen.”
Another girl when asked about if she liked reading more said “They don’t make us read what we don’t like. If I had nothing to do now I would pick up a book and start reading. When I start to read a book I get really interested in it,”
Reading Club ‘Pages’
Mr McCrory and Miss McDowall began a reading club to encourage S1-S2 pupils to read for fun. Books are brought in for the children based on what they want to read. Pierce said “I’ve got a book by the historian James Holland. He’s made a bunch of children’s books about the battle of Britain but using a first person view”
Miss McDowall said “I think it’s just the idea were trying to get of the stigma that reading is something associated with school. It’s that idea it can be fun.”
One of the girls involved, Millie said “Everybody’s really nice. There’s nobody who will pick on you for liking a type of book or not liking a type of book. It’s basically just really cosy and relaxing” Sara said “I like coming and meeting new people and reading,” The club currently has 10-15 pupils at a time but many more are welcome
A Melancholy Monday
The first day back this term for St. Aidan’s caritas class was a rather sad one. Their beloved Caritas teacher – and head of department- Mrs Barton was leaving. Mrs Barton has been in St. Aidan’s high school religious education department for 23/25? years but has taken up a new position as … in Edinburgh . The pupils said farewell on Monday by putting together a party with the of assistant school chaplain, father Kieran. There was many a hug going round, but the school and pupils wish Mrs Barton all the best in her future endeavours.
Mrs Heinz commented on Mrs Barton work within the school ” Mrs Barton has enriched the life of every pupil in the school, through curriculum and pastoral events and by organising special mission and retreat times. Over the last twenty years. We will all really miss her generous, caring ways.”
In other news, St. Ignatius long term parish priest of 9 years – Father Gerry Maguiness- is taking up a new position as General Secretary of the bishops conference. Father Gerry has been a very involved member of the schools religious education department for many years.
Christmas Concert 2K19
With the end of the year coming quickly, it’s time for St. Aidan’s Annual Christmas Concert. On Monday 16th, all the school’s musicians and vocalists gathered together to showcase their talents with a selection of festive songs. They also performed for a second time on the Tuesday afternoon for the annual pensioners concert. The Assembly Hall was transformed into a winter wonderland to accompany the performances to bring the Christmas spirit to the community.
Throughout the night, we seen performances by the Junior, Senior, Samba and Swing bands joined by the schools’ choir and solo vocal pieces by Katie McCrum. It was a bittersweet night as for many of the bands’ star players this would be their last Christmas Concert as a pupil of St. Aidan’s.
Music Artists of the Decade
Hozier
Okay, maybe not the biggest artists but still, iconic. You probably only know one of his songs, ‘Take Me To Church’. In fairness it is an amazing song. However have you heard his new album? Yes in 2019 this man released his second album and boy did it deliver. Go listen to ‘Dinner and Diatribes’ or ‘Talk’ and you will understand. Please let him come back in 2020. I need it.
Harry Styles
Out of all of one direction Harry has made the best music. While the rest of the boys music is good, you remember Harry’s. On his first Album all of his songs are amazing enough to be the top song though ‘Only Angels’ and ‘Ever Since New York’ are my favourite. Then theirs Fineline. While I personally prefer the first album Fineline is still an amazing album. This man has had 2 albums and not a single bad or forgettable song. Talent. Then theirs lights up. All I need to say is go listen to lights up. Now. Even if you’ve already heard it, just go listen.
P!NK
P!nk has been around since the 2000’s and we aren’t mad. She opened the decade with her album ‘Greatest Hits…So Far’ then released ‘The Truth About Love’, ‘Beautiful Trauma’ and ‘Hurts 2B Human’. She can be enjoyed by parents and their kids. ‘Try’, ‘What About Us’, and ‘Just Give Me A Reason’ are just 3 of the highlights.
Lewis Capaldi
Our very own Scot. Do I need to say much more? This man broke out with his song ‘Grace’ and took over the music world with only two EPs in his back pocket. He’s since released ‘Divinely Uninspired to a Hellish Extent’ where every song, like Harry Styles album, is good. Most albums have one song you’d skip, not this one. ‘One’, ‘Hollywood’ and’ Bruises’ are my favs but it was hard to pick out just 3. And how can we forget ‘Someone You Loved’ and the music video with Peter Capaldi. His album is the first number 1 Album for 2o20. It’s a sign.
Yungblud
We had to get a little bit goth. This list has been far to pop friendly. Although I only found out about Yungblud a couple months ago he’s my 2nd most listened to artist this year on Deezer. Because I have problems. Yungblud released his album ’21st Centaury Liability’ in 2018 and honestly its what we needed. ‘Machine Gun’ and ‘Kill Somebody’ where my favourites. This is not to mention his singles like ‘Tin Pan Boy’ and all his collabs like ‘7 Minutes’ with Halsey and ‘Original Me’ with Dan Reynolds to name a couple.
Bands Of The Decade
Black veil brides
Started out Goth, black veil brides was the angst we needed for this decade. Started out with ‘We Stitch These Wounds’ in 2010 BVB realised 5 albums and an ep over the decade. Highlights of these albums are ‘Knives and Pens’, a classic, ‘Wake Up’, and ‘The Outsider’. This is without mentioning Andy Black blessed us with his solo career which gets an honoury mention on this list.
Imagine dragons
Pop rock band Imagine dragons gave us 4 studio albums, 6 singles and 4 live albums. ‘Evolve’ was easily the best album out of the lot. Not to be a ‘fake fan’ but theres a reasons ‘Radiotactive’ and ‘Believer’ are so popular. Sucker for pain made me a sucker for this band and lets not even mention Dan’s collab with Yungblud for the song Original Me.
5 Seconds of Summer
Although they didn’t join us till 2014 5sos came out strong with their first album also named 5 Seconds of Summer. Sounds good feels good joined us in 2015 much to our relief but the boys forced us to wait till 2018 to get Youngblood, their new album with their modern sound. Highlights include their tour with one direction, ‘If walls could talk’, ‘Amnesia’, and, of course ‘English Love Affair’.
Fall out boy
We already knew Fall out boy was here to stay after their first 2 albums in the 2000’s but they hit bacl hard with Save Rock and Roll. American Beauty/American Psycho was realsesd in 2015 and Mania in 2018. No matter their age or the trends FOB is here to remind you that your emo at heart. ‘Centuries’, ‘Uma Thurman’, and ‘My Songs Know What You Did in the Dark’ were just three of the bangers that made us think back to the good days of Infinity on High, truly the best album of FOB.
One Direction
Despite the alternative influence of this list one direction was the band of the decade. Point. Blank. Period. To say One Direction helped shape the generations growing up in the 2010’s is an understatement. 5 Albums in 6 years. They broke 6 Guinness world records and kept breaking the charts. 28 Teen Choice Awards, 7 Brits, 7 AMAs, 6 Billboard Music Awards, 5 Billboard Touring Awards, and 4 MTV Music Video Awards among others.
Is this a surprise? Even non-1d fans were surrounded by their music and accepted it. Sure there were crazy fans and the reaction to Zayn leaving was ridiculous but 1d was the best band of the 2010’s.
To finish this list here are some 1d hits; ‘Happily’ (acoustic version), ‘Perfect’, ‘Best Song Ever’, ‘One Way or Another’, and ‘Rock Me’.
Reading Aloud
St Aidan’s pupils got back in touch with their roots and visited the primary schools. The younger years got a chance to revisit their old schools to read aloud to the primary 2’s. A handful of pupils were taken to each one of St. Aidan’s feeder schools by the school librarian Miss McGough.
St Aidan’s encourages its pupils to read both fact and fiction and the younger years were excited to visit their old primary and help the new students enjoy reading as well. Both the primary 2’s and St. Aidan’s pupils enjoyed the experience and would do it again.
Christmas Jumper Day 2019
Tis the season for Christmas jumpers. APD ambassadors in St. Aidan’s ran a Christmas jumper day on the 13th of December to raise money for the association of disabled people. Pupils from St. Aidan’s high school will be going to India to give help first hand this summer.
St. Aidan’s has worked with APD for the past years to try create a world of Equity, Dignity, and Justice for people with disability and plans to work with APD for years to come.
Strictly Comes Dancing 2019
Glitz, glamour, lights. On Monday St. Aidan’s teachers hit the stage to show what they can do out of class. Strictly came to St. Aidan’s high school and the crowd was excited. A group of teachers were randomly paired up to dance and strut their stuff to raise money for APD.
APD (the association of people with disability) India is a non-profit organisation that aim to rehabilitee people with disability especially in India.
