Our Highlights – JMAC- The Blog Experience

Strathclyde University Language ambassadors!!

St.Aidan’s Modern Languages department received a visit from three students from Strathclyde University. The students all study languages and came to discuss with second and fourth year pupils the benefits of languages and also university life.

The ambassadors talked about their personal experience of languages and when deciding what they wanted to do in the future they decided to go for languages as they were a good foundation for any career they became interested in for the future as its considered an ‘added bonus’ by most employers.

However, for pupils who didn’t feel the academic pathway to languages was right for them the ambassadors reminded them that there was other more practical ways of learning a language e.g. taking up a job in a foreign country.

The ambassadors prompted the second and fourth year students to participate in the talk and went on to discuss the differences between university and high school life (contact hours, work load etc.) and then also told the pupils about their experiences spending a year in a foreign country as part of their studies and how different it was compared to living in Scotland.

Speaking to one of the ambassadors – Paul Farrell- he commented on why he decided to study a language “At first it was kind of an accident, it was only after I started studying the course that I realised how much I enjoy it. For anyone who’s going into it I’d just say it’s very practical and interesting.” Paul also commented on why it was important to share their experience of languages with the younger pupils “I think especially here there’s not a lot of awareness about foreign languages, a bit of an attitude about it. I’ve had people say to me they’re not keen on learning a language because “everyone speaks English.” I don’t think that’s a great attitude, I think some people are scared of learning languages because they may find it difficult or a waste of time. I’ve personally found that not to be the case, it’s been the best thing I’ve ever done for myself. I’m here to get people to be more aware of it and more relaxed about it. I think it would do us the world of good.”

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.

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.

S5 Ceilidh

Every December the fifth year students at St.Aidan’s High come together to celebrate Christmas in the best way, by having a ceilidh! The committee have worked so hard over the past few weeks leading up to the big event.

Everyone was dressed to impress on the night and thoroughly enjoyed one of the best experiences of their fifth year.

The night featured lots of Dancing and singing as well as a lovely meal. The students even put together a video for Mrs Devlin who unfortunately could not make it to the Ceilidh that night.

Some of the fourth year pupils came dressed as elves for the night to help serve drinks to the fifth years.

An overall great night for everyone!

Photographs- Daphne Miller and Eilidh Kinsman

Edited- Daphne Miller

Michael Byrne #LETsTALK

“It’s okay to have a bad day. The trick is to not let a bad day turn into a bad week.”

On the 26th of November St. Aidan’s was visited by Michael Byrne a speaker on trauma and mental health. Megamind invited Michael to talk to raise awareness about mindfulness for the launch of their colouring and activity book unplugged. Michael started the #LETsTALK after founding Lived Experience Trauma Support (LETs) to help others who went through trauma like him.
He spoke to the 5th and 6th year pupils about his own story and the importance of talking. He said “It’s okay to have a bad day. The trick is to not let a bad day turn into a bad week.” He encouraged us to talk about our mental health especially now as the senior pupils are the ones who can change the stigma.
Pupils were interested in the talk and glad to see mental health being talked about. Sarah Mecredy, a S6 student said “The talk with Michael really opened my eyes and made me see a bigger picture. I thought it benefited the fifth and sixth years as this is a tough time for us and to see someone who has struggled immensely but eventually found happiness and peace was very inspiring”

Megamind Bakesale

Young enterprise gave students the opportunity to run their own business for 6 months in school. 6 senior pupils from St Aidan’s took on the challenge and are now starting their own company called Megamind. They’re developing a colouring and activity book called ‘Unplugged’ to promote mindfulness.

Before they could start, they had to pay their registration fee. On November 20th they ran a bake sale to raise the money to develop unplugged. The bake sale raised over £100. Megamind has now started to develop unplugged and is on the way to be in print before December.

Daria Orlicka, managing and sales director of Megamind, said “As part of a team we chose to raise money by doing a bake sale at school. We raised enough money to proceed with our plans, which is the making of our book unplugged. We are all excited since this is just the beginning”

SCIAF Real Gifts

This week St. Aidan’s High school Caritas class promoted and sold SCIAF Real Gifts during a Christmas themed staff coffee morning. The pupils served mince pies, coffee and tea to the large number of staff who visited during their Christmas lunch to show support.

Purchasing a Real Gift provides something vital for people living in poverty in Africa, Asia or Latin America such as emergency blankets, seeds or even a goat. Whilst also giving a thoughtful gift to someone in your life. The pupils raised around £180 from this event.

Top 5 Best Things About Halloween

October is here and spooky month is upon us!! And that means Halloween, truly one of the best holidays. And here only the top 5 best things about Halloween though there are many.

Decorations

Let’s be real, when a house puts out a single bowl of sweets with a sign saying ‘take one’ disappointment doesn’t begin to describe that house. Pumpkins litter people’s doorsteps with carvings from the classic pumpkin face, to witches hats, to intricate designs, to pumpkins throwing up their guts. Get creative.

And then there’s the inside. Houses begin to put up fake cobwebs, hanging ghosts, and skeletons. A parties cool and all but a Halloween party with skeletons, frozen hands as ice, hanging ghosts, and fake dead body outlines are the best.

Trick or treating

Okay maybe it’s a ‘kid thing’ but it’s also amazing. Dressing up, going up to strangers houses, asking for sweets and getting them! For free! As someone who grew up with 2 brother’s close in age we were set for weeks. Imagine a pile of sweets, nuts, fake tattoos, and even sometimes a juice spread across your living room. For free! Some people even home baked treats for the trick or treaters.

And there’s the jokes. Oh the jokes. Although I’m ‘too old’ to trick or treat answering the door and hearing the jokes is spooktacular. Who doesn’t love a dumb Halloween pun? And sometimes they get creative with their jokes

If this spooky season you’re too old to go trick or treating find a brother or sister or even a cousin to take round! It’s worth it. It’s one of the perks of having a two year old brother.

Pets in costumes

This had to be its own category. Pets can be cute. Cats, dogs, even snakes can all have there moments. But on Halloween?

What better thing is there than when you answer the door on Halloween and it isn’t a bratty kid but a bratty kid and a dog? And that dog is a pumpkin! I don’t even need to say anything else.

The aesthetic

Halloween is an aesthetic. Fall colours, Halloween parties, spooky movies. Plus since its autumn you have the bonus of fall. You can watch scary movies with a blanket and hot chocolate since its October and who cares?

Recently October has become its own aesthetic. Orange, pumpkin spice, Halloween makeup. Instagram floods with ‘scary’ makeup. Carving pumpkins is becoming a trend. Every country has its own little extra like Americas candy corns just to make it even better. The Halloween aesthetic is own of the best.

Costumes

Best for last, am I right? Pet costumes aside it’s the human costumes that are the best. You can do your own thing, a family costume, a couple costume, a group costume, or even where a shirt saying ‘this is my costume’, though that is a let-down let’s be honest.

And costumes cater for all types. Minimal effort people draw six lines on their face and call themselves a cat and spooktacular people bust out the latex and fake blood and look like they got lost on their way to the hospital. Costumes aren’t even just scary any more. Punny costumes, political costumes, cute costumes, and much more. Some people are using body paint to morph themselves into something not even human.

Who doesn’t want to be someone else for a day? Okay maybe not completely but still. Halloween gives you that (kind of). You can at least dress like whoever you want and act like them with little to no judgement.

So get your costume, get your trick or treat bags ready. It’s Halloween this Thursday and the Victoria Park Halloween party is tonight, it’s not a drill. Its spooky time

Macmillian Coffee Morning

Macmillan cancer support is one of the UK’s biggest charities and provides specialist health care, information and emotional and financial support to people affected by cancer. Macmillan have a free phoneline, online community, and many other resources for those affected with cancer.

Fundraising is crucial to an organisation like Macmillan. On the 26th of September 2019 the s6 year fundraising committee hosted 2 coffee mornings, one for staff at break and one for S6 at lunch.

Staff and students brought in home baked and bought cakes, biscuits, and even tablet for the event. For £3 staff were able to go into the coffee morning at break and feast on the treats brought in with coffee and tea to match.

S6 years got their turn at lunch. For £1 they came in, got a sticker, and had their coffee morning in the hall. Everyone was able to help themselves to cakes, tablet, and biscuits. Many didn’t expect to spend their whole lunch there but soon nearly the whole of S6 year was in the assembly hall.

What started as a coffee morning with some music in the background soon turned into an impromptu S6 year lunch party. With music playing a couple S6 years danced as they walked leading a few to begin dancing at the back of the assembly hall. By the end nearly everyone was up dancing. Miss O’Neil and Mrs Devlin soon joined in. Miss Conley even showed up just in time to be sung happy birthday. The S6 year coffee morning finished with a raffle with 3 students walking away with a prize.

Nearly £600 was raised for Macmillan and it was enjoyed by everyone. S6 year student Samantha Reynolds said “It was a great day for a great cause and seemed like everyone had a brilliant time at the coffee morning and we raised a lot of money for Macmillan as well as hosted a raffle “

St. Andrew’s 6K 2019

St.Andrew’s is a charity close to our schools heart. Having raised almost £82,000 we are desperate to make it to the triple figures by doing all we can for the charity this year and beat our biggest competitors, Caldervale high school.

Not including the money raised from our senior pupils Ben Nevis climb this year. Our School also has a huge turnout for the 6k fun run and the Santa dash.

St. Andrew’s is a charity who cares for those living with life limiting illnesses and also their families through either one of their hospices or home visits. The charity is supported through NHS Lanarkshire but that only covers a small fraction of the cost of running the charities services. That’s why they need our help!

the Charity requires £88,000 a week to run. If everyone in NHS Lanarkshire donated two pence a day we would be able to cover the costs of St.Andrew’s services for a whole year! A little goes a long way and the school is really proud of all the fundraising we have taken part in over the year.

We had an outstanding number of pupils,teachers and even dogs attending the 6K last year and we hope to increase that number yet again this year so bring if you want bring your gran’s dog, your dog, your neighbour’s dog and run, walk or skip round the park!