Month: May 2016

The School Sports was held last week, in great weather, with over seventy athletes participating in a variety of Track and Field events. The event is also a House competition and this increases the level of effort that each athlete displays, as they compete to win the overall trophy. Individual champions in each event were:

S1 –  600 metres            Connor Robertson                   Alanna Thomson

S2 – 600 metres            Cameron Comrie                     Rachel Thomson

S1 – 200 metres            Christopher Gibb                    Keri McGrory

S2 – 200 metres            Craig Clelland                         Hollie Currie

S1 – 80 metres             Austin Muya                           Sophie Bridges

S2 – 80 metres             Aidan Belton                           Megan Currie

S1 – Javelin                    James Baird                             Stephanie Dow

S2 – Javelin                    Aidan Belton                           Eleanor Duncan

S1 – Long Jump             Mark McCann                         Layla Morris

S2 – Long Jump             Finlay Cowan                          Megan Currie

S1 – Shot Putt               Jackson Gourlay                     Rebecca Wilson

S2 – Shot Putt               Ewan Abercrombie                 Kimberley Scott.

S2 – Relay                      1st Balmalloch                         2nd  Colzium

S1 – Relay                      1st Dumbreck                          2nd Colzium.

When all the points were tallied up for each event Colzium House were victorious in both S1 and S2 competitions. Congratulations to all!

We look forward to welcoming the P7 children, who will be transferring to Kilsyth Academy next session, on Wednesday 8^th and Thursday 9^th June. During the two-day visit, the pupils will become familiar with their new classes and have an opportunity to meet some of their new teachers. The Information Evening, for parents of P7 pupils, will take place on Thursday 9^th June, at 7.30 p.m. This is an opportunity for parents, to find out about all the arrangements for next session and to meet the Pupil Support staff, who will be parents’ first contact with the school. Our second Uniform Evening will also be on Thursday 9^th June, from 5.00-8.00 p.m., in the café.

The new timetable will begin on Monday 6^th June and all pupils returning for S5 or S6 must be back at school that day.

The Parent Council will meet on Thursday 2^nd June, at 7.00 p.m., in the school.

The first of our three uniform evenings will take place on Wednesday 25^th May, from 5.00 – 8.00 p.m., in the senior café. There will be special deals available at each of these events. The remaining uniform evenings will be on 9^th June and 20^th June, at the same times.

Our annual S2/3 Leadership Academy took place last weekend, at Kilbowie. The group of 37 pupils experienced fantastic weather and took part in a wide range of outdoor activities, in addition to learning about some of the key qualities of successful leaders. Many thanks to Mr Rennie, Mr Clowes, Mrs Stirling-Young and Magi Hamilton, for leading this fantastic opportunity.

On Sunday 17^th May, the PE department led a trip to see Newcastle United play Tottenham, in the last Premier League game of the season. It was an action packed game, which saw Newcastle winning 5–1. The 40 pupils had an excellent day out and thanks go to Mr Urquhart, Mr Buchanan, Mr Brown and Mr Stevenson for accompanying the group.

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A group of 39, S1 pupils enjoyed a three-day residential experience at Auchengillan Outdoor Centre. Undertaking a range of activities, such as orienteering, climbing, abseiling, kayaking and mountain biking. Despite the weather, the group remained in high spirits and had a great experience over all. Thanks go to Mr Urquhart, Mr Clowes, Miss Rae and Magi Hamilton, for leading the event and for all their encouragement throughout the three days.

Friday 27^th May and Monday 30^th May will be school holidays, the only exception being for those sitting SQA examinations. The new timetable will begin on Monday 6^th June and all pupils returning for S5 or S6 must be back at school that day.

The Parent Council will meet on Thursday 2^nd June, at 7.00 p.m., in the school.

S1 pupils have completed their entries for the annual Inspire>Aspire poster competition. The competition focuses on global citizenship and challenges pupils to consider the type of person they wish to become and what their vision would be for a better world. The standard, this year, has been exceptional and following judging at school level, five pupils’ work has been submitted to the national competition. A very special ‘well done’ to Rhiannon Neil, Sophie Morton, Dylan Grant, Alana Thomson and Morgan Waite, for achieving this level of success and we hope that their work will be recognised nationally, when the competition closes. At school level, a number of pupils were also commended on their outstanding efforts and their work is now displayed in the foyer:

Gold – Millie Mason, Layla Morris, Sophie Bridges, Luke Fyfe, Lauren Cole, Cameron Love.

Silver – Mark Donnelly, Amber Peoples, Kirsty McDowall, Rebecca Wilson, Rachel McIntyre, Eilidh Stewart.

Bronze – Cameron Napier, Jamie-Lee McBride, Connagh Connelly, Emma McEwan, Emma Roberts.

Congratulations everyone!

 

Our Uniform evenings are approaching, once again. They will be held in the school cafeteria on Wednesday 25^th May, Thursday 9^th June and Monday 20^th June, each from 5.00 – 8.00 p.m. 9^th June is also the Parents’ Evening for P7 pupils who will be joining us in Kilsyth Academy, in August. A number of special deals are available on these evenings.

Pupils in S1 have been issued with their final tracking report for this session. Acknowledgement slips from parents should be returned to Tutor teachers ASAP.

S3 Geography pupils had an opportunity to participate in fieldwork, in the local area, last week. The weather was very kind to them too and they were able to enjoy the sunshine as they worked.

Due to the European Referendum, the school will be closed for pupils, on Thursday 23^rd June, as Kilsyth Academy will be used as a polling station. This will now be an additional staff in-service day.

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The Captaincy Team organised a further two presentations to the pupils’ chosen charities last week. £750 was presented to SAMH, their national charity, and a further £750 to Mary’s Meals, their international charity. The team has made a tremendous effort, throughout the session, to raise money for a range of charitable causes.

 

The Leavers’ Ceremony took place last week, for all pupils leaving from S4, S5 and S6. All the pupils received Leaving Certificates and were wished every success by School Captain Erin Main and by Mrs Caldwell. The Ceremony was followed by tea and coffee with the staff.

Thursday 5^th May will be a staff in-service day, due to the Scottish Parliament elections. The school will therefore be closed to pupils, with the exception of those sitting SQA examinations. Members of the public should access the polling station at the back of the school, using the entrance off Balmalloch Road.

Our own Mock Election took place last week, with candidates from seven parties – Conservative, Green, Labour, Liberal Democrat, SNP, SSP and UKIP. Following a hustings debate to representative audience, all pupils had an opportunity to vote, using the double ballot paper system. Following the count, Amy Smith (SNP) was declared to be elected as our constituency MSP. The results of the additional member ballot were SNP 40%, Greens 20%, UKIP 15%, Labour 7%, LibDem 6%, Conservative 6% and SSP 6%. Well done to all the candidates, from S1 to S6, for participating in such a professional campaign.

The school hosted an Inter-Primary Athletics championships, open to all our associated primary schools and, for once, the weather was favourable. Pupils competed in a variety of Track and Field events and some very impressive individual performances were recorded. Individual champions in each event were:

Boys 600 metres                     Cameron McCaffer

Girls 600 metres                     Hayley Conroy

Boys 200 metres                    Callum McGoldrick

Girls 200 metres                    Robyn Stark

Boys 80   metres                    Lewis Moody

Girls 80   metres                    Erin Brady

Boys Shot Putt                        Callum Mewes

Girls Shot Putt                       Niamh McCann

Boys Cricket Throw                Logan Scott

Girls Cricket Throw               Katie Walker.

At the start of the final events the 4 x 50 metres Relays, only five points separated the two leading teams, Lennoxtown and Balmalloch. After two close final races, Balmalloch won both Relays to take double points and surge ahead to retain the overall trophy with 89 points. Lennoxtown were a close second with 77 points and Chapelgreen in 3rd place with 50 points. The event was organised and run by Kilsyth Academy Sports Leaders as part of their course. Their willingness to work as a team and take on their various responsibilities made the event a very enjoyable experience for all athletes who participated.

The Senior Inter-House Quiz took place with each House represented by three pupils – from S4, S5 and S6. Antonine House took an early lead and managed to hold on to that throughout, taking 1^st place. Colzium were 2^nd, with Balmalloch in 3^rd place and Dumbreck 4^th. Well done to all participants.