Month: September 2018

Teachers Go Bald for Cancer
Last Friday, Teachers and Pupils braved the cut of the scissors and the buzz of the trimmer to either go bald, or donate pony tails as part of or charity drive to support the Teenage Cancer Trust.  TCT are currently looking after our very own Nicole Lowther who was regretfully diagnosed with Hogkins Lymphoma before the summer.  As a show of support for Nicole the entire school came together for this event in what has been an incredible display of school and community spirit.  Special thanks go to Mrs Jayne Gordon (RMPS teacher) and Ms Lynne Forster (AFA) for coming up with the idea and organizing the event.  Both Mrs Gordon and Ms Forster together with Mr Rennie (Maths) and Mr Orrock (Head Teacher) were fully shaved whilst Mrs Kay (Depute Head Teacher) and two pupils, Rachel Egan and Emma Carrigan donated ponytails.  Fundraising has now reached over £12000 and is that total is still rising.  You can read more about this on our School web-site.

STEM Club
A Science, Technologies, Engineering and Maths club will be up and running Wednesday lunch times as of 19th September! Pupils from all year groups are welcome.  Our first challenge will be to construct a Rube Goldberg Instrument!  The club is a good opportunity to have some fun as well as earn yourself recognition for achievement through the CREST awards scheme!  Please come along Room 225 and bring your lunch if possible.

Dates for your diary
21^st and 24^th September – the school is closed for the September Weekend holiday.
25^th September – UCAS information evening – 6.30pm

Mental Health First Aid Ambassadors
Last week, a number of pupil volunteers in S4 and S5 received training as Mental Health First Aid Ambassadors. This formal training will serve to better raise awareness throughout the school about issues affecting mental health and will also provide additional support to young people by better recognizing the signs of mental health issues and providing mentoring and support to pupils.

Arnold Clark visit
Earlier this week, Arnold Clark brought their Apprenticeship Vehicle to school. This custom built lorry allowed pupils to take part in interactive activities and gave insight into the opportunities that are available as an apprentice with Arnold Clark and careers in Automotive or STEM. This was very popular amongst pupils supporting their understanding of the world of work.

S4/5/6 pupils, St Andrews Hospice 6k
The St Andrews Hospice 6k will be held at Stratchclyde Park on Sunday the 16th of September at 10:30am with schools from across North Lanarkshire taking part. This is a charity fun run/ walk which helps raise money for a very worthwhile cause. Any S4-6 pupils (or staff) who are interested in taking part in the event should see Mr Pryde in PE for more details.

S1 – S3 Junior Science Club
A Junior Science Club for pupils in S1-S3 will start on Monday 3^rd September at Lunchtime in Room 226. Pupils interested in taking part should either see Mrs Findlay or turn up on the day.

Senior STEM Club (S4-S6)
There will be a STEM club starting September 12th, the club will run every Wednesday afternoon. Interested pupils should please give their name to Mrs Stirling-Young by the 12th of September if you are interested. Any other questions regarding the club pop in to see me in Room 225.

Fire Up Scotland
Next week most of our S4 pupils will attend the Fire Up Scotland event at the SECC Hydro in Glasgow with 12000 pupils from around Scotland. This event, organised in partnership with North Lanarkshire council and Tree of Knowledge is the first of it’s kind and promises to be a truly unique learning experience for Scotland’s young people. Think ‘TEDx meets the Fringe’ and you’re half way there. Now add in a healthy dose of inspirational role models challenging our young people to be the best they can be while proving there is truly no wrong path to a positive destination. Presenters, speakers and performers from across the world of education, business, entertainment, art, sport and culture will gather, all rolled up into a giant fireball of energy creating one enormous, interactive, fully immersive learning experience never to be forgotten…we dare our young people to not be inspired!

Dates for your Diary
The first meeting of our Parent Council, our annual AGM, will take place on Wednesday 12th September, at 7.00 p.m, in the school.