Kindrogan Field Trip

On Friday 28 September the S5/6 Geography students were up in the Perthshire hills just outside Pitlochry doing some real Geography. They visited the Kindrogan Field Studies Centre to carry out their soil analysis for their Assignment.

The aim was to investigate if, and why soil characteristics change on different parts of a slope. This meant getting their hands dirty collecting and measuring soil characteristics from different parts of the same slope. This involved learning how to use a lot of specialised equipment and recording this information for future analysis. The day was a great success and the weather was very kind too. The staff and pupils involved would like to thank the school for allowing the trip to go ahead and providing an excellent educational experience.

Jesus Our Teacher

Paul McCarvel and Emily Burns were proud to represent Our Lady’s and the Archdiocese of Glasgow at St Bartholomew’s Church for the Reception of the Icon of Jesus Our Teacher.

The service was the official passing of the icon from the Archdiocese of Glasgow to the Diocese of Motherwell. Archbishop Tartaglia and Bishop Toal as well as representatives from schools from both diocese participated in this lovely service.

Senior Awards Ceremony

On Wednesday 19 September we celebrated the success of our learners at our annual Senior Awards Ceremony. Our Awards Ceremony gave us a fantastic opportunity to celebrate the many academic successes and wider achievements of our young people.

In terms of academic achievement, this was yet again a very successful year for our pupils. Yet again we enjoyed some of the best performances in North Lanarkshire, and indeed our learners attained well above national averages. 95% of pupils in S4 achieved at least 5 qualifications at National 4 or above, and 63% of our young people in S4 attained at least 5 national 5s. An outstanding 51 young people in S4 – almost 1/3 of the yeargroup – attained 7 passes at National 5. Pupils in S5 and S6 equally had much to celebrate on results day. Six young people attained 5 As at Higher which is a fantastic achievement. Just under half of our youngsters in S5 achieved 3 Highers, and almost half of our young people left S6 with five highers, which is our best ever performance. These are tremendous successes of which our young people and their families should be proud !

The senior pupils were also recognised for their wider achievements in categories such as participation in Creative Residency, and success in a range of areas including sport, music and drama. We also celebrated service to the school or local community and service to local charities. Well done to them all!

Read to Succeed

On the 5 September, pupils from Our Lady’s attended the launch event of North Lanarkshire’s ‘Read to Succeed’ initiative. They met author Theresa Breslin and received signed copies of her books.

Then on 10 September, author Alan Gibbons visited the school to give a talk to all of first year about his writing. Pupils represented the school again at the closing ceremony on 20 September.

Dragon’s Lair Enterprise Challenge

On Tuesday 25 September 6 pupils from the Business Education and IT Department:- Maria Ross, Erin O’Brien, Lucy McNee, Emily Harper, Erin McLellan and Sarah McVey were chosen to represent Our Lady’s in the annual NLC Dragon’s Lair Enterprise Challenge.

The day involved listening to inspirational presentations by entrepreneurs as well as past winners, the pupils were then given the opportunity to gain some expert advice from Business Gateway while working on their Business Plans. The pupils will be working hard during the next two weeks with the hope of reaching the grand final.

Fire Up Scotland Event

120 S4 pupils participated in the Fire Up Scotland Event which took place at the SSE Hydro in Glasgow, along with 12,000 Scottish pupils.

Fire up Scotland was the biggest event of inspiration to be held in Scotland for over 50 years and consisted 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 gathered, all rolled up into a giant fireball of energy creating one enormous, interactive, fully immersive learning experience never to be forgotten.

Pupils thoroughly enjoyed the experience and were a credit to the school throughout.

European Day of Languages

To mark European Day of Languages 2018, pupils have been involved in a broad range of activities within the department. S1 pupils were creative and produced their European passports. S2 pupils worked together on a quiz testing and expanding their knowledge on Europe! Senior pupils developed their listening skills and cultural understanding and were treated to a foreign film afternoon! In addition, throughout the week, all pupils studied and analysed a wide array of jobs that require a language and have looked at the importance of modern languages in the work place.

On Wednesday 26th of September our S3 pupils took part in a Modern Languages Careers Event. We welcomed to the school visitors from HSBC, Tesco, SCILT, Aberlour Children’s Charity and TBR Global. Each company presented their business to pupils and explained how languages fit into their companies and the importance of language learning for the 21st century workplace. Pupils then had the opportunity to visit each company and ask questions to obtain more information on the companies; the languages they use; the skills required for that particular industry etc. The feedback from pupils was very positive with many pupils realising the importance of having a language to increase employability chances. Our visitors were extremely impressed with our young people and have offered to return to deliver further workshops in the future!

Maths Week Scotland 2018

Our pupils and staff were celebrating all things mathematical as part of this national initiative. This included:

Higher Maths Inter-Authority Student Conference

The Maths department were delighted to plan and host this event which included students and staff representing 6 local authorities: St Thomas Aquinas Secondary (Glasgow), Turnbull High (East Dunbartonshire), St Peter the Apostle High (West Dunbartonshire), St Benedict’s High (Renfrewshire), St Andrew’s and St Bride’s High (South Lanarkshire). This event enabled students and staff to share their experiences of their mathematical journey so far – the challenges and support as well as sharing top tips for success.

We were also joined by Craig Spence from Skills Development Scotland, who gave an inspiring presentation on the diverse range of career pathways beyond school for our young mathematicians.

Students then participated in a workshop, delivered by University of Strathclyde post-graduate student, Jon Devlin, on the use of Mathematics in the control of infectious diseases.

Our guests left with a Maths goody bag, which included Maths Week cupcakes specially designed and made by our own Mrs Varty.

Senior Students at St Joseph’s Primary

A group of our S6 pupils were delighted to be invited by University of Strathclyde to work with their post-graduate student to deliver workshops with pupils at St Joseph’s Primary School.

Feast Day Mass

2018 marks not only the 100th Anniversary of the establishment of Catholic state funded schools in Scotland, but also the 50th Anniversary of the opening of Our Lady’s High School.

We were delighted to welcome His Grace Archbishop Tartaglia to the school on Friday 7th September as the Principal Celebrant of our Feast Day Mass in honour of Our Lady. His Grace was joined by local clergy Fr John Campbell and Fr Kenny Campbell and Deacon Kenny McGeachie from Sacred Heart, together with a number of priests who had an association with the school.

We were delighted to welcome Mgr Peter Smith, Mgr David Wallace, Fr Stephen Reilly and Fr Liam O’ Connor who are all former pupils of the school. We also welcomed back former chaplains Fr Neil Donnachie and Fr John McGuire, who was our first Chaplain.

From North Lanarkshire we were delighted to welcome Derek Brown, Head of Education (North), together with a number of Head Teachers from local primary and secondary schools, and several of our local councillors. Former Head Teachers Dan Sweeney, Michael McGrath and Michael Currie also joined us, as did Barbara Couper from SCES and Natalie Finnigan from the Archdiocese of Glasgow.

Our Mass was a beautiful and fitting celebration of our 50th Anniversary and we look forward to continuing to mark this over the coming year.

Celebrating 50 Years

On August 22nd 1968, Mr Peter Craigen, the school’s first Rector, recorded the following in the Head Teacher’s Log :

“The school opened today for the first time under exceptionally difficult circumstances with lack of available accommodation, lack of furniture and indeed we shall be fortunate if the complete accomodation is in use by December. Despite the difficulties pupils and staff were in good heart and prepared to make light of the difficulties”. Clearly it was not plain sailing back in 1968 !

In January 1969 the school reopened after the Christmas holidays “despite inclement weather – snow and frost” …. some things never change !

Our school was formally opened on Thursday 22nd May 1969 by the Archbishop of Glasgow, with Mr Robert Kennedy, Convenor of Education, presiding. Others on the presentation platform were the County Convenor, Mr Scott, Dame Jean Roberts, Provost Murray, Director of Education Mr Cameron, Chief District Inspector Mr Morrison and the architect, Mr J Coia.

Since our opening in 1968, Our Lady’s High School has served the children and families of Cumbernauld, growing as the town has grown itself. We look forward to the next 50 years being as enjoyable and successful as the first 50.