Salter’s Festival of Chemistry

Jessica Cox, Alexander Peters, Rebekah McDermott and Liam Wilson recently attended the Salter’s Festival of Chemistry.This event gave pupils the opportunity to develop their problem solving and practical chemistry skills within the University laboratories.

The pupils worked as a team to solve two investigations-The Salter’s Challenge and The University Challenge. A number of schools attended the event and Our Lady’s High School came first in the University Challenge winning a prize for the Science Department. Well done!

Deeper Learning Week for S1 – S3 Pupils: 15-19 May

Deeper Learning Week provided an opportunity for our learners to engage in rich tasks and interdisciplinary learning activities. Our normal timetable was collapsed for the week to allow fun and innovative learning activities to take place. Here are some of the highlights of the week.

Technical Activities

In Technical, S1 pupils worked on making a knots and crosses board that they previously made on 3D modelling software called Inventor. Pupils developed their skills and confidence in measuring and marking, drilling and sanding. The boards were then personalised. Also in Technical, S2 pupils worked in teams to create a cardboard bridge to span a 1 meter gap. Pupils had limited materials to work with so they had to problem solve and think of a suitable structure that would be strong enough to hold the cars and ways to decorate their bridge. There was then a competition based on the best structure and the most visually impressive bridge.

Physical Education

In PE, pupils in S1 and S3 enjoyed participating in various activities in the department. Dance, gymnastics, handball, football, table-tennis, basketball, netball, ultimate frisbee, rounders and capture the flag were part of an options programme. Having a positive mindset was the focus for the day.

Modern Languages and Social Subjects

The Modern Languages Department worked with Social Subjects over two days with S1 and S2. The pupils completed an activity based around the theme of South American culture. There was a quiz in the morning, then the pupils worked in groups producing a mini project on a certain aspect of Spanish Life. This was presented to the class, leading nicely on to a film based on Rio. Everyone thoroughly enjoyed the day and worked well together.

English

In English, S1 took part in a ‘Theme Park’ activity in English where they had to use their creativity and collaborative skills to design an original theme park. They then went on to showcase their ideas in a group presentation to the class.

Science Trips

During Deeper Learning week S1 and S2 pupils visited the Glasgow Science Centre and Our Dynamic Earth Centre in Edinburgh. Pupils learned about the Big Bang Theory, formation of the Solar System, human digestion and respiration and the geology of planet Earth.

Last Day for S6 Class of 2017

Farewell to our S6!

28 April represented the last school day for our S6 students. To mark this memorable occasion the pupils participated in an awards ceremony, staff and pupil coffee morning and then joined in Holy Mass with Father McKay , our school chaplain.

In the afternoon a trip to Air Space in East Kilbride was arranged which the sixth years thoroughly enjoyed. We wish all our leavers every success in their exams and future pathway post school.

Blackpool Pleasure Beach

The annual reward trip to Blackpool Pleasure Beach has been booked for Tuesday 27th June.

The trip is for eligible S1-S3 pupils as a reward for positive behaviour throughout the school year.

More details to follow.

Study Leave for Senior Pupils

Study leave begins on Tuesday 2 May for S4, S5 and S6 pupils who have SQA exams. All other pupils attend as normal. Pupils return on Monday 5 June to begin their new timetables.

Exam Mass for S4 and S5 Pupils

On Monday 24 April, Father McKay celebrated Mass for the intentions of all Our Lady’s students in S4 and S5 who will be sitting SQA exams. The Mass was a fitting way to begin the exam season and students were issued with a prayer which they are encouraged to use throughout the coming weeks.

Students are reminded that the oratory is always open as place of prayer and reflection and everyone is welcome to drop in. Thanks go to Miss Blain for preparing the music for the liturgy.

Sporting Successes

Congratulations to Joshua Allan S3, who is a member of the Scottish under 15s Pool Team. Joshua recently had fabulous success competing against various international teams in England, and also reached the Scottish semi final, where he won two out of four frames. Well done Joshua !

Congratulations also to Charlie Morton in S2 who is a member of the Scottish under 14s Table Tennis Team. In March Charlie reached the semi finals of the Under 15s Scottish National Champions tournament, and was also runner up at the Edinburgh Open in March – a tremendous achievement. Charlie will be competing in Jersey during the month of June, and we wish him every success.

Art & Design Success

Alison Cunning S6 received The Royal Scottish Academy Schools Award for her woodcut print which was displayed at the RSA in Edinburgh.

Well done to Alison for winning such a prestigious award!

S3 Administration & IT pupils visit SSE

Some of our S3 Administration & IT pupils recently visited SSE’s Customer Contact Centre in Cumbernauld.

As part of their course pupils have to study health & safety in the workplace, as well as customer care and how to handle personal/sensitive information so it was a great experience to see how a large organisation such as SSE deal with these issues.

As part of the trip pupils took part in a tour around the call centre as well as some workshop activities.

Our Lady’s Welcomes Archbishop Tartaglia

We were delighted to welcome Archbishop Tartaglia to our school on 21st March. During his visit that day, His Grace presented Archdiocesan Medals to five individuals in recognition of the assistance they provided on the day of the bus crash. The recipients were Mr Paul McGregor, one of our teachers; Mary Moane, our catering manager; Helena Connelly, one of our parents; and pupils David Shearer and Daryn Hunter.

It was a pleasure for Our Lady’s High School to host the visit from Archbishop Tartaglia, and we look forward to him returning to the school in the future.