On Monday our second annual Christmas Interhouse Quiz took place hosted by our very own Philip and Holly, Mrs Smith and Mr Donnachie! After being thoroughly entertained, particularly by Mr Martin and Mr McVeagh on the catwalk, Sinclair House lifted the coveted trophy!

On Monday evening our S1 -3 pupils dusted off their dancing shoes and joined in at the Christmas Ceilidh. A great time was had by all.  Wednesday evening was the turn of S4 – 6 pupils and once again there was a great response with large numbers coming along and dancing the night away!

Our S1 pupils enjoyed a trip to the Panto in Glasgow on Tuesday and once again were a credit to the school. Oh yes they were!

And on Tuesday afternoon our pupils ably assisted by a number of staff organised a party for some of our Senior Citizens in the community. This was another well attended and great event with entertainment provided by a drama group, singers and dancers.

I have been to a number of Christmas shows over the last few weeks and this week had the pleasure of attending the Bothwellpark performance of ’How the Grinch stole Bothwellpark’s Chrsitmas’ and then the beautiful nativity put on by pupils at St Brendan’s PS.

Our S6 pupils have been working tirelessly helping out a number of events over the last few weeks and this week saw a group of pupils visiting Parksprings Care Home to performs some Christmas songs and another group helping Mr McHugh and the RE department organising parcels for the homeless unit, collected by pupils in the school.

It’s been a very busy time and staff and pupils are looking forward to well-earned rest.

I have thoroughly enjoyed my first few months in the school and thank everyone for the warm welcome I have received. I would just to like to wish you all a Happy and Holy Christmas and a Happy New Year when it comes.

Forthcoming Events

• Monday 8th January – School reopens.
• Monday 22nd January – S5/6 Prelims begin (see link to timetable below)

https://olhs.files.wordpress.com/2017/12/s5_6-prelim-timetable-jan-2018-for-parents.pdf

• Tuesday 23rd January – S3 Parents’ Evening

 

The school was recently visited by author Martin Stewart who gave great talks to our Advanced Higher English class as well as our S1 pupils.

  

Our Parents Reporting Evening for S5/6 pupils took place and we were very happy with the numbers that turned out to find out about their child’s progress as well as ways to help further as we move towards prelim exams in January.

The S4 Prelims are almost finished and the pupils have been working well in the lead up these exams and I am sure will be looking forward to a break now they are done! These exams should help pupils identify what they need to work on in the lead up to the SQA exams that begin on Monday 30th April. The link to the SQA timetable for 2018 is below:

https://www.sqa.org.uk/sqa/files_ccc/ExamTimetable2018.pdf

There are some changes to the assessment of National 5 courses this year with Unit assessments being removed.  You can find out more information on this by following this link:

https://www.sqa.org.uk/sqa/files_ccc/QA_Changes_to_National_Courses_November17.pdf

As part of their discussion with politicians, the Higher Politics class were visited by SNP MSP Claire Adamson who answered questions on minimum unit pricing, Brexit, budgets, tackling the attainment gap and women in leadership. Thanks to all those who have given up their time to come in and speak to our pupils.

The school’s Christmas Fayre took place last Saturday and it was great to see so many set up stalls and the large numbers come along to support the event. Around £700 was made, which we are delighted with and appreciate very much.  I have to thank the staff and S6 Caritas pupils who put in so much effort in preparing for this event.

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The North Lanarkshire Schools’ Music Groups Concert took place in Motherwell Concert Hall last Monday and Tuesday. This was a great event and I was very proud to see a number of Our Lady’s pupils representing the school so well.

There have been a number of Christmas events taking place over the last week. I have had the pleasure if attending shows at Our Lady of Good Aid Cathedral PS and St Bernadette’s PS and look forward to seeing the pupils perform at St. Brendan’s PS next week.  Great talent from all the Primary pupils!

Our S6 pupils put on a Christmas party for the pupils of Clyde View School. This was a lovely event – the pupils had a great time and our S6 helpers were absolutely fantastic. Even Santa managed to come along!

Our annual Christmas Concert took place on Thursday evening and was a great showcase of some of the fantastic talent that there is in Our Lady’s. Thanks must go to Mrs Smith and the Performing Arts department, instructors and all the other staff and pupils that had a role to play in the organisation and running of another lovely event in the school.

As we approach Christmas, can I just remind you of the school policy on mobile phones (link below). Pupils are not encouraged to bring phones to school but if they do they should not be out in the school at all, unless given permission to so by staff. Often after Christmas pupils come in with very expensive mobile phones – there is no insurance for the loss of damage to such items in school, so it may be best that these are not brought to school at all.

http://www.ourladyshighschool.co.uk/community/mobiles.html

We did a parent survey recently and the results of these have been emailed to parents. If you did not receive this email please contact the school to check that the email address we have for you is accurate.

Forthcoming Events

• Monday 18th December – Christmas Jumper Day (£1 for charity)
• Monday 18th September – Interhouse Quiz
• Monday 18th December – S1-3 Ceilidh
• Tuesday 19th December – Senior Citizens’ Party
• Tuesday 19th December – S1 Panto Trip
• Wednesday 20th December – S4-6 Ceilidh
• Thursday 21st December – Pupil visit to Park Springs Care Home.
• Friday 22nd December – school closes at 2.30pm.
• Monday 8th January – School reopens.
• Monday 22nd January – S5/6 Prelims begin.
• Tuesday 23rd January – S3 Parents’ Evening

The annual Memorial Mass took place on Friday 24^th November and was attended by a number of family members of ex Our Lady’s pupils who lost their lives in the war.  Thanks to our school captains Rebecca and Erin who read the Roll of Honour on the evening.

Mrs Millar and Ms Macfadyen took a group of S6 pupils to the Scottish Parliament recently for the St. Andrews Day Debating Tournament 2017.  The pupils had a great experience and once again were great ambassadors and a credit to the school.

Thanks to Mrs Connor and Andrew House for the  St Andrew’s Day celebrations that took place last week including stalls, Quiz, Wear tartan day, etc…

The Micro Tyco Trade Fayre took place recently. Each S3 MicroTyco group was been given a loan of £1 to start up their enterprise project. Money raised will repay their loans and help provide business loans in the developing world through WildHearts.  Projects included Guess the Baby photos, guess the number of sweets in the jar, raffles, excellent home baking etc… As a result of their endeavors over £460 was raised – well done everyone!

Our first Numeracy Evening for parents of S1 pupils took place recently.  If parents are going to be in a position to help with homework they will sometimes need a bit of support in doing so.  The way I was taught Maths/Numeracy (many years ago now!) is not the way that I actually taught Maths over the years, showing pupils how to tackle particular topics.  As long as there is a consistent approach from school and home we can help improve the Numeracy levels of our young people.  There are 2 more evenings planned over the year – keep an eye out for the next one. Thanks to the Maths department for organising and running this event.

Fr Martin delivered our Advent assemblies recently.  Always a busy time of the year, it is always good to stand back, take stock and remember what this time of the year is all about.

The Technical department recently made a visit to the Forth Crossing with a group of senior pupils.  They had a great time and learned about the many different opportunities that are available in engineering.

The S4 prelims are underway in some subjects now.  Good luck to all our S4 pupils.  The link to the timetable is available via:

https://olhs.wordpress.com/2017/11/30/s4-prelims-2017/

Don’t forget our Christmas Fayre takes place this Saturday in the school.  Come along and support us!

Forthcoming events:

• Thursday 7th December – S5/6 Parents Reporting Evening
• Friday 8th December – S4 Prelims commence
• Saturday 9th December – Christmas Fayre
• Monday 11th December – NLC Schools Music Group Concert in Motherwell Concert Hall
• Thursday 14th December – School Concert
• Monday 18th December – Christmas Jumper Day
• Monday 18th December – S1-3 Ceilidh
• Tuesday 19th December – Senior Citizens’ Party
• Tuesday 19th December – S1 Panto Trip
• Wednesday 20th December – S4-6 Ceilidh
• Friday 22nd December – school closes at 2.30pm.