Future Fridays
Our offering for Friday afternoons are going form strength to strength and Mr McGurk has been putting in a power of work to find a variety of options for our young people. The uptake has been very high and has been recognised by senior officers in the authority.
Billy McNeill Sports Pitch
Our pitch was handed over to us two years ago, a week before the country went into its first lockdown! Due to restrictions, we had been unable to have the official opening of the pitch. However, eventually this was able to happen and we welcomed not only local councillors but Billy McNeill’s wife, Liz, for the opening. It is great to have the opportunity to name the pitch after a former pupil who went on to achieve great things, and will hopefully inspire many other young people in Our Lady’s to achieve in their chosen field in the future.
Classes
Staff and pupils have been working hard over the last couple of months and it is good to see aspects of some kind of normality again. Staff have the opportunity to try more of the innovative approaches that had been so successful in the past, but were restricted in doing over the last couple of years.
Reading schools
Our Librarian, Mrs Macfadyen, and some of our pupils had the opportunity to visit one of our cluster schools, St. Brendans Primary. They went out to read to the pupils for National Storytelling Week. The pupils loved hearing new & fun stories, almost as much as our pupils loved going out to read to them.
Mental Health Ambassadors
OLHS Mental Health Ambassadors have organised an area in the school for pupils to ‘drop in’ to either chat, relax, or just take some time out. Our ambassadors will be there and pupils can bring in books, games, work or even bring in lunch/snacks, but most importantly, bring themselves! The ‘drop ins’ are every Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday between 12:40 and 1:10 p.m., in Mrs Smith’s R.E. classroom and will hopefully run until the end of March. It’s good to talk!
Supported study
A number of subjects have been offering supported study for senior phase pupils in preparation for their exams in April May. I am extremely grateful to staff for giving up their own time to help support the pupils in their preparation and would encourage pupils to get involved as much as possible.
Developing the Young Workforce (DYW)
WE have two acting Principal Teachers, Ms Bell and Miss Simpson, who are in charge of DYW in the school. They have been a great job in getting pupils involved in various things including S4 virtual work experience. Recently, there was also workshops for pupils interested in a career in construction.
Ash Wednesday/Lent
As you will be aware, we do not have a chaplain at the moment. Bishop Toal has been very supportive during this time and came into the school to celebrate a Mass on Ash Wednesday for S6 pupils. For all the other year groups there were services, delivered by pupils, with ashes distributed by Caritas pupils. Thanks to everyone involved in this.
Mrs Smith is now working with pupils in organising fundraising activities including a sponsored ‘Give up your Phone’ day and a sponsored fast!
Bishop Toal has also offered to help out with a morning Mass at 8.30am on Friday 25th March and Friday 1st April. All pupils and staff are welcome to join us for that.
Rights Respecting School
Mrs Woolley has been working with a group of staff and pupils who are working on our journey towards achieving the Gold Rights Respecting School award. Below is a summary of some of the work that has been ongoing.
Updated Pupil Charter
Our RRS Pupil Charter was created back in 2017. Our pupils reviewed this document to ensure it represents our young people in 2022.
Newsletter
Miss McQuade and a group of pupils have started planning for our RRS newsletter. The first issue should be available before the Easter Holidays and will be published via the school Twitter.
Human Dignity
Pupils across the school developed their understanding of the concept of human dignity in RE this month.
OutRight Campaign
OLHS participated in the 2022 UNICEF OutRight campaign. The focus this year was mental health, which is a major focus in our school.
ABCDE of Rights/Article of the Month/Global Goals
The daily bulletin has allowed us to continue to develop pupil and staff understanding of the ABCDE of rights. We are actively promote that rights:
- Are for ALL children (Universal).
- Are there from BIRTH (Inherent).
- CANNOT be taken away (Inalienable).
- DO NOT have to be earnt (Unconditional).
- Are EQUALLY important (Indivisible).
Article of the week is another a regular feature in the daily bulletin, as are the Global Goals.
FORTHCOMING EVENTS
- Friday 1st April – School closes at 2.30pm for the Easter Break
- Tue 19th April – School Reopens
- Friday 22nd April – S6 Leavers Mass and S4/5/6 last day before study leave.
- Monday 25th April – SQA Exams begin
- Monday 25th April – Parent Council Meeting
- Monday 2nd May – Holiday
- Thursday 5th May – Inservice Day (holiday for pupils)
- Monday 16th May – proposed date for new timetable (S1/2/3)
