Category Archives: Success

Our Dream By Jasmine

OUR DREAM

Germans came and took us away,

All crowded together, we were gone in a day.

So many families were torn apart,

Children from mothers, bodies piled in a cart.

Have you no mercy, the old woman sighed.

All are the same in God’s eyes, they cried.

Murder and pain, sadness and shame,

Believing yourselves to be better.

Everyone gone, but our story lives on,

Remembered in cards, words and letters.

Some of us lived to tell the tale,

Death and destruction, a mad dream that failed.

Even now, we are filled with dread,

So many people ended up dead.

Taken away from all that they knew,

Railroaded to Auschwitz because they were Jews.

Our memory lives on, but the horror is real,

You destroyed a people, but no guilt you feel.

Justice can never fully be done,

Evil stood behind the trigger of a Nazi gun.

When the bullets rang out, we did not all fall,

So, our dream lives on, in spite of it all.                           

Jasmine

Blairgowrie High School S3

Careers Update September 11

 

  •  Law Personal Statement Workshop

We will be hosting three sessions, one workshop and two drop in sessions and expect that those applying for 2015 entry will attend both.

Workshop: Tuesday 23rd September, 5pm till 7pm

During this workshop we’ll be giving you guidance on how to write a good UCAS personal statement.  We’ll show you examples of personal statements and suggest how you can write your own.

We’ll also give you information on the selection process for Law School.

Drop in session: Tuesday 21st October, 5pm till 7pm

Drop in session: Wednesday 12th November, 5pm till 7pm

The Reach Officers and current students will be available for 1-2-1 personal statement guidance during the drop in sessions.  Bring along either printed or electronic copies of your personal statements and we will spend time with you reviewing the content and helping you with any areas that you require.

Pupil film success

Just before the start of the school summer holiday, Miss Lynch of the English Department brought a blog post by ‘Screen Education Edinburgh’ to my attention. Reading it, I knew straight away that this would be a brilliant opportunity for anyone lucky enough to be chosen to attend. They had opened applications for young people, interested in film making, to apply to attend a one week residential course being run by The British Film Institute in Edinburgh. As Miss Lynch had thought, it sounded like something I would really enjoy being part of. Immediately I got stuck in filling out the 12 page application form and preparing the requested supporting material; I submitted a short film reel including footage from ‘BHS Does Strictly Come Dancing’ along with a music video I had put together. When I was sure my application and additional work samples were as good as I good possibly make them, I clicked ‘send’ not really expecting to hear any more about it as I figured the competition for places would be tough. Then the waiting began. Nearly a month later, when my family and I sat down to watch ‘Sunshine on Leith’ and I saw the BFI logo, I joked about it being obvious I hadn’t been selected. I was wrong, because, just a few days later, I received an email offering me a place AND informing me some of the people I would be mentored by included cast and senior production from, yes, ‘Sunshine on Leith’. BUT the email did hit me with one bombshell – all attendees were to write a script for a short film in advance and one of our first tasks on the course would be to judge each others’ work and select one script from our pitches to make into a short film over the rest of the week.

On August 2nd I arrived at Fettes College with my script ready to pitch and keen to see all the week would bring. It turned out that I was one of twenty-four young people there and we were told that we should try to make the absolute most of this chance because lots of others had applied. It meant that everyone got stuck into working hard and with the tight schedule, we didn’t have much choice. The tutors and everyone else were very friendly and supportive but it was clear that a lot was expected of us.

I was happy when my film script made it to the top six but, also, not too disappointed when it wasn’t chosen as our project for the week. The script we were to work on was titled ‘Touch’ and everyone thought it was a great story for us to try and tell in film. By the second day everyone had hit it off so the atmosphere for work and social time was really good. I was teamed up to co-direct photography with a guy called Rueben so we had to work closely together on-set doing all the exterior shots (park & street scenes, and some establishing shots) one day, followed by all the interior work the next. In between working on our film we had several Masterclasses covering most areas of working in the field of film-making aswell as a number of field-trips; the main one of these was to visit the set of a US tv show currently filming in Scotland. I’d like to write more about that but we had to sign a non-disclosure agreement so I’m afraid I have to keep my mouth shut.

‘Touch’ is about a girl who can’t enjoy a lot of the activities her boyfriend likes due to her disability from partial-sightedness. It tells of how she feels there is a distance grows between her boyfriend and her and how they deal with these issues. The filming seemed to fly by and soon we were in the edit suite. The edit took over a day and a half of the week just to get our project to a watchable first-cut. When it came to our final night on the Friday it was very exciting to get a first proper viewing of our week’s work. After the wrap party we all sat down in the common room waiting on the films to be shown on the TV in the corner. after the films were shown there seemed to be one huge sigh of relief from eveyone as the films, dare i say it where a success . When we all left on the Saturday to get back to our regular lives, everyone agreed it had been a busy but brilliant experience and most, including me, know we’d like to keep going hoping to use the knowledge and skills from the week pursuing careers in film production.

Some of us already have plans to work together again soon, but, right now, it’s back to this year making the most of being at Blair High – and seeing how it goes from there.

I’m looking forward to running the school Film Club for 1st to 3rd years on Tuesday lunchtimes and I hope lots of students interested in film & media will come along and enjoy.

Alex Tosh

Prizegiving 2014

S1 Diligence, endeavour and performance

Daniel Adams Katy Alexander Luke Archibald Grace Atkinson
Laura Black Jamie Cathro Euan Dobb Martin Donaldson
Lisa Fairweather Gemma Gruneberg-MacKenzie Amy Higgins Zack Ireland
Anna MacDougall Gordon MacKenzie Victoria Merrouche Katie Morrison
Jazmin Myles Iona Sime Fiona Stewart  

 

S2 Diligence, endeavour and performance

Ciara Adamson  Zoe Ainslie  Kirsty Barnett  Arran Black 
Ailsa Bruce  Alasdair Coupar  Shannon Downie  Rhys Fraser 
Stacey Hilton  Sophia Kiciuk  Holly Kirkwood  Catriona MacRitchie 
Fraser Matthews  Robyn Milne  Louisa Pearson  Leia Pol 
Dulcie Robertson  Kaitlin Sloan  Robbie Smith  Hannah Waugh  

 S3 Diligence, endeavour and performance

  

Samuel Baker  Fraser Birnie  Ross Campbell  Sarah Campbell 
Skye Dickson  Louise Ferry  Kay Henderson  James Hilditch 
Lewis Kinney  James McCaig  Isobel Milford  Andrew Millar 
Callum Nicholson  Hannah Robertson  Caleb Shanks  Stuart Smith 
Serena Stanhope  Alexander Watson  Fern Smith   

 

Skeet & Wake Music Award Skeet & Wake Choir   Fern Smith
The Glennie Trophy Diligence   Aiddon McLean & Hendry McDonald
The De Almeida Trophy Diligence and Perseverance – Junior   Shareen McGivern                  Kieran Phillips                         Isobel Milford

 

S4 Subject prizes

  

Cunningham Carpets Administration  Int 2 1= Kelly Lamond
Graham Smith Gas Services Administration  Int 2 1= Sacha Neill
Calutek Art & Design Int 2   Emma Brown
Proctors Ltd Design Higher 1= Meghan Bissett
Proctors Ltd Design Higher 1= Rachel Waugh
Calutek Expressive Art Higher 1= Lisa Gibas
Drs Stewart & Erskine Maths Higher (1st year) 1= Lisa Gibas
Blairgowrie Dental Care Expressive Art Higher 1= Eilidh Wilkie
Thomas Thomson Biology Int 2   Clare Cunningham
Graham Edwards Business Management Int 2   Chloe Lamb
Drs Stewart & Erskine Chemistry Int 2   Rachel Carnegie
Maurice Fleming English Int 2   Rachel Carnegie
Blairgowrie Rotary Club Computing Int 2   Jamie Graham
J & J Howe French Int 2   Lucia Rodriguez
Blairgowrie & Rattray Civic Trust Geography Int 2   Luke Amos
Proctors Ltd Woodwork Int 2   Luke Amos
Graham Edwards German Int 2   Rosie Aitken
Norman Laing Graphic Communication Int 2   James Atkinson
Blairgowrie & Rattray Civic Trust History Int 2   Arabella Johnson
Blairgowrie & Rattray Civic Trust Hospitality Int 2   Tamzin White
Blairgowrie Rotary Club Maths Higher (1st year) 1= Chloe Gruneberg-MacKenzie
Blairgowrie Rotary Club Modern Studies Int 2 1= Vern Murray
Graham Smith Gas Services Modern Studies Int 2 1= Arthur Bell
W Davidson & Sons Ltd Music Int 2 1= Finlay Robertson
W Davidson & Sons Ltd Music Int 2 1= Phoebe Robertson
Blairgowrie & Rattray Civic Trust Religious, Moral Education Int 2   Phoebe Robertson
Drs Stewart & Erskine Physical Education Int 2   Liam Pogson
Drs Stewart & Erskine Physics Int 2   Sophie Teall
Kate MacDonald Spanish Int 2   Rachel Hill
WRI Shield WRI Shield for Hospitality   Tamzin White

 

S5 Subject prizes

Proctors Ltd Art & Design Higher 1= Louise Dickson
Thomas Thomson Biology Higher   Matthew Davidson
Blairgowrie Rotary Club Maths Higher 1= Matthew Davidson
Thomas Thomson Physics Higher   Matthew Davidson
Graham Edwards Business Management Higher   Kieran Matthews
J & J Howe Chemistry Higher   Rachel Henderson
Proctors Ltd Art & Design Higher 1= Heather Stewart
Maurice Fleming English Higher   Heather Stewart
Malcolm Hamilton Prize Geography Higher   Heather Stewart
Calutek French Higher   Lea Anderson
Blairgowrie Dental Care German Higher   Christopher Currie
G A Davidson Graphic Communication Higher   Mitchell Gibson
Thomas Thomson Health & Food Technology   John Driscoll
Co-An Trophy (Glass) Outstanding Achivement in Business Education   John Driscoll
Blairgowrie & Rattray Civic Trust History Higher   Rory Clark
Drs Stewart & Erskine Maths Higher   1= Brad Bannerman
Blairgowrie Rotary Club Modern Studies Higher 1= Jennifer Boyer
Blairgowrie & Rattray Civic Trust Music Higher 1= Joanna Poole
Blairgowrie & Rattray Civic Trust Music Higher 1= Charlotte Smith
Blairgowrie & Rattray Civic Trust Music Higher 1= Jennifer Wilkie
Drs Stewart & Erskine Physical Education Higher   Alexandra McIntyre
Kate MacDonald Spanish Higher   Andrew Brymer

 

S6 Subject prizes

Graham Smith Gas Services Administration Higher   Shannon Watson
Blairgowrie Dental Care Art & Design Adv Higher   Jade Donaldson
Drs Stewart & Erskine Chemistry Adv Higher   Owain Rutherford
W Davidson & Sons Ltd Maths Adv Higher   Owain Rutherford
Thomas Thomson Physics Adv Higher   Owain Rutherford
Graham Smith Gas Services Computing Higher   Daniel Duncan
Blairgowrie Rotary Club English Adv Higher   Briana Freed-Smith
W Davidson & Sons Ltd Visual Arts Adv Higher   Rebecca Stokes
Blairgowrie Rotary Club French Adv Higher   Catriona Cameron
Maurice Fleming History Adv Higher   Catriona Cameron
Malcolm Hamilton Prize Geography Adv Higher   Ross Paterson
Norman Laing Graphic Communication Adv Higher   Hamish Mitchell
W Davidson & Sons Ltd Modern Studies Higher 1= Siobhan Balie
Blairgowrie Rotary Club Modern Studies Adv Higher 1= Gemma Duncan
W Davidson & Sons Ltd Modern Studies Adv Higher 1= Abbie MacNaughton
W Davidson & Sons Ltd Music Adv Higher   Rosanna Bailey
G A Davidson Product Design Higher   Duncan Pogson
G A Davidson Religious, Moral Education Higher   Kathryn Ritchie
Encore Leader of Orchestra Award Encore Choir   Kirstin Penny
G A Davidson Product Design Adv Higher   Connor Welsh
Blairgowrie Rotary Club Religious, Moral Education Adv Higher   Alana Cosgrove
The De Almeida Trophy Diligence and Perseverance – Senior   Alex Tarrega

 

Sports Awards

Dorothy Lothian Sports Champion (boys)   Matthew Davidson
Dorothy Lothian Sports Champion (girls)   Hannah Reid
Ian Smith Outstanding Contribution to Sport   Hannah Reid
Barcelona Stick Trophy Achievement In Hockey   Elliott Sandison
Blairgowrie Rotary Club Outstanding Achievement in Sport   Rosanna Bailey

Special Awards

Blairgowrie Rotary Club Rotary Club Debating Award (new award)   Harris Anderson
G A Davidson Blair Engineering Quaich (Technological)   Duncan Pogson
Karen’s Kitchen Quaich Culinary Achievement   Ryan Mollison                         Aaron McDonald
Aim Design, Dundee Senior Art & Design Prize for Excellence   Jade Donaldson
Daghill Ducket Daghill Ducket Music Award   Eryn Sinclair
Blairgowrie Lyric Choir Lyric Choir Award for Singing   Shannon Middleton
Heather Halhead Heather Halhead Memorial Quaich   Megan Lamb
The Irvine Trophy Contribution to Music   Jennifer Wilkie
Miller Gerard & J M Hodge Law Prize   Catriona Cameron & Abbie MacNaughton
Probus Millennium Award Probus Club  (presented by Presidents – Mrs Cormack & Dr McNeill)   Lauren Donachie & Eilidh Hall

 

Service to the School Awards

Bob Ellis Working with Others   Kieran Matthews
PSF Peer Support   Liam Bowe
Vincent Jamieson Memorial Rose-bowl Charity Work   Connie Ewins
Stagecoach (Glass) Service to the School   Abbie Scrimgeour
BHS Headteacher’s Medal   Abbie Scrimgeour
School Board Citizenship   Ewan Williamson
Hilda Howe Initiative & Example   Daniel Duncan
Jack McNaughton Outstanding Achievement in Extra Curricular Activities   Hannah Reid
Co-An “ASPIRE” Demonstrates values of the school   Catriona Cameron
Peter Casey Joinery (Glass) Service & Example to the School   Sebastian Currie
BHS Headteacher’s Medal   Sebastian Currie
Friends of Blair Community Hospital Service to the Community   Kirsty Soutar

 

DUX

DUX of BHS Robertson & Black Cup PKC Medallion for Academic Excellence & Robertson & Black Cup   Matthew Davidson

YPI

On the 11th of June this year, as the winners of the YPI (Youth Philanthropy Initiative) from our school, we attended the annual YPI event in Perth.  When we arrived we were given the £3000 cheque with our charity’s name on it. After registration we waited in line with the other YPI winners to get our photo taken.  We then met with the representatives from our chosen charity and then were asked into the hall for the main event. After a video call from the founder of YPI, Julie Toskan-Casale (all the way from Canada) and another from Olympic gold medallist Katherine Granger, we were constantly asked “this is my philanthropy, what is yours?”  Then we were shown other winners creative presentations and learnt about their charities. After seeing these presentations we were given an inspirational speech by the professional adventurer Sean Conway who swam from Lands’ End to John O’Groats. We had lunch and met other inspiring YPI winners, and then we were shown more presentations and heard the stories of others. There was music, dance and a few tears in the crowd but the day was truly inspirational and we enjoyed our time in the YPI project and hope to continue contact with our charity.

Written by Stuart Smith and Izzy Milford (part of the winning YPI team 2013/14.  Other team members – Kay Henderson, Fern Smith and Alexander Whyttock)