Belmont Academy: 19 November 2008

Nov 21 2008

HALF of the first year pupils studying modern studies met with Provost Winifred Sloan, Councillor Mary Kilpatrick, Councillor Eddie Bulik and Councillor Ian Douglas when these four elected members visited the academy last week and spoke about their roles in local government and the demands made of them as elected members.

A question and answer session took place at the end of the meeting and some very good questions were put by our young people. The visit was a great success for all participants and we hope that the provost and her colleagues will be back with us in the new year to meet and talk with the other half of the year group.

ONCE again Belmont pupils eagerly participated in fund-raising for Children in Need. The day began with prefects collecting cash from everyone who had come into school out of school uniform. Further money was collected when fourteen sixth year boys agreed to have their legs waxed, while depute head teacher Steve Anderson occupied the goals for a Beat the Goalie competition – an opportunity many of our pupils found too good to miss. At the time of writing we do not know the final figure raised, but we hope that it will at least equal or exceed the £1300 raised on our Wear Something Pink Day for Breast Cancer Research, which proved to be such a great success.

THE S1-S3 classes of Arran, Craig and Cumbrae houses welcomed back school chaplain Alistair Simmons, who has recently returned from India. While Mr Simmons was in Kampur, he visited a church which is being developed on the basis of a £25,000 donation from the members and friends of Riverside Evangelical Church. All the young people look forward to hearing more of Mr Simmons’ Indian odyssey.

THROUGHOUT last week, members of the year councils went to discuss issues around the school from a pupil perspective. As a result of this, a number of changes will be made so that the voice of our students is heard and contributes towards the shaping of the school.

ON Tuesday, November 11, a two minute silence was observed across the school, with pupils standing at their desks as a mark of respect.

UNDER the leadership of Richard Pugh, a party of pupils travelled to Glasgow’s Kings Theatre to see a performance of West Side Story. A great night was had by everyone.

ON Friday, November 14, and Tuesday, November 18, a groups of pupils from fourth and fifth year travelled to Glasgow’s science centre to take part in a series of workshops focussing on biofuels.

The visit was organised by principal teacher of chemistry, Jeanette Brennan, and thanks to Ms Hardie, Miss Watson, Miss Agnew and Mr Brown who led the two groups. For the pupils taking part, the workshop certainly tested their knowledge of this particular topic.

A GROUP of pupils – Ross Adam, Amy Allison, Ciara Brady, Thomas Chambers, Lindsey Collie, Robert Denman, Lewis Finlayson, Katrina Forsyth, Emily Hunter, Catherine Hunter, Andrew Jarvie, Ruthie Kennedy, Thomas MacLeod, Elizabeth Roberts, David Scott and Jacob Whittle – attended the High Court in Glasgow where they took part in the Mock Trial Competition, an inter-school event drawing young people from across the West of Scotland. Preparations with legal advisors had taken place over the last few weeks and the teams had a number of successes – all in all a successful and enjoyable day.

IT was off to Glasgow for the volleyball players to take part in the prestigious Glasgow Invitation Tournament, and at it the competitors did really well with the winners being the senior girls’ team of Jennifer Henderson, Erin Norris, Sarah Robertson, Jenny Coxen, Lillian Tait, Catriona Gaskell and Haley Gee.

While the senior boys were runners up – Graham Cassels, Graham Tait, Aswin Nair, Adam Hunter, Nicolas Lynn, Mungo Hay and Daryl McFarlan – the third year boys also did very well, with their team of Ross McKelvie, Scott Hainey, Alex Mathers, Greg Telfer and Adam Falconer coming runners up in their event.

IT was off to the Park Hotel in Kilmarnock for members of the academy’s Young Chamber Group – Logan Foster, James Taylor, Stephen Parker, Liam Whyte, Adam McDonald and Mark Ross – to take part in Ayrshire Young Chambers Conference. The keynote speaker was Nathanial L Peat, a presentation that the participants greatly enjoyed. The afternoon conference ended with a musical performance by Lachlan Nicoll of the biology department on bagpipes and Luther Hall on the guitar – an interesting and successful combination.

CURRENTLY on display at the Scottish Parliament is the selected best work of pupils across Scotland in last year’s national courses in art and design. From the thousands of pieces of work submitted, the talents of three of our pupils have been recognised – Andrew McLaren, Lara Rogers and Laura Gray – a tremendous accolade. After its time at Holyrood, the exhibition moves to the National Gallery and the People’s Palace in Glasgow. Needless to say, members of the art department staff are delighted at the success of the students.

AS part of the drive to eliminate cervical cancer, the immunisation programme for girls continued this week.

A FUND-RAISING event has been arranged by the Duke of Edinburgh Bronze Award Spartans Group for Meningitis Trust. A Virgin Vie party will be held in Belmont Academy on Wednesday, November 26, from 7pm to 9pm.

Tea, coffee and home baking will be provided. Lucky dips and free makeovers will be available.