Queen Margaret Academy: 22 December 2008

Dec 26 2008

THE PUPILS and staff of the Supported Learning Centre enjoyed a great Christmas party night on Tuesday, December 16. It was held at the Horizon Hotel and once again the hotel staff and management came up trumps!

The disco was provided by Mr & Mrs Wallace who always manage to make the evening go with a swing. The youngsters all looked fabulous in their party gear and the staff didn’t look too bad themselves! Thank you to all staff who took part and helped to make the night a great success.

THE MONTHLY meeting of the cluster head teachers for Queen Margaret Academy cluster was held on Wednesday, December 10.

Discussions were held on a variety of topics including Curriculum for Excellence, transition arrangements and cross curricular working. Ms Catherine Reynolds, our senior educational psychologist, was welcomed by the group and discussion took place regarding various events and training opportunities which will be available next session.

ON Monday, December 15, a group of first year pupils performed a nativity play with a difference. Talented pupils performed this play totally in French. Their accents were very French, which possibly has to do with the fact that their teacher Miss Pierre is a native speaker.

The performance took place in front of their year group and the audience joined in traditional carols which they sang in French.

The costumes worn by our first year thespians were colourful and beautiful and they gave the play a ring of authenticity.

Following the performance, Mrs Gray presented a special certificate to each of the performers.

This was a really enjoyable experience for all concerned and a huge thank you is due to the pupils and members of the modern languages department, particularly Miss Pierre.

ON Monday, December 15, Lesley Parham joined QMA as principal teacher of art. She is a very welcome addition to the staff and is warmly welcomed by all.

Mrs Parham has been teaching in Irvine Royal Academy and, while she is sad to leave a job which she has loved, she is really looking forward to leading the artistic community. She is very impressed with the polite and friendly pupils whom she has been teaching in the school.

Mrs Parham is a former pupil of QMA – clearly one of the school’s many success stories. Staff and pupils welcome her warmly and hope that she will have a long and successful career in Queenie.

THE SCHOOL is sad to say that the Christmas concert has had to be cancelled this year. Mr Logan, much loved principal teacher, has suffered ill health in recent weeks. He is on the mend, the school is delighted to report, but he will not return to the school until after Christmas.

Mrs Strathearn has been valiantly fighting off the winter virus which is currently decimating staff and pupils, but unfortunately she had to be sent home from school last week. Despite the heroic efforts of herself and the peripatetic music staff to make sure that the show must go on, the senior management team had to take the reluctant decision to cancel the performance.

Some of the performers from the show will entertain staff and pupils during the carol service on the last day of term.

Best wishes and thanks go to the music staff who give of their best at all times. Everyone wishes them a speedy recovery.

THE INDUSTRIOUS sixth year pupils have been very busy over the last week painting their base. The colours are bright orange and deep purple! Clearly sixth year are either very artistic or totally colour blind.

The jury is out on the success of this combination of colours, as the purple walls are currently a bit patchy and need another coat of paint. Sixth year pupils however appear to be very happy with their efforts at home improvement.

Rumour has it that sun shades are issued before people enter the room! Rumour also has it that this is a successful device for discouraging staff from entering the base!

FOURTH year pupils are looking happy and relaxed. At long last their examinations are over. Pupils have taken these examinations very seriously and the senior invigilator, Mr Malpass, has heaped much praise on the pupils. He happily reported to the head teacher that the pupils are a real credit to themselves and the school as their behaviour has been impeccable. Well done fourth year!

THE SCHOOL is taking on a distinctly festive flavour. This year a large fir tree has been placed in the dining hall and the beautiful crib, with its large statues of the Holy Family, has been placed in the Crush Hall.

This year they have added a large fibre optic tree to the Nativity tableau. Questions were asked about the authenticity of this. The fact that this tree is topped by a large and bright star, which shines and sparkles behind the crib, was reason enough for Mrs Gray to sanction its inclusion. This is, after all, merely a metaphor for the birth of Christ and it combines the secular with the spiritual which, hopefully, will make the pupils think of the true meaning of Christmas.

AS part of global citizenship in personal, social and health education, all pupils in QMA will learn about the plight of women in Sudan, and what they are doing to build their lives.

Pupils and parents can read more about this by accessing the SCIAF website, www.sciaf.org.uk. Pupils will write a message or a prayer on a cardboard candle. These will be sent to the Scottish Catholic Aid Fund and the messages will be read out on Sudanese radio.

THREE visitors from Women’s Aid spoke to school reporters, Shannon Kane and Sarah Cook , about their reasons for setting up the action group Campaign Against Domestic Abuse Against Women.

The ladies, Maureen, Sharon and Linela, became involved in this group as a response to the violence against women and men which is perpetrated in the community. They believe that it is essential that young people are given a voice and that it is important that children who experience domestic violence should be listened to and supported.

One in three children are living with domestic abuse, and every three days one woman will die as a result of abuse. The police receive calls from women experiencing abuse every ten seconds.

These are horrific statistics and have really shocked the pupils and staff. The ladies of the group have made a presentation at assemblies and they have given pupils contact details. Confidential advice is available from guidance staff, the school nurse and the women of the group.

MARTIN Shevlin, who has been chair of the Parent Council, has resigned due to pressure of work. Mrs Gray would like to extend her heartfelt thanks to Mr Shevlin who has been a great support to the school over the past few years. His calmness and industry will be missed by the whole school community.

Nevertheless, everyone looks forward to seeing him and Mrs Shevlin at school functions in the future. He is wished well in his new job and every success in the future. The Parent Council will meet in the school on Thursday, January 22, at 6.45pm. They will choose a new chair at that meeting.