SES NEWSLETTER - LT Scotland...ongratulations to Ms. Rahel Plant, SFLA & Luke M Dermott on the irth...

SES NEWSLETTER December 2018

Secondary Christmas Dance

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Litir naidheachdan

Pupils enjoyed their

annual Christmas

Dance on Thursday

20th December.

Many thanks to S6

pupils for organising a

fantastic evening.

Nollaig Chridheil agus Bliadhna Mhath Ùr dhuibh uile.

Notes from the Head teacher

Welcome to our December Newsletter highlighting the work of this term and bringing 2018 to a close. As you will see from the newsletter articles it has been a very busy and productive term once again. There has been a strong focus on drama performances this term and it was particularly pleasing to see our sec-ondary pupils on stage at the school’s recent Dìleab Concert, providing impressive performances; like-wise, the snippet provided at Latha Na Gàidhlig of the S1 FilmG entry is bound to be amongst the winning entries! In addition, our Developing the Young workforce day provided a good opportunity for pupils to engage with local employers, various organisations and with parents willing to come in to share their ca-reer pathways and experiences. The key speaker, Superintendent Gordon Macleod gave a particularly strong message to our young people in thinking about their future careers and the need to follow their aspirations and work hard in the process of reaching their goal in life. Our pupils have, once again, been very proactive in raising funds for local charities such as Crossroads; in supporting the local Musical Mem-ories events by performing or by assisting in other ways, and well done to our S3 Duke of Edinburgh Elec-tive group who planned and organised a fun afternoon in support of the Soft Play area. I am pleased that our young people are willing to assist and participate in school based and in community led events. I con-tinue to be exceptionally proud of all the young people who continue to do well for themselves com-mitting to opportunities that allow them to further develop their skills and talents in sport, music, drama, photography, Gaelic language and poetry etc. I hope you enjoy reading the various articles in our termly newsletter, the photographic evidence of pupils’ Art work and hearing about our young people’s success-es and achievements.

Staffing Congratulations to Ms. Rachel Plant, SFLA & Luke McDermott on the birth of their baby daughter, Mairi Emma in October.

Thank you to John Masterson for ably covering the classes in the Music Department during Mrs. Hurley’s extended leave from the end of November to the end of this term.

Leaving

We are always sorry to lose a family from our school roll and on this occasion we say farewell to the Ash-ley family; to Phoebe who is on S1 and to mum, Ettie who has been an excellent relief Support for Learn-ing Assistant. We wish the family the very best from us all at SES as they relocate to the mainland.


IT Upgrade

This term has seen an IT upgrade taking place at the school, resulting in a Wi-Fi upgrade, an increase in our school’s bandwidth from 30 to 100Mbps, new PCs and laptops for all staff, several pupil laptops for primary and S1-3 pupils and a delivery of Surface Go devises for all S4-6 and P 7 pupils. The latter is a pilot scheme instigated by Mr. Chisholm, Director of Education as part of our schools’ IT upgrade. These devic-es have been very well received by pupils and staff and should greatly enhance learning and teaching ex-periences.

December 2018 SES NEWSLETTER

The Darkest Dawn – The Story of the Iolaire Tragedy

We have received the school’s signed complimentary copy of this very special book, donated to all schools in our authority by CNES. I anticipate this book will be well used by the History & English Depart-ments, in particular, but will be available to all primary and secondary pupils to use and refer to.

Conclusion

I wish our young people on S 5 & 6 who are about to, or have sent off their UCAS applications for Further & Higher Education, the very best at this crucial time in their lives. The New Year will see our senior pupils sitting their prelim exams and it is important that they set aside some time for study during the forthcom-ing holiday.

I wish to thank Eddie Owens, S6 for his skilled efforts in editing and producing the secondary newsletter this session and to Stephanie Wilson, S5 for providing high quality photographs.

Finally, I would like to wish all pupils, staff and parents a restful holiday period and wish you all the joy and peace of Christmas and a successful, healthy and happy New Year. School resumes for staff and for pupils on Monday 7th January 2019.

Up and coming events in January 2019:

Senior Phase prelims – Monday 14th January

Parent Council Meeting – Monday 14th January

S3 Reports to parents – Monday 21st January (please not change to original date on school year planner).

Consequently, confirmation regarding timing of S2 reports will be issued to you early next term.

Holocaust Memorial Day Assembly – Friday 25th January

Aileen M MacSween HEAD TEACHER


Developing the Young Workforce

On the 14th of December a ‘Developing the Young Workforce’ event was held in Sir E Scott School. This

Government initiative is one of the key priorities in this year’s school improvement plan. A working group

has been established to co-ordinate activities throughout the year.

This first event was aimed at pupils from Primary 4-7 and all of the secondary pupils. The event consisted

of 14 invited guests coming into school to talk to pupils about their work and career paths. The guests in-

cluded Gordon Macleod former Chief Inspector for the Western Isles, Cameron Morrison from the Tarbert

Fire brigade, Calum Watt SSPCA, Iain Stewart CNES, Rhian Chamberlain HR advisor for Scottish Salmon

and Claire Pusey from Callanish Alpacas.

A number of parents also attended to talk about their work, they included Nickolai Globe Mission House,

Andrew Craig Skoon Art Café, Fiona Porteous from Porteous Architects, John Macleod Merchant Navy,

Sarah Scott Harris Hotel, Kate MacDougall Harris Distillery, Marion Bonaccorsi Pharmaceutical Industry,

and Cristina McAvoy.

Pupils from all age groups were actively engaged during the event and positive feedback has been re-

ceived from both guests and pupils.

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N5 Art Portfolios


Here are some examples of

National 5 Art Folio work from

Stephanie Wilson and Jillian

Maclennan S5. As you can see

fantastic work from very

talented students.

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IT Upgrade

Dileab Concert

Congratulations to all pupils and staff

involved in the school’s successful

Dìleab(Legacy) Concert on Friday 9th

November. The concert was an excel-

lent showcase of the pupils' work on

our school theme - Protest & Politics,

including land struggles. All perfor-

mances, which were varied and of a

high standard, gave us a clear picture

as to what pupils had learnt through

well-planned and constructed interdis-

ciplinary learning activities, an excel-

lent example of CFE.

I would in particular like to thank the working group, set up in February 2018, which was led by Mr Iain

MacIver, Music Instructor and included Mrs Rebecca Maclean & Mr David Murray(Gaelic); Mrs Christine

Hurley(Music); Mrs Christina Campbell(Art), Mr Neil Mulhern(English) and Miss Ishbal MacLennan

(History).

I was impressed by the way this group worked together

to shape our project and to take it to our showcase per-

formance. Thank you to Mrs Donalda Maclean, Business

Studies and the S4 Admin group who did a grand job of

assisting with the planning and organisation of the event,

publicising the concert through BBC Radio nan Gaidheal


Blythswood Shoebox appeal

141 filled shoeboxes have been donated by the school community to this year’s appeal. Thank you to all

who contributed so generously.

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Links with Tarbert Library

We are very fortunate to have a library within the school campus and we continue to benefit from the

close partnership working we have with Fiona Morrison, Librarian. This term pupils and staff have en-

joyed attending the annual Children’s Literature Festival, Faclan Òg events which ran during the month of

November.


Dìleab Concert

Running alongside the concert with its varied programme of music and drama was a small exhibition of

work from pupils in S1 to 3.

The pieces in clay, paint and linocut complemented the themes that each class explored: S1- St Kilda; S2 -

The Napier Commission and S3 - Work, Industry and Life in North Harris and the Bays. Some pupils in S2

and S3 helped to create backdrops for the S4 Gaidhlig drama set in Pabbay to great effect.

As the deadline for the exhibition approached the classes worked with good focus and a greater under-

standing of the history and heritage of Harris due to working across the curriculum to explore in de-

tail. Well done all!

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Armistice Day Service

There was a very good turnout from Sir E Scott School, including pupils, staff and parents at the annual

Armistice Day service on Saturday 10th November.

We were very proud of our young people, who gave of their time on Saturday morning, to take part in

this community event and a special thank you to Chloe MacDonald, P7 and Kate Macleod S6, School Cap-

tain who laid the school wreath at the War Memorial.

Latha Na Gàidhlig 2018

Chaidh Latha na Gàidhlig a’ chomharrachadh gu soirbheachail leis an sgoil air Diardaoin 29 An t-

Samhain. A-measg nan taisbeanaidhean fhuair sinn blasad air na pròiseactan FilmG a tha sgoilearan S1

agus Clas 5- 7 air a bhith an-sàs agus pròiseact dràma le Clas 3 & 4 a tha air a bhith a’ ruith thairis air 5

seachdainean an teirmsa.

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Latha Na Gàidhlig 2018 Continued

Once again, Latha na Gàidhlig proved to be a successful event within the school calendar this term with

an excellent showcase of Gaelic performances from all pupils in the Primary department and presenta-

tions from pupils in S1 and S5. Sgoil Àraich children were treated to a Gaelic story and song session in the

library led by Jenna Morrison, Iomairt Officer, CnaG, and proceedings were brought to a close with an in-

formative presentation on Online Resources to assist parents with supporting their child through Gaelic

Medium Education at home. We are indebted to Jenna Morrison for the sterling work she carries out

with the school in her role as CnaG Iomairt Officer.

Youth & Philanthropy initiative (YPI)

This session’s YPI Launch took place on Friday 7th December. Our S3 pupils are taking on the challenge of

YPI this session, which will in the main be undertaken during their English classes, supervised by Mr N

Mulhern.

Kate Langley, Volunteer Centre presented to the pupils at the launch and Hannah Macleod, S6 provided

an overview of her participation in YPI last session and gave pupils much encouragement to the benefits

of this initiative. We wish our S3 pupils much success in taking forward YPI over the next term.


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Girl guiding trip

Catherine MacDonald, S5 pictured with former pupil Kelly MacKay and Girlguiding Harris leader, Matilda

Lomas-Mackenzie recently had a fantastic opportunity to take part in a Girlguiding trip to the House of

Lords, in celebration of 60 years of women as peers. Sixty guides from across the UK were given exclusive

access to Westminster Palace, with each girl shadowing a peer to gain an insight into the working life of a

Lady or Baroness. Catherine was mentored by Baroness Hayter of Kentish Town.

TNI football team - Jessica Macleod

Congratulations to Jessica Macleod, S5 who played her debut game for The Nicolson Institute on Friday

2nd November in a Scottish Cup game against Cults Academy. TNI won 7 -1 and Jessica was one of the

stand out players of the game. Jessica and Rachael Johnstone, S4 are now regular team players for TNI.


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CLD Photography Competition

Congratulations to Emma MacSween, S1 whose entry for this competition has been chosen as the photo-

graph CLD used for the front cover of the calendar they are producing. The proceeds of which will got to

CRY (Cardiac Risk in the Young).

Young Weir-Wise 2019

Two of our S2 girls, Anna MacLeod and Mairi Anna Binns, have been successful in their application to the

Weir-Wise Discovering Engineering with S2 Girls 2019 outreach programme. Competition for places was

very high, so well done to Anna and Mairi Anna, and to Techncial Department staff, Mr. Matthew Atkin-

son Mr. Willie Macleod, who encouraged all S2 girls to apply. Anna and Mairi Anna will spend two days in

Glasgow on this programme, end of January 2019 and we will have a report from them in our Spring

Newsletter.

Deasbad Nàiseanta Nan Àrd-sgoiltean 2018

It was very pleasing to have a team representing Sir E Scott School in the Deasbad Àrd-Sgoiltean 2017

held on Tuesday 6th and Wednesday 7th November in Stornoway. Niel MacLeod, S3 and Alexander Camp-

bell, S5 attended this two-day event. As a team, they performed extremely well, especially as this was

their first experience of this type of event. Rinn iad fìor mhath. Thank you to Mr D Murray, Gaelic Depart-

ment for his tremendous support in preparing and encouraging Niel and Alexander.

Harris Tweed Competition


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Pupils from S1 - S3 enter competition to create a bespoke HARRIS TWEED design for Isle of Harris Dis-

tillers.

Following engaging workshops in the school (S1 and 2) and a tour and workshop in the Harris Tweed Au-

thority's Brand Room, the pupils were suitably inspired and keen to get going on their designs back in the

art room. The brief was to create a design that reflected the Distillery's values and vision as well as the

heritage and wonderful landscape of Harris.

A range of approaches and techniques were used and from an entry of over 150 a shortlist of 34 was se-

lected, with the following secondary pupils through to the next round:

S1 - Mark Morrison, Isla Scott and John Chisholm

S2 - Naomi Mackay

S3 - Cara Macdonald, Hannah Ferguson, Cara Macdonald, Alice Campbell, Neil Morrison, Scott Murray

and Georgia Stone.

Winners in different age categories will be chosen and the overall best design will be woven into HARRIS

TWEED which will be used by the Distillery with pride - for promotion, for the creation of items for their

gift store and for other official uses.

Sincere thanks to Isle of Harris Distillers, to the Harris Tweed Authority and to Harris Tweed Hebrides for

the opportunity to take part in what was a well-resourced and exciting competition and well done to all

of our talented designers for their considered, elegant designs.

Centenary events - Hamish Scott


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In November I travelled to London for a fourth time, having been invited through my success with Never

Such Innocence (NSI), to attend two Centenary Finale events, one at Buckingham Palace and the other at

Westminster Abbey.

At Buckingham Palace the reception was hosted by Vice Admiral Sir Tim Lawrence and included the

launch of the NSI book, which showcases all winning entries of art and poetry over the last four years. We

were seated in the palace ballroom, with around 400 people, where there were presentations from prize-

winners and I had been asked to recite my first poem, Scapa Flow. Afternoon tea was then served in the

drawing room.

On Sunday 11 November I also attended the Service of Remembrance at Westminster Abbey. This special

service to mark the Centenary of the Armistice was in the presence of the Queen, other members of the

Royal Family, representatives from all the political parties and also The President of Germany, all of

whom we saw as they arrived through the Great West Door and passed the Grave of the Unknown Warri-

or not far from our seats. This event was televised live on the BBC and it was an honour to be part of such

an important and poignant occasion.

It has been an eventful year for me and I am very fortunate to have had so many fantastic opportunities.


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Musical Memories - Neil Morrison & Hannah Jardine

On Wednesday 28th November a group of pupils; Hannah Jardine, Neil Morrison, Niel MacLeod and Sarah Bennion along with Mrs.Mairi Maciver (CLD)went to the Tarbert Community Centre to take part in Musi-cal Memories. This is an opportunity for older people in our community to meet up together and remem-ber the good old days through music and over a nice cup of tea or coffee. People from all over Harris took part as well as a few people from Lewis.

On Friday the 16th of November 2018, a group of S5 pupils organised a fundraising day where we raised

around £740 for the charity Crossroads, who help all ages in need by providing care and support. We

provided crêpes, trampoline activities, beat the goalie (with Rachael Johnstone, S4) as well as face and

nail painting for primary and secondary pupils (with the help of a group of S3 and S4 pupils). The day

was a success with everyone having a good time!

Crossroads fundraising day

Our involvement in this event is a part of the dementia awareness training that we are involved in during Tutor Time. This was the first event that we had been to. When we arrived, we helped to set up and get ready for everyone arriving. Some of us welcomed and helped the elderly to seats while Niel and Sarah were at the door selling quizzes to people as they arrived. The quizzes related to festive songs which let the elderly get involved and remember the good times they used to have. We were entertained with some highland dancing and singing from different people in our community such as Andrew Craig, Patri-cia Martin, Chrissie Cumming as well as Anna MacLeod and Calum Porteus (S2) also sang for us. The el-derly also got to join in with the singing and all had their own instrument to join in with. About half way through the event we served up tea and coffee as well as cakes and biscuits. We then got to listen to more music from the local artists and Mr. John Murdo Morrison, the MC for the afternoon, entertained us at end with a rendition of ‘Chi Mi ‘n Tir’. We all really enjoyed the event and thought that was a fan-tastic experience and would love to participate in similar events in the future.


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S3 Electives - Fun day

S3 elective classes offer pupils the chance to get involved in activities that differ from their day to day

timetable. So far this term electives have been offered in Modern Studies, Art, developing a radio show,

forensic science and an introduction to the Duke of Edinburgh award. Each elective takes about 7 weeks

and pupils engage with it for 2 periods.

The Duke of Edinburgh elective is run by Mairi Maciver (Community Learning) who offers an introduction

to pupils and encourages them to take on the challenge of achieving their Bronze award. As part of the

award pupils must complete 3 months of volunteering. The current elective group thought raising money

for the Tarbert Soft Play would be a worthwhile cause and good place to start with their volunteering.

Pupils choose to put on the fun day to bring the young ones from the twos club, Sgoil Araich and lower

primary together to help support the very well-used soft play in the village. A range of activities from sto-

ry time and trike racing to an assault course and face painting were put on and the wee ones took full ad-

vantage of the activities to have a great time.

S3 pupils did a brilliant job putting on the activities and it is hoped they can use the experience to go on to

achieve their DofE award and continue to contribute in the community.

Conclusion

Thankyou for reading this term’s edition of the school newsletter. We wish you all a wonderful holiday

and look forward to seeing you again in the new year. School will reopen for staff and pupils on Monday

the 7th of January 2019.

SES NEWSLETTER - LT Scotland...ongratulations to Ms. Rahel Plant, SFLA & Luke M Dermott on the irth...

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