SQA Recognition for Pupils’ Artwork

A piece of Niall Stevenson’s Advanced Higher artwork has been selected by SQA as the poster illustration for its first ever major exhibition of Advanced Higher artwork which opens at the National Gallery, Edinburgh. The exhibition opens from 22 January till 19 March and will feature the work of Scotland’s elite young artists in a visual feast of creativity. The exhibition will feature painting, sculpture, design, ceramics, fashion and jewellery.

This is the second time that Niall has been honoured by having his artwork profiled by the SQA. His Higher graphic design piece was shown at last year’s SQA Exhibition - and to complete the hat trick Niall also won the ‘08 Friends of the Royal Scottish Academy’s Senior art prize and had his winning painting shown in the Scottish Parliament.

Niall left school last summer and is now studying at Edinburgh College of Art.

December Newsletter - Rector’s note

Not much space for me this issue and quite right as well! Who wants a middle aged headteacher to take up space when we can use the columns    “LA News” to highlight the successes of our pupils.  What a tremendous list we have this month – a World Champion, a British Champion, 2 MSYPs and a girls team who took on the highlanders at their own sport and very nearly won the cup losing to Lochaber High 2-0 in the final.  Well done to everyone. I have just received the West Lothian X Country results but I will pass them to the editor for the January newsletter. I mentioned middle aged earlier and I am reminded of my age as I consider where 2008 has gone. Time certainly moves quicker as you get older. Can I wish each and everyone of you a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.

SQA invigilator wanted

An opportunity has arisen at the school for someone to assist as an Invigilator during the SQA exams. Duties include distributing and collecting exam materials and collating booklets and other work for submission to the SQA.  Full instructions are given by the SQA.  The exam period is usually from late April to early June.  This is a paid position. If interested please call Campbell McDavid on 01506843211.

Certificate of Distinction

The following pupils received certificates:Current S2 Hannah Brutin, Amy Devine, Davina Lawson, Catherine MacDonald, Eve Shepherd, Shannon Harris, Jessie Harrop-Lees, Rebecca Scott, Flora Smith, James Adams, Emma Blake, Neil Fraser, Ciara MacKenzie, Rebecca Martin, Bethany McAllister, Michael Crook, Erin Duncan, Heather Gordon, Caroline Howie, Bethany Page Tasmin Petrie,Robert Dick, Brenna Howley, Ross Hunter, Jenny Young, Jenna Grieve, Amy Blackley, Rory Manson, Heather Martin, Jennifer Wardall, Sarah Anderson, Sophie Brown, Seonaid Millican, Martine Fenton, Louise Mencnarowski, Alice Bumstead, Aaryn Treadwell, Nadia Wilkinson, Emma Craigen, Adam Ferguson Scott Paterson, Gavin Armstrong, Natasha Blumfield, Laura Hendrie, Fraser Law, Eilidh Mills, Andrew Scholes, Lauren Thomson and Natalie Ward.

Chemistry on your doorstep

The Chemistry department is keen to run a “study day” next term for all pupils taking Higher Chemistry. The school is aware that many people, several of which will be parents, work or have connections with the industries in Grangemouth. They are keen to see if this study day could be supported by the firms in the Grangemouth complex. If you can help in any way either by offering your services or that of your company or wish more details we would be delighted to hear from you. Please contact Ms Jannetta on 01506 843211.

Shoe box appeal

This year’s charity appeal run by the RMPS department has been highly successful. The school collected 212 shoeboxes for Blythswood Care. The charity representative who uplifted the boxes said that it was one of the highest number that he had collected from a school in a single collection. This just confirms the generosity and thoughtfulness of the pupils, staff and parents of the school. The boxes this year are going to India.

Diary Dates

Tues 2nd December - Parent Council meeting 

Wed 3rd December - S3 Parent’s Evening 

Thur 11th December - Christmas Concert, Assembly Hall 7.30pm 

Mon 15^th December - Carol Concert, St Michael’s Church, 7.30pm 

Fri 19^th December - School Christmas Service, St Michael’s Church 11.15am 

Fri 19^th December - School Closes (Pupils dismissed from Church – school buses will leave from The Cross) 

Mon 5th January - School Opens 8.45am

Pupil successes

15 pupils travelled with the West Lothian Orchestra to Seville in October – Campbell Thomson, Sarah Lockhart, Molly McWhirter, Robin Taylor, Alison Thompson, Claire Mellon, Joanna Kerr, Sarah Mundy, Clare Gillies, Leah Swan, Marc MacKinnon, Jennifer Halliday, Lauren Mair, Rachel McWhirter and Ruth Young.  Mhairi Sheail of our Music Department was one of the group leaders and Rachel McWhirter was the orchestra leader. 

Koren Hamilton and Anna McPhail have been elected to be MSYPs (Members of the Scottish Youth Parliament) for West Lothian. 

Our girls 6-a-side shinty team of Kathryn Moultrie, Rachael Addison, Lauren Hills, Laura Weir, Lynsey Golding and Kathryn MacLean were runners-up in the Schools Camanachd Association (Donella Crawford) Cup played in Strontian in November. 

Laura Hendrie, Madison MacLeay, Hazel McDonald and Adam Stark were runners-up in the East of Scotland Royal Society of Chemistry, “Top of the Bench” competition. 

Eilidh McCall became British Champion in the Senior Modern/Jazz Scholarship in the British Association of Teachers of Dancing competition. She was Junior champion in 2006. Megan Dawson, Kerry Farrelly, Madeleine Nicholls and Laura Hendrie were all in the Junior competition and Megan and Kerry finished in the top 6 out of 50 competitors. 

The West Lothian swimming trials brought considerable success to Ishbel Rodger (3 firsts and a second), Keri Greig (2 firsts), Jak Scott (2 firsts), Yusuke Onishi (2 firsts), Amy Blackley (2 seconds), Amy Ritchie (a second and 3 thirds), Andrew Scholes (2 seconds), Rachel Hendrie (a second) and Scott Dawson (a third).  

Ex-pupil, Clare Reid, won the British Nutrition Foundation’s Advanced Higher Award for the standard of the project element in the overall assessment of her course last year. She received her prize at the awards ceremony in London on Wednesday 26 November. 

Andrew Murison and Ross Laidlaw have been selected to play in the trials for the Scotland Schools Under 18 football team. 

Gavin Trist came second, by ½ a mark, in the West Lothian Master Chef competition but secured a promise of employment in the Roxburgh Hotel in Edinburgh. 

Lucy Nisbet took part in a training camp for top Scottish swimmers during October. 

Lisa Barrett in S6, partnered by Craig Dorey from Guernsey, won the World Under 25 Bowling Pairs championship in Auchlinleck in October.