What does a Rector get for Christmas? Jersey (yes), teach yourself Italian programme (yes), map of Kinross from 1823 (yes), a tee-shirt honouring the status of McKay, Bauld and Robertson in the history of Hearts (yes) and “Fun House” by Pink (yes). Fun House by Pink! What! That can’t be right! It is! When life is getting stressful a few bars of Pink at her loudest is better than any other remedy.
During the holiday being bombarded by news of credit crunch victims made me think a lot of the part Woolies played in my upbringing. Buying LPs, soap and bath cubes for my mother at Christmas, 2p bags of broken biscuits, paying 7/6 baseball boots, the front door being the meeting place on the High Street. Happy days. Simple days. If I lived in Inverness now I’d have to drive to an out of town shopping mall to buy Pink, yuck. Time to turn up the volume!
David A MacKenzie
Last year’s Children in Need event held on Friday 14 November raised £1325.70 while the very successful “Linlithgow Academy has Talent” show, which was held on the second last day of term and we witnessed everything from singing to dancing to dolphin impersonations raised £457 (Kelvin House £161, Watt £126 and Bell £170) for the charity Comfort Rwanda. Again, and how often do we say it, well done everyone.
The following pupils received certificates:Current S3
Caroline Craig, Caitlin Hamilton, Sarah Lockhart, Kim Ritchie, Kirsty Bell, Catherine Heyes, Imara Lenders, Rebecca Martin, Rosamund Vickers, Stephanie Andrews, Lyndsay Christie, Jennifer Fearn, Jennifer Halliday, Rhonwen Smith, Ewan Mahony, Euan Campbell, Zoe Headridge, Hazel McDonald, Annabelle Carr, Amelia Judge, Lewis Small, Abbie Swan and Andrew Wood.
At the end of last term the school was chosen to host the launch of a major piece of professional research carried out by Glasgow University for the General Teaching Council for Scotland. Delegates and guests included the Cabinet Secretary for Education and Lifelong Learning, Ms Fiona Hyslop. The event was addressed by Ms Hyslop and Tony Finn, the recently appointed, Chief Executive of the GTCS.
As delegates arrived they were greeted by a group of temporary S5 prefects while Scott Archer played the pipes and as coffee was served they were entertained by our school choir.
Mr MacKenzie told LA News “I was overwhelmed by the plethora of positive comments from our visitors. From the moment the school was chosen right through the organisation stage until we cleared up at the end, everything was handled very professionally. I think Mr Finn’s letter of thanks summed up the views very concisely when he said “Your staff and pupils were a credit to you on the day and gave a strong indication of the healthy ethos of the school and of its focus on achievement. I know you deeply care about these issues and you should be very proud of what is being achieved in Linlithgow Academy”.
Mr MacKenzie added “Being picked to host such a high profile event was significant in terms of our profile as a school but allowing so many people experience and leave with such a positive feel about the place is tremendous. Well done everyone”.
Congratulations to Ross Laidlaw (S5) who has been picked for the Scottish Schools Under 18 football team. Ross who is signed by Raith Rovers is our first cap for several years at this level.
The school’s annual careers evening takes place on Thursday 5 March at 7pm. Stuart Forrester (PT Pupil Support) who has responsibility for careers in the school told LA News “I want to give as much notice of this event as possible. It is an extremely important evening. The world of employment moves so quickly these days that many pupils and to be fair, parents, can have the wrong facts about what is required in certain areas of work. The pupils need up to date information particularly regarding qualifications and prospects”. He continued “Many local and national employers will be present as will representatives of Colleges and Universities and Careers Scotland”. “While this evening is of particular interest to pupils in S2, S4 and S5 because of the stage they are at with regard to course choice procedures it is not exclusively for them – all pupils and parents are very welcome and encouraged to attend”.
It is always good to hear how our ex-pupils are getting on and some universities are excellent in letting us know. LA News would welcome news from other sources – parents, friends, grandparents or ex-pupils themselves as we do not get notification from all universities and colleges. The latest group from across the country is:
Newcastle University
Katie Lowe – Maths (Hons)
Aberdeen University
Kate Fenwick–Dip Higher Ed
Ross Gray–LLB (2/1 Hons)
Rachael Lochtie–BSc (2/1 Hons)
Fraser Rankine–LLB (2/2 Hons)
Stephen Shirres-MA (2/1 Hons)
Helen Watson – Cert Higher Ed
St Andrew’s University
Gayle Barclay-MA (2/2 Hons)
Hannah Duff-MA (2/1)
John Loggie-MMaths (2/1 Hons)
James Reid-BSc (2/1 Hons)
Glasgow University
Fraser Gilmour-LLB (2/1 Hons)
David Jack-MBChB
Brendan McCann-MCchB
Joanna Potts-MA (2/1 Hons)
Heriot Watt University
Jennifer Snedden-MA
Colin Mills-MA
Lynsey Harkness-MA
Angela Dunn-MA
Nicola Charleston-BSc
Kim Drummond-BSc
Please note the Heriot Watt University does not give us the classification (level) of degree.
As well as hearing of other successes LA News would like to hear how ex-pupils, maybe on this list or not, are progressing in their careers. So if you are reading the issue please get in touch through the school on 01506 843211.
Behind the Desk | admin | 
January 15, 2009 3:43 pm | 
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