Highlights June 2014.Indd

End of Term June 2014 Mr Gerry Hughes with pupil sailing enthusiasts. Dear Parent, I hope you will enjoy reading about all this term’s activi- and musicians and choral singers prepared for two I greatly appreciate the dedication of my teaching and ties and the achievements of our Junior and Senior major occasions, MusicFest and the Summer Choral support staff colleagues at Anniesland and Bearsden School pupils. Concert. There was sporting success, and the hard- throughout the past session, and I am indebted to all Earlier this month, the Chair of the Board of Governors, working Home & School Association committee planned my School Management colleagues for their support. Mr Brian Adair, announced the appointment of cur- another Midsummer Madness event. Finally, I wish you and your family a very enjoyable, rent Senior Deputy Rector, Mr John O’Neill, to be my Our special Prizegiving Guest of Honour, Mr Gerry relaxing and safe summer holiday. successor as Rector in August 2015. The Governors Hughes, visited the Senior School on 6th June and told Yours sincerely, had undertaken a rigorous interview process and were the story of his solo circumnavigation of the world, the unanimous that John O’Neill has the personal and pro- only deaf person ever to do so. He is a remarkable man, fessional qualities for the post. Many congratulations to and staff and pupils look forward to welcoming him to John on his well-deserved appointment. Prizegiving on 26th June. As ever, the focus for Fourth to Sixth Year pupils for Once again, we bid farewell at the end of this term much of the term was the Scottish Qualifications to several colleagues, including four who are heading Authority exam diet, which finished on Thursday 5th for well-earned retirement – Mrs Nan Atherton, Mrs June. Transitus to Third Year pupils sat their exams in Barbara Bell, Mr Peter Gilchrist and Mrs Mary Reid at early May. For the first time, while First Year pupils again the Senior School. We are very grateful to them all for visited Raasay, all the younger age groups up to S3 par- their commitment to the High School. ticipated in an Activities Week from 19th to 22nd May, As Sixth Year pupils depart, I thank them for their indi- enjoying a range of different visits and experiences. vidual contributions to the School throughout their time Highlights of the term have included Junior School here, and wish all our pupil leavers every success and prize-winners in Glasgow Art Club, Robert Burns World happiness in the future. Federation and National Chinese Mandarin Reading During the summer holidays, pupils will participate in competitions, and a successful Junior 6 outdoor educa- the Duke of Edinburgh’s Gold Award Expedition in the tion visit to Newlands. Cairngorms and Transitus visit Normandy in August. I At the Senior School, Third Year hosts welcomed their value tremendously the willing commitment of staff to German Exchange visitors, public speakers contested these and so many other trips overseas and within the the Rotary International Youth Speaks U.K. Senior Final, U.K. www.glasgowhigh.com Junior School At the beginning of this summer term, Mrs Margaret Moreland was congratulated on being appointed as Acting Deputy Head, covering for Mrs MacKay whilst she is on maternity leave. Congratulations were offered to Mr and Mrs MacKay on the birth of their baby son, Harris and also to Mr and Mrs Stewart Leggat on the birth of their daughter, Ella May. Our sixth Health Awareness Day was held at the end of May with a full and interesting programme of activities for each stage. Mrs McConechy began the day’s events with a Commonwealth Games inspired aerobics session for everyone, assisted by ‘Gills Gillan-swimmer’, ‘Elasti-girl Meikle-gymnast’, ‘Hard Man Hallahan-boxer’ and Mr ‘Muscles’ Nisbet-weight lifter. This was followed by a visit from the Hopscotch Theatre Company with their performance of ‘Colin’s Commonwealth’ encour- aging everyone to keep fit through exercise. Learning about healthy eating, preparing healthy snacks, fruit kebabs and enjoying the Barbecue Lunch provided by Beta Catering covered the food aspects of good health and activities included Taekwondo, Creative Dance, Hockey, Fencing, Swimming, Orienteering, Touch Rugby, a visit to Bearsden Bowling areas of the school, playing in the playground and Mr Bruce Jamieson visited to give his ‘Pirates’ talk Club, a fun run at Thorn Park and in the afternoon, J5 meeting their teachers. Parents also had a chance to and there was a new visit to the ‘Glenlee’ ship. The and J6 had a choice of Football, Tennis, a ‘Fitness Boot ‘meet the teachers’ at special introductory morning creation of characters, the writing of a Ship’s Log and Camp’ or Golf. visits. the arrangement of a Pirate Day in school to show Talks from parents, friends and staff included looking The Kindergarten Sports, held at the Senior School, their work to parents was a super enterprise activity after our eyes, our teeth and our bones, chest and lung was a super occasion and the little athletes showed for the children. Keeping up-to-date with technology, illnesses. off their competitive spirit. the pupils used QR codes with individual iPads on a We wish to thank all parents and friends of the school treasure hunt around the school. J1 visited Barshaw Park to look at the layout of the who gave their time so generously for this very success- open spaces and a ‘Fairytales’ Picnic at Mugdock Generation Science came to J5 with a Lego Mindstorm ful, enjoyable and informative annual event. Country Park in June was a great success in spite of Challenge when pupils programmed their own robots. the weather. For their topic about ‘Health’, pupils have been busy ECO SCHOOL this term learning all about nutrition, exercise and how Parents were able to come along with their children to to achieve a balanced lifestyle. Our garden grounds and open spaces have seen further sample a ‘Come and Try’ lunch in preparation for J2. The great improvements thanks again to the enthusiastic children have made such a leap in progress during this In May, Junior 6 classes went on the residential visit parent group of volunteers led by Mrs Jo Quaile, Ms year and should be very proud of all their achievements. to Newlands Outdoor Centre in the Lake District and again the experience surpassed expectations and a Shona Forbes and Mrs Catherine Souter-Bell. The beau- The J2 mini-beast topic captured interest immediately fantastic time was had by all pupils and staff in a week tiful ‘Secret Garden’ and ‘Dragonfly Den’ were given a with a Generation Science workshop about bees called of mostly clear, bright days. make-over this term. Mrs Moir and her gardening club ‘Little Giants’. The children named and cared for their enthusiasts, assisted by Mrs McDougall, worked tire- own little caterpillars, observing and recording the A HeartStart course was led by Mrs Cherry Briggs and lessly weeding, planting and growing plants from seeds growth to chrysalis right in front of their eyes. The but- Generation Science visited with three very informative enhancing our outdoor areas. At the back of the school, terflies hatched safely and the children recorded every and enjoyable displays- ‘Bodybuilders’, ‘Body Vision’ there was also a new decking area with seating and a change in a beautifully annotated diary. The butterflies and ‘Make a Move’. pergola built as another outdoor space for pupil use. were then released in the garden in June. The busy term then concentrated on the preparation Pupils from the Junior School, led by Mrs Moreland, A visit to Muirshiel Country Park at Lochwinnoch and for the move to the Senior School and Transitus with took part in a National ‘Spring Clean Week’ in and workshops with the rangers gave an opportunity for a day spent there and meetings with teachers from around the school grounds organised by the Keep the children to become Garden Detectives for the day both schools. Scotland Beautiful organisation. Eco committee mem- and the school garden was used for a mini-beast safari. The Leavers’ Dance marked the end of the social activi- bers and pupils from the gardening club wore gloves For their topic about Islam, the J3 classes visited the ties at the Junior School for both classes and we say and bibs and collected a multi-coloured assortment Glasgow Mosque and a visit to the Glasgow Museums farewell and wish all the children good luck for the of litter. Resource Centre gave chances for the handling of future as they move to Transitus to begin their senior Junior Road Safety Officers, Bailey Mulvey and Max objects in connection with their topic about the school experience. Munro, have kept everyone safe and well informed with Romans. The walk to the Roman Bathhouse filled the Mrs Chen and the J6 Mandarin Club gave a presenta- their notice board, a competition and assembly talks. enthusiastic learners with information and their after- tion at assembly of songs and readings and the J6 We also thank Mrs Moir for leading this important work. noon of games and sumptuous Roman Feast rounded group were congratulated for winning their category off a very successful learning experience. at the 12th National Chinese Mandarin Reading ACTIVITIES J4 studied Vertebrates at a workshop at Kelvingrove Art Competition held at St George’s School for Girls in Edinburgh. The entertaining Kindergarten ‘All Aboard for the Gallery and Museum and then visited Kelvingrove Park Commonwealth!’ Concert, inspired by the Glasgow for a guided walk with Rangers from RSPB to look at Games this summer was performed for parents and birds and conservation on the banks of the River Kelvin.

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