Summer Newsletter
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Summer Newsletter Madras College Newsletter July 2018 Saltire Summit Award Rector’s Note Dear Parent/Carer t seems like no time since I wrote to you in last June’s summer newsletter. Like then the summer term has been very busy Iwith SQA exams, study leave, new timetable and the start of lessons for session 2018-2019. Within this, all has been excellent with our pupils well focussed on their exams and their work as well as engaging in the corporate life of the school such as the summer concert, the Kiel exchange, the sports heats (and subsequent Sports Day) and our two Awards ceremonies. During this time we have also welcomed our primary 7 pupils into the school for their 3-day transition event, which was a resounding success. Continued on page 2 Inside Physics …………...………….................... 2 Modern Languages ................................. 3 Saltire Awards is the Scottish Governments National Youth Volunteer Awards. They celebrate, recognise and reward the commitment, contribution and Social Subjects …………...………………. 4 achievements of young volunteers in Scotland, aged between 12 and 25. Musical Notes ……….............................. 5 Young people gain nationally recognised certificates, signed by Scottish Government Ministers, for the different amounts of volunteering they do. As a National Maths Competitions ……………. 6 school, Madras actively encourages pupils to give up their time to help others, and Paris Trip 2018 ……………………………. 7 in doing so, their hours are recorded and certificates rewarded when milestones are completed. 2018 Swimming Champions …………….. 8 On Thursday, 7th June, Brynja Duthie was awarded a Saltire Summit Award in a Sports Day ………………………………… 9 ceremony held at Rothes Hall in Glenrothes. Brynja was recognised for her Speedway Success ………………………10 outstanding contribution to volunteering, having completed nearly 1000 hours out in the community. Portugal Trip ………………………………11 Well done Brynja! Fife Schools’ Track and Field ………..….12 1 Continued from page 1 teaching staff complement by 3 full- time equivalents for session 2018- Having said this, I am very sad to 2019 which hopefully allows me to Physics report that our school Administration move forward with a positive out turn On Tuesday, 19th June all pupils in team have had to undergo an for the next session because: going new S3 who study physics attended a Education Service managing change forward the savings Madras College lecture sponsored by RAF titled ‘Fun review which will see a significant will have to find will increase to with Flight’. Pupils were introduced to change to the staffing in the team. We £632,487 in session 2019-2020 and the forces: weight, lift, thrust and drag are losing 6 very experienced staff then to a recurring saving of £641,487 (with actions!). who are key to the running of the in session 2020-2021 and each year school and will welcome 4.5 thereafter. (All of the above has been The 3 presenters demonstrated a replacements but we have no idea as mentioned at our Parent Council Reuben’s tube (where flames dance to yet who they will be, which will meeting in May and will be an some hard core beats) but got pupils impact on the running of the school in ongoing item on their agenda.) involved in demonstrating the the short to medium term. As well as Bernoulli Effect and a VR headset. this we will see a reduction in our Fortunately I do have a workable plan The highlight was again the mini jet pupil support assistant hours of to do all of this without cutting the engines that needed fired out the door 52 hours per week, as the allocation of curriculum that we currently deliver, and fingers in ears. PSA hours is determined by the but I will have to come to you with my Education Service from the whole plans to do this in the next two Afterwards there was an opportunity school Free Meal Entitlement uptake. sessions, for your consultation. There to ask the presenters and the RAF is no doubt in my mind that Madras personnel attending questions about I am also saddened to report that the College is facing the most difficult careers in STEM subjects including school must find a way to reduce our challenge it has faced in a long time modern apprenticeships. overall costs this coming session by but I am confident in the plans that I £434,800 which involves a recurring will bring to you, to ensure we saving of £125,000 (for the past continue to deliver a quality education 3 years), a further saving of £115,000 and continue the successes of our very Sottish Space from other budgets (including hard working pupils. School teaching staff), another £52,000 from CfE and MOD budget allocations, Despite all of this I do wish all of you Isla Bonnell, new S6, recently took savings of £90,000 from our PSA and a very good summer break and thank part in a week long Scottish Space administration teams (as mentioned you for your continued support School. She was one of around 100 above) and a remaining £52,800 for towards the running of this excellent selected from over 2000 applicants to the coming session. This £52,800 has school. attend the camp at Strathclyde been taken from the staffing budget as University. She completed team our Devolved School Management Yours faithfully building exercises, rocket workshops budget has already been cut by the and met NASA astronauts. Following Education Service to below a working her performance at the camp, she was minimum for the school management. further selected to be one of around To find the £52,800 I have cut our just 30 to go through to the next round, where further exercises and interviews took place on Thursday, 21st June. Unfortunately she was not one of the final 12 pupils selected to Fisher & go to the Linden B Johnston Space Centre in Houston USA in October but well done for getting so far in the Donaldson application process. Set Challenge of £2.50. Jade Milne from Fisher and Donaldson judged the entries and selected three products. The products to S3 Pupils chosen were Cookie Monsters (Zola Bryan, Emma McCarter, Kianna Halkett), Chocolate Orange Brownies Fisher and Donaldson set a challenge (Courtney Fenton and Kirsten Hendry) to our S3 pupils to help improve their and Bru Nuts (Irn Bru Doughnuts) product range by suggesting a new (Alex O’Nions, Iona Thomas, Tom cake to be sold in all Fisher and Mackay). The winning groups visited Donaldson shops. The cake should be Fisher and Donaldson bakery in Cupar suitable for a treat/snack for one on Thursday, 22nd June, to create person with a maximum selling price their products. 2 Modern Languages French Languages Kiel Day Exchange Exchange Twenty-eight S4 and S5 pupils have A group of 15, S5/S6 pupils taken part in the 61st Kiel Exchange accompanied by Miss Hoy attended visit. The group was led for the first the University of St Andrews time by Miss MacEachen, Languages day on 15th June. The accompanied by Mrs Brothers and pupils took part in languages Mr Irvine. The visit coincided with the workshops in French, Spanish, world famous ‘Kieler Woche’ (sailing German, Persian, Russian, Italian and regatta). In addition to the sailing Arabic as well as attending cultural events, there was a folk festival in the mini-lectures. During lunchtime they centre of Kiel and a number of live were asked to make assumptions on music events were staged throughout artefacts in the university museum the city. World Cup fever also In March a group of 36, S2 and S3 (MUSA) based on linguistic prevailed with the German team pupils visited their French partners' knowledge. In the afternoon they gaining a few Scottish supporters. homes in Loches in the Loire Valley returned to the Buchanan Lecture for the return visit of the French Theatre for a question and answer Exchange. The group was session with academic staff and accompanied by four members of staff; current students. The day was most Miss MacEachen, Miss Sharp, informative and the pupils enjoyed it Mr Wotherspoon and Mr McKenzie. feeling that it enhanced their During the week-long visit the group knowledge of the importance of attended lessons in Collège Georges languages in the world today; the Besses and saw how the French classes goody bag was an added bonus! compared with lessons in Scotland, visited the beautiful city The pupils attended classes with their of Tours, the châteaux of Chenonceau exchange partners and also took part and Villandry and Futuroscope - the in a music lesson where they had the cinematic theme park. Thanks to the Well opportunity to learn some traditional Nouvelle Alliance in Loches we were German songs. The annual sports also given a Civic Reception at the competition between the two schools Town Hall and a guided tour of the Connected was a popular event on the lovely medieval old town. programme. The pupils enjoyed a Lawrence Brown (S6) and Eugene ferry trip to the small resort of Laboe. It was a most successful and enjoyable Ritchie (S6) are to be congratulated A day trip exploring Schleswig trip. All pupils got on very well with for gaining places on two different Holstein was to have included a walk their partners and many made seminars organised by the UK- through mudflats near Westerhever. friendships that they intend to maintain German Connection. They fought off However, to the disappointment of the over the years to come. Isla wrote stiff competition for a place on these pupils, this much anticipated part of about the trip: "The exchange was an seminars from applicants across the the programme had to be cancelled amazing experience and I feel more UK and Germany.