In This Term's Issue

IN THIS TERM’S ISSUE: ¨ Join the Pupil Council! ¨ Celebrity Gossip ¨ What’s HOT and what’s NOT ¨ Horoscopes ¨ Welcome to Drumchapel High! Pupils and teachers alike have been The cleaners had left and as far as the anxious to leave the school and get janitors were concerned, they were the home as soon as the final bell only ones there. sounds. It happens every day. At On this night, we were truly shocked at night we don’t think very much what the two janitors did. Hiding about Drumchapel High, but still amongst the vending machines, our re- expect it to be locked up and empty porters caught a glimpse of what ap- in the middle of the night. peared to be Alec fixing the lift. What we But has anyone actually ever man- soon discovered he was in fact doing was ¨ Creative Writing and Agony aged to prove that this is the case? fiddling with it to ensure that the cable There are always two people, whom snapped when next used, which would be Aunt none of us have ever seen with our the following day as far as he was con- own eyes leaving the school. How- cerned. Unfortunately, one of our report- ever, just a short time ago, our re- ers entered the lift shortly afterwards to ¨ And much, much more! porters went inside the school at find out what he had been doing (we had night to investigate whether Alec and to leave her but she is probably still lying Brian, the school’s reliable janitors, at the bottom of the lift shaft). ever leave the school… If that wasn’t appalling enough, Brian It was just a few hours after the oc- was later seen covering all the door han- cupants of the school had retired to dles AND toilet seats with superglue, the comfort of their homes. The rain while Alec was found skulking around spattered the windows, but neither under the staircases unscrewing the bolts that nor the howling of the wind holding them to the walls, until the point penetrated the walls of Drumchapel where they would collapse to the floor on High. As was the expected norm, the one touch. school was checked to ensure all So much for friendly, reliable janitors. staff and pupils had vacated it, and to Beware who you trust this Halloween… make certain that the building itself By Becky Hurt was in order. Hi, This is the first ever issue ¨ of Drumbeat, the new magazine for Drumchapel High School. ¨ Unfortunately, the original magazine stopped running when the senior pupil in ¨ charge left the school. However, we’ve decided to ¨ start it up again this year, to let everyone know about ¨ the events around the school, and hopefully to ¨ entertain you all as well. We’re hoping to get any ¨ fresh ideas and suggestions (from teachers and pupils) ¨ so that we can improve our next issue, and see what people around the school ¨ want to see in Drumbeat. If you do have any sugges- ¨ tions, just fill in the tear of slip at the back of the ¨ magazine and pop it in the Drumbeat box in the hub, ¨ or just let one of our members know. ¨ We hope you enjoy reading! STAFF Þ Becky Hurt - Editor Þ Heather Mullen - Assisstant Editor Þ Jennifer Barnshaw - Jokes Þ Jodie Roberts - Embarassing stories Þ Ashley Montgomery - Interviewing Þ Lina Tembo - Photography Þ Zoe McAreavey - Researcher And many more (who don’t want to be mentioned). Article of Interest This week, the article of interest will fo- cus on the school’s pupil council. It has become apparent that pupils, for some reason, are wary of joining the council and have unprecedented preconceptions of the people who do. Despite the general consensus, that only “geeks” join the pupil council, a vast range of pupils opt in to have their say about the school. This year’s pupil council is run by the senior pupil council, which consists of eight sixth year pupils, including ourselves (Erin and Ross). We form the backbone of the council, thus allowing the majority of decisions and im- portant roles to be pupil orientated. We encour- age people of all backgrounds to join, as it gives a more diverse opinion pool to work with. Hopefully as the year goes on we will have, from each tutor group, a representative, who can share the views of their class members. The pupil council meets on a monthly basis, with a pre arranged topic to discuss. In past years the council has had a more open environment, however this led to little being done and nobody contributing to the discussions, which was a waste of everybody’s time and effort. It is the aim of the council, to col- lect the pupil’s views and opinions of the school and how it could be improved; it is by doing this that the student body has the power to change unsatisfactory aspects of their learning environment, and then implement new factors to enhance the school. Another misconception that we face is the over-riding question – “what has the pupil council actually done?” well the answer is: if it had not been for the pupil council, the dilapidated and derelict jani- tor’s house would still be festering away at the north-west gate of the school. We were also responsible for implementing the school sign; however it has fallen into disrepair and has suffered at the hands of vandals over the years, so maybe another sign is needed? Enjoy basketball? Well you can thank the pupil council again. It was with their persistence and petitioning that we now have the outdoor basketball area. The breakfast club is another, more successful, project initiated by the hard work and dedication of the pupil council. The current topic is that of the house names. To elaborate, it is in the interests of Mrs Winton to re- name the registration classes as house names. Pupil council members will have taken your vote and the out come is still being debated. But why have house names? Well it is accepted that house names give a distinct identity to the pupils. It will also provide the means to have a healthy competition between the houses. It is a more mature manner of naming classes and is one that is wide spread throughout schools in the U.K. Plus it will be just like Harry Potter! Except without the broomsticks of course. If you are considering a career in politics, like to moan, or are just curious, then coming along to one of the meetings. It might just give you a little push in the right direction. You are not stuck in and can opt out; we won’t hold you against your will! Instead of spending your school life complaining about the place, do something and be an active partici- pant in the things you want changed. It’s never going to happen if you don’t say something. Being in the pupil council does have its advantages though, such as an early lunch pass for those consistent members, to get away early on meeting days. You will also receive a badge notifying other pupils of your status within the pupil council, and to identify you as a member. At the end of the year there will also be the possibility of going to the Houses of Parliament. We hope that this article has given you a greater insight into the real pupil council, and maybe we’ll see you at the next meeting! Erin O’Shaughnessy Ross Sorby I have recently fallen out with my friend over something silly, and I’ve tried to resolve the problem but she just completely ignores me now. My other friends have all taken her side and I have no one. I have to go Here for any problems you may have. home for lunch and have no one to If you want to know something and are stand with at interval. What should embarrassed to ask your friends, write I do? in to Aunty R. and she’ll try and help. Girls Aloud Fan, S1 I am in 6th year and I sat my exams last year. The results I got were disappointing and I am trying to Hiya, make sure I study a lot more this year. But I feel It is normal for friends to fall out, like that’s all I ever do and I’m not really getting and if you’ve tried to make up with anywhere. Do you have suggestions on how to her at least you have done your study? part. There is no need for you to go home at lunchtimes. Why not make Hiya, friends with the people in your There is no need to get stressed over it, limit your- classes? Alternatively, there are lots self to how much studying you do. Ask your teach- of clubs available and there is also ers when supported study for that class will be avail- the games room where you can find able and make sure you attend and bring up any ar- peer supporters every lunchtime, if eas on which you are stuck. Why not you want someone to talk to or just ask your friends about their study want to hang out and meet others methods and try them out. Studying in your year. with a friend also helps, that way you can test each other and they might be able to help you a lot.

Load more