St Thomas of Aquin’s High School Celebrating the achievement s of the St Thomas of Aquin’s High School Community 2011-2013 St Thomas of Aquin’s High School helping to create . SUCCESSFUL LEARNERS CONFIDENT INDIVIDUALS RESPONSIBLE CITIZENS EFFECTIVE CONTRIBUTORS This booklet is updated in August of each year St Thomas of Aquin’s High School Wider Achievement Summary – 2011-2014 d://cmarshall/widerachievementsummary 0 Achievements in Music Community Events – 2011-2012 A group of pupils from S1 and S2 took part in the Grassmarket lighting Ceremony in December 2012. The group entertained the crowd by singing seasonal carols and songs before enjoying hot chocolate and mince pies in the nearby APEX hotel. In December 2012, we held our Annual Advent Service for parishioners of the local community. Senior pupils from Modern Languages sang Christmas Carols in English, Spanish and French and the Windband performed excellently. Mr Lovett played carols on the piano. As always, we received fantastic feedback. Music Visits / Workshops 2011-2012 Pupils in S4, S5 and S6 took part in a Scottish Chamber Orchestra workshop when members of the orchestra worked with pupils in the school. This was followed up with a Concert performance in the Queens Hall in September. Around 75 S3 – S6 pupils attended a Royal Scottish National Orchestra concert in the Usher Hall in November 2012. The programme was based on a variety of C20 music including Bolero by Ravel and Rhapsody in Blue by Gershwin. School Concerts The Christmas Celebration Concert took place on Monday 17 December 2012 and featured all the school music groups performing to a large audience in the school hall. Pupils gave some excellent performances, and there was the usual visitor from Lapland! Senior Musician of the Year, December 2011 1st place Rian McDermott Junior Young Musician of the Year, June 2012 1st Place: Sean Stout (S3) who performed Waltz Venite on Saxophone 2nd Place: Duncan Shand (S2) who performed Havre Gosselin on Guitar 3rd Place: Orla McCorry (S3) who accompanied herself on Guitar and sang Stay Awake Senior Musician of the Year, March 2013 1st place Sean Frost 2nd place Anna Dowling Clark 3rd place Sean Stout City of Edinburgh Groups In addition to this, Rachel Nicholson (S3) and Rhona Lilley (S4) played with City of Edinburgh groups in the Queens Hall on Wednesday 20 March 2013. St Thomas of Aquin’s High School Wider Achievement Summary – 2011-2014 d://cmarshall/widerachievementsummary 1 Associated Board Exams 2012-2013 Over session 2012-2013, we have entered 12 pupils for the Associated Board exams ranging from Grade 1 – Grade 5. Many pupils have passed with Merit and Distinction. 14 pupils have also been entered for Grade exams later this term. Pass Grade 3 Flute – Austin Flynn Grade 3 violin - Samuel Richards / Grade 2 double bass - Madeline Lagneau Merit Grade 1 Guitar – Iain McIntyre Grade 2 Guitar – Amanda Bannerman, Grade 2 Guitar - Jade Finlayson Grade 4 guitar – Conal Mooney Grade 3 Flute – Tessa Richardson Grade 3 violin – James Linklater Distinction Grade 1 Guitar – Roman De Prez Grade 2 guitar – Mark Kostryckyj Grade 2 violin – Ahobita Rajkumar and Claire Wong There were some very high marks - Well done to all! Participation in School Bands The following pupils participate in numerous bands and many musical events held within the school. String Orchestra, Windband, Guitar Ensemble and Jazz Band – Junior School Flana Barreto Fiona Denvir Matthew Deponio Sophie Drury Michael Duffy Jade Finlayson Anna Flynn Austin Flynn Emily Harkin Mark Kostryckyj Madeleine Lagneau James Linklater Ruaridh Lloyd Ana Lopez Anthony Luccesi Orla McDevitt Patrick McGroarty Jenny Milne Shobita Rajkumar Tessa Richardson Samuel Richards Emma Simpson Sinead Thin Lauren Thomson Claire Wong String Orchestra, Windband, Ceilidh, Guitar Ensemble, Clarsach and Jazz Band – Senior School Jeannie Agab McKey Antoine Asmar Peter Blair Liam Braby Beth Cunningham Malcolm Og Duck Sarcha Dungu Ruaridh Farquharson Archie Fisher Sean Frost Katie Gilbert Inde Gloag Donaldson Sarah Harkin Perri Hutchings Magnus Kramers Melissa Laurie Ryan Leslie Alasdair Letch Tim Ciubotaru Anna McNairney Conal Mooney Rachel Nicholson Ross Patrizio Lawrence Rennie Melissa Scott Duncan Shand Ruaridh Smith Oonagh Thin Andy Todd Lisa Wilson Gareth McHardy Botao Zhou Michelangelo Mulholland Phoebe O’Carroll Moran St Thomas of Aquin’s High School Wider Achievement Summary – 2011-2014 d://cmarshall/widerachievementsummary 2 Achievement in PSE Youth Philanthropy Initiative (YPI) 2012 The Youth and Philanthropy Initiative (YPI) provides the opportunity for all S2 pupils to research local charities and present to a community audience and a panel of judges. In 2012, the judges included Councillor Sandy Howat and the recently elected Chair of the Parent Council, Mr Eugene Mullan. The special final presentation event took place on Wednesday 6 June 2012. The winning team composed of Lucie Broadbent, Katherine Braby, Lauren Baillie and Maili Raven-Adams researched and presented on behalf of Jericho House, received a £3000 cheque to be donated to assist the homeless in Edinburgh. The pupils from the winning team attended a special Award Ceremony at the Glasgow Hilton on 21 June 2012. S1 Pantomime Ms Kelly in Guidance co-ordinates the annual Pantomime and during Christmas 2012, the S1 cohort visited the King’s Theatre to see the performance of Mother Goose. Youth Philanthropy Initiative (YPI) 2013 The Youth and Philanthropy Initiative (YPI) gives secondary school pupils a hands-on experience of philanthropy that provides them with the skills and awareness to make a positive difference to their communities. Pupils work in small teams to research and discuss the social needs of their local community and identify the local social service charity they believe is best placed to make a positive contribution. The group judged to have made the best presentation in each school is granted £3,000 to award to their charity. Youth Philanthropy Initiative (YPI) - Grand Final, 2013 The final of the YPI was held in the school on the evening of Wednesday 5 June 2013. Eight charities were represented by our S2 pupils including: Edinburgh Coalition against Poverty (ECAP) Jack Kane Community Centre The Yard Sands Lothian Children 1st Edinburgh Young Carers St Columba’s Hospice Eric Liddell Centre A panel of judges including Marco Biagi (MSP), Mr Wilkins, and two members from last year’s winning team announced the winning entry as St Columba’s Hospice who received a cheque for £3000.00 from the Wood Family Trust who sponsor the Youth & Philanthropy Initiative. St Thomas of Aquin’s High School Wider Achievement Summary – 2011-2014 d://cmarshall/widerachievementsummary 3 Winning Team Youth Philanthropy Initiative (YPI) 2013 Anna Andrew, Sophie Drury, Jade Finlayson, Susannah Horton, Marayam Motowa, & Roisin Shepherd presented on behalf of St Columba’s Hospice. Representatives from St Columba’s Hospital visited the girls in school and they decided together how best to spend the £3000.00 contribution. The girls attended the Annual YPI Scotland National Event at Perth Concert Hall on Wednesday 19 June 2013 alongside the winning teams from all participating schools. They met Catherine Grainger, Olympic Champion (below). Many thanks to Ms Clare Kelly for co-ordinating this wonderful opportunity for our pupils. YPI National Event – June 2012 The winning entrants from this year’s YPI event were invited to the National Event which was held in Perth Concert Hall on Wednesday 19 June. This event was a celebration of the 80 winning teams from schools throughout Scotland. Katherine Grainger, CBE 2013 was the key note speaker and entertainment was provided by Ebony Day, MTV’s Brand New Artist of 2013. A great time was had by all! Young Driver’s Event – September 2012 Ms Kelly took a number of S6 pupils to participate in the Young Driver’s Convention on Friday 30 September. Pupils were made aware of the many dangers associated with driving. St Thomas of Aquin’s High School Wider Achievement Summary – 2011-2014 d://cmarshall/widerachievementsummary 4 Achievements in Religious Education On Friday 22 June, His Holiness, the Dalai Lama visited Edinburgh and some of our pupils were selected to be part of the welcoming party at Parliament Square. Many pupils were lucky enough to have a chat with him. Two Fifth Year pupils, Gregor Moodie and Ross Patrizio, had the wonderful opportunity to attend a talk by His Holiness the Dalai Lama in the Usher Hall. He spoke about Ethics in the Modern World, the importance of developing compassion, respect and concern for all. At the end of the event Gregor and Ross had the good fortune of meeting and thanking His Holiness for his inspiring words. Mary’s Meals Backpack Campaign Miss Cairney in the RE department launched the school’s first Mary’s Meals Backpack campaign during Lent 2013. Donations of basic school equipment were requested and were sent to children all over the world. The appeal was incredibly successful and a representative from Mary’s Meals came into the school to collect the following: 79 backpacks, £510 plus 6 bags full of extra donations. Yet again we were astounded by the generosity from both staff and pupils. This response has been a testament to the spirit of co- operation and kindness to be found in our school community. St Thomas of Aquin’s High School Wider Achievement Summary – 2011-2014 d://cmarshall/widerachievementsummary 5 Individual Achievements On 8 February 2012, eleven pupils from St Thomas’ joined several other schools to take part in an athletics day at Livingston Sports Village. Following the athletics fun day Shawn Taylor and Christopher Roulston (right) were chosen to compete in the Lothian and Borders team on 29 February and returned to school with first place medals. Chris & Shawn On 20 February the following pupils participated in the 2012-2013 West Lothian Athletics Festival, held in West Lothian College: Steven Brown Devon Young Chris Roulston Iona Wallace Daniel Jones Charlie Saunders Hannah Goodall Jordan Thomson Lauren Whitaker Georgia Scholarship The Rotary Club have again offered us the opportunity for our present S6 pupils to apply for a ‘CULTURAL GAP YEAR’ starting in August 2012.