Earlston High School

This week, all first year pupils (including myself) were involved in an enterprise workshop delivered by Mind Vision. Our task was to work in teams and use our communication skills to build a fortress from pieces. It sounded quite straight forward until Gerry explained the rules! Part of being enterprising is to rise to a challenge and develop a ‘can do’ attitude, so we should have known that the task wasn’t going to be easy.

Hidden behind a huge screen was the model fortress, which we had to use to help us piece together our own model. Still sounding easy – not when you know there were over two hundred pieces and only one team member at a time could go to look at the sample. We couldn’t make notes or draw diagrams, but had to use our memory to transfer what we had seen from the model to our own team challenge. Then just to add another twist to the challenge, we were against the clock. That’s where the ‘freaky’ bit comes in because we were running about frantically from the model to our team table.

It was all good fun though and really made us think about how together we could build the fortress – a task which seemed impossible at first. We realised we ‘can do’ things if we put our minds to it and have a go.

On Friday 26 February, we all wore red to raise awareness and funds for the British Heart Foundation. The event has so far raised £700, although the Health Committee is still counting! Thank you to everyone who supported the event and we hope to hand over the cheque to a representative from BHF at the first year assembly later this month.

Last month, Mrs Weston’s S1 English class were involved in a ‘Glow Meet’ with author Catherine Forde. The class had been reading her novel, ‘Fat Boy Swim’ and by using GLOW were able to see Ms Forde on the projector screen and ask her questions. It was a great success and gave pupils the chance to ‘virtually’ meet the writer and have a live discussion.

Yesterday was another chance to ‘meet’ an author using GLOW, but this time it was Michael Rosen. Again the writer was live on the screen and the pupils were able to ask questions about his work. GLOW is Scotland’s educational intranet and just as our pupils were involved, so were other pupils across Scotland. It gave EHS the chance to hear the writer respond to live questions from other schools as well as our own.

Wednesday 3 March was World Maths Day and, by using the internet, pupils were able to compete against others in a Maths Challenge. The Maths department made full use of the Computing Studies rooms and first and second year classes went along to try their luck.

The Maths questions were calculations, but there was no time to get out the calculator – it all had to be ‘mental’! There were different levels of question and each challenge had a set of twenty questions. The best part though was that you were competing against players from around the world.

This morning, the second years were playing individuals from a host of different countries. Each player had about four others to compete against and everyone in the class had different people. You were told each player’s first name, their school and their country. During one challenge, EHS was competing with pupils from Sweden, Gibraltar, South Africa, Australia, Finland and Germany! There were also pupils from across Great Britain – James from Cumnock Academy, Sean from Conyers Secondary and many more mathematicians battling it out to win the challenge of World Maths Day.

YES or Young Enterprise Scotland is a long established organisation which encourages young people to develop their business and entrepreneurial skills.

Working with a business adviser from the community, our YES company has been active in preparing the launch of their product. They identified our status as a new school building, and the opportunity of an official opening, as a potential to attract customers for their product. After extensive market research and having scrutinised a variety of sample products, the company is now selling EHS mugs and bags.

Two members of the company promoted their product at the recent S2 Parents’ Evening and those of you who missed that opportunity to support the company will have another chance at the S3 Parents’ Evening, which is on Wednesday 17 March.

As mentioned, in a previous EHS article, on Friday the 5 th March the pupils and teachers celebrated Ghana Day. Now an annual event within Earlston High, Ghana Day helps us to raise funds, which contribute towards a village in Ghana – Mangu.

The day was a huge success! It was embraced by all, with several people making a great effort to dress-up. Pirates, cowboys/cowgirls and another group of boys who had the inventive idea of dressing as ‘Pirates on Holiday’ could all be seen around the school. A Johnny Depp impersonation swaggered round the corridors! The girls were sorely fooled by his persona. It was hard not to mistake him for the man himself! As well as fancy dress other students made a real effort to wear the Ghana colours – we merged together in a rainbow or Reds, Yellows and Greens.

Along came lunch time and the activities were quick to begin. Walking into the assembly hall, you were instantly bombarded by the noise of drums, face painting fun and other tribal ‘goings on’. Everyone was eager to rivet a rhythmic beat on the tradition tribal drums. Although the noise may have drowned out the sound of your thoughts, it was pleasant to see people with huge smiles on their faces, enjoying themselves - another reason for the organising of the event. Mr Smart (Head of Biology) was thrilled with the day and its success. He said, “I would like to thank those who helped setting up the event as well as those who turned up and participated so enthusiastically”. Mr Smart also invited one of his close friends to join the celebrations. Sam comes from Ghana and passed on his skills in drumming to the pupils. Sam’s drumming is now a regular feature of our Ghana Day and we all look forward to his visit. Mr Smart further added that Sam was “fantastic as usual” and with his help a great number of pupils were encouraged to participate in the lunchtime activities. Sam’s arrival and short stay at the school was also appreciated as it was a prime opportunity for us to ask questions about the country and gain better insight into the differences in the way of life. On the day a total of £ 140 was raised from the activities. The next event is fondly anticipated: Mangu Mess Day – but we’ll have to hope some the better weather for that one.

Congratulations to Alexandra K and Alexandra M, both in fifth year, who recently achieved their black belts in judo. This is a great achievement and the girls had to fight in a variety of high level competitions in their quest to join the elite group of judo black belts. As well as gaining points by winning fights, the girls had to pass an examination which involved demonstrating complex moves and combination skills.

The girls, affectionately known as ‘the Alis’, are best friends even though they have had to compete against each other at times. Both started judo at the age of eight after a taster session in school led by Sportif Judo. They then became members of the Sportif judo club and continue to train hard each week.

Ali M’s favourite throw is an Uchi-Mata and Ali K likes the throw – Makikomi- which Euan Burton, a Bronze Medallist at the World Championships in 2007, uses frequently. Well done girls!

SINCE 1961, the British Heart Foundation (BHF) has strived to prevent premature deaths due to heart disease. The foundation partakes in a number of different procedures which in turn help prevent the disease from maturing, and therefore encourage a better well-being for those who suffer and have to live with heart problems.

Every February the BHF introduce a campaign in order to celebrate their progress and continue raising awareness concerning the problem. This year they aim to raise a large some of money to go towards research into the disease and to help fund those living with the problem. They also promote healthy eating and exercise in order to try and reduce the increasing rate of heart disease which is now becoming a significant problem.

On Friday the 26 th of February Earlston High had a ‘Wear Red Day’ in order to raise money for the Charity. Pupils were able to wear an item of red clothing, be it a t-shirt, jumper or wig in order to emphasise that heart disease is an ongoing problem and it is up to us to look after ourselves and support those who are suffering. Each student who participated in the charity event donated a £1 towards the cause. The grand total is not known yet as money is still being collected and counted! The refectory also took part breaking barriers by putting on a display of red food for the students to indulge in; it was an exciting fayre and inspired some variation from the usual menu. The BHF is a worthy cause and the school is proud to have been a part of its annual awareness programme and has worked hard to raise money for the charity.

YEARLY, Earlston High School celebrates its relationship with a small developing village called Mangu in Ghana. Mr Smart (Head of the Biology Department) has always had a fond place in his heart for Mangu and over the past few years he has embraced the opportunity to send senior students to the country in order to experience the way of life, culture and to help them with work that may need to be done. This year there has been a great amount of interest and pupils have been eager to be a part of this once in a lifetime opportunity as part of their Gap year before university.

Although the relationship with Mangu does not stop at sending over eager students, as throughout the year a number of events are held in order to raise money for the area. Ghana Day is almost a tradition within the school and this year it will be held on Friday 5 th March. A number of things will be happening including a non-uniform day, entertainment throughout lunch with various competitions, African style drumming and other activities.

Also, beginning on Monday 1 st March is a bracelet making workshop which will be on every lunch time until Ghana Day for pupils to express their artistic flair. We hope that this year will be as successful as previous years and that a great amount of money is raised to help Mangu - that has becoming a great friend of Earlston High.

Congratulations to Lucy Henderson-Morris and Kerry Sandilands who won silver medals as members of the Gala Harriers Under 15 Girls Team at the Scottish Cross Country Championships on Saturday. Lucy finished in 13th place and Kerry in 22nd. Well done to both girls.

Congratulations also to a rink from Earlston High School have won the qualifying tournament to represent Scottish Borders at the Scottish Schools Championship to be held at Murrayfield 19th - 21st March.

The rink was: Cameron Pate (skip), Lesley Kerr (third),Thomas Fleming (second), Beth Patterson (lead),Hayleigh Wilson (lead).

Good luck to the rink for the competition and well done for being successful in the qualifying rounds.

On Wednesday, Mrs Weston’s 1S and 1V had the opportunity to “meet” with the author Catherine Forde via the internet through GLOW – the Scottish Schools’ Intranet.

Through this technology, schools from all over the country would be logging in at 12 noon, where Catherine would answer our questions. Despite various technological hitches we finally joined the meet at 12.20 and started chatting to Catherine, via webcam, alongside the other schools.

We were delighted that our questions were all met with enthusiasm by the writer. Having read her novel “Fat Boy Swim” we were keen to discover whether one of the characters has an Irish accent (she doesn’t – but almost definitely had Irish parents), whether there would be a sequel (possibly) and what Catherine Forde would recommend we read next (too many to mention – we have a list).

It was a first for Earlston High School and will hopefully be succeeded many further virtual meets for us. Barak Obama next, perhaps?

On Tuesday (26th Jan) we had two Maths Club Specials. The Intermediate 2 event was a particularly high scoring affair with the dogged, determined and ever-smiling Juliet coming out on top. One point behind was Jacob whose competitive edge pulled him through into second place. These aforementioned two had to be good to fend off the challenge of the tenacious Jill, Rowan and Lauren who shared third place.

The Higher event featured Mr Pritchard's relay round which added a bit of fun and just a little perspiration. Winner was the very composed Kyle with the very consistent David and the enthusiastic and cheerful Sarah sharing second place.

Many thanks from the Maths Department for being such a fun bunch and good luck to all our senior students with all of their exams.

EHS S2/S1 3 - EyHS S2/S1 0

EHS S1 2 - EyHS S1 0

Yes it’s that time of year again!!! Our first Dance Festival in the new school will take place on Wednesday 10th and Thursday 11th March 2010. Pupils from all secondary year groups are invited to collect an application form from the PE Department. The closing date for entries is Friday 26th February 2010.

The festival runs for two evening and tickets will be on sale in early March. There is always a mix of dance styles with groups and individuals taking part. Pop the date in your diary!

The Careers Adviser Susan Meldrum is holding a drop in session in the interview room opposite the office at lunchtimes on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 1.30 to 2.00pm. This is an ideal opportunity for second years to have a chat with Susan as they consider their subject choices for next year. Pupils just need to ‘drop in’ at any point if they have any questions about careers, jobs or subject choices.

The S2 Parent Information Evening on Tuesday was very well attended and thank you to those parents who braved the cold weather to join us. Miss Strong gave an outline of the different courses and examination levels available. This was useful as the majority of the audience had followed ‘O’ and ‘Higher’ Grade courses at school so the terms Standard Grades and Intermediates were new.

After some general tips for parents on how to support their sons/daughters in the choice of course process, Gavin from the Tree of Knowledge organisation gave a very interesting and entertaining presentation. Tree of Knowledge workshops were part of the S2 pupils’ day earlier and Gavin guided them through fun activities which gave them food for thought.

Congratulations to Rachel and Kate for their performance in the Law Society of Scotland's Donald Dewar competition second round debate in Edinburgh.

Although they were not the team selected for the third round, they won their debate despite the awkwardness of their task- to argue against the reduction in CO2 emissions. The motion they were opposing was: 'This House supports material unilateral reductions in the EU's carbon emissions by 2020".

The school’s debating club continues to go from strength to strength and new members are always welcome.