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Flying on the wings of successIn February, Prep 3 pupils at Atholl were set the challenge of raising enough money to buy a bird box each to hang in the trees in Barloch Moor as part of their Birds project. The children organised themselves into production teams to make cards depicting Charles Rennie Mackin-tosh motifs, using gold embossing powder and a heat gun. After a discussion about pricing and marketing, they decided to retail their notecards at 70p each or 3 for £2 and advertise them in a letter and e-mail to the Atholl parents and Academy staff. The young enterprisers were soon to discover the power of e-mail as – within the first hour – orders came flooding in from staff across the three sites as well as parents. It was so exciting! During Money Week, the children processed the orders from their shop in the classroom and sold over 410 notecards. This enabled them to purchase 14 bird boxes, leaving them with a profit of £198.80 which they decided to donate to the RSPB. With the help of rangers from Mugdock Country Park, the bird boxes are now ready to be occupied by our feathered friends. The children would like to thank everyone that bought their notecards for helping to make this enterprise activity such a success.

Alan the Mugdock Ranger helps Atholl pupils erect bird boxes on Barloch Moor

newslinesTHEGLASGOW ACADEMY

Founded 1845

Six for Oxbridge!Six Glasgow Academy pupils have received offers of places at Oxford and Cambridge Universities this year. They are (l to r) Phillip Clarke (Engineering, Cambridge); Lucy Aitchison (French/Spanish, Cambridge); Oscar Lee (History, Oxford); Zara Reid (History, Cambridge); Alfie Lloyd (Medicine, Cambridge) and Sam Reilly (English, Oxford).Congratulations to all our pupils who have received university offers

Number 59 April/May 2010

The Chemistry Department is proud of the achievements of our ‘STEM Ambassadors’ and is delighted that two of them have recently received awards for the work they have done at The Glasgow Academy.

The STEM Ambassador programme, based at Glasgow University, recruits Science, Technology, Engineering and

During December, the Standard Grade Modern Studies classes were working on entries to a competition run by the Mod-ern Studies Educational Trust. They had to produce a presentation of no more than six slides, which examined ‘The Methods used by Pressure Groups’, giving detailed explanations and recent/real-life examples. As a school we were able to enter up to

Maths professionals to go into schools and inspire young people about the work they do. This session, for example, John Carnduff, a lecturer from Glasgow University, has mentored a team of S1 Chemistry Club boys for their Bronze

BA CREST Award on gunpowder and fireworks.

At the first Scottish STEM Ambassadors Celebration Reception held at Glasgow Science Centre on 30 March, two previous Academy STEM Ambassadors were presented with awards by Michael Russell MSP, Minister for Education and Lifelong Learning. Dr Christine Peters, Specialist Registrar in Microbiology from the Southern General, won the ‘Best Activity Award’ for her involvement with the Academy’s 2009 S1 Microbes and Medicines Day. Then Dr Linda Thomson, a lecturer at Strathclyde University, won the ‘Inspiration Award’ for her work during the 2009-2010 session at The Academy’s Chemistry Club.

In recognition of the work done at The Academy, Chemistry Club pupils were invited to attend the reception. There, Academy S1 and S2 pupils had the chance to show off some of the activities they had carried out at Chemistry Club this year. The pupils were outstanding ambassadors for the school and there was a buzz (and lots of cornflour!) around The Academy exhibit for the entire evening.

Seb Scraag watches, fascinated, as a STEM ambassador demonstrates a robot

(Picture courtesy of Douglas Blane)

Modern Studies winnersfive entries. Of the five we submitted, two have been announced as prize winners. The competition was for S3 or S4 aged pupils, so to have two winners from our S3 classes is simply wonderful!Caitlin Barrett and Eleanor Jamieson are the deserved winners. Each girl receives a cheque for £20 and a shiny certificate to celebrate their achievement.

Eleanor and Caitlin with their ‘shiny certifcates’.

Awards for Chemistry Club team

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The rain in Spain…The weather for the Spanish rock-climbing trip in February was disappointing. However, Academy pupils still enjoyed their trip - as Rachel Turner explains:

‘On one day, the sun appeared unexpectedly allowing some of us to scramble along the dagger-edged Bernia Ridge which was certainly the highlight for those that were there. This rugged wilderness made us feel quite alone until we caught site of Benidorm’s tourist-polluted, sky scrapers in the distance which reminded us of reality...’

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The Cairngorm Mountains are a setting of scenic beauty – when you can see them. Shrouded in a sea of blinding mist, we spent a full weekend snow-holing in these mountains. Frankly, it was cold and wet. However, it was also a weekend of discovery, of challenge and of adventure. After a painfully early start, we arrived in Aviemore and began trudging up the mountain, gradually becoming enclosed in what can only be described as a ping pong ball – surrounded by a shocking and harsh whiteness and a wind howling around us. We walked for several hours and finally arrived at our snow-hole site and, though we did cheat by using someone else’s pre-dug hole, we laboured for many hours widening our home to make space to allow all twelve of us to cram in. Following a very unproductive sleep of shuffling around in our sleeping bags, trying to find some comfort, we set off again the next morning and advanced, quite impressively, up the near peak of Ben MacDui. But it was on the descent back to the car park, when we finally came out of this whiteout, that I had a sense of satisfaction and sincere accomplishment. Though such trips do not sound appealing to everyone, with their early starts, and though they can be very physically demanding at points, honestly, they are definitely worth it.

Simon Jones (S5)

Toughing it: in spite of the conditions, Simon (right) squeezes out a smile. Bobby Grieg seems almost happy to be there.

Cross-Country stars!The S2 and Senior girls won the team events at the Glasgow Schools’ Cross-Country Championships at Netherpollok in February. They then went on to The Scottish Schools’ Cross-Country Championships at Irvine in March and won the Under 15 years and Over 17 years team events, the first time that The Academy’s name has appeared on all four trophies!

Catriona Graves won the Glasgow Schools’ event and went on to take second place in the Scottish Under 15 event – superb!

A fantastic achievement from an extremely ‘gutsy’ and physically fit group of girls. Well done to all who took part!

Back row: Gabrielle Clark, Amy Davis, Anna Smrckova

Front row: Catriona Graves, Anya Morrison, Rhian Dawes, Clemmie Mitchell, Abigail Stevenson

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No fewer than 58 runners from Fraser House (with the help of a couple of Morrisonians) took part in Sport Relief on Sunday 21 March, running around 190 miles among them! The team had a fundraising goal of £2000, but has actually raised £4072.21 at the last count. There were some great results for individuals within the team – Alfie Lloyd finished seventh in the 6 mile event, Amy Davidson and Simona Marchetti were the second and third girls to finish in the 1 mile event. AND, in the 3 mile event, Calum Davidson finished 1st, Cameron Russell finished 2nd, Rosa Spinney finished 3rd and Mark Forbes finished 4th. A marvellous effort was put in by all and we’re so proud of everyone’s achievements.

Waiting for the off: the Fraser House team before the start of the race

Calum Davidson with his proud mum and dad

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New York, New York!Did you know that the Statue of Liberty can fit inside the Cathedral Church of St John the Divine? The 83 pupils who were on the Music Department Tour to New York in February do: they saw the former and played inside the latter, one of the highlights of their five-day trip.

However, the undoubted high point was their concert at St Paul’s Chapel at Ground Zero. As well as being a highly-emotional experience, the pupils were absolutely ‘on song’ and played as well as they had done throughout the tour.

On his return Martyn Marshall, Director of Music, commented: ‘There is no doubt that our week in New York was quite incredible, and is something we will remember for a very long time. We have seen some truly amazing places, have been privileged to perform in some very special venues, and have been treated to much excellent food! It is going to be very difficult to top this, but watch this space...’

Dramatic beginning...Our first-ever Inter-House Drama Competition took place at the end of March and is further evidence of a new vitality in the Arts at Glasgow Academy. Directed by seniors and performed by First Year pupils, each of the plays was watched by large and enthusiastic audiences at morning assemblies and lunchtimes.

Head of Drama, Mr Neil Millar, said, ‘I have been impressed by the enthusiasm of all involved, from the S1s to the senior pupils, as well as the Heads of House, which resulted in some brilliant short productions: it made the work of the adjudicators very difficult indeed!’

Congratulations to Morrison House whose version of The Wizard of Oz was judged to be the winning play.

There’s an old saying in the theatre that if you can do comedy you can do anything. On the evidence of What a Knight! – a comic musical set in an Arthurian court somewhere in the dark ages – there is a great wealth of acting talent in the Prep School. Comic timing is difficult to master, but under the able direction of Mrs David, Miss Dunkerley and Mr Anderson the cast got it right time after time – and the audience loved it.

Many congratulations to everyone involved in a first-class production.

The undoubted high point was the concert at St Paul’s Chapel at Ground Zero.

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How did you celebrate ‘Red February’?Prep School pupils were given the chance to wear something red as part of the British Heart Foundation’s Red February day. While Kindergarten pupils wore red t-shirts at their celebration to mark the Chinese New Year, others thought red nails looked nicer! A total of £1056.33 was raised for the British Heart Foundation.

‘M Factor’Nick McAlpine won this year’s ‘M Factor’ – the competition devised by Morrison House to help raise money for child sponsorship through World Vision

Opera role for RosieNine year-old Rosie Hutcheon is currently performing as a street urchin in Scottish Opera’s modern-day version of Puccini’s opera La Boheme. Rosie, put forward for the role by her Academy singing teacher Johnathan Hawkins, was

one of only 12 children chosen from the whole of Scotland. As she is the youngest of the children performing, this is quite an achievement and the commitment (touring the country from February to June) is massive – but Rosie, who is a born performer, seems to be taking it all in her stride and managing to juggle schoolwork, opera and friends.

Safe in their hands!After a visit from several Academy parents in the medical profession who taught them aspects of anatomy, Kindergarten children have a wonderful new game. Someone pretends to be ill, mainly to get lots of sympathetic attention. (It’s a game played by a number of adults every day too...) As well as listening for a heartbeat, it’s always advisable to measure the patient’s head to check for swelling!

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Academy pipers Alasdair Dickson and Fiona McDonald were on hand to pipe in the haggis at the Spina Bifida Burns Supper held in Glasgow. Guests of honour Jonathan Watson and Duncan Bannatyne also enjoyed the evening.

Fairtrade FortnightDuring Fairtrade Fortnight a whole range of activities was organised for assembly time, interval, lunchtime and also after school.

Each interval throughout the fortnight, we held a stall selling a multitude of Fairtrade products such as Ubuntu Coke, Divine Chocolate, Tortilla Chips, Flapjacks and Tea/Coffee. We sold so much that we had to reorder stock at the end of the first week.

Lunchtimes included The Academy’s premier of a movie showing the benefits Fairtrade brings to the Guatemalan farmers. At other times during the fortnight, Taste Tests and Big Brew events were commonplace, as well as our now legendary Oranges Sports Day.

A Fairtrade Assembly, including free chocolate and cake, complemented the range of House Assembly and Tutor Time resources that were available for the whole school. Staff were also treated to freshly brewed Fairtrade coffee and biscuits.

Throughout the fortnight, Geography pupils took part in a taste test as part of their ‘Development, Trade and Aid’ unit;

Take a Cook at this!A team of S6 pupils launched their own company – ‘Accessories Accentuated’ – last August, courtesy of The Young Enterprise Scheme. Our mission has

been to come up with innovative and successful business ideas. This term, we unveiled two new products. With lots of input from our IT Director, Michael Cromie, and our Managing Director, Alasdair Dickson, we have compiled a quirky Cook Book, using recipes and illustrations submitted by pupils from the Prep School. Prizes were given to the best entries. They are proving to be so popular, we have had to reprint! We are also very pleased to have received the Tea Towels we designed back from the manufacturers. They were created using self-sketches (some of which need to be seen to be believed!) from every pupil in the Prep School, and are available for sale now. In fact, both products were flying off the shelves at the recent Prep School Show.

Ian Cuthill (S6)

the English department organised a book swap for S1 pupils and the Chemistry club used Fairtrade products in their experiments. Meanwhile the Debating Society voted down the motion, ‘This house believes that Fairtrade is fake trade’, the Gavel Club discussed the merits of Fairtrade and the Art Club recycled Divine Chocolate wrappers into chic

jewellery. Even the S6 PSE lecture was hijacked by the Fairtrade Group and the STUC Youth Committee to hear about ‘Exploitation, Bananas and Fairtrade’.

The fortnight was a great success. Well done and thank you to all who took part.

‘This House believes that Fairtrade is NOT fake trade!’

Academy pipers at Spina Bifida Burns Supper

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On Tuesday 2 March P7 boys and girls played host to parents, grandparents and former pupils alike at their Homefront Roadshow which took place in the Prep School Hall. The P7 classes, who have recently been studying World War II as part of their History curriculum, worked hard to put together an exhibition of wartime memorabilia.

There were some fascinating conversations as pupils tried to ‘teach’ their grandparents about an era that they already knew all too well!

To celebrate World Book Day, the children paid £1 to dress as a character from a book – there were some very clever and inventive outfits, thanks mainly to clever parents! In the morning, author Nanzie MacLeod spoke to all the Primary

Dairsie children with the author Nanzie MacLeod

Where did you get that hat! P7 boys get into the wartime spirit while Professor Sir Callum Macnaughton relives his youth as an ARP messenger boy

Dairsie does World Book Dayclasses. This was thoroughly enjoyed by the children. The afternoon Nursery class had great interactive fun with storyteller Carmen McDonald. We also organised shared reading across the school, where older classes read to younger ones. It was

a busy, but worthwhile, day.

We continued to promote the joy of reading the following week by taking the children to events for schools at the ‘Aye Write Literary Festival’ at the Mitchell Library. P1 and 2 met Jan Oke and P3 and 4 met Lari Don.

The children’s Robert Burns Competition at Dairsie was another success. All the children from P1 to P4 learned their poem and Mr Richard Teall – our Assembly visitor and judge – was most impressed by their efforts. The winners of the Burns Federation certificates were:

P1 – Fabrizio Delvecchio and Anika Frame

P2 – Sofia Chatfield and Jamie MacLean

P3 – Cameron McKelvie and Jamie Morison

P3 – Annabel Ballantyne and Heather Harden

Well done to all the winners who recited their poems to their grandparents.