ARRAN HIGH SCHOOL
NEWSLETTER
School Website: www.arran.n-ayrshire.sch.uk
Email: arran@ea.n-ayrshire.sch.uk
Follow us on Twitter: @arranhigh
December 2014
Dear Parent/Carer
Welcome to our final newsletter of this calendar year. Yet again, we have had a busy few weeks with
youngsters and staff successfully representing the school in many ways, whilst also continuing the
focus upon high quality learning and teaching. As always, we seemed to have raced on to this time of
year and already the Christmas dance and concert season is in full swing!
I would like to take this opportunity to thank our staff and young people for their effort and hard work
over the past few months. In particular, I am sure that a continuation of this effort and hard work will
pay dividends for those who are going on to take SQA examinations in May 2015. For those in our S1 S3 the effort put in now will ensure that the foundations are being laid for future success.
This has been an enjoyable first term for me and I have learned a great deal about the many strengths
of our school. I look forward to building upon these strengths as we move ahead in the coming months.
NAC Canteen Re-Branding Competition
In November a group of S3 pupils took part in a North Ayrshire Council ‘Dragon’s Den’ competition.
The pupils had to create a new brand for school canteens based on ‘street food’ – the type of food that
people can buy and take out from high street retailers.
The team had to create a new brand image, name, slogan and menu among other things! They also had
to think about the packaging and prices and a design for the new Street Food section of the canteen.
They then had to present their ideas to a panel at Greenwood Conference Centre in Irvine.
Twelve teams from all over North Ayrshire took part and the team from Arran High came a very close
second to Largs Academy. This was a fantastic result: the team worked very hard to achieve this and
we look forward to seen the changes to the canteen in the near future.
Cameron Logan, Louise Shankland, Abbie McKelvie
Trefor Goronwy, Cailean Robertson
Girls into STEM
Along with girls from all other NAC schools, Abbie McKelvie, Megan McNicol, Alison Provan and Louise
Shankland, accompanied by Mrs Logan, travelled to Greenwood Conference Centre in Dreghorn to take
part in a range of workshops with the aim of encouraging girls to follow a career in STEM subjects.
Professionals and companies from a wide range of STEM focussed careers were present to answer
questions and stimulate interest. “A great day” was had by all.
Girls into Physics
This time a group of S2/3 girls travelled to St
Matthew’s Academy, Saltcoats, to take part in
a variety of Physics themed workshops.
Some of these included: strength of chocolate;
ultra-sound
scanning
and
constructing
bridges, hopefully stimulating plenty of
interest in the STEM subjects.
Another type of Stem
Stem cells are undifferentiated cells found in both embryos and adults, which are capable of becoming
specialised and taking on a wide variety of roles within the body. These cells can self-renew, are very
long lasting and con be used for growth and repair.
Ingrid Heer and two PhD students from the Centre for Regenerative Medicine at Edinburgh University
visited us on Wednesday, 19 November to talk about their work.
Stem cells are seen as the possible answer for replacement organs and tissue and curing degenerative
ailments such as Parkinson’s disease.
All S3-6 Biology students attended two separate workshops, which everyone found very interesting and
thought-provoking – thought provoking because there is an ethical debate surrounding the use of stem
cells.
Lamlash Church of Scotland Carol Concert
We received a letter from Mr Oakes thanking the Arran High School Choir for their super contribution
to the excellent concert on Monday, 1 December. The collection raised £672.38 for CLIC Sargent
Cancer Fund.
Nursery Visit
The S1 Computing Science classes have been doing some word processing and rather than keying in
letters or paragraphs from books etc, we decided to make a nursery rhyme book suitable for 3-4 year
olds. The idea of giving the books to Nursery pupils before Christmas was suggested, so, on Monday
and Tuesday this week, the classes (suitably dressed in Santa hats or tinsel) visited the Nursery and
gave every pupil a unique nursery rhyme book to take home. The S1 pupils then spent some time in
the Nursery reading their rhymes to the children.
John Muir Award Scheme
Over the past three weeks a small group of S1 pupils has been working with the AOEC to achieve their
John Muir Award. They have been participating in a wide variety of activities aimed at experiencing the
outdoors to its fullest; be it constructing shelters or diving headlong through fallen foliage (affectionately
referred to as 'bush bashing') and including an overnight stay at Cloud Base. It has been an excellent
experience and is due to be capped off this week with conservation path work to leave a lasting legacy of
their experience.
Primary 7 Programming
The Curriculum for Excellence requires P7 pupils to be
taught some programming. Mrs Clarke, the Computing
Science teacher, was approached with a view to helping
out with this. The result is that Mrs Clarke will visit each
primary school over a four-week period during the session
2014-15 to deliver lessons using a programming platform
called “Scratch”. The first visit was to Shiskine Primary
where the P6s and P7s were taught to program a “Shark
catching Fish” game.
Scottish Government Finance Committee Meeting
On Monday, 1 December we welcomed Deputy First Minister Mr John Swinney and Parliamentary
colleagues to the High School. The Committee looks carefully at how the Scottish Government proposes
to spend its money and what that spending is meant to achieve. This year they will also consider
Scottish Government taxation plans for the first time, specifically the two recently devolved taxes - Land
and Buildings Transaction Tax (which replaces UK Stamp Duty Land Tax) and the Scottish Landfill Tax.
Representatives from local businesses and community groups were invited to take part in workshops
with Committee members in the morning.
Mr Swinney talking to S5/6 pupils:
Alastair Innes
Fraser Blain
Lewis Bennett
Charlie Weir
Jack Ewing
Photo courtesy of the Arran Banner
AHS Wall Plaques
Former pupils who attended the old Arran High School building can purchase wall plaques to
commemorate their time there. Plaques are £10 each; please enquire at the school office.
Parent Council
The next meeting of the Parent Council will be held at the High School on Monday, 19 January. All
parent/carers are welcome to attend. Agenda items include proposed change to the constitution.
Pupil Information
•
•
•
•
Copies of the current Supported Study, Extra-curricular and Prelim timetables are attached and can
also be found on the school website.
Please contact Mrs Macbeth if you are worried about bullying, attendance, attainment or indeed
anything else which may be of concern.
Please ask your child to clear out his/her locker before the end of term. Lost property can also be
collected from the school office.
All dinner money loans should be repaid to the office before the end of term.
A selection of gingerbread houses designed and
created by S2 students
Young Musician Competitions
The Young Musician Competitions took place earlier in November. Overall we had 69 performances
featuring 52 pupils (22% of school roll).
The results were:
S5/6 Young Musician of the Year – Iain Clarke
S5/6 Young Musician of the Year Runner-Up – Fraser Blain & Finlay Murchie
S5/6 Young Singer of the Year – Asha Simpson
S5/6 Young Singer of the Year Runner-Up – Bethan Remmington
S5/6 Traditional Young Musician of the Year – Fraser Blain
S3/4 Young Musician of the Year – Maili Beatan & Alison Provan
S3/4 Young Musician of the Year Runner-Up – Emily Divine
S3/4 Young Singer of the Year – Emily Divine
S3/4 Young Singer of the Year Runner-Up – Bethany Walsh
S3/4 Traditional Young Musician of the Year – Bethany Walsh
S3/4 Traditional Young Musician of the Year Runner-Up – Megan McNicol & Abbie McKelvie
S1/2 Young Musician of the Year – Lucy Walsh
S1/2 Young Musician of the Year Runner-Up – Ellie Ewing
S1/2 Young Musician of the Year Commendation – Nastassja Alberti
S1/2 Young Singer of the Year – Ellie Ewing
S1/2 Young Singer of the Year Runner-Up – Eva Young
S1/2 Traditional Young Musician of the Year – Ross Dobson
S1/2 Traditional Young Musician of the Year Runner-Up – Hannah McCartney
S1/2 Traditional Young Musician of the Year Commendation – Kirstie Kerr
Massive congratulations are due to all who took part. Thank you for your continued support.
Young Musician Iain Clarke & Young Singer Asha Simpson will go
on to represent the school at the North Ayrshire Competition in the
new year
Finally, may I take this opportunity to wish all associated with Arran High School, Lamlash Primary
School and Early Years Class a happy, relaxing and peaceful Christmas holiday.
Barry R Smith
Head Teacher
Supported Study Classes 2014-2015
Monday
Tuesday
Administration
All levels
Miss Sloan
Wednesday
Art & Design
Art & Design
S3-6
Mr Wedge
Biology
Mr Wedge
Computing Science
All levels
Mrs Clarke
Geography
Geography
S3-6
N4/N5
N4/N5
Mr Donlin
Mr Donlin
German
Geography
All levels
Mrs Fletcher
Mrs Rennie
Mrs Fletcher
Music
Mathematics
All levels
Mathematics
All levels
Mrs Logan
Mrs Pennycott
Business Management
All levels
Miss Sloan
Graphic Com
Design & Manufacture
All levels
Mr Wilson
French
Physical Education
N4/N5/H
Mr Evans/Miss McGhee
All levels
Mrs Fletcher
German
All levels
All levels
Mr McCartney
All levels
H/AH
Mrs Gosman
Mathematics
Chemistry
S3-6
Mr Wedge
Art & Design
Thursday
All levels
H.E.& F.E. Applications
S5 & 6
Mrs Walker
All levels
Graphic Com
Design & Manufacture
All levels
Mr Wilson
Mr Lambert
Mrs Hogge
Graphic Com
Design & Manufacture
All levels
Mr Wilson
Modern Studies
N4/N5/H
Mrs Gosman
Physics
All levels
Mr McAllister
Graphic Com
Design & Manufacture
All levels
Mr Wilson
Extra-Curricular Classes 2014-2015
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Junk Kouture
All levels
Ms Paul
Cook Group
S1 & S2
Mrs/Ms MacLeod
Mrs U-Dixon
Duke of Edinburgh
13½ yrs upwards
Mrs Hogge/Mr
Donlin/Mrs Mowatt
Fitness Training
All levels
Miss McGhee
Mountain Biking
All levels
Mr McNeice
Football
Senior Band
S4-6
Music Theory
All levels
Mr Lambert
LUNCH
Fiddle Group
All levels
Miss Tait
Fitness Training
All levels
Miss McGhee
Mr Lambert
Fitness Training
All levels
Miss McGhee
Rugby Training
S1-6
Mr Evans
S1 & S2
Mr McCartney
Thursday
Junior Band
S1-3
Mr Lambert
Friday
LUNCH
Choir
All levels
Mr Lambert
Arran High School
Prelim Timetable 2015
Day
Wednesday
Thursday
Tuesday
Date
21/01/15
05/02/15
10/02/15
AM/PM
AM
AM
Wednesday
11/02/15
AM
Thursday
Friday
12/02/15
13/02/15
PM
AM
AM
PM
Monday
16/02/15
AM
Tuesday
17/02/15
PM
AM
PM
Wednesday
18/02/15
AM
Thursday
19/02/15
AM
Friday
20/02/15
PM
AM
Monday
23/02/15
AM
PM
Timings
9.15am-­‐3.45pm
9.15am-­‐12.20pm
9.15-­‐10.45am
9.15-­‐11.45am
9.15-­‐10.15am
11.30am-­‐1.00pm
9.15-­‐ 10.45am
11.30am-­‐1.00pm
9.15-­‐10.45am
9.15am-­‐12.15pm
2.15-­‐3.15pm
9.15-­‐10.05am
10.40am-­‐12.20pm
9.15-­‐10.15am
10.40am-­‐12.10pm
9.15-­‐10.25am
10.40am-­‐12.10pm
9.15am-­‐12.15pm
9.15-­‐11.15am
9.15-­‐11.45am
9.15-­‐11.45am
9.15am-­‐12.15pm
1.45-­‐3.45pm
2.15-­‐3.45pm
9.15-­‐12.00pm
9.15-­‐11.15am
9.15-­‐11.45am
9.15-­‐11.45am
9.15am-­‐12.15pm
2.15-­‐3.15pm
9.15-­‐11.35am
9.15-­‐11.00am
9.15am-­‐10.45am
2.15-­‐3.15pm
2.15-­‐3.45pm
2.15-­‐3.25pm
9.15-­‐11.00am
9.15-­‐11.30am
9.15-­‐11.45am
9.15-­‐11.00am
9.15-­‐11.30am
2.15-­‐3.15pm
9.15am-­‐11.15am
9.15am-­‐10.15am
9.15am-­‐11.45am
9.15-­‐10.45am
11.10-­‐11.35am
9.15-­‐10.15am
11.20am-­‐1.00pm
9.15-­‐10.45am
9.15-­‐11.45am
9.15-­‐10.45am
9.15-­‐11.45am
9.15am-­‐10.45am
9.15-­‐11.15am
9.15-­‐11.45am
9.15-­‐11.15am
2.15-­‐3.45pm
1.45-­‐3.45pm
Level
Nat5/H
Nat5
Nat 5
Higher
Nat 5
Subject
Music Practical
Hospitality
Computing Science
Information Systems
English
Higher
English
AH
AH
Nat 5 Nat 5
English
English
Music
Lifeskills Maths
Nat 5
Maths
Higher
Maths
AH
Nat 5
Higher
AH
AH
Higher
Nat 5
AH
Nat 5
Higher
AH
AH
Higher
Higher
Nat 5
Nat 5/H
AH
Nat 5
Nat 5
Nat 5
Higher
AH
Nat 5
Higher
Higher
Nat 5
Higher
Higher
Nat 5
Maths
Biology
Biology
Biology
Graph Comm
Art
Practical Craft
Business Management
Chemistry
Chemistry
Chemistry
History
Music
History
History
Psychology
Music
D & M
Art
Geography
Geography
Geography
Modern Studies
Modern Studies
PE
Admin
Admin
Physics
French
French (Listening)
French (Listening)
French
French
French (Listening)
Business Management
Business Management
Drama
Drama
Physics
Physics
Graph Comm
Graph Comm
Higher
AH
Nat 5
Higher
Nat 5
Higher
AH
Nat 5
Nat 5
Higher