Rural Skills Update
April and May have been busy months for the S3 and 4 Rural Skills pupils.
After sowing seeds early in March the S3 and 4 pupils have been busy planting up hanging baskets and pots to be sold at the Inverness Flower Show in August.
S3 have been brushing up on their Estate maintenance skills up at Abriachan Forest Trust, unblocking field drains and installing water butts. Many thanks to Suzann and her team for making the trips an enjoyable and rewarding experience.
S3 also had the once in a lifetime experience of leading a horse drawn plough. They became very friendly with Morgan and Tommy the 18 hand Clydesdales, through a grooming and taking session before taking it in turn to command ‘shoe over’ and ‘high over’ under the watchful eye of Nick Molnar. It was an amazing opportunity and the group was brimming with confidence and a real sense of achievement.
A sad farewell was bid to the S4 class who has really gelled as a team during this course and has shown that they can tackle many new skills. We wish them all the best.
Last but not least, the S3 class has begun to work with the Merkinch community partnership and the Corbett centre to maintain their community garden. Eilidh MacPhail represented the group; planting heathers and lavender in what is hoped to become a reading garden for the local children.
Sunday 17 May 2009
Wednesday 6 May 2009
Partnership with Lifescan
Inverness High School are developing a relationship with Lifescan, one of the Highland's largest employers. We have recently started up a "REAL Food" stall in the Lifescan premises and recently a team of employees visited our school farm for a "team-building" day and apart from enjoying the fresh air they put in a power of work on the farm.
Nomad Cage Football
Nomad Cage football visited Inverness High School for the second time in April. The 2 on 2 football inside the cage was fast and furious and enjoyed by classes of all ages. Thanks to YFC for organising the events and Merkinch Partnership for their generous sponsorship of the Nomad visit.
S2 LEADERSHIP PHONE RECYCLING
Our S2 Leadership group have been trying to raise money towards their project – a school radio show! They have teamed up with the company ‘Envriostudents’, and have started a mobile phone recycling campaign which we want you all to get involved with! It is very simple – you sell your old mobile phone on the website - www.invernesshigh.envirostudents.com
and you receive the amount of money the phone is worth. Envirostudents then donates £3.00 per phone to the High School. Once you have registered (for FREE) on the website above, you will be sent a free post envelope so you can send your phone to Envirostudents for FREE. They will then give you your money, and the donation to the school, within 7 days! So if you have any old phones lying around now that you have a better one, why not see if you can make some money, for yourself and the school at the same time! And you’ll be being eco friendly too!
and you receive the amount of money the phone is worth. Envirostudents then donates £3.00 per phone to the High School. Once you have registered (for FREE) on the website above, you will be sent a free post envelope so you can send your phone to Envirostudents for FREE. They will then give you your money, and the donation to the school, within 7 days! So if you have any old phones lying around now that you have a better one, why not see if you can make some money, for yourself and the school at the same time! And you’ll be being eco friendly too!
Visit from Botkyrka Friskola
For a third time students and teachers from Sweden have visited Inverness High School on their tour of Scotland. This year the group of 47 joined us on 5th May and the S2 Leadership Group welcomed the group with some warm-up activities and a tour of the school. The group departed after lunch in the canteen.
Tuesday 28 April 2009
News from the prefects
BLYTHSWOOD RECYCLING BIN
As part of our Eco Schools programme, we are hosting a recycling bin which has been provided by the Blythswood charity. It is located near the Dochfour Drive entrance, near the new bike shed, and takes a large variety of goods such as clothes, shoes, handbags, small toys, ink cartridges etc. Please put things in a plastic bag before putting them in the bin. The bin is available for deposits from 8.30 am- 5.30 pm. Blythswood use the items collected in a variety of ways, and any money raised goes towards their projects in Mozambique and Malawi. Let’s get recycling!
S2 LEADERSHIP GROUP
The last day of last term saw the S2 Leadership Group out washing staff cars to raise money for equipment for their radio show. This was a great success and good fun, and staff appreciated their clean cars! This raised around £80 for the group.
The S2 Leaders had a visit from the RAF at the beginning of term, who ran a session of activities aiming to develop teamwork and leadership skills. They really enjoyed the session, and it is hoped that the RAF will be back to do more of these later on in the term!
S2 LEADERSHIP PHONE RECYCLING
Our S2 Leadership group have been trying to raise money towards their project – a school radio show! They have teamed up with the company ‘Envriostudents’, and have started a mobile phone recycling campaign which we want you all to get involved with! It is very simple – you sell your old mobile phone on the website - http://www.invernesshigh.envirostudents.com/
and you receive the amount of money the phone is worth. Envirostudents then donates £3.00 per phone to the High School. Once you have registered (for FREE) on the website above, you will be sent a free post envelope so you can send your phone to Envirostudents for FREE. They will then give you your money, and the donation to the school, within 7 days! So if you have any old phones lying around now that you have a better one, why not see if you can make some money, for yourself and the school at the same time! And you’ll be being eco friendly too!
PUPIL COUNCIL
Having done the filming for their DVD which is aimed at informing P7 pupils about what to expect when coming to the High School, members of the pupil council are now working down at MP33 with Gus MacIver to edit it. We look forward to seeing the finished version!
Congratulations to Rhys Davies 2K who represented Scotland in the Tang Soo Do World Championships in March. Rhys won a Silver medal in his Bo Staf category. Well Done.
Also congratulations to Emily Ross and Garry MacKenzie who have recorded the first examination successes of the session by passing their Open University courses in Molecules, medicines and drugs and Design and the Web respectively.
CRAZY HAIR DAY
This Friday (May 1st) the High School will be having the first of what will hopefully be an annual event where pupils and staff try to get their hair into the craziest style they can! We look forward to seeing everyone’s attempts!
S4 STUDY LEAVE
Our S4 pupils will leave for their study leave on Friday 1st May before taking their Standard grade exams. We wish them all lots of luck, and are sure they will do really well. We hope to see lots of them back into S5 in June!
As part of our Eco Schools programme, we are hosting a recycling bin which has been provided by the Blythswood charity. It is located near the Dochfour Drive entrance, near the new bike shed, and takes a large variety of goods such as clothes, shoes, handbags, small toys, ink cartridges etc. Please put things in a plastic bag before putting them in the bin. The bin is available for deposits from 8.30 am- 5.30 pm. Blythswood use the items collected in a variety of ways, and any money raised goes towards their projects in Mozambique and Malawi. Let’s get recycling!
S2 LEADERSHIP GROUP
The last day of last term saw the S2 Leadership Group out washing staff cars to raise money for equipment for their radio show. This was a great success and good fun, and staff appreciated their clean cars! This raised around £80 for the group.
The S2 Leaders had a visit from the RAF at the beginning of term, who ran a session of activities aiming to develop teamwork and leadership skills. They really enjoyed the session, and it is hoped that the RAF will be back to do more of these later on in the term!
S2 LEADERSHIP PHONE RECYCLING
Our S2 Leadership group have been trying to raise money towards their project – a school radio show! They have teamed up with the company ‘Envriostudents’, and have started a mobile phone recycling campaign which we want you all to get involved with! It is very simple – you sell your old mobile phone on the website - http://www.invernesshigh.envirostudents.com/
and you receive the amount of money the phone is worth. Envirostudents then donates £3.00 per phone to the High School. Once you have registered (for FREE) on the website above, you will be sent a free post envelope so you can send your phone to Envirostudents for FREE. They will then give you your money, and the donation to the school, within 7 days! So if you have any old phones lying around now that you have a better one, why not see if you can make some money, for yourself and the school at the same time! And you’ll be being eco friendly too!
PUPIL COUNCIL
Having done the filming for their DVD which is aimed at informing P7 pupils about what to expect when coming to the High School, members of the pupil council are now working down at MP33 with Gus MacIver to edit it. We look forward to seeing the finished version!
Congratulations to Rhys Davies 2K who represented Scotland in the Tang Soo Do World Championships in March. Rhys won a Silver medal in his Bo Staf category. Well Done.
Also congratulations to Emily Ross and Garry MacKenzie who have recorded the first examination successes of the session by passing their Open University courses in Molecules, medicines and drugs and Design and the Web respectively.
CRAZY HAIR DAY
This Friday (May 1st) the High School will be having the first of what will hopefully be an annual event where pupils and staff try to get their hair into the craziest style they can! We look forward to seeing everyone’s attempts!
S4 STUDY LEAVE
Our S4 pupils will leave for their study leave on Friday 1st May before taking their Standard grade exams. We wish them all lots of luck, and are sure they will do really well. We hope to see lots of them back into S5 in June!
Thursday 23 April 2009
REAL FOOD ACTIVITY
REAL FOOD Opens a new outlet at
Lifescan in Inverness
Real food our Social Enterprise runs food shops in a range of locations locally, including SNH, Raigmore Hospital and local villages. Lifescan the city’s largest business recently invited us to open a weekly food stall in their premises, for their staff. We are looking forward to a strong relationship with Lifescan and some of their staff will be working on our school farm as part of their employee development programme.
Lifescan in Inverness
Real food our Social Enterprise runs food shops in a range of locations locally, including SNH, Raigmore Hospital and local villages. Lifescan the city’s largest business recently invited us to open a weekly food stall in their premises, for their staff. We are looking forward to a strong relationship with Lifescan and some of their staff will be working on our school farm as part of their employee development programme.
At a recent HISEZ conference in Aviemore for Social Enterprises, pupils explained the High School enterprises to delegates and took the opportunity to sell! some produce.
Wednesday 15 April 2009
S2 Leadership Group
In March the S2 leadership group undertook some car washing to raise money for equipment to do their planned radio show.
Wednesday 1 April 2009
Voice Coaching
Some High School singers recieved some additional voice coaching from a visiting voice coach (Ms L Gaster) in March. We look forward to the results in the next school show.
Monday 16 March 2009
High School News
FROM THE HIGH SCHOOL PREFECTS
ECO SCHOOLS
9 pupils from our Eco Schools group joined with the Rural Skills classes on Friday to start planting trees in the school grounds. We hope this is the start of developing a whole new ‘Eco Area’ in the grounds!
BLYTHSWOOD RECYCLING BIN
As part of our Eco Schools programme, we are hosting a recycling bin which has been provided by the Blythswood charity. It is located near the Dochfour Drive entrance, near the new bike shed, and takes a large variety of goods such as clothes, shoes, handbags, small toys, ink cartridges etc. Please put things in a plastic bag before putting them in the bin. The bin is available for deposits from 8.30 am- 5.30 pm. Blythswood use the items collected in a variety of ways, and any money raised goes towards their projects in Mozambique and Malawi. Let’s get recycling!
COMIC RELIEF
We had a great day raising money for Comic Relief on Friday 13th. Lots of staff and pupils came to school in their pyjamas, or wore red along with their red noses! Pupils had been selling red noses in school all week, and paying 20p a vote for teachers to be gunged. The staff with the top 3 largest number of votes braved having some very smelly gunge poured over them by pupils, in front of the entire school on Friday afternoon. We also had a ‘guess the baby photo’ competition, coffee and red nose cakes for staff and face painting. The pupils from room 5, who have been collecting pennies for the Oxfam Safe Water Campaign gave the money they had collected last week to Comic Relief too. All of this meant that we raised £537.22, which is absolutely brilliant, and we had a lot of fun doing it!
S2 LEADERSHIP PHONE RECYCLING
Our S2 Leadership group have been trying to raise money towards their project – a school radio show! They have teamed up with the company ‘Envriostudents’, and have started a mobile phone recycling campaign which we want you all to get involved with! It is very simple – you sell your old mobile phone on the website - www.invernesshighschool.envirostudents.com
and you receive the value of the phone. Envirostudents then donates £3.00 per phone to the High School. Once you have registered (for FREE) on the website above, you will be sent a free post envelope so you can send your phone to Envirostudents for FREE. They will then give you your money, and the donation to the school, within 7 days! So if you have any old phones lying around now that you have a better one, why not see if you can make some money, for yourself and the school at the same time! And you’ll be being eco friendly too!
JUNIOR SPORTS LEADERS AWARD
For the past few months, 6 of our pupils have been taking part in the Junior Sports Leaders Award, which is a nationally recognised qualification designed to help young people develop their sports leadership. This has been funded through the Merkinch Partnership, and the young people have been working really hard, taking part in training sessions after school, and helping to lead sessions for the James Cameron Centre youth club and also in Merkinch Primary School. They also have to complete a log book for the award. They have their last training session this week, and have all done very well. These pupils are: Lauren Fraser, Shannon Leckie, Kirsty Urquart, Jordan Macdonald, Edan Gardner and Derry Macdonald.
ECO SCHOOLS
9 pupils from our Eco Schools group joined with the Rural Skills classes on Friday to start planting trees in the school grounds. We hope this is the start of developing a whole new ‘Eco Area’ in the grounds!
BLYTHSWOOD RECYCLING BIN
As part of our Eco Schools programme, we are hosting a recycling bin which has been provided by the Blythswood charity. It is located near the Dochfour Drive entrance, near the new bike shed, and takes a large variety of goods such as clothes, shoes, handbags, small toys, ink cartridges etc. Please put things in a plastic bag before putting them in the bin. The bin is available for deposits from 8.30 am- 5.30 pm. Blythswood use the items collected in a variety of ways, and any money raised goes towards their projects in Mozambique and Malawi. Let’s get recycling!
COMIC RELIEF
We had a great day raising money for Comic Relief on Friday 13th. Lots of staff and pupils came to school in their pyjamas, or wore red along with their red noses! Pupils had been selling red noses in school all week, and paying 20p a vote for teachers to be gunged. The staff with the top 3 largest number of votes braved having some very smelly gunge poured over them by pupils, in front of the entire school on Friday afternoon. We also had a ‘guess the baby photo’ competition, coffee and red nose cakes for staff and face painting. The pupils from room 5, who have been collecting pennies for the Oxfam Safe Water Campaign gave the money they had collected last week to Comic Relief too. All of this meant that we raised £537.22, which is absolutely brilliant, and we had a lot of fun doing it!
S2 LEADERSHIP PHONE RECYCLING
Our S2 Leadership group have been trying to raise money towards their project – a school radio show! They have teamed up with the company ‘Envriostudents’, and have started a mobile phone recycling campaign which we want you all to get involved with! It is very simple – you sell your old mobile phone on the website - www.invernesshighschool.envirostudents.com
and you receive the value of the phone. Envirostudents then donates £3.00 per phone to the High School. Once you have registered (for FREE) on the website above, you will be sent a free post envelope so you can send your phone to Envirostudents for FREE. They will then give you your money, and the donation to the school, within 7 days! So if you have any old phones lying around now that you have a better one, why not see if you can make some money, for yourself and the school at the same time! And you’ll be being eco friendly too!
JUNIOR SPORTS LEADERS AWARD
For the past few months, 6 of our pupils have been taking part in the Junior Sports Leaders Award, which is a nationally recognised qualification designed to help young people develop their sports leadership. This has been funded through the Merkinch Partnership, and the young people have been working really hard, taking part in training sessions after school, and helping to lead sessions for the James Cameron Centre youth club and also in Merkinch Primary School. They also have to complete a log book for the award. They have their last training session this week, and have all done very well. These pupils are: Lauren Fraser, Shannon Leckie, Kirsty Urquart, Jordan Macdonald, Edan Gardner and Derry Macdonald.
Saturday 14 March 2009
Recycling for charity
The High School is hosting a recycling container for the Blythswood charity. It will take a range of goods which can be recycled including - clothes; shoes; books; handbags; small toys; mobile phones; ink cartridges etc. Please put any donated items in a plastic bag before depositing. The container is located near our Dochfour Drive entrance - near the new bike shed. The container is available for deposits during the day 8.30am - 5.30pm.
Red Nose Dress Code
Staff and Pupils paid to dress up/down for Red Nose Day. Many wearing red or their pyjamas and braving a cold wind. Some outfits were very inventive. The entire day had a great atmosphere with good spirit and lots of fun. The winner of guess the staff baby picture competition be announced shortly.
Red Nose Day Highlights - Gunging
The highlight of our Red Nose Day fundraising was the gunging of three members of staff - who won! the popularity contest. Mr Brown, Mr MacDonald and Mr MacKenzie (Head Janitor) all braved the ritual humiliation and very smelly gunge in front of the whole school. The gunging was filmed by BBC Alba (the digital Gaelic channel) for their 8pm news.
The final total for Red Nose day will be published soon but we know the total has passed the £500 mark. Well done to all the organisers and the brave staff who put themselves up for an unpleasant ordeal.
The final total for Red Nose day will be published soon but we know the total has passed the £500 mark. Well done to all the organisers and the brave staff who put themselves up for an unpleasant ordeal.
Friday 13 March 2009
The quality of Teaching and Learning recognised
Recently the school had a visit from a Council Quality Improvement Team they were looking at aspects of the school's work and commenting on our own self-evaluation.
They have produced a very positive interim report for us and I'd like to highlight some of the strengths of the school they commented on.
Some strengths of the school
Commitment of staff to the young people within the school
Mutual respect shown by staff to young people and vice versa
Positive ethos which is underpinned by very good staff/young people relationships
Positive environment for learning, attractive and relevant displays in classrooms, well organised teaching materials
Willingness and ability of staff to engage with new developments in learning and teaching
Wide range of approaches to teaching being consistently displayed in classes
Very good use of ICT to enrich and support teaching
Well paced lessons
Inclusiveness and support for a wide range of pupils
Expectations of staff
Focus on social targets as well as academic targets
Consistent quality of good/very good Teaching and learning
Young people who demonstrate that they are confident and successful learners and who are committed to the school and its community.
Young people who are confident that their views would be acted upon.
Opportunities for young people to develop leadership skills.
The faculty structure was also praised for its effectiveness and for placing the school well for future curriculum development.
Very well done to all - it was commented that the teaching in IHS is the best and most consistent they have seen in any secondary school.
They have produced a very positive interim report for us and I'd like to highlight some of the strengths of the school they commented on.
Some strengths of the school
Commitment of staff to the young people within the school
Mutual respect shown by staff to young people and vice versa
Positive ethos which is underpinned by very good staff/young people relationships
Positive environment for learning, attractive and relevant displays in classrooms, well organised teaching materials
Willingness and ability of staff to engage with new developments in learning and teaching
Wide range of approaches to teaching being consistently displayed in classes
Very good use of ICT to enrich and support teaching
Well paced lessons
Inclusiveness and support for a wide range of pupils
Expectations of staff
Focus on social targets as well as academic targets
Consistent quality of good/very good Teaching and learning
Young people who demonstrate that they are confident and successful learners and who are committed to the school and its community.
Young people who are confident that their views would be acted upon.
Opportunities for young people to develop leadership skills.
The faculty structure was also praised for its effectiveness and for placing the school well for future curriculum development.
Very well done to all - it was commented that the teaching in IHS is the best and most consistent they have seen in any secondary school.
New Bike Shed
With funds raised by last year's Columba group through their travel to school plan we now have a new bike shed which provides an attractive shelter for bikes and keeps them "Dry". This also removes bikes from the main car park area and therefore improves safety.
The new Bike Shed is now complete pupils can use it immediately. The old bike rails will hopefully be removed over the Easter holiday. Take your padlocks home please!
The new Bike Shed is now complete pupils can use it immediately. The old bike rails will hopefully be removed over the Easter holiday. Take your padlocks home please!
Monday 9 March 2009
Latest News
FROM THE HIGH SCHOOL PREFECTS
ECO SCHOOLS
Paul Cortopassi who works for Eco Schools in Scotland came to the High School on Wednesday to talk to our S1 and 2 pupils about how to get involved in Eco Schools, and why it is so important. It was great to have him along to the school, and he gave us all a lot to think about!
PUPIL COUNCIL
Our pupil council were filming over 2 days this week, with help from Gus MacIver from MP33, who came to the High School with cameras and lots of expertise! The pupils really enjoyed the filming, and will start the editing process next week at MP33, to make the footage into a short DVD to which will be used to tell P7 pupils all about what to expect from the High School when they come up into S1.
OXFAM SAFE WATER CAMPAIGN
The pupils from room 5 have been working hard to collect and count the money raised from collecting 1 and 2 pences. The campaign is now finished, with a grand total of £121 raised, which is a fantastic achievement. Any money collected after this will be put towards the money raised for Comic Relief next week.
COMIC RELIEF
Friday 13th of March is Comic Relief 2009, and our Community Involvement classes, along with the S2 leadership group have been coming up with lots of ideas to get everyone involved! As well as selling red noses, we are having a ‘wear your pyjamas to school day’, a ‘gunge the teacher’ and a ‘guess the baby photo’ competition, as well as coffee and red nose cakes for the staff. It sounds like a good day, and hopefully we will raise lots of money too!
REAL PROJECT
5 of the pupils involved in the REAL Project went along to the HISEZ (Highlands and Islands Social Enterprise Zone) Annual Conference in Aviemmore this week, and ran the exhibit for the project. They were the only young people at the conference, but definitely held their own and did the school and the project proud, as well as really enjoying themselves. The pupils involved were: Debbie MacGillivray, Tyler MacKenzie, James Cooper and Eyah Meneses from S2, and Ali Sloggie from S3.
ECO SCHOOLS
Paul Cortopassi who works for Eco Schools in Scotland came to the High School on Wednesday to talk to our S1 and 2 pupils about how to get involved in Eco Schools, and why it is so important. It was great to have him along to the school, and he gave us all a lot to think about!
PUPIL COUNCIL
Our pupil council were filming over 2 days this week, with help from Gus MacIver from MP33, who came to the High School with cameras and lots of expertise! The pupils really enjoyed the filming, and will start the editing process next week at MP33, to make the footage into a short DVD to which will be used to tell P7 pupils all about what to expect from the High School when they come up into S1.
OXFAM SAFE WATER CAMPAIGN
The pupils from room 5 have been working hard to collect and count the money raised from collecting 1 and 2 pences. The campaign is now finished, with a grand total of £121 raised, which is a fantastic achievement. Any money collected after this will be put towards the money raised for Comic Relief next week.
COMIC RELIEF
Friday 13th of March is Comic Relief 2009, and our Community Involvement classes, along with the S2 leadership group have been coming up with lots of ideas to get everyone involved! As well as selling red noses, we are having a ‘wear your pyjamas to school day’, a ‘gunge the teacher’ and a ‘guess the baby photo’ competition, as well as coffee and red nose cakes for the staff. It sounds like a good day, and hopefully we will raise lots of money too!
REAL PROJECT
5 of the pupils involved in the REAL Project went along to the HISEZ (Highlands and Islands Social Enterprise Zone) Annual Conference in Aviemmore this week, and ran the exhibit for the project. They were the only young people at the conference, but definitely held their own and did the school and the project proud, as well as really enjoying themselves. The pupils involved were: Debbie MacGillivray, Tyler MacKenzie, James Cooper and Eyah Meneses from S2, and Ali Sloggie from S3.
Thursday 5 March 2009
Maths in the Pipeline
On Friday 27th Feb., six of our brightest and best mathematicians attended this event at the UHI Milleniumn Institute. Mr. Macdonald, faculty head, had instigated this last year and we looked to build upon the success of the event.It was organised by Techfest and ten local secondary schools participated.Maths in the Pipeline involves firms from different aspects of the oil industry and the professionals work as mentors as well as delivering lectures and workshops.In the morning students were placed in mixed teams and then had workshops on the Captain oil field, on forecasting and on the efficiency of networks for helicopters visiting the various platforms in the North Sea.In the afternoon they were given a daunting challenge - to devise a strategy for the most efficient method of exploiting the oil reserves in the Caspian sea.All out students performed very well and were a credit to the school.Mr. Macleod also attended and drank far too much coffee.Calum MacBean was a member of the winning team - well done to him!Our participants were . in no particular order. Leah Frewin, Lauren Fraser, Eilish Rennie, Lisa Maciver, Calum, MacBean, Craig Wallace.With a bit of luck , there may be a follow up in sixth year and we will look forward to that.
Study Leave
SQA EXAMS
Study leave for S4 starts at 3.30pm on Friday 1st May 2009 and pupils return to school on Monday 8th June
Study leave for S5/6 starts at 3.30pm on Tuesday 12th May and pupils return to school on Monday 8th June
Study leave for S4 starts at 3.30pm on Friday 1st May 2009 and pupils return to school on Monday 8th June
Study leave for S5/6 starts at 3.30pm on Tuesday 12th May and pupils return to school on Monday 8th June
Friday 27 February 2009
School News
FROM THE HIGH SCHOOL PREFECTS
NORTH SCOTLAND CROSS COUNTRY CHAMPIONSHIP
A number of pupils took part in this championship, held at Gordounston School on the 26th February. Although there were no wins for the High School, all those who took part did really well, and had a great day. The pupils who took part were: S1 - Conor Brown, Liam Cumming, Jamie Lee Fraser, Alan MacDonald, Isla Jamieson, Chloe MacKay, Christopher Lewthwaite, Mikey Wemyss, Zoe Young, Michael MacLennan, Scott Stewart, Benjie Kemp, Jordan MacDonald, Ewen Spence. S2 - Dione McAdie, Kirsty Urquhart, Lewis Meeks, Adian Gess, Conor Murray, Johnny Fowler, Liam Shewan, Ritvars Kanapolis, Bart Rakowski. S3 - Shaun MacIver, Danny Stewart, Daniel Gunn. S4 -Lauren Fraser, Jordan Goddard, Calum Sinclair.
ECO SCHOOLS
As our Eco Schools group and Rural Skills classes are starting to plant trees in an area of our school grounds, we decided to get some ideas of how pupils want this are to look, and what they would like to see in it. Some of our S1 art classes have done some great designs for this, and this week these will be displayed so that pupils will vote for the ones they like best! There are some really good ideas!
PUPIL COUNCIL
This week our pupil council for the High School had a meeting with the pupil council representatives from the primary schools in the area – these are: Merkinch Primary, Dalneigh Primary, Central Primary, St Joseph’s Primary and Bishop Eden’s Primary. The meeting was held at the High School, and the groups enjoyed meeting each other and finding out a bit more about what each pupil council does.
Our pupil council will start working with MP33 next week to produce a DVD which will be shown to P7’s who are coming up to the High School next year. The DVD will have interviews with staff and pupils, as well as showing new pupils what the High School is like! We are looking forward to seeing the final product!
OXFAM SAFE WATER CAMPAIGN
The pupils from room 5 have been working hard to collect and count the money raised from collecting 1 and 2 pences. They have raised £92 in total so far! Keep the pennies coming in!
ACTIVITY DAYS
This week our pupils S1-3 pupils have been deciding what they want to do on our activities days, held on the 28th and 29th of May. There is loads to choose from, such as mountain biking, kayaking, jewellery making and pottery, as well as trips to Landmark and the Wildlife Park.
NORTH SCOTLAND CROSS COUNTRY CHAMPIONSHIP
A number of pupils took part in this championship, held at Gordounston School on the 26th February. Although there were no wins for the High School, all those who took part did really well, and had a great day. The pupils who took part were: S1 - Conor Brown, Liam Cumming, Jamie Lee Fraser, Alan MacDonald, Isla Jamieson, Chloe MacKay, Christopher Lewthwaite, Mikey Wemyss, Zoe Young, Michael MacLennan, Scott Stewart, Benjie Kemp, Jordan MacDonald, Ewen Spence. S2 - Dione McAdie, Kirsty Urquhart, Lewis Meeks, Adian Gess, Conor Murray, Johnny Fowler, Liam Shewan, Ritvars Kanapolis, Bart Rakowski. S3 - Shaun MacIver, Danny Stewart, Daniel Gunn. S4 -Lauren Fraser, Jordan Goddard, Calum Sinclair.
ECO SCHOOLS
As our Eco Schools group and Rural Skills classes are starting to plant trees in an area of our school grounds, we decided to get some ideas of how pupils want this are to look, and what they would like to see in it. Some of our S1 art classes have done some great designs for this, and this week these will be displayed so that pupils will vote for the ones they like best! There are some really good ideas!
PUPIL COUNCIL
This week our pupil council for the High School had a meeting with the pupil council representatives from the primary schools in the area – these are: Merkinch Primary, Dalneigh Primary, Central Primary, St Joseph’s Primary and Bishop Eden’s Primary. The meeting was held at the High School, and the groups enjoyed meeting each other and finding out a bit more about what each pupil council does.
Our pupil council will start working with MP33 next week to produce a DVD which will be shown to P7’s who are coming up to the High School next year. The DVD will have interviews with staff and pupils, as well as showing new pupils what the High School is like! We are looking forward to seeing the final product!
OXFAM SAFE WATER CAMPAIGN
The pupils from room 5 have been working hard to collect and count the money raised from collecting 1 and 2 pences. They have raised £92 in total so far! Keep the pennies coming in!
ACTIVITY DAYS
This week our pupils S1-3 pupils have been deciding what they want to do on our activities days, held on the 28th and 29th of May. There is loads to choose from, such as mountain biking, kayaking, jewellery making and pottery, as well as trips to Landmark and the Wildlife Park.
Thursday 19 February 2009
News from the High School Prefects
S2 LEADERSHIP GROUP – PHONE RECYLCLING CAMPAIGN
The S2 Leadership group have registered the school with a company called ‘Envirostudents’, which works with schools to help them raise money by recycling old mobile phones. The S2 Leadership group need everyone to get involved and help them raise lots of money, which they will then use to buy equipment for their radio show! It is very simple – you sell your old mobile phone on the website - www.invernesshighschool.envirostudents.com
and you receive the value of the phone. Envirostudents then donates £3.00 per phone to the High School. Once you have registered (for FREE) on the website above, you will be sent a free post envelope so you can send your phone to Envirostudents for FREE. They will then give you your money, and the donation to the school, within 7 days! So if you have any old phones lying around now that you have a better one, why not see if you can make some money, for yourself and the school at the same time!
ECO SCHOOLS
This week, our Eco Schools committee is going to visit Alness Academy, to find out what their Eco Schools group is up to! It will be good to see what different schools are doing, and hopefully they will come back and visit us to see what we’re up to!
The group is starting to plant a new area in the school grounds on Friday with hedges and trees. Some S1 pupil are also designing the new area as an art project, and have come up with some really good ideas for how it should look!
OXFAM SAFE WATER CAMPAIGN
The pupils from room 5 have been working hard to collect and count the money raised from collecting 1 and 2 pences. They have raised £68 in total so far! Keep the pennies coming in!
The S2 Leadership group have registered the school with a company called ‘Envirostudents’, which works with schools to help them raise money by recycling old mobile phones. The S2 Leadership group need everyone to get involved and help them raise lots of money, which they will then use to buy equipment for their radio show! It is very simple – you sell your old mobile phone on the website - www.invernesshighschool.envirostudents.com
and you receive the value of the phone. Envirostudents then donates £3.00 per phone to the High School. Once you have registered (for FREE) on the website above, you will be sent a free post envelope so you can send your phone to Envirostudents for FREE. They will then give you your money, and the donation to the school, within 7 days! So if you have any old phones lying around now that you have a better one, why not see if you can make some money, for yourself and the school at the same time!
ECO SCHOOLS
This week, our Eco Schools committee is going to visit Alness Academy, to find out what their Eco Schools group is up to! It will be good to see what different schools are doing, and hopefully they will come back and visit us to see what we’re up to!
The group is starting to plant a new area in the school grounds on Friday with hedges and trees. Some S1 pupil are also designing the new area as an art project, and have come up with some really good ideas for how it should look!
OXFAM SAFE WATER CAMPAIGN
The pupils from room 5 have been working hard to collect and count the money raised from collecting 1 and 2 pences. They have raised £68 in total so far! Keep the pennies coming in!
Sunday 1 February 2009
Highland Homecoming Meal
On Friday 30th January, in celebration of the launch of Highland Homecoming. Allan Little from the Riverhouse restaurant lead a team. They cooked the menu created by S4 pupils Lauren Fraser and Andrew MacKenzie, when they took part in the Battle of the Chefs competition, and were the runners up. Well done to them! The four course lunch included capapes, venision loin, and apple and fig crumble, with homemade tablet to finish. The staff volunteers all said it was delicious! - When's the next event like this?
Hungry Staff starting on the canapes!
Canapes served while staff peruse the menu.
Main Course preparation underway.
A hearty portion - and delicious too.
The team get a round of applause from grateful guests.
And to top it all post-meal enertainment - at least until Elvis arrived!
Hungry Staff starting on the canapes!
Canapes served while staff peruse the menu.
Main Course preparation underway.
A hearty portion - and delicious too.
The team get a round of applause from grateful guests.
And to top it all post-meal enertainment - at least until Elvis arrived!
Wednesday 28 January 2009
News from the Prefects
TRIP TO EDINBUGH
The senior pupils studying English are taking a trip down to Edinburgh on the 5th of February. They are going to see ‘Blood Brothers’ at the Edinburgh Playhouse, as they have been studying this in their classes. We hope they have a great time!
OXFAM SAFE WATER CAMPAIGN
The pupils in our learning support base, aka room 5, are collecting loose change to raise money to give people in Africa safe drinking water. They have got collection boxes throughout the school, and for every £39 raised, Oxfam can give 12 people safe drinking water. This campaign is running up until the middle of March 2009, and we hope they raise a lot of money for a great cause!
ECO SCHOOLS
The Eco Schools committee have been meeting most weeks this term, and we are starting our first project. This will be to plant some hedges and trees in an area of the school grounds. The pupils are designing what they would like the area to look like, and along with our Rural Skills classes, are helping our farmer Eric Hanna to plant them next week.
FOREST SCHOOLS
A group of second year boys have started a program with the Forest School at Abriachan. On Friday mornings, they are taking part in lots of different activities, working on developing lots of skills in the outdoors, and gaining confidence and teamwork! They are also learning survival skills, such as cooking outside. The group has started really well, and is looking forward to the rest of the course!
CLIMBING
A group of first and second years are going to be going to the climbing wall at the Aquadome with Mr Kerr, one of our supply teachers, to learn lots of different climbing techniques and to keep fit!
The senior pupils studying English are taking a trip down to Edinburgh on the 5th of February. They are going to see ‘Blood Brothers’ at the Edinburgh Playhouse, as they have been studying this in their classes. We hope they have a great time!
OXFAM SAFE WATER CAMPAIGN
The pupils in our learning support base, aka room 5, are collecting loose change to raise money to give people in Africa safe drinking water. They have got collection boxes throughout the school, and for every £39 raised, Oxfam can give 12 people safe drinking water. This campaign is running up until the middle of March 2009, and we hope they raise a lot of money for a great cause!
ECO SCHOOLS
The Eco Schools committee have been meeting most weeks this term, and we are starting our first project. This will be to plant some hedges and trees in an area of the school grounds. The pupils are designing what they would like the area to look like, and along with our Rural Skills classes, are helping our farmer Eric Hanna to plant them next week.
FOREST SCHOOLS
A group of second year boys have started a program with the Forest School at Abriachan. On Friday mornings, they are taking part in lots of different activities, working on developing lots of skills in the outdoors, and gaining confidence and teamwork! They are also learning survival skills, such as cooking outside. The group has started really well, and is looking forward to the rest of the course!
CLIMBING
A group of first and second years are going to be going to the climbing wall at the Aquadome with Mr Kerr, one of our supply teachers, to learn lots of different climbing techniques and to keep fit!
Monday 26 January 2009
The Burns Lunch
To celebrate the 250th anniversary of the birth of Robert Burns school lunch on Friday 23rd January was Haggis, Neeps & tatties but served with poetry and piping. Photos below.
Friday 23 January 2009
INVERNESS HIGH SCHOOL NEWS
FROM THE HIGH SCHOOL PREFECTS
S2 LEADERSHIP GROUP
The second year leadership group ‘Action S2’ are putting together their own radio show, with items about music, films and school events. This is planned to be recorded very soon, and will be available to download as a podcast from the school website! Watch out for it!
REAL PROJECT
The new group of pupils involved in the REAL project are now getting into their training, with a trip to Tesco’s this week to look at how supermarkets sell their products, and a trip to the Victorian Market next week to look at ‘alternative shopping’.
BURNS SUPPER
We have two different events to celebrate Burns Night, and the year of Homecoming. The first is a Burns ‘Supper’ Lunch of haggis, neeps and tatties for the pupils on Friday 23rd January. The haggis will be piped into the dining hall by Kirsty Urquhart, and addressed. Some pupils and staff are getting themselves in the mood by wearing tartan along with their normal school clothes on the 23rd.
The second event will take place on Friday 30th January, and is a staff restaurant in celebration of the launch of Highland Homecoming. Allan Little from the Riverhouse restaurant will be leading the team. They will cook the menu created by S4 pupils Lauren Fraser and Andrew MacKenzie, when they took part in the Battle of the Chefs competition, and were the runners up. Well done to them! The four course lunch will include capapes, venision loin, and apple and fig crumble, with homemade tablet to finish. It all sounds delicious!
COCA COLA 7’S
Both our S1 boys and S1/2 girls foot ball teams took part in the Coca Cola 7’s tournament in Dingwall this week. Both teams did really well, with the boys coming third, winning one game, drawing two and loosing one. The girls came second in their group, winning one game, drawing one and loosing one. Well done to both teams!
LAUGH IN THE FACE OF EXAMS WORKSHOP
All of S4 participated in a workshop delivered by the educational training company, Tree of Knowledge this week where pupils learned how to cope with the pressures of examination stress, gained some useful insights into how best to prepare for the forthcoming SQA exams and learned how to feel more self-confident. The training is delivered in a pupil friendly and light hearted way but the message is deadly serious! These exams are important and can have a huge impact on what happens after school. The feedback was tremendous with many pupils saying they were now more self-confident and focused. They all got a free clock to help them get up on time as well!
S2 LEADERSHIP GROUP
The second year leadership group ‘Action S2’ are putting together their own radio show, with items about music, films and school events. This is planned to be recorded very soon, and will be available to download as a podcast from the school website! Watch out for it!
REAL PROJECT
The new group of pupils involved in the REAL project are now getting into their training, with a trip to Tesco’s this week to look at how supermarkets sell their products, and a trip to the Victorian Market next week to look at ‘alternative shopping’.
BURNS SUPPER
We have two different events to celebrate Burns Night, and the year of Homecoming. The first is a Burns ‘Supper’ Lunch of haggis, neeps and tatties for the pupils on Friday 23rd January. The haggis will be piped into the dining hall by Kirsty Urquhart, and addressed. Some pupils and staff are getting themselves in the mood by wearing tartan along with their normal school clothes on the 23rd.
The second event will take place on Friday 30th January, and is a staff restaurant in celebration of the launch of Highland Homecoming. Allan Little from the Riverhouse restaurant will be leading the team. They will cook the menu created by S4 pupils Lauren Fraser and Andrew MacKenzie, when they took part in the Battle of the Chefs competition, and were the runners up. Well done to them! The four course lunch will include capapes, venision loin, and apple and fig crumble, with homemade tablet to finish. It all sounds delicious!
COCA COLA 7’S
Both our S1 boys and S1/2 girls foot ball teams took part in the Coca Cola 7’s tournament in Dingwall this week. Both teams did really well, with the boys coming third, winning one game, drawing two and loosing one. The girls came second in their group, winning one game, drawing one and loosing one. Well done to both teams!
LAUGH IN THE FACE OF EXAMS WORKSHOP
All of S4 participated in a workshop delivered by the educational training company, Tree of Knowledge this week where pupils learned how to cope with the pressures of examination stress, gained some useful insights into how best to prepare for the forthcoming SQA exams and learned how to feel more self-confident. The training is delivered in a pupil friendly and light hearted way but the message is deadly serious! These exams are important and can have a huge impact on what happens after school. The feedback was tremendous with many pupils saying they were now more self-confident and focused. They all got a free clock to help them get up on time as well!
Wednesday 7 January 2009
Christmas Concert
.JPG)
.JPG)
.JPG)
.JPG)
In the absence of our school hall pupils have continued to rehearse for our next musical - "Annie" and took to opportunity to put on a lunchtime concert in the Town House at Christmas. An excellent concert which shows the enthusiasm of pupils and staff. We look forward to the next musical event in our own hall. Well done to all who participated.
INVERNESS HIGH SCHOOL NEWS
INVERNESS HIGH SCHOOL NEWS 7/1/09
FROM THE HIGH SCHOOL PREFECTS
MUSICAL THEATRE
Our musical theatre group performed a variety of songs from the show ‘Annie’, in their costumes, in the Town House on the 18th of December. The songs were ‘I Think I’m Gonna Like it Here’ (performed by the cast), ‘Easy Street’ (Performed by Connor Fraser, Megan Wemyss and Kadee Fraser) and ‘The Sun Will Come Out Tomorrow’ (performed by ‘Annie’ played by Sadie Stoddart). The choir also performed ‘La Bamba’, and ‘Here I am to Worship’. There were also some solo musical performances. The performers put on a great show, and did the High School proud!
S2 LEADERSHIP GROUP
The second year leadership group ‘Action S2’ sold Candy Canes at the end of terms. The idea was to buy one for your friends, tell the organisers who it’s for and what class they’re in, and they were then given out on the last day of term! The group raised over £40, which they want to put towards equipment for their radio show which they are planning at the moment.
CHRISTMAS PARTY
The Christmas dance for S4-S6 was held on the 17th December. It was a great night with over 70 young people turning up, with the girls all in gorgeous dresses, and we even had a few boys in kilts! We had a live band headed up by one of our music teachers, Mr Webster, which really made the night special. A big thank you to Tesco Extra who kindly donated us a 10 foot Christmas tree, and Marks and Spencers who also donated us £25 towards the party, which we used to help decorate the Games Hall. Thank you very much to them!
We are now looking forward to planning an S1-S3 party for when our Assembly Hall re-opens…watch this space!
REAL PROJECT
The young people involved with the REAL Project worked hard at the end of last term to pack hampers and Christmas orders.
Training has just started for the new group of young people wanting to become involved with the project. So far this is going really well, and we have a big group who are really keen to get into REAL!
FROM THE HIGH SCHOOL PREFECTS
MUSICAL THEATRE
Our musical theatre group performed a variety of songs from the show ‘Annie’, in their costumes, in the Town House on the 18th of December. The songs were ‘I Think I’m Gonna Like it Here’ (performed by the cast), ‘Easy Street’ (Performed by Connor Fraser, Megan Wemyss and Kadee Fraser) and ‘The Sun Will Come Out Tomorrow’ (performed by ‘Annie’ played by Sadie Stoddart). The choir also performed ‘La Bamba’, and ‘Here I am to Worship’. There were also some solo musical performances. The performers put on a great show, and did the High School proud!
S2 LEADERSHIP GROUP
The second year leadership group ‘Action S2’ sold Candy Canes at the end of terms. The idea was to buy one for your friends, tell the organisers who it’s for and what class they’re in, and they were then given out on the last day of term! The group raised over £40, which they want to put towards equipment for their radio show which they are planning at the moment.
CHRISTMAS PARTY
The Christmas dance for S4-S6 was held on the 17th December. It was a great night with over 70 young people turning up, with the girls all in gorgeous dresses, and we even had a few boys in kilts! We had a live band headed up by one of our music teachers, Mr Webster, which really made the night special. A big thank you to Tesco Extra who kindly donated us a 10 foot Christmas tree, and Marks and Spencers who also donated us £25 towards the party, which we used to help decorate the Games Hall. Thank you very much to them!
We are now looking forward to planning an S1-S3 party for when our Assembly Hall re-opens…watch this space!
REAL PROJECT
The young people involved with the REAL Project worked hard at the end of last term to pack hampers and Christmas orders.
Training has just started for the new group of young people wanting to become involved with the project. So far this is going really well, and we have a big group who are really keen to get into REAL!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)