NEWSLETTER NO. 6 - MAY 2009

Dear Parent / Carer

Welcome to the sixth Parental Newsletter of the session.    This is a busy and important term in the life of the school:  pupils in S4, S5 and S6 and some in S3 have been sitting SQA examinations whilst those in S1 to S3 are preparing to move on to their new timetables.  As well as this enhanced emphasis on raising attainment and achievement, the extra-curricular life of Woodmill continues to flourish while we have also seen improvements to the fabric and security of the school building.

Additional In-Service Days  :   Curriculum for Excellence

The Scottish Government has allocated additional In-Service Days to schools for this session and the following two in order to assist with planning for Curriculum for Excellence.

In addition to the existing In-Service Day scheduled for Tuesday 2 June, there will be a further In-Service Day on Monday 15 June 2009.

At the start of next session, the additional In-Service Day will run consecutively with the existing one.    In-Service Days will, therefore, take place on Monday 17 and Tuesday 18 August 2009.

The new session now starts for pupils on Wednesday 19 August 2009.

Continuing Success

Even during this time of exams, the term so far has witnessed continuing Woodmill successes which are detailed throughout the Newsletter.  Achievements in netball and football have been matched by the success of our Young Enterprise Company and our Interact Club. In addition the school has also hosted an awards ceremony to celebrate the success of our recent collaboration with The National Theatre of Scotland.

SQA Examinations

As this Newsletter is being prepared, the SQA examinations are well advanced and our best wishes go to each candidate for a successful outcome. It is pleasing to report that, once again, the exam invigilators have commented extremely positively on the behaviour of our candidates.

New House Names

The revised guidance structure which will operate from the change of timetable will see the school move to a system with five Houses, each with a Principal Teacher of Guidance as Head of House.   Next session will also see the return of the post of House Captain, with two seniors being appointed in each House.   Following consultation with pupils and staff in the form of a competition, the new House names will be:

Cleish          Mr Gray           
Devon          Mr Marshall              
Forth           Mrs Dunlop                
Lyne            Mrs Kane          
Tay              Mrs Drylie

Each house will have nine register classes and we will be moving to a vertical registration system with each register class consisting of no more than 20 pupils from S1 – S6.

The common theme behind the new House names is local geographic features which border the area.

Change of Timetable

Pupils in S1, S2 and S3 move on to their new timetable on Wednesday 3 June.  This is an opportunity for pupils in those years to build on, or re-establish, the good habits which they will need when the time comes for them to sit national examinations.  The beginning of the new timetable is extremely important in terms of setting the tone for the new session and staff will have high expectations of pupils.

S5 and S6 return from Study Leave on Monday 8 June.  Letters will be sent out to senior pupils giving them details of the arrangements.

Suspended Timetable

This session’s Suspended Timetable ran from 20 – 22 May and, as usual, involved all pupils from S1 – S3 and all staff in a wide range of three-day and one-day activities.
This was, again, an extremely successful and happy experience for all involved and I would like to pay tribute to the continued enthusiasm of staff for yet again creating one of the highlights of the Woodmill year. Within the school, thanks are due to Mr Wyse and Ms Reilly for the considerable work which is required to ensure that the organisation runs smoothly.   Thanks are also due to the Dunfermline Carnegie Trust for their generous financial support.

Awards Ceremonies

This session sees awards ceremonies take place for all year groups as part of Woodmill’s stated aim of recognising and rewarding the full range of pupil achievement.  The S4 Awards / Leavers afternoon took place on Thursday 30 April when Mr Wyse, Year Head, presented awards and certificates to around one hundred of the year group.  Winner of the award for Academic Achievement in S4 was Christopher Curry 4C2.   

Awards ceremonies take place over the remainder of the term as follows:

          Friday 29 May  (afternoon):           S2

          Thursday 11 June (evening):         Senior Awards Evening  

          Wednesday 17 June (afternoon)  S3

          Thursday 25 June   (afternoon)     S1

We look forward to seeing as many parents, carers and family members as possible at these events.

Senior Charities

This term saw the conclusion of the Sixth Year’s Charities fundraising drive.  The seniors’ drive and commitment was rewarded with a final total of £4,140              which significantly exceeded their target.  This sum was shared between this year's beneficiaries: The Sierra Leone Support Association; The Sick Kids Friends Foundation and SSAFA (Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Families Association).   Representatives of all the organisations attended a short ceremony in Woodmill on 12 May when the cheques were presented.

The Senior Charities campaign is a well-established feature of Woodmill life and the Sixth Year’s continuing commitment to supporting those less fortunate than themselves is to be commended. Their sense of community and desire to make a difference is a reminder of the qualities which are consistently found in our young people.

Leavers’ Night

The last formal occasion of the session for this year’s seniors takes place on Thursday 18 June at the Balbirnie House Hotel, Markinch.  This will be the sixteenth annual Leavers’ Night and the tenth on which we have visited the Balbirnie House Hotel.  This is always a very successful evening which allows seniors and staff the shared opportunity to celebrate our seniors' careers in Woodmill.

Partnership with FMC

The school is very pleased to announce that we have entered into a partnership with FMC Technologies.  This partnership will benefit the school in a number of ways, both practically and in support of the curriculum.  Fuller details will be given at the Senior Awards Evening and in June’s Newsletter.

Parental / Pupil Questionnaire

This Newsletter contains the results of the recent parent and pupil questionnaires.  One innovation this year has been the use of the pupil questionnaire with ASN pupils, the questionnaire having been symbolised in order to make it accessible to youngsters in the department. My thanks to Mrs Miller for symbolising the questionnaires.   The results of all the questionnaires are positive but there are points for action which come out of the results and we will be working as a school to address these.

My thanks to all parents and pupils who participated.  Your contribution is invaluable.

Yours faithfully

Michael J Gilmour                                                               

Michael J Gilmour
Rector

STAFF NEWS

GUIDANCE / Mrs Aerts

As noted in the last Newsletter, Mrs Aerts retired at Easter after 38 years’ service to Woodmill as a guidance teacher and as a member of the Modern Languages department teaching French.   During that time, literally thousands of pupils will have benefited from her support as a guidance teacher who attentively saw to their pastoral and curricular needs, seeing them safely through from entry into the school in S1 to their leaving date in S4, S5 or S6.  Always knowledgeable about her pupils and a strong advocate of their best interests, Mrs Aerts provided a valuable thread of experience through the many changes in recent years.  As a Modern Languages teacher she successfully managed the many curricular changes which have taken place during her career and maintained a consistent standard of service to the many classes who benefited from her knowledge of, and enthusiasm for, French language and culture.   Mrs Aerts also made a consistently generous contribution to the extra-curricular life of the school, particularly in the area of the school shows where she regularly gave of her time to manage the necessary front-of-house organisation.

We thank her for her long and valued service to Woodmill and wish her all the very best for a happy and fulfilling retirement.

There will be a formal occasion to mark Mrs Aerts’ retiral but the date for this has yet to be decided.

GUIDANCE    :   New appointments

Congratulations to Mrs Drylie and Mr Marshall on their appointments to the permanent posts of Principal Teacher of Guidance and to Mrs Dunlop on her appointment as acting Principal Teacher of Guidance.

DESIGN TECHNOLOGY

Congratulations to Mr Harper on his appointment to the permanent post of Principal Teacher of Design Technology.

BUSINESS MANAGER

Mr King, the school’s Business Manager, will be taking a year’s career break from July 2009.   Interviews will take place on 3 June to appoint an acting Business Manager and I will update parents in June’s Newsletter.

BUSINESS EDUCATION

Congratulations to Ms Mowbray, currently a probationer teacher in the department, on her permanent appointment to the staff of Woodmill.

OTHER STAFFING NEWS  - RETIRALS AND APPOINTMENTS

Woodmill, in common with all other Fife secondary schools, will see a significant amount of change next session as a result of the programme of early retirements which the Authority has been managing this term.

NEWS FROM DEPARTMENTS

ASN

Class 2D2 in the ASN department recently hosted a coffee morning / afternoon to help raise funds for the “new pyjamas” campaign, which is a branch of the Sick Kids Foundation, aimed specifically at raising money for the building and furnishing of a new sick children’s hospital.  In addition to the usual tombola and cake and candy stall, the class had great fun buying teddy bears from our local charity shop and bandaging them up to raise awareness of what it means to be in hospital.  These were put together as a teddy bear tombola, much to the delight of the children and young people who came to try their luck.

Tea and coffee was served in the Life Skills room with the help of some of our older ASN pupils with virtually everyone in the department attending, as well as parents and colleagues from the main school.  Home baking was provided mainly by ASN staff with contributions from parents who also donated the tea, coffee, biscuits and prizes for the tombola.  The day was a tremendous success with many people commenting on the warm and friendly atmosphere.  A total of £380 was raised and was presented to representatives from the “new pyjamas” campaign in the ASN department during the week beginning 25 May.

COMPUTING

Tesco Computers For Schools 2009
 
We now have over five thousand vouchers, which is a fantastic amount. Many thanks to all parents who contributed. We can send off for a fair amount of educational hardware and software with this total. Tesco is no longer handing out vouchers. However we have until the end of June to send off our order so if you have any more vouchers please pass them on to Mr Wylie, Mr Cattigan, Mr Weir or reception. Thanks.
 
Mastering Multimedia Fife Schools' Challenge
 
We hope to send a team of 5th and 6th year students to this event organised by Adam Smith College in Kirkcaldy. It will take place on the 22nd and 23rd June. The first day will be a training day, the second day will be the competition involving image manipulation, video capture and editing, audio recording, web design and animation.

Flexible Curriculum

The Journey (Natural Connections)

A group of S4 students participated on a cycling and camping residential staying at Strathyre campsite near Loch Lubnaig. The group spent two days cycling  the Trossachs Trail around Loch Venacher and Loch Achray. This saw them complete the last element of the Natural Connections outdoor learning programme which brought together all the skills they had gained through participation on previous elements.

The group had a great time and were a credit to themselves and the school.

The same group also successfully completed Youth Achievement Awards (bronze) and Sports Leadership Awards. Well done everyone.

First Aid Certificates

Well done to the S3 group who successfully obtained their Emergency First Aid Certificates.

Visit to Scottish Parliament

Students participating on the Active Citizen course visited the Scottish Parliament to see for themselves how government operates. Jim Tolson met with the group for a question and answer session. Whilst there the students met Woodmill pupil Ashleigh Weir who was gaining valuable work experience in Jim Tolson's office.

MATHEMATICS

Junior Maths Challenge Results – 2009
 
Well done to all of our Junior Maths Challenge certificate winners. Woodmill has had a very successful year with more winners than ever.

The Junior Maths Challenge is aimed at the top third of pupils in S2 or below in Scottish schools. The challenge involves answering 25 multiple-choice questions in one hour and is sat in school under normal exam conditions.

The top 6% in the UK receive a Gold certificate, the next 12% receive Silver and the following 18% receive a Bronze.

For Woodmill to have 7 pupils in the top 6% of young mathematicians in the UK is a huge achievement and one of which the Mathematics department is very proud.

PHYSICAL EDUCATION

Netball Report

The 1st year A team started the term at a gallop, having to play their Scottish ¼ final on the Tuesday after Easter. They were away to Greenfaulds H.S. (Cumbernauld) and had a resounding 21-9 victory. They then had to play the semi-final on the Thursday, against St. Benedicts, Glasgow. Again they showed determination, combined with excellent teamwork to win 32-6. Now for the final!

The other finalist was Grove Academy from Dundee. The game was very close till the final quarter, with Woodmill always in the lead, but only by 2 or 3 goals. However the girls were on a roll and in the final quarter their determination, combined with some superb play gave them a 26-17 win.

The whole squad have shown great team spirit throughout the year. Men of the Match goes to Chloe Cunningham who had some great interceptions in our defending circle, and Jessie Concannon, whose athleticism won a lot of loose balls.

The 3rd year team also made the finals again, a great achievement for the girls. They were drawn in a re-match of last year’s final, against Auchmuty H.S.
The match followed the same pattern as last year with Auchmuty always having a lead of a few goals. Unfortunately the team were unable to overturn the result and we took the silver medals again. Although this was a great disappointment, it says a lot for any team who can reach a Scottish final twice.

The summer term usually sees a rest from netball, but it was decided to keep the first year going a bit longer to try and get more B and C team games. The 2nd year, feeling left out, also managed to wangle another game.

1st Year A v Queen Anne, 17-4 win. Man of the Match, Eilidh Reid and Ailish McKenna.
1st Year B v Queen Anne, 4-3 win. Man of the match, Chloe Miller.
2nd Year v Queen Anne, 13-10 win. Men of the Match, Sophie Balsillie and Jess Barrie.
1st Year have still to play Auchmuty and Lochgelly.

OTHER NEWS

BURNS COMPETITION

Woodmill Pupils and Burns……Speaking…..singing…..playing…..

The annual foray into the world of Burns began in January….Three of our pupils who had excelled at last year’s Fife Schools’ Burns Competition were invited to perform at a concert of Scottish themed music performed by the Fife Schools Orchestra at The Adam Smith Theatre in Kirkcaldy.  The evening was also a Rotary fundraiser for the cancer unit at Ninewells Hospital and was a sell out.  Esther Garrow (S2), Shelby Lynch (S4) and Scott Duncan (S4) gave memorable performances reciting the poetry of Burns.  The audience was spellbound and all three received tremendous applause for their renditions.  It was a great evening and many thousands of pounds were raised in the process.

Our in-house Burns competition to select pupils to represent Woodmill at the Fife Schools competition was held over several lunchtimes and produced some new faces in all categories.  The standard was excellent and eleven pupils were chosen to compete in the verse speaking, singing and instrumental categories.  This year, the 250th anniversary of Burns’ birth, the competition attracted a record number of schools and participants.  All Woodmill pupils performed well and five qualified to represent Fife at the Scottish Schools Burns festival in Duns at the end of April.

Esther Garrow               First Place            S1/S2 Verse Speaking
Rachel Livingston        First Place            S5/S6 Singing
Ruth Henderson           Second Place       S5/S6 Verse Speaking
Shelby Lynch                Second Place       S3/S4 Verse Speaking
Tomas Sibbald              Second Place       S1/S2 Piping

 The four girls (Tomas was unable to attend) went on to even greater success at national level and returned with three medals and a fourth place:
Esther (Silver), Rachel (Bronze), Ruth (Bronze) and Shelby (4th Place).

The standard of performances from pupils around the country is exceptional at this event and our pupils did outstandingly well to achieve so much.  Congratulations to them on their success and many thanks to all of them for their hard work and commitment.  They have all been wonderful ambassadors for Woodmill this year.

Mrs Bouaoun (English Department) & Miss Bogie (Music Department)

FOOTBALL REVIEW….A Good Year!!!

At the beginning of the season we had two targets:

• Woodmill representation at regional level
• To still have teams in either The Fife or Scottish Cups after Christmas

(The equivalent of the second week of Wimbledon!!)

Our footballers achieved that and much more this year………

Following a rigorous and very competitive trials procedure, three of our players were selected to represent Fife in the National Cup:

Andrew Jackson  S3     (U15 Squad)
Jamie Clelland     S3     (U15 Squad)
Scott Pitblado     S5     (U18 Squad)

The two Fife squads exceeded expectations with the U15s reaching the semi-finals and the U18s narrowly beaten in the final by Aberdeenshire Schools.  Everyone in the footballing fraternity at Woodmill felt proud that our players were involved at this level, and our congratulations go to them on their achievements.

Our U13 and U14 teams competed well in both regional and national events but both were a little unlucky to come up against formidable opposition from Tayside schools in the Scottish Cup.  They are already looking ahead to next year.

A special mention must go to the footballers in S2.  They are, without doubt, the most enthusiastic group in school.  Their results have been inconsistent this year, and they will think they have underachieved, but they have produced some excellent wins (particularly against Queen Anne, Dunfermline and Glenwood S3).  The team is determined to do well next year and they work hard during training practices.  S2 pupils have also dominated the Astro at lunchtimes!  Last year, the inter-class tournament was designed specifically for them, and this season they have continued in the same energetic fashion.  S2 registration classes have competed for this small, but much coveted, trophy four times this session and it has been wonderful to see upwards of 70 pupils playing alongside their classmates and demonstrating the best of team spirit.  Thanks also to those pupils from the S3 and S4 teams who refereed all the matches.
2W4 emerged as the top team and we will have to re-think how these fun games can be managed next term following the introduction of new Houses.

Our senior squad had to re-group following the departure last year of many first team regulars.  A shortage of S5/6 pupils resulted in S4 pupils playing up an age group and they are to be commended on their determination and willingness to play against boys two years older.  Liam Karran, Scott Chappell and Connor Bates played throughout the year and latterly Kyle Aitken, Ryan Henderson, Ali Deacon, Kevin Hudson and Calum Dyce also made their mark.

A spirited run in The Scottish Cup was ended by a strong Madras side but the first round loss in The Fife Cup to Queen Anne was disappointing.  The team were delighted to later beat Queen Anne in the U18 League in a memorable away win when we fielded no less than seven S4 pupils.  Woodmill eventually were placed third in the senior league.
Their greatest achievement this year was the successful defence of the Inter-counties 7-a-side Cup held on the Astro in late March.  Eight teams from Perthshire, Edinburgh, Central and Fife competed in a brilliant afternoon of fast and furious football.  It was close, but Woodmill “A” finished ahead of Auchterarder to hold on to the trophy.  Jim Leishman MBE and Paul Greig of Hearts FC presented the prizes.

Woodmill “A” Team:-  Ross Knight, Scott Pitblado, Michael Williamson, Arron Blackadder, Dale Allan (Captain), Scott Chappell, Liam Karran, Connor Bates and Daniel Norman.

Fife U15 Champions……Woodmill!!!

The big news this year was from the U15s.  A talented and hardworking team, they put their early exit from The Scottish Cup behind them and went all out to concentrate on their Fife Cup campaign.  And they did it.  Hard fought wins, including difficult matches against Inverkeithing and Bell Baxter in the qualifying stages, saw them go all the way to the final to meet Kirkcaldy HS.
The final was played at the Hawthornvale Stadium at Hill of Beath and Woodmill support, from pupils, staff and families was much appreciated by the team.  The atmosphere was electric as they took to the field….no score at half time but a brilliantly crafted move saw captain Ryan Campbell find the back of the net early in the second half.  Kirkcaldy equalised almost immediately and the teams remained square at the final whistle.  To penalties…..
Our team had been practising penalties for weeks and it paid off….all five players scored with their efforts….Kirkcaldy missed with their final attempt and the match was decided….
Many congratulations to the U15s.  They were deserved winners and their achievement has made all the other teams determined to emulate them next season.

U15 Squad:-  Jamie Cleland, Jamie Mitchell, Glenn Murie, Graham Cowan, Liam McConnell, Darren Campbell, Stuart Murphy, Chris Campbell, Ryan Campbell (C), Andrew Jackson, Glen Barr, Callum Crossan, Rhys Robertson, Grant Lockley.

Many thanks to all the players who have represented the school this year.  Over 80 pupils pulled on a Woodmill strip this season and every one of them did their very best.  Thank you.                                              Mrs Bouaoun

FRIENDS OF WOODMILL HIGH SCHOOL

We would like to take this opportunity to give notice of our forthcoming AGM and invite interested parents and carers to come along.  The meeting will be held in the staffroom in the school on Tuesday 9th June at 6.30pm.  We are seeking new members to join the council and welcome any volunteers who can give up some time to support the school.  At the end of every school session, parents of children who are leaving school also move and we welcome new faces and new ideas to our committee.  Any parent or carer who has a child at the school is eligible to join.  Office bearers and ordinary members will be elected at the meeting.  The agenda for the meeting and a copy of the minutes from the last AGM will be available shortly on the school website.

By the time you read this, many of our senior pupils will be coming to the end of their exams and no doubt be relieved that its over for another year, as will parents!  For the luckier younger pupils, we hope they have enjoyed the excitement of various trips and adventures as part of the Suspended Timetable activities.

As ever, your parent council, Friends of Woodmill High School, has been representing parents in the business of the school, as well as at regional and national level, taking an active interest in all new developments, in particular the Curriculum For Excellence.  Jacquie Sullivan, Depute Rector, delivered a presentation to the last meeting, outlining the changes and challenges ahead for all of us.  Further details will be posted on the school website.

One very easy way everyone can support the school is by joining the Woodmill Winners Club.  We will be sending out leaflets with future newsletters, but meantime, please pick up a leaflet from the school office, or at any school event.  Set up over two years ago, the club has proved a success in building up a fund to be spent on the pupils and the school in consultation with ourselves and the staff.  We recently invited bids from the departments and have awarded funds across the school for teaching, coaching and sporting equipment.  We are also delighted to be supporting Interact, the Duke of Edinburgh Scheme, and the Rector’s school uniform initiative.

The rest of the school term continues to be busy for all, with awards ceremonies for each year group, and the annual Leavers’ Night for the seniors and staff.  There is a Parents Meeting for S3 on Thursday 28th May and as usual we will run a tombola stall and provide refreshments.  We are also supporting the Junior Showcase event in the school on Wednesday 10th June.  Any and all offers of help and donations for the tombola are much appreciated, and can be handed in to the school beforehand or brought in on the night.  We are always happy to chat to parents and carers so take a moment to have a cuppa with us.
                            
PROPERTY

Over the past few weeks the new security system in the school has come on-stream.  New fire doors have been installed and all entrances and exits to the school are now on a time lock.  This means that during the school day, the school is quite secure and all access has to be by the front door where visitors require to be admitted by office staff after pressing the buzzer for attention.    After many years’ campaigning, it is very gratifying to have this enhanced level of security for pupils and staff.

PUPIL WRITING  - ASHLEIGH WEIR

Placement with Jim Tolson MSP
 
Earlier this year I was fortunate enough to embrace the opportunity to undertake a placement with Jim Tolson MSP at the Scottish Parliament.  Having had an avid interest in Modern Studies since 1st year, the experience was always going to be appreciable – however it was of unprecedented calibre.  It allowed for an unparalleled accumulation of first hand knowledge of, and exposure to, both the functioning and politics of the Scottish system – for example I accomplished substantial research and input in to a question that Jim put forward at Question Time.  Moreover, it offered an insight into the esoteric role of an MSP.  As it happens, a proportion of the Standard Grade Modern Studies course concerns Members of Parliament and their work. 

On that account, I recently prepared and conducted revision classes on the relevant areas for the two 4th year Standard Grade classes, based on the comprehension I gained during the placement.  Subsequent to my parliamentary placement, I have secured experience, this summer, with a constituency to gain a broader perspective on the work of an MSP.  Overall, the experience was exhilarating and further intensified my enthusiasm for politics and Modern Studies.

ECO COMMITTEE

The Eco Committee had a Day of Action on 22nd April to improve awareness of litter around the school.  We had teams doing litter collection at lunch and organised a litter poster competition for S1 and S2 pupils, with prizes of Fairtrade chocolates and sweets.  There were also Fairtrade biscuits and scones on sale in the staffroom at break and the seniors on the Eco Committee sold fruit kebabs at morning and lunchtime intervals.
The day raised awareness of issues and made a small profit.  We are also continuing with our many other recycling initiatives - plastic bottles and cans collection, batteries, ink cartridges, old mobile phones and paper.  We hope to start again with the new timetable and some new members to help us move towards our green flag application.

Eco Storytelling

The Eco Committee and the English Department worked together to represent Woodmill High School at an Eco event at Auchterderran Education Centre, telling Eco stories.  This proved so successful that they were invited to tell the stories at Denend Primary School, as part of their Eco Week.  Here are two pupils' accounts of the events.

By Keli Dick 1G4

For our first storytelling trip we went to Auchterderran Education Centre.  We went into the hall and started setting the area for our storytellers.  We had a little tent area for the storyteller to sit in and then a little circle area for the audience to sit.  It was a small space so that everyone could hear us.

There were all different things going on.  There was our storytelling, one school made a model of their school and showed what it would look like if it was more eco-friendly and there was another school showing a display of eco ideas that they were carrying out.

At the end of it all we got a certificate and £100 for Woodmill.  It was a great day out telling our stories.

By Claire Bebbington 1W4

A group of eight S1s went to Denend Primary School to tell some eco stories.  We split into two groups. One group went with Mr Maxton to tell four stories to Primary Threes and then Primary Fives.  The other group went with Mrs Bryant to tell the same stories to the Primary Fours followed by the Primary Ones.  When we were in each class we asked them what they thought about the stories and what they thought they meant. 

In the older classes we had a ball of green wool.  We passed it around to each pupil and asked them to tell us their favourite wild place. When the wool was passed on this made a web. This was to show how we were all connected by our wild places and how we are all responsible for looking after them.

When we were back in the bus and going back to school, Mr Maxton and Mrs Bryant thought we did so well that they bought us an ice cream each.  We enjoyed telling the stories to the classes, but also enjoyed when they told us what they thought of them or wanted to tell us jokes.

MEDICAL - HPV IMMUNISATIONS - ADVANCE NOTICE

A programme of HPV immunisation will again take place this session for girls in S2, S4 and S5.  This programme will take place on 21 & 28 September; 26 & 30 October and 15 & 16 March 2010.   Specific notification will be given to each pupil who is involved nearer to the time.

YOUNG ENTERPRISE /  ‘SCOTTISH WOOD’

Congratulations to the Woodmill Young Enterprise company, ‘Wyse an’ Wycht’ on becoming the Fife Champions. They now go on to the Scottish finals in Glasgow in June.

On 12 May, the team marked their success as Fife champions by presenting a cheque from their profits to ‘Scottish Wood’.   The Woodmill team achieved their major success by making attractive clocks using wood from ‘Scottish Wood’ which is the trading arm of Dynamic Woods, a Scottish charity based on Inzievar Woods which aims to regenerate our woodland resources and create sustainable sources of top-class timber.
The team were delighted to access the quality wood available from ‘Scottish Wood’ and felt it only proper to respond by making a contribution to this very worthwhile local charity.

Young Enterprise Scotland:  A pupil’s experience
By Hussin Akhtar (Director, Wyse an’ Wycht)

Young Enterprise Scotland is an organisation that gives individuals experience of setting up and running a small company.  The group then have to decide a product, a market and a manufacture process.

The company involved S5 and S6 pupils who decided upon the company name as ‘Wyse an’ Wycht’ meaning intelligent and strong.  This is also Woodmill’s motto.  The company felt this was a good description of those involved and the product they had chosen.  It was decided that natural looking clocks should be the product.  These were to be manufactured from hardwood cut from local sustainable forests managed by Scottish Wood based at Inzievar Woods.  The group felt it was important that whatever was chosen to make and sell it should reflect a positive attitude towards the environment and be from a local source.

All wall and mantle clocks were hand-made by the company during free time both during and after school.  Our first success was when we attended the trade fair at the Kingdom Shopping Centre in Glenrothes where we took twenty-two of our clocks and sold them all, making £250!!!  This showed hard work does pay off.  We continued to craft and sell our clocks at upcoming school events and again our products were extremely popular.

Our next big event was the Young Enterprise Fife presentations, which saw all eleven participating schools attending and doing a presentation to guest judges from local companies to win up to five different awards.  Wyse an’ Wycht won the Best Presentation on the day – delivered by Sarah-Jane Dale and Stuart Baynham and the whole team also won the Best Enterprise Company in Fife.  This means that the team have now to go through to Glasgow on June the 17th to represent Fife in the Scottish Final of Young Enterprise.

All profits from our sales have been donated to Dynamic Wood (who we purchased the hardwood from), the trading arm of Scottish Wood, a charity that uses all profits to manage the local forests and educate local Primary pupils about forests, their function and the wildlife that lives in them.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone involved in the success of our venture:

• A special acknowledgement to Mrs Drylie form the Business Education Department who was our link teacher with Young Enterprise
• Mr McGregor who guided us with our production of the clocks and the rest of the Design Technology department who kindly allowed us to take over the workshops and various machines.
• Mr Wyse who ensured that everything ran smoothly and gave us the extra reassurance that we needed.
• Mr McKenzie, our Business Adviser, who advised on the running of the company and any details that needed to be covered to ensure success with Young Enterprise.

Finally I would like to recommend this great opportunity to future years.  It has taught the group and me a great deal about the business world.  I would ask pupils to take part in Young Enterprise when they get the chance and carry on the success for Wyse an’ Wycht and Woodmill High School.

DUKE OF EDINBURGH AWARD SCHEME

On Thursday 2 April, Jim Tolson MSP attended a ceremony in the school when four of our pupils were presented with their Silver Award, nine received their Bronze award and thirteen received their First Aid certificates.

The next stage for our Duke of Edinburgh Scheme is the Gold expedition.

My thanks go to Ms Fotheringham and all the staff who have supported her in taking the D of E scheme in Woodmill from strength to strength.

NATIONAL THEATRE OF SCOTLAND - ‘THE MOLLIES’ CEREMONY

The recent successful collaboration between Woodmill High School and the National Theatre of Scotland was celebrated in the Assembly Hall at 7.00 pm on Tuesday 12 May.

Hollywood may have its Oscars but Woodmill presented its ‘Mollies’ to the forty S3 and S5 who participated in ’You Tell Us What Was, We Tell You What Is’ in the Pilmuir Works in March of this year.
Actors, stage crew, musicians, friends and family were invited to a two-hour celebration ceremony which saw:

• The first screening of the NTS documentary on the play
• The first screening of the DVD of the performance
• Presentation of the ‘Mollies’ which had been voted on by the company
• Presentation of Woodmill Achievement Ties / Achievement Badges to every company member by Molly Taylor, Assistant Director with the National Theatre of Scotland.    Molly has kindly agreed to lend her name to the ‘Mollies’!

INTERACT CLUB

SUCCESSES OF FORMER PUPILS

The following was sent in from Mr & Mrs Dewar – the parents of three former Woodmill pupils:

“Woodmill High School gave our children an ‘all-round’ education.
They were given high quality teaching and were encouraged to take part in the many extra-curricular activities.
Their participation actually complimented their studies and helped form their attitudes.
‘How well can I do’ is very important but so also is ‘How can I use what I learn at school to benefit not only myself but others’.”

Rebecca Dewar
Left school 1999

Deputy Head Girl

School Band – played flute

Netball

2003    Pharmacy Degree – Strathclyde University

Pharmacist – Golden Jubilee Hospital, Clydebank

Stephen Dewar
Left school 2001

Deputy Head Boy

School Band – played Trumpet

General Sport

2005    Pharmacy Degree – Strathclyde University

Pharmacist – Southern General Hospital, Glasgow    

Simon Dewar
Left school 2003

Deputy Head Boy

School Band – played Trombone

2007 Neuroscience Degree – Dundee University

2009 Medicine Degree – Ninewells – Dundee University

FOWHS

The school is very grateful to FOWHS for its generous financial support this session.  A sum of just over £2300 has been granted to support the provision of complementary uniform to S1; to support the Interact Canada trip and the Duke of Edinburgh Gold Expedition. Grants have also gone to specific departments to allow the purchase of teaching equipment and textbooks. This active parental support is extremely welcome and is a tribute to the hard work, energy and commitment of our parent body.

Mel Rennie Quaich  :  Dunfermline United Burns Club

Zoe Cuthbert was awarded the Mel Rennie Quaich at the centenary dinner of the Dunfermline United Burns Club. This recognised Zoe’s outstanding successes in the 2008 Fife Schools Burns Competition.