Dept template

Welcome to the seventh and last Parental Newsletter of the session. The school has continued to be an exceptionally busy place over the past month and this activity will continue right up until the end of term. Staff and pupils continue to work extremely hard to maintain and extend the high standards which we want to be associated with Woodmill.

The immense level of success which Woodmill has enjoyed this session is based on the abilities and enthusiasm of our pupils and their willingness to be involved; the continuing energy and commitment of large numbers of staff and the encouragement and support of parents and carers. My thanks go to everyone who has contributed to Woodmill’s long list of achievements this year. These successes set the standard by which we now judge ourselves and we expect next session to be equally successful.

If you are a new parent, welcome to the Woodmill community. The Parental Newsletter is one of our principal ways of communicating with you. There are seven issues each session and they are intended to keep you fully informed of events in the school with a special emphasis on our achievements and successes.

We look forward to the new S1 joining us in August after their ‘Taster Days’ earlier in the session and their two-day visit in May. We have high expectations of them and I am confident that Woodmill can build on the excellent work done in our associated primary schools in order to provide them with a first-rate standard of education.

The Woodmill Awards ceremonies cover every single year group and play a very important part in defining the school’s ethos of celebrating success and emphasising our sense of community. All our awards ceremonies have been very well attended by parents and carers, which, I believe, shows the value which you attach to them. My thanks go to you all for attending and thus helping create the supportive atmosphere which we wish to associate with Woodmill.

Particular thanks go to FMC for their sponsorship of the Senior Awards Evening and to Iain Wishart, FMCs Finance Director, who joined Dr Wood in presenting the awards.

S4 Best in Year: Christopher Curry (Limekilns PS)

S5 Outstanding Academic Achievement: Ashleigh Weir (Bellyeoman PS)

Philip Curry   (Limekilns PS)                  Nicola Bett (Bellyeoman PS)
Daniel Norman *                                      Kimberley Bowman (Commercial PS)
Calum Robinson   (Touch PS)              Zoe Cuthbert (Limekilns PS)
Craig Skicko (Touch PS)                     Emma Doran (Canmore PS)

Cleish:	Andrew Ewing (Touch PS)	Becci Shearer (Lynburn PS)
Devon:	Emma Campbell (Limekilns PS)	Siobhan Scott (Limekilns PS)
Forth:	Kristina Ross (Touch PS)	Ashleigh Weir (Bellyeoman PS)
Lyne:	Christie Duncan (Touch PS)	Heather Reid (Touch PS)
Tay:	Sammy McAully (Lynburn PS)	Stuart Taylor (Lynburn PS)

S6   Stuart Baynham, Kimberley Bowman, Zoe Cuthbert, Sarah Jane Dale

S5        Representatives have still to be appointed.

On Thursday 18 June the school’s sixteenth Leavers’ Night took place at the Balbirnie House Hotel, Markinch. This is the tenth occasion when the Balbirnie House Hotel has been our venue and seventy-one seniors and thirty-two staff attended what was, once again, an exceptionally positive and happy occasion. As always, the event demonstrated the very harmonious relationships which exist between seniors and staff in Woodmill and again, as is the norm, the seniors’ appearance, manners and courtesy were of an exceptional standard.
Outstanding speeches from Emma Hurst and Charlie Coussens, outgoing Head Girl and Head Boy, emphasised the many contributions made by the Sixth Year to the life of the school as well as demonstrating the strength of the community spirit in Woodmill.

The ‘efficiency savings’ which all schools are obliged to make continue to have an impact on Woodmill. We have lived with this situation for a number of years now but this familiarity makes it no easier to manage.

This session, Woodmill has again made the savings required of us and, in addition, made a further significant reduction in our overspend. This is very positive and reflects well on all those involved. This, however, is achieved at a cost. Departments next session will continue to receive reduced allocations for materials; the school will run with fewer staff than we are entitled to; staff participation in CPD may well be reduced and staff will, generally speaking, be working on maximum timetables. There is little, if any, slack, to cover for absent colleagues.

As at this time last session, I want to pay tribute to all my staff for not only continuing to provide the quality of teaching and pupil support which they do, but for working continuously to improve the curriculum. The long list of successes this session is also testimony to the quality of staff support for our extra-curricular programme. It is Woodmill practice to deal with adversity as positively as possible and to manage the school in a way which ensures that pupils receive the excellent quality of education to which they are entitled. We will continue to do so.

However, in the July 2006 Newsletter I wrote, “How long we are able to do more with less remains to be seen.” Nothing has changed.

Despite the budget situation, I believe that Woodmill’s future is very positive. The school roll is rising, the morale of staff is high and the relationships between staff and pupils and the school and its parent body are both of a very positive quality. The standard of learning and teaching is high and the levels of academic attainment and success at all levels continue to improve. There will be further improvements made to the physical fabric of the school over the summer. All in all, I have no doubt that we can achieve the high standards which we set ourselves and which you, as parents, expect of us. I look forward with confidence to the new session.

My thanks and appreciation go to Mr Adams of the Art department and Mrs Reilly from our clerical staff for their work over the session in providing the photographs and organising the material for the Newsletter and posting it on our website.

On behalf of all staff in Woodmill may I wish you and your family a restful and happy summer.

As indicated in the last Newsletter, there are a large number of retirals taking place at the end of session.

Principal Teacher Guidance : Mrs Kane after 24 years’ service
Mr Gray after 21 years’ service

Modern Languages : Mrs Morrison after 18 years’ service as Principal Teacher

Physical Education : Mr Stevenson after 26 years’ service as Principal Teacher

In addition, Mr Norris, who was Principal Teacher of Design Technology until 2006 before being seconded to a Curriculum Development post in Fife, is also retiring early. He joined Woodmill in 1989.

The combined service of these staff amounts to a significant contribution to Woodmill, not only in terms of managing learning in departments and classrooms and providing pastoral support for generations of Woodmill pupils, but also in terms of our extra-curricular successes. Between them, these staff have been involved with the Duke of Edinburgh Award scheme, the Suspended Timetable, basketball and other sporting achievements at regional and national level, lunchtime clubs for vulnerable pupils, foreign trips and a host of other activities which have been to the benefit of Woodmill pupils over a quarter of a century.

The school owes a huge debt of gratitude for the contribution of all these staff. It is likely that there will be an official function early next session to recognise their achievements. In the meantime, I know that I speak for all parents and carers in wishing our colleagues a long, happy and healthy retirement!

As noted in the last Newsletter, Ms Mowbray will be remaining with us on a permanent, full time basis in the Business Education department.

Our other probationers all leave us at the end of session for pastures new and I am very happy to report that, with the exception of Ms Jeffries (Drama), who is taking a temporary break from teaching to explore the world, all our probationers have obtained fulltime posts within Fife.

Ms Hornsby (English)              >          Kirkcaldy High School
Mrs Hull (Geography)              >          Beath High School
Mr McGregor (Physics)         >          Kirkcaldy High School
Dr Garside (Mathematics)     >          Balwearie High School

Their success in gaining permanent appointments is a reflection of their skills and commitment and we thank them for all they have contributed to Woodmill over the session whilst wishing them all success in their future careers.

Because of the effects of the large early retirement exercise which Fife has carried out this year, most staffing appointments will take place very late in the session. These are the appointments which have been made so far. I expect to have staffing complete in time for the start of the new session and I will bring parents / carers up-to-date with the staffing situation in my letter to you in early August.

Mr King is taking a year’s Career Break. Following interviews, Mrs Simpson, currently the school’s Administrative Co-ordinator, will act as Business Manager.

Mrs Bradley and Mrs Younger from our present administrative and clerical staff will hold this post, on a job-share basis.

There will be further changes in our administrative staff following these appointments and, again, I will update you with these in early August.

Mrs Moyes has returned following her maternity leave and will be employed on a 0.6 FTE basis. Mr Robertson will also be returning on a 0.6 FTE timetable.

Ms Gupta is continuing her career break for a further year. Her post will be filled by August.

I hope to have two Principal Teachers of Guidance appointed before the end of term.

Mrs Moore has been appointed as acting Principal Teacher for the foreseeable future.

In addition the school will receive a number of probationers and other teaching staff, most of whom have already visited the school to familiarise themselves with their timetable and to meet their new colleagues.

You will appreciate the scale of staffing changes from this list. This situation is not unique to Woodmill by any manner of means but will be replicated across Fife.

I have every confidence that our new colleagues will play their part in the continuing success story of the school.

After all the preparation and planning, the planting is now completed. Unfortunately weeds are also growing amongst our plants so there is still work to do. Thank you to everyone who bought our cards and cakes and so helped make all this possible.

Five senior students recently took part in a 'Mastering Multimedia' Fife Schools' Challenge at Adam Smith College, Kirkcaldy. On the first day students attended workshops on animation, graphics, audio and video. On the second day students created web pages using the latest multimedia technology. Although not gaining a top prize for their creation Woodmill students performed extremely well. All gained certificates and said the two days had been enjoyable and worthwhile.

Our final grand total is 20,017 vouchers, a fantastic amount. Our order has now gone in for hardware and software that will enhance teaching and learning. Many thanks to all parents who collected vouchers.

On Wednesday 17th June, Gail Glancy (Team Captain), Coral Reid, Shelby Lynch and Kirsty Thomson represented Woodmill in the Fife Schools Food Safety Competition held at Rothes Halls, Glenrothes. After a very successful morning beating off all the competition, we met Lochgelly High School and Dunfermline High School (A) in the final. After the third round we were drawing with Lochgelly on 21 points but were out-buzzed in the final round. A superb effort by the students saw us collect the silver award with medals, WH Smith tokens and cookbooks being presented by Police, Fire and Safety committee chairman Councillor George Kay.

During the National Year of Reading, American author Stephenie Meyer has created the “Harry Potter” effect with her “Twilight” series.

This saga charts the story of Edward and Bella. However this is not just a romance! This is an adventure, a battle between vampires and werewolves. The books have proved phenomenally successful with bookstores opening at midnight and great excitement over each book as it was published. All four are being filmed. The film of the first book “Twilight” was in cinemas last December and has brought in lots of new readers. “New Moon” (be sure to have the tissues ready) is due for release in November 2009 and already some of the pupils are counting the hours and the moments. I am indebted to Charlotte, Emily, Maddie, Rebecca and Shelby who brought this series to my attention and suggested I order the books for the school library. The books have proved to be the most popular books ever ordered.

Another book which caused a stir this year was the fourth instalment of Malorie Blackman’s series about Callum, Sephy and Callie Rose - Noughts and Crosses, Knife-edge, Checkmate and the latest book is Double Cross.

The Carnegie Award is presented each year by children’s librarians to the author of a work considered to be an outstanding book for young people. I am backing Kevin Brooks’ book “Black Rabbit Summer”.

It has stiff competition from Keith Gray’s excellent book “The Ostrich Boys”, “The Knife of Letting Go” by Patrick Ness, “Bog Child” by Siobhan Dowd, “Creature of the Night” by Kate Thompson, “Airman” by Eoin Colfer and “Cosmic” by Frank Cottrell. The winner will be announced this week on 25th June 2009.

The Inter-House Athletics event took place on Thursday 18th June at Pitreavie athletics stadium.

Over one hundred and fifty (S1) new S2 pupils, as well as ten ASN pupils, participated in the track and field event. A number of new S4 Standard Grade PE pupils helped to run all the events.

Everyone threw themselves into the event with great enthusiasm and when not participating, made sure they were heard cheering on their housemates from the stand.

As the relay events started the weather turned to torrential rain. Everyone participated still although absolutely soaking wet with not one person moaning about the conditions. In fact there was even disappointment (and probably relief) when the last 2 relays, the 4 x 200 were cancelled.

Thanks go to all staff and pupils who helped and to the new second years whose enthusiasm made it such an excellent event.

During the SQA exam period, a group of eighteen S1, S2 & S3 pupils from Footnotes enjoyed a two-day workshop with Jamie Thomson who works with New English Contemporary Ballet, based in Nottingham.

Each day the pupils experienced a very advanced technical class, followed by work on a dance for performance in the future. The dance ended up running for seven minutes.

Jamie was extremely impressed with the group and commented on their commitment and enthusiasm as well as their technical and creative ability.

Following these two days, the group went to the Macrobert Centre Theatre in Stirling to see a performance by the company. All thoroughly enjoyed it and described it as inspirational.

Since the workshop the group have been busy practising and rehearsing some of the more intricate sequences ready for when it will be performed.

Congratulations to Eilidh Reid S2 and Kirsten Galbraith S3 on their selection for Fife Schools Athletics Association team in the Scottish Schools Under 15 inter-area championships on 23 June.

Andrew Gourlay (2007) has just completed an HND in acting and performance at Adam Smith College and has won a place at the prestigious Drama Centre in London for September 2009. The Drama Centre is one of Britain’s most prestigious drama schools whose graduates include Paul Bettany, Pierce Brosnan, Simon Callow and Colin Firth.

Andrew won a number of awards for Drama while at Woodmill, was Depute Head Boy in session 2006–07 and won the Class of ’88 Award in June 2007. We wish him all success in his chosen career --- and watch out for the name!

Scott, a former pupil (class of 2008), left Woodmill to become a professional footballer and was signed with local club, Cowdenbeath. He stayed in touch with Woodmill however as an SFA coach working with S1 pupils from September to December of last year.

In January of this year, Scott was diagnosed with leukaemia, and for the moment he is concentrating on his treatment and recovery.

All footballing plans were on hold until Scott resolved to help the people who had done so much to help him and his family: Ward 17, Victoria Hospital, Kirkcaldy.

Scott decided a charity football match between Woodmill’s current seniors and a team comprising former pupils and some of his teammates from Cowdenbeath would be a crowd pleaser.

Girlfriend Amanda Munro (FP 2008) began to plan a netball match bringing together former pupils to play the current school senior team. Their organisational skills, enthusiasm and determination, coupled with help from a large group of former pupils and friends resulted in an exciting week of fundraising. The whole school took Scott’s cause to heart and pupils and staff responded generously in terms of donations and participation. The target was £800.

June 18th: Scott McCrindle’s All Stars vs Woodmill Seniors
Ref: Kyle Hall (S6)

Tomas Sibbald (S2) piped out the teams from the changing rooms and a crowd of hundreds watched an enthralling match. Dale Allan captained the Woodmill Seniors and Blair Waddell was captain of the visiting side which included some of the best school footballers from recent times. In the end, the professional touches of the Cowdenbeath FC contingent made the difference, and the All Stars won 4:1.
It was a truly memorable occasion enjoyed by all the players, Woodmill staff, pupils, former pupils, families and friends who came along to support the event. The fantastic netball match was played the following day and the sponsorship money raised by the football and netball players, funds from the cake and candy stall and a huge raffle resulted in a total of £1550 having been raised so far, with more money still to come in. An amazing result!!

The Woodmill Community came together this week. Everyone wanted to support Scott in his efforts and although Victoria Hospital will be the official beneficiary of his hard work, there is no doubt that he and his friends also initiated a huge surge of community spirit in and around the school.

All of us wish Scott a full and speedy recovery and we thank him for making us think this week about the important things in life.

Congratulations to Linda MacDonald from the clerical staff who, along with her daughter, finished equal 1st in the ‘Half Moon’ section of the race (half marathon – 13.109 miles) in a time of 2 hours 50 minutes.

Participants in the ‘Moonwalk’ raise funds to tackle breast cancer and this was Linda’s third year in the event.

Many thanks to all the staff and pupils who have contributed to our efforts over the last year. Hopefully next year’s committee will have as much enthusiasm and as many good ideas.