NEWSLETTER NO. 7 - JUNE 2010

Dear Parent / Carer

Successes........and thanks

Welcome to the seventh and last Parental Newsletter of the session.  Woodmill has continued to be particularly busy and successful over the past month and this activity and energy will continue right up until the end of term.   Staff and pupils continue to work extremely hard to maintain and build upon the high standards which we expect of ourselves.

The significant 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 successes this year.   These successes set the standard by which we now judge ourselves and we expect next session to be equally successful. 

A digest of our achievements can be found at the end of this Newsletter.

Welcome to New Parents

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.

The Parental Newsletter can also be viewed on our website.

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

Addition to Woodmill Community

The first work has started on the site of the new Carnegie Primary School.  We look forward in due course to the opening of what will be Woodmill’s ninth associated primary school.

Welcome too, and congratulations, to Pamela Marnoch, currently HT at Crossgates PS, who has been appointed as HT at Carnegie with effect from October 2010.

Awards Ceremonies

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 community atmosphere which we wish to associate with Woodmill.

Particular thanks go to FMC for their sponsorship of the Senior Awards Evening.

Principal award-winners this session include:

S1 Best in Year:           Rebecca Mercer (Touch PS)                                                                                                                                                           
S2 Best in Year:              Eilidh Reid (Masterton PS)   
                                                
S3 Best in Year:              Hannah Fleming (Limekilns PS)  &  Owen Forrest (Commercial PS)

S4 Best in Year:              Lauren Buchanan (Touch PS), Natalie Fiddy (Limekilns PS), Vicky Sparling (Touch PS)
                                     
S5 Outstanding Academic Achievement:           Christopher Curry (Limekilns PS)

S6 Outstanding Academic Achievement:           Kelli Blyth (Limekilns PS)    &    Philip Curry (Limekilns PS)

Class of ’88 Award:            Sarah-Jane Dale (Lynburn PS)

West Fife Rotary Club Community Award:           Nicola Bett (Bellyeoman PS)

John Carswell Award:        Sarah-Jane Dale (Lynburn PS) & Philip Curry (Limekilns PS)

HEAD BOYS / HEAD GIRLS    -    2010-11

Head Boy   -   Douglas Taylor (Touch PS)            Head Girl    -    Emily Gonnella (Touch PS)

Depute Head Boys                  

Connor Beurskens (Pitcorthie PS)                  
Christopher Curry (Limekilns PS)                  
Adam Rippin (Touch PS) 

Depute Head Girls                  

Hazel Johnston  (Commercial PS)
Sasha Pender  (Pitcorthie PS)
Jenna Rankin  (Commercial PS)

HOUSE CAPTAINS

Cleish:             Aaron Dougan (Pitcorthie PS)             Amy L Robertson  (Touch PS)

Devon:             Callum Anthony (Touch PS)             Lynn Cowan  (Touch PS)

Forth:   Zoe Sharp (Blacklaw PS)             Claire Sneddon (Touch PS)

Lyne:             Craig MacCallum (Bellyeoman PS)              Michael Wood (Touch PS)

Tay:             Alasdair Burnett (Limekilns PS)             Kirstie-Marie Moran (Inzievar PS)

PARENT COUNCIL PUPIL REPRESENTATIVES

These have still to be elected.

ETHOS COMMITTEE PUPIL REPRESENTATIVES

S6                                         
Amina Mahmood    Adam Rippen    Douglas Taylor    Keith Ward    Michael Wood

S5
Connor McCaffrey    Niall Piggot    Lauren Stephens    Rhys Taylor          

Leavers' Night

On Thursday 17 June the school’s seventeenth Leavers’ Night took place at the Balbirnie House Hotel, Markinch.   This is the eleventh occasion when the Balbirnie House Hotel has been our venue and fifty-four seniors and twenty-one staff attended what was, once again, an exceptionally successful and happy occasion. As is the norm, the seniors’ appearance, manners and courtesy were of an exceptional standard and outstanding speeches from Sarah-Jane Dale and Stuart Baynham, 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.

Thanks are due to Ms Bogie for organising the event.

HOWEVER……….

The bulk of the following paragraphs were written last year at this time.   They remain true this session and will continue to do so for some years to come.

The 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 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; staffing is pared to the bone; 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 and limited time for curriculum development work.

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.

The Future.......Continuing Success

Despite the budget situation, Woodmill’s future continues to be very positive.  The school roll is rising, the staff are skilled and show an above-average level of commitment 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 very good 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, Mrs Horn and Mrs Bradley 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.

The Summer

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

Yours faithfully

Michael J Gilmour                                                               

Michael J Gilmour
Rector

STAFF NEWS

Business Education

Next session we will welcome Mr Darling as an NQT into the department.

Chemistry & French

I am happy to say that Mr Mitchell and Mme Derrien will be remaining with us on permanent full-time contracts following their probationary years.

German

I am pleased to say that Mrs Lynch now has permanent status in the school.

Guidance

Congratulations to Mrs Aiken on her appointment to the permanent post of Principal Teacher of Guidance in Lyne House.

In August, Mr Phil Arnold joins us on transfer from Buckhaven High School as PT Guidance in Forth House.

My thanks go to Mrs Dunlop for her contribution as acting PT Guidance in Forth House, particularly her success in re-establishing the House Captain posts in the school.

Modern Studies

We welcome Ms Morrison who remains with us on a permanent full-time basis following her year’s temporary contract.

Physical Education

Ms Tennant returns in August following her maternity leave.

RMPS

Katrina Naismith will be joining us in August by transfer from Dunfermline High School.

The following staff leave us at the end of session

English                 Mrs Lindsay
Geography            Mr Graham
Science                Mr Millar     
Mathematics      Mrs Vallance
PE                        Mr Fyffe & Mr Grattan

My thanks to all these colleagues for what they have contributed to the school this session.

RMPS

Mrs McLean will be joining Dunfermline High School by transfer at the start of session.

Mrs McLean has served in Woodmill for ten years and has built the RMPS into the thriving and successful department which it is today.  I would like to thank her for the significant and consistently high-quality contribution which she has made to the success of the Woodmill community and to wish her all the very best in the future.

Business Manager

Mr King will return in August after a year’s career break.  Mrs Simpson will resume her post as Administrative Coordinator.  My thanks go to Mrs Simpson for the skilful way in which she has carried out the Business Manager duties and the successes she has achieved for the school.

Geography

Ms Gupta is continuing her career break and will, therefore, not be returning to Woodmill.

Scottish Qualification for Headship

Congratulations to Ms Sullivan, Depute Rector, on completing the Scottish Qualification for Headship. This prestigious post-graduate qualification requires a number of years’ study and is a highly-regarded professional degree.

Learning Support

Mrs Mackintosh leaves us at the end of session to take up a full-time permanent post in the English department at Buckhaven High School.  Mrs Mackintosh has given many years of valuable service to the Learning Support and English departments and she takes with her our best wishes for the future.

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.

NEWS FROM DEPARTMENTS

COMPUTING                                  

Fife Schools' Multimedia Course

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 said the two days had been enjoyable and worthwhile.

DRAMA & ENGLISH

‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream’ performed by Carnegie College

On 25 May the Drama and English Departments did a joint theatre trip to see “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” at the Carnegie Theatre.  The production, by the Drama students at Carnegie College, was light-hearted and entertaining for all.  For some of the English students, this was a chance to see a live performance of a play they had recently studied and they thoroughly enjoyed the production.

ENGLISH

Suspended Timetable

This year the English Department whisked 37 energetic and enthusiastic pupils off to Stratford to immerse themselves in Shakespeare during Suspended Timetable.

We’re pleased to report that everyone enjoyed themselves immensely and were a real credit to the school, as always.  Staff at the Courtyard Theatre commented on how rapt our pupils were during the performances there.

Read on for an account of the trip by Coral Darjee and Erin Douglas, new S2.....

During Suspended Timetable this year (19 to 21 May) 37 pupils and 5 teachers went to Stratford-upon-Avon to visit various ‘Shakespearian Wonders’.

We stayed in a Youth Hostel about a mile outside Stratford where all of our meals were provided for us.  The chocolate fudge cake was particularly yummy.  However the highlight for us was the grounds around the house complete with trees, which were great for climbing!  When we weren’t climbing trees we were visiting Shakespearian properties.

We visited Shakespeare’s Birthplace and Anne Hathaway’s cottage.  However the best for us was Mary Arden’s farm.  We were ‘let loose’ around the farm to all of its attractions.  There were many animals including cows, sheep and pigs as well as areas made to look the way it did in Shakespeare’s time.  Whilst there we saw a sheep being milked and we learned the ways William Shakespeare lived.  It was so hot that day the teachers took cover in the shade!

On the two evenings we were there, we went to the Courtyard theatre to see two plays written by William Shakespeare (of course!).  On the first night we saw Romeo and Juliet and on the second King Lear.  Both were performed by the Royal Shakespeare Company.  The majority of us preferred Romeo and Juliet as it was humorous as well as tragic.

On Thursday morning, a professional actor came to the youth hostel to give us a Drama workshop.  We did a bit on still pictures.  One of the games we played was where we all had to make one giant statue using a theme e.g. the Titanic.

Overall the trip to Stratford-upon-Avon was a great experience and everyone enjoyed it.  Even the teachers!

By Erin Douglas & Carol Darjee

FLEXIBLE CURRICULUM

Youth Achievement Award

Ten young people successfully attained a Youth Achievement Award (Bronze Level). This qualification is recognised on the Scottish Credit and Qualification Framework at Level 4 which is General Standard Grade. The award involves 60 hours of participation and includes the presentation of a portfolio of evidence to external moderators.
 
Congratulations to:                    

Samantha Brown                Chantelle King
Margaret Cameron            Jace Marshall                                                                          
Charlotte Diggle                  Amy O’Donnell                                              
Barry Fitzgerald                 Michael Page                                         
Laura Hunter                     Emma Tully                                            

GUIDANCE

S4 AWARE Work Placements

The AWARE work placements, which last one school week, are scheduled to take place during the weeks beginning 27th September and 4th October 2010. The preparation has started in the Social Education programme. A selection of AWARE placements is provided by Fife Council in venues like primary schools, nursery schools, offices and hairdressers. In addition a number of pupils have arranged self-placements.

If you would like to discuss any aspect of AWARE in more detail please feel free to contact Mr Marshall, PT Guidance or Mr Wyse, Year Head.

UCAS

Any pupil who is considering applying to university for September 2011 should now be considering their options. The careers section in the school library has a large number of university prospectuses and all the universities have their own websites. Senior students aspiring to third level education at university should be looking carefully at entry requirements and the specifics of the courses they are interested in.

There are many Open Days over the next few weeks and months and it is advisable to take advantage of any opportunity to visit a place where you would like to study. All the posters we receive about open days are displayed in E corridor. In addition up-to-date information is available on www.opendays.com. Senior students are also encouraged to check individual university websites for open day programmes, booking details and requirements.

If your son/daughter intends to attend an open day we would ask that you provide their register teacher with a note prior to the visit.

At the start of the August term pupils intending to apply to University will be given information packs and further details about the application process. All school applications are done electronically and individual and group support is offered by all Guidance staff.

The school’s UCAS deadlines are as follows:

1st October 2010 for all applications for Medicine, Dentistry, Veterinary Science, Oxford and Cambridge applications.

1st December 2010 for all other applications.

When we return to school in August work will begin in earnest to prepare pupils for UCAS applications. However, we would strongly advise that all potential applicants begin to consider their options, courses, university open days and personal statements as soon as possible. All interested pupils are advised to look at the UCAS website for further information on these things www.ucas.com.

S4 LIFT OFF To Success

Twenty three pupils have been chosen to participate in the LIFT OFF summer school programme. These exciting and educational summer schools offer pupils, who may not have previously considered University as a viable career path, an opportunity to experience university life first hand at St Andrews University. We hope that all the participating pupils enjoy the experience and find it a valuable and motivational experience.

S3 Alcohol Awareness Course

Congratulations to the large number of pupils who successfully completed the BIIAB Certificate in Alcohol Awareness. Over one hundred pupils received their certificates at the third year prize-giving ceremony and a further group will do their assessment before the end of term. Well done to all the successful candidates.

Guidance Support Timetables

The review of the GSTs is well underway. It is anticipated that this system of monitoring pupil attendance, behaviour, attitude and progress will continue next year with selected pupils. If your son/daughter has been monitored on a GST this session and you would like to be part of the review process please contact Mrs Shandley, PT Guidance.

MATHEMATICS

Scottish Maths Challenge

Eilidh Reid, Ian Bedford and Owen Forrest spent a very enjoyable afternoon at St Andrews University receiving their silver certificates for the Scottish Maths Challenge.   

Babcock Engineering Day

S4 Credit and Higher Pupils were challenged by Babcock graduate engineers to use their Maths knowledge to solve real life engineering problems. Pupils were able to apply their knowledge of algebra, scale and trigonometry to solve problems based on the Eurofighter and QEC aircraft carrier. It was a very intensive workshop which pupils and staff really enjoyed.

OTHER NEWS

ECO COMMITTEE

This year has been a successful one for the Eco Committee, we have:

• won our first prestigious green flag from Eco Schools Scotland
• with a lot of help from our Business Manager we finally set up some bike sheds
• continued with our extensive recycling initiatives: plastic bottles and cans, printer cartridges, batteries and unwanted mobile phones
• set up composting using school waste
• organised activities with the RSPB for over 25 first year pupils

Mr Maxton, Mrs Urquhart and Miss Miller would like to thank everyone for their hard work this year.  Next year we hope to complete a wildlife garden and focus on litter around the school as well as all other on-going activities.

BURNS COMPETITION

The Mel Rennie Quaich is awarded by the Dunfermline United Burns Club to the pupil who gained the highest marks in the Fife Burns Competition.  The award recognised Esther Garrow’s performances in the 2009 competition.

ATHLETICS

Congratulations to Kirsten Galbraith S4 on her selection to represent the Scottish Schools Athletics Association against schools from England, Ireland and Wales on 17 July.   This is a further international honour for Kirsten and the school is proud to celebrate her success.

WOODMILL TEAM WIN SCOTTISH SCHOOLS’ WATER POLO CHAMPIONSHIPS 2010

Darren Campbell, Christopher Campbell, Jamie Cleland, Andrew Jackson, Liam McConnell, and Douglas Taylor won the national trophy against stern opposition from around the country.  The tournament was held at St Mungo’s in Falkirk and the best junior water polo players nationwide were taking part.  Woodmill, of course, has two of the best in the UK in Darren and Chris Campbell and they were brilliant in supporting their less experienced team mates during the pre-tournament practice sessions and on competition day.

Fife was well represented with Queen Anne, St Columba’s and Inverkeithing also participating.  An excellent whole team effort resulted in Woodmill winning their qualifying group and then going on to secure impressive victories all the way to the final.  They played Menzieshill ‘A’ for the cup and emerged with an emphatic 11:7 win to lift the trophy.  It was a truly memorable day.

Many congratulations to our team, and a special thanks to Mr Campbell Snr. who was so helpful on the day.

BEST IN YEAR PHOTOGRAPHS FROM S1, S2 AND S3

NEWS OF FORMER PUPILS

Catriona Gourlay (Head Girl 2005) has just gained a 1st class honours degree in Fine Art from the University of Edinburgh.

Luke Main (2006) has graduated from the University of Edinburgh with an Honours M.A. in Pure Mathematics.  Luke is now going on to Heriot-Watt to study for his M.Sc in Actuarial Sciences.

OTHER SUCCESSES OF WOODMILL PUPILS

Many of our pupils regularly attain success in activities which are not school-based.

Two recent notable ones are noted below.

Terri-Jane McGlone

Terri recently won the Daily Record ‘New Face’ modelling competition in Glasgow. As a result, Terri-Jane has won a part in an advertising campaign with Boohoo.com; the possibility of a contract with the Storm modelling agency in London and the use of a Smart Car for a year.  Remember the name!!

Gregor Smith

Gregor Smith 2C1 recently travelled to Latvia representing Scotland as part of the Scotland U13s Ice Hockey Team. They took part in the Volvo World Junior Ice Hockey Tournament, coming 7th out of 12 teams - a great result for their first time playing abroad. They were up against teams from Slovakia, Sweden and Finland as well as Latvia and Germany.

In May they attended the English Junior Ice Hockey Tournament in Hull where they came second - another great result considering they were playing against the best players in the UK at their age group.

Gregor plays for the Kirkcaldy Chiefs U14 team along with Nathan Woodrow 2S2. The Chiefs have had a very successful season winning the Scottish U14 League and the U14 Scottish Cup.

PROPERTY WORKS OVER THE SUMMER

The following work is due to be carried out over the summer holidays.

• Refurbishment of the main pupil toilets – boys and girls
• Sanding of various floors in the school
• Redecoration of one of the Drama rooms and adjoining corridor

I hope to be able to update you on these works in the first Newsletter of next session.

ACHIEVEMENTS 2009-10