`Disco Inferno` at Lanark Grammar School 2015

Volume 4, Issue 6
30 March 2015
Lanark Grammar School
ESRC Photographer
Jack being presented with his award in London
Earlier this month S6
pupil Jack Roden was
invited to attend the
awards event for the
Economic and Social
Research Council’s annual photography competition which was held
at The Menier Gallery in
London. The ESRC is the
UK's largest organisation for funding research on economic and
social issues.
Jack, who is a keen photographer, is currently a
member of our S6 Photography class. Whilst
already skilled with a
camera Jack has used
his time in S6 to hone
his creativity and took
Jack’s winning photograph ‘The Lonely Chair’.
the opportunity to enter
the national ESRC Photography Competition
which included a variety
of categories for entrants to respond to.
Jack entered the Environment Category with
his outstanding photograph entitled ’The
Lonely Chair’ which depicts a derelict building
and its contents as they
gradually decay and are
defeated by Nature itself.
Jack’s photograph won
the Judge’s Favourite
which earned both him
and Lanark Grammar a
small cash prize. Any
monies aside his
achievement in a national competition of
this scale is phenomenal. Jack’s photo will be
displayed in galleries
throughout the UK.
Inside this issue:
ESRC Photographer
1
News from the Head Teacher
2
News from the Head Teacher
3
Glasgow Music Festival
3
Captain’s Blog
4
Comic Relief
4
Debate Team Finalists
4
HMD 2015
5
Expressive Arts Evening
5
Disco Inferno
6
Important Dates
6
News from the Head Teacher
March 2015 and closes on
Wednesday 13 May 2015. An
public meeting for parents/carers
in the Clydesdale Area will be held
on Tuesday 21 April 2015 from
6:00-8:00 pm in Lanark Grammar
School.
The parent/carer letter from the
Executive Director can be accessed via our website at the following link: http://www.lanark.slanark.sch.uk/2015/03/
consultation-proposal-document/
Head Teacher Mr Mark Sherry
Consultation Proposal
Document
All parents/carers have been issued with a letter from Jim Gilhooly, Executive Director Education Resources concerning the
above consultation proposal
document which relates to the
proposal to increase the qualification for entitlement to free mainstream school transport for secondary pupils from more than 2
miles to more than 3 miles
(4,827m).
The Council’s criteria for evaluating safe walking routes, with the
child being accompanied by a responsible adult, will remain.
A statutory consultation of this
proposal began on Monday 16
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Study Skills: Support for
Parents/Carers
As I am sure you are well aware,
the SQA exams are fast approaching. In order to help students prepare effectively for their forthcoming exams, there are a number of ways in which they are being supported in school. In addition to the ongoing support given
to students by teachers in each of
their timetabled classes, there is
also the opportunity for students
to attend Supported Study classes
across the school either at lunchtime or after school.
There has been a series of assemblies taking place for all students
within the Senior Phase focussing
on Study Skills and Exam Preparation. As a parent/carer, the support you can offer to your daughter/son with regard to effective
study is crucial. One way of doing
this is to encourage your daughter/son to study at home by assisting them to take on board the
information given out during
these assemblies.
SQA Examination Diet
2015: Study Leave
This session’s SQA Examination
Diet runs from 28 April – 1 June
2015 inclusive. This is the final
session in which the diet will have
such a lengthy timeline as, in
2016, only National 5, New Higher
and New Advanced Higher
courses will be assessed externally.
In order to meet the needs of our
students, the following model for
study leave for the 2015 SQA Diet
will be in place:

all senior phase students
will have the opportunity
to engage in study leave
with the exception of our
ASN students with severe
and complex needs;

the week beginning Mon
day 27 April 2015, stud
ents with external assess
ments can engage in
study leave but we would
expect that they would
attend class during this
week once their examinat
ion commitment has
ended. This will enable
them to continue to en
gage with teachers and
prepare for external as
sessments which are held
later in the diet. Students
with examinations would
have study leave the day
News from the Head Teacher Cont’d
not be a period for supervised revision,
therefore the attendance of all students,
except those sitting
exams, is essential;
before and on the day
of each examination.
Students with multi
ple exams would have
study leave for the
full week.

during the week beginning 27 April 2015,
senior phase classes
will be running as
usual with teachers
focussing on exam
preparation techniques, past paper
practise and offering
support to individuals
and groups. It will


Tuesday 5 May 2015
will see the beginning
of formal study leave
for all students
(Monday 4 May 2015 is
a national holiday and
no exams are scheduled); and
study leave will end at
close of school on Friday 29 May 2015 with
students returning to
school on Monday 1
June 2015 (with the
exception of students
sitting Higher Physical
Education who should
return on Tuesday 2
June 2015).
A copy of the letter can be accessed through the link below.
http://www.lanark.slanark.sch.uk/2015/03/sqaexaminations-2015-study-leave/
Second Samba Success at Glasgow Music Festival
Our percussion
tutor, Mr
Calder,
entered
the Lanark
Grammar
School
Samba
Band in the prestigious Glasgow
Music Festival Competition which
took on Monday the 16th of
March.
We are very please to announce
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that the Samba
Band gained first
place in their Music Making category in the Glasgow Music Festival. We are extremely proud of
this accolade for
our pupils as this
is the second time
our band has won
the competition.
Well Done!
In addition to appearing at the
Festival the
Samba Band have
also been selected to perform
at the Instrumental Music Service
Showcase ConOur triumphant Lanark Grammar School Samba Band.
cert on Thursday
the 19th of March at Hamilton
this year the band will be in the
Town House and on June the 11th
parade on Lanark Lanimer Day.
Captain’s Blog
As the end of the year approaches
for us 6th years and with it, what
is for most the infinitely stressful
exam period, everyone seems to
be feeling the strain, either from
the workload they are under or
because of the effort at times it
takes to find motivation. But do
not despair everyone, it is nearly
the time of year for sunglasses,
and sunglasses solve all problems!
As everything seems to kick off at
this time of year, the final weeks
are flying by and everyone is busy
with things from the dreaded Advanced Higher projects to the
more light hearted (yet equally
strenuous for the less athletic
among us) Help For Heroes/ Kenyan Orphan charity run. With the
end of term for the upper school
drawing closer I think everyone is
being hit by the reality of next
year. The reality of leaving school
for the 6th years, of finally being
6th years for the 5th years and of
finally not being first years for the
first years.
So remember everyone, work
hard, play hard.
Eve McShannon
Vice Captain
Vice Captain Eve McShannon
Comic Relief Superheroes
On what was
a very cold
and windy
Sunday 7
March two of
our S1 pupils,
namely
Heather Murray and Roya Fenton
of Lockhart House, took up the
challenge of running 3 miles
round the Lanark Loch to raise
money for Comic Relief. Heather
and Roya have been sponsored
for charity before, but they have
excelled themselves in their fund
raising activities this time as the
total money raised was a fantastic
£155 for which they are grateful
to all their, family, friends and
teachers who supported their efforts. Well done Heather and
Roya.
Divine Debaters
Debaters Rhianna McGrath and Rachael Miller.
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Recently our dynamic
Debating Recently our
dynamic Debating Team
of Rachael Miller and
Rhianna McGrath again
won their debate to
make them triumphant
at the Semi Final which
took place at Douglas
Academy in Milngavie
involving four teams.
The topic for the motion
at the Semi Final was
most testing as it was about
domestic abuse and Rachael
and Rhianna only had an hour
to prepare on their own without
resources to assist them. However, no matter how challenging the task they are resolute.
Next is the Scottish Final which
will take place on 4 June in the
Scottish Parliament. A bus is
being organised to support our
exceptional pupils. Good Luck!
Holocaust Memorial Day 2015
On Friday 13th February, S5 and
S6 pupils met during registration
and period 1 to commemorate
Holocaust Memorial Day.
At the assembly, Eilidh
McClafferty and Chloe Mackle
shared their experiences as Ambassadors for the Lessons from
Auschwitz programme. Ambassadors commit to playing a key
role in the Holocaust Educational
Trust’s work in educating about
the Holocaust and subsequent
genocides:
“Ambassadors are young people
that have shown a commitment
to enabling as many people as
possible to benefit from what
they have learnt. Holocaust Educational Trust Ambassadors have
been invested with the responsibility for delivering a powerful
message to their peers and
wider communities: the importance of challenging prejudice,
promoting tolerance and never
Catherine McClymont , Ed Archer and Ambassadors Eilidh McClafferty and Chloe Mackle.
again allowing hatred to gain a
foothold in society.”
Karen Pollock MBE, Chief Executive
of the Holocaust Educational Trust
The girls’ presentation spoke
about this year’s theme, “Keep the
Memory Alive”, and was followed
by a reflection by Rev. Bryan Kerr,
one of the school’s chaplaincy
team. The Street then fell silent
and everyone was encouraged to
reflect and remember those who
had died in the Holocaust and
subsequent genocides. Following
the silence, John Zawadski gave a
moving presentation of images
from his visits to Poland, including
one in which many LGS pupils participated.
We were pleased to have two of
our local councillors, Catherine
McClymont and Ed Archer, attend
the assembly and see the importance our pupils place on Holocaust education.
Expressive Arts Evening 2015
Our Annual Expressive Arts Evening took place on Wednesday the
18th of March 2015 in the Street
area of Lanark Grammar School.
This evening celebrates the creative work of our pupils from S1 to
S6 and covers the subjects of Music, Art and Drama. This evening is
sponsored by the Rotary Club of
Lanark who kindly donate the prize
money, trophies and form part of
the Judging Panel.
Pupils demonstrated skills in either
the Art Gallery of Excellence, perPage 5
Young Singer Senior Section
Craig McCulloch
Young Singer Junior Section
Ewan Legg
Young Musician Junior Section
Claudia Ciancio
Young Musician Senior Section
Ian Brown
Young Actor
Elannah Noonan
Young Artist Junior Section
Blyth Scott
Young Artist Senior Section
Holly Clark
forming monologues, singing and
performing on a musical instrument.
The evening was extremely well
attended by staff, parents and pupils and was another opportunity
to showcase the talents of our
young talent here at Lanark Grammar School.
A big thank you for all the time
and effort put in by staff and pupils - Well Done!
‘Disco Inferno’ at Lanark Grammar School 2015
‘ Disco Inferno’
16th,17th,18th June 2015
Rehearsals are well underway for
this years school show which takes
place in Lanark Grammar School in
June 2015. Tickets on sale soon!
……………It’s the summer of
1976. Outside, the weather is as
hot as the fashion and passion are
on the dance floor and Jack is
about to celebrate a 21st birthday
he’ll never forget. Working late in
a London Dance Club, ‘Disco Inferno’, Jack meets Lady Marmalade – the devil’s right hand lady.
Dreaming of becoming successful,
he makes a pact with her trading
his soul to fulfil his wildest
dreams…………………….
All pupils in All year groups have
the opportunity to be involved in
this years school Show whether
that is on stage , off stage , costumes , make-up , lighting , music
and sound. They will also have the
opportunity to work with industry
experts and professionals in live
music , lighting and sound production and be part of one of the biggest attended and pupil participated events in the school calendar. Exciting times ahead……
Watch this space.
The Production Team
Mrs Alison Miller – Producer
Miss Ruth Darroch – Director
Mrs Julie Brown – Musical Director
Important Dates
Please find below, information about important dates in the school calendar. I hope that you find it helpful.
In-Service Days
No.6
Thursday 7 May
Holidays
Spring Break/Easter
Thursday 2 April
2.30pm
*re-open
Monday 20 April
May Day
Monday 4 May
Local Holiday
Thursday 11 June and Friday 12 June
Summer Break
Wednesday 24 June
1.00pm
Kirklands Road
Lanark
ML11 9AJ
Phone: 01555 667520
Fax: 01555 667521
Head Teacher : Mr. Mark Sherry
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