partners who are united in their determination to support the development of our young people - and we must never apologise for the high expectations and standards we want for Selkirk High School. We must never take a backward step. We still have much to do to ensure that each and every young person is ambitious in their learning and has the confidence and self-belief to grasp opportunities wherever they are in the Borders and beyond.

I would like to thank everyone in the community for their support. We’re on the march at Selkirk High School. I wish you the very best over the Christmas Holiday and I look forward to seeing everyone in the sparkling dawn of 2018!

Overleaf is a summary of some of the Improvements underway at the school. I invite parents to get in touch if they’d like to be involved in any aspect of our journey.

Selkirk High School, Hillside Terrace, Selkirk TD7 4EW Tel: 01750 20246

To borrow a phrase from John Buchan,

our task at Selkirk High School is not to put greatness into our young people but to elicit it, for the greatness is already there. This is confirmed for me every day at the school and, let me tell you, when our young people are at their best they are an inspiration. What a privilege it is to be here! If we, as a community, can keep striving to get it right for our young people to create in them the ambition and self-belief to match their potential- well, then the whole world of opportunity can open up to each and every one of them.

This year, led by our excellent Student Head Team, our young people have told me what it means to be a student and a member of staff at Selkirk High School. They tell me that, above all, they want the school to be a place where we all strive to put our values of Respect, Responsibility, Relationships and Resilience into action.

As you can see from these pages, this is what we’re all about. In the Values In Action day, at the Remembrance Assembly, at the Christmas Concerts and Dances, you can see our young people at their best. It is not these great events which define us however, so much as the little choices our young people are making every day.

Every day I am inspired by the commitment the great majority of our young people are showing to their learning. It’s also great to see so many seniors volunteering to support their younger peers in class and beyond. Every week, individuals and teams represent their school on the sports field and every

week stories of effort and support emerge in the press, written up by students, to enthuse us all. No week goes by without a charitable event or fundraising effort or a trip or experience where students and staff have worked together to create valuable opportunities for each other. Day after day, I see examples of remarkable young people putting their values into action - whether by welcoming

and supporting new pupils and each other, spontaneously helping visitors, working with parents on school improvement or simply trying their hearts out and contributing with positivity and optimism to the school day.

Selkirk High School is a special place because of its students. But it also has a talented and committed staff and a community of parents and

Selkirk High SchoolChristmas Edition • December 2017

NEWSLETTER

RECTOR'S REFLECTIONS

www.selkirkhighschool.org.uk • Search for “SelkirkHighSchool”

Mr Bryson

The Home Economics department ran a recent competition between the S2 classes who had to design Christmas Stockings. Each class had a top four stockings and the first placed winners form each class were as shown above. From left to right: Hamish Reid (2F1), James Oliver(2F2), Rhian Deacon(2C2), Jack Kerr(2C1)S2 Prize Winning

Christmas Stockings – Overall Winner – Hamish Reid

Christmas Stockings

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Across the Selkirk Cluster, we are designing a 3-18 curriculum

which will prioritise Literacy and Numeracy in the first instance but also Health and Wellbeing and Employability. Every P7 pupil will arrive at SHS with a Passport of Golden Skills which will be consistent with other Primaries and link with the language of Learning at SHS.

Faculties at the High School are working hard to develop the skills agenda and to ensure pupils understand the relevance and meaningfulness of their learning.

Pupils and Parents are working together to improve communication about learning at the High School. This includes a review of Parents’ Evenings- we’ll be trialling a different, pupil-centred format from February. We are also looking at setting up workshops at Parents’ evenings to inform parents/carers about how we teach literacy and numeracy. The quality, frequency and communication of homework is also under review.

Every member of staff is engaged in an evidence-based Professional Development

Programme which systematically examines a key aspect of their teaching practice in order to improve outcomes for young people. Themes include Differentiation of Learning, Engaging Passive Learners, Quality of Feedback and Digital Learning.

Curriculum and Learner Pathways- we are working hard to address the need for a curriculum which really suits all kinds of learners. This includes providing as many universal and bespoke opportunities for employability experience as possible and we are working with our Business Partners to build on our current provision.

We are also revising the Senior Phase to ensure our learners are challenged right through to the end of S6.

Pupil Equity Funding- Government funding has allowed us to create Literacy intervention programmes for those who need it most in S1/2/3. From January, we are extending this intervention to include Numeracy and Health and Wellbeing issues including attendance and engagement.

Our aim is for all pupils to have leadership experience and in 2018 we will be starting a programme of VIA (Values In Action) Ambassadors (assisted by our Humanutopia partners) for S3/4 who will lead younger peers in positive peer pressure.

We are also introducing the MVP Programme which involves senior students Mentoring others.

The Pupil Council is currently working with JB to enhance their role in the school- they are also looking at how to extend leadership

opportunities more fully through the House System. They also plan to develop the way we celebrate success in the school. The Pupil Council will be conducting leadership Assemblies in January to inform the school of their achievements and their plans.

All staff are undergoing Growing Confidence training which explores the science behind teenage behaviour and emphasises the importance of positive relationships in student progress.

Faculties are also trialling a rigorous Self Evaluation process which is designed to highlight very precisely key areas for improvement. A key feature of this is the increased emphasis on pupil voice and partner perspectives.

Tracking and Monitoring- We are refining our tracking and monitoring of pupil progress very significantly this year in order to improve our support for learners who may be at risk of not reaching their potential. The system ensures we can identify any issues earlier and intervene in a more targeted way.

Assertive Mentoring- We are looking to expand the assertive mentoring programme which already includes all S5 and some S4 to include all S4 as well as targeted pupils across the school. The aim is to raise attainment in S5 and S4.

VIA Programme- The programme of Assemblies and events will be extended to raise the profile of our values. The Student Head Team has also created new Values In Action Awards for S1.

A working Group has been set up to look at ‘the cost of access’ at SHS to ensure no pupil is left behind as we plan experiences for students. In addition, we are working with SHSPP to create revenue to support pupil access of trips etc.

DYW- Developing the Young Workforce. We are working hard with our business Partners to increase employability opportunities and, longer term, develop enterprise as a real strength of the school. Business Partners have identified 5 Golden Skills which already inform Rotary Interview feedback and will be developed across the 3-18 curriculum longer term. Some pupils in S5/6 have a ‘Business Mentor’ with whom they develop awareness of the workplace and options.

Extra Curricular Activity is a becoming an expectation at SHS. From January, all S1 are expected to participate in at least one extra curricular activity at lunchtime.

Improvement Work at SHS 2017: An overview

Learning and

Teaching

Leadership at all Levels

Inclusion

INGREDIENTS 90 g plain flour1 x 2.5 ml ground ginger1 x 1.25 ml bicarbonate of soda

25 g margarine45 g light soft brown sugar10ml egg1 x 15 ml golden syrup

METHOD1. Preheat oven 190C/Gas mark 5.2. Put the flour, ginger and bicarbonate of

soda into a bowl and rub in the butter.3. Add sugar and stir in the syrup and egg

to make a firm dough.4. Roll out to 5 mm thick and cut out your

gingerbread men.

5. Put a sheet of baking paper on a tray and evenly space out the biscuits, bake for 10-15 minutes until golden brown.

6. Leave to firm for a couple of minutes before placing on a wire rack to cool.

7. Once cooled, decorate with icing.

3

The S5/6 survival cookery class were given the task of creating Winter themed Christmas cakes. They all bought in their own decorations and watched as their visions came to life. The cakes were all stunning but as this was a competition some decisions needed to be made.

Emily Rodgers (S6) came first with her Eskimo design which impressed everyone. Second place was given to Ruth Macdonald (S6). Third place was taken by Aiyana Gibb (S6). The most original design was awarded to Paige Grahame (S5).

Home Economics Christmas competitions: Christmas Cakes

2nd

3rd

1st

Most Original

Our Christmas concerts this year were a great success.

Over two nights the audiences were entertained by the High Schools Singers, School band, Traditional singers, Guitar group, Staff choir, Ceilidh band, Clarsach groups and Accordions.

From Hairspray to James Bond, Scotland to Hawaii, our concerts celebrated a fabulous variety of music and as always, there was an abundance of Christmas magic in the air.

All the talented pupils should be proud of the time they gave up to rehearse and perform as it produced a great evening

Christmas Concert

It 's beginning to look a lot l ike Christmas...

for all those involved. We hope many of those who didn't come see the show get a chance to next year as it isn't something to be missed.

 The best way to spread Christmas cheer is singing loud for all to hear! The High School singers and an array of young musicians bring the festive season to Selkirk.

4

On Monday 20th November, eight Selkirk High School senior students attended the 'My Scottish Affairs' meeting in the Victoria Hall. During

this meeting, we were able to participate in discussions about issues that concern us. The meeting, held by the Scottish Affairs Committee, allowed members of the Borders community to share their thoughts on issues that they believe should be investigated by the committee. The Scottish Affairs Committee is a cross-party group of MPs appointed by the House of Commons to work closely alongside the Scotland Office.

Scottish Affairs in Selkirk

At the beginning of the meeting everyone sat around their tables and participants were invited to bring up ideas for committee inquiries. Ideas flowed around the room and many people got their points across mainly focusing on transport, infrastructure, cross border communication and engagement of young people in politics. The second half of the session involved splitting into three discussion groups: one focusing on cross border communication, one on political engagement and the last group discussing employment opportunities within the Borders and how they might be improved.

This was a great opportunity for all of us as it is very rare that something like this comes up. We felt that we were listened to and that our views were acknowledged. It was very empowering! The pupils ended up being split between two of the groups- engaging young people and employment. Two of the main discussion points were lowering the voting age to 16 for all elections and making the Borders a more attractive area to young professionals by focusing on bringing new businesses to the area.

Making connections at this event really helped us to get more

involved in our local community, four of the students who attended actually ended up going along to the Community Council meeting that night where they talked about a grant that is available and what we, as a town, could do with it.

Sometimes there is a stereotype around young people being disengaged with politics but there are many of us who want to be involved – we just weren't quite sure how. We are the future of our town and want to make a difference. It is time that our voices were not only heard, but listened to.

n Pictured at the event above are: Schools pupils Ashleigh Roberts, Rowan Davidson, Lewis Beattie, Zoe Hood, Morgan Gowans, Cameron Scott, Lily Mackenzie, Katie Highton. Alongside the Scottish Affairs committee MP’s.

Selkirk High School

Royal Highland Educational Trust

On Wednesday a group of

S2 pupils went to Springwood Park in order to see the future in farming and agriculture. There were loads of very exciting things including bread-making and fish-gutting but for many students the most interesting part was discovering the tractors of the future.

Students were told how farmers can now program the tractor to do everything itself so all farmers really need to do is turn it at the bottom of the field. This increases the efficiency of tractors so they don’t waste fuel which is expensive. Students also witnessed a tractor sprayer in action which he had programed to drive around and it went around in the exact same places every time at the same speed.

During the visit they were also taught how to make bread. The parts of wheat were explained first and then students were told which parts made white and wholegrain flour. After a brief explanation the groups went into action, put on aprons and started baking.

A highlight for many was watching a mackerel fish get gutted. Two boys volunteered to gut the fish. After an explanation about all the types of fish and how they were caught. The two boys had to cut the flesh off the fish off.

All in all it was a great visit and really brought farming to life for many students.

Ryan Scott and Sam McClymont making dough

meets...

5

On the last day of term, Friday 6th October, staff, pupils and members of the community worked together in a range of ways to improve our school and our community and put our values into action. This event was a conclusion to the term’s programme of Values in Action assemblies led by staff, pupils and visiting speakers.

A programme of activities took place which included a large scale art project of painting the P.E department, working with primary pupils, ‘drawing Selkirk together’ with the elderly, working with the Fire Service, packing boxes for food banks, visiting Haining House, making bird-

Valuesin Action

boxes, resilient lego, outdoor design and more. In addition to our core values of respect, responsibility, resilience and relationships, activities required teamwork, communication and employability skills. A key feature of the day was the pupils working together in mixed-age groups outside the comfort zone of their peers.

Mr Bryson, Headteacher; “I am very proud of our students who worked together in unfamiliar groups and in unfamiliar contexts for the good of the

whole school community. What an impact! And we are fortunate indeed to have such a committed and creative staff and a community so united in its support for our great school. We put our values into action today and set the highest standard for ourselves. We’re on the march at Selkirk High School!”

SHS is very grateful for the contributions of our local sponsors: J.A. Waters & Sons; Calum Scott (Painter & Decorator); Homebase; SPAR; Sainsbury.

The day ended with a BBQ organised and prepared by students.

All year groups

making bird boxes in the Rural

department

(below and below right) School pupils learning and bonding with Bield residents

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The cadets of Selkirk High School were on duty at the school entrance on Wednesday morning, ready to offer poppies and welcome visitors to the SHS Remembrance Assembly. Pupils and teachers gathered to remember the lives changed by war and conflict since World War 1. They were joined by parents, members of the Royal British Legion and Councillor Gordon Edgar to look back on how war has affected so many families, including some individuals in the school.

Head Girl Eilidh Pearce and Head Boy Gregor Nichol (pictured left) led the assembly with a short but powerful summary of the experience of those who served in the merchant navy in the First World War and the impact of the German U-Boat campaign. This was followed by a minute’s silence during which you could have heard a pin drop.

Remembrance at Selkirk High School Remembrance at Selkirk High School

S4 pupil Archie Penman also contributed, talking about his older brother Thomas who serves in the Royal Navy. He mentioned the submarine his brother works on for most of the year and said that it was ‘inspirational but worrying’ that his brother was doing such an amazing duty for our country.

Another S4 student, Joe Bell, very movingly and eloquently discussed his great-great grandfather and how he was killed in action during World War 1 at the Battle of Arras. Joe also showed us part of a BBC documentary video where he and other students visited battlefields, cemeteries and

memorials relating to the battles of Loos, the Somme and the Third Battle of Ypres. This concluded with Joe’s visit to the Menin Gate, Ypres on which his relative’s name is engraved.

Head Boy Gregor Nichol called the assembly very ‘emotional, and it was nice that his first assembly presentation as head boy was such an important one.’

One visitor expressed very well what so many were feeling after the assembly: “the entire school should be very proud of the way you marked the occasion. It was a very thoughtful, respectful, and at times emotional assembly, and I was very honoured to have been in attendance”.

Cadets Shaun Aitken, Maya Golden and Lewis Inglis were on hand to welcome pupils, staff and visitors to the Sekirk High School Remembrance Assembly

Joe Bell, S4, at the Menin Gate where his great-great

grandfather’s name is engraved.

Visitors included parents, members of the Royal British Legion and Councillor

Gordon EdgarArchie Penman, whose brother serves as a Royal Navy

submariner, addresses the whole school.

7

Academic Achievements

This year’s Creative Sports Leadership Award (CSLA) team

have been involved in many activities to promote activity in the local primary schools. They all showed off their leadership skills at the hockey and rugby festival for Selkirk primary schools. They had to referee the games and keep all the kids enjoying the experience. It was a complete success so congratulations to the group.

Sixth year student, Caitlin Ryde, had amazing success with her Higher Geography assignment. She received the full 30 marks for her report on the connection between temperature and distribution of HIV/AIDS. Her assignment is now being used as an exemplar for schools across the region.

Ruth Macdonald, a sixth-year student, was delighted to receive the Derek McKinney award for English and creative writing. She was given this award for her excellent higher English folio piece.

Pictured above left are: – CSLA group, Andrew Davidson, Eilidh Roberston, Ryan Cottrell, Gregor Nichol, Abbie Forster, Caitlin Ryde, Cameron Scott

Auschwitz trip “heart breaking”

In November, as part of the Holocaust educational trust, senior students Molly Maclean and Lucy Gray were given the chance

to fly to Poland and visit Auschwitz to learn more about the holocaust.

First of all, they went through the Auschwitz village to take see the sights and meet the locals. Then the girls proceeded to an Auschwitz camp that was memorialised in order to pay respects to the countless victims who lost their lives.

Lucy Gray said “the experience was harrowing and the sights heart breaking but it is something that I will cherish and use the knowledge to remind others of the horrifying events that went on during the Holocaust, and why it is important that we must not forget.”

After the memorial camp they visited ‘Birkenau’ which was more a more realistic sight as nothing had been altered since the events.

Afterwards, they visited a few museums to see the historical artefacts.

To end the thought-provoking trip, the group was led by a rabbi in a service to honour the innocent victims of WW2 with a candle lighting ceremony.

 (right)

Entrance to Auschwitz

(far right) Auschwitz camp

Over the past term, the art department have developed many outstanding pieces that show off the creativity throughout the age groups. The first year classes drew Christmas pictures and the third year classes drew self portraits with backgrounds. Here are a few of the best.

The National 5 and Higher class have been working on their folio. Here are some outstanding pieces that Miss Dixon has chosen.

Art Department Art Department

Corey Reilly (1C1)

Charlotte Tuckwood (1C1)

Demi Grahame (S4)

Christina Seeker (3E)

Madeline Cross (3E)

Jenna Gass (S5)

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L ast week saw the start of the Selkirk Rotary Mock Interviews

exercise with the senior students of the High School. Over the course of eight days, no fewer than 62 students gained benefit from the business experience of several of the local Rotary club members, including a former senior lecturer and admissions selector at the University of Edinburgh, Dr Steven Henderson PHF (Rotary Club of Galashiels and District).

Communications, team working, leadership, and decision making questions and answers were all examined and developed for when students face the 'real world' of work or university.

Grateful thanks are extended to Ron Hastings and his staff at Hastings Legal, who kindly provided the facilities to conduct the interviews.

Next year's national 'Year of the Child' has started early in Selkirk, with the Selkirk Rotary Club and High School partnership continuing to be successful for our young people.

 Pictured top right are Kate Scott with interviewers Don Morgan and Doug Forsyth.

Lucienne McCallum is the Regional Sales Manager

for Timstar, a company that supplies scientific equipment for educational establishments. Lucienne has visited SHS on a number of occasions and has supported our Advanced Higher students, providing scientific equipment on loan to allow students to complete Advanced Higher investigations.

On this occasion, Lucienne delivered workshops to our Higher Human Biology students. The workshop provided an exciting and unique opportunity

S5 Mock Interviews

 Higher Human Biology Class and Lucienne McCallum

Higher Human Biology Demonstrationsfor our young learners to participate in a series of practicals that involved current biological science laboratory research techniques.

Our students prepared gels for 'gel electrophoresis' a technique that is used to separate DNA fragments. In addition, the DNA fragments were amplified using an expensive machine called a Thermal Cycler. This involved a special biological process called PCR (Polymerase Chain Reaction). The students were then separated into groups that investigated cancer gene detection, sickle cell gene detection.

After the workshop the students were appreciative of the experience one of whom saying 'I really enjoyed seeing how the process of PCR works and also getting the chance to participate in the experiment and using the equipment'. Another student commented that 'the workshop was helpful as it is a lot easier to learn about PCR as you could physically see what the steps are'.

10

Claudia competed in her first Scottish Enduro Race in August and placed 4th. She went on

to compete at the Borders Downhill Series at Forestgate and was hugely successful as she placed 2nd, as well as coming 1st for the overall series.

Unfortunately, in September she then went on the crash and break her hand in Laggan but after taking a two month break from racing she came back with a winning spirit in order to come 2nd at the Falkirk Day ‘n’ Night Funduro.

Caitlin Wright (S6) and Molly Byers (S3) (pictured left) both have an amazing achievement in being picked for the South of Scotland hockey teams. Caitlin Wright for under 18’s and Molly Byers for under 16’s.

Charlie Jack has been chosen to represent Scotland in the under 16 team. He also plays

for East under 16’s and has played exceptionally well even scoring 14 goals in the inter-district tournament, where he was captaining, to help the team come out victorious.

Extra-Curricular Achievements

Selkirk High School took on Peebles High School at home in the first round of the Scottish Schools 18U Tennis Championships. The Selkirk team consisted of Ivan Burt-Smith, Daniel Main, Cameron Welsh and Tom Forster all played some good tennis but were soundly beaten by the Peebles boys who provided very strong opposition.

Special mention to Ivan Burt-Smith (S2) who put up a great fight against the Peebles No.1, Jamie Gordon in an exciting match, Jamie winning 6-4 7-5. Later on, Ivan partnered with Daniel in the doubles had a very close match with the Peebles boys Jamie and Luke. The Selkirk duo being edged out 11-9 in the deciding Championship tie-break.

Ivan and Cameron were winner and runner up in the Grade 4 Tennis tournament in Carlisle in September. Ivan was runner up in Linlithgow the same weekend and Cameron also won a tournament in Carlisle previous to the one in September.

Claudia Forbes-WalkerENDURO

TENNIS

MUSIC

GOLF

Well done to S1 pupil Eden Collins and his younger brother Braden or their tremendous efforts in Golf. The pair collected rewards for their efforts at the Peebles Golf Club junior prize giving.

East Under 16 Hockey team: Charlie Jack is positioned in the middle holding the award.

Ivan Burt Smith, Daniel Main, Cameron Welsh, and Tom Forster in the first round of Scottish Schools under 18’s Cup

Lucy Gray (S6) recently sat and passed her Grade 8 piano exam. This is a very tough exam which she had practised very hard for so we are all delighted at her achievement.

Eden Collins and his younger brother Braden

display their golf awards

HOCKEY

11

SENIOR CHRISTMAS BALL

Merry Christmas!Merry Christmas!

More photos on the back page

SENIOR CHRISTMAS BALL

Here's to a

Great 2018!Here's to a

Great 2018!

Newsletter created by SHS Press Committee, edited by Rowan Davidson. LAYOUT/PRINT: BORDERSPRINT LTD