Hillhead Highlights November Edition 2015 Dear Parent / Carer, Please find enclosed just some of the many highlights that have happened during the month of November. You will find even more information on our school Twitter account @HillheadHS. Thanks again to the S4 pupils who produce the Highlights each month. As always there is a great deal to celebrate and we continue to be very proud of all of our young people. Earlier this month, senior pupils raised over 2300 for Children in Need, braving the terrible weather to take part in a fancy dress street collection in the west end and the city centre. Well done to all involved! December is going to be a very busy month and I would remind you of the following dates for your diary: Wed 9th December: Art Exhibition (5.30pm-9.00pm) Christmas Concert (7.00pm 9.30pm) Thurs 17th December: Senior Dance (7.30pm to 11.45pm) Mond 21st December: S1-S3 Pantomime visit (1.00pm 4.45pm). If I can be of further assistance in any way please contact me. Best wishes, Contents White Poppy Appeal Public Speaking Competition Omie Murray Interview Hillhead Hot Seat Glasgow Studio Orchestra Updates W. Wight Head Teacher
White Poppy Appeal Ms Pinterich (R.E Teacher) has once again been raising money for the White Poppy Appeal and it has been a great success. A donation of 50 was made to the Peace Pledge Union. The White Poppy Appeal was started by a group of women during 1935. These women believed very strongly that war can cause destruction. Most of these ladies had lost their children, their families or their husbands in WWI. White poppies cost 60p and the money raised goes to raise awareness of the impact of war on families and communities. The aim of the appeal is to eventually find solutions to conflict which would result in a happier future. The White Poppy Appeal does not in any way criticise those people who fight or have fought in wars but focuses on educating people about the realities of war. Ms Pinterich has also been keeping up her excellent charity work with the Any Spare Change Pop it in the Pig campaign. Each term around over 100 is raised from loose change donated by staff and pupils and S3 pupils decide on the recipient of each charity. Sean Lazzerini Former pupil Sean Lazzerini has won gold at the Commonwealth Youth Games in boxing! This event was held in Apia, (Samoa). The 18 year old trains at the Bellahouston Palace of Arts, and he returned from the Games with a gold medal to show for his efforts in the 81kg category. Mr Wight and all the staff of Hillhead would like to say a huge: Well done, Sean!
Public Speaking Competition On Monday 9th November, five S5 year pupils, Krzystof Pukacz, Lewis Harris, Rosie Graham, Kieran Rafferty and Luca Manning, took to the stage to discuss topics of personal interest with their peers and a special judging panel - which included last year s winner Rebecca Gault, Mr Philp and the newly retired Mrs Malcolm. There were a range of topics for speeches from meritocracy to mental health. Each competitor had a maximum of 8 minutes to deliver their speeches, all of which were very much enjoyed by the large audience of S5 and S6 pupils. The winner was Rosie, with Luca and Lewis as runners up. Rosie s talk, entitled Looney Tunes, was honest, harrowing and witty, raising awareness of mental illness. Rosie spoke about why mental health has become something people are afraid to talk about and that this should change. Mrs Malcolm pointed out at the end the one aspect that ran through everyone s talk was passion. The event was hugely successful and showed the talent and hearts of all the Hillhead pupils who participated. Hillhead wishes Rosie the best of luck in the next stage and would like to congratulate everyone who took part!
Omie Murray Interview Aiden Earley interviewed Omie Murray of S4, a basketball player for Scotland: Q. What awards have you received while playing basketball? A. I have won three Most Valuable Player awards. I have received two from school and one from Euro Camp, (a place where all the best players in Europe come together were they train and play basketball games). I have also won one national championship! Q. Best moment of your basketball career so far? A. I would say that it was when I played for Glasgow Rocks where I had won a very close game against the best team in the league, we had only won the game by one point! Q. Who is your favourite basketball player? A. My favourite player is Russell Westbrook. He is my favourite player because of the energy he brings to the game and because of his great resilience. Q. How did it feel being picked for the Scotland National Team? A. I was honoured that out of all the people who trialled for the team I was one of many who were picked. Calling all S1 Basketballers! Basketball Training: Wednesday Afterschool All Junior High Schoolers who are interested in slam dunking should come on down! #ballislife
Hillhead Hot Seat This month we interviewed Ms Wood from the English Department: Q: What is your favourite film? A: There is a wonderfully touching film called Life is Beautiful (La Vita e Bella). It s Italian and is about a boy and his father in the Nazi concentration camps. It makes me cry every time. Q: Who is your favourite band/singer? A: Nick Cave, Richard Hawley, Elbow, The Smiths, Bruce Springsteen. I love great guitar music and songs with stories. Q: Can you tell us your most embarrassing moment? A: Hmm. I am too embarrassed to share the worst one with you, but I will tell you about the time I got covered in bird poo. I was standing under a tree, my friend said something to scare me, and I made a huge noise. The tree was full of what seemed like 100 crows who all took off into flight and showered me in poo as they went. Q: What were your first impressions of Hillhead? A: It is a very welcoming place. Pupils and staff have great relationships and speak to each other in the corridors. There are not many workplaces where people make such an effort all the time. There is a great atmosphere here. Pupils have been lovely, and I ve enjoyed getting to know them a lot. Q: What did you want to be as a child? A: For a long time my dream job was to be a vet. There was never any real chance of that happening though as I m very squeamish and would be far too emotional around sick animals. Q: Favourite subject at school? A: I can genuinely say it has always been English. I always loved writing, more than reading. However, I loved art too and had a great time doing my Higher Art course with one of my favourite ever teachers from school. His name was Mr Boyle and to this day he is one of the people who has inspired me most. He really wanted me to succeed and that s what I remember most fondly.
Glasgow Studio Orchestra This is an interview with Ms Russell of the music department, who has recently performed with her orchestra for a selection of people and schools (including Hillhead): Q: When did you start going to the Glasgow Studio Orchestra? A: I started about three years ago this January. Q: What is it you like about the Orchestra? A: First of all I just really love performing. Secondly, I love the music this particular Orchestra chooses and lastly, I get to be incredibly social. Q: Have you ever been really nervous before a performance? A: I was nervous when Hillhead came to see us. Especially when I knew my pupils were coming. Usually I don t worry too much before a show but I was so nervous about Hillhead seeing me perform so I practiced until my hands were raw! Q: What are a couple of your favourite songs you have performed with Glasgow Studio Orchestra? A: With you which was from a great musical called Ghost, (very sad though). I loved performing Star Wars and I also really enjoyed performing Body Electric because of the dancers and singers who joined us from the Glasgow Academy Musical Theatre Arts.
Updates Who loves you, pretty baby? All will be answered at the Winter Concert on Wednesday, 9th December All pupils will find out why the Choir is dancing around the halls every Monday and why all the pianists and guitar ensemble are practising so hard in the halls of the Music corridors! The Choir (performing extracts from Jersey Boys), Jazz band, Soul band and the Ceilidh band amongst others will be on the stage! Nature of Scotland Awards 2015 Hillhead High was recently shortlisted for a Youth and Education Award at the very prestigious Nature of Scotland Awards 2015. Mr Milne and Mr Philp, attended the event at the Sheraton Hotel, Edinburgh on Thursday 19th November. The school received a Highly Commended Award in recognition of all the work done in the John Muir Discovery Award with S1 pupils over the past two years. The Award was presented by Susan Davies, Chief Executive of Scottish Natural Heritage. Over 250 pupils have successfully completed the Award which is part of the weekly MTA programme. Another 200 S1 pupils are doing the Award this session. The school has been mentioned on the Facebook page of the John Muir Trust: https://www.facebook.com/johnmuirtrust Follow @HillheadHS for more info!