Kilgraston’s Lily Procession 2020
Kilgraston’s annual Lily Procession took place this weekend, its usual spectacular candlelit ceremony. This year, however, as well as being in the School’s Chapel, our usual location for the event, the service also took place outside.
In a slightly altered service due to COVID restrictions, only specific year groups were able to attend. The pupils carried lanterns and worn lace mantillas, as well as masks this year.
The traditional event marks the start of advent and Lily Processions are celebrated throughout the world as part of the Catholic network’s festive preparations. The traditional ceremony is held at the same time each year to honour Mary, mother of Jesus – Mater Admirabilis. Celebrants learn from Mary by putting their trust in God’s plan and having the courage to stand by their beliefs and values, even when they differ from societal norms.
The Lily Procession is something very special to all Kilgraston girls, past and present and usually we welcome back previous pupils, which we very much hope we can do again in 2021.
You can watch the 2020 Kilgraston Lily Procession below.
Kilgraston becomes Laudato Si’ School
In 2015, Pope Francis penned what was to become an important encyclical letter called, Laudato Si’.
The letter explores a number of topics relevant to the climate crisis. It incorporates scientific, theological, economic and sociological perspectives, among others. It draws on evidence from a number of diverse sources and uses the example of St Francis of Assisi as a guide for reframing our views on consumerism and stewardship of the earth.
The letter was addressed to “every person living on this planet” (#3). In doing so Pope Francis indicated that the letter was intended for not only to the international Catholic community, but all people, reinforcing the urgency for each and every one of us to take action to care for our common home.
Now five years on, in honour of its anniversary, Pope Francis is inviting schools to sign up to become ‘Laudato Si’’ schools and this month both Kilgraston Senior and Junior Schools have held special assemblies accepting this invitation.
Kilgraston’s Headmistress, Mrs MacGinty said: “In his letter, Laudato Si’, Pope Francis asks us to love God, look after each other and protect the world. He tells us about the challenges we are facing in our world and asks us to make things better.
“That is why we want to become a Laudato Si’ School, to love God, look after each other and protect the earth.”
In the Laudato Si’ letter Pope Francis highlights the importance of looking after our planet, writing, “The climate is a common good, belonging to all and meant for all” (#27). And yet, “The exploitation of the planet has already exceeded acceptable limits and we still have not solved the problem of poverty” (#27). “In fact, the deterioration of the environment and of society affects the most vulnerable people on the planet” (#48). It is our responsibility to educate those around us on the urgency at hand, to change our ways of thinking about societal norms and structures and reconnect with creation in a meaningful way that allows us to experience God in all things. That is the great hope and the great challenge of Laudato Si’. Change is possible, but it will not be easy. Thankfully, we find courage in knowing that we have a righteous cause and a loving God. Fortified in this, we dare to face questions like: “What kind of world do we want to leave to those who come after us, to children who are now growing up?” (#110).”
Now Kilgraston is committed to Laudato Si’, another example of our commitment to looking after our planet, and we look forward to many activities throughout the year to show the vital role schools play in changing the world.
BEAMing into Kilgraston School for the first time
Kilgraston’s Women and Business lecture series continued last week, reverting to an online speaker for the first time. Dr Rhu McKelvey, from BEAM Orthodontics, described his training and career, bringing him to the point of clinical lead at his Dundee practice.
“Peoples smiles are important to them,” Dr Ruaridh McKelvey of BEAM Orthodontics told senior pupils at Kilgraston, “orthodontics is definitely a growth sector.”
Via Zoom from his company’s recently extended designer clinics in Dundee, Dr McKelvey was speaking to pupils in the latest of the School’s Women in Business lecture series: “Mainly, I want to emphasise the importance of taking every opportunity to learn from your seniors and peers at every point through life.”
With a trademark splash of humour, Dr McKelvey described studying dentistry at Glasgow University, where he was known by contemporaries as “Mr 51%,” doing just enough to pass exams!
Despite this label, Rhu sealed his BDS in Dentistry, heading-off to a practice in Chester which saw a year of “lots of drilling and extraction.”
But further study called, taking him to Warwick, Derby and Bristol’s famous Dental School, where he saw some “heavy duty facial reconstruction” dealing with jaw surgery on patients suffering trauma from, among others causes, cancer and traffic accidents: “It was swashbuckling stuff,” explained Rhu, “and, briefly, I considered becoming a full-time surgeon.”
Achieving parts One and Two of his Royal College of Surgeons Fellowship, it was time to make definite career choices. But, deciding to concentrate on Orthodontics, Rhu moved to Exeter for a further three years, ultimately leading to his RCS M.Orth.
“This was a full-time post-grad course - combined with an MSc. - specialising in Orthodontics,” Rhu told pupils. But it was a tough time in the young dentist’s life: “We had teaching one day a week in Bristol, combined with attending patients in Exeter the other four days, then lots of homework on top.” As if this stint in the South West wasn’t busy enough, Rhu also managed to fit-in being a member of the Army Reserves. “I look back on it now and just think “phew, how did I do all that?””
Having qualified as a Specialist Orthodontist it was time to make some firm plans for the future.
“Basically, I had been continually learning and training for twelve years,” he explained, “I was thirty, so it was time to make some long-term decisions.” But, before settling down to a “proper job” Rhu had the opportunity to indulge his soldiering hobby with a 6 month deployment to Afghanistan.
Returning from the heat of the dust, Rhu was offered more traditional locum work in Edinburgh, “It was great to be north of the border again and I was lucky to fall under the wings of the great orthodontists at Edinburgh Orthodontics” and started doing market research into a location for a new Orthodontic practice.
The pin in the map landed in Dundee and he has never looked back. Initially, a surgery was rented to build-up a client base, before buying a building and starting hugely-successful BEAM Orthodontics in 2007. “It was a very steep learning curve,” he told girls, “I knew literally nothing about being a property developer, marketer, employer, sales director etc. etc. We started with myself and three nurses and now employ 25 staff, serving 1600 patients.”
The moral of the story was definitely to pursue a career that makes you happy. “Dentistry is a broad church,” Rhu emphasised, “there are many varied way to be a Dentist and it’s the same with Medicine, Law, Engineering, Design, Accountancy etc. I always tell people, ‘dare to be different’. You don’t meet many unhappy Orthodontists.”
St Cecilia’s Recital 2020 - music at Kilgraston
Kilgraston’s dedicated musicians and staff continued one of the school’s long-standing traditions - the St Cecilia’s Recital 2020.
St Cecilia is the patron of music and musicians, and the Kilgraston concert, which traditionally takes place in school on 22 November, the annual celebration of the feast of St Cecilia, is a long-standing fixture in our musical calendar.
The pupils and staff worked with the current COVID regulations, and rehearsing and recording this concert, and now it is available for everyone to enjoy.
Musicians from up and down the school took part from the Junior Strings to Sixth Form with a wealth of musical talent on display.
From an inspiring rendition of pop star’s Lewis Capaldi’s ‘Someone You Loved’ by the Clarsach Ensemble, the title music from the Oscar-winning film, Schindler’s List by John Williams, here performed by Upper Fourth’s Emma, to the traditional, and sublime performance by Lower Sixth’s Yolanda on the vibraphone of ‘The Swan’ by Saint-Saens, there is something for everyone to enjoy.
So, press play, sit back and enjoy the Kilgraston St Cecilia’s Concert 2020.
How we are marking anti-bullying week
This week marks the annual anti-bullying week, which we began with an assembly on Monday morning lead by anti-bullying ambassadors, Upper Sixth’s Amy, Romy and Anna, and Lower Sixth’s Tallie and Mary, as well as Mrs O’Hear.
Anna explains: “To recognise this week, we have organized a variety of activities to celebrate and spread awareness about the issue of bullying. These include a poster competition, for which we are asking the girls to illustrate our anti-bullying policy at school. We are also in the process of creating a ‘chain of kindnesses for which everyone in the senior school has written an act of kindness that they recently received on a strip of coloured paper.
“We are going to make a display by linking them together and hanging them up, simultaneously symbolizing our school community and how we can connect with each other by always remembering to be kind, especially during these difficult times.”
Maintaining a supportive community is central to the School’s educational philosophy and success.
Mary adds: “Our school works hard to put support schemes in place such as the BFG (big friendly girl) and LFG (little friendly girl) programme, where older girls are paired up with a few younger girls and they are there to support them wherever they may need help or assistance. The anti-bullying ambassador team is another example of a support scheme that our school has in place. As anti-bullying ambassadors we work hard to create an anti-bullying environment.
“At Kilgraston, we value having an open environment and that is why I believe that being part of the anti-bullying ambassador team is important and having support schemes in place such as our mental health ambassadors and the BFG system, is what creates the ever present friendly atmosphere at Kilgraston.”
Kilgraston’s charity work continues
Kilgraston’s charity work is continuing and our most recent event was this year’s ‘Dress Up Day’.
This event, which raised over £270 for charity, was a great success, with the whole school dressing up as someone who inspired them, all the way from Marie Curie to The Incredibles.
The money raised will go to the charity Social Bite, a charity fighting homelessness and, due to the governments ‘UK Aid Match’, Kilgraston also raised money for ‘Mary’s Meals’ a charity that aids starving children in developing countries.
Kilgraston’s charity and community prefect, Katie Nicholson said “I thinks it’s amazing that Kilgraston is continuing efforts to provide support to those in need and bring our community together.”
The ‘Dress Up Day’ is the latest fundraising by Kilgraston and recently the school raised £277 for Macmillan Cancer Support.
Remembrance Day 2020
This week saw Kilgraston mark Remembrance Day 2020 with an assembly and special service. These both took place in our chapel for one year group with the rest of the School attending via Zoom. The assembly was lead by Mr Campbell, Kilgraston’s Deputy Head of Sixth Form, Head of History and Modern Studies.
In his assembly, Mr Campbell, said: “On Remembrance Day we commemorate all those in the two World Wars and those that have fought in wars since that have given their lives. However, it is World War One it is mostly associated with.
“Officially 888,246 British soldiers died in World War One. Over 130,000 of these were from Scottish regiments. And these numbers do not take into account many other people who died either directly or indirectly in the service of war.”
Kilgraston’s catering team also helped our pupils remember this poignant day with a special supper for our boarders.
Kilgraston chef, Chris MacGregor, came up with the idea having spoken to his own dad about the family ties to World War One.
Chef Chris, who is part of the Kilgraston catering team from Inspire, said: “My great granddad, David Cargill MacGregor, served in the 2nd Battalion of the Cameron Highlanders. He was one of the lucky ones- he returned but my dad said his granddad never spoke about the War when he came home.
“So I wanted to bring home to the pupils why we wear poppies and to give them a literal taste of life during World War One and they all seemed to really enjoy the food which was brilliant.”
Chris and the team served up an Armistice Day menu of a wartime stew called Maconochie which was made with vegetables, meat, covered with gravy and popular with British soldiers on the front line. There was also a Woolton Pie as the vegetarian option, which was a favourite World War Two meal, and a chicken curry recipe from 1917. For dessert, the boarders enjoyed Trench Cake which was made with currents, nutmeg and ginger.
Kilgraston’s school magazine 2019-2020 Cor Unum
The 2019 - 2020 edition of Kilgraston’s school magazine, Cor Unum, has just arrived in school – and it’s certainly been a 12 months like no other!
In a year in which Kilgraston celebrated its 90th birthday amidst a global pandemic, Cor Unum rejoices in all the wonderful activities the Kilgraston family has taken part in both pre- and post COVID.
This year’s front cover by Lower Sixth’s, Sana, is a stunning painting of a swan and her signets. The painting was the overall winner of this year’s Game and Wildlife Conservation Trust Schools’ art competition.
With 2020 being Kilgraston’s 90th year as a school, you can read about the early years of the school, as well as some alumnae memories. The school magazine also looks at 2020 and our summer 90th anniversary picnic.
Fantastic pupil contributions fill the pages with a brilliant article on page 16 on ‘Forgotten Heroines’ by 2019-2020 History Prefect, Julie Chainey.
Our academic departments such as Computing Science and Mathematics give us updates on pre-COVID events, visits and competitions.
This year, Kilgraston’s traditional musical activities have had to be altered with the restrictions of COVID but that has not stopped Kilgraston’s Director of Music, Mr McAuley, keeping music as an integral part of our community.
In his article on page 22 of the school magazine, he looks at the importance of music and how it can impact on pupil wellbeing.
He said: “It is our desire that the music department is a happy place, a safe place, a creative place and a place where our young people could be themselves, take risks and flourish.”
Copies can be found at the School’s Reception or you can read it here.
global virtual celebration - Mexico
Recently, we were honored to have the opportunity to participate in a global virtual celebration of the Day Of The Dead with several other North American Sacred Heart Schools via Microsoft Teams.
Colegio Guadalajara which is located in Mexico, kindly invited us to join them for their annual ‘Cultural presentation’ where all of their high school students organised and shared a presentation on this famous Mexican day. A silver lining of the pandemic is that we have been able to virtually connect with more Sacred Heart Schools than ever for events such as this one.
Both of our schools were determined not to let the pandemic prevent us from taking part in their range of cultural activities and workshops. The event was attended by the Upper Sixth, and the Lower Sixths Pupils from Higher Spanish. Myself and two younger Mexicans served as the translators for the event, which was an incredible opportunity to broaden our horizons, share different traditions and to learn about other cultures.
The highlights of the presentation for me were getting to meet different people from various sacred heart schools, and having the opportunity to make use of the Sacred Heart network. I felt that despite being Mexican myself, my eyes were opened to the traditions of their school to celebrate this well known day.
This exhibition was an invaluable chance to learn in a different way and to use our brains in a alternative way, to use technology in our favour and to make the best of a difficult situation in that we were not able to attend the event physically thanks to COVID.
Article by: Daniela
Marketing Prefect
i25 awards ceremony - Mrs MacGinty is finalist
This week saw Kilgraston ‘virtually’ participate in the annual, prestigious, i25 awards ceremony, having been shortlisted for our pioneering ‘Wear it again’ day.
These awards – rescheduled, having been cancelled from a glittering ceremony at The Waldorf in London during March - recognise excellence in innovation and impact across the independent sector throughout the UK.
Each year, there is fierce competition between hundreds of entries. While Kilgraston was not an out-right winner, we were shortlisted to be among the top 25 and the only school in Scotland to make the final list and be invited to participate in the ceremony.
“I am particularly pleased that our initiative for recycling clothes and raising the environmental implications of ‘fast fashion’ was so enthusiastically embraced by the pupils,” said Dorothy MacGinty. She continued: “Waste, and its reduction, is a matter of huge significance for everyone and so very important that the tomorrow’s adults understand and act to redress the situation.”
From several schools across Britain, the ceremony witnessed, among many others, impressive innovation in the teaching of astronomy and the introduction of exams in the subject; various pupil initiatives, including the campaigning by prep school pupils of Government, resulting in ‘Finn’s Law’ - ultimately changing legislation regarding violence towards animals in the line of duty - and the introduction of a life-long learning curriculum that explored different ways to tackle a subject.
“Being nationally recognised for our work, together with learning about others’ projects and initiatives, is so important,” said Mrs MacGinty, “we must never stop learning and that applies to teachers and Heads just as much as it does to pupils. She added, “It also gave me a great excuse to wear my vintage Dior!”
The over-all winner was Westminster School in London for its campaign to provide bursaries, ‘liberating power through education.
You can watch Mrs MacGinty and the i25 award ceremony below (she is on from 40 minutes in).