Category Archive: Latest News

Kilgraston’s Beekeeping Society

As we celebrate World Bee Day, Kilgraston’s Beekeeping Society had their first hive inspection of the newly installed Kilgraston apiary.

Until now, the hives have been kept sealed to ensure the colonies are settled and warm. Science technician and qualified bee-keeper, Mrs Blackler together with Steve Fulton, former president of the Perthshire Beekeeping Society, instructed the society members on what to look for in the hives and to check for brood (baby bees) and that the queen bee was laying eggs.

In the next session, they will look to identify the Queens and mark them.

Kilgraston STEM Challenge event 2023

This week, we welcomed schools from across Perthshire for the inaugural Kilgraston STEM Challenge event - an exciting new competition to encourage our next generation of STEM professionals.

For the past few weeks and months, teams of four or five P5, P6 and P7 pupils from local schools including Kilgraston have been working hard on their projects. The theme was tied into this year’s British Science Week topic of ‘Connections’ and could be interpreted in any way the team saw fit. This saw team entries span topics from robots and rivers, to bridges and brains, with inspirational and wonderful displays and exhibits by each team.

Our teams enjoyed STEM-filled morning with a visit from Tayside Planetarium and a rocket-building session with Kilgraston’s Science Department.

Visiting judge, Dr Mathers, a STEM lecturer at Perth College UHI, spent time with each team who had to present their entry and discuss their exhibit and how it operated. With such high calibre of entry, after much deliberation, the team from Dunbarney Primary School was crowned this year’s Kilgraston STEM Challenge event winners. Well done to Dunbarney and to all of this year’s competitors, it was wonderful to see and meet so many enthusiastic STEM pupils.

Kilgraston is passionate about supporting young people who know their ambitions and are confident to pursue this. Historically, STEM, has been an area dominated by males, however, each year over half of our pupils go on to study STEM subjects at university. We want to continue this legacy in as many ways as we can and we are already looking forward to next year’s event.

Kilgraston attends multilingual debate

The Higher Spanish and Higher and Advanced Higher French pupils were able to attend the Heriot-Watt Multilingual Debate for 2023. This year’s motion was ‘This house believes that social media is the best vehicle for free speech’. The debate was open to a wide variety of schools and attendants.

As we entered the auditorium, we were impressed by the elaborate set-up. The debate began with an opening vote of 59% for the motion and 41% against. During the debate, we were able to tune into any of the translated languages. There were several translated languages in the debate: French, Spanish, German, Chinese and British Sign Language. The students had the chance to listen to any of the languages on offer- I personally tuned into the French translation often. The ideas within the debate itself were thought-provoking, and the interpreters were confident and articulate in their translations. The debate then moved onto an audience question and answer session, with audience interaction and input in multiple languages. The debate closed with a final vote, and in an interesting change of mind from the first vote, the final result was 43% for and 57% against.

This was an impressive and educational experience, and was a great time for all the Modern Languages pupils.

Eilidh, Upper Sixth, Modern Languages Prefect.

Kilgraston Junior Years Mr Men project

Kilgraston Junior Years is bustling with learning and enthusiasm. In our Reception and Lower First class, it is amazing what you can learn through a topic about Mr. Men and Little Miss! In PHSE, the children talked about emotions and feelings.

All the different 2D and 3D shapes were covered in Maths. English lessons included Antonyms ( Mr Happy and Mr. Grumpy) and Synonyms (Little Miss Tiny and Mr. Small). The children made up their own Mr. Men and Little Miss characters and wrote and illustrated their own books.

The Assembly the class presented to the school, parents and grandparents was wonderfully colourful, showing confidence and a real sense of fun.

Beekeeping at Kilgraston

Kilgraston has over 50 different clubs and activities and our latest is: Beekeeping at Kilgraston.

We have four colourful hives, forming Kilgraston’s first Apiary, located in a purpose-built alcove behind the Science Centre. Every precaution has been taken to keep all pupils and staff safe.

Over the coming months, the Beekeeping Society will be getting kitted out with beekeeping suits, smokers and special tools to look after the bees. We will also be making frames to sit in the beehive supers. The supers sit on top of the brood boxes. When the bees start collecting pollen and nectar, they will make honey in the supers. We have planted a range of wild flowers and other flowering plants in the beds behind the Science Centre and we will be looking to see which types of flowers our bees like the best. The pupils will also be working towards completing their Junior Beekeeping certificate.

This entire project has been made possible by the fund-raising support of the Kilgraston Parents Association (KPA). Look out for further updates on our bees.

Kilgraston YES team 2023 win regional final

Kilgraston YES team 2023 win regional final - find out more:

On Thursday 23rd March – the Young Enterprise Team (MIKA) and fellow supporters from the sixth form travelled to Forbes of Kingennie Country Resort in Dundee to compete in the Tayside Young Enterprise Regional Finals Competition.

Prior to this we had been interviewed by a panel of judges and submitted a company report to the judges. On the evening we had to present our company journey to a room full of competing teams, supporters and local businesses. MIKA put forward Kate, Rebecca, Jessica and Flora, all Lower Sixth to present and afterwards Jessica, Upper Sixth, took questions from the audience.

MIKA came home with 5 out of the 9 awards on offer during the evening.
We won:
• Best Interview
• Best Company Report
• Best Link Teacher – Mrs Docherty
• Most inspirational journey – Sara, Lower Sixth
• Company of the year

We are delighted to have won the Tayside Regional Final Competition and look forward to competing at Scottish Nationals at Hampden Park on 31st May.

Flora, Lower Sixth

Junior Years’ Parents’ Afternoon Tea

We warmly welcomed our Junior Years’ Parents on Friday 17th March, for our charity fund-raising afternoon tea. The Junior Years Charity Committee put on a fantastic spread at an afternoon tea for their parents. This was to raise money for our chosen charity Mary’s Meals.

The pupils created bunting and decorations to transform the atrium. The afternoon tea also gave Junior Years pupils the opportunity to show their appreciation to their parents for everything they do. Parents were welcomed by Sofia playing on the violin and were invited to sit down and enjoy a delicious feast.

They were also treated to performances by our award-winning Early Years and Junior Years Choir. As it was St. Patrick’s Day, Ceola and Conall also delighted the guests with some Irish dancing. A lovely afternoon full of chatter and cake.

Kilgraston Hockey Challenge Plate Winners 2023

Kilgraston Hockey Challenge Plate Winners 2023, and read Lower Sixth’s Martha’s match report:

Last Friday (17th March), the Senior Girls Hockey team left Kilgraston at 7:30 in the morning to drive to Peffermill in Edinburgh to play the Scottish Challenge Plate Final against Galashiels Academy. Excitement and nerves built as we edged ever closer to the 10am push back.

We were welcomed and given our changing room where we had our team talk from Miss Patton and Mr Stott before the final motivational comments were passed to amongst each other (not forgetting last minute hair prep)!

The whole team emerged into the Edinburgh sunshine for a nervy warm up on the pitch listening to the build up from the man in the tartan suit on the microphone! About 15 minutes from pushback two Kilgraston mini buses arrived filled with supporters from school. They came laden with posters and were prepared to be in full voice for an hour.
Along with school friends we would like to thank parents and grandparents for coming along too. It was also lovely to see Mrs Davie, Mrs Ferry, Mrs McCormick and Mrs Cran in the stands too.

The whole team lined up and we were each introduced one by one before walking out and going into our final huddle.
“Kilgraston… Cor Unum… OI OI OI!”

The team set up and the whistle blew and we were off! We did not wait long to score. The ball was played down the right to Martha who was in the circle who pushed it into the goal with a final reassuring tap in from Fern. The second goal came from Christabelle Pratt after just seven minutes. Galashiels have played the whole time this season without a goalkeeper and we used this to our advantage. However, despite having a 2-0 lead, Gala regained some control and were soon rewarded with a goal.

Just before half time, the Kilgraston girls got a penalty corner which was hit to our Captain, Lexie MacMillan, who passed it to Martha who pushed it past a number of defenders to find the back of the goal. We still weren’t done, 30 seconds before half time, Martha scored again, hitting the ball from the top of the circle making it 4-1 to Kilgraston going into the second half.

In the second half of the game, Fern got a diagonal pass down the right from Lexie which she dribbled into the circle under pressure from two defenders and fired it into the bottom left of the goal. Due to some violent play from Gala, they were given a green card and forced to sit out for two minutes which was soon followed by another card for Gala which resulted in us being rewarded with a penalty flick. Lexie took the flick and shot a composed ball into the left hand side of the goal to make the final score 6-1.

Despite not playing with a goalkeeper, Galashiels pushed us all very hard and made some dangerous attacking play which was very well defended and cleared by our players at the back. In the build up to the final we have been working hard on our attacking play practicing the forward leads and getting outcomes in the circle and it was great to see our work in action!
It was a brilliant way to end our journey within the Scottish Cup and we are all incredibly proud to bring back the Challenge Plate for Kilgraston!
Thanks also to those who watched the game on Watch.Hockey which is still available to watch back if anyone would like to watch here.

Unfortunately it was one of the last games for some of our U6 players including captain, Lexie Maxmillan, vice captain, Christabelle Pratt and Jeanie Stirling but it was a great way to end their school hockey career and we all wish them the very best for after school.

By Martha (L6)

Watch the Scottish Hockey post match interview below with captain, Lexie, and Martha

Kilgraston Senior Invitational tournament 2023

Following the success of Friday’s Scottish Challenge Plate win, our Senior XI were busy again at the Kilgraston Invitational Senior tournament. We were delighted to invite three Junior players who are part of our Hockey Academy programme in Upper Four and Lower Fifth to gain experience of this annual event and help prepare them for forthcoming Under 16 and Under 14 Midland trials.

Charlotte, Natasha, and Willow did not disappoint, and all played a crucial part in winning the group stage of the tournament. The schedule saw all three finals (5th v 6th, 3rd v 4th and 1st v 2nd) all go to running penalties; testament to the excellent standard of play on display.

Our final against Strathallan school was no exception with the final score one goal apiece after a great goal from Lexie. After three running penalties from Fern, Martha and Lexie which resulted in another (some amazing saves from Goalkeeper Lower Fifth Academy player Melissa S too!) it moved onto sudden death!

Such a close final, but eventually Kilgraston scored a silver medal place. Our opposition teams named Lexie as their player of the match and the player of the day went to Melissa S who has stepped into the 1st XI team halfway through the season following an injury in the squad. Such an exciting group of players who can’t wait until next season!

Well done and thank you to all involved.

Mrs Ferry, Head of PE

Perform in Perth 2023 results

Perform in Perth, the annual festival of music, speech and dance, has taken place at venues around Perthshire. Each year around 2,800 performers take part in the two week festival which runs in March with Kilgraston having a strong presence in a number of classes.

The Junior Years’ pupils worked hard, with some rehearsing with their teachers since Christmas and the effort and dedication have paid off with armfuls of merits, trophies and medals being won. In the first week, our Junior Years participants were excited to take part in the speech classes. Pupils took part in poetry and Bible reading classes last week. They spoke eloquently and added expression, tone and facial expressions when reciting poems. We celebrated great success. Frieda came first with her extremely expressive rendition of ‘Grudges’ by Judith Nicoll, with Ceola in second and Beatrix and Lucy in joint third.

William also came first in his poetry class, followed closely by Stella in second place and Tallulah and Gigi in joint third. In Bible reading, we celebrated further success with Lochie in second place and Minnie in third in the 9-10 year old category.

The younger pupils also read beautifully with Sabria first and Ceola and Luciana joint second. In our final class of the day, Heidi came first with her fantastic performance of ‘Watch Your French’ by Kit Wright with Charlie coming in a close second.

Then it was the turn of the Junior Years choirs. The Junior School Choir, who performed ‘A Whole New World’ and ‘The Bare Necessities’, were First Class winners and won the Perthshire Church Choir Union Shield. The Early Years Choir received a Merit Award for their beautiful versions of ‘Spring Song’ and ‘Flat As A Pancake’.

Across both Senior and Junior Schools a number of individual pupils along with the Ceilidh Band enjoyed success in classes ranging from Gaelic and Scots songs, musical theatre and opera to instruments including violin, viola and recorder.

Upper Four’s Erin won two classes (unaccompanied folk song and accompanied lullaby) and came second in the Disney songbook class. She was also awarded a silver medal for the folk song class. A special mention also to Lower Third’s Florence and Georgiana who won their duo recorder class at Perform in Perth on Monday, and have been practising with Mrs Stewart since the beginning of the year.

A huge well done to everyone who took part. Here are all our results below.