Moncreiffe Care Home Halloween Party
Thank you to those who volunteered to attend Moncreiffe Care Home’s Halloween party, great fun was had by all.
Miss Taylor
Embracing the iPad generation
The new Principal at Kilgraston School has this week launched an innovative pilot project that could eventually lead to every pupil learning by using an iPad.
“Today in education we’re seeing a step change in the usefulness of technology in lessons,” said Frank Thompson who came to the Bridge of Earn school in the summer from Derbyshire. “In preparing our girls for the modern world, we want to embrace this change.”
Mr Thompson explained that the pilot project involves giving iPads initially to a small number of teachers and pupils.
“Staff need time to become familiar and confident with the devices as well as sharing good practice with their colleagues. I’m delighted to say they have responded enthusiastically to the project and are totally behind it.”
He insists the new technology will fundamentally change the way pupils learn at Kilgraston, the UK’s Independent School of the Year.
“The iPad has huge potential in the classroom because it can bring learning alive through touch, sound and vision. It can be a science lab, a history archive, an art canvas, a music studio, a library and a personal organiser.
“The iPad will help staff to engage and inspire our girls. Over the years technology has served us well – from blackboards to whiteboards and computer suites - but iPads now bring that engagement to a very personal level. Pupils can now find different ways to learn to meet their own needs plus getting the chance to explore concepts that interest them in far more depth beyond the bounds of a textbook.
“In particular, educational apps can make a huge contribution. Every teacher will be able to explore which apps will work best for their subject. With careful planning, apps can really enhance lessons. The fact that they can be instantly turned on and off means that you can get straight to what you want to do with your pupils online and just as quickly move on. It’s an incredibly time-efficient way of using technology and it can be used equally well outdoors as indoors; no more time is wasted booking the IT suite.
“For example, my daughters have an excellent astronomy app on their iPads. It’s superb for stargazing and helps you locate an almost endless amount of planets, constellations, galaxies and star clusters in the night sky. So you can actually see on the screen where the Moon is in relation to Jupiter and Pluto, and as you rotate, it rotates – that’s far more immediate, informative and fun than a textbook.”
Mr Thompson said the iPad will really come into its own in the school’s new £1m Science Centre which will open next year.
“We have a large number of girls here who are keen to study the sciences. So for example, they can use their iPads to access the periodic table of elements which comes alive to show chemical symbols, atomic numbers, electron shell configuration – even molecules in 3D.
“Our pupils need twenty-first century skills for the modern world and I believe the future of education lies in gifted, inspirational teachers and motivated students with access to tools and resources like the iPad.
“At Kilgraston, we have a reputation for being sector-leading and we intend to maintain that position by using this new technology wisely and safely.”
Our pic shows Kilgraston pupil Corina Leslie (10) from Glenfarg with her iPad.
A run with a view
Congratulations to David Hunter of our Maintenance Team who finished 11th out of over 3,000 runners in the Baxters Loch Ness Marathon. A stunning result in an equally stunning setting, well done from us all at Kilgraston.
Equestrian photo shoot
Adrian Sinclair of Sinclair Photography has taken beautiful images of all things equestrian here at Kilgraston. If you wish to order images or simply browse the gallery then please visit the Sinclair Photography website here, select ‘Equestrian-shoots’ followed by the Kilgraston gallery and enter the password: kilgra5ton
Here are a selection of shots from the day:
"Superheroes" win Red Cross award
SIX of our girls are “superheroes” after winning a prestigious British Red Cross award in London.
The girls won the Community Action category in the Red Cross’s annual Humanitarian Citizen Awards at the weekend.
The awards celebrate the contribution that young individuals and groups make to the lives of others. The inspiring finalists, all aged 25 and under, gathered at the award ceremony at the capital’s Bishopsgate Institute.
The award categories – for first aid, community action, volunteering and fundraising – recognise the many different ways in which young people can make a difference.
This year, there were one hundred and six entries from around the country which were whittled down to a shortlist of thirty-four.
The Kilgraston girls – Sophie Aird, Phoebe Choi, Ruth Faherty, Phoebe Reilly, Ola Tkacz and Anna Wylie - formed The Kilgraston Action Group for their International Humanitarian Law and Child Soldiers Action Project.
The 13 and 14-year-olds set up the group after learning about International Humanitarian Law and child soldiers in their Social Studies class. Their year group hosted Red Hand Day in school and delivered an assembly, gathered hand prints, wrote letters to politicians and ran a peer education session.
Their teacher, Ms Alisa King, said: “I am very proud of the girls and they are a credit to the school. They are so committed to the project and responsible and thoughtful in their actions.
“Winning their category was a wonderful surprise. I had nominated them for all their hard work and am delighted for them.
“The stories of the other nominees in all the categories were amazing and in many cases heart-rending. Nominations are taken from all areas of humanitarian work, not just that carried out on behalf of the Red Cross. In many cases there were acts of outstanding individual courage and compassion.”
Gary Mountain, British Red Cross Accreditation and Recognition Co-ordinator for Young People, said: “There was a fantastic selection of entries this year – all of them young people who have really made a difference in others’ lives.
“All those who attended this year’s award ceremony were touched in some way by these inspiring young superheroes. It shows how young people can truly make a difference and have a huge impact in their own communities and beyond.”
The girls have entered their project in a second contest - the British Red Cross Justice and Fairness Competition and have made it through to the final five teams. They will travel to London again in November to present their project to the judges and participate in a rigorous question and answer session.
A winning beginning
On the 3rd of October the Under 10’s netball team played St Leonards-New Park. For some of the girls this was their first ever game against another school. The final Score? They WON 8 – 2 with Alex Brattesani scoring all 8!
Thank you to Katrina Seatter for taking the team and well done to the girls.
Flora flourishes
Flora Wilson in Primary 7 has become the sixty-second winner of a top Perthshire horse-riding trophy. She came first in the Cross Country event hosted by Strathearn Pony Club at Bachilton Farm, Methven.
All competitors had to jump a 2ft 6 course and for her efforts Flora (11), from Perth, won the Andrew Drummond Moray Cup which has been awarded to winners of the event since 1950.
Head of the Prep School Kathryn Ebrahim said: “Flora is a talented girl who excels in so many areas and we are delighted that she has achieved this remarkable feat.”
David Hunter: Braemar Half Marathon winner!
Here is David Hunter (Kilgraston Maintenance) on his way to winning 1st place in the Braemar Half Marathon on Sunday 9th September 2012. He completed the race in 1 hour 18 mins,14secs and lead from start to finish.
Congratulations from all at Kilgraston.
London 2013, David?
A British Champion!
Rebecca Norval had a very successful and busy weekend competing at the British Equestrian Vaulting Championships held at Bishop Burton College, England.
She competed in the Junior Individual 14-18 class and after sitting a very close 2nd after the first day was pipped into taking 3rd,(7.122) just .001 behind 2nd and 0.2 behind first. In the Intermediate Team class she competed for SEVT(Scottish Equestrian Vaulting Team) taking 1st place and awarded the title of ‘British Champion’. Rebecca (along with her partner Andrew) also competed in the Pas de Deux, again taking 1st and awarded the title ‘British Champions’. Congratulations, Rebecca - a truly fantastic performance.
Images below
Programming at the prep
Thirty pupils at Bridge of Earn’s Kilgraston School have been introduced to the hi-tech world of robots.
Employees from computer giant IBM delivered a robotics masterclass to the girls, giving them an idea of what a future career in the world of computers might be like.
Head of Prep Kathryn Ebrahim explained: “The girls were shown how to design and build robots which led to them using a computer programme to instruct the robots to perform various tasks.
“The girls worked in small teams with a dedicated leader from IBM for the duration of the day. This allowed them to work with people with whom they would not normally be partnered and develop new working relationships.
“There were three main tasks to complete during the day. The first was to programme the robot to travel a short distance in a straight line. Once each team had successfully programmed and tested their robot, the teams came together to race them. The whole Prep School watched with great excitement as the robots battled their way to first place!
“The second task involved re-programming the robot to travel forwards to a certain point before reversing to the start and coming into contact with a balloon. The robots had been furnished with “javelins” in the form of cocktail sticks with which to burst the balloon.
“The final task was a real challenge. The teams had to write a computer programme to make the robot work within a circle and the robot’s task was to push plastic cups and balls out of the circle.
“Amidst all this, each team had to prepare and present a Powerpoint presentation explaining their experiences during the day. Prizes were awarded for the robot scoring the most points throughout the day and also for the team which had worked together the best.”
Kilgraston Principal Frank Thompson said: “The girls thoroughly enjoyed the day which was really inspirational. Not only did they learn about computing but they also developed excellent teamwork skills and gained confidence in an area that was new to them.”
Our picture shows Kilgraston pupils Minty Gow, Rania Macleod, Isla Leslie and Lucy Smith with IBM’s Kevin McRitchie.
Click on the picture to the right to see the photo gallery of that event.