November 2008

 

Dear Parents

 

It has been a very exciting term since our last newsletter and a great deal has happened.  You no doubt saw the coverage in the press of the opening of our Ambition Hall by Eddie Mair, BBC Radio 4 presenter and former pupil.  It was a happy occasion and Mr Mair seemed genuinely pleased to see what we have been doing over the last few years.  He toured the school and met staff who were here when he was a pupil, then unveiled the plaque.  It is now on the wall in the hall to commemorate the occasion.

 

Last week saw the annual Dundee Schools’ Focus on Achievement Awards in the Caird hall!  We won three major prizes:

            The Mackintosh Patrick Prize for Art – Sarah Finnegan

            Citizenship Award – Ross Strachan

            Dundee Schools Male Vocalist of the Year – Sean Crossan

Mums and Dads were there and we were all very proud.

 

This week we have had some wonderful news: our head boy, Scott Keillor, head girl Ashley Gorman, deputy head boy Scott Brown and deputy head girl Jennifer Mainds have been invited to join the Lord and Lady Provost on the Annual Dundee Christmas Walk which takes place in December in Alexandria Virginia USA which is our twin city.  What a tremendous honour for our pupils and the school!

 

Since our last newsletter there have been several changes in staffing.  As you know Mr Hutton has left us to be Head Teacher of Dumbarton Academy.  Mr McCallum has become Senior Depute Head.  Mrs Young is acting Depute Head and Mr Wallace is acting Principal Teacher of Guidance for Ballumbie House.  There will be some further changes as we hope to appoint a Business Manager in the near future and I will let you know the details in due course.

 

As the new term progresses we are moving into the time for parents’ meetings.  I hope you will all be able to come and we look forward to seeing you so that we can discuss your child’s progress with you and address any concerns you may have.

 

In the meantime do please contact us if we can help in any way or you have issues you wish to discuss with us.

                       

Mrs B M Hadcroft

Head Teacher

 

ENTERPRISE

 

As part of the SG Business Management course pupils will be undertaking a number of enterprising activities which will see products for sale on the following evenings.  Once again your support will be greatly appreciated and we look forward to your financial contributions in due course!

 

     Thursday 30 October 2008 - S4 Parents’ Evening

     Wednesday 12 November – S3 Parents’ Evening

     Tuesday 25 November – S5/6 Parents’ Evening

     Monday 1 December – P7 Open Evening

     Week Commencing Monday 15 December 2008 in school

 

 

 

 

 

Text Box: EURODISNEY

 

It is proposed to offer S1 to S3 pupils the opportunity to take part in a school trip to Euro Disney and Paris.  Information letters for parents have been issued. 

Text Box:

 

Should numbers permit this trip will take place between 24th to 29th May 2009. 

Additional copies of this letter are available from Miss Adam in the Business Studies Department.

 

 

MODERN LANGUAGES DEPARTMENT

 

Welcome to our Language assistants:

 

          Camille Pécastaings from Pau in France

          Delia Rhan from Karlsruche in Germany

 

 

 

CARS ON THE BRAE

 

As we move into the winter could I ask you please not to drive up the brae in the mornings to bring your child into school.  The staff have to bring their cars up the brae to the car park but other cars stopping at the top cause congestion and delays and this has led to accidents in the past.           

Mrs B M Hadcroft

Head Teacher

SPORTS CLUBS

 

Lunchtimes       Monday – Waterpolo and Girls Football

                        Tuesday – Learn to Swim & Netball

                        Thursday – Badminton

 

After School      Monday – Dance Leaders

                        Tuesday – Rugby S1/S2 & Girls Body Combat

                        Wednesday – Athletics & S3+ Rugby

                        Thursday – Basketball & Street Dance

 

PARENTS EVENINGS

 

S3                                Wednesday 12 November at 7.00pm

S5/S6                           Tuesday 25 November at 7.00pm

P7 Open Evening           Monday 1 December at 7.00pm

 

PRELIMS/SQA EXAMS 2009

 

S4 Prelims begin on 2 December 2008

S5/S6 Prelims begin on 2 February 2009

 

Supported Study for S3-S6 has already started and times will be published on our website/newsletter once numbers are finalised.  I am asking pupils what subjects they need additional support in and allocating staff accordingly.  If any parents have any preferences please e-mail me at school braeview@dundeecity.gov.uk.

 

Please note that SQA Exams run from Tuesday 5 May 2009 up to and including Friday 12 June 2009.  May I remind you that no pupil should be on holiday outwith normal school holiday time – dates are on the back of this newsletter.

 

 

BRAEVIEW LINKS WITH JAPAN

 

Over the summer period, Braeview Academy has begun to develop a link with the Education Authority of Hanamaki City in Japan.  The link began when Christopher McPherson (S6) was selected to participate in a visit to Japan at the start of the summer holidays.  Accompanied by Mr Wallace and pupils and staff from Anderson High School in Shetland, Chris spent ten days visiting schools and staying with a host family in Hanamaki.

 

 

 

 

 

The busy programme allowed the group to have a unique insight into a very different culture and way of life.  Daily lifestyle, routine, eating habits and the education system were all completely different to our own and the experience provided a huge personal development opportunity for the pupils involved. 

 

A particular highlight for Chris was learning about important Japanese customs, such as the revered Green Tea Ceremony.  This is an important occasion, during which a very particular set of procedures must be followed in the correct order.  Japanese pupils proved to be good teachers though as Chris was able to learn and perform the ceremony (as shown in the picture) and gained the respect of the locals.

 

 

This week saw the return leg of the tour, with five Japanese pupils and one teacher spending two nights in Dundee before going on to visit Shetland.  During their time with us, the five pupils spent a morning in Braeview touring the school and meeting Scottish pupils.  A highlight for them was a special Chemistry lesson during which Mr Sapeluk’s class teamed up with the Japanese students to develop practical skills. 

 

 

 

 

 

The delegation also met senior pupils in our library.  This proved to be an informative experience for all, and Danny Nicholson, of our S6, was keen to learn about Japanese culture and tradition. The picture shows Danny and Chigusa Sato, from Hanamaki Kita High School, pointing to Hanamaki on the globe.

 

It is hoped that the link with Japan will be extended next year to allow four Braeview pupils to visit Hanamaki next summer and Mr Wallace will talk to S5 & 6 pupils about this soon. 

 

 

COMPUTING DEPARTMENT TRIP TO

THE UNIVERSITY OF ABERTAY

 

A group of our S5/6 computing pupils were invited to visit the University of Abertay Computing department for the    afternoon of    Friday 26th September.  Dr Kenny MacAlpine showed pupils around the state of the art White Space facility. 

 

White Space opened in 2007 and is a thriving hub of activity, mixing the talents of broadcasters and artists.  Amongst other things pupils were allowed to use the sound recording studio to conduct a mock radio interview and listened to an informative talk about the computer games industry and the exciting courses offered by the University.

 

Celebrating Successful Learning Event

 

On Wednesday 12th November at 6.30 pm, for half an hour before the S3 Parents Meeting, there will be a ‘Celebrating Successful Learning’ event.

 

This will be an interactive and exciting evening to experience first-hand some of the lessons, resources, strategies and activities which are used to promote successful learning in Braeview.

 

It is hoped that this evening will encourage parents to become more involved in their child’s learning and feel more included in the partnership, ethos and achievement which is central to successful learning.

A wide variety of items will be available including, the use of ICT for learning, LTiD strategies, displays from a selection of the clubs pupils are involved in, information about latest policies which drive education nationally and here in Braeview, and much more.

 

Come and experience what it is like to be a pupil at Braeview Academy in the 21st Century.  See how much school has changed! Or how much it has stayed the same!

 

A letter will come out soon formally inviting you to this exciting event, but if you have any questions in the mean time please call the school and Miss Rayner (LTiD Support Teacher) will be more than happy to speak to you about this venture.