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Issue 31

elcome to the 31st edition of Larbert Link and a very

warm welcome back to the new session to all of our
young people and their families, particularly if you are
joining our school community for the first time. The Larbert
Link will keep you informed on all thats happening within
Larbert High and Im very grateful to the talented team of
young people who produce this publication with the support
of Mr Dunne, it is greatly appreciated.

This session started very positively with some excellent news for
all of our young people who were nervously awaiting SQA
exam results over the summer. However, there need not have
been any nerves as the results our young people produced this
year were superb maintaining outstanding results from the
last few years and reaching new, record heights in some
measures. We expect that we will be amongst the top forty
schools in Scotland (from over 400) for our results in S5 and we
have exceeded the local and national figures in all measures.
When you couple this with our lowest ever levels of exclusion
and some of our highest ever attendance rates, we really are in
a good position young people attending school, behaving
well and achieving first-class results. Thank you to everyone
who helped with this particularly our parents who provided
much-needed support at home.
We were very excited to welcome everyone back following the
holidays (especially our new S1!) and it was also a great
pleasure to welcome our thirty-one new members of staff. A
mixture of permanent appointments, probationers in their first
year of teaching or staff who are joining our Cluster team for
PE and Music (were piloting a project in Falkirk to enhance the

Dressing to imPRESS:
Link scoops top
national award!
During May we heard that the Larbert Link was shortlisted for
three awards at the imPRESS Scottish Schools Media award Best Original Photography, Inspirational Teacher (for Miss
MacGowan) and Scottish Schools Newsletter of the Year.
Four of the pupils involved in the creation of the Larbert Link Kirsty Gardiner, Cody Izatt, Annabelle McLaren and Bailey
Stewart, along with Mr Dunne and Miss MacGowan, went to
Dynamic Earth in Edinburgh to the award ceremony. In the end
we scooped the prestigious title of Scottish Schools Newsletter of
the Year 2014! A big thank you goes out to everyone who has
helped the Link get to this point:
Senior Editors Kirsty Gardiner and Jordan Allan
Journalists Annabelle McLaren, Cody Izatt, Bailey Stewart, Iain
Tannahill, Sarah Dobson, Zahra Javid and Richenda Rae.
Photography Simona Minchella

Nov 2014

delivery of these subjects and aid curricular

transition in our cluster schools), I know they have all been
warmly welcomed and impressed by what they have seen so far
and are really getting involved in the life of the school. Id also
like to congratulate David Nairn in our Maths department who
has been promoted to Principal Teacher in another authority.
David has made an excellent contribution and will be sorely
missed by all of us.
As always, there is a lot happening and you can see what well
be working on in our Improvement Plan (a summary version is
available on the website). Were really excited about the
launch of our Leadership Academy for pupils in S1-6 (our way
of increasing pupil voice and involvement in the school), our
focus on Health & Wellbeing (promoting mental, emotional,
social and physical health in our young people), the 70 extracurricular clubs and activities on offer this year (our highest
ever number) and our new Pupil Leadership Team will shortly
launch this years Captains Challenge.
Please keep in touch with us. The website (larberthigh.com) is
updated several times a week, follow us on Twitter
(@LarbertHigh) or send us an email
(larberthighschool@falkirk.gov.uk). Were here to support all
of our young people achieve their very best and if something
isn't right, then well do our best to fix it. Equally, let us know
what youre pleased about so we can further build on it.
In the meantime, enjoy reading this edition of the Link. I look
forward to seeing all of you in the coming weeks and months.
Thanks for your support.
Best Wishes
Jon Reid, Rector.

Around the Corridors

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MUSIC

NOTES

The Ass
o
Schools ciated Board
After seven weeks
o

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in
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ba
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examin f Music (ABR f the Royal
holidays, schoo
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t
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s bo
charity
but with some changes.
based in ard and regis
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tered
music e
London
rriages, bir
xa
Apart from the usual ma ucture of
world. minations at , which provid
str
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the
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me
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and
of the b RSMs emplo hools around s
ed; Larbert
y
the
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s
the timetable has chang
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,
are
and
of year
a 33 period
s of exp together hav the best
High is now running on
y
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ert mus
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ubt alread
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week. As you will no do
ABRSM has higher ex l experience. s
g three
vin
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know
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at
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an that class
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These extra periods me
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lations colours! A m nd
teachers can optimize
V
assive
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er to
have with the class in ord ulum For
her Gra n (S4) who no Rachel
rric
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incorporate the new Cu
with ex e 3 examinatio only passed
exams.
tr
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Excellence content and
and Ma a merit. Betha , but did so
t
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passed
Most pupils love the cha
their G cCulloch (S3) a ll (S2)
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give the opportunity to
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or personal
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study.
Ryan Traynor

RMPS
In September, a group of pupils studying RMPS at higher
level got the chance to visit the Samye Ling Buddhist temple
near the borders, one of the largest Buddhist temples in
Western Europe. It was an excellent opportunity for pupils to
learn more about Buddhism and to see what real life is like
for a Buddhist. The pupils took a tour of the impressive
temple and its grounds, and also got the chance to try
meditation! They then got the chance to talk to some

page 2

Music to the
Kelpies Ears
To some, the Helix Park is
just
place to relax, have fun and a great
spend time
with friends. To others it ma
rks just how
much of an impact we can
all make if we
set our minds to it turnin
g a derelict
piece of ground into one of
Falkirks
busiest attractions. You mig
ht even see it
as a great project, used to
uni
smaller communities around te sixteen
a more close-knit community Scotland into
your view, we can all agree . Whatever
that The Helix
has benefitted the commu
nity in a massive
way.
At the Link we like to acknow
who go the extra mile to hel ledge those
p
communities in any way the their local
y
why we would like to acknowcan. Thats
violinists Darcie Izatt (S4) and ledge the
Daniel
Dickson (S2) as well as the
per
masters Stuart Jones (forme cussion
r S6) and
Sophie Livingston (S4) for
their truly
amazing efforts in relation
to
ceremony of the Helix Park. the opening
The four are
an integral part of the wo
rkin
Helix orchestra, and are the g of the
embodiment
of Larberts musical excelle
nce.
Jordan Allan

Buddhists and
monks who lived at the temple and were given the
opportunity to ask questions. This trip seemed to be very
popular amongst the group of pupils who went and allowed
them to develop their knowledge of the Buddhism topic as
part of the higher course. The trip was very successful and
many pupils commented that they were surprised to see a
place as remarkable as Samye Ling right here in Scotland.
SEONAID RAE

LARBERTlink - Nov 2014

ARTS WORKSHOP

Larbert High pupils have been on the road, taking Arts workshops on a tour of our cluster primaries. After the workshop at
Kinnaird, the staff were so impressed that the pupils were invited back to lead a Commonwealth ceilidh.

Lets dance!

h pupils Kirsty
In Spring 2014, two Larbert Hig
(S5) took part in the
lker
Gardiner (S6) and Megan Wa
est UK. The girls
ntF
Tale
n,
itio
national dance compet
school, Broadway
competed through their dance
a group of 16 ranging in
School of Performing Arts, in
National Finals in 6
ages from 7-17 and reached the
ol. This means
scho
the
categories with 9 acts from
travel to
to
nity
ortu
opp
that the girls have the
have the
and
e,
pet
com
to
ber
tem
Blackpool in Sep
as Adam
such
als
fession
possibility to meet industry pro
, receive
win
y
the
if
,
and
,
Garcia, Duncan James, Marlon
x!
the awards from Joey Esse
d the final of the
As well as this, Megan reache
isation section, fighting
rov
Pineapple dance studio imp
larship to their summer
for the chance to receive a scho
1st, Kirsty found heard
programme. And on August
of only six people in the
shed been shortlisted as one
This awards people for
.
UK for the Inspiration Award
ritable purpose. Their
cha
a
using Performing Arts for
been shortlisted as Best
teacher Adele Wallace has also
ievement with thousands
Teacher. This is a massive ach
petition from all over!
of competitors entering the com
!
Well done to everyone involved

Captains 2014-15

After the success of last years captains and prefects a new set of
leaders have been chosen to follow in their footsteps. The new
Leadership Academy System has been formed to allow pupils to
develop the leadership qualities essential for day to day life and
to gain responsibility. After a very tough selection process
involving over one hundred sixth year pupils, Larbert Highs new
S6 Leaders, 32 Leadership Captains, 9 House Captains, 2 Vice
captains and 2 School captains have been chosen.
Congratulations to you all!
This year the Captaincy team involves:
Lisa Carlow and Grant Walker School Captains
Kirsty Gardiner and Fraser Steel Vice Captains
Hannah Busby, Christopher Inglis and Kerry Logan Lewis House
Captains
Michael Hills,
Richenda Rae and
Claire Williamson
Harris House
Captains
Jamie Macintosh,
Abigail Meason and
Jack Thomson Skye
House Captains
Annabelle McLaren

Sharlie Gilchrist

LARBERTlink - Nov 2014

page 3

Commonwealth Gold!

On the 17th of September 2014, Larbert High School

had a very special visitor: Eilidh Child

Eilidh Child is a Scottish track and field athlete who

specialises in the 400 metres hurdles. She represented
Great Britain at the 2012 Olympic Games in London
and holds the Scottish record for the 400 metres
hurdles with 54.22 sec.
Eilidh came into the school for the day and done some
micro sessions which involved practices involving
running and the hurdles with chosen P7s, Elite
Athletes and also people who were chosen from the
School of Sport for good behaviour.

Not so Trashy Olympic Team Talk

The average human being produces one and a half
tonnes of waste every year. Seventy five per cent of
this is recyclable, but our species only manages to
reuse thirty per cent. Often we dont realise how
much of an impact our efforts can make recycling
just one aluminium can save enough energy to listen
to a full album on your iPod, and recycling one
hundred cans could save enough to light your
bedroom for two weeks.
On Friday the 5th of September S5 and S6 pupils
gathered in the assembly hall for a completely
different kind of talk. The pupils were shown the
documentary, Trashed as part of a local Reduce,
Reuse, Recycle programme, in an effort to kerb the
global problems which start right here, at home. The
documentary, presented by Hollywood actor Jeremy
Irons, told the terrifyingly true tale of how all of our
actions are killing our planet. The truly moving
documentary told the story from beginning to end
encompassing many different issues, such as the cost
of our lifestyles to potential alternatives and ways
forward.

On the 22nd of September, Paralympic gold medal

winner Naomi Riches visited Larbert High School to
speak to senior pupils. In her presentation, she
explained the difficulties of being visually impaired
and how she overcame these to become a world
champion rower for Great Britain. Drawing on her
experiences from rowing as part of a team of four at
the Beijing and London Paralympics, she inspired and
motivated the pupils to feel as if they could also reach
their goals. After her main presentation, Naomi held a
small session with the captaincy team to speak about
team work and how to plan for success. Naomi, who
also has a degree in Jewellery and Metalworking and
an MBE, has now retired from full time sport to
motivate others after a dedicated career of driving
the development of Para-Rowing.
Richenda Rae

All Larbert pupils have the ability to make a

difference; we can start by doing our bit at home,
and can continue that during our time at school by
recycling responsibly and also by joining the eco
committee.
Jordan Allan

page 4

LARBERTlink - Nov 2014

LEWIS POWERS AHEAD

S2 pupil Lewis Simpson (SA2) continues his astonishing run of

karate success, silver in the JKS European Championships in
Copenhagen, Bronze in the junior kumite championships at
Meadowbank and Gold, Silver and Bronze in team and individual
events in the JKS Ireland Open Championships. Hes been in
training over the summer with world champions in England,
Scotland and Belgium, and has been selected to compete in the
World championships in South Africa next year.
Despite this busy schedule, Lewis also finished the Scottish
Bikeathon, 26 miles in 2 hours 13 minutes, raising a total of 1680
for leukaemia and lymphoma research.

Cycle Friendly
Secondary School Camp
A group of senior pupils applied for a 3000 grant which would
help them take forward a new initiative in school which would
promote cycling. The Larbert High group were successful with
their new concept and will receive the grant of 3000 shortly. In
addition to this they
were all were invited to
a five day residential
camp during the
October break. During
the camp the pupils
worked with and were
supported by experts
and experienced tutors
from Cycling Scotland
to develop their ideas
into an action plan. The
group also got a chance
to deliver Bikeability
Awards, Go MTB session
and participated in a
cycle maintenance
course. Having
returned from the camp
the pupils are going to
launch their new
initiative soon to the
whole school.

LARBERTlink - Nov 2014

To See or Not to See?

Its once more that time of year - the Shakespeare

Schools Festival is back once again and Larbert High is
taking part for the second time.

After the success of the schools adaptation of

Shakespeares Romeo and Juliet at the Festival last
year, the school is aiming for another success this year,
this time with The Winters Tale. This time around, the
production is being headed up by Miss Buckley and Mr
Gibb and consists of a cast of fifteen pupils from S3
through to S6.
The Winters Tale tells the story of Leontes, the King of
Sicilia, who accuses his wife, Hermione, of having an
affair with, and carrying the child of, the visiting King
of Bohemia, Polixenes. Hermione is banished from the
kingdom and gives birth to a daughter, Perdita, while in
exile. Hermione dies and Perdita is left in Bohemia,
where she is raised by a shepherd. Sixteen years later,
Perdita has fallen in love with Florizel, the son of
Polixenes, but the King forbids the relationship, so the
couple flee to Sicilia, where it is eventually discovered
that Perdita is actually the daughter of Leontes.
The Festival will take place on the 11th of November in
the Falkirk Town Hall, where Larbert High will perform
alongside several other schools from the Falkirk area.
Tickets will be on sale soon. If interested in buying one,
Miss Buckley in the English Department will have all the
details.
SHARLIE GILCHRIST

page 5

BRING ON THE BATON

On Tuesday 24th June, Larbert High pupils were lucky
enough to be a part of a number of celebrations
taking place in the school to mark the passing of the
Queens baton relay through Larbert. PE teacher, Miss
Macgowan and former pupils Connor Cloughley and
Meghan Plummer were the baton bearers and they
got a big cheer from the crowds as pupils from all the
local schools lined the route. The baton made its way
from Bellsdyke Road to Muirhall Road onto Larbert
Main Street then to Kirk Avenue and finally to
Carrongrange Road. Celebrations just like took place
all over the UK to prepare for the Commonwealth
Games, which, of course, were held in Glasgow this
summer.
After the excitement of the baton passing, more
games and activities were taking place all over the
school. To start with there was music from our DJs and
the school band, Rising Pacific. Karate and Judo
shows were also taking place, on the main stage. The
day was jam-packed with shows and activities, with
our LHS School of Dance and rugby performing, as
well as a short performance from ex-pupil Dionne
Hickey. The local primary schools also joined in on the

action with dancing and gymnastics being exhibited by

pupils from Carronshore, Airth and Stenhousemuir
primaries. Pupils were then lucky enough to be able to
watch and join in with performances from NRG dance
school and the cast of Fame.
If pupils fancied a quieter afternoon they were able to
take part in many arts and craft activities that were
taking place in the Max. James McInally was working
with pupils to create one-off Commonwealth
sculptures using traditional canvas arts techniques.
Pupils could then make a puppet of their own with
Elspeth Murray in a hands on workshop that allowed
them to bring their puppet to life. Pupils were also
able to create their own street art with Chris Young.
Face painting was very popular with pupils getting the
chance to have their favorite flag painted on their face
for free. Cupcake decorating also went down well and
the queue was right down the Max for this activity all
day! Overall the day was a great success and was run
smoothly thanks to help from the new S6 pupils in the
Leadership academy.
By Kendall Brown

Biology Challenge
Last year, 29 S3 pupils from Larbert High School took part
in the Society of Biology Challenge. The aim of the
Challenge is to encourage an interest in Biology beyond
the school curriculum and stimulate curiosity in the natural
world. This National challenge involves as many pupils as
possible across Scotland, England, Wales and Northern
Ireland. Questions were set on the school curriculum but
the Biology Challenge also rewards those students whose
knowledge of the subject has been increased by reading
books and magazines, watching natural history
programmes, taking notice of the news media for items of

page 6

biological interest, and are generally aware of our natural

flora and fauna.
5 pupils were recognised by the Society of Biology for their
excellent achievements within the challenge. Rebecca
Ferguson achieved a silver award with Emily Henderson,
Holly Marshall, Gavin Kane and Isla Slater all achieving a
bronze certificate. These were presented by the Rector, Jon
Reid at a School Assembly.
Photographs by S4 Photography Pupil Jon Dixon.

LARBERTlink - Nov 2014

!
F
F
O
E
K
A
B
T
R
E
B
R
A
L
T
A
E
THE GR

The Health and Wellbeing Faculty have hosted a Giant

Afternoon Tea Party and Bake Sale for Macmillan
Cancer Support raising the handsome sum of 433.
Senior Cupcake Enterprise made boxes of Cupcakes to
sell to staff at Halloween. They received a huge 36
orders!
MISS J WELSH

STAR OF THE SCREEN

S1 pupil Leah Faulks (SD2) entered the CITV Share a Story competition in
April last year. For the competition she had to submit a storyboard alongside
a single side story.
Leahs story The Crocodile Trap was selected to be one of 8 stories to be
made into a short animation. To complete the animation she got to visit CITV
studios in Manchester to discuss her work with the animators. During the day
they got to see animators work on Compost Corner, watch and present the
weather, and do the voice over for their own story with Mark Silk- the voice
of Scooby Doo. As it was decided Leahs story would be animated with
puppets she had an extra trip to studios in Birmingham where she got to see
the puppets and was shown how the animation was made.

SAVING LIVES
EVERY DAY

On October 10th, Larbert High School Media pupils worked

with ASDA to create an advert highlighting cycle safety
and the dangers posed by large vehicles, ably assisted by
the LHS cycling
club. The
advertisement
campaign is
intended to
reinforce the
message that
HGVs and bikes
safely sharing
the road needs
common sense
and care.

LARBERTlink - Nov 2014

DRAMA IN ACTION

LHS Higher Drama pupils attended a performance of Kill

Johnny Glendenning by D.C. Jackson at Glasgows Citizens
Theatre and thoroughly enjoyed the
experience!
The play is a murderous
comedy of the Glasgow
underworld, taking aim at
the tabloid celebrity and
macho glamour of the
gangster life.
After the show there was the
opportunity to stay for a
post-show talk where pupils
not only had the chance to
direct questions at all actor and director but D.C. Jackson
himself. Pupils asked extremely insightful question gaining
impressive answers that will help pupils to write their
Performance Analysis section of the Higher Drama exam.

page 7








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event not only showcased the industry at its very best but
also linked directly to Curriculum for Excellence and in
particular, Skills for Learning, Life and Work.
Every S3 pupil (nearly 320 in total) was able to participate in
a series of skills challenges including Practical Cookery; Table
Service; Spa Services; Barista skills, Housekeeping and
Marketing and HR sessions, to name but a few!
Throughout the day, there were talent spotters on the
lookout for some of our most promising future stars and
there were some fantastic prizes on offer! The winners were:

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Jason Fullerton who
won the top prize from
Premier Inn for
Hospitality star of the
Future - Jason won A
King Size Hypnos Divan
Premier Inn Bed, worth
over 1000!
All the Prize Winners
are pictured below.

Young Carers
Group: Latest news

Congratulations to all the young

carers who took part in raising
money by selling raffle tickets.
The pupils raised an excellent 80
which will help the young carers
group going forward this year.
The top three sellers were:
Robbie Snedden
Claire Dickie
Hannah Borthwick
The lucky prize winners were
Mrs MacKenzie
Mr Millar
Mr Meikle
Mr Dunne
Hannah Borthwicks gran
Well done to all the young carers
and congratulations to the prize
winners. A big thank you to those
who donated prizes: B+Q,
Westend Art Gallery, McDonalds,
Megazone and the staff at
Larbert High School.
On 27th October the Young
Carers enjoyed an afternoon of
Ice Cream and Bowling. A trip to
the Milk Barn for some delicious
ice cream was followed by a
competitive game of bowling in
which there were some great
scores!!

page 8

LARBERTlink - Nov 2014

Printed and Designed by Falkirk Printworks Tel: 01324 501490 Fax: 01324 501491

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Wt partnership with some of
the leading names in the
Hospitality Industry
including, Marriott, Apex
Hotels, Premier Inn, Baxters
Story and Chartwells.