St Aidan’s High

Nov 19 2008 by Jean Ward, Wishaw Press

Bishop Devine came to St Aidan’s High School on November 6 to answer a variety of questions tabled by the S6 pupils.

These questions covered topics under the banners of moral, biographical, political and ecclesiastical. Bishop Devine was warmly welcomed by staff and pupils. Everyone appreciated the Bishop’s enthusiasm, knowledge, honesty and warmth. Father Kevin McGoldrick, school chaplain, did a wonderful job in conducting the proceedings on the day.

This week saw the fifth annual Kilbowie Art and Design exhibition taking place in Cumbernauld Town Hall.

This is a showcase of the work pupils from schools all over North Lanarkshire, completed at the week-long residential course. They were selected to attend at the end of June. Our two pupils Matthew Russell and Kerryn Steel attended the exhibition along with family, staff from the art department and Mrs Galloway PT pspil Support. The evening started with an address from Christine Pollock, executive director of learning and leisure services and finished with the guest speaker Keith Miller, architect and former pupil of St Aidan’s High. It was an excellent evening and a fantastic way for the pupils and their family to conclude the Kilbowie experience.

St Aidan’s second and third year girls netball team finished runners-up in the North Lanarkshire Netball Festival at Airdrie Sports Centre. The girls’ play improved tremendously as the tournament progressed with their best results coming in their final two games. The girls won their game against St Margaret’s 3-1 in what was a very skilful match in which the defences for both teams were very effective in breaking down the oppositions attack. Rachel Brown, who normally plays in the attacking circle, was asked to play goal keeper and was fantastic at intercepting passes and marked her opponents out of the game. All of the girls played very well and were delighted to finish in second place after a closely contested match with the eventual winners. The team was Rebecca Gallagher, Rachel Duddy, Lori Ann Slavin, Lucy Boyle, Julie Dobbin, Nicola Welsh, Sarah McKenna and Rachel Brown.

On Monday, November 10, St Aidan’s qualified for the North Lanarkshire Gold Netball League. Despite finding little time to practice due to a heavy school workload the girls managed to draw matches with St Margaret’s and the team from Braidhurst. Over the past years the girls have shown great commitment to the sport of netball and the improvement in their skill level is tremendous. Caitlin and Nicola are a great defensive team monopolising all rebounds. The centre court of Rebecca, Amy and Maryann has great energy and vitality whilst Rachel and Danielle had the best shooting average of all the teams at the festival. Well done to all of the girls.

Every available rehearsal area is booked well in advance as over 50 of our students and many staff are preparing for Stars in Your Eyes. Miss Sam Sweeney of the music department is once more organising this event which takes place on November 26 and 27. Out of the many acts to audition for a place in the concert 13 acts have made it through including 3 staff acts. Miss Sweeney is thrilled with the way the pupils have taken the responsibility of making sure their act will be ready for the big night. The X-Factor panel of judges have been invited once again to comment on each performance. Tickets will be available soon from Miss Claire O’Neill of the ICT department.

The under-15 team recently played against Larkhall Academy in the Lanarkshire League and won 2-0. The goal scorers were Stephen MacFarlane and Kieran Ward, who kicked the ball from the centre line where it dropped from a great height into the goal. Well done, boys.

The annual Christmas Concert will take place on the December 15 and the Pensioners’ Concert on December 16.

BISHOP’S VISIT: deputy head Dominic Kennedy, Bishop Devine, head teacher Anthony Rooney and Father Kevin McGoldrick are pictured on the left with some pupils during the Bishop’s visit to St Aidan’s High.