Earlston High School

Ex-Earlston High School student Jack Lowden has landed the lead role “Cammy,” in the National Theatre of Scotland’s production of “Black Watch” this September. The twenty year-old student, is now currently in his third year at the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama.

Black Watch, set in the period of World War one, is based on the novel “ King of the Khyber Rifles ,” by Talbot Mundy . As a member of the British Army, Captain Donald King goes on a mission to India to rescue British Soldiers held prisoners, just as the war breaks out.

The Black Watch will play at the Scottish Exhibition and Conference Centre, Glasgow from 15 th September to 9 th of October 2010. The advanced English, drama and higher English classes are getting the chance to see the show in September, and there will also be a drama workshop offered by the National Theatre of Scotland for keen performers in the school.

Jack will be touring the UK, with two months of performances in the West End in London, in the Barbican Theatre from December to January. After this, he will set off to perform in America in places such as New York until the end of May. We wish him all the very best of luck.

As well as Jack, other ex-student stars from Earlston have been in the lime light in this year’s Edinburgh Fringe Festival: Vicki Manderson, Simon Donaldson, Jessica Leary and Elizabeth MacLean, showing off their exceptional talents.

It’s this time of year again! School show auditions are to be held this week for next years coming show: Hairspray. Senior choir will be performing music from the hit television series “Glee” at the Christmas concert. Get your singing voice ready- hurry up Gleeks!

On returning to Earlston High School after the summer, the corridors are not only full of slightly dazed looking new first year faces, but also some slightly dazed looking new teachers. Due to various changes, retirements and moves, this year a number of new members of staff have joined us, who we would like to welcome to the school and offer to them our best wishes.

Mrs Farnish, Miss Hogg, Miss Arrol (Maths) ; Miss Coleman, Miss McDougall (English); Mr Towill (Biology); Mr Burrell (Modern Studies); Mr Runciman, Miss Pate (PE)

The old Earlston High School tradition of vibrantly coloured jumpers for sixth year students has been brought back due to a popular demand from students. The decision was taken after sixth year pupils voted for coloured jumpers as opposed to the blue tie worn by the previous year. The higher visibility of sixth year students, in their light blue jumpers, has proved immensely elegant for students as well as useful to younger years to help distinguish the senior pupils, for help in the school.

At the end of term, EHS said goodbye to a number of teachers, one of which was Depute Headteacher, Mr David McLean. Three of us from the S6 press committee spent some time with Mr McLean on his last day and asked him a few questions about EHS, his time here and how he felt about leaving.

We asked him how he felt about leaving the school, to which he said he felt a “great sadness as [he comes] to the end of both [his] career and time at EHS.” Mr McLean started teaching 38 years ago in 1972 and 17 of those years have been spent at Earlston High School. He said that it’s been a long road which has changed him as a person for the better.

“History is still my first love” he told us and he recalled how he used his own drawing skills to interest the pupils and share his enthusiasm for History with them.

Despite his sadness at leaving, Mr McLean assures us he feels it’s time for him, personally, as things such as the new school project have come to a close and he is pleased to see how well everything is going. Mr McLean reminded us that “EHS is special, some staff and teachers may not realise this and perhaps take it for granted, but it is – it has that extra something that doesn’t come from our sports results, exam results and school rankings but us as people. We – you - have to work to keep it special.” And by telling us seniors that we “have to have the courage, some might say, to stand up for the school’s values and encourage other pupils to do so.” He informed us that he’s had a happy 17 years with the school, and if he had to say one piece of advice it would be “to be fair, always – to yourself and others.”

Once the interview came to a close, he left us with a final statement that we felt had to be shared:

“Value what we have here – look after yourselves.”

Congratulations go to our newly elected Heads of School. The team was voted for by their year group and staff at the end of term and are very excited about the year ahead. Head Boy is Andrew and Head Girl is Kate. To support them in their roles are Andrew as Depute Head Boy and Jessica as Depute Head Girl.

Already the four of them have been busy working alongside other sixth years to ensure the new first years find their way around this mammoth building. A large number of the seniors have also volunteered to act as a ‘buddy’ and have been visiting register classes to meet with their first year buddies.

Letters were issued last week to invite senior students and their parents to an information evening regarding university applications and uni-life. The Parent Council Sub Group organise the evening and it has become an annual event to help students and their parents understand what is involved in applying and going to university.

The evening is Thursday 2 September and the programme of speakers starts with an introduction from Mrs Morton at 7 o’clock. A representative from Edinburgh University will give some advice on how to apply and select courses and universities. After a coffee break, former pupils will share their experience of university and we are delighted to welcome them back to EHS. The audience will also have the chance to hear from parents of students about their experience.

This event links well to the UCAS assembly for sixth years on Friday 27 August, when Mrs McDonald will kick start the school’s UCAS programme and explain the school’s role in supporting students with their applications. It also ties in with the Higher Education Conference organised by Skills Development Scotland, which is held in Kelso on 2 September. All seniors intending to apply to Higher Education this year will attend the event.

Characters from fiction and history competed for survival at lunchtime on Tuesday. Plunging to the earth in a hot air balloon which was capable of carrying only one individual, the great figures of the world locked horns: who could convince us that they alone were worthy of survival?

Would it be Muhammad or Tinkerbell, John Muir or Sherlock Holmes? Would Lance Armstrong live to cycle again? Was this a stunt too far for Danny MacGaskill? Would Marie Curie convince us of her worth? Would it be oblivion for Margaret Thatcher, a quick end for Osama bin Laden or would the subtle Tortoise survive? Was it time for Martin Luther King to fly? Had the Mongolfier brothers had their day? Would Spongebob Squarepants go splat?

Ladies and gentleman, the debate would decide that not one of the above was deemed worthy. No, the only survivor of the Great Balloon Debate, the individual who surpassed all others, the figure whose contribution to humanity was voted most valuable, was none other than Thomas Billam’s Mr T.

Congratulations and thanks to all pupils and staff who took part in this. It was good fun and good practice too for the more demanding Even Greater Balloon Debate in November, when wondrous prizes will be at stake.

Students from S3 and S4 Hospitality were treated to a demonstration by a Quality Meat Scotland chef on the 16 June. Trevor prepared two dishes. The first was a ‘surf and turf’ dish: slow cooked teriyaki pork belly with lightly spiced prawns, pepperonata and sautéed new potatoes. The second dish was duo of scotch lamb: lamb neck centred with haggis and slow cooked breast, with petit pomme four and roast Mediterranean vegetables.

After this demonstration, the students were asked about steak and how they would usually like a stak cooked. They were then blindfolded and given some steak cooked differently form theuir usual choice. Those who selected ‘well done’, tasted the ‘rare’ and it was interesting that they couldn’t actually see the meat they all preferred the new taste!

The HE department would like to thank Quality Meat Scotland for a great demonstration.

As the summer approaches, the time has come to say farewell to last year’s press committee and to introduce this year’s. First of all, we would like to introduce our chairman Christy, who is helping to lead us through this coming year. Then there are the eight making up the rest of the motley crew. Starting from the back left: Ian, Tom, Jessica, Christy, Kate, Elliot, Jack and Euan.

In addition to the fervour surrounding the school show, the pupils of Earlston High school enjoyed an afternoon of seeking revenge upon outgoing teachers with copious volumes of water as part of the school’s annual Mangu mess day. Esteemed biology teacher Mr Smart organised the event with support from willing staff that were prepared to have a water-saturated sponge launched mercilessly toward their person, along with other teachers, less inclined to be soaked, and sixth year helpers. Alongside the water-filled shenanigans, ‘beat the goalie’ and other skill games took the interest of students as well as a cake and candy stall.

The day was complemented with lovely weather, much to the delight of the waterlogged teachers and trigger-happy students.

In all, the day was hailed as a ‘brilliant day’ raised £208 which will be donated to the Ghanaian town of Mangu as part of the ‘Friends of Mangu charity to help build Mangu junior secondary school.