Argyll & Bute Community Services: News Archive

This page displays an achieve of recent news stories.

Bi-ennial Headteachers Conference hailed a success: The recent Headteachers conference in Oban has been hailed as a success by contributors and participants alike. Two days of creative thinking on the theme of 'imagine-invent-create' culminated in the unveiling of a conference website. The site contains the content of the bi-ennial as well as offering delegates a chance to reflect on the 'Big Questions' posed throughout the two days. The site will remain open for some time and the organisers would welcome further contributions and comments on any aspect of the conference. ...more


World Aids Day - 1st December:
In Scotland around 5,400 people are living with HIV and one third of them don't know they have it.
The UK theme for World AIDS Day 2009 will focus on the reality of HIV in the UK today. ...more


CLIMATE CHANGE RESOURCES AND ACTION: FREE RESOURCES FOR PRIMARY AND SECONDARY - CLIMATE CHANGE

The 10:10 campaign –

The 10:10 is an ambitious project to unite every sector of British society behind one simple idea: that by working together we can achieve a 10% cut in the UK’s carbon emissions in 2010.



Schools can register to join the 10:10 school's campaign and receive regular updates as the Copenhagen Climate Change Summit (7 December 2009) approaches with ideas and resources.

SECONDARY RESOURCES

The educational resource 'Stupid or not: Education for a smarter planet' can be obtained at no cost by schools that sign up to be part of 10:10 and pledge to try and reduce their carbon emissions in 2010.

PRIMARY RESOURCES



Primary schools that sign up will get a copy of our PowerDown climate change resource. The offer is limited to the first 1,000 schools that sign up so hurry to ensure you don't miss out!



EVENTS

The Wave:



Tens of thousands of people are going to be marching through London and Glasgow on 5th December to demonstrate support for a safe climate future for everyone.

 If you would like to organise a group from your school to march with Action Aid please email nicola.cadbury@actionaid.org to let them know.



You could hold a Wave solidarity event in your school. Why not make a short film of yourselves to join an online (Mexican) wave? Or ask everyone to dress up in blue, or paint their hands blue and gather everyone together to make a wave photo opportunity.

If you'd like media support for an event like this do get in touch - email Karen.garvin@actionaid.org.



...more


Health and Wellbeing News: Appointment of Curriculum for Excellence Co-ordinator (Health and Wellbeing), Morag McGinlay has been seconded from Hermitage Academy to support teachers and their schools in planning and preparing for the new curriculum. Her post will also focus on interdisciplinary learning, skills and assessment across learning.
Morag is based at the Colgrain Area Education Office and can be contacted on 01436 678635. ...more


Eco School Success at Lochgilphead Joint Campus: Congratulations to Lochgilphead Joint Campus who have achieved First Green Flag status as a joint campus. This has been the result of hard work and enthusiasm by pupils, parents and staff from all sectors of the joint campus.

This award makes Lochgilphead Joint Campus - secondary sector Argyll and Bute's leading Secondary Eco School.

Congratulations to all concerned. ...more


Early Years Partner Providers - First Eco Schools Green Flag: Congratulations to Badden Farm Nursery, Lochgilphead who have been awarded their First Green Eco Schools Scotland Flag on 10 September 2009. Badden Farm Nursery are Argyll and Bute's first Early Years Partner Provider to reach this level in the national Eco Schools Scotland Scheme. ...more


Building the Curriculum Four:
Building the Curriculum 4 aims to help all those who are involved in planning and delivering young people’s learning across all sectors and settings.

Published in 2009 by the Scottish Government, it sets out key messages about how children and young people develop and apply skills as part of Curriculum for Excellence, so as to bring about the transformational changes needed to improve the life chances of young people in Scotland.
...more


ARGYLL AND BUTE SHOWS OFF ITS YOUNG TALENT : Young people from around Argyll and Bute will showcase their creative talents at a major cultural event next month.

The Homecoming Rhapsody event is the hottest date in this year’s cultural calendar, and will be headlined by the latest up and coming names on the music, photography and fashion scenes.

The event is a celebration of young talent in Argyll and Bute and will take place on 28 and 29 October in Oban and Helensburgh respectively. ...more


Leading for Excellence in Science: Develop you leadership and management skills to develop a constantly improving faculty or department.
Sunday 8th - Wednesday 11th November, with two follow up days scheduled for 18th and 19th March 2010 at Crieff Hydro Hotel.

For more information..Click here to download (PDF)
Click here to download Application Form (PDF)


Schools Science Summit Report: Fiona Hyslop, Cabinet Secretary for Education and Lifelong Learning, has today launched the report of the School Science Summit held on 5 May.
Click here to download report (PDF)
Alongside the report, we have published a Draft Action Plan which sets out a series of measures that are designed to improve the pupil experience of science, engineering and technology.
Click here to download draft action plan (PDF)

Key elements of the Action Plan include:

**** Increasing shared learning between industry, schools and academia;
**** Improving the status and image of science through a science careers advertising campaign;
**** Working with Skills Development Scotland to develop and promote careers advice in science and engineering;
**** Maximising the benefits of partnership with Scotland's science centres;
**** Increasing the use of Glow, the schools intranet, to share best practice in science education;
**** Reviewing teacher Continuing Professional Development opportunities in science and engineering;
**** Using the Curriculum for Excellence framework to create a seamless transition in science education.



Microsoft/SQA Partners in Learning European Study Visits 2009/10: Group Study Visit to Copenhagen – Innovative Schools

Sunday 22 November to Wednesday 25 November 2009

The Microsoft/SQA Partners in Learning (PIL) initiative is organising a Group Study Visit to Copenhagen, Denmark, in November 2009. The theme of the visit will be innovative learning and teaching, with the emphasis being on the use of new technology (ICT).
The closing date for applications is Friday 2 October 2009 ...more


The Scottish Schools Maths Challenge: Thousands of students from across Scotland are invited to battle it out in a thrilling online maths challenge!

This event is open to all schools in Scotland, registrations open 12th October and will close at 3pm on Friday 30th October 2009.
Register your school FREE at ...more


Enterprising Maths Competition 2009:
On Monday 21st September, seven of our secondary schools gathered at Lochgilphead High School with there selected team of pupils, to take part in this years Enterprising Maths Competition.
1st = Hermitage Academy,
2nd = Tarbert Academy
3rd = Oban High School.
Hermitage Academy and Tarbert Academy will go on to represent Argyll and Bute in the national competition which is being held in early November.



Argyll and Bute Regional Environmental Education Forum (ABREEF): ABREEF environmental education fairs aim to encourage children, families and communities to develop enthusiasm about enviornment issues.
These aims are delivered through a wide range of interacitve activities and displays provided by local and national organisations and individuals. Schools and community groups are invited to attend the fair during the two days, booking into activities of their choice.
This event is at Hunter's Quay Holiday Village, Dunoon on 30th September and 1st October, 10.30am - 3.00pm each day, also 5.30pm - 7.30pm on the 30th September 2009.


SHELL Education Service: Interested in having a Shell Education Service investigative Science Workshop Day in your primary school?
The Shell Education Service comes to your school with all the equipment and carries out three sessions with three different classes. There are follow-up notes for teachers if they wish to carry on with some of the ideas. The workshop day costs £100 + VAT for the day.
For more information please contact Pat Duchart on 0141 9564922 or 07900217741


Scottish Cycle Training Scheme - Promethean flipcharts: All Primary Schools in Argyll and Bute take part in the Scottish Cycle Training Scheme. Cycle training used to take place solely in the playground but 92% of our schools now train and test on-road as we believe this is the most effective method of improving actual behaviour in traffic.

Completed flipcharts are available to download FREE from Promethean Planet Promethean Planet an on-line community for educators to discuss interactive pedagogy with their peers, as well as obtain resources, tips and guidance from other teachers and educational technology specialists. This allows educators in Argyll and Bute, Scotland and indeed anywhere on the planet to access our theory based resource. Pupils are also able to download a personal version of the software for use at home giving an opportunity for parental involvement.

Download further information (PDF format)


A great learning opportunity for your pupils!: PRIMARY AND SECONDARY AND ADVANCED LEADERS AWARDS 2009
The leaders Award for Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics is open to primary and secondary students of all ages. For further details about the award go to.. ...more


Sowing the Poppy seed - Poppyscotland's Education Project: The aim of 'Sowing the Poppy seed - Poppyscotland's education project', is to create a comprehensive interdisciplinary learning experience that highlights the importance of remembrance, veterans and the poppy. The materials are based around the central key question 'Why is it important to remember?' with four other big questions to stimulate learning and teaching. ...more


Principal Teachers of Science Workshop 2009: Friday 25th September 2009; 2.15pm to 4pm.

The event hosted by UHI and HIE Stempoint North, is aimed at Secondary School principal teachers of science and staff with a responsibility for CPD Co-ordination and planning. For more information... ...more


Climate Change Competition: ‘One Minute to save the World’
Competition organisers are keen to hear from as many budding filmmakers, directors and animators out there as possible, from all reaches of the globe.
The shorts can be up to 1min 30 seconds long (including credits) and must be on climate change (which can be interpreted however you choose). There is a category for both under and over 18’s and it’s free to enter.
The shorts can be filmed on any recording device, from a camera phone to home video or professional equipment if you have access to it, or can be done through animation.
The top three winning campaign virals will be selected by our panel of judges and these will go on to be screened at the Copenhagen Climate Conference (CCC) in December. They will also be part of a worldwide campaign in November to raise awareness of the CCC. ...more

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