A news update from Holy Rood - by Cara, Lucy and Eleanor (S2)

So far this year has been the great start of a year for our school. We have raised money for charity, S4 have just had their work experience week and prelims, and S2 are choosing their subjects for the years coming. There have been trips abroad organised, new school clubs have been created and Robert Burns Day has just been celebrated (see below). Last but not least, the February holidays are coming up soon - half the term is nearly finished!

Robert Burns Day

Robert Burns was a famous Scottish poet who was born on 25th January 1759 and died on 21st July 1796. On the 25th January each year we wear tartan patterned clothes and sing old Scottish songs like 'Auld Lang Syne'. For dinner we gather with our families to eat haggis, neeps (turnips) and tatties (potatoes) and for dessert we have the traditional shortbread (a sweet biscuit in sugar) and a glass of Irn Bru (bright orange coloured fizzy juice) to drink. Then we say some of his poems and all hold hands in a big circle to sing Auld Lang Syne together. This song is played on the bagpipes (a traditional Scottish instrument) and sung. (Haggis is made from sheep intestines. People sometimes joke that it is an animal with one leg shorter than the other that runs round the Scottish highlands!)

Pictures of our school

1. Two pupils standing in the Science corridor.

2 The greenhouse (plant room) with plants in it. From the window, you can see Arthur's Seat, the highest hill in Edinburgh.

3. Marta opening her locker. This is where she keeps her jotters (exercise books).

4. A view of our social area. You can see the upper floors and stairs at the side.

5. Our school library, which contains lots of different and exciting books.

6. Our balcony, from which you can see the lower ground floor.

7. Here you can see the big door to our hall, where we have mass and assembly. Over the door hangs a painting by our Art teacher, Mr Nugent.

8. The English corridor, full of English classrooms.

9. This is the hall that we have mass and assembly in. We also have exams in there. In the back are seats you can fold out when they are needed.

10. Artwork by students and teachers hanging from the first floor.

11. The school's collection of trophies and awards.

12. A view of part of the outside grounds.

13. More of he the grounds, including the pond (but you can't really see it because it's behind bushes!)

French Breakfast

In February, 200 second year pupils took part in the ‘Petit De’jeuner Francais’ –(French breakfast) as part of our French topic about food and drinks. We tried French foods like Croissants, pain au chocolate, French breads, butter, jams’ and Nuttella. The favourites turned out to be the Nuttella and croissants. The second year pupils put a lot of practise into learning their manners in French so that they could ask for the food and drinks in French. The teachers said the pupils were well mannered and knew their French well.

Race for Life

One S1, three S2 and two S3 pupils along with Ms Dickson and Miss Atikinson ran the race for life on Sunday past.  It was a great morning full of fun and enthusiasim along with emotion.  Girls did great with good times 

Social Subjects Trip

All S2 classes went on a trip to Dynamic Earth and the Scottish Parliament on the way there we passed Arthur’s Seat. We all walked there, going to the Parliament first.

 

We had to go through a metal detector and our bags got x-rayed. A guide took us around the Parliament and it was really exciting because we got to go into the Debating Chamber and see how the MP’s vote. Then we voted which was quite fun.

 

We then went to Dynamic Earth were we learned about the earths structure. Dynamic Earth was my favourite out of the two, because we got to go in a Time Machine which was good but scary at the same time.

 

Sports Day, Health Week

In May 2013 Holy Rood pupils and teachers have organised a health week. During school we participated in various activities such as food tasting, making healthy food and different sport activities. As a finish to our health week we had a sports day. For the whole of the afternoon we played different games and competed in many sports. At first some people weren’t really interested but as the afternoon began everyone enjoyed themselves and lost track of time.

 

Timetable

Next week we will move up a year (1^st, 2^nd, 3^rd 4^th, 5^th, 6^th year). The new 3^rd years have chosen their subjects that they will study for the next two years. In first and second year you don’t have a choice on subjects except personal choice (which is a treat).