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December 2009 - News Stories | |
Festive fun at St LeonardsPicture: festive fun There was seasonal cheer aplenty when pupils at St Leonards School staged a colourful Christmas Market. Visitors to the annual event made the most of the chance to get into the festive spirit, raising money for charity as they snapped up bargains and treats and enjoyed an array of entertainment. The School Hall was transformed into a winter wonderland by youngsters from St Leonards-New Park who manned their own stalls offering up games and activities, a bring and buy sale and a bake sale, with proceeds going to Childline, the School’s Eco Club and the Mini Enterprise Club, whose members organised the event. Not to be outdone, Sixth Form students brought a continental flavour to the proceedings, selling traditional German Christmas market goodies like Bratwurst sausages and non alcoholic Glühwein, as well as arts and crafts and yuletide inspired home baking, all for the benefit of Rachel House hospice in Kinross. To top it all off, carol singers helped to create an angelic atmosphere before the guest of honour, Santa Claus, paid a visit accompanied by his faithful Sixth Form elves. Head of German at St Leonards, Elizabeth Semper, helped to organise the Sixth Form effort. She said, “The weather wasn’t great but it didn’t put people off coming. It wasn’t just parents and friends of the School either this year. We had members of the public too which was great to see. “There was a buzzing atmosphere and lots of fun was had by all.” Andrew Donald, Headmaster of St Leonards-New Park, added, “There was a great turnout and a great variety of stalls run by the children. “It was most impressive to see the effort that the pupils, along with staff members and some energetic parent helpers, had put into the event.” Picture: festive fun 2 Year 11 students Catriona Pickthall and Charlotte Roeser with some tasty treats at the Christmas Market. St Andrews University and St Leonards join forcesPicture: mutual benefit Two renowned St Andrews seats of learning have joined forces in a mutually beneficial classroom exercise! For the past couple of months pupils at St Leonards School have been welcoming a group of five St Andrews University students into their lessons as part of the Undergraduate Ambassadors Scheme. The nationwide program aims to give the University students first hand experience of the teaching profession and valuable transferrable skills by enabling them to observe and take part in what goes on in the classroom. St Leonards, meanwhile, benefits from receiving practical assistance from undergraduates who have current knowledge, expertise and enthusiasm for their subject. Aileen Rees, Head of Science and Biology at St Leonards has been organising the program at the School’s end. She said, “This has been a great opportunity for us to liaise with the University and be part of a nationwide scheme. “We have had students with us in Geography, Physics, Biology, Maths and ICT and they have been observing the lessons as well as getting their hands dirty with a bit of teaching too. “It’s inspiring for our pupils to have real life students in the classroom with them.” The undergraduates, who have been spending one day a week at St Leonards under the guidance of School mentors, will be awarded a Communication and Teaching in Science module when the program finishes. 4th Year Maths student Daniel Clark has particularly enjoyed taking part in the Scheme and making the most of the opportunity to explore teaching as a profession. David said, “I’m really enjoying taking part in Maths lessons. It has made me decide to do the PGCE teaching qualification next year. “There was always a possibility that I was going to do it but this has really made my mind up for me.” | |