http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p03cdgdw
Watch the BBC video on our fabulous Minecraft project. An innovative way of bringing pupils from different stages of the school to work together, build skills and create cross-curricularly. Great for our pupil and staff enthusiasm and passion. (PS - don't ask me anything about Minecraft as I know nothing. But I know a 5 year old who does!)
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p03cdgdw
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'Tis the season! And what a season 'tis! Some days, I stop and pause, to remember what a wonderful, extraordinary, unique and special school I have the privilege of leading. Christmas is well upon us, and it is a time to think about being confident within our school community. Our Christmas Fayre, run by the Friend of Hamilton College, was brilliantly attended, and supported by parents, pupils and staff. It was a great occasion for us to get together as a school community, and simply have some festive fun. Yesterday, we had one of a few 'firsts' for the school, when the choir sang at Princes Square in Glasgow. Again, the number of parents and families (with their friends!) coming to support our choir, who sang so wonderfully to the shoppers, bringing the message of Christ's birth to a busy commercial environment, was fabulous. It was a great experience for the pupils to be singing to strangers, and to build their confidence in a new environment. This was great preparation for the coming Service of Lessons and Carols in Bothwell Parish Church on Tuesday night, which we are looking forward to enormously. This is another first for the school, and how marvellous to be able to worship with our local community and celebrate Christmas together. One wonderful piece of news is that our Kids Lit team of four S2 girls competed in the national final in Oxford on Friday, and I am delighted to say that they won. As national champions they now progress to the World Championships in New Zealand in August. If anything gives us the confidence that we are a school of amazing academic ability, it is this; competing internationally in a worldwide literature festival, and representing the UK to the international community in this way is simply phenomenal, and my heartfelt congratulations go to the girls, and to our Librarian and Head of English who have supported the girls throughout, encouraging and coaching them through the process. I do not ever remember in my career having pupils get through the the international final of any competition. The significance of this is enormously exciting. Louise from our S6 has been working on a wonderful mural for Christmas in the school hall, with the support of Mr Wilson and some of her friends in S6; what an astonishing piece of art. This is something to be very proud about, and our focus on art recently demonstrates how in all kinds of areas of school life, the transition from Nursery to Junior School to Senior School and Upper School develops pupils who are confident, willing, and able to do remarkable things. Whether it is through Art, Music, Sport, the academic curriculum, or community involvement, our pupils build their confidence with humility and grace. Christmas is an important time to reflect, and to contribute to our communities, and through the work the school have been doing to support Bethany through their Caring Christmas Trees project, to support the Hamilton Foodbank (the trollies in the foyer are nearly full!) and to support Sanna in S6's fundraising campaign for Diabetes UK, our compassion is clear, our confidence that we do not only think of ourselves but consider others is clear, and our strong community and dedication to our wider local, national and international communities is absolutely, crystal clear. On Monday, I gave the following assembly.
Since then, of course, we have had a very busy Open Day with high numbers of visitors and lots of prospective pupils... The week has been a very busy one as a result! Principal's Assembly - Monday 26th October 2015 Let me paint a picture in your head. I was once at school. I still am, but you know what I mean… Imagine Mr Taylor, in S3. We had a black blazer with a black and red tie, red braid, white shirt. I was quite a geeky boy who was into art, music, and drama. I had hair. It’s true. My hair was not always positioned on the lower part of my head. Imagine my head upside down; then you’re getting close. I don’t think it is any secret that I am not particularly sporty. I enjoy cycling and swimming, but PE was never my strong suit. However, there was one occasion which will always stick in my mind from when I was at school, in S3, around this time of year. It was a wet, miserable afternoon, and there was a school cross country competition. The course was fairly long; probably about 4 or 5 miles, and everyone took part. This was not something that most people looked forward to, particularly those of us who were not particularly sporty or physically fit. We set off from school grounds; the whole year group of around 100 pupils, running to the bottom of our playing fields, in the rain and the cold, and towards a track that went along the side of a field of corn. One lad, who I think was called Craig, sped off ahead of me, laughing at me, and shouting ‘See you later!’. This was somewhat disheartening. As we left the playing fields, I was predictably far behind, jogging at a steady pace as the adrenaline started to kick in and I got a bit more breathless. I wasn’t right at the back of the competition, but I was nowhere near the front. However, what I started to realise was that a lot of the faster runners were beginning to flag up ahead, as they began to run out of steam. I kept jogging steadily, steadily, and perhaps upped the pace a wee bit as I went. At one point, as we turned at the bottom of a field and started along what was an old abandoned trainline which runs through the area, I started to lose my breath, as I was getting tired. But I remember a friend running with me saying ‘keep calm, John!’ two or three times. I had a tune we have been learning in choir in my head, and it had a steady rhythm, so I just kept to that rhythm, and kept going. And kept going. And kept going. And I began to pass boys and girls peching in grass verges, all of us covered in mud, pupils hanging over fences, breathless, as I regulated my breathing (I think being a singer helped), and kept a steady pace. We turned and came back towards school, and to my surprise, exhausted, in a bit of pain, feeling somewhat like I might die, you may never believe this but… I came third! Craig was miles behind. I think he must have been somewhere between 20th and 30th. Now, do not think I am telling you this story to try and give you an impression of me as some accomplished sportsman. In fact, that was the only time I ever had any particular success at anything vaguely sporty. However,I’m not sure what had made me do so well in this unlikely pursuit. Perhaps Craig’s goading at the starting line made me just keep going. Perhaps it was determination to get through it. Perhaps it was just stamina; going at a steady pace, and not giving up. Why aWhat made me tell you this story from my own teenage years? Believe it or not, it was reading and writing S5 and S6 reports over the weekend. There are many excellent achievements in all subjects by pupils throughout this school; lots of excellent effort, lots of determined pupils, and lots of people who have hit the ground running with their Higher and Advanced Higher courses. The same is true of National 5s, and the same is true of those of you in S1 and S2 who have started with new teachers this year. Many of you are 'going for it', and that is deeply impressive. This is a long term though, like the race I was in. It’s easy to start with a good pace, and to put in maximum effort from the start, but much of it is to do with pace. You have to find ways to unwind and relax, while also having the stamina to keep going, not letting yourself slack off, keeping up the effort. Our Ethos says we ‘always do our best’. That means that getting homework done, but just slap-dashing a piece of work to get in to your teacher, so long as it’s done, and it’s on time, is basic. It’s not your best. That means that not focusing in a lesson, or chatting a wee bit too much, or missing an instruction in a lesson and having to be told what to do two or three times, is not doing your best. It means that when you get things wrong (and we all do sometimes; so you your teachers; so do I…), that when your teacher points out where you’ve gone wrong, if you do nothing about it, or if you don’t take that advice seriously, or listen to constructive criticism, and then do nothing about it, you’re not doing your best. Sometimes hearing criticism about yourself can feel like you’re being moaned at, and teenagers often complain about moaning adults. But identifying a problem, and suggesting solutions is never moaning; it’s development. Remember that. We all have to be open to the fact that none of us – not one person in this room – is perfect. Only God is perfect, and only God is all-knowing. So don’t assume you know everything. Don’t assume you’ll ever get everything right. Making that assumption is dangerous. This term is long, and it can be hard. November can be hard going, as we are all deeply into the work we’re doing, getting through courses. The novelty of the start of the year has worn off a bit, Christmas is coming, but it isn’t quite here yet, people’s focus wavers a bit, the effort can drop, the behaviour can go wrong, people can get things wrong through tiredness or frustration or, dare I say it, boredom... Traditionally in schools, suspensions can be high in November. Don’t let that happen please. You’re half way through the race. Keep a steady pace. Regulate your breathing. Listen to the advice of your friends and your teachers. Keep on truckin’, and the likelihood is that you will get to the finish line without a glitch. Sprinting at the start, stopping for a bit, and then trying to sprint at the end of a course rarely ends with the best results. It’s all about stamina; keep the effort going, always do your best, have a regular study plan, don’t leave it til the last minute, and the successful results that reflect your exceptional potential – and it is very clear to me that God has given every pupil in this room exceptional potential - will come through. There’s nothing stopping you!
Prayer This time tomorrow night we will be settling down for a chilly night in the playground. There are over 75 pupils and 15 staff signed up for the Bethany Sleepout tomorrow night, and the combined fundraising efforts have reached £1000. How much more can we raise, to spread awareness of the excellent work Bethany do to alleviate the causes of homelessness?
On Tuesday evening, Mr Crawford and I attended an event where we learned more about the work of Bethany Christian Trust throughout Scotland, and especially in the West. Through partnership working in community hubs, they are making a serious difference to some of the most vulnerable in society, supporting people with genuine care and love. This affirmed to us all the more the impact that our contribution could make by undertaking this event tomorrow night. As well as offering a moment we will always remember, we can have the confidence that any money and awareness raised will make a sincere and positive difference throughout the West of Scotland. We haven't had the event yet, but I am already immensely proud of the willingness of our staff and pupils to get involved in this initiative. Their big heartedness, compassion, and thoughtfulness are all deeply impressive. You can help by donating here. Our S4 to S6 are holding a Big Sleepout to raise awareness and funds for the amazing prentative work Bethany Christian Trust does for those at risk of homelessness.
My wife, Kim and I will be joining the event on 2nd October. If you are able to donate anything, however small, it will help to get the ball rolling! Mr Taylor's Fundraising Page Here we are at the start of a new term, and pupils and staff are back into the swing of things. It is fabulous to see pupils returning to school: a school with no boys and girls in it isn't a school, and they bring the building back to life.
School has been abuzz with works over the summer, including repairs to the Junior School and Dining Hall since the flood at the start of June. The Junior School has received some new furniture and equipment, and the kitchens have been plastered and are being cleaned up in time for the start of term as I write this. In addition, there is an enormous volume of other work, including tarmacking in the car park, work on the external wall on the road to the playground, and various repairs and ‘background works’. I am very grateful to all involved in this essential maintenance work. It all helps to make the school a comfortable, safe and enjoyable place to be. The most noticeable piece of work which has happened this summer is the building of a new partition wall on the side of our Assembly Hall to create a new space for the Upper School Common Room. This will create a bright, large, multi-function space for S5 and S6 to work during study periods, and to relax in together during break, lunchtime and after school. Pupils will be involved in fundraising for this project and furnishing the space accordingly, and this will, I am sure, mark a substantial improvement for pupils at the top of the school. In the last week of term, our new S6 were on the residential teambuilding trip to Abernethy Ardonaig, and Mrs Taylor and I visited them up there during the week. I accompanied some of the S6 boys up Ben Lawyers (which proved to me that I need to work on my fitness levels! 17 year old lads can virtually hop up a munro, but I, alas, cannot!) and this was a great opportunity to chat to pupils and find out about their summer, accompanied by Sasha, the younger of our dogs. As we go on to develop the Upper School further this term, these things all help pupils to become more independent and prepared for life outside of school. The Music Tour to Belgium was a resounding success, and pupils enjoyed the tour enormously, as well as playing to some large audiences throughout Flanders. Many thanks to Miss Hardie, Mrs Tweedie for organising this fruitful trip. Hamilton College pupils have performed exceptionally well in SQA Examinations this year, with some fantastic and impressive results. I am enormously grateful to all the staff in school who teach and nurture pupils to ensure they have a terrific, caring atmosphere in which to learn and succeed. I also want to thank our supportive parents, who have encouraged their children to always do their best throughout the year. These results enable our pupils to progress to top Universities throughout Scotland and the UK including Oxford, Bristol, St Andrews, Glasgow, Edinburgh, Strathclyde, Aberdeen, Stirling, Dundee, to mention but a few, to read for a wide variety of degrees across various disciplines. The coming term is a very busy one, and we will be embarking on an awareness and fundraising ‘Sleepout’ event on school grounds for Bethany Christian Trust at the start of October. Some coming events include: · 14th September 2015 – 6.30-8.30pm – Careers Fair · 2nd October 2015 – Sleepout in school grounds for Bethany Christian Trust · 28th October 2015 – Hamilton College Open Day · 21st November 2015 – Friends of Hamilton College Christmas Fayre We also look forward to the Service of Carols and Lessons in Bothwell Parish Church. Some fabulous SQA Results today from Hamilton College; high pass rates at Nat 5, Higher and Advanced Higher, and impressive numbers of As at all three levels. Congratulations to all our pupils and to the staff who work so hard to support and nurture them.
We had wonderful Junior School and Senior School Prizegivings this week in our School Hall. Thank you to all involved in organising them, and to all the parents and invited guests who attended.
Below is my first Prizegiving Speech, delivered at yesterday's Senior School event. Prizegiving Speech 2015 Chairman, governors, invited Guests, colleagues, parents, and most importantly, pupils and former pupils. It is with great pleasure that we welcome you to Hamilton College for our annual celebration of Prizegiving. Today is a special day, when we recognise achievement and congratulate those who have won prizes, but this year, it is also a day of firsts. For me, this is my first Prizegiving at Hamilton College. It is also the first time we have had a Senior School specific event. Importantly, it is the first occasion when we have congratulated the whole of our departing year group, welcoming them into the new Former Pupil community of Hamilton College: the HCFPs. I am delighted to see so many returning S6 and so many parents here today to share with us in this ceremony. Since I arrived at Hamilton College in January, I have been impressed, not only by the superb facilities in the school, but by the tangible kindness and dedication of the Hamilton College community. This is a place where pupils hold doors open for one another, where a thoughtful ‘Good morning’ or ‘Good Afternoon’ greeting is normal, where teachers give amply of their time to support pupils academically, pastorally, and outside of the classroom This is a place where it has been made abundantly clear to me that the sense of community, family and homeliness are incredibly strong. Coming from a boarding background myself, this last point has made me feel very much at home, and it gives a sense of real promise for the future: in my experience, pupils who are happy, safe, and comfortable are often the most successful. The pastoral feeds the academic, and the academic feeds the pastoral. I have enjoyed getting to know our parents, and to receive opinions on various aspects of our school through Friends of Hamilton College meetings and through helpful and regular meetings with small groups of parents. Parents bringing their boys and girls to Hamilton College have made a bold decision to invest their hard-earned money in the future of their children’s education. This is no small decision, and it is because they want the best for their sons and daughters that they choose something different from the norm. There are four basic standards of independent education, and I could talk about these at length. I could stand here today and address you on the topic of academic excellence, but I’m not going to do that. I could expound the benefits of smaller class sizes than local authority schools, but I’m not going to do that. I could talk about our broad-ranging extra-curricular activities programme, but I’m not going to do that. I could talk about our top quality pastoral care, but I’m not going to do that. It is true that we have all of these standard elements of independent education. That is not to say that all four of them are perfect in every way – there will always be things to improve - but the grounding is firm and secure. Is this significantly different from other independent schools? I would hope not. The four basics of independent education; academic excellence, top quality pastoral care, smaller class sizes, and a broad extra-curricular programme, are not in themselves distinctive features of a good independent school. Rather, Hamilton College is distinctive, as the only 3-18 independent Christian school in Scotland, and this comes down to our ethos; an ethos based on the values of Christianity, the teachings of Jesus Christ, and the Word given to us in the Bible. The whole school community – pupils, staff, parents and governors – have identified what it means for us to be a Christian School, and this identification centres around strong values. These are ideals based on Christian principles, and I would argue that they are ideals which are appropriate for people of all backgrounds, from all faiths and none. These values are not new to the school. They are already in place, and they affect everything we do, whether it is in the classroom, on the sports field, in the orchestra, around the corridors, playground, or indeed, in meetings. It means we do not only teach subjects and pupils, but we teach people; individuals who are connected by our common values. ‘Grace’ is a regularly misunderstood word. A dancer may show ‘grace’. You can ‘grace’ someone with your presence. However, the Christian meaning of Grace is to give willingly without expecting anything in return. This is the promise of God, and the gift he gives, and in trying to be like God, this is a fundamental part of what we should be trying to do as human beings. While we were identifying these values, it was the pupils who made very clear to me – more than any other aspect of Our Ethos in fact – that ‘Confidence’ is something pupils gain from being here at Hamilton College. By expecting people always to give of their best, by having high expectations, we can be confident that we have done all we can with the Lord’s blessing, and that we will succeed in what we are trying to achieve. Education often emphasises the acquisition of facts, and it is true that knowledge creates the experts of the future. However, knowing what do to with those facts is far more valuable. Making responsible decisions based on sound knowledge, considered understanding, and informed evaluation is how we demonstrate the ‘Wisdom’ our Chairman referred to earlier. It isn’t confined to older people, or Disney owls! Hamilton College leads in many areas of the Scottish independent sector, whether it is with changes to the use of our data systems or the high quality of teaching our pupils receive throughout the school. If ever there was someone who asked difficult questions and urged people to think differently, to innovate, it was Jesus of Nazareth, and it is because he was a true Innovator, and because we aspire to be like Him, that we should continue to do the same. Innovation creates connections between people and organisations, and this is one of the reasons we have applied to join the Society of Heads, a national and international group of medium-sized independent schools, with a similarly caring ethos. I am delighted to announce that we received confirmation this week that our application to join Society of Heads was successful, making us only the second school in Scotland to achieve this status. Back to our values. We are a caring Christian community: this truth was clarified when we had the unfortunate flood through our Junior School and Kitchens. We did not, as one member of staff suggested, exit the building two by two. However, we were inundated by many offers of assistance from the whole school community, from Infants to Governors, and this is striking. Christianity is more than just a fuzzy ‘caring’. It is about understanding other points of view, empathising, and showing compassion for others. Finally, self-awareness is required for success. Reflection is about considering where we are and who we are, what our strengths are, and how we can constantly improve. To have self-knowledge is to be one step along the road towards outstanding achievements. Grace, confidence, wisdom, innovation, compassion and reflection. These are the things we stand for, and these are the things we aim for. Let me speak to those pupils receiving prizes today. Boys and girls, many congratulations on your outstanding achievements. I may have only been here five and a bit months, but celebrating your achievements today makes me very proud. This is a major celebration of your hard-work, your impressive skills, your determination, stamina, and focus. And to those of you who are not receiving prizes today, I know that there are many other accomplishments amongst you which come with extraordinary skills and abilities. I know this, because I see it daily around the school. There is so much potential, so much promise in this room today. The future of our school is very exciting indeed. I now want to address our outgoing S6. This is a special and memorable moment for you all, and as you take the bold step out of the safe haven of Hamilton College and into the big bad world, as young adults you may not want to admit it, but the unknown can be a bit scary. As the verses in Proverbs 3 advise us; ‘Trust in the Lord with all your heart. Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take.’ Some of you have been with us since Nursery, and some, like me, have been here much a much shorter period of time. I have not had the pleasure of getting to know you for very long, but I want to thank you for your kind welcome and your warmth. It is clear that the school has supported you exceedingly well, and we all have my new colleagues, and my predecessor, Miss Clarke, to thank for all they have done in helping you to develop into the fine young men and women you are today. (Applause) The experiences and friendships you have built in your time in this school will last you a lifetime. As you go off to university in various destinations throughout Scotland and further afield, or whether you are taking a gap year or entering the world of work, it is these experiences which will prepare you for your future. Continue to be ambitious. Continue to be full of these values. I have already alarmed you, former sixth years, by explaining my desire that when you leave Hamilton College, I do not want you to leave Hamilton College. Rather, since Hamilton College is now a part of you, you will continue to be part of Hamilton College as you transform yourselves into becoming a former pupil, and a member of the wider HCFP Community. It is for this reason we are marking this occasion by issuing you with a Leavers pin; a small token of our good will, but one I hope you will treasure for the rest of your days. What we do at Hamilton extends far beyond the academic curriculum. There is no point in trying to be like other schools. We don’t need to be. Rather, with God’s grace, we have the values, the skills, the abilities, and the familial community to be ourselves. To proudly be Hamilton College, and nothing else. Thank you. It has been a busy couple of weeks of success here at Hamilton College.
As we look forward to Prizegiving, there are so many things happening it is difficult to keep up.
There have been many trips in the last couple of weeks: S3 to Berlin, S2 to Teen Ranch and S1 to Abernethy. These are all a sign of a great and busy school, and it is fabulous pupils are keen to go on these excursions and staff are giving of their time to accompany them.
Today I had the pleasure of accompanying a trip to Hadrian's Wall, one of my favourite archaeological sites in the world. I am grateful to Mr Caldwell for organising this trip and to the other Classics and Modern Languages teachers for accompanying it. First, we arrived at the Roman Army Museum slightly early, which allowed us to walk part of the wall and get some photos (including a 'selfie' with the Principal!) Following this, in the museum itself, pupils were taught Latin by a holographic Roman slave before seeing a short 3D film about how the wall came to be. It never ceases to amaze me, and the pupils also felt this, that the wall was built without modern machinery, limited slave power (which of course built much of the Roman Empire), and that so much of it still stands after 2000 years. Next we went to Vindolanda where the pupils were addressed by one of their resident archaeologists, before visiting the museum, reconstructed temple, and ruins of houses, barracks and bath houses. A good time was had by all, and for pupils who progress into S2 next week when our timetable switches over, it made for a great final day of S1. For me, it was another good opportunity to be able to get to know pupils and staff better, and to share my love of Classical archaeology and culture. Plus.... it didn't rain a drop. Someone must have been watching over us. |
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