Dalguise 2014

90 S1 pupils recently returned from an outdoor activity week at Dalguise Camp where they tackled challenges such as abseiling, climbing, mountain biking and even scrambling through a wet tunnel. It was a fantastically supportive atmosphere, with pupils demonstrating real team work skills and lots of fun was had by all!

Outdoor learning week for S4s

A group of S4 pupils who weren't on exam leave recently opted to do a week of outdoor learning activities - 'Explore Outdorr Edinburgh'.  We explored some of the great outdoor places that Edinburgh has to offer, including the Botanic Gardens, Arthur's Seat and the Water of Leith. Pupils risk assessed and planned the journeys whcih were all by public bus or by foot.  We also did a little to help out, including volunteering at Harmeny Community Allotments and doing a litter pick of Roley's Wood.We were incredibly lucky with the weather and had warm sunshine every day!

We took some beautiful photos in the Botanics, and did some sketching in pencils and oil pastels, guided by Mrs Richardson

We all reached the summit of Arthur's Seat!

And found some nice snack spots along the way...

We got up close and personal with mallards, moorhens, swans and a heron..

We riddled lots of compost at Harmeny and used it to fill and plant up a beautiful hanging basket

We planted out some tomatos in the polytunnel

And dug over a whole new bed and planted out a blackcurrant bush.

Each of the pupils successfully achieved a Discovery level John Muir Award. Congratulations!

The pupils did presentations on their experiences to over 20 staff as part of their 'Share' challenge for their Award.

Wild food in Health & Food Technology

It's that time of year again, the S1 HFT classes have been learning about wild food and sampling fresh spring greens in Roley's Wood, including lime leaves, wild garlic and few flowered leek.

They also cook up some fantastic dishes featuring wild foraged ingredients from around the school grounds: clockwise from bottom left) nettle soup, potato and hawthorn leaf salad, dandelion flower pakora and cheese and wild leek scones. Don't they look superb!

CurrEco Nest Records (British Trust for Ornithology Nest Record Scheme) - the Oystercatcher story.

This is the first glimpse of our two Oystercatcher chicks on the roof.  They do not have much shelter so like to tuck-up against the bricks when hiding.

BTO ringers came in to ring them last week, so each now has a unique number which could be found where ever they fly to in the future.

As everyone in the school can hear from their loud alarm calls, the parents are very attentive.  They often sit on the parapet of the roof calling to those of us below to keep away!  The photo on the left are not our ones, but just like them.


                                                                           

 

There were originally three eggs in our nest, which was no more than this thin scape of stones. One egg was probably infertile as it never hatched.  Now that the parents are busy looking after the chicks the egg has been abandoned and has signs that it had been pecked at by a predator, probably a gull or crow.  Notice the perfect design of the egg - good size for growing a chick but pointed so it does not roll away.  Nicely camouflaged too.

CurriEco Nest Records 2014 - British Trust for Ornithology Nest Record Scheme

It has been a good start to the spring 2014 breeding season!

The roof-nesting Oystercatchers have returned and laid three eggs.  Two have hatched and we now have 2 chicks running around the roof!  The parents continue to defend them vigorously from predating gulls and crows.

In the quad the old box has not been used though Blue Tits inspected it earlier in the spring.  Instead they chose the old camera box for the first time in years.   Blackbirds have again nested in the flowering clemetis bushes in the quad and are busy feeding four large chicks. They nest there most years.

One of the new boxes put out in the winter in  northern woodland boundary strip has Bluetits in occupation, when we last looked there were nine eggs with the female brooding the eggs.

The Roley's Wood boxes have still to be properly inspected.

We are running three record cards at the moment and will make it four if we can get the quad camera to work.

If any staff or pupils wishes to see the birds close-up please speak with Mr Walton and we'll arrange a visit.

S3 Art & Design Trip to Jupiter Artland

On the afternoon of May 12th, Ms Richardson, Mrs Steel and Miss Johnson accompanied 40 S3s to Jupiter Artland in Wilkieston. We toured the contemporary sculptures and enjoyed the beautiful surrounding landscape. All artists will be asked to write their own critique of their favourite artwork and will also be making our own school grounds "land art" in the coming weeks. Watch this space for the most outstanding work! J

 

Traidcraft Snack Attack Success!

 

For this year’s Traidcraft “Snack Attack” Challenge, all of our S2s created a healthy Fairtrade snack in Health and Food Technology. Then, in Art & Design, they designed the graphics, packaging and advertising campaign for their snack. There were some wonderful designs but we could only choose one winner! Our highly commended designers were Sarah Brown, Riya Bodas, Emma Boyle and Stella Lumsden. The design chosen to represent CCHS was by Charlotte Brock with her “Berry Burst” - a crispy, fruity, chocolaty bar. Well done to all of our chefs and designers for their excellent ideas and hard work!  

Message from Traidcraft:

'Runner-Up 2014,

 

Thank you for entering Snack Attack 2014. We were bowled over by your entries, we had more this year than we’ve ever had before! So many of them were simply amazing and showed real ingenuity, an entrepreneurial spirit, creativity and demonstrated great team work. Thank you so much for putting in all of the work you did. You all learnt about fair trade and developed other important skills at the same time.'

FairAchiever Award

Great news – the school has just been awarded ‘FairAchiever’ Award by the Fair Trade Foundation!

This is in recognition of all the work that we have done over the last three years to teach and research Fair Trade issues as well as providing opportunities for pupils to take action to promote Fair Trade. Pupils have sold snacks in school, served Fair Trade teas and coffees at community events and many other initiatives. Thanks to all the pupils and staff who have helped!