“I am competing in the British championships in Sunderland from the 17th until the 21st of August. I am still in hard training and so won’t be swimming very fast. On the 23rd of August I am going to a training camp on the Canary Island of Fuertaventura. This lasts until the 3rd of September. This is a camp which brings together other Commonwealth Games squad team members. I then travel to Doha in Qatar on the 22nd of September to the Commonwealth holding camp and will then travel to Delhi on the 30th September for the Commonwealth Games. I will be in India until the 16th October competing in the 50m breaststroke and hopefully two other events.”

It is possible to post messages of support for Corrie on asda.com/athletes where it will also soon be possible to make a donation.

Racing

Russell is taking part in the Formula 125 competition of three motorcycle clubs; Melville , Kirkcaldy & District and North East. Formula 125 is the entry level competition for riders aged 12 -16 years and involves riding a 125cc bike that is largely an unmodified road bike, capable of reaching speeds of over 85 miles per hour! So far this year, he has taken part in and completed 13 races, with two third places.  So far Russell is one of only two riders in his class to have completed every race he started:  he competes at Knockhill, Fife and East Fortune, East Lothian. Before the summer holidays Russell took part in a trackday at Knockhill, having been given special permission by the organisers to participate, as he is too young to participate in most trackdays.  Apart from completing over 80 laps of the circuit during the 7 twenty minute sessions, he was also lucky enough to benefit from 20 minutes instruction from Niall MacKenzie, former GP 500 rider and three time British Superbike champion.

Finance

Bike racing is not a cheap sport, but Russell understands the costs incurred, even at the entry level, and has therefore been active in approaching potential sponsors for assistance.  As well as his parents’ companies, he has received a significant discount on the painting of his bike, and been provided with all the oil for his season from the Glasgow Branch of Hein Gericke which sells helmets, leathers and a wide range equipment and supplies for bikers.

Marketing

Russell has created and maintains his own website (www.jrsbiker.co.uk), learning how to use new software (Adobe Dreamweaver) to create and manage his website. His activities include drafting and editing the text to keep the site up to date with all his racing activities and results, he also takes many of the photos and is responsible for selecting, editing and uploading them. 

He has personally approached potential sponsors, with great success and keeps them informed of progress by email after each event.

Mechanical

Russell maintains his bike and is refurbishing a second one that he bought on Ebay to act as his spare. He carries out most of the work himself using the workshop manual and his own learned skills.  So far he has carried out routine checks such as checking the spark plug, chain tension and carrying out oil changes, as well as more difficult tasks such as replacement of pistons, starter motor, replacing a shock absorber and changing wheels from dry to wet tyres (a frequent process when racing in Scotland!).

 Why not support Russell and follow his exciting progress on his website?

The workshop began with introductions from fundraiser Debbie Traynor, who explained that, despite many people thinking CHAS cater for very young children, 70% of the youngsters who attend either Rachael or Robin House, are teenagers. The pupils, in groups of five or six, then mimed a typical Saturday night 7pm scene for them. Amid much hilarity, a couple of groups were sitting watching X Factor, others were playing their games console. Debbie asked them how they were feeling – hungry, relaxed, mesmerised.

Next they were asked to mime what they think the young people who attend the hospice would be doing at seven on a Saturday night – all of the activities were more sedate. “How were you feeling now?” asks Debbie. Frustrated, sad, bored come the replies.

Debbie then spent a few minutes explaining to the class what CHAS does, and helped them to relate to the young people it helps. “Do you ever argue with your parents?” she asked. “Do you storm off to your room, slamming doors as you go? Well, some of our young people would love to be able to do this.”

She told them of one boy who argued with his parents and stormed off in his wheelchair to another room. Later in the evening he had to shout on his mum to help him into bed – not quite the end to the evening he would have liked.

A DVD allowed the young people who attend the hospices to speak for themselves, and the class were able to see the kind of activities they get up to, as well as what CHAS means to them.

Armed with this new picture, the pupils then perform their third mime, demonstrating what they now believed the youngsters do on a Saturday night. The activities were noticeably livelier, with one group attending T in the Park. When asked how they were feeling, their responses were also considerably more positive.

CHAS were invited into school because we feel it was a worthwhile charity to be involved with, and to fundraise for.  Last year over £1,400 was raised by our curent S2, and 3 of the pupils involved in raising this money, and 3 senior pupils were lucky enough to visit Robin House in Balloch and see first hand what kind of facilities were available for children and teenagers with life limiting conditions. 

Our pupils thoroughly enjoyed the workshop and will give a presentation to the rest of S1 in January before participating in another fundraising event to support CHAS.

PUPILS’ COMMENTS

- I learned that children with illnesses can have dreams just like us. They can be normal, and can hang out and have fun. Lauren Straine, 12

- I loved the workshop and learned a lot. I didn’t know that they did this stuff with them. Gillian Field, 11

- I thought they did mundane things, so it was really good to find out the kind of things they do. It changed my views. Lewis Strachan, 12.

The workshop was observed by journalist Jackie Cosh from TES and her full article about this event can be found on their website

http://www.tes.co.uk/article.aspx?storycode=6027072

Articles about last years fundraising for CHAS and the visit to Robin House can be found further down this page of the blog.

Let us know your thoughts on the new school by adding a comment below.

More pictures from the first few days of term are on the New School and Uniform page of the blog.

Robin House exists to provide specialist respite, terminal care and bereavement support for families with a child or young person up to the age of 16 who is not expected to live into adulthood.

On arrival at Robin House, the building had the same feel to it as stepping into a primary school. There was not the gloomy and depressing atmosphere we were somewhat expecting, but quite on the contrary. It was a bright, spacious place with many photos gracing the walls along with other artwork and posters created by the children. You could easily be forgiven for forgetting that children come here to die.

While being shown around the hospice – complete with soft play, dressing up, a special lights room, library, music room and pool, there’s even a room dedicated to teenagers only – we were told anecdotes and facts from Robin House giving an insight into the workings of the hospice on a day-to-day basis. These stories also showed how Robin House is a place used to create special memories for the child and their family that will live long after the child has passed on.

Eight families can stay at Robin House at any one time but there are over 70 families currently using the hospice and a further 74 receiving support after bereavement. Robin House needs over £5million to provide this support and most of this is raised through donations such as the sponsored Big Read that our first year pupils took part in.

Perhaps the most emotional part of the tour was the suite put aside for those living their last days where the family could also stay, especially the ‘memory room’. This room had albums filled with poems and stories written by families about their lost child or siblings, it was heartbreaking to read. This was the part of the house where you felt the true weight of the purpose of Robin House.

The tour of Robin House was very moving and gave each of us the opportunity to learn about the work of the hospice and the support they provide in a worthwhile and interesting afternoon.

Lauren Leslie S5

To find out more about the S1 event click the following link:  http://www.chas.org.uk/the-big-read-is-a-big-success-for-strathaven-academy.html 

For more information about this charity log on to  www.chas.org.uk 

By signing the ‘see me’ Anti-Stigma Pledge the Strathaven Academy is demonstrating a commitment to working with ‘see me’ in tackling the stigma and discrimination experienced by people with mental health problems. 

One in four Scots will experience a mental health problem at some stage in their life and recent research carried out by ‘see me’ found that 81 per cent of those who do have been stigmatised as a result, with many saying that the stigma they experience is worse than the mental health problem itself! The fear of stigma can prevent people from taking up opportunities, such as getting involved in community activities and applying for jobs for which they would be qualified.

Suzie Vestri ‘see me’ Campaign Director said, “It is excellent that even more schools in Lanarkshire are showing their support in tackling the stigma experienced by people with mental health problems.  Pupils, parents and teachers can all play a part in helping to stamp out stigma and Lanarkshire schools are taking a lead.“

Councillor Mary Smith, Chair of Education Resources Committee, South Lanarkshire Council, said “It is very encouraging that young people are involved in the ‘see me’ campaign. I hope their involvement will educate the younger generation about the stigma faced by people with mental health problems throughout Scotland. A better understanding of the problems faced by people with mental health problems will go a long way in helping to eliminate discrimination.”

Following the signing of the ‘see me’ pledge, Strathaven Academy is now committed to working with ‘see me’ to challenge stigma and discrimination and promote mental health and well-being. For example, we will:

• Promote the use of the Positive Mental Attitudes pack, which is a mental health resource for schools.
• Set up poster displays around the school to promote the national ‘see me’ Campaign and the local Elament website, Lanarkshire’s mental health website www.lanarkshirementalhealth.org.uk
• Highlight to staff, pupils and parents World Mental Health Day (10 October) and associated events and information.
• Invite mental health and well-being organisations to be represented on stands at the health fairs at other events
• Invite comment and feedback on mental health and well-being issues from staff and pupils.
• Offer staff development opportunities including Mental Health First Aid.
• Provide a range of leaflets and other resources and make them available in the Library and/or other general access areas. 
• Promote and refer pupils to the school counselling service.
• Be aware of and promote the protective factors for mental health such as exercise, self-esteem, resilience and problem solving.
• Have pupil support teachers and departmental representatives participate in suicide and / or self harm prevention training such as SafeTALK or ASIST.
• Have pupil support teachers complete MindSET mental health awareness online training and encourage non pupil support staff to access MindSET training.
• Implement the North and South Lanarkshire Self Harm Pathway.

Leaflets and information about how to contact the Samaritans if you need help/advice were made available.

More information on the Samaritans is available on their website: www.samaritans.org

Emily Peers S6

·      Construction

·      Care

·      Hair

·      Manufacturing

·      Health

·      Beauty

Pupils are currently completing application forms and their Guidance teachers are will write them a reference.

The college courses run for one morning per week, for the full two years of middle school, with pupils gaining a vocational qualification at the end of S4. 

If you have any questions about taking part in the WWW college programme see Mrs Martis.