June 3, 2009
31 pupils from 2nd year had a great day out at M & D’s on Friday as a North Lanarkshire reward for positive behaviour, which includes attitude to work, homework and attendance. The sun shone all day and they had a brilliant time, very well deserved.
May 28, 2009
The 2008-09 Clydesdale Trophy Champions
Report from Mr Smith
Our Lady’s U-16s 3 St Andrew’s U-16s 0
Our Lady’s finished the season in style with a well-deserved victory over St. Andrew’s High School in the final of the Clydesdale Trophy. Following disappointments in the Scottish Cup quarter-final and the league play-off, a determined-looking Our Lady’s started very positively and were rewarded for their blistering start with a breathtaking strike from Kieran Kennedy. The tricky winger displayed great composure after just 2 minutes, thumping a 25 yard volley over the goalkeeper with both power and accuracy. Wild celebrations almost as impressive as the goal followed.
St. Andrew’s rallied soon after and began to take control of the midfield with a display of accurate and composed passing football. However the Coatbridge side were restricted to long-range efforts as Our Lady’s defence stood firm, again excellently marshalled by Scott Rankin. Our Lady’s regained control of the match, with Kennedy in particular causing major problems for the St. Andrew’s defence with speed, trickery and high energy levels. Our Lady’s oozed confidence and played some excellent attacking football, and were duly rewarded after half an hour when Daniel Burns blasted home a wonderful curling shot into the top left-hand corner.
Following a well-earned break from a match played in blistering sunshine, Our Lady’s continued to look dangerous despite increased pressure from a much more attacking St Andrew’s side. Murray and Tempany took firm control of the midfield, and with Eley and Swinfen pushing forward from full-back at every opportunity Our Lady’s created chance after chance in an effort to settle the match as a contest. McCluskey and Queen went close before Burns completed the scoring with a well-taken goal inside the penalty box for his 18th goal of the season with 15 minutes remaining. Rankin almost scored goal of the season soon after when he ran 80 yards with the ball after a St. Andrew’s corner was cleared but the goalkeeper saved after a one-two with Queen on the edge of the penalty box as Our Lady’s continued to push forward in pursuit of more goals.
Captain and birthday-boy Barry Eley lifted the trophy after the match amidst cheers from teammates and supporters to round off what has been a successful and most enjoyable season.
Team: Cherrie; Swinfen, Rankin, O’Mara, Eley; McCluskey, Tempany, Murray, Kennedy; Burns, Queen
Subs: Ferrie, McKinnon, Simpson, Wilson.
Scorers: Kieran Kennedy, Daniel Burns (2)
Man of the Match: Kieran Kennedy
April 29, 2009
Christopher receiving the certificate for his Youthlink Peer Educator Bronze Award
Congratulations to 6th year pupil, Christopher Tollan, who has been presented with a Bronze Award as Youthlink National Peer Educator of the Year for his work with our neighbours, Bothwellpark High School.
Since Christopher completed his work experience placement at Bothwellpark, he has continued to visit on his own initiative, and has been involved in many of their events, including Red Nose Day, sports days and assemblies.
Bothwellpark nominated Christopher for the award.
Mr Brian Gilmour, Depute Head of Bothwellpark, noted that Christopher is “a friend to the pupils. He comes down from his own work whenever he can to help out, and even if he’s busy, he comes to say hello and see how they’re getting on.”
April 27, 2009
Reece McFadden's gold medal from the WABA Schoolboy Championships 2009.
Congratulations to Reece McFadden, 2M, for his success at the Amateur Boxing Association Schoolboy Championships. Reece won gold in the 38kg class for 13-14 year olds at the event which took place in Swansea over the weekend.
Reece boxes with the Forgewood Amateur Boxing Club.
April 1, 2009
Motherwell College has an annual system of awards to students who they believe have shown particular commitment. Nominations for the STARS awards come from teaching staff and are hotly contested with a judging panel from our learning and teaching committee. There are awards for individuals and 3 group awards (gold, silver and bronze) for the class group who have shown commitment and have worked particularly well together.
Our Lady’s 4th year Construction group were nominated for, and have won, the silver group award, the first time this award has been won by a class group of school students.
Many congratulations to the class: Alan Cockburn, Dean Ford, Andrew Guthrie, Steven Hart, James Lafferty, Michael McLaughlin, Philip McMullen, Kieran Moore, Lee Mullen, Jordan Murphy, Kevin Murphy, Shaun Nailen, Scott Rankin, Paul Rankine and Oliver Reilly for all their hard work.
They will receive their awards at a ceremony after the Easter holidays.
December 5, 2008
Congratulations to a team of 6th year pupils, who took on other Motherwell secondary schools at the Design Challenge held at Motherwell College today, and won!
The pupils were introduced to the Flash and Photoshop computer programs and given tutorials on their use by staff and students of Motherwell College. They were then given a design brief to create an animated Flash video and a Photoshop poster with racing themes.
After the deadline, the results were judged by the Principal of Motherwell College. Many congratulations to the Our Lady’s team of Natalie Curran, Christopher Farman, Mark Jackson and Jennifer McCann, who returned triumphantly to school bearing their prizes: of abook on animation and a DVD of short animated films by renowned animation pioneer, Lotte Reiniger. Both can be viewed in the Library Resource Centre.
September 21, 2008
Our Lady’s annual Awards Ceremony took place on 19th September 2008, at which we honoured over 300 young people for their achievements over the past year, and the SQA exams.
The full list of recipients is available on the school website.
Pupils also presented cheques to four worthy causes from our Lenten Charities events:
The SCIAF cheque will be distributed to our partners at the Kamwokya Christian Caring Community in Uganda, to help establish a broadband link, to help with travel costs for peer educators coming from Kamwokya, and a donation towards our commitment to build an eating area for Kamwokya pupils.
Our two current visitors from Kamwokya, Robert Mulerwa and Teddy Katusime, came directly from Glasgow Airport to see the Awards and will join us again after the October break for a week in Our Lady’s.
The school choir sang a haunting version of “Hushabye Mountain” which raised the hairs on the back of everyone’s neck (absolutely gorgeous), while the saxophone quartet from the school band played “5′2″, Eyes of Blue” and “Has anybody seen my girl?“
Presenting the awards was our special guest, Paul Cooney, who delighted the audience of pupils, parents and staff with stories of his own school awards (for services to the tuck shop) and his achievements since, adding,
“If you’re looking for success, it’s not a destination, it’s a journey”,
and encouraged everyone to be ready to take opportunities as they arise.
Invited guests included Bishop Devine, Fr Stephen Miller (School Chaplain), Suzanne Graham (Parent Council), Maureen Dunn (PTA), Provost Tom Curley, Paul Cooney, Robert Dazell (Quality Improvement Officer, North Lanarkshire Council), Councillor Michael Ross and the headteachers of our four associated primary schools.
June 11, 2008
Report by Lauren McKinnon
A group of 2nd year pupils went to Education HQ in Kildonan Street, Coatbridge, to participate in the North Lanarkshire Police Citizenship Awards and came home with the award for the Most Innovative Approach!!!!!!
The pupils and staff had a fantastic time and enjoyed the chance to be able to take part in such an prestigious event.
Dalziel HS, Firpark School, Coltness HS and Greenfaulds HS also took part in the presentations on their chosen subjects and also received appropriate trophies.
Many thanks to all the staff who helped us: Mr Duff, Mr Jakusz, Mrs Macfadyen, Mrs MacKay, Mr Miller, Mr Murphy and especially Mrs Zambonini.
February 27, 2008
Our Lady’s is now officially a Gold Health Promoting School, following the joint visit from NHS Lanarkshire and North Lanarkshire Education Department.
The visitors spoke to pupil and staff members of the HPS committee, discussing the school’s involvement in physical and mental health issues, from bullying to healthy eating, from HeartStart to problem solving.
Congratulations to Mrs Lyn Zambonini and the entire Health Promotion team on a huge success!
November 23, 2007
A group of nine pupils attended a reception at Kildonan Street to receive the North Lanarkshire Conveners’ Certificate for their outstanding results in the SQA exams. In total, 150 pupils from North lanarkshire secondaries were honoured.
Paul Byrne, John Connelly, Cairan McCarroll, Clare McDevitt and Mairi Smith achieved the top grades in all eight of their Standard Grades.
Rachel Devlin, Calum McCall, Eamon Nolan and Lisamarie McGowan received the award for five Highers passed with A grades.
The awards were attended by Director of Learning and Leisure Services, Christine Pollock, Head of Quality and Support Services, Jane Liddell and Education Convener, Jim Logue.
