Month: June 2012

Oaklands MOVEs to space!

Oaklands was transformed into a strange new galaxy last month when the school celebrated National MOVE Day. Pupils, staff and visitors boldly went to search out new worlds – and raised over £140 in the process!

Oaklands introduced the Move curriculum in July 2009. It’s a movement-based programme which combines therapy and education to develop the individual’s mobility skills. Each individual programme is set by the physiotherapist, the pupil and their family and the school staff. Using a goal-based approach, the pupil works towards agreed targets; these range from being able to raise and hold their head independently enabling them to view and interact with the world around them, to being able to walk using walking frames.

Oaklands has supported National MOVE Day – a nationwide day celebrating the achievements of children with complex disabilities and health needs – since then, and the theme this year was ‘MOVE in Space’. The school was transformed into a strange and wonderful new universe where children and visitors could take part in a magical space voyage, stopping off at various points to enjoy exciting new experiences. Cosmic!

Leith celebrates Diamond Jubilee

Over 25 residents took part in a Diamond Jubilee celebration at St Nicholas Court Sheltered Housing Complex in Leith on Sunday. Residents and staff at the Port of Leith Housing Association (PoLHA) dressed in their finery and enjoyed afternoon tea, including celebratory champagne, as they watched the floatilla on Sunday. There was also a Royal Quiz and music at the event.

Resident Margaret McKinlay remembers the Queen’s coronation in 1952. She said: “I have fond memories of the day the Queen was crowned and am delighted that we have been able to celebrate that today in such a fun way with the other residents.”

PoLHA’s other sheltered housing complexes at Hermitage and Jameson Place were also celebrating. Maureen Tait who manages St Nicholas Court said: “We had a lovely day and it’s fantastic to bring everyone together to make this jubilee a celebration to remember.”

Wood you believe it? Green award for Oaklands

Oaklands School’s Millennium Wood scooped a prize when it was named runner up in the schools section of Scotland’s Finest Woods Awards last week.  Oaklands’ wood has only been growing for three years but the judges were clearly impressed and the school now has £250 to invest in improving their environment even more.

The cheque was presented by Bonnie Maggio of Scotland’s Finest Woods charity at a special assembly at Oaklands last week. Guest of honour at the event was Susan Walsh (pictured above right with her son Oscar), who with her family has done so much to support the Oaklands Millennium Wood project. The former Principal Teacher of Art at Fettes College worked with Oaklands over five years, seeing the garden grow and develop, and Susan and her family are now moving on to a new life in Canada.

They leave with a lot of love and good wishes, and they leave behind a growing, thriving wee area of peaceful woodland in North Edinburgh.

Dougie Samuel takes charge at Spartans

Douglas Samuel has been appointed senior team manger at Spartans. A statement posted on the Ainslie Park club’s website today confirmed his appointment and that of Neil Irvine as assistant boss. Dougie, a former club captain, is currently development manager at the club.

The Spartans statement says:

‘We are delighted to announce Douglas Samuel as the manager of our Senior team.  As most of you know Douglas has been head coach of Edinburgh University FC for the last nine seasons since leaving us as a player.  Douglas outlined his plans to the Executive yesterday afternoon and we were delighted to select him and his team to help us move forward over many seasons to come.  Neil Irvine will be Douglas’ assistant manager.  Neil was also a player with us before supporting Douglas at the University.

Chairman Craig Graham said “Douglas and Neil’s management and coaching pedigree make them the perfect choice.  We have ambitious plans over the next five years plus and Douglas will spearhead our on field developments.  As well as being manager of our Senior team Douglas will have oversight of our Junior, U21 and U19 set ups to ensure we align all our efforts”.

Douglas will be meeting our players over the next couple of weeks and we look forward to announcing our squad for next season at the end of the month.  Douglas’ full coaching and player development team will also be announced over the next couple of weeks’.

 

Granton musical: don’t miss it!

Following on from this morning’s post about Granton’s musical, I was lucky enough to catch the dress rehearsal this afternoon. This was the first time the cast have performed YANOMAMO in front of a live audience – their schoolmates – and the verdict? A resounding success!

Without giving too much away, YANOMAMO tells the tale of a tribe who have lived in the Amazonian rainforest since the dawn on man. Their future, and that of the rainforest, is put under threat by loggers and developers …

It’s well written, enthusiastically performed, the songs are great; in short, it’s very good and well worth seeing. There are a few tickets left for performances on Wednesday and Thursday evening (7pm) and Friday’s matinee (priced £5) – call the school office on 552 3987 to check availability.

 

North Edinburgh celebrates Diamond Jubilee

Maybe we didn’t have the sheer number of parties, but what we lacked in quantity we made up for in quality and enthusiasm when north Edinburgh celebrated the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee yesterday – and we had summer sunshine too!

Her Majesty herself made a surprise appearance at Holy Cross in Davidsons Mains (above), while a giant bear was seen dancing at an event organised by Stockbridge Colonies (below)!

And Wardieburn couple Marc and Joanne Blackburn organised a party for friends and neighbours at the local Salvation Army hall after they won a competition ran by local supermarket Iceland. Some revellers travelled from as far afield as Sunderland to join the Wardieburn event!

Granton Primary to stage their very own musical

Granton Primary School will be staging their first full-length musical this week. Everything about YANOMAMO has been created by the children themselves – from songs and set design to production and choreography.

The musical will be performed at the school on Wednesday and Thursday evenings at 7pm with a matinée on Friday (8th). Tickets are £5.

YANOMAMO is very much a first for the Boswall Parkway school, and tickets are understandably selling out fast. If you want to see a unique performance, call the school office on 552 3987 now!

 

Ainslie Park strife follows management departures

Mike Lawson, the former co-manager of Spartans, spoke out against the hierarchy of Spartans Football Club this week after he and Sam Lynch were relieved of their duties at Ainslie Park.

In an explosive interview with the North Edinburgh News, Lawson blasted members of the board for forcing the pair out and believes they have been trying to do so for “four or five years”.  Match secretary Jimmy Murray resigned following the decision to dump the co-managers, saying he “wanted nothing to do with the committee’s decision to sack Sam and Mike.”

There was no sign of any ill-feeling towards the former management pair from the man that took the decision, though. Chairman Craig Graham said:  “We are embarking on a five-year plan with licencing, the introduction of a Lowland League and hopefully a place in the SFL. The committee decided that this was a good time to change as we want to build and introduce young players. We are an ambitious club with excellent facilities.”

Preferring to focus on the positives of their time at the club, Castle FM sports reporter – and Spartans supporter – Cameron Hobbs heaped praise on the duet that has seen the north Edinburgh club win several trophies over an 11-year spell, describing them as “legends”.

He said:  “As far as I’m concerned Mike and Sam are Spartans legends.  In my time as a fan of the club I’ve seen us go on several Scottish Cup runs, beating several SFL sides.  I’ve seen us win every single cup we can – out with the main Scottish Cup. Nobody can take away what great servants they have been to Spartans and I’m therefore sad to see them leave.”

As much as Hobbs is disappointed in the departure of Messrs Lawson and Lynch, he is confident in the future of the club and sees it developing further.

He added: “I believe we still have a very exciting future ahead.  We will continue to focus and drive forward to hopefully play our way into the Scottish 3rd Division and beyond. The Spartans fan base is ever growing and I’m already looking forward to next season.”

Alan Clark

Ferryhill – champion growers!

Ferryhill Primary School children are the city’s champion growers!

Primary pupils from across Edinburgh competed to be crowned the most green fingered of them all in a competition that saw them grow their own country for the Olympic Games. Each school was given the name of a country competing in the 2012 Games and tasked with growing a basket of flowers to represent the nation for the chance to win gold for their school.

The City of Edinburgh Council teamed up with Gardening Scotland for the competition and the winners were crowned champions today by Scottish Environment Minister, Stewart Stevenson MSP. Gold medal was won by Ferryhill Primary , silver by Gylemuir Primary and bronze went to Bruntsfield Primary.

Convener for Children and Families, Cllr Paul Godzik, said: “This is a great, innovative way for pupils to feel a part of the Olympic Games and also learn valuable lessons about the environment and other cultures and countries. The Games are set to be a historic time for the whole of Great Britain, and involving all our schools across the city in a wide variety of Olympic activities will inspire pupils to enjoy taking part in sport and learn about the world they live in.”

Environment Minister, Stewart Stevenson MSP, said: “With Olympic football at Hampden and the torch coming to Scotland, the Country in a Basket competition will help excite pupils about the forthcoming Olympic Games. This schools contest is an excellent way to engage pupils in the inclusive international spirit of the Games, while also helping them learn more about gardening, biodiversity and the natural world. I look forward to seeing the many creative country basket designs that pupils come up with and wish them all the best of luck for a place on the winners podium.”

Martin Dare, organiser of Gardening Scotland 2012, said: “At Gardening Scotland we welcome the participation of gardeners of all ages and we are delighted that this year so many green-fingered youngsters will be taking part through Country in a Basket. They’ll be taking their place alongside top garden designers, some of the UK’s best nurseries and more than 400 exhibitors selling everything for the garden.”

The competition and display will form part of the Gardening Scotland event at Ingliston, which runs until 3 June. More than 50,000 people are expected to attend over the three days, and the schools’ flowers and plants will be on proud display throughout.

The schools were provided with a basket, bag of compost and £50 to spend. Volunteers were also on hand to provide practical growing advice.

This is part of a wider initiative Edinburgh Gets Set for the Games – a series of cultural and sporting events held across the city. The programme includes a concert at the Usher Hall and a major sporting event at Meadowbank Stadium.

Schools have also run a wide range of curriculum based educational projects based on making international links, learning about other Olympic nations, healthy eating, sport, international culture, concerts and events and international twinning.

City of Edinburgh Council