P.E Circuits Assessment P7/S1

This week, being the last week of term, we have been completing our circuit training block with the boys in P7/S1 P.E.
The circuit is as follows:

Cardiovascular warm-up

Stretch off

Timed Circuit:
Level 1: 5 shuttle runs, 10 step-ups, 5 push-ups, 5 sit-ups, 8 'burpees' for 1 week
Level 2: 7 shuttle runs, 15 step-ups, 10 push-ups, 10 sit-ups, 12 'burpees' for 2 weeks
Level 3: 9 shuttle runs, 20 step-ups, 12 push-ups, 12 sit-ups, 15 'burpees' for 2 weeks
Level 1 Assessment

The idea of the block is that the boys get a time each week for their own performance. The circuit builds up over the block and in the final assessment week we go back to the first level. All the boys notice an improvement in their time and hopefully their level of fitness has improved over the 6 weeks. At the same time we have been discussing diet, exercise and sleep as components of fitness.

The block has been as great success, all the boys improved their times and tried very hard. Euan S1 received a brick for his house for his efforts in the circuit assessment week.

Well done!

Here are some snapshot videos of the boys doing the assessment circuit.

Broader Curriculum - Fishing Day!

Our fishing team outside Ardgowan Fisheries, Loch Thom, Greenock

Today was the final day of our fishing lessons at Ardgowan Fishery. We have ben doing these as part of our new 'Broader Curriculum' afternoons in P7/S1. The block of lessons has been extremely successful and grateful thanks are due to Robert, Raymond and all at the excellent Ardgowan Trout Fishery. Thanks are also due to John for taking some great pictures!

Here were our initial targets for the series of lessons:

By the end of our fishing block, we want to be able to say:

1.'I can set up my own fishing rod'
2.'I can identify types of fish in Ardgowan Fisheries loch'
3.'I can name various pieces of fishing gear'
4.'I can cast from a safe place on the bank'
5.I can look after live bait'
6.'I can fish with bait'

For the final day we went to the loch for the whole day. We invited the parents of the children who had been fishing to come along and see how much we have been learning. It was a great day and the weather was perfect. Altogether 22 fish were caught including 3 by Nathan's dad and 3 by Mr Neilson, both of whom were fishing for the first time in a long time!
I have included the targets we set ourselves at the beginning of the block. You can see that we met our targets, acquired new skills and had a lot of fun in the process!

Here is what the boys thought themselves:

Rhys:
I enjoyed the 6 weeks of fishing that we did. I had suggested it to Mr Jewell and Mrs Speirs and it worked great. I caught 5 fish from the 6 weeks. The full day was really good and I caught two fish. I'm going up on Thursday with my teacher, Mr jewell, my maths teacher, Mr Creighton and my friends.
Kerr:
It was good fun. I'd already fished before but never caught anything. Over the 6 weeks I caught 2 fish. I have already eaten one and I gave one to my Grampa that he ate. I think I will go more often now.
Angus:
It was great! I learned a lot more about fishing. It was really good fun. I particularly learned about bait fishing which I had not done before. I'll go fishing much more often now.
Stuart:
It was good to learn about all the different types of fishing. My favourite thing about fishing is the bit when you have caught a fish on your hook and you have to reeel it in and 'fight' it! I caught 2 during the 6 weeks and I went once by myself out of school and caught one. I'm hopefully going on Thursday of the holidays!

Enjoy our pictures!


Angus with a super catch!


We smoked some of our fish on the smoker straight away and sampled some oak smoked rainbow trout for lunch - delicious!


All the boys received a medal (kindly donated by the fishery) for achieving the targets we had set.


Waiting in school before heading out to the loch.


Rhys had all the gear, he was one of our most competent fishermen!


Stuart and Nico looking for a safe place to cast.


Spreading out along the bank.


Kerr and Rhys were quick to get their rods in the water.


Oliver had a go at fly fishing with his dad. He was also the one who caught the most over the last 3 weeks!


Nathan brought his dad who hadn't fished for over 20 years - and promptly caught 3 fish before some of us had got our rods in the water! Nathan also caught in the morning.


Euan still managed to look cool in the morning sun!


Mr Neilson hadn't fished for 40 years but caught 3 lovely rainbow trout during the day.


Nico came up with the biggest catch of the day - 3.5lb! Well done!

All the boys received a brick on the wall for their house for their efforts and behaviour over the fishing block. Well done boys!

Mr J :)

Set design

S3/4 drama have been looking at scenery and set design for our Hamlet extract. We sourced and bought 'brick' wallpaper and used it to make the castle walls. We will add windows and a portcullis tomorrow.

Police in Modern Studies

S3/4 are working hard in Modern Studies, leading up to their second end of module test. We are coming to the end of our unit on Crime and the Law in Scotland, and this week we are focusing on the different methods used by the police to combat crime.

Megan: The police combat crime by large operation such as the Spotlight initiative, which tackles low level crimes like vandalism.

Daniel: The police have different types of officers to combat different types of crime. For example, beat police, mounted police and police on bikes! There were police on bikes last night on the esplanade, keeping an eye on things whilst the QE2 was sent off.

Jess: Pro-active policing aims to keep one step ahead of the criminal.

Robyn: Crimes can be prevented as well if local citizens know their local police officers by their first names.

Deborah: The police are trying to attract officers to the from ethnic backgrounds in answer to racism allegations.

Here are the class working co-operatively to prepare presentations which they will give to the rest of the class.

In the mood!

In P5/6 we have been learning about how different rhythms and pulses can change and alter the mood of  piece of music. Here, you can see the class expressing the mood of the music through movement and facial expressions!

Buon Giornio!

Last week, P7 and S1 had a visit from two Italians! Melissa in P7's mum works at IBM and brought two workers to tell us about modern day Italy and Rome. It was absolutley fascinating! We saw lots of pictures, learnt LOTS of interesting things about Italy... and even learnt a smattering of Italian! 

P7's take on the morning:

James: I never knew there are bus time tables in Italy! You just have to wait for the next one to come along!

Oliver: The Roman Colossuem was very interesting to hear about and I hope they don't bring back the lions.

Christopher: I can't believe that when a train is five minutes late they still call that on time.

Euan: I didn't know that pizza was invented in Italy!!

Conor: I didn't now that the biggest river has a tiny name- PO!

Dariah: I can't believe how much pasta they consume!

Melissa: I didn't know they drink so much wine!

Shannon: I thought it was funny that there is a fountain in Rome that you shouldn't drink from or you'll split up with your boy friend or girl friend!

Georgina: I loved the way they move their hands when they talk and get excited!

Amber: I really enjoyed it!

A really successful morning! And a BIG thanks to Angela for organising it for us!!

Ciao :)

(photos coming soon!)

Head Boy / Girl Election Results

Last week Cedars School voted for our Head Boy and Head Girl for the session 2008/2009. The results were close but in the end the winners were David Ostrowski (Head Boy!) and Jennifer Mole (Head Girl!) Congratulations to them both. This week we will be voting in House captains for our various houses. The house captains and Head Boy/Girl will together make up our school council. This is a pupil council that meets with Mrs Speirs and staff each week to discuss and make decisions on a wide variety of issues affecting the school. Any pupils with an issue they would like to raise at the school council should take it to their House Captain.

Mr J:)

The Q.E.2 Leaves Greenock!

Yesterday the Q.E.2 visited Greenock for the last time. She is on her way to Dubai to become a hotel and she sailed up the Clyde to Greenock yesterday morning and stayed with us the whole day. Many of us went down to see one of the most famous ships ever to be built on the Clyde. Read our comments to see how we enjoyed paying our 'last respects' to a grand old boat! Miss Bell also took some great pictures of the fireworks!

Mr J :)

Theatre Arts

As part of the Theatre Production Skills unit in Int 1 Drama, S3/4 have been looking at different theatre arts. This week we looked at some basic make-up effects - of a ghostly nature... We are looking at a short extract from the start of Hamlet at the moment, in particular the part where the ghost appears to the sentinels who are guarding the castle. We will be making use of these effects to enhance our performance of the extract.

Here is what they have to say:

"I thought Jessica did me up very realistically... for a ghost!" - Hannah

"I liked putting the make up on Hannah because it was interesting to see how it looked and the different effects." - Jessica

"I thoroughly enjoyed doing it - it was very enjoyable and a new way of learning." - Gabriella

"It was fun and exciting - Ella was very gentle! She was very good at putting it on and she took it very seriously." - Deborah

Shakespeare in the City

P7 - S5 went to the Royal Concert Hall last week for an excellent performance by the RNSO based on Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet. The orchestra played a wide range of music including pieces by Prokofiev, from the score of the recent film and music from West Side Story. A very worthwhile experience!


It was very dramatic and exciting! My favourite part was when we got to join in and shout MAMBO!" - Beth

"It was amazing to see how fast they could play - especially the violin." - Chloe

"I loved the trumpet best because it makes a funky sound!" - Lara

Ground Force Update!

Well, our landscaping project is coming to a close... this week we finished off Operation Offord (!) All the pupils have worked very hard- please do come and see what we have done in the school garden! It is now ready for Mrs Offord and the Biologists to get planting!

On Wednesday afternoon Ground Force took stock of all that they have accomplished. The pictures below speak for themselves!

Persequor Ad Bravium

Last week, some of the teachers spent the day at the Learning and Teaching Scotland Annual COnference at the SECC in Glasgow.

We attended seminars and keynote speeches on the curriculum for Excellence and its development in schools across Scotland. We heard from the government, from HMIe, and from educational entrepeneurs. The day was extremely interesting, and encouraging for us, because we are definitely getting it right here in Cedars! Our Broader Curriculum afternoons, primary trips, the extra PE and Music we do, our focus on pupils as individuals, our commitment to providing a first class eduction that equips each pupil with the skills they need to achieve their potential, and much more, encapsulates the Curriculum for Excellence vision.

School Elections

This morning, voting has taken place for the Head Boy and Girl of our school. S2 did a fabulous job of organising the event! Results will be announced soon!