Year 8s are learning the basics of programming over the next few weeks using SCRATCH - a visual programming language.
Students may wish to continue projects at home or learn how to do more themselves. If so, you can download the SCRATCH program from this website: http://info.scratch.mit.edu/Scratch_1.4_Download
The program is available for Windows and Mac (with a beta version available for Ubuntu).
SCRATCH is very easy to learn and great fun, but don't take our word for it, download it and give it a go...
This is a national event and as a Fairtrade school we need to be involved in awareness raising. This is what we have got planned, if you are interested in getting involved please let us know!
Assemblies - this week, assemblies for most year groups will be on Fairtrade: understanding why it is necessary and how it works.
Upper School
Fairtrade Forum meeting - for any students or staff wishing to get involved in promoting Fairtrade within our school and the wider community Wed 3rd March, 1.30pm in Room12
Fairtrade Cafe Upper School - There will be a Fairtrade Cafe (hot choc and biscuits) served in the lower part of the canteen at Upper school during second break from Friday 26th Feb. Drink and pack of two biscuits for £1. If there are any staff who would be willing to come down and support this event, then please join us.
Lower School
Fairtrade Stall - Fairtrade produce will be on sale for the week 1st-5th March at Lower school.
Fairtrade Creative Workshop - arty stuff on a Fairtrade theme with Ms Githinji during lunch time on Friday 26th Feb.
Whole School
Fairtrade Island Initiative event - Some of our Sixth Form committee will join the team from the Fairtrade Island initiative on Strand street on Saturday morning (27th Feb) to promote Fairtrade products for shoppers. Their may even be free Fairtrade chocolate samples!
Teaching about Fairtrade - it was great to hear from a good number of you about possible ideas for linking teaching about Fairtrade into your subject curriculum. Please keep the ideas coming and send any photographic evidence of students' work to me to add to our status renewal application.
A special thank you goes to Esther Hill and her student display team for their work on the great display at upper school and Amy Githinji for her super co-ordination work for Lower School events. Our Sixth Form committee have also played a key part.
Year 6 into 7 Open Evening
Thursday, 11 February 2010
These pictures attempt to
capture the flavour of the Year 6 Open Evening. Both Upper and Lower School
sites were open to parents and prospective students in Year 6 at local primary
schools. After visits to Lower
School, there were introductory talks at Upper School from Mr. Andy Fox,
Headteacher, Mr. Rob Cowley, Deputy Headteacher responsible for Lower School
andpresent students from Years 7. 9 and Sixth Form. Following this, the Upper
site was open for inspection. At both School sites, different academic departments
were able to outline their courses and asked students already at St. Ninian’s
to represent them. The evening was
very well attended and gave a great opportunity for prospective new students to
see what St. Ninian’s has to offer.
Ski Trip
Thursday, 04 February 2010
This Easter the annual Ski Trip will depart for Les Menuires in France. An excellent resort ideal for beginners.Year 8 students will find themselves in lessons for 4 hours each day, taught by experienced and well qualified instructors. For those of you who have been skiing before you will appreciated how tiring this can be. 4 hours of exercise with heavy ski boots and skis attached to your feet with the added effects of altitude to contend with can leave the students exhausted With this in mind Mr Harvey will be running a number of fitness sessions prior to the trip. Those students who regularly take part in sport will find this easy. Others though might need the additional support of the exercises Mr Harvey will give them, or those found on our Ski Exercise web page.
You can follow snow reports for the resort here and maybe come the Easter break you may spot us on the webcams!
Year 8s are learning the basics of programming over the next few weeks using SCRATCH - a visual programming language.
This is a national event and as a Fairtrade school we need to be involved in awareness raising. This is what we have got planned, if you are interested in getting involved please let us know!
These pictures attempt to
capture the flavour of the Year 6 Open Evening. Both Upper and Lower School
sites were open to parents and prospective students in Year 6 at local primary
schools. After visits to Lower
School, there were introductory talks at Upper School from Mr. Andy Fox,
Headteacher, Mr. Rob Cowley, Deputy Headteacher responsible for Lower School
andpresent students from Years 7. 9 and Sixth Form. Following this, the Upper
site was open for inspection. At both School sites, different academic departments
were able to outline their courses and asked students already at St. Ninian’s
to represent them. The 
evening was
very well attended and gave a great opportunity for prospective new students to
see what St. Ninian’s has to offer.
This Easter the annual Ski Trip will depart for Les Menuires in France. An excellent resort ideal for beginners.Year 8 students will find themselves in lessons for 4 hours each day, taught by experienced and well qualified instructors. For those of you who have been skiing before you will appreciated how tiring this can be. 4 hours of exercise with heavy ski boots and skis attached to your feet with the added effects of altitude to contend with can leave the students exhausted With this in mind Mr Harvey will be running a number of fitness sessions prior to the trip. Those students who regularly take part in sport will find this easy. Others though might need the additional support of the exercises Mr Harvey will give them, or those found on our 
