Saint Paul’s High School

Easter Newsletter

CATHOLIC EDUCATION

Special points of interest:

 Campus Police Officer

 P.E. Department

 Lenten Fundraising

 Dates for your diary

 Parent Council

Issue 3, March 2018 My dear Parents/Carers/Young People

This term our young people have been continuing to work and to

study hard in class and at home. Together with our academic

studies, for our Lenten Challenge we have been raising money for

Mary’s Meals.

Our target is for every class to raise at least £13.90 as this sum can

feed one child for a whole year in some of the world’s poorest

countries. Thank you for your support of this whole school initia-

tive.

Pope Francis encourages us all to “give alms” (give money and

food to the poor) and he tells us : “Alms-giving sets us free from

greed and helps us regard our neighbour as a brother or sister.

What I possess is never mine alone. How I would like alms-giving

to become a genuine style of life for each of us ——I echo Saint

Paul’s urging us to take up a collection for the community”.

Please also visit our website :

www.st-paulshigh.glasgow.sch.uk

On behalf of us all at Saint Paul’s R.C. High School I would like

to wish you and your family a very happy Easter.

Kind Regards

Ms Pierotti

OUR SCHOOL VALUES INCLUDE : COMPASSION AND GRATTITUDE

SCHOOL OF AMBITION—”AIMING HIGH FOR YOUNG PEOPLE”

Five new campus cops set to patrol Glasgow schools

FROM diverting pupils away from flute bands to dispensing career advice and building bonds with parents, Glasgow's new

campus cops are breaking down barriers.

Police Scotland has increased the number of police officers in city schools by around 50 per cent in a bid to reduce exclusions

and raise attainment.

And, although head teachers reported some concerns from parents, the five new School Based Officers are aiming to make a

lasting difference to pupils.

All five take up posts in South West Glasgow schools after head teachers identified their schools could benefit from a police

presence.

Bellahouston Academy had a campus officer for three years so head teacher Ian Anderson is well aware of the benefits they

bring.

He said: "In a sense it's difficult to say why having a campus officer is so successful because it affects us across the board.

"The last thing he was doing was functioning as a police officer. Rather, he was establishing relationships with pupils and par-

ents.

"He reinforced school rules but also rules more generally for outside school - he never acted as a first responder."

Lisa Pierotti, head teacher of St Paul's High School, added: "We had been sharing a campus officer and saw the benefits we

were getting from that.

"We talked about what we could do to raise attainment in our school and realised having an officer full time would make a

difference.

"The South West division knew we were keen and so when this opportunity came up we jumped at it."

The five new officers include: Leigh McPartland, who is based in St Paul's High School; Rachael Gallagher, now in Rosshall

Academy; Craig Murie, who joins Govan High School; Daniel Johnston, based in Hillpark Secondary; and Harry Hutchison, who

is part of Bellahouston Academy.

Glasgow City Council said there are currently around 10 campus officers across the city, meaning the five new posts are a sub-

stantial increase.

The roles will be paid for by Police Scotland and Pupil Equity Fund (PEF) cash, Scottish Government money given directly to

schools to help close the attainment gap.

Chief Inspector Alan Bowater, area commander for South West Glasgow said it had taken 10 months to get the scheme in

place.

He added: "Over 29 years I have noticed that police and young people don't get on as well as they should, there is a barrier

there that is not being broken down.

"I interviewed all of the officers involved personally. I was looking for additional skills they could bring into play and people

who had the interests of the young people at heart."

Geri Collins, head teacher of Hillpark Secondary School, said: "I had come from Easterhouse where we had a campus officer

and I really felt it, not having one at Hillpark.

"He used to take a group of disengaged boys out fishing on a Sunday. He did bike maintenance with pupils.

"It's really important to have the right person in school and we feel we do now at Hillpark."

The five officers, who come from varied backgrounds, took up their posts earlier this month and are already working to make

connections with young people.

PC Murie was a PE teacher before joining the force so wanted to combine his education and police skills.

PC Johnston worked with Skills Development Scotland with young people and his wife is a social worker so working in a

school was an interesting option for him.

The officer, originally from Northern Ireland, plans to use music to engage pupils

He said: "I'm going to be starting a couple of bands. I played in a pipe band back home as a drummer.

"Some of the kids are in flute bands, which have the more negative connotations, so I want to catch them and teach them a

different style of drumming and start a band with them."

PC Hutchison has been a campus officer for three years and believes it is vital to build a positive relationship between young

people and the police.

He said: "The challenge is getting them to trust you. Now they come to me. I can't even get out of my car in the morning. But I

go to them too, even just for a kick about.

"If any of them have offended over the weekend they will actually come and tell you and ask you what to do.

"It does make you proud when they achieve."

PC McPartland, who has been working as a campus officer since April last year, added: "But it also makes you so disappointed

when they do something wrong.

"I have two kids of my own but this is like having another 800.

"They come and say things like, 'If you did this, what would happen to you?' and you have to hope it's hypothetical question

and then give them the best advice you can."

Alison Mitchell, Rosshall Academy head teacher, believes the continuity of having one officer to deal with, should any prob-

lems arise for pupils, will make a difference in her school.

She said: "If there are any issues that need dealt with then the officer is there from

start to finish - and I have seen perceptions of the police change.

"Our PTA had some mixed views. The main hesitation is that it might damage the per-

ception of the school - 'There must be anti-social behavior because you have police

there.'

"But now they see the role is much more pastoral."

Head teacher of Govan High, Nancy Belford, added: "Young people were quite shocked

to see a police officer in school at first.

"Their natural reaction is, 'Who's in trouble? What's happened?' but they are now really gravi-

tating towards him and building positive relationships."

P.C Leigh McPartland

Big congratulations to Saint Paul's High School Swim-

mers Darren and Dylan Connell, pictured here handing

over a cheque for Six Hundred and Five Pounds to the

Beatson Cancer Charity. The money was raised from a

half mile open water swim at Loch Lomond last Au-

gust. Well done boys!

After all the recent Snow, some sun to look forward to will be nice! Forms to take part in next year’s trip to Spain are

available from Mr Deveney or Mrs Maguuire! Place are limited and filling up fast! Any remaining spaces will be of-

fered to our new S1 pupils on the P7 Induction days.

2019 Trip to Spain

S3 Young Chemical Ambassador Programme

Our S3 Young Chemical Ambassadors Bailey MacDonald, Georgia

Cavanagh, Frankie McGhee, Ryan Murray and Ewan Elliot have taken

part in a 5 day programme (follow twitter: #YoungChemAmbassador) with

mentors from Strathclyde University’s Chemical Engineering department

where they met industry specialists, and pupils from other schools while

taking part in many activities: a university tour, practical experiments (e.g.

making bouncy balls & nano dirt). They will be presenting their own pro-

ject to the peers in their class in mid-March on “sludge—investigating

sand castles”.

STEM Jacob’s Engineering

The science dept. is very excited about the Jacob's Engineering Challenge, in which a number of S1 pupils will be

taking part in before and after Easter. This is a group project where the pupils will choose a issue and come up

with creative solutions and ideas to solve and come up with ideas for the city to deal with issues such as air pollu-

tion, or flooding. All of these problems are based on a Glasgow context and feed into promoting teamwork, social

skills and creativity - as well as giving the pupils an opportunity to engage with STEM subjects in a real-life con-