Thursday 27 March 2014

Spring festival of music

On two evenings this week I have had the privilege of attending two wonderful concerts at which our pupils excelled and did us proud.

Firstly, on Monday night, the City of Edinburgh Council celebrated the talent we have in our schools at the Queen's hall. A headline act was Anna (the 'Voice') McLuckie who was superb. Gillespie's pupils along with youngsters from Bun Sgoil Taobh na Pairce made up the majority of the 100 or so performers who took part. On a personal note I was delighted that both of my daughters (Jenny and Lucy) were prticipating.

Last night - Wednesday - Gillespie's had it's annual Spring Fling concert. We were joined by a P7 choir from Preston Street Primary school. This year, as we have no assembly hall, the venue was the conveniently located Church of Marchmont St. Giles. Once again the performances were quite superb.  The creative clarsach ensemble, the burgeoning brass players, the chirpy choirs, the growing  guitar ensemble, the bassoonist, the double bassist, the singers and our burgeoning pipe band (resplendent in their brand new Gillespie's tartan) all contributed to a highly successful and enjoyable evening. Well done to all!

Particular thanks to our staff in the Music department who, despite having national performing exams for almost a hundred pupils in the past 10 days, found the time and energy to organise these events.

Basketball successes

Warmest congratulations to our senior boys who, retained the Open boys' title yesterday in a keenly contested final against North Inch Community Campus. The final score of 82-72 in favour of our boys confirms a keenly fought contest took place.  Well done too to our who U15s were equally impressive, beating their Dumfries opposition by a healthier margin of 75-47. Remarkably, they also retained the trophy.

Thanks to all the coaches who have worked so hard throughout the year with the boys. I suspect that this year's Staff vs Pupils basketball match might be a bit one-sided ...

Sunday 23 March 2014

Up and coming Young Politician at Gillespie's

Very well done to Laurie Donaldson (S6) for winning the award for 'Up and Coming Scottish Politician' through the #ScottishVarietyAwards last night in #Glasgow

Gillespie's is proud of you.

Wednesday 19 March 2014

Lights out

It's almost time for Earth Hour 2014 - Sign up now and be a dazzling Earth Hour Star.

WWF’s Earth Hour is the world’s biggest celebration of our amazing planet, with hundreds of millions of people from around the world coming together in a spectacular lights out display.

It's a brilliant reminder that together we can make change happen and a chance to think about the small things we can all do to make a brighter future.

This year thousands of people in Scotland will be switching off their lights in a huge, symbolic show of support for action on climate change and a more sustainable future.

So whether you spend your time reflecting under the stars, celebrating by candlelight, or even playing your favourite sport lit by solar-powered lanterns, Earth Hour is a moment to say you'll do your bit to protect our planet - not just for one hour, but every day.

Earth Hour 2014 will take place at 8.30 pm on Saturday 29 March.

Tuesday 18 March 2014

St Parick's day

With St Patrick's Day upon us today, March 17, here are 15 words the English language owes to Gaelige, better known to English speakers as Irish Gaelic -- and as this list shows, Irish has given us a lot more than just leprechauns and shamrocks.
Acushla
If you've seen Million Dollar Baby, then you'll probably remember that acushla or macushla is an old Irish term of endearment roughly equivalent to the English sweetheart or darling. In the film, boxing trainer (and WB Yeats enthusiast) Frankie Dunn, played by Clint Eastwood, gives the nickname Mo Chuisle to Maggie Fitzgerald, the indomitable female boxer played by Hilary Swank. Acushla and all of its variations derive from the Irish a chuisle mo chroí, literally meaning 'the pulse of my heart.'
Bother
For such a familiar word it might come as a surprise to find that no one is entirely sure where bother comes from. The most likely idea is that it was originally pother, a word used in both Scots and Irish English to mean 'to cause a commotion,' or 'to bustle about busily,' which is in turn probably related to the Irish for noise, bodhraim, or deafen, bodhraim.
Craic
Back in the Middle Ages, the word crack was used in northern British English to mean 'conversation' or 'bragging, noisy chatter.' This English expression was then borrowed into Irish Gaelic and became craic, before being borrowed back into British English as recently as the 1970s to mean 'fun' or 'enjoyment,' particularly with friends or on a social occasion.
Galore
Meaning 'plentiful' or 'in abundance', galore dates back as far as the 1620s. It is derived from the Irish phrase go leór, which, contrary to its English use, doesn't mean 'abundantly' but rather 'sufficiently' or 'just enough.'
Hooligan
The word hooligan dates from the 1890s in English, and is almost certainly derived from the Irish surname Houlihan, or hUallacháin [sic.]. Its use as another name for a criminal or hoodlum is thought to come from a notorious Irish troublemaker called Patrick Hoolihan and his disorderly family who lived in London at the turn of the 19th-20th century.
Kibosh
Kibosh or kybosh has been used generally in English to describe something that stops or restrains something else since the early 1800s, but nowadays it is seldom found outside of the phrase to put the kibosh on, meaning 'to curb' or 'bring to an end.' Its origin is disputed, with various rival theories claiming it derives from anywhere from Turkish to Hebrew, but perhaps the most likely explanation is that it comes form the Irish chaip bháis, or 'cap of death' -- namely the black cap traditionally worn by an executioner or a judge delivering the death penalty. Its earliest use in English, incidentally, is found in Charles Dickens's Sketches By Boz (1836).
Phony
Phony first appeared in English in the late 19th century as an adjective meaning 'counterfeit' or 'insincere'; its earliest use as a noun, meaning 'an imposter' or 'a charlatan,' dates from 1902. Its etymology is debatable, but the most likely theory is that it is an alteration of the Irish word for a ring, fáinne, and was borrowed into English via an old fraudster's trick called the 'fawney rig.' According to an 1811 Dictionary of The Vulgar Tongue, the fawney rig involved 'a fellow' who drops 'a brass ring, double gilt, which he picks up before the party meant to be cheated, and to whom he disposes of it for less than its supposed -- and ten times more than its real -- value.'
Reaganomics
Alright, so Reaganomics isn't an Irish word, but it's fair to say it wouldn't have existed without Reagan. The surname of the 40th president is a derivative of the Irish word riagan, meaning 'little king.' Another president with an Irish name was Kennedy -- although regrettably his name comes from the Irish epithet ceannéidigh, meaning 'ugly-head.'
Shebeen
Properly speaking, a shebeen is a speakeasy or a similarly unlicensed or underground drinking establishment, but the word can also be used like moonshine and hooch as just another name for illegal or poor quality liquor (and in particular whisky). It dates back to the late 1700s, and is thought to be a derivative of an Irish word for a cup or mug, síbín.
Slew
Besides being a variation of slough, the past tense of slay, and an old verb meaning 'to skid' or 'to pivot', the word slew can also mean 'a large number' or 'an abundance of'. In this case, it comes from the Irish word for a crowd or army, slua.
Slob
Calling a slovenly person a slob dates back to the mid 19th century in English. Before then it meant 'mud,' or 'marshy, boggy land,' and is descended from the Irish word slaba, meaning 'ooze' or 'slime.'
Smithereens
Smithereens has been used to mean 'small pieces' in English since the early 1800s. It derives from its Irish equivalent smidirín, which in turn is a diminutive of the Irish word for a fragment of shard of something larger, smiodar.
Tory
Members of the British Conservative Party -- including current Prime Minister David Cameron -- have been nicknamed Tories since the early 1800s. There is absolutely nothing satirical whatsoever to be said about the fact that it ultimately derives from tóraidhe, an old Irish word for an outlaw or a plunderer of stolen cash.
Trousers
Trousers were originally called trowse or trouse in English before an extra final -s was added to it in the Middle Ages, as it was to all kinds of other things that come in pairs, like scissors, pants and spectacles. It ultimately derives from an even earlier Irish word, triubhas, for breeches or loose-fitting shorts.
Whisky
It's impossible to say whether whisky was originally an Irish Gaelic or Scots Gaelic word, but either way it derives from uisce beatha, a Gaelic phrase literally meaning 'water of life.'

What is education for?

Asked the question 'What is Education for?", Tony Benn said:
"To discover and realise the genius in everyone; to learn about the people in the world with whom you have to live and their history and culture; to acquire the skills to do the work you want; to build your confidence in yourself; to discover the dangers of hate and the power of love".

Wednesday 5 March 2014

A speech that left the audience spechless

Earlier this evening I watched this video with my younger daughter. After watching it together she gave me a big hug and we had a lovely few minutes together talking about what makes a person beautiful.

A must view for anyone with a daughter who has self-doubts about how beautiful she is.



Tuesday 4 March 2014

Up and coming Politician

Please use the link below to access an online vote for one of our outstanding S6 pupils in achieving an award.

Please vote for Laurie Donaldson - up and coming Politician!

http://www.capitalfm.com/scotland/events/scottishvarietyawards2014/

Voting closes this Friday 7 March.