Mr Mackay Introduction
Welcome to the first edition of the Madras College Diary for this session. It has been yet again a busy time in the school and over the next few months we hope to give you a flavour of what life is like at Madras in and out of class. We have an active pupil committee from S3, 4 and 6 and they will be collecting and editing information about school for you. Top

Clubs at Kilrymont
Over the term the number of pupils attending outdoor sports practices during the week has broken all records. In the junior sports 30 plus pupils is not unusual at any one practice and on one particular Thursday on the Kilrymont Road playing fields the total was 156.
'109.com', a lunchtime computing club, has increased numbers of S1, 2 and 3 pupils. Plans are already in place to open another room to accommodate the growing interest.
'Library' at lunchtimes is full of pupils wanting to read, access the Internet or play 'Who wants to be a millionaire?' As yet we have not gone past £500,000!!! I'm afraid the winnings will not be available through school funds!
New club of the term is 'The Space Club' run by Mrs. Phillips of the Mathematics department. Watch this space for an in-depth article later in the term.
'Warhammer' is also proving to be popular, attracting a regular number of pupils each day.
Take, in the region of 28 pupils, put them on the playing fields at Lunchtime and you have the core of the Cross-Country Club. Busy times indeed............. Top

S6 Peer Tutoring
We have currently matched 112 S6 peer tutors across the school. After their training earlier this session they have been working with individuals and groups of pupils in and out of the classrooms supporting them in their learning. Also, sixth years are a regular presence in Kilrymont Road at lunchtimes as well, meeting the younger pupils, helping in the playgrounds, monitoring and trying to reduce litter round the school and immediate community Top

Assessment
On the subject front, S3 Reports are being written by staff at the moment ready for issuing to parents later this term. S4 Prelims begin on Monday 10th November and run until the end of the month. Top

Parent Teacher Association
The opening meeting of the PTA took place on Thursday 25th September with the topic of 'Homestudy'. Mrs.C.Easingwood and Mr.C.Mackay were joined by Mr.J.Airlie and Mr.H.Watson in outlining the school's new ‘Homestudy’ Policy. This was followed by a presentation of the Study Skills Programmes given to pupils across the yeargroups by The Learning Game and Performance Seminars, organisations who focus on various aspects of learning. To conclude, parents and staff met in small groups to discuss the topics in greater detail. Parents were appreciative of the links between home and school on Homestudy. Top

Accentuating the Positive
Members of ‘The Learning Game’ have been in school recently to offer an interactive programme to all S1 pupils. Through a variety of activities pupils were made aware of the value of positive thinking in the process of learning and in building self-confidence... ...

This week-end sees ‘The Learning Game’ again in school offering a Discovery Course to S3 pupils. Over two days pupils will be exploring how the brain works, the importance of relaxation, how to develop powerful self-belief and how to become a more effective learner. We'll find out what the pupils thought of it all next week. Top

Heartstart
Volunteers from 'Heartstart’ will be in school offering CPR training to all third year pupils over the coming term. Assisting them will be sixth year pupils who received training in S3. Dr. Bell would be proud of this aspect of the Madras System of teaching. Top

MOG squad
Every Monday a group of 6th year pupils, Krystin Ingram, Alison Brodie, Megan Bell, Daniel Pow, Blair Rennie and Jonathan Strasbourg give up most of their school day to the MOG squad. The Madras Outdoor Group (MOG) is run by Mr Dickson, a Physics teacher, for around 10 pupils in 2nd and 3rd year who have difficulty coping at school. The volunteers got involved as part of the Peer Tutoring initiative, wherein 6th years give something back to the school by helping younger pupils academically or socially. This particular scheme required adventurous and outgoing 6th years. The first few sessions have involved them kayaking and canoeing in Anstruther and they are looking forward to the 8 weeks ahead of rock climbing in Dundee. One brave volunteer Krystin says she finds MOG squad ‘challenging, but really good fun- for us as well as the kids.’ Top

Advanced Higher English Trips
Madras Pupils have been stepping out recently, as part of a new initiative to encourage English students to appreciate live theatre. As a result members of Mr Darge’s Advanced Higher English Class have been sighted lurking at numerous productions ranging from the Byre Theatre’s ‘Educating Rita’ to the Dundee Rep’s recent airing of the ‘Twelfth Night’. Reports even go as far as to suggest students were spotted smuggling away on the recent drama department trip to Shakespeare’s birthplace of Stratford-upon-Avon. The most recent of these events was to see David Harrower‘s adaptation of John Wyndham’s ‘The Chrysalids’ on Wednesday the 1st of October. The play is based around events that occur when a group of children find they have extraordinary powers and are forced to flee their superstitious hometown. All involved agreed that the evening was enjoyable despite the rather bleak nature of the subject and the even bleaker nature of the sandals worn by the cast. A confused Alexander Russell expressed his disappointment at the lack of an interval as he had been “really looking forward to an ice cream.” He has our sympathy. Top

Ohio exchange
The windy morning of Friday 10th October saw 22 pupils and 2 teachers leave for the American state of Ohio. The 11 or so days were jam packed with activities that kept them very busy. A trip to Cedar Point Theme Park was a big plus as it houses the tallest, fastest roller coaster in the world and was tried by most of the group. As well as that the Ohio State University American Football Team had a match on the following Friday. This meant most of the group experienced the 105,000-seater stadium crammed with die-hard fans. Some of the other activities included a tour of the school, university, some hiking, Frisbee, golf, an ice-hockey match, masses of shopping and plenty of parties. Everyone truly loved their time there and cannot wait to host the Americans. Let’s hope we can offer them a truly valuable Scottish experience. Top

Fundraising
On Friday 26th September the Interact Club organized a fundraising cake sale in the South Street Quad in aid of Macmillan Cancer Research. Hundreds of cakes, teas and coffees were sold and enjoyed by many, raising an ample total of £400! Top

Stratford-upon-Avon trip
Following on from last year there was another successful trip to Stratford-upon-Avon in late September. Mrs Esler, Mr Dewar and Mr Darge accompanied thirty pupils from Higher and Advanced Higher English and Drama classes. We took in Cymbeline and Richard III at the Royal Shakespeare Theatre along with Shakespeare properties, a backstage tour of the theatres, Warwick castle and the obligatory bit of free time for shopping. The general consensus was that the plays were challenging and rather long but everyone wanted to return next year, and for longer! Top

Whole School Council
The inaugural Whole School Council met in the Kilrymont Conference Room with a full agenda and much excitement. Five Sixth Years hosted the event in which two democratically minded representatives from each year group attended, from S1 upwards.
The discussion included issues such as future fundraising events, hygiene conditions in the school, and the pressing problem of over-crowding.
This Council, the first in Madras College's long history, will to be run by the pupils for the pupils. The Council seeks to establish a stronger link of communication and co-operation between the school's Rector, management, staff and the student body.
Andrew Ayton (S6) the Chairman of the meeting enthusiastically commented "It is a good way of uniting Kilrymont and South Street and understanding the general opinions of Madras College students - it is the best thing that ever happened to Madras!" Top

German Assistant
Sven Thelen, 27 from Köln in Germany, began work as a German Assistant in the Department of Modern Languages this August. His first impressions of St. Andrews were that it is very nice, and he has made friends with many University students because he is studying English there himself, and he finds people here friendly. He has been helping in German classes throughout the school, working with pupils to improve their German speaking skills. Sven finds life here very different from his home city - it has one million inhabitants and a nightlife that rather shames that of St. Andrews! Overall, Sven says the nicest thing about Scotland is “definitely the people” and the strangest thing “haggis!" He thinks he would like to come back to Scotland - "of course!" Top

Talk Like A Pirate Day!
Avast ye scurvy dogs! Friday the 19th of September showed the pupils of Madras College splicing their main brace and swashing their buckles in celebration of International ‘Talk like a Pirate Day’. The idea was very simple; talk like a pirate for a day. The fun day hails from the Americas, a land of booty and buccaneers. It has travelled the seven seas to bombard our senses. Pupils spent the day hobbling round on their ‘peg’ legs, (which were also used as an excuse to get out of PE) and ‘arrring’, challenging their mates to walk the plank or visit ‘Davie Jones’ Locker’. Even teachers became involved; Mr Cleland of the classics department dedicated the day to teaching his Latin class ‘pirate’ Latin. One or two pupils were even seen to dress up with eye patches and bandanas! ‘Talk like a Pirate Day’ has left a lasting impression on Madras College and hopefully will be carried on by future generations for years to come! For more information, hoist your sails and plot a course for www.talklikeapirate.com Top

Calendar
The celebrations for our founder Dr.Andrew Bell's 250th Anniversary are continuing. We have been plundering the archives for old photographs (including some of the earliest ever taken) of Madras College and pupils, to grace an unusual and fascinating look at the past, in calendar form. At the time of writing it is in process of being printed and should be ready in plenty of time for purchase as a Christmas gift with a difference. For further details watch this space! Top

Madras College "Notes"
From the Archives

A Vision of the Future?
A pupil writing in the Madras College Magazine of 1936 thought it interesting to write about the transport arrangements which might be in place in the year 2000.

“The time approaches nine o'clock and the quadrangle of 21st century Madras College presents its usual appearance of bustle. Airplanes and airships from Strathkinness, Leuchars, Tayport and Largoward - the four corners of the earth, as one might say, arrive one after the other, stop for a second to disgorge their cargoes of pupils and return for fresh loads. At the back door of the school (instituted 1953) radium boats rush up and down the Kinness Burn, unloading pupils by the score. Pupils arrive from Crail in Autogyros; others arrive from Guardbridge in the latest style of paper suit; some even come from St Andrews”. Top

Fife schools swimming gala
Eight pupils from madras took part in the Fife Departments of Special Education swimming gala last term. The event, at Lochgelly High School, involved five secondary schools from the region.
There were a number of excellent results including event wins for Gilly Stewart, Daniel Gibson and David Johnstone. All the pupils enjoyed the day and were great ambassadors for madras.
The Event was used to select a Fife team to attend the National Gala at Tollcross in Glasgow in November. The following pupils have been selected for the team: - Daniel Gibson, Shaun Atkinson, Becky Moore, Melissa Leadingham, Gilly Stewart and Gary Scott. We wish them every success on the day Top

D.S.E. Trip to Glen Tilt
In the last week of the first term a group of seven S1 - S3 pupils and three staff from the D.S.E had a very enjoyable and memorable overnight visit to the school’s bothy at Glen Tilt. Our first stop was the swimming pool in Perth where we showed off our swimming skills. Next was a trip to the scone palace where the Scottish kings were crowned. After a guided tour of the palace we all enjoyed crowning each other on a replica stone of destiny. (Many thanks to the Drama Department for the loan of a crown).
After this insight into life in a palace it was on to the slightly less luxurious surroundings of life in a bothy! The weather was great and we all enjoyed the ghost stories around the campfire. The good weather stayed with us the next day and we were able to explore the area. Everyone had a great time and we are all looking forward to the next trip to Glen Tilt. Top

Quote of the fortnight!
‘Brian, why does your jumper say “Ezekiel” on it - were the manufacturers trying to make a prophet?’ the Mr Cleland of the Classics Department. Top