It is International Women’s Day today and throughout the day, pupils across the whole school will be marking this important event in a number of ways, starting with a very special whole school assembly in the Cathedral this morning.
We also thought it would be a great opportunity to ask pupils to nominate someone within our community who inspires them and we received some wonderful nominations…
Upper 6 pupil May MacLennan, who is also our Red Gown responsible for Girls and Young Women this year, was nominated for being “kind, strong and hard working.”
Head of Individual Sports Performance, Gemma Ashton was nominated for her inspirational sports leadership – “I have been coached by Mrs Ashton for many years and never has she gone into a training session or match without her immense determination, she really believes that if you're going to do a job you have to do it right and I look up to her for that. She also does this with a wide smile on her face whilst looking out for her players and encouraging them to recognise the importance of values such as commitment, leadership and teamwork. She also works to put a real fight in teenage girls so that they want to win and want to achieve and not shy away from being aggressive or other stereotypical 'male values'.” Wow! Congratulations Mrs Ashton.
Former teacher, Elle Tivey who is now working abroad at a school in Switzerland, was nominated because she “inspires me to do girls football and as a result I am now in the Girls 1st XI for the school. Miss Tivey was also a huge supporter of my Send a Smile Campaign and helped me to promote it within school.”
Lower 6 pupil Emily Ford was nominated because “she always brings positivity and great energy whenever I see her. She brings a smile to my face.”
Head of Marketing and Communications, Mrs Stevenson was also nominated for bringing a smile to someone’s face – “Mrs Stevenson is very busy yet so organised. She always finds time for others and remembers the little things. I know for sure she leaves a smile on the face of everybody she talks to and makes their day whether she realises it or not. I think more people should be as positive and friendly as Mrs Stevenson.”.
Our youngest nominee was Maysam Wahid from Upper 4, who was nominated because “she is creative, sporty and smart, and as I've watched her mature, I've seen just how much she's truly capable of and how responsible she's become, staying brave and tough. She inspires me to open up and meet new people, but also to never give up and to always try improve.”
Learning Support Key Worker and Tutor, Mrs Kelly received a nomination because “she was the kindest tutor and taught us so much. She inspired me to be strong and independent.”
Last but not least was a joint nomination for Spanish Teacher, Mrs Barber, and Classics Teacher and Head of Community Service, Mrs Ward – “they used to teach me in U4 and L5 respectively and I looked forward to going to their lessons. Mrs ward was always very nice, fun, and a good teacher- never being too strict or setting too much homework! Mrs Barber would give lots of merits and sweets and always thought to bring vegetarian ones in for me; she was kind, easy to talk to, an amazing teacher and one of my favourite ever. I would have loved to learn from them more had I not dropped Spanish and Gratin.”
What an awesome group of inspirational women! In the coming days, some of our Lower 6 Community Service pupils will be interviewing these amazing women, so we look forward to hearing more about them!