August 2003

Lionel School

National Tests - 2003
National Test P 3-7 Reading P 3-7 Writing P 3-7 Maths S2 Reading S2 Writing S2 Maths	Lionel School 94% 94% 93% 86% 71% 81%	Average for CNES schools 81% 76% 80% 73% 64% 59%	Average for Scotland 81% 72% 78% 58% 48% 53%
Staff retirals
We would like to wish Ms Mary Smith and Mr Derek McLauchlan a very happy retirement, and would also like to extend our very best wishes to Ms Catriona Campbell as she looks forwards to beginning work in Barvas School after the holidays.
Gaelic Society of London 2004 Competition
Congratulations to Claire Macdonald and Katie Hebditch, who won first prizes in their categories in this prestigious competition, and also to David Murray and Stephanie Jeffries who both won merit awards for their categories. Well done to all of these pupils from the Secondary Gaelic Department of Lionel School.
School trip to Belgium, France and Holland
A Lionel School party enjoyed a visit to Belgium, France and Holland during the week of 24-29 May 2004, comprised of 40 P7-S2 pupils and 6 members of the Lionel School staff. The ferry from Rossyth to Zeebrugge was voted as one of the highlights of the trip, due to the excellent accommodation, entertainment and food. In Belgium, we visited the sites of World War 1 battlefields at Ypres and Flanders, and also enjoyed a canal tour by boat of the 'Venice of the North' at the historical city of Brugges. Our trip to France consisted of enjoying the rides at the Bagatelle theme park, and a visit to the seaside town of Le Touquet. In Holland the party visited the market town of Middleburg, and enjoyed the spectacle of a real open air market with many different wares on view, culminating in a visit to a water world tourist site looking at Holland's continuing battles against the sea.
Healthy Eating Poster Competition
Congratulations to Jake Johnson, who was second placed in the P6,7 age group, and to Sophie Harris, who got a high merit award in the P4,5 category of the Library Coffee Shop Healthy Eating Poster Competition . Well done to both of these pupils from the Primary Department of Lionel School.
Lewis Mod success
Lionel School won many prizes at the Lewis Mod, including being presented with the best overall performance for the Secondary Play at the prizewinners' evening concert held in the Nicolson Institute on 19 March 2004. To win the best performance award is the highest possible achievement at the Mod, and the school would like to thank Mr Norman Campbell for his inspirational drama teaching. The total list of first prize successes at the Lewis Mod were as follows: Best overall performance: Lionel School Secondary Play Playlet Open Secondary, Duais Roinn Na Gaidhealtachd: Lionel Secondary Play Best Actor, The Machair Cup: Innes Macsween Unison Boys 13-18, James Curr Trophy: Lionel Secondary Boys Primary Folk Group, Duais Feis Cheilteach Innse Gall: Lionel Primary Folk Group
Classroom Assistant
Mrs Joan Macinnes was appointed as the new Classroom Assistant for the Primary Department of Lionel School on Friday 19 March 2004.
Gold Award for Lionel School at the 'Bridge the Gap' conference
On 11 March 2004, Lionel School won a Gold Award at the 'Bridge the Gap' Schools Enterprise presentations held in the Lews Castle College Conference Centre. On hand to receive the prize for their work in the Schools Enterprise Programme were Mrs A Macdonald and Mrs M Smith.
Primary Football league winners
On 25 February 2004, Lionel School pupils James Corbett, Donald Gillies, David Macdonald and Innes Macdonald, together with Justin Cuppitt of Cross School, won the Primary 5-a-side league in the Stornoway Sports Centre. The team had the exceptional record of winning all their games against the 13 other teams, except two which they drew, with no games at all lost, conceding only two goals in the entire competition. This is the best result for a Primary team for many years, and bodes well for the future. Well done to the boys and their coaches, Neil MacRury and Dolaidh Morrison.
Lionel wins Inter Schools Badminton Championship
Lionel won the local Lewis S1/S2 Schools Badminton Championship again this year at the Back Centre on 25 February 2004. With only two games lost in the entire tournament, this is another feather in the caps of the team and their dedicated coach, D R Morrison. Well done to all the players and their coach.
PTA Evening - 'A Peruvian Journey'
On 20 February, Lionel School PTA hosted a function for the local community entitled 'A Peruvian Journey', presented by John Hebditch. John gave an excellent presentation of a fundraising trip in aid of charity which he undertook to Peru during the previous summer, together with entertainment by Lionel School pupils, all in aid of PTA funds.
SSFA Coca Cola Championship, Ross County, Dingwall
Lionel School fielded the youngest team of the day in this S1/S2 7-a-side football competition, having to use players as young as P5. The team competed very well on the day against much older teams, and the experience will stand them in good stead in the future. After the competition, the boys were coached by former Premier League players such as Murdo Macleod (Celtic) and Gary Mackay (Hearts).
Lionel School are top in Scotland in UK ProShare competition
Lionel School team, 'Think Pink' (Emily Jackson, Stephanie Jeffries, Annette Martin and Catriona White) were placed top in the whole of Scotland, Northern England and Northern Ireland at the Quarter Finals stage of this investment competition. With over 17,000 teams participating from the UK as a whole, it was a noteworthy achievement to be top in their group at this stage of the competition.
National Swimming Championship success
Lionel Swimming Club member Catherine Offer achieved the unprecedented success of being crowned a Scottish Swimming Champion, with her training for this national event having been conducted in the Lionel School trainer pool by her coach, D R Morrison. We were also very pleased by the success of Isabella Blakey, who, while not placed among the winners at this national event, nevertheless did exceptionally well to get a place in the national finals.
Christmas Concert
The annual Christmas Concert took place on the evening of 18 December 2003, with a full house. This concert was very much enjoyed by all, with a high standard of entertainment of various types showcased to an appreciative audience.
Language Assistant
Mrs Margaret Macleod was appointed as the new Language Assistant to assist the learning and teaching of Gaelic in Lionel School on Monday 15 December 2003.
Broadbay Schools 5-a-side Football Competition
Several Lionel School teams were entered for this competition, which took place on Saturday 15 November and Saturday 22 November 2003. The Lionel Primary 'A' team won through to the semi-finals of their competition, while the S1 team played exceptionally well to reach the final of their tournament. All of the boys' and girls' teams played well, and many goals were scored overall, with the conduct and sporting behaviour at both the Primary and Secondary competitions being very good. The footballers all wished to thank their trainer, Mr K Smith, for his coaching every Tuesday after school, and for giving up his time to be with the teams on both Saturdays and leading them to a high standard of achievement. Andrew Macleod said "The Primary 'A' and S1 teams played fantastic football, and we would like to thank all the supporters who cheered the team on. All of our teams showed very sporting behaviour on and off the field, and we hope to win one of the competitions next time!"
North of Scotland Swimming Championships
Three Lionel School pupils and one Airidhantium School pupil achieved outstanding personal results in the North of Scotland Swimming Championships held in Inverness Aquadome on 19th November 2003. Under 12 years 50m Freestyle Gold Isabella Blakey Bronze Kathryn Offer 50m Backcrawl Silver Kathryn Offer 50m Breaststroke Silver Eilidh Maciver Bronze Isabella Blakey 13-14 years 100m Breaststroke 4^th place Angela Maciver The swimmers all wished to thank their trainer, Mr D R Morrison, for his inspirational coaching, which has led to this very high standard of achievement. Isabella Blakey said "All of the team were very pleased with our success, and we would all like to thank DR very much for his encouragement and the time he devotes to us."
Children in Need
£272 was raised by Lionel School during several activities, such as karaoke, a treasure hunt, beat the goalie, and soak the staff, held on the afternoon of Friday 21 November 2003. Everyone involved had a lot of fun for a good cause, and Chairman Stephen Macdonald said "The karaoke and soak the staff were the most popular events. The best part was when Robert Gillies emptied the bucket of water for the sponges over the teachers!"
Shoebox Appeal
We are very pleased that 47 shoeboxes filled with gifts were sent off by our pupils to benefit poor families in Eastern European. We would like to thank Blythswood for this opportunity to help people in other parts of the world.
Highland Schools Badminton Championship
Three Lionel School pupils, Arlene Morrison, Kellie Offer and Innes Macsween competed in the Highlands Schools Badminton Championship on Saturday 8 November 2003, held at Lochaber High School. They were accompanied by staff from the Nicolson Institute, who had former Lionel School pupils Cathie Fraser, Julie Murray and Steven Morrison as part of the Nicolson team. Arlene Morrison won all her events, being the new under-14 singles champion, and she also won the doubles and mixed doubles championships. Kellie Offer won her under-16 doubles championship and was runner up in the singles event. Innes Macsween won his mixed doubles event. The players all wished to thank their trainer, Mr D R Morrison, for his inspirational coaching, which has led to this very high standard of achievement. Arlene Morrison said "All of the team were very pleased with our success, and we are now looking forward to going to Meadowbank in Edinburgh for the national championships."
Sale of Work - LIonel School Board
The Sale of Work held in Lionel School on Saturday 1 November 2003 was very successful, attracting a fair crowd which filled the dining hall to capacity, and raising just over £1000 for school funds. We would like to thank the Lionel School Board for organising the event, and all others who attended or contributed in any way for their generosity and support.