Wishaw

Athletics Success:
Reagan Binnie, of third year, secured a very creditable third place in the 800metres final at the recent Scottish Schools Indoor Athletics Championships at the Emirates Arena in Glasgow. This was Reagan’s first competition since moving up to the Under 16 age group and bodes well for her future participation in the event. Reagan continues to excel in a sport that saw her crowned North Lanarkshire Schools Athlete of the Year in 2012.

Last week a party of Clyde Valley senior pupils joined their counterparts from three other North Lanarkshire secondary schools for the return visit to Italy in the annual North Lanarkshire - Pistoia Exchange programme.

YouthLink Scotland Nominees:
Two Clyde Valley pupils have made it through to the Scottish finals of the YouthLink Scotland 2013 Awards. YouthLink Scotland is the national body that promotes all youth activities anywhere within local communities. In its annual awards it looks to recognise the outstanding achievements of young people and those who lead youth activities the length and breadth of the country.

Strathclyde Police launched a Lanarkshire wide operation on the 25th January in response to vehicle related crime, Itinerant metal dealers, rouge traders, and businesses operating in metal dealing who are not adhering to lawful registrations. 

Two Clyde Valley pupils again featured in the Allanton Jolly Beggars Burns Club Annual Burns Supper. Eilidh Murray and Rachel Moon of fourth year performed last year, and were delighted to be invited back.

A local screening initiative has received a ‘Highly Commended’ award as part of the 2012 Cervical Screening Awards run by Jo’s Cervical Cancer Trust, the UK’s only charity dedicated to supporting women affected by cervical cancer and cervical abnormalities.

Motherwell Heritage Centre Burns Supper:
Five Clyde Valley pupils had major contributions at last week’s Motherwell Heritage Centre’s annual Burns Supper held at the Bentley Hotel in Motherwell. Callum Cowan, an experienced member of North Lanarkshire Schools Pipe Band, played a medley of tunes on the pipes and escorted the afternoon’s principal guest, the haggis!

Mary’s Meals/Malawi Bag Pack Presentation:
Mrs Lynsay Ashton, Teacher of History, was delighted to present 75 bag packs to the Malawi Bag Pack Appeal and a cheque for £130 to the Mary’s Meals organisation. Throughout November and December, pupils across the school were busy collecting equipment and clothing that could be placed in packs to be sent to Malawi to support the under-privileged children of that country

Martin Brady:

It was with great sadness the school learned of the sudden passing, during the Christmas holidays, of Martin Brady, the school’s longest-serving member of the janitorial team. Having worked in the school for some 12 years, Martin Brady was a hugely popular figure around Clyde Valley, his friendly manner and cheerful disposition greatly appreciated by staff, pupils and parents alike. Always keen to support pupil activities, Martin Brady loved nothing better than to join in the fancy dress antics of the Halloween Disco, with our young people always intrigued by his stylish and often unusual costumes!

People from across Lanarkshire are being encouraged to sign up to volunteer to assist visitors to the maternity unit at Wishaw General Hospital.
Volunteers are being sought to help direct visitors to patients and to ensure that mums are not overwhelmed by receiving too many visitors at once.
The volunteers will also help inform visitors of the new visiting times, which give dedicated time slots for grandparents and siblings, which means mums and babies can have time with them before general visiting begins.
The new volunteers will join the 400 people who already give their time, making an invaluable contribution to the level of care that patients receive in NHS Lanarkshire.
Katrina Murray, voluntary services manager for NHS Lanarkshire, said: “The volunteers will play an invaluable role to the maternity department. They will greet visitors at the door to the unit, meaning that ward staff can remain with patients.
“The volunteers will also ensure that the women do not receive visitors if they are with a doctor or if they are recovering from surgery. This will help ensure that patients have a relaxed time in hospital as possible, after the birth of their baby.”
As well as helping others, volunteering also provides an opportunity to gain new skills and experience such as personal development, work experience and meeting new people.
All volunteers are given an interview to see which area of volunteering they are best suited to and are provided with training.
Volunteers are given ‘Disclosure Scotland’ checks and are required to make a one year commitment to their volunteering post.
To get involved, a volunteer application form can be downloaded from the ‘get involved’ section of the NHS Lanarkshire website (www.nhslanarkshire.org.uk/INVOLVED/VOLUNTEERING/Pages/Recruitment-Process.aspx).
You can also contact volunteer recruitment department on 01698 377860 or attend the volunteer drop-in information session on Thursday 17 January from 3pm to 5pm in Syndicate Room 3, Ronald Miller Education Centre, Wishaw General Hospital.