School News – Page 2 – Student Voice

Craig McDonald: Sports Leader, Karate Champion

13493575_727125857430296_809984709_o — Craig with his trophies from the WUKF World Karate Championships

Craig McDonald is a sixth year pupil and sports enthusiast. He became a sports leader last year and has been running the sports 4 all club on Friday lunchtime ever since. This year he is also coaching a Primary 3 football team in St Peter’s Primary. In June he won the WUKF World Karate Championships, 18-20 team rotation and individual team fighting.

What got you interested in sport?

I got involved in sports because I had an interest in playing a wide variety of sports from a young age. I’ve always had an interest and wanted to be involved with sports.

Why did you want to become a Sports Leader ?

I was inspired to be a sports leader as I realised the importance of my own coaches as a youngster and the difference they could make to ensure people enjoyed sports and could improve at the sport. In this role I am able to interact with youngsters and try to encourage and them to improve and most importantly enjoy the sport that they are taking part in.

What is your favourite sport?

I really like football, golf and karate but I’d have to say karate is my favourite sport. Competing at the highest level has given me the opportunity to visit countries I would not ordinarily have visited such as Serbia and Poland making friends from different countries along the way. I really enjoy the training as it keeps me fit and prepares me well for competitions.

The Sports 4 All Club is one of the most popular clubs at St Matthew’s. Once a week pupils are given the opportunity to try out new sports which they may have not played before including Wheelchair Basketball,Sitting Volleyball and Boccia. Boccia is described by the Great British Boccia Federation as ‘a sport designed for athletes with severe impairments and has no Olympic equivalent . It is a target ball sport similar in principle to bowls but is played inside with soft leather balls. It is a sport of intriguing tactics; incredible skill and nail biting tension.’ These sports differ from some of the other clubs on offer as they place everyone, no matter their physical ability, on an equal playing field.

Halloween Charity Fundraiser

On Friday 28th October 6th year pupils raised £263 for the Brightest Star Charity. To celebrate Halloween the pupils came into school in fancy dress and donated £3 to the chosen charity so that this annual event would help support bereaved families across Scotland.

For more information about the Brightest Star Charity please visit http://www.brighteststar.org.uk

14859470_1014245112020218_514649543_o — Ellie Fulton and Cloe Reid

14881698_1825766627645975_52400860_o — Mario and the gang!

Meet the Groups: St Vincent De Paul

What is the aim of the group?

To serve the local community wherever they need it like the founder Frederic Ozanam.

What kind of tasks are members of the group met with?

At our weekly meetings we start with a prayer followed by a reflection piece one of our members will have created. We then talk about the work achieved the previous week, plan for the following week, and then close with a prayer. On the Monday following food bank Friday we pack up the food for the foodbank.

How does the group help others?

Foodbank Friday, food parcels, Playlists for Life, Winter coolies campaign…

The group try and support as wide an area of the community as possible. With out Winter Woolies Campaign hats, gloves and scarves were donated to the homeless. A number of iPods and earphones were donated to the Playlist for Life campaign to help those with dementia. Our members collect non-perishable foods on a monthly basis from the school community and packages them up for donations to the foodbank. Some of our members work and have worked in the the foodbank at the weekends. The parishes are extremely grateful for the food parcels and at Christmas and in recent years the number of made up has increased greatly so thank you to all for their contributions.

What has the group achieved in the past years?

The group has supported the local foodbank for a number of years now and this has been a great support for them as it is a constant supply. They find that they have busy periods for donations but the need for food parcels is always there. We also make up food parcels to give out to the parishes for those in need over Christmas.

What are the aims for members this year?

We are looking for our members to of out into the local care homes to give technical support for IPads, IPods and IPhones, We also will continue with our highly successful Foodbank Friday project.

An Interview by Chloe O’Neil