Activities Week 2019

Since Monday, pupils in F1-F3 (S1-S3) have been taking part in the School’s first-ever Activities Week, a programme of events designed to enhance their all-round development by providing experiences linked to aspects of the School’s Core Values. 

As a result, the youngsters have had the chance to participate in a huge range of on and off-site activities based around the themes of Resilience, Creativity, Kindness, Respect and Confidence.

With the regular F1-F3 timetable cancelled for the week, the event has seen pupils visit eight Care Homes and Nurseries across Dundee to provide entertainment and activities for elderly residents and children respectively; visit the Scottish Deer Centre to explore some of the issues around respect for the environment and animal welfare; and further their knowledge of the history of Dundee with visits to key sites.

In addition, groups of F1 and F2 pupils have been taking part in residential trips which have included an action-packed outdoor adventure week in Ardèche in France, a geography field-trip to Switzerland, a Theatre and Culture-focused visit to London, and an expedition to Hadrian’s Wall and Beamish Open Air Museum.

Closer to home, participants in the Duke of Edinburgh Bronze Award scheme have been completing their final expedition, at Loch Ordie; a group of pupils put their backs into gardening at an allotment; and more than 100 pupils can be proud of their conservation efforts after taking part in a beach clean at Tentsmuir.

On HSD soil, all F3 pupils sharpened up their business acumen in a Dragons’ Den-style enterprise challenge, and grasped the chance to take the initiative in Leadership exercises, while F1 and F2 pupils with a taste for culinary creativity had the chance to satisfy their appetite by making an assortment of sweet treats in Health & Food Technology.

The programme concludes today with Summer Team Sports and football at the School’s playing fields at Mayfield, and - providing thrill seekers with a perfect end to their week - kayaking, paddle boarding, surfing and Beach Olympics at St Andrews, and a ropes course over water and a Ringo ride at Foxlake Adventures in Dunbar.

And with activities such as West African drumming, canvas painting, photography skills, archery, a trek up East Lomond, and a shelter building exercise having also taken place, Deputy Head Senior Years, David Brett, hopes that the event has been a truly stimulating one for the pupils.   

He said, “The aim of Activities Week has been to allow our pupils to to further their all-round education and develop the core values which are at the heart of the school’s vision and mission.

“The range of activities and trips has been designed to enable the pupils to gain lots of new experiences and, as a result, hopefully discover new interests and passions, many of which they are able to continue as part of the School’s Integrated Curriculum, which places all-round development at the centre of all we do. 

“With the end of session fast approaching, the Week has also been a chance for the pupils and staff to develop their relationships through new shared experiences. All that remains is to thanks the staff for their commitment to this new initiative.”

Find out more about the High School of Dundee’s Core Values.