Agenda item

The Convener advised the Committee of a number of good news stories as follows –

• Commonwealth Games Legacy – Four young people had been appointed as Youth Legacy Ambassadors for the city; they were trained with the Youthscot team at Rosemount Community Council and have now started collaborating with Active Schools, Sport Aberdeen, the ACC Sport and Physical Activity Development Officer and the Aberdeen City Youth Council to discuss partnerships and ideas.
• Aberdeen City Centre Through Time – a new book which told the story of Aberdeen city centre over the past 200 years went on sale in December. Aberdeen City Centre Through Time explained the history of the Granite City, from the Bridge of Dee, through the city centre to Old Aberdeen. The book was compiled and written by Chris Croly, a Historian at Aberdeen Art Gallery and Museums, Fiona Musk and Martin Hall, Archivists at Aberdeen City Archives, and Catherine Taylor, Team Librarian within the Council’s Library Service.
• Aberdeen Pupil Voice Group – will be showcased their work during a visit to the Scottish Parliament on 30 January 2014. During their meeting with the Cabinet Secretary for Education and Lifelong Learning, Mike Russell they will chair discussions on involving young people and will be grilling the Cabinet Secretary on his plans for Curriculum for Excellence.
• Hazlehead Primary – Micro Tyco/ Wild Hearts and Anderson Anderson Brown – Primary 5, 5/6 and 6 participated in Micro Tyco throughout November 2013. The challenge was to turn the £1 capital, given by Wild Hearts, into as much money as possible during the month of November. The school has developed a partnership with chartered accountants Anderson Anderson Brown, who also participate in the business section of the competition. The pupils planned and organised a number of events including bag packing in Tesco, weekly car washing and a bring and buy sale. The month ended with a “Touch of Tartan” disco and auction. The pupils turned their £1 into £6000, and were placed first in the schools category. The school and its pupils are now looking to plan a joint assembly with Anderson Anderson Brown to receive their award from Colin Downie at Wild Hearts.
• Aberdeen Learning Festival – will take place at the AECC on Tuesday 18 February 2014. This major professional learning event will bring together staff from across the whole of the Education, Culture and Sport Service, providing opportunities for staff in a wide range of roles to share practice and explore their development priorities. It is anticipated that there being over 1000 members of staff in attendance on the day. The theme for this year’s event is “Raising Attainment and Achievement: Improving Outcomes for all Learners”.
• Zoey Clark – University of Aberdeen student Zoey Clark contributed to a fantastic performance by Scotland’s 4x400m relay team at the Sainsbury’s indoor international track and field meeting at Glasgow’s Emirates Arena at the weekend. Zoey, who is coached by Reverend McKenna, finished second and set a Scottish National and Native record in the process. Fellow University of Aberdeen student Stephen Dunlop ran a season’s best time on the 60m, in what was the fastest race in the world this year. Overall, Scotland finished fourth behind the Commonwealth Select, Great Britain and the USA.