Dance promotes patron saint’s festival

The story of Glasgow is stopping shoppers in their tracks at St Enoch’s Centre. And Saturday 14 January between 12 noon and 4pm is the final chance to catch the beautifully choreographed promenade performance by dancers from Visual Statement. They are re-telling the tale of the city’s coat of arms – the Bird, the Bell, the Fish and the Tree. The inspirational performance by Nicola Gilmour, Brian McIntyre, Pauline McGlinchey and Cheree Thompson as the respective symbols, along with a dozen other dancers aged from 10, is a modern symphonic piece by Danny Dobbie assisted by Brian McIntyre and Wendie Reid. A movable sculpture commissioned by Visual Statement and designed by Andy Scott will add an extra dimension as the dancers move in and out and on to it. The music is the tranquil ‘A Little Scottish Fantasy’ by Vanessa Mae and ‘For Unto Us A Child Is Born’ by Handel. This is one of the many events during a week long celebration of St Mungo, Glasgow’s patron saint. Also known as St Kentigern, the medieval monk’s miracles involved, at different times, a bird, a tree and a fish. On Friday 13 January, around 350 young people will see a performance of the tales by five Glasgow schools with a senior pupil from Lourdes Secondary being the compere in the City Chambers. That afternoon the third Molendinar Awards will be presented to celebrate Glasgow’s local history and archaeology as seen by school children through their own local links. More than 30 schools have entered with the final 12 schools being showcased at the awards presentation in the city’s Banqueting Hall. Molendinar is the name of the burn that runs into the Clyde and it was alongside it, near what is now the High Street area, that St Mungo (St Kentigern) is thought to have settled. Framed certificates will be presented for 1st, 2nd and 3rd place in each of the three categories – Pre 5: Primary 3; Primary 4: Primary 7 and Secondary. Winners will also receive a plaque to display in their school. The Molendinar Awards project brings to the community an awareness of Glasgow’s rich cultural heritage and is designed to support schools in the work they do linked to the local and wider community. Topics schools work on include local history, local family, local developments, school history, the community, tourist Glasgow, modern life and festivals in the city. Entries range from posters, power point presentations and DVD animations to songs and poems. Bailie Jean McFadden, Executive Member for Education, is delighted by the enthusiasm shown by pupils and hopes to see more schools participating next year. She said: ‘The Molendinar Awards are a tremendous opportunity for our schools. We have some very creative and talented young people as shown by the standard of entries this year. I know the judges had some very hard decisions to make. I hope the enthusiasm continues and that we will see more and more young people participating in the Molendinar Awards over the next few years.’ Glasgow City Council Leader, Councillor Gordon Matheson, will join Bailie McFadden in presenting the winning pupils with their framed certificates on Friday. He said: ‘The pupils have enjoyed all aspects of this competition and I’m sure that they will be very excited to find out who the winners are.’

Young artists celebrate

This week, thirteen artistic boys and girls from schools across the city celebrated the publication of the council’s 2012 Schools Calendar which features their work.

Each had won a competition which meant their  drawing has been used in the calendar which will be distributed to schools, council offices and Glasgow Old People’s Welfare Association. The original art works are on exhibition in the City Chambers during the festive season.

With their families, the young artists were presented with a certificate, a goodie bag and a bundle of calendars in Glasgow City Chambers.

Bailie Jean McFadden, Executive Member for Education, was one of the judges who viewed the short list of 50 from more than 1000 entries. She congratulated each winner and said: ‘It was a pleasure being one of the judges. We had a difficult task because Glasgow schools are obviously full of budding artists. This is one of the highlights of my year.’

The principal sponsor of the  Schools Calendar is the Glasgow Commonwealth Apprenticeship Initiative (CAI) with support from Ricoh Print and Document Services, Donald Murray Paper and Clean Glasgow. The calendar includes quotes from current apprentices highlighting their experiences and the positive impact the CAI has had in their lives.

Rugby fun for special kids

Rugby is proving a hit with youngsters from a dozen schools for children with additional support needs.  A rugby festival for 160 sports activists was due to be held on Thursday 9 June at Cartha Queens Rugby Club in Dumbreck Road, Pollokshields.

In preparation for the event, they practised their rugby skills at training sessions organised by the active schools co-ordinators and Kay Hunter, unit head at Ruchill Autism Unit. Glasgow Live’s rugby development section povided expert coaching.

The morning session was designed to cover a range of small skills tasks and games followed by larger touch rugby and corner ball type games. 

Bailie Jean McFadden, Executive Member for Education, who was scheduled to present the awards said:’“Sporting events like this are often an area that children with additional support needs don’t get access to and yet there can be so much to gain. I hope all the young people, their families and their teachers have a very successful tournament and that everyone has a thoroughly enjoyable day out.”

The participating schools were to be: Ruchill Autism Unit, Aultmore Park Autism Unit, Toryglen Autism Unit, St Vincent’s Autism Unit, Drummore School, Eastmuir School, Gadburn School, Howford School, Kirkriggs School, St Kevin’s School and St Raymond’s School.