Elizabeth has come back for the second time to be our mentor. She is here to guide us through the world of reporting. Elizabeth was interviewed by Alison and Daniel, recorded by Lauren,

the camera work was carried out by Euan and still photography by Connie.

The interviewed was directed by our two second year mentors Emma and Natasha.

We learnt what it is like to be a professional BBC news reporter and it sounded like a very fun and interesting job.

A new crop of reporters is taking over and getting ready for the big day in March.

Connie, Lauren, Alison, Euan and Daniel are our intrepid reporters this year.  Natasha and Emma from last year’s group are acting as mentors!

Look out for our practice news day on Thursday 22 January when we interview Elizabeth Quigley, our BBC mentor.

Thank you Mrs. Pieroni, Miss Stuart, Mrs. Anderson, Chris Smith, Mr. Jackson, Elizabeth Quigley, James, Rebecca Williams and the School Technicians who helped make the last few months possible for the BBC group. P.S thank you to all the teachers who let pupils out of classes!View our headlines and live report
by Clicking Here

The competitions so far have been held in Scotland but now that Claire has won a place in the final. She will be representing Southern and Central Scotland in London. The winner will get top go on the Alan Titchmarsh talk show. We interviewed Claire:

When are you going to London?

The 17^th of March 2008

What did you cook last time?

Wood pigeon and a honey comb possett.

Who are you going to London this time?

Mrs Smith and my Mum and Gordon, my mentor chef.

How many competitions have you won?

I have won three.

Where was your last competition held?

It was held in Glasgow Met College.

Who are the celebrity chefs you get to meet?

I get to meet Brian Turner.

Who do you get your inspiration from?

Mrs Smith, Mum and celebrity chefs.

Do you intend to take cooking further in your life?

Yes I am going to take a health and nutrition course at Abertay University.

How old were you when you found cooking a skill of yours?

I was about 8.

Quick fire round Fudge over toffee - Chocolate over vanilla - Cake over crumble - Icing over sugar work

Here at Blairgowrie High school we are raising money for sport relief too. In the school we are raising money by doing an egg and spoon race, football games netball matches. We hope to raise a lot of money to go towards the charity.

Stephanie interviewed two people who are competing to raise money for charity. They are called Grant and Mark.

You can listen to this broadcast here:

but here is a transcript below for anyone who can’t listen!

Stephanie: Grant, tell us what your event is Grant: We are doing a five hour sponsored football marathon Stephanie: Mark, when is it Mark: We are doing it on Friday the 14^th of March ? Stephanie: Grant, who is taking part and who’s idea was it Grant: so far we have raise over £500 pounds Stephanie: Mark, do you think it is going to be fun Mark: think that it is going to be extremely fun and I hope the weather will be nice Stephanie: Grant do you think you will have fun Grant: I think it will be real fun Stephanie: Mark what do you think Mark: ill want it to be good weather Grant: I to rain so I can do sliding tackles Stephanie: thank you Grant and mark

On the 12^th of February 2008 Rebecca Williams came from the BBC. She is the editor. We met in the leisure centre and we discussed why she was here. She told us that she had been going to certain schools around the country and thinking up a story with them. She told us that this might be shown on the news. We got to work thinking up a story. We decided on the fundraising for Malawi. We talked about it and shared all the info that we already knew. We didn’t know much but Ross Marshall came and we interviewed him. We asked him things like what is the trip all about? And who is going? And is there anyone who we could interview for more info? We discovered that the school had been fundraising for a few years and had managed to rebuild a block in a primary school just outside of Mzuzu. They were also in touch with a minister that lived there. He was called Levi. We got an email address for him and so we entailed him with all our questions we needed to find out. We started our story and we wrote out our script. We worked really hard not even stopping for a break. We had just finished our script and our work for the day when the bell rung. We went home relived that we had finished.

We met just after the bell rang for school to begin. We got the script out and we started to rehearse right away. We practiced our lines trying to get them by heart. James our cameraman was soon to arrive so we sent a few people to pick him up at the office. When he arrived we gave him a quick run through of our ideas then we got to work. We had a lot planned. We had an interview with a sixth year that was going over to Mzuzu who was also doing a 24-hour pool contest. After we started filming the day just went a blur. It seemed like no time at all till we were filming our last shot. After that we took a few pictures and then said our goodbyes to James And Rebecca. It seemed sad to see them go. Over all it was a good day.

Watch the video that the S1 pupils made with the BBC (You may need Quicktime or Real Player). Please be patient while the it loads. It is well worth the wait

View the video (hopefully) via the BBC Link by Clicking Here

Alternatively click here to see the same video on our school web domain space (this is a converted file and has lost some quality compared with BBC link)

All 5^th and 6^th year pupils doing hospitality, intermediate 2, higher or advanced higher H.E. are holding a gala dinner on the 13^th of March 2008 that starts at 7-7:30pm. It is being held at Steillsmuir farm Woodlands Road Blairgowrie.

It is in specially designed Marquee donated by Henderson’s Marquee Hire and Gordon’s Catering Hire. Some pupils are going out the day before to work in hotels with chefs. The rest are going on the day to set up the Marquee.

Hotels that are working with them are Hunting Towers-Bill McNichol who is Commanding Officer over seeing the whole kitchen. The starter is going to be done by Andrew Wilkie and Ballathie House Hotel, the soup course is going to be done by Ronnie McDonald of Cargills Bistro, the main course will be done by Johnny Greer, Gordon McGregor and Murrayshall and the dessert will be done by Kevin McGillvery of Castleton Hotel.

The cost is £35 per head for that you get a glass of bubbly, Canapés on arrival, a starter, a soup course, a main course, a dessert and rounded of with coffee, petit fours and liquor with wine supplied throughout the evening. Half of the gala dinner profits will go to Caring for Kids and the other half will go to the Blairgowrie High School Hospitality Funds. Lots of Sponsorship has been giving by some companies.

Students are given a brief to design a model CO2 powered F1 Car of the future using a CAD (Computer Aided Design) package such as Solid Edge. Once the cars are designed, they are transferred into CNC (Computer Numerical Control) language using a CAM (Computer Aided Manufacture) package such as Edge CAM. Cars are then manufactured on a CNC machine such as the Denford Micro Router. Students are required to test their designs before attending a regional final, either in school or at their local manufacturing/test/race centre.

• What did you have for breakfast?

I had a big bowl of Rice Crispies, a roll and marmalade with a nice cup of tea.

• What is it like being on the news?

Very interesting, I meet loads of new people and every day is different. You get to be nosey, but in a good way.

• What is it like being on the TV?

Good fun, it’s very different from being in the news paper. It sometimes feels strange to hear your own voice.

• What is it like being married to John Swinney?

Wonderful!

• Is it difficult being independent when married to a politician?

I used to do politics on the news and had to stop because it would be difficult if I had to interview my own husband.

• When did you first want to be a journalist?

I was all ways interested but didn’t want to be one when I was young. When I went to America I worked at the CN and then that’s where I decided to become a journalist

• What were your favourite subjects when you were at school?

My favourite subject was English, History, Modern Language and I liked lots of music and singing.

• When did you first appear on T.V?

University, The Insiders, Travel Guide, Presenter for Life and Gordon Kennedy.

• What was your secondary school?

Lenzie Academy

• Is there any other job you would like to do?

Opera Singing

On Thursday the 17th of January 2008, Blairgowrie High School held a French and German scriptwriting event.

First years took part and were split into groups depending on which language they are taught. A group leader and a fifth year were also in the groups. The group leader was a German or French person within the local community.

The script had to be written with a school theme and in German or French. The aim of the whole event was to get a little practice and help us with our modern language.

The scripts were judged and the top three groups all received prizes but the winners will get their script turned into a cartoon movie and it is going to be shown in the DCA cinema in Dundee. That is where the art department comes in… First years will be making the cartoon.

The winners were a French-speaking team who produced a movie about a bully and an invisible dog. They were presented with a gold scriptwriting trophy by the compères, Mrs Boylan and Mr Dowie.

At the end, all helpers were given a box of chocolates and a certificate. Last year’s winners’ movie has just recently been shown in the DCA cinema.