Book Week Scotland is an annual celebration of books and reading that takes place across Scotland. Scottish Book Trust organises the events and has activities such as author live events where school kids can learn more about books that they’ve been reading in class.

S1-S3 pupils at Trinity took part in Book Week Scotland with a Virtual Creative Writing Workshop in collaboration with Sita Brahmachari - author of 'Where the River Runs Gold'. This was done by a pre-recorded series of videos, which gave pupils an insight into how Sita comes up with her own ideas for characters and for world-building. Pupils then used these tasks to create a detailed plan for their own short story based on the theme 'future’. Once the workshop was completed, stories were entered into the official 'Book Week Scotland Creative Writing Competition'. We were also provided with additional prizes in the form of signed bookplates from Sita Brahmachari.

Anyone can take part in these activities, not just school kids. You can watch past live events on the Scottish Book Trust’s website or you can check out Scottish Books Week’s Twitter page to follow along with other book related activities.

This year, there were diverse books discussing disabilities, wrongful incarceration and racism. In one live event, Ibi Zoboi and Dr Yusef Salaam joined Patrice Lawrence to discuss their new YA novel in verse, Punching the Air, which tells the story of how one boy is able to maintain his humanity and fight for the truth when he is wrongly incarcerated by a system designed to strip him of both. The book was inspired by Dr Salaam’s experiences of being part of the Exonerated 5. Writers Nell Pattison and Ever Dundas spoke up on preconceptions and stereotypes against disabled people and characters in the publishing industry with Stefan Kellhofer.

Scottish Book Week is a great way of getting children interested and involved in reading whilst learning important subjects. The power of books fuel children’s ambitions and encourage them to pursue their passions. It is a blueprint for young minds and their activism. Clearly, this was the case for Trinity with pupils from all year groups stating that they thoroughly enjoyed book week Scotland, inspiring them to create fantastic stories that will hopefully be successful in the competition.

Trinity High School had a week of celebrations from the 28^th of September to the 4^th of October all in the name of Maths!

This celebration looked at the importance of Maths in our daily lives by joining in with activities across Scotland and in school.

In Trinity High School, there were many events that we took part in for Maths week. Some such activities included: taking part in battling online questions with the signings of the 2025 Arbroath strikers – organised by the great trio of Mr Stewart, Mr Lyons and Mr Colgan; the solving of tricky triangles with John Swinney from BBC Scotland; and solving fractions of a square with expert Maths teacher Chris Smith.

Trinity’s very own Maths teacher Miss Lovat stated, ‘I love Maths week. I think it is really important for the kids because it doesn't put as much pressure on the students allowing them to have more fun with it rather than being in the class and feeling stressed.’

S2 pupil Lucy Elliot also had this to say on the activities, ‘I like Maths week as I think it is useful and is for all ages. It helps you learn different things about Maths you didn't know and it can be fun.’

Maths all began in the 6th century BC with the Pythagoreans when the Ancient Greeks began a systematic study of Mathematics as a subject.

Pupils and families in the early centres took part in celebrating Maths week too. In the early learning centres they used their small grants funding to hold parental engagement sessions, complete with take home resources for families to work together using Maths. The schools would invite special guests into the school to do workshops with the pupils and deliver a talk.

After what feels like a year from a sci-fi movie, we have finally made it to Christmas! And with the festive season upon us, First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has given us an amazing early Christmas present: as from the 23rd of December to the 27th we will be allowed into our families houses to celebrate the festive holiday

The majority of people are very excited about this news but there are some who are apprehensive and confused saying this means there will be extreme spikes.

However, whether you are happy or not regarding this change in rules, we have compiled a list of ways to keep yourself safe during the Christmas break:

1. Wash your hands often and for at least 20 seconds.

2. Keep a distance of 6feet from anyone.

3. If you sneeze or cough, do so into your elbow.

4. When you sneeze or cough, sanitize your hands straight after.

5. Wear a mask where social distancing isn’t possible.

6. Comply with the Scottish Government rules with regards to household mixing.

7. Always stay safe.

In Trinity High School we are reading the amazing book called ‘Where The River Runs Gold.’ It is set in the future where bees don't exist anymore, so children have to go to this place called Freedom Fields and pollinate the flowers themselves.

The main character is a young girl called Shifa and her twin brother called Themba and on their twelfth birthday they get a letter that says they have to go to Freedom Fields the next day. On Shifa’s birthday, her father goes out with Themba to buy Shifa a present and Shifa goes out for a walk. In this world there are three types of people: Pargons, they are rich don’t have to work at the fields; Freedoms they work in the fields; and lastly Foregors, they have to fend for themselves and are homeless.

This book is fantastic, engaging and great for young creative minds. Make sure to grab your free copy from the English department if you haven’t already to start your journey with Shifa and Themba.

World Book Day will be being celebrated on the 5th of March 2020 and Trinity High School is doing a whole range of fun and exciting activities to celebrate.

In previous years, World Book Day has been marked by all of the teachers dressing up as different characters from their favourite novel. The canteen has also been involved, creating a Roald Dahl themed menu that was available throughout the day. Pupils also participated in a range of World Book Day competitions including ‘Guess the Teacher behind the Book’ and modernising a classic fairy-tale story to win Waterstones vouchers.

This year will be no different however, the canteen will be creating another amazing World Book Day inspired menu, which will not be unveiled until the day.

Miss McCann, head of the English department, commented on some of the activities we can expect from this year’s World Book Day, ‘across the school teachers will be dressing up again, doors of a variety of departments will be decorated and every teacher will deliver a special lesson that day that links with World Book Day. The street area will being hosting a themed lunch once again and you can receive a book token that will get you a book free of charge to encourage more people to read.’

Did you enjoy last year’s Christmas show? Because if so, then you’re in luck! There’s another one already in the making. Following on from the success of Trinity’s Christmas concert, Cinder’s, Miss Koiak has created another upcoming summer concert, Annie.

The previous show, Cinder’s, took place on the 18th of December, and crowd members are quoted saying ‘it was really funny and had a great plot’. We can certainly agree with that, as the cast and people behind the stage all worked extremely hard, even some people sacrificing their lunch times! Cinder’s was a well written, witty show that follows the same plot as the Disney classic, Cinderella, but Miss Koiak upgraded the story to make it more comedic and modern.

The new and exciting upcoming show, Annie, held its first auditions on the 5th of February, with S6 pupil Amy Clark scoring the lead role of Annie, Sophie Malutac playing Sandy, Annalise Thomas playing Miss Hannigan and many more talented people claiming different roles.

Annie is a well-known comic/movie/musical about a young orphan called Annie, and we cannot wait to see what spin Miss Koiak will add to the engaging storyline!

Rehearsals are well under way and people are working very hard on mastering the script and perfecting the play before the big show day. Annie can expect to ready for audiences in either late May or early June, so keep your ears peeled for tickets!

Trinity High School is famous for many things including beekeeping, the prestigious Trinity Gazette Club and its amazing S1 Science Club. However, you may not have been aware that Trinity is also known for its spectacular annual ceilidh event.

Unsure what a ceilidh is? A ceilidh is a traditional Scottish social gathering. In its most basic form, it simply means a social visit. In contemporary usage, it usually involves dancing and playing Gaelic folk music.

S1 and S2 practised for weeks during P.E and it really paid off. Eva Muir, a student at Trinity High, had this to say, ‘It was extravagant and fun.’

Many dances were performed such as the Gay Gordans, Candian Barn Dance, The Dashing White Sergeant and the Virginian Reel. The ceilidh also featured an amazing disco wih DJ Mooney (Spanish teacher) and karaoke.

Do you enjoy all things Science? Well look no further! Every Thursday at lunch times Mr. McSheehy and Ms. Sheridan runs a club to satisfy all your Science needs.

Members participate in a variety of different experiments including using their voices to change the size of the flame, making bouncy balls and changing the colour of the flame by using various chemicals.

This club is for first years only however, some second year pupils help the teachers out. To join, go to Ms. Sheridan’s Science classroom after you have eaten your lunch and enjoy participating in all of the amazing experiments that are sure to ignite your love of Science!

The launch of Maths week in September was a huge success with S1 pupils being involved in a variety of fun and challenging activities to ignite their love for Maths!

All departments were involved, with each day commencing with a Maths conundrum that teachers shared with their pupils.

Mr Horn, head of the Maths department, thought that the week had been a great success. He also felt the most important part of Maths week was that it raised the importance of Maths in day to day life, highlighting the impact Maths has on areas such as money and time – with their being a lot of different activities associated with these topics.

One student said that their experience of Maths week was fun, especially the murder mystery! Another student thought that Maths week was very interesting as it linked with real life jobs and situations. Such as when they had to use a budget to plan an extension to the school, including identifying costs for plumbers and electricians.

Overall, Maths week was a great success. It was an enjoyable way to help the S1s’ develop their understanding of this essential subject. We are already looking forward to Maths week 2020!

As a welcome to Trinity High, the RE department organised to take the new S1s to Carfin Grotto.

Not only was this an educational trip, but it was also an enjoyable day out.

When at Carfin Grotto, there were three areas of interest that all groups visited: the Reliquary, the Grotto and the Pilgrim Room.

The Reliquary is actually the second biggest in the world (the first is in the Vatican) with over 500 relics on offer!

Everything the Grotto contains itself has been gifted to it throughout the centuries and from all over the world with a magnificent glass church being its centrepiece.

Several pupils commented positively on their visit. Lewis Connelly from 1D2 said, “I liked the stained glass window in the Pilgrim Room, the detail was amazing!”

“I loved the caves in the grotto. It was quite eerie but still really enjoyable,” said Mia Jane from 1M1.

Zoe from 1I1 commented, “My favourite attraction was the glass church, it was just far too beautiful not to love!”

It is clear that Carfin Grotto was an enjoyable and educational experience for all the S1 pupils that visited it. The first class, 1D2, went to Carfin in early September and the last class, 1D1, will be attending the Grotto on the 23rd of October.

The Home Economics department has been offering an array of amazing cookery classes which include making porridge to white chocolate and even lime cheesecake!

The department recently launched Scrumptious Studies, an after school cookery club which takes place every Monday for S1s’. Many have signed up to the club already and have enjoyed it so far.

The club provides the S1’s with a variety of skills, from learning how to cook a healthy alternative to pizza subs or baking home favourites such as carrot cake!

Sahaib Parvez (one of the S1s who takes part in the club) stated, "I have really enjoyed the experience and have learned lots of new skills".

If you are in S1 and have a flair for cooking – or even just eating – make sure to get yourself along to Scrumptious Studies to learn how to cook up a storm!

The annual Christmas Concert and Pantomime - organised by the Music and Drama department - will debut on the 18th of December at 7pm in the street area of the school.

The first half of the evening will feature a variety of musical assortments including: a performance from the school choir, wind band and the jazz band too!

The second half will see the debut of the Christmas Pantomime Cinders - written by the schools very own Mrs Koiach!

Noah Blagrogh, from 1I3, was lucky enough to land himself a role in the Panto. He commented, ‘I managed to get the role of newspaper seller! I can’t wait for everyone to see it - it is definitely not to be missed.’

The concert is hosted every year in the hope of raising funds for the school and the creative arts departments, with it usually being supported by lots of parents. It is also a great opportunity for students to show off their musical talents and acting skills but, most importantly, to have fun!