SPEYSIDE HIGH SCHOOL

The Sixth year Engineering Group, including Scott Shearer from Rothes, have been developing zimmer aids.  They have devised a means of moulding a tray and a clip to make ordinary things transportable by the user.
The design team displayed their project at the Annual Exhibition and Awards of the Engineering Scheme Scotland in the Royal Concert Hall, Glasgow where their work was assessed by a panel of judges.
The team earned high praise for their presentation manufacturing and design skills.  Schools from all over Scotland take part in the awards but Speyside High School is the only Moray school participating this year.  The device is entering trials shortly with an eye on future development.  The group were partnered in the scheme by Moray Health Services and it is hoped to licence the final product.
The Speyside musicians have been busy as well.  A team of singers and fiddlers entertained at the Speyside Rotary Club's Burns Supper at Rothes FC Social Club on 26th January. A concert is planned by the Music Department for 17th March at the school. 

ROTHES PRIMARY SCHOOL

Pupils from P4/5/6 and 7 braved the winter storms to try their hand at skiing at the Lecht Ski Centre last week.  They were investigating one of Moray's main tourist attractions as part of their theme about Scotland.
Preparations are well under way for our contribution to the Sing for UNICEF Concert at Elgin Town Hall on Wednesday 17th March.
The whole school is promoting good health this term and are finding ways of keeping healthy through fitness training and healthy eating.  Our school tuck shop now offers fresh fruit, savoury snacks and unsweetened fruit juice and is proving to be very popular amongst pupils of all ages.

P5/6/7 have been busy carrying out research into Rothes Castle and the town itself as part of the work on designing Information Posts.  Mr. Ian Bryce who came to Rothes last year to talk about the history of Rothes Castle offered his expertise and The Moray Council should have the posts completed by early Spring.

Rothes Primary School Newsletter

Local Agenda 21
In the December issue of 'The Rothesian' it was reported that 'The Bairns' Brig Project was one of only 15 projects throughout the UK to be published in this year's Local Agenda 21 handbook'.  This sounds like quite an accolade (and indeed it is), if only the term Local Agenda 21 was understood!
Local Agenda stands for 'Local issues for the 21st century'.  It comes from the 1992 United Nations Summit in Rio de Janeiro when 178 Governments signed a pledge (entitled 'Agenda 21'), to try and jointly address issues such as poverty, health and environment.  The 'Local' comes into it when people try to tackle the issues in their own area and it is widely recognised that all of us have some sort of a role play, no matter how small.
The Bairns' Brig has been highlighted throughout the UK as an example of best practice for several reasons:
(i) the people of Rothes identified it as a pressing community issue, (ii)  the community rallied round together (in association with the powers that be) to get the job done, (iii)  the project is likely to be sustainable (note the important Local Agenda 21 buzzword!) in other words, the brig, and all the work around it, is likely to last one term, because it doesn't cost a fortune to up keep, is kind to the environment and, most of all, is 'owned' by the community.  Rothes folk are proud of it.
The wonderful thing about the Local Agenda 21 initiative, is that it gives people everywhere the inspiration for getting together to improve their quality of life.  Examples of good practice can be found from Rothes to Plymouth, from Melbourne to Montreal.
Even our local Moray Council are playing their bit.  The Council signed up to LA21 in 1996 and has been described by the Scottish Office as a leading authority in this field.  It is currently up for a Local Government award for its Local Agenda 21 efforts.
These efforts may not provide a magic wand for Moray, but isn't it good to know that both The Moray Council and the town of Rothes are (in the eyes of others at least) getting some things right?"
For further information about Local Agenda 21 contact:
Nick Brown
The Moray Council
Council Offices
High Street
ELGIN  IV30 1BX
Tel: (01343) 563289
Fax: (01343) 563483
e-mail:  nick.brown@edp.moray.gov.uk

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