The following items have been extracted from the parents newsletters written
by Mr Thewliss four times a year.

March 2008

The Claverhouse Group – a local employment training agency – have again sponsored us for our Dundee City’s 4^th Year ‘Powerpoint Challenge’.  Out of the six Dundee schools who took part, Harris Academy’s team came 2^nd.  4^th year boys Andrew Leith, Adam and Robbie McDickens gave a wonderful powerpoint presentation on how our Trade Unions represent their members. 

Advanced Higher Students – have also had a busy year.  A big congratulations to all of them for completing their 5,000 word dissertations well before the Easter holidays!  They have also been out and about: visiting Perth Prison and the local Open Prison in our area, Castle Huntley.  To enhance their knowledge of ‘Crime: Law and Order’ even further, the students attended an all-day conference at the Police Training HQs in Dundee, where various speakers took part in delivering their knowledge and expertise and answering questions put forward by our students.  The speakers varied from representatives of the Police, the Criminal Justice System, Scottish Prisons, local MSP, Shona Robison and Irene Morrison from SQA.  It was a very successful day and I’m sure that lots of valuable information was gleaned for the forthcoming exams.  

Higher Modern Studies Students – have had the opportunity of taking part in a project led by Dundee University in collaboration with Dundee City Schools Libraries.  This project introduces senior school pupils to Blackboard; the university’s computer system, giving them an insight as to how the university interacts with their students in this ‘Virtual Learning Environment’.  The idea being that if our pupils attend Dundee University then they will already be at an advantage, as they will know the IT system used.  On top of this, it is an excellent opportunity for Modern Studies as four Principal Teachers across the city are developing materials for our new Higher (only in its 2^nd year), and these materials for Political and Social Issues are already on the Blackboard system.  Excellent revision resources for this year’s exam in May!  These resources can be accessed at home or in the school library and all Higher Modern Studies pupils have their own password. 

S2 European Union Investigations – congratulations to the following pupils who were chosen out of all 2^nd year classes for their hard work and excellent presentations in their EU Investigations.

·         1^st – Sarah El-Sheikh 2Ca

·         2^nd – Alex Norman 2Bb

·         3^rd – a group effort by Louise, Monisha, Dexy and Cara 2Fa

And a special Thank You to our school Librarian, Mrs M Lardner, who had the difficult task of choosing our department’s winners!

October 2007

Pupils using “Blackboard”

Every pupil taking Modern Studies at ‘Higher’ level is involved in a project with Dundee University’s Virtual Learning Environment (VLE) known as Blackboard to access part of their course.  Blackboard gives access to lecture materials and assessments on-line.  Students can interact with tutors, essays can be marked and comments can be given by either discussion groups or e-mail, video links and links to web sites can also be made, giving a ‘virtual learning experience’

For a subject like Modern Studies the VLE offers a wide range of opportunities, allowing the pupils to take part in activities like on-line debating, filming their own party political broadcasts for debate,  and take part in politically related scenarios for mixed school groups to discuss as ‘Decision Making Exercise´.   

A group of Modern Studies teachers have been developing materials for the newly Revised Higher, and some of these resources are already available on the VLE.   The idea is to promote self-directed learning, so the on-line lessons do not simply duplicate what goes on in the classroom, but have been designed to enable pupils to access information for themselves, outwith class time, at home or in the school library.   It is hoped this will familiarise pupils, who go on to Higher Education, with a learning environment they will be expected to use as undergraduates.

The VLE project was launched over two days in August, with every pupil involved attending an ‘Introduction to Blackboard’ in the IT Facilities Department of the University’s Tower Block.  Here they were given their log-ins and passwords and introduced to the system.  They then visited the newly refurbished Students Union for refreshments, followed by a guided tour of the University Library, where they received  free membership for a year. 

The staff involved are extremely enthusiastic about the whole experience which was offered to the pupils.  HMI’S David Gregory was also very interested in this project when he visited the school last year to further examine the ‘Good Practice’ that was noted during the last school inspection.   Indeed we have been invited to keep Mr Gregory updated, and take part in the HMI’S ‘Good Practice’ Conference which is to be held in Dunfermline next spring.

Two other schools have already become involved with the project, and these developments have further implications when the Scottish Government rolls out ‘GLOW’ (a VLE for all Scottish Schools) later this year.

December 2006

Another busy and exciting term for our department.  Senior pupils have been selected to take part in “Ask Jack Youth”; a Question Time style Radio Tay broadcast, where young people have the opportunity of asking the First Minister questions direct.  We also have the annual Modern Studies Advanced Higher Conference organised for later this month.  Here, pupils have an opportunity to gain valuable information from the visiting speakers and can ask questions relating to their 5,000 word dissertations on “Crime: Law and Order!”  We are really hopeful that a visit to HMP, Perth Prison can be arranged in the New Year and we are also looking forward to organising our Dundee Competitions and Quizzes; something for every year group.

March 2006

10 pupils from S4-S6 took part in Tay AM’s “Ask Jack” broadcast on Monday 27 February. Ally Bally chaired a First Minister’s Question Time that took place at Discovery Point. The Modern Studies pupils had the opportunity to join in with members of the public in asking Mr McConnell questions.

All the pupils were positive and enthusiastic during the recording and afterwards. Mr McConnell, himself was very personable and even answered some questions; very rare for a politician as we know! A successful evening was had by all and a very worthwhile occasion for the pupils to add to their CV’s.

Modern Studies Association

The Claverhouse Group have again been very good to us in sponsoring local Dundee Schools’ Competitions. The last one being Wednesday 1 March, when three 4^th year girls, Kathryn Warden, Aneesa Chima and Samina Nassir took part in preparing and presenting a PowerPoint presentation all within the space of two and a half hours from start to finish.

The Harry McLevy Award

Again, sponsored by the Claverhouse Group, offers third year pupils the opportunity of producing an investigation based on some topic they have covered in third year; whether it be politics, trade unions, pressure groups or indeed the elderly. This year Eve Flavell has had to hand back her winning Silver trophy from last year and the third years are working hard to meet the end of term deadline. 

December 2004

Dundee Schools Mini Trials - once again Modern Studies has hit the press. S5/6 Harris Academy pupils participated in these mock trials that were held on Saturday 6'" November. The pupils were given the opportunity - through role play - to see how their Criminal Justice System works in action. They thoroughly enjoyed themselves and we hope to take part next year. There was not only coverage by DC Thomson's, but also a full page spread in the Times Educational Supplement. Well done to all who took part.

Modern Studies Association S1/2 Human Rights Competition - after being part of the winning team at Grove earlier this year in the S1/2 Quiz, Olivia Walesby went on to win the Front Page of a Newspaper Competition.

Modern Studies Advanced Higher Conference - for the 3rd successive year our annual conference on Crime: Law and order took place at Baluniefield Police in Dundee. We had a variety of agencies come along to speak to the senior pupils from Victim Support Scotland to the Governor of Castle Huntly and Noranside Open Prisons. Another successful event.

June 2004

The Modern Studies department has as always had a full programme for pupils to develop active citizenship.  Our pupils participated in a variety of activities organised by the Dundee branch of the Modern Studies Association.

S1/2 Quiz – this annual event which was hosted this year by Grove Academy saw our team reclaim the trophy from St John’s High.  Our winning team of Tess Forbes-McMurchie 2Fa, Olivia Walesby 2Cb, Janine McCabe 2Fa and Sam Flockhart 2Fa called themselves “Simply the Best” and lived up to their name.

S3 Harry McLevy Memorial Award - essays produced by Aimee Bene and Julie Beckett were submitted to this competition.  Entries were of an exceptionally high standard across the city and the award went to Craigie High.

Mock Election – to coincide with the European Election.  S2 held a mock election within the school.  When all votes were counted the Green Party came out on top.  Our result was sent to the Hansard Society who will publish the National Schools Result later in the year.

Within the school the department ran a Mini Investigation Competition for S2 pupils based on the USA.  The winners were Jessica Donnelly 2Cb, Fiona MacLeand 2Ba and Kirsteen Hunter 2Kb.