Salters Chemistry On Wednesday 3 June, Beaconhurst School submitted a team to take part in the Salters Chemistry Challenge.

This is a practical chemistry competition for Senior 1 pupils from all over Scotland, where the pupils are given chemistry based problems to solve. In the past these have ranged from recognising different salts, to chromatography and solving CSI type scenarios.

There were 14 other schools also taking part, from both the private and public sector. The team comprised Sally Reid, Calum Robertson, Amelia Strutt and Ben Wood. This particular challenge was for the pupils to carry out two different experimental techniques to solve a murder mystery.

The pupils were split into two teams; one carried out the first experiment, whilst the other team carried out the other.

After they both had finished their respective experiments, they swapped over.

They were then able to pool their results and submit a report, which all had to be done in one-and-a-half hours.

The judging of this was not only decided by obtaining the correct result, but also by carrying out and following instructions. Being able to work independently and safely were also prime considerations. The last criteria to be judged was the quality of their report.

The presentation ceremony was after a chemistry demonstration/lecture and the pupils were delighted and proud when Beaconhurst School was announced as winners. For winning, the school received some lab equipment and the pupils received certificates for both participating in and winning the challenge.

As always, the pupils were a delight to take part in this event. They were great ambassadors for the school and they should be really proud of what they achieved. In all, it was a great team effort and well done our four budding chemists!: John Meharry J4-J6 Aberdeen trip J4 - J6 went to Aberdeen for their annual trip this year. During their three day visit, the weather was quite mixed, but this didn’t dampen their spirits in any way and they all thoroughly enjoyed the visit.

On the first day, they visited the Abderdeen Maritime Museum and dined at Frankie and Benny’s before having a fantastic time ten pin bowling.

Tuesday was spent at Crathes Castle, which was a thoroughly enjoyable experience, and then a great time was had at the Aberdeen Sports Village before dinner.

Before coming home on Friday afternoon, the group spent time at the Stratosphere Science Centre.

Sixth form programme The school has introduced a varied programme of events for the sixth form leavers and this was kicked off by a visit from SAAS to find out all about student loans and how they work.

This was followed by sixth year volunteers who cleared nettles and litter from the mountain bike/nature trail track which circumnavigates the school. Mountain bikers and nursery children will be able to use the trail without getting stung and the nettles will be composted.

They then planted some courgettes and an apple tree in the Eco Garden which they will mark with a plaque from the Class of 2015.

The school held a hugely successful sports day, despite rather dismal weather conditions, and on Friday 5 June, a local reporter came to school to interview the main actors from our forthcoming musical production of Les Miserables.

The sixth form programme will continue until the penultimate week of term with first aid courses being offered, a canoe trip to Loch Ard with an island barbecue and a three day ‘Cooking on a budget’ course.

The school senior prom will take place on Thursday 11 June at Glenbervie House Hotel. During the final week of term, the expressive arts rehearsals will be in full swing and then the show will be on the Wednesday and Thursday before the end of term on Friday 26 June.

Les Miserable tickets Tickets are selling fast for this year’s Expressive Arts production of Les Miserables School Edition. The show is on Wednesday 24 and Thursday 25 June, tickets priced at £12.00 and £6 concessions available from Macrobert Box Office. The cast is having a fantastic time at rehearsals and this is promising to be a show not to be missed!!!

Buy your tickets now to avoid disappointment!

J4-J6 adventure days The junior 4-6 pupils participated in adventure days recently. They all spent one day on the water and one day walking through Mine Woods. During the Mine Woods walk, all pupils enjoyed five different problem solving tasks that required communication and collaboration in order to succeed.

One challenge involved ‘fishing’ in the university loch for rods that were below the surface of the water. Children had to work together to create the ideal fishing pole and hook in order to retrieve all three rods.

This proved to be the most challenging task of the day and required the most strive and ambition to complete.

Another task asked the children to imagine that they would be stuck in the woods all night! They were asked to use anything around them in order to build a shelter big enough for their entire group to sleep, eat and keep warm inside.

All children thoroughly enjoyed this challenge as it allowed them to be creative and imaginative with the limited resources that were available. If you walk through Mine Woods today and have a careful look through the trees, you may still be able to find our shelters!

Sports day results 2015 Junior School J4: boys - 1, Murray Dickson; 2, Stuart Fraser; 3, Rory Purvis. Girls - 1, Robynne Hendrix; 2, Molly Craig; 3, Isabelle Kendall.

J5: boys - 1, Struan Craig; 2, James Robertson; 3, Logan Morrison. Girls - 1, Tara Mathewson; 2, Heather Hale; 3, Elisabeth Bennie.

J6: boys - 1, Harris Ogilvie; 2, Kristopher Orr; 3, Nicholas Hadland. Girls - 1, Lois Burch; 2, Lara Hamilton; 3, Abigail Pybus.

Senior School Transition: boys - 1, Euan Wond; 2, Oscar Gahagan; 3, Logan Downie. Girls - 1, Jenny MacPherson; 2, Carrie Banks; 3, Alison Mitchell.

S1: boys - 1, Jack Haughton; 2, Frazer Hardstaff Winstanley; 3, Josh McGrandles. Girls - 1, Skye Henderson; 2, Eva Strang; 3, Abbie Kerr.

S2: boys - 1, Ben MacMillan; 2, Tom Ogilvie; 3, Logan Eason. Girls - 1, Bethany Burch; 2, Jolie Bonner; 3, Ruth McPherson.

S3: boys - 1, Daniel Banks; 2, Cameron Kerr; 3, Jamie Blackhurst. Girls - 1, Madeline Woods; 2, Ali Collins; 3, Jodie McLelland.

S4: boys - 1, Andrew Sweeny; 2, Liam Nelson; 3, Sean McGrandles. Girls - 1, Kelsey Campbell; 2, Jodie Currie; 3, Camille Verden Anderson.

S5/6: boys - 1, Fraser MacPherson; 2, Jack Kerr; 3, Blair Fletcher. Girls - 1, Emma Mason; 2, Amarilla Moffat; 3, Anastarsia Moffat.