NOT THE LANGSIDE BLOG
(or it is at langsidecollege.blogspot.com )
Six months and going strong!
The Blog is six months old in June, having published 23 issues. The original purpose behind the Blog was to disseminate to all staff items of information and general College interest. I hope that staff feels it has been worthwhile. Each edition requires input and support from staff and I would wish to record my appreciation to all staff who have contributed. I hope that the Blog can go from strength to strength and even more staff will make use of this important communication channel in session 2007/2008. (R Paterson)
Access to Success
As the year draws to a close it is clear that this year has been another incredibly successful year for the Access to Humanities Course. This year a remarkable 22 students have won university places: some of them in the most competitive degrees in Scotland. 10 Access students will be taking up places on the B.Ed. Primary Teaching Degree (a Langside record); 5 will be doing Social Work and 2 Social Science degrees. These are the 3 conventional routes of the Access course. However, this has also been an astonishing year of firsts for the Access programme with one student securing a place in the Journalism and Creative Writing degree at Strathclyde; 3 progressing to Theology at Glasgow University( ! ); 3 taking on Maths degrees (!!); and 1 more, Pamela Beshaj, landing a place on Strathclyde University’s Law degree (!!!). Given that all Access students must have few or no qualifications and many are returning from a 20 year gap in formal education, this is really all the more commendable. Well done to all students and the course team. (J Rafferty)
College Estate
An updated position on the College estate will be sent to all staff next week highlighting the crucial aspects of the new build which will need to be addressed in the next few months.
New Roadway
The new roadway into the College is almost complete. This week will see the road lined, traffic signs erected and the street lighting connected and tested. All staff and students are to be congratulated on their patience and understanding during the construction of the road. Some staff have been asking about the two roads leading towards the present Valeview buildings. The first road on the right (as you enter the College) is the road into the new car park which will sit it front of the new 3/4 storey main teaching building. The second road on the right is the road into the new service courtyard for deliveries to the stores/refectory etc. It is not, as some wag suggested, the road to nowhere.
Bon Voyage!
Clare Grant, who currently works in Student Services as a Student Advisor, leaves for pastures new on 10 August. Clare has successfully gained a place on the Post Graduate Diploma Secondary Teacher (PgDip Ed) course at the University of Glasgow. Clare was a Learning Information Specialist at Scottish University for Industry (SUfI) before joining the team in Student Services as an Advisor in January 2005. Clare also previously worked for the Marketing Department and the Schools & College Liaison Service at the University of Strathclyde prior to this.
Declan and Allison have tried, on numerous occasions, to talk her out of leaving but Clare is not having any of it!
I am sure you will join Declan, Allison and team in wishing Clare all the very best in her new undertaking and we are sure she will excel in her new career! Who knows, perhaps one day she will rejoin Langside College in a different capacity. (D Fallon)
Have a Great Summer!
This will be the last edition of the Blog prior to the summer holidays and it is an ideal opportunity to express the wish that all staff have a restful and peaceful break before returning the educational maelstrom in August. The Blog will be back with edition number 24 on Monday 20th August 2007.
______________________________________________________________________
Any ideas, thoughts, scribbles to the Blog – please contact Robert Paterson or the Secretariat
______________________________________________________________________
Monday 25 June 2007
Monday 18 June 2007
ISSUE 22 - 18 JUNE 2007
NOT THE LANGSIDE BLOG
( or it is at langsidecollege.blogspot.com )
National Success!
Over the last 14 years students from the HNC Occupational Therapy Support course have successfully gained both 1st and 2nd year places at the three Scottish universities offering OT, Glasgow Caledonian University, Queen Margaret University College, Edinburgh and Robert Gordon University, Aberdeen. This year 5 students have been offered places for 1st year and 4 for 2nd year. Also, this month will see the first cohort of Distance Learning students completing the HNC. They come from as far afield as Lincoln to Dunfermline. Well done the HNC Occupational Therapy Support distance learning team.
10,000th Enrolment for Evening and Lifestyle Programme
August 2005 marked the introduction of a database system for the enrolment of participants onto the Evening and Lifestyle Programme. 13 June 2007 marked the 10,000th enrolment onto the Programme since the introduction of the database system. This would not have been possible without the assistance of the IT Support Section in general and David Cooper, IT Support Manager, in particular. The system has proved to be a resounding success and its smooth running is a reflection of the hard work and dedication provided by John Forbes and the entire team in Student Services. Congratulations and well done to all involved!
Web Developer Appointment
IT Support Section is pleased to announce the appointment of Alexandra Crosbie to the post of Web Developer (full-time). Alex will take up her post with immediate effect. Many of you will already know Alex in her capacity as IT Technician and more recently in her seconded role of Web Developer (part-time). Alex will work very closely with the BDU which still retains editorial control of the website and welcomes this appointment wholeheartedly. We wish Alex every success in her new post and are confident she will bring the same commitment and enthusiasm which she has demonstrated in her previous posts.
Alex will be in contact with all Faculties and Units in the near future to discuss website content. Please think about your present Faculty/Unit website pages and discuss fully with Alex a way forward to utilise the full potential of the website as a marketing tool. Remember, Alex is there to assist you and to develop your pages; she will even input and format the content but she cannot devise the content that still remains the responsibility of the Faculties and Units. The website requires to be constantly updated to maintain a fresh and vibrant image, please assist Alex with this very important facet of the College’s marketing strategy.
J.K. Rowling Look Out!
Budding philosophers might be interested to know that staff member John Rafferty’s book “Critical Thinking for SQA Higher” goes to the publishers next week and will be available from all good bookshops and Amazon.co.uk over the summer. It is published by Kynoch and Blaney/Unity Publications. This has been a busy 18 months in the Social Science section in publishing terms with many members of the section hitting the presses. Last year Jon McDermott published his Higher Psychology textbook and both Craig Ross and John Rafferty published articles in the international journals Philosophy Now and Dialogue Magazine respectively. On top of this the department will also be publishing no less than 5 Coleg packs this week covering Economics, Psychology and Philosophy courses for the new HNC framework (earning up to 50 packs back for the college.) Many congratulations to all staff involved.
5k Race for Life
Well, they did it! The Ladies from Langside College successfully completed the 5k run in aid of cancer research on Sunday 10th June. It was a beautiful day and the atmosphere was terrific. Some of them walked, some ran, mostly it was a mixture of the two. It was a very uplifting experience and also very emotional for all staff involved. All staff involved want to thank everyone for their generous sponsorship and encouragement. If anyone still has money to give please see staff who ran as soon as possible. Here's to next year's race!
George Orwell’s “Animal Farm” – HNC Acting & Performance Students
Performances on Wed 20,Thurs 21, & Fri 22 June in the Emanuel Studio. Tickets costing £7 or £5 (concessions) available from Linda Law extn 3771.
60th BIRTHDAY BASH - ATTENTION! ATTENTION!
THIS IS YOUR LAST CHANCE TO INDICATE TO THE SECRETARIAT IF YOU WISH TO ATTEND THE ABOVE EVENT TO BE HELD AT HAMPDEN ON THURSDAY 28 JUNE 2007.
( or it is at langsidecollege.blogspot.com )
National Success!
Over the last 14 years students from the HNC Occupational Therapy Support course have successfully gained both 1st and 2nd year places at the three Scottish universities offering OT, Glasgow Caledonian University, Queen Margaret University College, Edinburgh and Robert Gordon University, Aberdeen. This year 5 students have been offered places for 1st year and 4 for 2nd year. Also, this month will see the first cohort of Distance Learning students completing the HNC. They come from as far afield as Lincoln to Dunfermline. Well done the HNC Occupational Therapy Support distance learning team.
10,000th Enrolment for Evening and Lifestyle Programme
August 2005 marked the introduction of a database system for the enrolment of participants onto the Evening and Lifestyle Programme. 13 June 2007 marked the 10,000th enrolment onto the Programme since the introduction of the database system. This would not have been possible without the assistance of the IT Support Section in general and David Cooper, IT Support Manager, in particular. The system has proved to be a resounding success and its smooth running is a reflection of the hard work and dedication provided by John Forbes and the entire team in Student Services. Congratulations and well done to all involved!
Web Developer Appointment
IT Support Section is pleased to announce the appointment of Alexandra Crosbie to the post of Web Developer (full-time). Alex will take up her post with immediate effect. Many of you will already know Alex in her capacity as IT Technician and more recently in her seconded role of Web Developer (part-time). Alex will work very closely with the BDU which still retains editorial control of the website and welcomes this appointment wholeheartedly. We wish Alex every success in her new post and are confident she will bring the same commitment and enthusiasm which she has demonstrated in her previous posts.
Alex will be in contact with all Faculties and Units in the near future to discuss website content. Please think about your present Faculty/Unit website pages and discuss fully with Alex a way forward to utilise the full potential of the website as a marketing tool. Remember, Alex is there to assist you and to develop your pages; she will even input and format the content but she cannot devise the content that still remains the responsibility of the Faculties and Units. The website requires to be constantly updated to maintain a fresh and vibrant image, please assist Alex with this very important facet of the College’s marketing strategy.
J.K. Rowling Look Out!
Budding philosophers might be interested to know that staff member John Rafferty’s book “Critical Thinking for SQA Higher” goes to the publishers next week and will be available from all good bookshops and Amazon.co.uk over the summer. It is published by Kynoch and Blaney/Unity Publications. This has been a busy 18 months in the Social Science section in publishing terms with many members of the section hitting the presses. Last year Jon McDermott published his Higher Psychology textbook and both Craig Ross and John Rafferty published articles in the international journals Philosophy Now and Dialogue Magazine respectively. On top of this the department will also be publishing no less than 5 Coleg packs this week covering Economics, Psychology and Philosophy courses for the new HNC framework (earning up to 50 packs back for the college.) Many congratulations to all staff involved.
5k Race for Life
Well, they did it! The Ladies from Langside College successfully completed the 5k run in aid of cancer research on Sunday 10th June. It was a beautiful day and the atmosphere was terrific. Some of them walked, some ran, mostly it was a mixture of the two. It was a very uplifting experience and also very emotional for all staff involved. All staff involved want to thank everyone for their generous sponsorship and encouragement. If anyone still has money to give please see staff who ran as soon as possible. Here's to next year's race!
George Orwell’s “Animal Farm” – HNC Acting & Performance Students
Performances on Wed 20,Thurs 21, & Fri 22 June in the Emanuel Studio. Tickets costing £7 or £5 (concessions) available from Linda Law extn 3771.
60th BIRTHDAY BASH - ATTENTION! ATTENTION!
THIS IS YOUR LAST CHANCE TO INDICATE TO THE SECRETARIAT IF YOU WISH TO ATTEND THE ABOVE EVENT TO BE HELD AT HAMPDEN ON THURSDAY 28 JUNE 2007.
Monday 11 June 2007
ISSUE21 - 11 JUNE 2007
NOT THE LANGSIDE BLOG
( or it is at langsidecollege.blogspot.com )
Building on success
A few weeks ago the Blog reported the success of the Faculty of Education, Care and Sport in securing an articulation agreement with Strathclyde University for students successful in achieving their HND Supporting and Managing Learning Needs. The value and credibility of the HND SMLN was further demonstrated when, after interviews by Abertay University staff here at Langside, 14 students were offered places in the final year of the BA in Learning Difficulties/Disabilities degree course. A number of students from this course usually go on to complete a post graduate teaching qualification. This is an excellent example of Further and Higher Education working together to provide alternative routes to certification for students.
Well done to George Ennis and David Steadman who have pioneered this excellent articulation route.
New Appointment
The Business Development and New Funding Initiatives Unit is pleased to announce the appointment of Kath MacFarlane as Funding Manager with effect from 5 July 2007. This is a challenging post and one which is pivotal to the financial viability of the college. We wish Kath every success in her new post and are confident she will meet the challenges with the skills and enthusiasm she has demonstrated in her previous posts within the college.
Partnership Event and Open Day 30 May 2007
As part of the 60th Anniversary celebrations, the College held a Partnership Event on Wednesday 30 May at the Main Campus. This event reinforced the many successful relationships the College has with various outside governing bodies, agencies, local authorities and suppliers. The format of the morning was as follows:
• Welcome by the Principal, Graeme Hyslop
• Looking Forward to a Bright Future, Depute Principal, Robert Paterson
• Quizdom, Business Development Manager, Paul Lafferty
• Excerpts from the Three-penny Opera, HND Acting and Performance Students
• Guided tour of Art Exhibition, Student Showcase and Flexible Learning Unit
• Lunch
The event received a very positive response from all who attended and acted as the perfect precursor to the Open Day. Approximately 400 people attended the Open Day: this generated 75 applications and 12 enrolments for the Evening and Lifestyle Programme commencing September 2007.
Many thanks to all staff who helped to make the Partnership Event and the Open Day a huge success.
New Evening and Lifestyle Guide Sept 2007 – Aug 08
The new Evening and Lifestyle Guide is now available and can be obtained from Student Services. There are a number of new classes as well as the usual favourites in the Guide for the forthcoming session. Additionally, 2007 sees the introduction of a Gift Voucher scheme for Evening and Lifestyle classes. So the present for someone who has everything need be a problem no longer!
Please take every opportunity to advertise these classes as word of mouth reinforced by the Guide is a powerful marketing tool.
Ski Holiday
Last Easter, Roger McKillop, Sports Studies, took a group of mostly Langside students and staff to Valmorel in France for a week long trip of skiing and partying! To keep the costs low, the group travelled from
Glasgow by bus and stayed in self-catering chalets keeping the cost of the trip to £415 which also included ski hire and lift pass.
Says Roger, who was acting as party leader along with former student Nicola Craig, “All the students had a great time and I am glad to say that I was proud of their conduct. Whether they can say the same about me after I snowboarded in my kilt, is a question you must put to them! We did receive one complaint though, from a German family, about the noise. Was this due to excessive rowdy behaviour? No! Was it due to a booze up? No! It was due to the girls playing SNAP!”
If you would like to join the skiing party next year then Roger is organising another trip for the first week of the Easter 2008 break. The trip is being organised by Ski Supreme, travel will be by plane, and the cost is £435 including the flight. If enough people are interested Roger will try to arrange a family week as well as a ‘student holiday’ week. So if you feel like sliding down hills then let Roger know.
________________________________________________________________________________
Any ideas, thoughts, scribbles to the Blog – please contact Robert Paterson or the Secretariat
_________________________________________________________________________________
<
( or it is at langsidecollege.blogspot.com )
Building on success
A few weeks ago the Blog reported the success of the Faculty of Education, Care and Sport in securing an articulation agreement with Strathclyde University for students successful in achieving their HND Supporting and Managing Learning Needs. The value and credibility of the HND SMLN was further demonstrated when, after interviews by Abertay University staff here at Langside, 14 students were offered places in the final year of the BA in Learning Difficulties/Disabilities degree course. A number of students from this course usually go on to complete a post graduate teaching qualification. This is an excellent example of Further and Higher Education working together to provide alternative routes to certification for students.
Well done to George Ennis and David Steadman who have pioneered this excellent articulation route.
New Appointment
The Business Development and New Funding Initiatives Unit is pleased to announce the appointment of Kath MacFarlane as Funding Manager with effect from 5 July 2007. This is a challenging post and one which is pivotal to the financial viability of the college. We wish Kath every success in her new post and are confident she will meet the challenges with the skills and enthusiasm she has demonstrated in her previous posts within the college.
Partnership Event and Open Day 30 May 2007
As part of the 60th Anniversary celebrations, the College held a Partnership Event on Wednesday 30 May at the Main Campus. This event reinforced the many successful relationships the College has with various outside governing bodies, agencies, local authorities and suppliers. The format of the morning was as follows:
• Welcome by the Principal, Graeme Hyslop
• Looking Forward to a Bright Future, Depute Principal, Robert Paterson
• Quizdom, Business Development Manager, Paul Lafferty
• Excerpts from the Three-penny Opera, HND Acting and Performance Students
• Guided tour of Art Exhibition, Student Showcase and Flexible Learning Unit
• Lunch
The event received a very positive response from all who attended and acted as the perfect precursor to the Open Day. Approximately 400 people attended the Open Day: this generated 75 applications and 12 enrolments for the Evening and Lifestyle Programme commencing September 2007.
Many thanks to all staff who helped to make the Partnership Event and the Open Day a huge success.
New Evening and Lifestyle Guide Sept 2007 – Aug 08
The new Evening and Lifestyle Guide is now available and can be obtained from Student Services. There are a number of new classes as well as the usual favourites in the Guide for the forthcoming session. Additionally, 2007 sees the introduction of a Gift Voucher scheme for Evening and Lifestyle classes. So the present for someone who has everything need be a problem no longer!
Please take every opportunity to advertise these classes as word of mouth reinforced by the Guide is a powerful marketing tool.
Ski Holiday
Last Easter, Roger McKillop, Sports Studies, took a group of mostly Langside students and staff to Valmorel in France for a week long trip of skiing and partying! To keep the costs low, the group travelled from
Glasgow by bus and stayed in self-catering chalets keeping the cost of the trip to £415 which also included ski hire and lift pass.
Says Roger, who was acting as party leader along with former student Nicola Craig, “All the students had a great time and I am glad to say that I was proud of their conduct. Whether they can say the same about me after I snowboarded in my kilt, is a question you must put to them! We did receive one complaint though, from a German family, about the noise. Was this due to excessive rowdy behaviour? No! Was it due to a booze up? No! It was due to the girls playing SNAP!”
If you would like to join the skiing party next year then Roger is organising another trip for the first week of the Easter 2008 break. The trip is being organised by Ski Supreme, travel will be by plane, and the cost is £435 including the flight. If enough people are interested Roger will try to arrange a family week as well as a ‘student holiday’ week. So if you feel like sliding down hills then let Roger know.
________________________________________________________________________________
Any ideas, thoughts, scribbles to the Blog – please contact Robert Paterson or the Secretariat
_________________________________________________________________________________
<
Monday 4 June 2007
ISSUE 20 - 4 JUNE 2007
NOT THE LANGSIDE BLOG
(or it is at langsidecollege.blogspot.com )
Contractors Weekly Blog
This week we shall continue working on the footpath and grading the road. Our surfacing contractor should be on site from Wednesday until the end of the week and shall be surfacing the road, main car park and footpaths. Unfortunately this will probably be the most disruptive part of the contract as the surfacing squad shall require a bit of room for their plant will require some of the parking spaces. The lorries with the tar shall be in and about the area. For this week we would once again request that if possible you leave your vehicles at home.
On the positive side once this work is done, at the end of the week, parking shall be available at the whole of the main car park and the staff car park shall also be open. The pedestrian access via ValeviewTerrace shall also be re-opened. We would also once again appeal to staff and students not to walk along the road and to please walk within the pedestrian barriers to help avoid any accidents, either with our plant or with cars. The path for pedestrians is via the stairs to and from the student car park.
Please note that either at the end of this week or the beginning of next week the traffic route will be changing again.
Mackenzie Construction would again apologise for any inconvenience and we will try to keep disruptions to a minimum. Thank you in advance for your patience.
New Applications/Enrolment process
Work has been progressing steadily on the new process since late last year with the aim of centralising data and systems, providing a better service for students and minimising delays in data entry to support the production of earlier & more accurate class lists and other student related information.
Faculty administrators with support from Student Services & Student Database have done a grand job inputting all new applications related data into Unite. Senior lecturers have played their part by submitting revised, more uniform course details.
Enrolment & the production of Student Cards will primarily take place in the fortnight beginning 13th August under the aegis of the Enrolment Team comprising Student Services. Database, Funding, Finance and IT. The aim is to ensure that all students in a class have a Student Card on their first day in class and the card signifies that they have completed all aspects of the enrolment process. Lecturers will be asked to check that all students have their card as verification that enrolment has been completed.
It is an ambitious project with benefits for all. We hope that everyone will play their part in making it a success.
Success with South Lanarkshire Council Contract
The College has been awarded a major contract with South Lanarkshire Council to deliver training for their Child Care workforce.
As of September 2007 we have been asked to deliver First Aid, Child Care units, Sign Language and Sport over the period of a year and possibly on a rolling programme. Our reputation goes before us and it is thanks to all Child Care lecturers including the SVQ Early Years team that we have been awarded this contract.
Stars in Your Eyes
The College was approached by BBC 3 in Manchester to allow filming of a child care class for the programme ' Honey We're Killing the Kids '
On 31st May the film crew joined a Classroom Assistants course where the lecturer Julie Caldwell delivered the subject 'Child Protection ' and the Star of the show was sitting in the class as a student. The crew then filmed Jan Watson acting as an advisor on Child Care courses. Jan commented “I have not got time to get a face lift and my roots done !!”
(no comment – Ed)
Staff Photograph
Many thanks to all staff who ‘starred’ in the 60th anniversary staff photograph taken on Thursday 31st May. A giant round of applause for Alison (last to be picked for a team). Thank you to all staff for your patience and good humour during the set up and photographic session.
5K Race for Life
A gentle reminder that staff Rita Donnelly, Michelle Thain, Linda Faulkner, Denise McGranaghan, Clare Martin, Margaret Wright and Margaret Kelly (the College counsellor) are taking part in the 5K Race for Life in aid of Cancer Research on 10th June. If possible please sponsor staff to help this excellent charity.
______________________________________________________________________
Any ideas, thoughts, scribbles to the Blog – please contact Robert Paterson or the Secretariat
(or it is at langsidecollege.blogspot.com )
Contractors Weekly Blog
This week we shall continue working on the footpath and grading the road. Our surfacing contractor should be on site from Wednesday until the end of the week and shall be surfacing the road, main car park and footpaths. Unfortunately this will probably be the most disruptive part of the contract as the surfacing squad shall require a bit of room for their plant will require some of the parking spaces. The lorries with the tar shall be in and about the area. For this week we would once again request that if possible you leave your vehicles at home.
On the positive side once this work is done, at the end of the week, parking shall be available at the whole of the main car park and the staff car park shall also be open. The pedestrian access via ValeviewTerrace shall also be re-opened. We would also once again appeal to staff and students not to walk along the road and to please walk within the pedestrian barriers to help avoid any accidents, either with our plant or with cars. The path for pedestrians is via the stairs to and from the student car park.
Please note that either at the end of this week or the beginning of next week the traffic route will be changing again.
Mackenzie Construction would again apologise for any inconvenience and we will try to keep disruptions to a minimum. Thank you in advance for your patience.
New Applications/Enrolment process
Work has been progressing steadily on the new process since late last year with the aim of centralising data and systems, providing a better service for students and minimising delays in data entry to support the production of earlier & more accurate class lists and other student related information.
Faculty administrators with support from Student Services & Student Database have done a grand job inputting all new applications related data into Unite. Senior lecturers have played their part by submitting revised, more uniform course details.
Enrolment & the production of Student Cards will primarily take place in the fortnight beginning 13th August under the aegis of the Enrolment Team comprising Student Services. Database, Funding, Finance and IT. The aim is to ensure that all students in a class have a Student Card on their first day in class and the card signifies that they have completed all aspects of the enrolment process. Lecturers will be asked to check that all students have their card as verification that enrolment has been completed.
It is an ambitious project with benefits for all. We hope that everyone will play their part in making it a success.
Success with South Lanarkshire Council Contract
The College has been awarded a major contract with South Lanarkshire Council to deliver training for their Child Care workforce.
As of September 2007 we have been asked to deliver First Aid, Child Care units, Sign Language and Sport over the period of a year and possibly on a rolling programme. Our reputation goes before us and it is thanks to all Child Care lecturers including the SVQ Early Years team that we have been awarded this contract.
Stars in Your Eyes
The College was approached by BBC 3 in Manchester to allow filming of a child care class for the programme ' Honey We're Killing the Kids '
On 31st May the film crew joined a Classroom Assistants course where the lecturer Julie Caldwell delivered the subject 'Child Protection ' and the Star of the show was sitting in the class as a student. The crew then filmed Jan Watson acting as an advisor on Child Care courses. Jan commented “I have not got time to get a face lift and my roots done !!”
(no comment – Ed)
Staff Photograph
Many thanks to all staff who ‘starred’ in the 60th anniversary staff photograph taken on Thursday 31st May. A giant round of applause for Alison (last to be picked for a team). Thank you to all staff for your patience and good humour during the set up and photographic session.
5K Race for Life
A gentle reminder that staff Rita Donnelly, Michelle Thain, Linda Faulkner, Denise McGranaghan, Clare Martin, Margaret Wright and Margaret Kelly (the College counsellor) are taking part in the 5K Race for Life in aid of Cancer Research on 10th June. If possible please sponsor staff to help this excellent charity.
______________________________________________________________________
Any ideas, thoughts, scribbles to the Blog – please contact Robert Paterson or the Secretariat
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