| from
"St Michael's College and Academy - A Celebration 1921-2007", |
hosted on www.irvineayrshire.org |
Looking
back into the annals through the . . . |
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Different
days . . (from the 1961 magazine) (from p.10) |
The Log Books (from p.34)
Each head teacher was obliged by law to keep a daily log book of events, staff absences, etc. Our first logbook(s) were destroyed in the 1939 fire. The three extant ones cover the years 1939-63, 1963-80 and 1980-85, though they latterly list mainly staff absences, arrivals and departures. Log books can't be made public for 50 years, but the most interesting entries are earlier.
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The earliest
permanent staff listed (in logbook sequence) are: |
Agnes Smithwick (Asst English 7.11.21-3.7.52), Annie Josephine Thomas (Sr Mechtilde Joseph, Headmistress, 7.11.21-17.4.50; ‘Principal’ became her official title about 1946), Mary Wade (PT English 1931-1972), Mary Whiston (Asst English & Maths 15.10.34-1979 (2nd retiral) – 45 years!). Many entries are routine (eg staff absences) but here are some of the more interesting. 1940,
Sept 18th: Request to work-men demolishing the chimney of the old school
that depart-ments should be warned in order to prevent accidents to pupils. |
1941,
Mar 14th: The attendance was very good and punctual in spite of the night’s
prolonged “alert” period (9.15pm – 5.55am). The siren again sounded at
8.50am . . [and] the “All clear” sounded at 9.15am. I J Dickson |
A
‘Michael-cosm’ (from p.66-67)
St Michael’s in the ‘Fifties and ‘Sixties – Snippets from old School Magazines
1957 We had good news of a projected pilgrimage to Lourdes in 1958. 1958 The Asian ‘flu reached us - reducing classes, staff and the content of lessons, since teachers had to slow down their pace and wait for the return of pupils. Our patronal feast was celebrated in the usual way with Missa Recitativa in the morning and a holiday in the afternoon. 1959 There were high hopes of a holiday when a storm blew in the windows in Form VI, but they were not fulfilled. We celebrated the Feast of St Michael by a corporate act of worship at Mass in Irvine, and, later in the day, enjoyed the half holiday that we have now come to expect. |
With the entire Catholic world, we sorrowed at the death of Pope Pius XII and rejoiced at the election to the papacy of Cardinal Roncalli - Pope John XXIII. 1960 Mr Mullen, Principal Teacher of History died on 2nd February. Shakespeare lovers went to see ‘Othello’ in the Citizens Theatre. A large contingent also attended ‘Hamlet’ at Jordanhill College. A group went to the Religious Exhibition in the Kelvin Hall. 1961 A group of pupils participated in the Scottish Catholic Junior Historical Conference at Bothwell. The organisers were Father Anderson and Father Ross O.P. The May blossoms have come out and the girls have blossomed forth in a new summer uniform. Their frocks, yellow and white, give a splash of colour in the classrooms. June is always
dominated by the Annual Sports Day – an event second only to the Olympics!
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1962 Mr McFarlane took over one hundred pupils to hear the Vienna Boys’ Choir in Glasgow. The Cuban Missile Crisis seems to have been averted and our blood pressure has returned to normal. During the Christmas holidays we heard, with concern, that there had been a fire in St Mary’s Church, Irvine which entailed the temporary closure of the building for repairs. From then until 31st May, all Sunday and Holiday services were held in our School Dining Hall. 1963 The past few months have been dominated by high-pressure politics, spectacular train robberies and the Beatles! The weather in the New Year was truly wintry with piled-up snow and glistering frost, but we gained only a meagre half-holiday. At the end
of January, Mr Speirs, P.T. teacher, left and his place was taken by Mr
Hand, a former pupil. |
and 1964 to 1967 . . .
1964 Mrs Margaret McGuinness was appointed to the post of Principal Teacher of Mathematics. For the first time, we were fortunate in procuring the services of a Laboratory Technician, a former pupil, Mr Eric Cairney. 1965 On 23rd October, a Coffee Morning proved a wonderful success. Over 600 parents and friends spent an enjoyable morning meeting old friends, chatting over coffee and wandering round our new premises. Father Walker, our former School Convener, celebrated the Silver Jubilee of his ordination. 1966 The ‘flu epidemic descended upon us, fortunately after the S.C.E. Estimate Examinations. The death of Canon O’Connor, senior clerical representative on the Education Committee, brought sorrow to all his friends. |
His interest in St Michael’s was sincere, and we are glad that he lived to see the new school. At the Ayrshire Music Festival, the Junior Girls’ Choir won the Doonside Challenge Trophy for the third time in four years. The Senior Mixed Choir visited West Berlin as guests of the Ranke Grammar School. Sister Dominic Savio was appointed PT History, Mrs Dorothy Barkey PT Homecraft, and Mr Leo Walsh Principal Assistant with special responsibility for pupils of Three Year Courses. Miss Gertrude McGeough and Mr Tommy Henderson were appointed Special Assistants. In October, a Fashion Parade was held in the School Assembly Hall. Garments were provided by the Ardrossan Co-operative Society and proceeds went to School Funds. Thanks are due to Mr Ballantyne and his assistants. |
1967 A Burns Supper was held at the end of January. The Debating Society, under the able guidance of Mr Mitchell, carried this through. There was haggis piped in by Mr Butler in full regalia, and every toast was proposed and answered with true decorum. The only absentee was John Barleycorn. Dr Roy of Glasgow University gave a Cormack Bequest Lecture on Astronomy and Mr Heaton gave a talk on the Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme. Anne Myles won the Duke of Edin-burgh Silver Award, while Eileen Reilly, Maura Taylor and Anne Milgrew gained Bronze medals. Anne Myles was chosen as the Marymass Queen and Mary Inglis as one of the four Marys. A Carol Service was given by the Senior Choir in the Cathedral, Ayr, on 10th December; the main contribution was the singing of ‘A Ceremony of Carols’ by Benjamin Britten. (compiled
by R A Mitchell) |
St Michael’s newspaper SMART 1973-1981 (from p. 84-85)
Mr J Kelly, PT English, launched the school newspaper in November 1973, and produced four issues before leaving for St Joseph’s in Kilmarnock.SMART was continued by Mr Dickson.
Pupils wrote up news during the week, the paper was Roneotronic-ed onto wax stencils and duplicated on Thursday afternoons, and an after-school team of about 10 pupils folded, stapled, and bundled copies, ready for distribution at Friday registration. For six months to June 1974, it appeared weekly, for 21 issues, regularly selling over 300 copies, once reaching 430.
New and departing staff and pupils were interviewed, sports matches and trips were reported, small ads appeared, and weekly puzzles and lucky numbers encouraged sales. Moreover, if a pupil’s letter raised an issue, the appropriate year head would reply.
Over the five years 1975 to 1979, with one gap, the paper appeared every two or three weeks, producing another 51 issues, the price rising to 2p, then 3p. Smart Summer Annuals appeared in June 1978 and 1979 at 20p. Mr Lucchesi edited six later issues in 1980-81. A third Annual appeared in December 1980 at 30p. A grand total of 82 issues and 3 Annuals!
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The first school mini-bus was a second-hand vehicle – “It has had a new engine”, Mr Connolly said, “It only needs rust removed and re-spraying.” (Jan.’74) When dinner staff were asked if the sittings were well-behaved, the answer was “No, no, no, definitely not.” (Mar.’74) Stephen Motroni reported on Brian Kelly and John Boothman reaching the final of the Scottish Daily Express Debating Competition. After the six teams had finished, Lord Shinwell commented that the debate was “more interesting than most of the dishwater bilge I hear at the Lords.” (Mar.’74) After the previous round, our reporter Martin McAllister had written, “John [Boothman] suffers from constipation of the brain and diarrhoea of the mouth.” |
“To study biology, you must have a cast-iron stomach. Miss Collum seems to take a most morbid delight in producing dead rats, bulls’ eyes, worms, etc, for dissection.” (An anonymous VI reporter, M McCulloch, Mar.’74) “The House system is dying. Last year there was only a token Sports Day. In S1 the spirit of rivalry was friendly and engrossing. Nowadays there is little interest in the House System.” (Letter to the Editor from a “disenchanted Vth Year”, Anthony da Prato) On the SMART team visit to the ‘Glasgow Herald’, they saw staff making brass plates of, among others, Kenny Dalgleish, for the following day’s paper (hot metal days then, not computers). (May ’74; the team also visited STV in 1978 and the Motor Show in 1979) |
“A few pupils complained that the quantity of ice-cream per cone was too small for the extortionate price of 3p!!” (Sports Day 1974) On the school trip to Rothesay, “Sr Maura was making news in the swimming pool; she was reported to be a smashing swimmer with a fantastic figure.” (reporters M Dalton, E Harte and G Hennon) “SMART is unfair to teachers.” – Mr Maxwell lost his prize voucher because he did not claim it in time. “Whatever
you are doing, remember that it is wonderful how much each of you can
achieve if you really put your heart into it and give of your best. I
hope that you will understand that, if I scolded you or corrected you,
it was because I cared for you and the school to which you belonged.”
(from Sr Pauline’s farewell letter) |
Cartoons entitled “If we hadn’t managed to buy a new mini-bus” by Gerald Donnelly S2 in the June 1978 Smart Summer Annual
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“The standard of behaviour of some of our well-known layabouts makes the job of the staff difficult and creates many problems for their fellow-pupils.” (the 1976 captains, Jim McMillan and Katy Cherry) “Please shed some light on the non-appearance of the 2nd year exam timetable. How are we to pass our exams . ?” (letter to Editor, 1976) Mrs Brown’s New Year Resolutions, 1977: “To keep the staffroom tidier, and to stop telling Mr McIlroy that he is thick even though he is.” “The content of the newspaper, as these few trash-filled pages claim to be, has reached new depths of journalism . . .” (letter to the Editor from Charles Stewart, 502) |
Valentine message to Mr Gill, 1977, from two anonymous admirers: “This message comes with love and joy, Thanks for belting every boy, We hope you don’t think us bold, We think you’re worth your weight in gold.” Reports from the 1977 Autumn Fayre to raise money for a new mini-bus: “One attraction was Soak The Pupil Of Your Choice – five 3rd yr boys were in the playing fields in stocks soaked at 5p a time.” (Pauline Robertson) “Everybody left the Fayre the proud possessor of a plant or a gold-fish.” (Paul McGeown) “One senior pupil was seen carrying a large bear to Mr Westcott and then conveying a PRAM to Mr Cassidy.” (Denis Herraghty) |
Most popular teacher in Oct.’77 opinion poll – Miss Lennon. The best-dressed teacher in a 1978 opinion poll – Mrs Tannahill What I want for Christmas, 1979 – Mr Vernon – “A Games Hall” “When you have a packed lunch there is nowhere to sit. The girls have benches but the rest have to sit on the floor.” (Danny Moriarty, 201, in 1980) “Mr Merrick is selling Rubik Cube solution sheets at 20p each, the proceeds going to Mrs McKinley’s Mission Fund. If your Rubik Cube is very stiff, Mr Merrick recommends WD40 lubricant.” (Sept.’81) (compiled by I J Dickson) |
Avenues of Communication – The Bulletin (from p. 10)
Mr Peter Maxwell, former Depute of St Michael’s, started issuing regular Staff Bulletins in 1976. The Staff Bulletin later evolved into the Daily Bulletin for both staff and pupils. These early (1976-79) bulletins make interesting and, at times, amusing reading. The following extracts give a flavour of life as it was then, in the initial years of Mr McCutcheon’s tenure of office.
| 1st
September 1976: Sister Dominic Savio and Miss Agnes Lennon took
a group of pupils to Glenluce Abbey and to Whithorn Priory and Museum. |
28th
January 1977: Wrangler jackets are still being worn. Every effort
should be made by all teachers to stamp this out. |
14th
February 1978: The organisers of the Lourdes Trip are Sister
Dominic Savio, Mr John Walsh and Miss Helen Timmons. |
The Monthly Newsletter to Parents (from p. 11-13)
Started in Sept. 1984 by Mr John Mitchell as a means of developing the school’s partnership with parents and the wider community, the Newsletter has continued for almost 23 years; Mr Eric Allan assumed responsibility for it in 1999, followed, since October 2006, by Mr Bernard McCabe.
| September
1984: It has become increasingly important to develop lines of
communication between school and community. A regular Newsletter is an
important element in this communication structure. |
October
1985: 70 sacks of flour, lentils, dried milk and sugar were filled
for the Live Aid Appeal. |
February
1987: Congratulations to Mr Martin Rogan on his appointment to
the post of PT Modern Languages at Maxwellton Academy, Dumfries. |
and 1988/89 to 1991 . . .
| December
1988: We bid farewell, with sincere thanks, to Miss Jean Templeton
who retired after more than 23 years of devoted service as Head Cook.
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November
1989: Our new School Board held its first meeting. Members are
Mr Jim Farrell, Mrs Anne Marie McGowan, Mrs Therese Gibson, Mr Hugh Hunter
and Mrs Greta Jennings. Staff members are Mr Campbell Cassidy and Mr Paul
Dorrian. |
January1991:
Mass for Peace in the Gulf was celebrated in the Assembly Hall at lunchtime
on 15th January. More than 200 pupils and a large number of staff attended.
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and 1991/92 to 1994 . . .
| November
1991: Mr Dickson, PT Classics, took 66 pupils to the ‘Faces of
Rome’ Exhibition. |
November
1992: The school community has been saddened by the sudden death
in Dubai of Mr Brian Garvie, formerly of the Maths. Department. |
October
1993: Identical twins, Michael and Andrew Corrigan, are the first
of the session’s S1 intake to gain the Book Trail Gold Award. |
The perusal of these Newsletters has been most interesting. Only a very small part of the life of the school has been recorded in these extracts. However, the overwhelming impression is of a community striving to be Christian; this is exemplified by the many thousands of pounds raised for a very wide range of charities. (R.A.M.)
Class Chat / School Notes in the local press
This is another means of communicating with the wider community. Class Chat appears weekly in the local newspapers. Since 1990, Mrs Rose Ann Mitchell has been the Press Officer for St Michael’s and has submitted items of interest to the Irvine Times, the Irvine Herald and the Ardrossan and Saltcoats Herald faithfully every week.
Postscript - extracts from the final St Michael's Academy news in the School Notes section of the 'Irvine Herald' on 19th Ocober, 2007
| This is the final Class Chat from the St Matthew's Academy Kilwinning Campus, or what was formerly known as St Michael's Academy. Mr McCabe, acting head teacher, congratulates the pupils who participated in the XScape trip on their outstanding behaviour throughout the day. Thanks to Miss McFadden and Mr Semple for their outstanding organisation of this event. Mr McCabe also thanks the Commemorative Events Committee - Mr P Carmichael, Mr P Semple, Miss B McFadden, Mrs M Morrow, Mrs J Buchert, Mrs F O'Neill, Mrs RA Mitchell, Mrs A Brown, Mrs J Hemming, Mrs A Shiells, Mr R Johnston, Mr P Blair, Mrs H McTurk, Mr I Dickson, and Mrs M McArthur, along with Mrs W Dorrian and Miss A McNicol, who collectively and individually organised the closing events - the staff dinner, the XScape trip, the ceilidh, the photographic exhibition, the closing mass, and the publication of the commemorative book. |
Mr McCabe said that each event was a testament to the high quality of leadership, organisational ability and capacity for hard work of the staff which helped to ake Str Michael's the fine school it was. Thanks must go to Mr Mccabe himself for chairing the Commemorative Committee. Best wishes to our computer technician, Mr Thomas Hume, who left on October 5th. Best wishes to three who will be retiring from teaching at the end of October: Mrs Marion Tomlinson, modern languages deptartment, who joined the staff in 1990, Mr Tom Malkin, PT Physics, who took up his post in 1982, and Mrs R A Mitchell, PT English, who has had two periods of teaching in St Michael's 1970-74 and 1984-2007. So now - a final farewell to all our readers and to all friends of St Michael's. |
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