All our LO2S 2022 pupils, support staff and core staff team
Wow, what a week we have all just had!
From nervous faces to best friends for life, LO2S was a great way to spend the summer holidays by getting to know the amazing opportunities that are waiting for us after school. This was a week where we were able to start setting goals for our journey with LIFT OFF throughout S5 & S6, and showcased the skills that we are ready to accelerate on as we move closer to Higher Education.
The LIFT OFF team and support staff had the absolute pleasure of watching these selected S4’s grow more confident in their HE choices, form strong relationships with each other and feel happier with the new knowledge of where they could be in just two years time.
Let’s find out more…
Day 1
On day 1 we arrived at our home for the next week in John Burnett Halls. After we introduced ourselves to our groups we headed to our first session at the University of St Andrews with Paul Gardner. This session was held in the famous St Mary’s quad, a very apt location for these pupils first university style experience! During this session we explored the subject of Psychology where lots of interesting conversations were had regarding how our minds worked!
Day 2
On day 2 we hopped on the bus over the bridge to Dundee. Our first stop was Abertay University where we found out more about Psychology, Food Technology and Games Design and Production. This was a fun packed morning where our pupils got to assess their mental skills, tasting skills and creative skills! The second half of the day squeezed out our creative juices at Dundee University in Duncan and Jordanstone College of Art and Design. Pupils were tasked with making an interactive door bell experience. Let’s just say the results were varied and… interesting!
Day 3
On day 3 we headed down to Edinburgh and visited both Heriott-Watt and Napier University. We split into two groups and explored different subjects in each institution. Heriott-Watt introduced us to Architectural Engineering which incorporated activities using technology to measure light levels, designing buildings for sustainability and testing noise levels in weird feeling rooms! We also had a fun packed session at Napier testing out our fitness levels using Sports Science technology and exploring replicated care homes and hospitals wards. I think we can all agree we were very impressed by the facilities but more so, free pizza for all!
Day 4
We spent our last full day at the beautiful and remote campus of Stirling University. I know all of our pupils were impressed by this campus as we were met with plenty of wildlife as we arrived… who spotted the deer? At Stirling we found out more about “articulation” and current students let us know the different routes they took to Higher Education. Some of us got a tour of the facilities Stirling has to offer whilst others spent the morning designing their perfect university. In the afternoon we found out more about popular subjects at Stirling such as Sports Science and Paramedic Science. This was an information packed day and our pupils definitely deserved a party night which we had in the evening in Upper College Hall. Check out those dance moves!
Graduation
Day 5, our final day was one filled with tears and laughter as our pupils were reunited with their families and graduated from this years first summer residential since 2019. What a great time we had looking back at all our photos, remembering how nervous we felt at the beginning of the week and leaving with friendships, memories and lessons for life!
This was truly the best way to kickstart the next academic cycle and move into S5, setting a great example for our new S4s and preparing to get the best out of LIFT OFF. A few “thank yous” to those who made it possible…
- Our day/night staff: Sophie, Lauren, Rae, Zoe, Casey, Abs, Kirrin and James
- Staff at John Burnett Halls for hosting us
Our pupils parents & carers who joined us at graduation
The LIFT OFF staff team: Shauntelle, Emma, Hannah, Helen, Mel, Mairi & Julie
All our LIFT OFF schools & contact teachers for helping us get here
We couldn’t run events like LIFT OFF to Success without you.
Until next time… have a great summer holiday!
