Latest news with #StAidan'sHigh
Daily Record
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Record
Wishaw's X-Factor star heading to Airdrie Town Hall for summer show
It's hard to believe it's been more than a decade since the then 16-year-old Nicky swapped the classrooms at St Aidan's High in Wishaw for the main stage in Britain's biggest show. Wishaw's X-Factor star Nicholas McDonald is returning to North Lanarkshire for an unforgettable show later this year. The singer will perform live on Saturday, June 28, at Airdrie Town Hall. It's hard to believe it's been more than a decade since the then 16-year-old Nicky swapped the classrooms at St Aidan's High in Wishaw for the main stage in Britain's biggest show. In the end, Nicholas finished runner-up to eventual winner Sam Bailey but he has only great memories of his time on the show. The night will kick off with two exciting opening acts before the X-Factor star and his band take to the stage promising a powerhouse performance packed with soulful melodies and high energy hits. VIP tickets available for front row seats, a signed poster, VIP Lanyard and a Meet & Greet (M&G) with Nicholas. The M&G will take place before the show at 6.30pm. VIP tickets cost £31 with all other tickets costing £26. More information is available from the Culture NL website.
Daily Record
23-05-2025
- Science
- Daily Record
Wishaw pupils' theme park design takes school to the finals of engineering competition for third year running
Almost 1000 young people from across the UK entered The Big Bang Competition Smart-thinking young people at St Aidan's High in Wishaw are finalists in this year's Big Bang UK Young Scientists & Engineers competition thanks to their innovative design for a hydro-powered theme park. It's the third year running that students from the school have made it to the finals of the competition. Almost 1000 young people aged 11 to 18 years old from across the UK entered The Big Bang Competition, with over 100 projects shortlisted from hundreds of entries. Up for grabs is the coveted Big Bang UK Young Engineer, Big Bang UK Young Scientist and Big Bang UK Young Technologist of the Year awards. Siemens are supporting the technologist category. Each category has a prize of £1,000. St Aidan's S2 pupils – Michael McCall, Erin McDonald, Shannon O'Rourke, Martha Steel, James Todd, and Moyin Yusuf – came up with an eco-friendly theme park design for their entry this year. Fionn O'Mara, Teacher of Science and Principal Teacher of Numeracy, said: 'We are Big Bang finalists again. The pupils were entered in the Junior Engineering Category for their Bronze Industrial Cadet Project - A Theme Park for the Future. "Their project was to create a sustainable and eco-friendly roller coaster park. The group's solution was to create a hydro-powered park that would convert kinetic energy from a nearby river to electrical energy to power their coaster. "The pupils designed, modelled and 3D printed a water wheel design, wrote a 25-page report and also went as far as creating a website for their park.' St Aidan's High is one of only two Scottish schools in the finals, the other is St Roch's in Glasgow. St Aidan's Head Teacher Audrey Farley, added: 'I am so proud of our talented young people for being invited to the Big Bang Final, especially as we are one of only two Scottish schools to make the final. In fact, this is our third year in a row to make the final which is an incredible achievement. 'Our talented finalists are very excited to showcase their sustainable roller-coaster as part of their 'A Theme Park of the Future' brief. As a Laudato Si school, we are always looking at sustainability and how we can reduce our footprint on the earth. Our learners are the change makers of the future and this was a wonderful opportunity for them to use their God-given talents, their inquisitive minds and their problem-solving skills to come up with creative solutions. 'The Big Bang project allowed our learners to build their confidence and develop their excellent collaboration and team work skills while having lots of fun! We appreciate the support of our amazing staff in supporting them, especially Mr O'Mara and we wish all our talented finalists the very best of luck as they head to the Big Bang final in Birmingham.' A sustainable F1 helmet, an automated pill dispenser and an eco-friendly water filter are just some of the other impressive and diverse student projects through to the final round. Winners of the Big Bang Competition, will be announced at The Big Bang Fair at the NEC in Birmingham from Tuesday to Thursday, June 17 to 19. *Don't miss the latest headlines from around Lanarkshire. Sign up to our newsletters here.
Daily Record
12-05-2025
- Sport
- Daily Record
Shotts rugby league player with passion for trucks hits the road with young Scotland squad
Jamie Steven was named for the under-16 international team A Shotts schoolboy has been selected to represent Scotland's under-16s at rugby league. Jamie Steven, an S4 pupil at St Aidan's High in Wishaw, travelled to Newcastle at the weekend to take part in an international tournament. Despite being a relative minority sport in Scotland, professional players ply their trade in a number of leagues across the world. Jamie, 15, is currently training with the Glasgow Rugby League club, who play in Cambuslang. The teenager has played rugby union since the age of four years old, he then joined Dalziel Rugby Club in 2017. Jamie's love for rugby came from dad Bryan who played for Kilmarnock RFC from age 14, represented Glasgow at under-16, under-18 and under-21 and also played for Scotland under-21s. Jamie moved to Kilmarnock Rugby Club in 2020 but earlier this year his dad spotted an advertisement about a rugby league trial for players in Scotland and Jamie went along with hundreds of other hopefuls. Jamie's mum Leanne, said: 'There's a guy based in Liverpool and has Scottish heritage through his parents. He just thought there was a gap here and decided that because Scotland didn't have a rugby league presence he wanted to create international teams for all age groups. "Jamie went along to the trial, there were about 300 there and they whittled it down. Eventually, he was chosen for the Scotland national squad. So he's now playing for Scotland. There's also a four-nations squad as well. 'For their age-group it's really big stuff to be out their singing the national anthem and competing in huge stadiums.' Jamie now also trains with Glasgow Rugby League as well as continuing to play rugby union with Kilmarnock. He said: 'I'm really enjoying playing rugby league, but I'm still playing both at the moment. I've also got a training session next week down in Wakefield. 'I've only been playing since just before December but rugby league is quicker than rugby union, if you tackle you can hold on for longer and there's a bit more running involved. There are scrums in rugby league but there's no pushing, so that's another difference. 'The crossover for me between the two has been fine though, it's just a few rules with tackling and things like that are a bit difficult but once you're used to it that's it." Leanne is hoping that a local business may be able to help sponsors Jamie, whose interest away from the sport is dominated by trucks. She added: 'We're just back from a truck show in Lincoln at the weekend. If it's not rugby, it's trucks. He loves everything to do with trucks and truck-spotting. 'There's a couple of big haulage companies in Shotts where we live and he's written to them for sponsorship. 'He needs money for rugby league subscriptions and insurances, and as the sport doesn't have a big presence in Scotland there is no one funding it. Everything that's happening is in England and he needs to pay for travel and accommodation. "We have bought all his kit and sponsor him with what we can and family and friends are helping, but he'd love it if one of the haulage companies would help sponsor him.'
