Art

In Art the S1 elective class are making bookmarks for their enterprising activity. S4-S6 pupils who are taking art exams will be visiting the Glasgow School of Art to see an exhibition to help them with their studies.

Miss Fuller is arranging a weekend visit to London in June. Please contact her for further details of this trip.

Bridges4Europe trip to Turkey

Mrs. Stewart and Mrs. Bax will be visiting our partnership school in Kayseri Turkey as part of the Comenius Project. They will be seeing how English is taught in schools in Turkey and exchanging pedagogical methods of classroom practice. Teachers from our partnership schools in Bulgaria, Italy and Romania will also at the project meeting.

Bridges4Europe trip to Turkey

Mrs. Stewart and Mrs. Bax will be visiting our partnership school in Kayseri Turkey as part of the Comenius Project. They will be seeing how English is taught in schools in Turkey and exchanging pedagogical methods of classroom practice. Teachers from our partnership schools in Bulgaria, Italy and Romania will also at the project meeting.

Credit Union

The Credit Union for P7 pupils in the Maths Department is proving to be a great success. Pupils are learning how to save and the benefits of saving to prepare them for the future.

Duke of Edinburgh Award Group

The Duke of Edinburgh Awards participants will be hosting a stall at intervals called the ‘Staff of Doom’. They will be selling items relating to Halloween to raise money for the project.

Cricket

In cricket Doon Academy won against Prestwick but were narrowly beaten by Ayr in the final of the Floodlit Tournament. Robert McDowall was the top scorer for runs and the top bowler was Darryl Grover. Several members of the team will be going forward to play in the league county cricket, which begins in November. Well done, boys!

OYT trip

The Ocean Youth Trust voyage was a great success and the girls had a wonderful time despite the stormy weather. Claire McWilliam said “It was a great experience. I learned how to work in a team and I saw many different places such as Ailsa Craig, Rhu, Kyles of Bute and Tarbert from the boat. I gained my ‘RYA Start Sailing’ certificate which was really great.” Well done to all the girls who took part and we wish them good luck in their future sailing adventures.

Memories of Mike Hanson

I know that all staff who worked with Mike during his time at Doon will have their own memories. My own memories include:

• His wonderful attempts to beat 1000 miles per gallon at the Shell Mileage Marathon - from memory he achieved 960 mpg
• His annual paper aeroplane competition.
• Building his own car which he drove to school for several years
• Building a recumbent cycle which he pedalled to school one day.
• Going on an exchange year to America.
• His fascination with boomerangs and his ability to inspire students with his passion for his subject - it was nice to see several of his former students at the funeral
• His wonderful photograph which was published in several national newspapers showing the complete flight of a boomerang in the night sky over Drongan!
• Introducing cribbage to Doon Academy.
• His eco friendly ‘Christmas Cards’
  

Mike was delivering a Curriculum for Excellence 20 years ago! He will be sadly missed.
R L Reid

Motor Vehicle Dept.

Doon Academy/ Kilmarnock College’s Motor Vehicle Department has taken delivery of two quad bikes and a Vauxhall Vectra for pupils to work on to develop their motor mechanic skills. Vehicle ramps and tyre-changing facilities will be fitted to the base in the near future. For their courses S3 pupils have been given the task of designing a cycle with more than two wheels. They will compete against each other around various designated circuits. S4 pupils have almost completed their 6month project to design a barstool racer. Plans were downloaded from the Internet and, upon completion, the group have to file a report and send photographs to the designer in the U.S.A.

Mike Hanson

The school staff and pupils were very saddened this week to hear of the death of Mike Hanson a former physics teacher who retired from Doon a few years ago. Mike was a well respected, much loved teacher and colleague whose ‘inventions’ will be talked about for many years to come. Former colleagues and pupils of Mike would like to take this opportunity to pass on their sincere condolences to his family.

Eco-Group

The Eco-committee, chaired by Mrs Elder, is aiming to achieve a bronze eco-award this year. The greenhouse made from reused plastic bottles is being moved to a sunnier site and 2 compost bins are being delivered. 5 pupils, so far, have volunteered for the eco-committee- Stephanie Smith, David MacLean, Lindsay McCracken, Darren McLelland and Ryan McKnight, who will draw up an eco-code for the school. Recycling by Recycool and collections of old clothing by RagBags are to be set up. 30 native trees, donated by the Woodland Trust will be planted in and around the school grounds in November. Offers of help to clear the science garden are appreciated. Mrs Elder is collecting ‘Let’s Grow’ vouchers from Morrisons for free seeds and garden equipment. We hope that parents will send in the vouchers with their children.

Film Show

On Tuesday 4th November all S1 pupils will be visiting the Odeon Cinema in Ayr as part of National Schools Film Week. The pupils will see a screening of W.A.L.L.I.E. which is an ideal film for the study of camera angles and shot types which will help pupils’ understanding of media techniques

Fashion Show

In the Art Department a decision is soon to be made on the date of the Fashion Show. This will be a huge event for the school. S2 pupil Stephen Grant and S4 pupil Tazmyn Hearton received a commendation, and Tazmyn’s image has been used for the 2008 Friends of Royal Scottish Academy art competition. Glasgow School of Art Open Day is on 30th October and senior pupils will be visiting the exhibition.

P7 links

Primary 7 pupils from the Learning Partnership have started their transition to Doon Academy. The pupils will be attending Doon every Friday morning where they will have Maths, swimming, dance and science classes and also a literacy period.

Maths

Senior pupils in Maths have completed the first part of their maths course and are due to sit their NAB.

S2 Citizenship programme

The S2 Citizenship programme is under way. 14 S2 pupils are working, after school, with Mr Tomlinson, Mr Lynn, Mrs McRoberts and Mr MacKenzie. They will be studying Car Maintenance, Welding, Community service and making video diaries. The programme runs until the middle of December when there will be a graduation for the successful citizens.

Leadership

Doon Academy's S3 pupils will be taking part in various leadership activities from the 6th to the 10th of October. Pupils will be attending a residential leadership course, non-residential course in conjunction with Kilmarnock College and a sailing trip.
The first of the leadership courses will be held at our own Leadership Academy in Dalguise and will involve a mixture workshops and outdoor activities (wellies at the ready!).
The Kilmarnock College course will be structured in the same way as our Dalguise course, although this will mainly be focused on the arts.
Lastly, the girls only sailing trip will involve a team of 10 girls sailing an ocean-going schooner, Alba Venturer, around the Firth of Clyde. The destinations will be entirely dependant on the weather conditions.
All of the courses have one common goal; they will all involve team-building skills. Everyone at Doon Academy would like to wish all the pupils the best of luck in their designated Leadership Course.

Sponsored Walk

The recent sponsored walk has raised over £2000. Well Done to all staff and pupils who took part and raised money.

Maths' visit to Cumnock Academy

Ms McClue's Maths visit to Cumnock Academy was a great success. The programme was to help pupils to develop their lateral thinking skills through competition. 2 S3 pupils and 2 S4 pupils attended the event. It was a very enjoyable morning and the pupils performed very well.

Citizenship

Mr. Mackenzie’s after school Citizenship programme has now restarted. The first group attending will be S2 boys.

Work experience

Pupils in S4 and S5 will be attending a variety of work experience placements from the 6th to the 10th of October. Doon Academy would like to thank all businesses for accepting pupils on placements.

Bridges4Europe

Staff and pupils involved in our Comenius Project ‘bridges4europe’ gave a presentation to a contingent of Danish visitors who were visiting East Ayrshire.

World Acrobatics Championship

Pupils from S1 to S6 attended the World Acrobatics Championship in Glasgow. Everyone had a great day and thank you to Ms. Griffin for organising the event.

PE pupils of the month

In PE, pupils of the month for good behaviour and cooperation are Connor Strang and Paige McMahon in 1st year. Congratulations to both of them. Also, gymnastic classes begin this week.

Eco Group

Mrs. Elder is the new chair for the school Eco group. The school is currently developing an eco code with a view to working towards accreditation for the Eco Schools bronze award. For more information see Doon goes Green! blog.

Baldy Bane Theatre Company

Baldy Bane Theatre Company performed two plays at the school. S1 pupils saw ‘The Nine Lives of Roddy Hogg’ and S5/6 saw ‘Friends Disunited’.

Baldy Bane Theatre Company

Baldy Bane Theatre Company performed two plays at the school. S1 pupils saw ‘The Nine Lives of Roddy Hogg’ and S5/6 saw ‘Friends Disunited’.

Careers Scotland Opportunity Fair

Some S5 pupils attended the Careers Scotland Opportunity Fair, which was held at the Volunteer Rooms in Irvine. The Fair was held to showcase career opportunities for pupils when they leave school.