Education 2 Employment Challenge

In preparation for choosing their options in 3rd year all S2 pupils undertook the FOCUS West Education to Employment (E2E) Challenge. Lecturers and students from the West of Scotland universities facilitated the programme consisting of Mapping the Future, Choosing Courses, team building and communication skills. At the S2 parents evening on the 25th February pupils will receive their E2E certificates. Everyone enjoyed their challenges and as S2 Craig Mitchell said “It really made me think about the choices I have to make for my future”.

Netball success

Doon Academy’s S1/2 Netball team journeyed to Belmont Academy in Ayr to take on their latest rivals in the Ayrshire League. Claire Boyd and Lauren Shaw were the undefeated defence team that travelled with us and in attack were Jade Scott, Halle Fitzsimmons and Sophie Dobbie. The game started off close as the dominant S1 Belmont girls gave the Doon Academy girls a run for their money. After refocusing, it wasn’t long before Varri Murdoch gave Jade the ball from centre and scored two nets in quick succession. Paige McMahon and Annabel McTaggart also did a sterling job of moving the ball up the court in order for Jade to score. The game finished at half time with a 3-0 advantage for Doon. Alex’s Dearie and Sophie Dobbie were brought on at half time and Sophie managed to score yet another net for Doon. The defense dream team prevented any goals being scored against us and Jade Scott managed another goal in order to secure the final score at 5-0. Player of the Match went deservedly to Jade Scott for her superb scoring. Doon Academy remains at the top of the league where they hope to stay for the rest of the season!

Cricket success

Congratulations to S4 pupil Robert McDowall a member of the Ayrshire Under 15 cricket team who won the Inter District Cricket Tournament. Doon Academy’s technician Alan White coaches the Under 15 county team, along with the Ayrshire Under 13s who also won their age group Inter District trophy. Well done to Robert and Mr White.

School Inspection

Doon Academy is preparing for their HMIe Inspection, which will take place the week beginning the 22nd February.

East Ayrshire Choir

East Ayrshire schools choir rehearsals have now begun and will take place on Fridays after school in Kilmarnock. The bus leaves Doon Academy at 3pm.

Credit Union

Doon Academy’s Credit Union savings scheme is now open to all pupils from S1 to S6, and collections take place every Thursday lunchtime in GP1. Applications forms are available from Ms. McClue in the Maths Department.

Art Attack Club

Ms. Fuller’s Art Attack Club is held every Wednesday 2.45pm to 4.15pm all pupils are welcome to attend. She is also running a supported study session every Tuesday lunchtime from 12.30pm to 1.10pm.

The Crucible trip

The English department took a group of S5/6 pupils to see a performance of Arthur Miller’s ‘The Crucible’ by Ayr College Drama and Performance students. The production was thoroughly enjoyed by all who attended and will be a useful tool in helping the pupils in their study of the play.

Burns Supper

The Doon Academy Burns Supper will be held on Wednesday 10th February 7pm onwards. Tickets are priced at £5 and available from Ms. McClue in the Maths Department 01292 550521. The supper promises to be a splendid evening, Kyle McCormick will ‘Toast the Lasses’ with reply from Ashley Thomson. School Captain Lee Orr will give his ‘Toast to the Doon Academy’.

Haiti fund raiser

S6 prefects organised a Non-Uniform Day to raise funds for the Haiti Appeal and the magnificent sum of £243.60 was collected. Well done to the prefects for organising the day and thank you to everyone for their generosity.

Celebration of Scotland

All S2 pupils took part in a two-day Scotland Challenge organised by Mrs Bax the librarian. The Scotland study involved staff from Science and Social Subjects departments. The end result was a celebration of Scotland linking most departments in the school, with Scottish Dancing and Burns poetry. Shortbread and ‘tattie’ scones provided by Home Economics followed a French role-playing exercise. The entertainment was rounded off by the Music department, with the singing of Caledonia and the wind band playing a rousing recital of Highland Cathedral. Well done to all pupils and staff who took part.

Comenius visitors

Doon Academy hosted Comenius teachers from Belgium, Portugal and Spain who visited the school to prepare the application for our Comenius ‘Health4Life’ 2010-2012 multilateral project. During their 2 day visit to the school the teachers attended a coffee morning prepared by Supported Learning Centre pupils, had a tour of the school and a welcome assembly with S2 and P7 pupils. They also had time during their stay for a visit to Burns Cottage and Edinburgh Castle.

PE pupil of the month

Congratulations to S1 pupils Stephen Baird and Rachel Boyce they are the PE department’s pupils of the month.

Activate

A new Activate group for S4 summer leavers will begin at the end of January. The group meet every Monday and the focus is on helping the pupils consider the options available for when they leave school.

Citizenship

The Citizenship group will be starting shortly, this time for S1 boys. The group meets on a Thursday afternoon, after school, to explore the schools values whilst gaining communication skills and developing teamwork techniques. The group will also learn how to build positive relationships. College Lecturers will be involved in the delivery of the ten-week course.

School Prom

All pupils attending the School Prom must pay their first instalment of £12 by 29th January 2010. This can be paid at the Sixth Year common room at lunch and break times.

Burns Supper

The Doon Academy Burns Supper will be held on Wednesday 10th February 7pm onwards. Tickets are priced at £5 and available from Ms. McClue in the Maths Department 01292 550521. The supper promises to be an outstanding evening with amongst others our own piper Fraser Buchanan, ‘Address to a Haggis’ by Robbie Uriarte and all ably chaired by the President of Doon Academy Burns Club Lesley Baird.

New staff

The Art and Design Department welcome Miss Forrest who will be working in the department from the 1st February.

Art Competition winners

Congratulations to Kieran Purdie, Emma Weir and Reece Wigglesworth who came in 1st, 2nd and 3rd respectively in the recent Coalfields Art Competition. Their prize giving assembly will take place on the 28th January.

Art help

As part of the FOCUS West project, Deborah Holland a tutor from the Glasgow School of Art will return after the prelim examinations to work with a group of senior pupils on their portfolio and artwork.

Christmas concert

The school’s Christmas Concert was held on Thursday 10th December in our assembly hall, which was packed with parents and other members of the local community. The audience enjoyed a varied programme of songs, music and comedy. Drama and dancing also featured in this showcase of the school’s very talented pupils. All agreed that this had been a very enjoyable evening, which was again strongly supported by our community. Congratulations to everyone who took part in this outstanding success.

Netball

On Wednesday 9th December, Doon Academy girls took part in the Ayrshire Basketball tournament at Kyle Academy. Two S2 teams were taken and each played 6 games. Both teams did extremely well, especially when you consider the girls were trained in netball and have only recently started playing basketball. Team 2 was made up of Jade Scott, Paige McMahon and Alex’s Dearie with Team 1 consisting of Claire Boyd, Annabel McTaggart and Tammy Reid. Team 1 won all their games and made it to the final against Belmont 1. The game was extremely exciting but with Annabel’s tactics, Claire’s defending and Tammy’s shooting, they soon made their victory look easy. Well done to Team 2 who won 2 of their 6 games and well done to Team 1 who came home with a basketball victory.

Burns Competition

Congratulations to Tammy Reid who was runner-up and Raegan Heggie who was the winner in the S1/2 Burns Verse Speaking Competition. They will both represent the school in the Ayrshire Schools Burns Competition and at the school’s Burns Supper to be held on Wednesday 10th February 2010. Many thanks to our Burns judges Mrs. Margaret Skilling and Mr. Bill Duncan from Alloway Burns Club and S2 pupil Lauren Shaw last year’s winner.

Staff leaving

Pupils and staff bid farewell to Mr. David Lodge in the Science Department who has been covering chemistry and science classes. Mr Lodge will be taking up a temporary post at Auchenharvie Academy. Everyone in the school wishes to thank him and wish him well in his new post.

Readers' Cup Quiz

The first round of the Readers Cup quiz has taken place in the school. Everyone in S1/2 had the opportunity to have a go at this fun quiz with prizes. Winners will also have a chance to represent their clan in the next round.

FOCUS West

The FOCUS West S3 pupils visited the University of West of Scotland (Paisley Campus) for their Campus Day. The pupils followed a day in the life of a student and attended lectures and a tour of the university site. Everyone found the visit very interesting and informative.
Also on FOCUS West news the Glasgow School of Art tutors will be visiting the school to assist pupils in their art folio preparation.

Evolution Day

Higher and Intermediate 2 Biology students visited Edinburgh Zoo for ‘Evolution Day’. Pupils saw baby penguins, hippos and monkeys and learned about their habitat and specialities. S5 pupil Paula Glancy said” It was interesting and a really fun day seeing all the animals and learning about their lives”.

Fantasy Football

In Maths S1 pupil Liam Graham is the leading manager in the Fantasy Football League. Well-done Liam.