Respect and Protect

This week Doon Academy launched its new anti-bullying policy ‘Respect and Protect’. It was rolled out to S2 pupils together with P6 Dalmellington Primary pupils and their Head Teacher Mrs. McAvoy. The anti-bullying campaign will now be extended to the whole school and then to the learning partnership primary schools and the wider community. East Ayrshire Council wish to adopt this policy which was created by Doon Academy’s teaching and non-teaching staff.

BBC interview

The S2 BBC School News Reporters were delighted that James Newall, local Forestry Ranger, visited the school to be interviewed for the BBC. Mr. Newall spoke out his work and answered questions about the forestry and how to become a ranger.

Netball

Doon Academy’s S1/S2 netball team took the winding road to Cumnock for the next game in their league. The game started fast and furious with Doon quickly scoring 2 nets but Cumnock rapidly equalising. Jade Scott and Halle Fitzsimmons managed to score a third goal, but with seconds to go until half time, Cumnock equalised to make the result 3-3. Shannon Jamieson came on at half time to make her debut for the netball team and helped Varri Murdoch and Annabel McTaggart in centre court. Lauren Shaw and Claire Boyd played with fierce determination, obviously concerned with the result and refused to let any other ball past their defence system. Doon scored to take them into the lead and with 5 minutes to go, Paige McMahon was brought on again to aid the defence. This quickly took the result to 6-3 as defenders and attackers worked together to ensure another win. Well done to all girls who took part, in particular, Lauren Shaw who took home Player of the Match.

World Maths Day

World Maths Day is on the 3rd March 2010 and the maths department is busy preparing pupils to celebrate this event. Pupils’ answer timed mental mathematical problems, online, against other schools and there are prizes for the winning teams.

Fashion Show

The Art department Fashion Show will be held in the school on the 24th and 25th March. Pupils are busy preparing their designs assisted by FOCUS West Glasgow School of Art students.

Mini Sagas

Miss Borthwick's S1 and S2 classes entered the Young Writers Mini Saga competition. This was a competition, which required you to write a complete story in 50 words. Many of the Doon pupils in S1 and S2 were successful and will now have their Mini Sagas Published in the Young Writers book, "Mini Marvels Southern Scotland".

Doon Academy’s annual Burns Supper was a great success and everyone really enjoyed a splendid evening. The haggis was piped in by our own school piper S2 pupil Frazer Buchanan and ably addressed by Robbie Uriarte. Head Teacher Patrick O’Rourke said the Selkirk Grace before S1 pupils superbly served the delicious meal excellently prepared by Rena Riggans and her team. Frazer in his 2nd role of the evening gave an interesting and informative Immortal Memory of the Bard. Kyle McCormick followed with witty Toast to the Lasses with a humorous reply by Ashley Thomson. School Captain Lee Orr presented a moving and heartfelt Toast to the School. The entertainment was outstanding with cornet duets of haunting Burns music by Lauren Young and Fiona Kennedy, and Gail Limond and Lisa Chalmers. Kyle Stewart won all the women’s hearts with his wonderful singing of Ae Fond Kiss. The Doon Dancers, trained by Ms.Griffin, looked beautiful and gave a super display of Scottish Country Dancing with a unique twist. The evening would not be complete without a recitation from teacher Bryce Wilson who mesmerised the company with his rendition of Tam O’Shanter. Guest speaker Mrs. Margaret Skilling, President of Alloway Burns Club, gave the toast on behalf of the guests and spoke about the continuing role of the school and its Burns Club on promoting the work of Burns. Chairperson for the evening was our own President of Doon Academy’s Burns Club Lesley Baird who did a terrific job in keeping everyone in order and making the evening run smoothly. Well done to everyone who took assisted in the evening and thank you to everyone who attended the event.

Copenhagen visit

Mrs Bax, our librarian, has been lucky enough to be selected by Learning and Teaching Scotland to participate in a SCIPD visit to Copenhagen to study interdisciplinary learning in Danish schools. She will be away from 2nd to the 6th March. We hope that she will return full of good ideas for us to use.

Respect and Protect

Doon Academy will be launching their Respect and Protect Policy at the S2 parents evening on Thursday 25th February. This policy will serve as a model for East Ayrshire. Also attending the parents evening will be FOCUS West parents and families officer Joe Meloy who will give a presentation to S2 parents on the role of the forum.

Lunchtime club

Support for Learning holds a lunchtime club every Wednesday all pupils are welcome to attend.

Careers event

S4 summer school leavers attended a Careers Scotland and East Ayrshire event to assist them in their choices once they leave school.

FOCUS West Art visits

FOCUS West Glasgow School of Art students will be at the school for 6 weeks to assist S3-S6 pupils in preparing their art portfolios.

Burns visit

Pupils from the Supported Learning Centre had a wonderful visit to Burns House where they took part in a drama adaptation of Tam O’Shanter. Pupils dressed in 18th century clothes and using original artefacts performed their own version of the poem.

Aviemore

The annual skiing trip was a great success and 28 pupils and 4 staff enjoyed a fabulous weekend in the Cairngorm Mountains. Snow conditions and the weather were excellent which made for some thrilling skiing. Pupils also enjoyed the disco on the Saturday evening in the Cawbridge Hotel where they were staying.

Spring Read Logo Winner

Congratulations to Liam Haining who was the winner of Doon Academy’s Spring Read logo competition. The competition was open to all pupils and there were many colourful and interesting designs. Liam’s winning design has been submitted to the East Ayrshire logo competition.

SLC Burns Supper

The Supported Learning Centre held their annual Burns Supper, which was a superb event. The Master of Ceremonies for the afternoon was James Dorrans. All the pupils from the centre participated whether by reciting a poem or giving a speech. Scottish songs were sung and enjoyed by all. Mr. Wilson gave a rendition of Tam O’Shanter that brought the poem to life. The Selkirk Grace was said before everyone enjoyed cloutie dumpling, shortbread and ginger wine. DHT Mrs. McRoberts presented well-deserved certificates to all the pupils. The parents of the pupils have been invited to a coffee morning and to view the DVD of the Supper.

PE Pupil of the month

In PE the S1 pupil of the month is Lorelle White. Well done to Lorelle who gained her award for her outstanding work with her physical activities.

S2 Parents Evening

There will be a S2 parents evening on Thursday 25th February. Joe Meloy FOCUS West’s Parents and Families will be giving a presentation and speaking to S2 parents.

Cooking competition

Home Economics department is organising entries for the East Ayrshire Cooking competition. All pupils aged 15-18years are eligible to compete. If interested please see Mrs. Gillespie.

Burns Programme Winner

The winner of the cover design for the Burns Supper programme was S1 pupil Kayleigh Boyd with her artwork based on the poem Tam O’Shanter. Congratulations to Kayleigh.

Options

The option choices sheet, for pupils in S2 and S4, has now been issued and
pupils are busy deciding on their future courses.

Art Competition winners

Congratulations to the winners of the Coalfield Art competition, Kieran Purdie, Emma Weir and Reece Wigglesworth who came 1st, 2nd and 3rd respectively. Mr O’Rourke presented them with their certificates and prizes at a prize giving assembly.

U Can Do It 2 roadshow

S2 pupils, accompanied by Mr. Power, Ms. Griffin and Mr. Tickner, attended the ‘U Can Do It 2’ road show. Pupils were placed in mixed groups, along with pupils from other Ayrshire schools, where they participated in a range of workshops that had been developed by local companies. The workshops had a range of tasks designed to give the pupils an idea of the skills required when working in a particular industry and to aid the pupils in their options choices for S3. Pupils were responsible for team building and problem solving to complete their tasks. S2 BBC School News Reporters also used this opportunity to write an article on the event for their BBC news report.

Fantasy Football manager of the month

Congratulations to the Fantasy Football Managers of the month for January, Mr. Lynn and S4 pupil James Mulholland.

Student teacher

Doon Academy pupils and staff welcome our student teachers Miss Elaine Forrest in Art and Design and Mr Craig Dewar in the PE department to the school. They will be with us from 1st February until the 12th March and then return from 26th April to 28th May

Art Supported Study

A reminder that the Art Department is holding a supported study session on Tuesdays at lunchtime to assist all senior pupils in preparation for their examinations.

School Inspection

HM Inspectorate of Education will be in school the week beginning Monday 22nd February and questionnaires have been issued to pupils, parents and staff. These may be returned to the school or sent direct to the Inspectorate.

Y Dance

The Y Dance group is at Doon Academy, after school, every Wednesday. They will be teaching pupils, from all year groups S1 to S6, the art of Hip Hop and modern contemporary dance. Come along and join the fun!

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 superb evening with outstanding entertainment from, amongst others, a display of Scottish Dancing by the Doon Dancers and Mr. Wilson reciting Tam O’Shanter

Barcelona

The art department is asking that anyone who is going to Barcelona in June to please return their completed forms as soon as possible

World Maths Day

World Maths Day is on 3rd March and the Maths Department is busy preparing activities for this event.