Tim Hunter Challenge

Doon Academy's budding entrepreneurs Frazer Buchanan, Paige McMahon and Kirsty McCormick competed in the Tom Hunter Challenge on Wednesday 18th January at East Ayrshire Council Chambers.

Their task was to present a business idea to a group of business leaders and pupils from other schools, in East Ayrshire, in order to win the top prize of £5,000.

The group presented their idea "The Outward Pioneer" a walking holiday company based at Craigengillan Estate, and achieved a very respectable third place in the competition.

Their hard work and enthusiasm paid off, congratulations!

Parent Council

Head Teacher Mr MacKenzie is delighted to welcome new members, Mrs Gilmore and Mrs Uriarte, to the Parent Council.
They join other members Mrs McTaggart and Mr. Connell and community representatives Mrs Stewart and Mr. Gibson.
The council met on the evening of Tuesday 24^th January where Mr Richardson gave a talk on our new Leadership qualifications. The members of the council are looking forward to regular meetings which will help improve our links with parents and help us to work together for the benefit of all our pupils.

Holocaust Memorial Day

To commemorate Holocaust Memorial Day 6^th year students Lisa Chalmers and Lauren Mitchell led the S1 and S2 assemblies. The students had visited Auschwitz-Birkenau concentration camp in Poland, in December, as part of their social subject studies. They described the visit as traumatic and unforgettable. Other year group assemblies were also held to remember the Holocaust.

Coca Cola Visit

Pupils from classes in S3 Business Management and S5/6 Business Management visited Coca Cola Enterprises Ltd recently.
During their visit they learned about the marketing carried out by Coca Cola and about the wide number of products produced by the organisation. They were given information about the production of the famous soft drink and then had a conducted tour of the manufacturing process.
They then had a workshop to design a new product for Coca Cola. Four S5/6 pupils, Nathan Gilmore, Lauren Mitchell, Ashley Green and Alistair Paton, together with Mrs Stewart, Principal Teacher of Business Education & ICT in the school, were invited to be present at the launch of the Scottish Food & Drink Federation’s Skills Ambassador programme which involves people working in the food sector supporting education establishments with careers advice. During this time the pupils were introduced to Richard Lockhead MSP, Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs and Environment.

Creative Industries workshops

As part of the FOCUS West project Chloe Dobson-O’Sullivan from the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland visited the school and took workshops with pupils interested in a career in the Creative Industries. Pupils found the workshops very interesting and informative.

Aspiring Principal Teacher

The aspiring Principal Teacher programme has now finished and congratulations to Shonagh Borthwick, Shona Elder, Fiona Ferrie, Justine Fuller, Kristine Gillespie, Martin Richardson, Mark Kerr and Ian Power for completing the course. Also, thank you to DHT Lyndsay McRoberts for her delivery of the course

Gleam Award Nomination

Well done to the cast and crew of the Gleam musical who have been nominated by the NHS Oral Health Team for a Young Scot Award. Good luck!

Gideon's visit

Doon Academy’s S1 pupils attended a Gideon Assembly which was led by Mr and Mrs Matthews. Mr. Matthews is an Ayrshire businessman, and he and his wife are members of Gideons International, who distribute bibles to schools, hotels, hospitals, police and fire services.

The interesting talk was appreciated by S1 pupils and Mr. Matthews commented that they had been an excellent audience.

Chess masterclass

Owing to a generous donation of six chess sets to Doon Academy, we hope to be offering a chess masterclass in the near future. Chess has been played for several centuries and continues to be one of the most popular games in the world. Playing chess can help to develop many useful skills such as memory, concentration and attention.

If you are interested in taking part in a chess masterclass (no matter whether you have played the game before), contact Mr. Taylor in the Maths department.

New PE teacher

Staff and pupils wish a warm welcome to PE teacher Donna Meek who will be at the school until June.

Focus West Art help

As part of the FOCUS West project two Glasgow School of Art students will be  visiting  the school to work with S3 to S6 Art pupils on their Art and Design portfolios.

Liz Lochhead talk

S2 pupils joined a special online presentation, organised by the Scottish Book Trust, by the Scottish Makar, Liz Lochhead, who is the National Poet of Scotland for a very special celebration of Robert Burns. 

Ms Lochhead discussed why Burns means so much to her, as well as treating us to some readings of her own poems. Everyone really enjoyed the talk.

Prelim dates

Senior prelims will begin in the school on Monday 30^th January, and pupils will be on study leave, returning to school on Wednesday 8^th February.

School Calendars

Doon Academy has produced two calendars containing pictures, many of the local countryside, taken by the Higher Photography students.
These are on sale in many of the local shops in Dalmellington and at school.
The cost of the calendar is £3.

Basketball tournament

 The Young Ambassadors are hosting a basketball tournament for S1 pupils.

Readers'Cup Quiz Results

Librarian, Mrs Bax, held the first round of our annual quiz for S1 and S2 in December.
Almost all of S1 and S2 had a go at the quiz on children's books.

There were lots of prize-winners but the most outstanding scores were achieved by Melanie Connell and Samantha Torbet in S1 and Michael Roberts, Robyn McCluskey, Rebekah Copeland, Katie Burrell, Danni Cullen and Colin McTaggart in S2.
These pupils and some others will be representing their clans in the next round. Well done to all of them.

Cricket news

In cricket news the Doon Academy’s girls’ team, made up of pupils from Doon and Dalmellington primary, played in a single wicket competition with runner-up Lori Jane McLarty and Macy Biggar.

Well done to everyone who took part.

Congratulations to Josh Taylor and Rory Parker who are playing in the under 14 county cricket team and to Dalmellington Primary pupils Tommy Smith and Sam Boyd who are playing in the county under 12 team.

Coach Alan White has begun cricket training and will be held in the gym on Mondays 6.30pm to 8.30pm.

Burns Supper

Doon Academy’s Burns Supper will be held on Thursday 9^th February from 7pm.
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 the Selkirk Grace by Head teacher John Mackenzie, a Tam O’Shanter recitation by Bryce Wilson, a Scottish Traditional Dance by the Doon Dancers and all ably chaired by S6 pupil Ryan McKnight.

Readers' Cup Winners

The first round to our annual Readers' Cup quiz  for was held just before Christmas. All the pupils in S1 and S2 had a go at 20 questions on childrens' books.  The outstanding results came from Melanie Connell, Samantha Torbet, Liam Elder, Campbell Baird and Jade McClymont in S1 and from Robyn McCluskey, Rebekah Copeland, Katie Burrell, Danni Cullen, Colin Mctaggart and Michael and Katie Roberts in S2. These pupils and some others will represent their clans in the next round later this term.

Head teacher's New Year message

Head Teacher John MacKenzie wishes everyone a very happy new year and his message for the new term is:
“This is a vitally important term for all our pupils but especially for our seniors who will be sitting their SQA exams in only 12 weeks time. These exams are the culmination of up to 13 years of full-time education.

Our focus this term will be on the completion of course work, study and revision and exam preparations. Teachers and mentors will be ensuring that pupils are fully prepared and on track to achieve their target grades in all subjects.

Our prelim exams at the end of this month are an important part of our preparations. They will give students experience of examination procedures and help all of us to identify areas of learning which need to be improved in the weeks before the ‘real’ exams.

In the next few weeks it is important that our pupils continue to focus on class work and study at home - and minimise any distractions which will break the flow of progress. Every year we have seen large numbers of pupils who have improved subject grades, even in the last weeks before exams, through a disciplined regime of study.

The school and parents are determined to make sure that our students have the best possible preparations which will be rewarded by success in the national exams”.

School Calendars on sale

Doon Academy has produced two calendars containing pictures, many of the local countryside, taken by the Higher Photography students. These are on sale in many of the local shops in Dalmellington and at school. The cost of the calendar is £5.

Visit to Coca-Cola

Pupils in S3 and S5/6 Business Management classes are preparing for their visit to Coca Cola in East Kilbride where they will learn about the marketing and operations activities carried out by the famous soft drink manufacturer. Pupils will be accompanied by Mrs Stewart, Miss Grant and Mr Kerr.

Ayrshire Cook-Off Competition

Congratulations to Amy Gibson who will be representing East Ayrshire at the Ayrshire Cook-Off competition. Amy is one of 4 pupils selected from East Ayrshire schools.

Business start-up day

6 senior pupils attended the Prince’s Scottish Youth Business Trust start-up day at the Park Hotel in Kilmarnock. The pupils undertook workshops and gained valuable skills that will help them to start-up their own business in the future.

Big fish

Continuing our focus on the masterclasses pupils in the fishing class, under the guidance of Mr. Kelly and Mr. White, have been casting their rods in the local rivers. The pupils have learned valuable techniques which have led to success with some really large fish being caught.

Stock Market Challenge

S3 Business Management pupils are looking forward to taking part in the Stock Market Challenge at the Mitchell Library on Wednesday 25 January.  They will be accompanied by Mrs Stewart, Principal Teacher of Business Education & ICT.

Burns Supper tickets on sale

Doon Academy’s Burns Supper will be held on Thursday 9^th February from 7pm.
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 the Selkirk Grace by Head teacher John Mackenzie, recitations by our S1/2 Burns prize winners Chloe Chalmers and Katie Burrell, a Scottish Contemporary Dance by the Doon Dancers and all ably chaired by S6 pupil Ryan McKnight.

Literacy Wall

The Maths and Art departments are this month’s contributors to the Literacy Wall. In Maths S2 pupils worked in groups of three to research famous mathematicians.
In Art S1/2 pupils, for homework, researched a famous artist or designer and wrote a report. Congratulations to Tori McDicken, Tyler Hiddleston and Jamie Geddes who produced excellent reports.