Christmas service

S1 to S6 pupils attended Dalmellington Parish Church on Wednesday the 19th of December. Well done to all student involved in the delivery of the service. The collection this year was for the Scottish Association of Children with Heart Defects. Thank you to our local minister Fiona Wilson for her hospitality and her sermon.

Christmas Market

Miss Borthwick’s master class held an enterprise marketplace in school. The stall boasted an excellent range of products that students had made. It was an excellent opportunity to get in some last minute Christmas shopping done!

School Christmas card

Well done to Higher Photography student Kirstie Millar for winning the school’s Christmas card competition. Her image was used as the school’s Christmas card.

Netball success

Doon Academy’s S1/2 netball team travelled to Kyle Academy on Tuesday 18th December to play their last game of 2012. After an intense warm up the girls were ready to take on the school currently at the top of the league. The first half got off to a flying start with Doon’s defence duo of Olivia McCutcheon and Sophie Paulin keeping all Kyle attempts at net away. Lori McLarty kept her cool every time she was given the ball in the top circle and with Macy Biggar’s help; she managed to score 4 goals in the first half. Although the score line was 4-0 in Doon Academy’s favour at half time, the game was incredibly tight and after a brief team talk, the girls knew they had to continue with their hard working ways in the second half. Melanie Connell took the first centre well and with Brook Paulin and Brook Welsh in the wings, Doon’s girls ensured they were driving forward once again. Kyle made a few team amendments at half time and the girls did a great job of making a comeback, getting 5 goals past Doon’s defence. Thankfully our girls were not put off by a strengthened Kyle team and managed to score another 3 goals. Well done to all the girls involved for beating a strong netball school and finishing the year on netball high. Particular congratulations to Olivia McCutheon who received the well deserved accolade of ‘Player of the Match’. Her defending skills were second to none and her effort level never faltered for her 24 minutes of phenomenal play!

Supported Study

Supported Study will continue to run after the holidays every Monday night for Business Management in Mrs Allen’s room and every Wednesday night for Computing in Mr Power’s room.

School Christmas Lunch

The school canteen held their annual Christmas lunch on Wednesday the 12th of December which was well attended by both students and staff. Well done to Rena and her team for their hard work in making a fantastic lunch.

Glasgow School of Art

Two fashion and textile art students from the Glasgow School of Art did a two day placement within the Art and Design Department. The students worked with senior pupils helping them with their art folios. The two art students also delivered a presentation to students on their own work and what is was like to go the art school. Thank you to Emma McAndrew and Catherine Farrar for their hard work. S6 student Ryan Watson is currently undertaking a portfolio preparation course at The Glasgow School of Art on a Saturday. Ryan is sitting Advanced Higher Art and Design this year and is hoping to secure a place at art school.

Art Exhibition

The opening of the Art exhibition at the Doon Valley Museum was a great success. The opening was well attended by local councillors, parents, pupils, staff and members of the local community. The exhibition will run for the remainder of December, opening times are Thursday to Saturday from 10am until 4pm.

Centrestage

Final preparations are well underway with our performers for next week’s Christmas Showcase event in conjunction with Centrestage. The Christmas show will take place on Tuesday the 11th of December from 1.30-3.00pm with all Centrestage workshop participants involved.If you are interested in attending please see Mrs Hetherington for more details.

John Muir

The John Muir Award group have been working in partnership with the Forestry Commission to plant new community woodland. The Forestry Commission have been gifted land on Mains Hill facing the town of Dalmellington for the purpose of benefiting the local community. The group of S3 student helpers have been involved in the initial planting of the woodland. Thanks to the Woodlands Trust for the donation of birch, rowan, cherry and oak saplings. The planning process is still developing and the group recently met with the Forestry Commissions planner and submitted ideas for the layout of the woodland. The group have also presented plans for the proposal of a woodland walk, picnic area and camping area which they hope the planners will be able to accommodate.

Literacy Across Learning Research Challenge

S3 pupils from the Supported Learning Centre took part in a Literacy Across Learning Research Challenge in the library with Mrs Whitson and Mrs Bax. Students spent two days learning different researching skills such as mind mapping, how to use keywords to search the internet and how to identify good resources. From this they then went onto research a topic of their own choice which ranged from horses, classic cars, forensic science, dogs and Dr Who. They all worked very hard and produced excellent final products that included, information leaflets, posters, auctioneer brochures and information leaflets for a museum. Well done to all involved.