Rapid Response Engineering Challenge

Doon’s Academy’s S2 pupils undertook the Rapid Response Engineering Challenge week, produced in cooperation with Institution of Civil Engineers. On Monday engineers, Hazel Wilson and Craig Striker, came into school and gave a presentation on the work of civil engineers and then co-opted S2 to be emergency response engineers to help with the aftermath of a hurricane in Honduras. During the rest of the week the pupils learned about disaster relief, hurricanes and other useful skills they might need as disaster workers. Last Friday all S2 pupils were split into teams and they faced a series of 7 challenges which ranged from building an emergency shelter, transporting water, cleaning water, orienteering in Spanish, preparing an emergency meal, and making weather instruments. Despite the bad weather forecast, some activities were able to be held outside. The pupils all enjoyed themselves and found the day quite hard work and very challenging. Congratulations to the winning team Lauren Kennedy, Halle Fitzsimmons, Lorelle White, Darren McLarty, Damien Slocombe and Lewis Weir.

Rapid Response Engineering Challenge

During the week of the 16th to 20th May S2 pupils will be involved in the Rapid Response Engineering Challenge.

In the Science department the lessons will be focussed on the challenges of water purification.

Mardi Gras Celebrations

S1 pupils at Doon Academy celebrated Mardi Gras (Shrove Tuesday) by having a big festival of fun, games and dance! An interdisciplinary project involving the departments of Modern Languages, Art, Music, Home Economics and P.E took place over several weeks. In Modern Languages, pupils researched the history of Mardi Gras around the world and made PowerPoint presentations and posters for the festival. In Art, pupils made wonderful masks, which they wore in the Mardi Gras parade at the festival. The two pupils with the best masks were crowned King and Queen of the festival. Wendy Roulstone was voted as Queen and Kieran Madden as King. In Music pupils learned to play some Mardi Gras style instruments to accompany a musical item, which they performed on the day. In H.E. pupils made French crêpes which were enjoyed by all and our P.E. teacher taught everyone a funky salsa dance! The school librarian and senior pupils recorded the event. The school canteen prepared a fabulous Mardi Gras lunch for the whole school, which was very well received by all. This event was part of the new Curriculum for Excellence projects for S1 pupils and will hopefully be repeated again next year! As the Mardi Gras slogan says - "Let the good times roll" at Doon Academy.

Mardi Gras Video

Rapid Response Challenge

The final day of our Rapid Response Engineering Challenge, run in cooperation with the Institution of Civil Engineers, was held on Friday 21st May. Three engineers came into the school the previous Monday and gave a presentation on civil engineering and how engineers have a very important role to play in disaster relief. Then our S2 pupils had lessons all week relating to the disaster scenario of a hurricane in the Honduras. They learned about hurricanes in Geography, waterborne bacteria in Science, shelters in Technical, measuring area and distances in Maths. Friday was sunny and warm with clear skies, perfect weather for undertaking a series of challenges to build on the lessons and prepare pupils for dealing with disasters. They had to build a shelter, transport water, work out how to filter water, decide where to site facilities, prepare emergency rations, and build a weather instrument. Participants were marked on how well they worked as a team as well as how well they performed in the challenges. The winning team consisted of Blair McCrone, Alexander McDowall, Lauren Young, Annabel McTaggart, Carly Hay and Andrew Paton. The pupils also had a non-uniform day and raised £25 for the Disaster Relief Fund. All the pupils worked extremely well all day and completed all the challenges they were given. Congratulations to the winning team and well done to all participants.