Kilmarnock College Leadership Course

S3 pupils Jordan Berretti, Daryl Grover, Connor Halliday, Tammy Reid, Ross Mellis, Robbie Ogilvie, Jade Scott and Dylan Thirtle attended the week long Kilmarnock College Leadership Programme. Congratulations to them all for graduating from the leadership course.

Kilmarnock College Leadership Academy

Congratulations to the 24 S3 pupils who graduated from the Kilmarnock College Leadership Academy. During their week’s leadership course the pupils undertook various challenges in team building and communication skills.

Leadership relaunch

The school is planning to relaunch its leadership programme in the next few weeks. Three groups of S3 pupils will attend the Kilmarnock College leadership project and the school hopes to offer its own residential leadership experience in the near future. The Ocean Youth Trust voyage will take place during the 2nd to the 8th May.

Hospitality trip

Senior Hospitality students visited ‘The Gallery’ at Kilmarnock College. During their visit they learned about the various courses on offer to study at the college. They also ate a delicious 3 course meal prepared by the college students at their own gallery restaurant.

Kilmarnock's Hospitality

Mr Kelly and Mrs Gillespie visited the hospitality department at Kilmarnock College to gain an insight into the courses and opportunities available to our school leavers.

Science Museum trip

The S3 Doon Academy/Kilmarnock College engineering class with be visiting the Science Museum in Glasgow with college staff Billy Tomlinson and Keith Johnstone. The pupils will be undertaking a series of challenges relating to the interactive exhibits.

Save the children fundraising

The S3 College Care group are busy raising funds for ‘Save the Children’. They are holding a raffle and other events around the school. Well done to the group for their enterprising initiatives.

Motor Vehicle fundraiser

Well done to the Doon Academy/Kilmarnock College Motor Vehicle group who raised £85 by washing cars which has enabled them to buy an air drill, air grinder and a compressor to use in their studies.

Leadership

S3 pupils attended a Leadership course at Kilmarnock College where they undertook activities in communication and leadership skills as part of Doon Academy’s Leadership programme.

New bikes?

S3 College Students are currently working on a problem-solving project that involves the re-manufacture of old bicycles into bikes with more than two wheels. This project will be finished by Christmas; they then hope to have a race on the bikes to determine the winning team. Roll on boys!

Curriculum for Excellence meeting

College lecturers from Doon Academy’s college partnership, and a group of senior pupils will represent the school at a Curriculum for Excellence event for parents on the 14th November. The group will explain how the school has developed vocational education over the last few years.

New College Courses

S5 and S6 students have begun College Courses on Tuesday and Thursday afternoons. Our students travel to Kilmarnock College to attend courses in Fashion and Textiles, Construction and The Performing Arts, and Ayr College for Sport and Fitness, Hairdressing and Beauty and Childcare. Also, our in-house S3 to S5 courses have begun in Engineering and Child Care.

Leadership Academies

The Dalguise Leadership Academy was a tremendous success and pupils and staff graduated as leaders. On the course pupils and staff took part in various team building and leadership activities. Gavin McFadzean from S3 said “I did raft building, abseiling and I also took part in communication workshops. It was all really good and I am pleased I am now a graduate leader for my school”. A full report will be in next week’s issue.
In the same week 12 more S3 pupils took part in Kilmarnock College’s Leadership Academy. Pupil Demi Whiteford said: “ We did rock climbing which was great and also had singing and dancing which was a good laugh. I had a great time and it was good fun! Congratulations to all our Leadership Graduates.

Leadership course

Congratulations to the twelve S3 pupils who took part in the Kilmarnock College Leadership Award programme. They participated in a range of workshops to develop their leadership skills, which included such activities as abseiling and drama. Dannie Ferrance said, ‘It was really good and I would love to do it again if I had the chance.’ Zoe Muller commented, ‘I really enjoyed it and learned a great deal about myself and my leadership skills.’

Construction Work Experience

S4 pupils, Jordan McCrone, Nicky Dobson, Aaron Wigglesworth, Tazmyn Hearton, participated in the Construction Work Experience week based at the Cumnock Campus of Kilmarnock College. The pupils enjoyed their week and learned many new skills.

Mini-motos

The latest challenge undertaken by 3rd year Doon Academy students in the Motor Vehicle and Fabrication Department is a complete overhaul of two mini-motor bikes. The purpose of this task is for the students to understand the basic operating principles of automotive technology. The students will remove engine, brakes, steering and wheels of the bikes until there is only the frame. They will then carry out basic fabrication repairs, paint the frame and then rebuild the bike. It is hoped upon completion the bikes will be tested by our very own Stig (Tom Bone).

New Ramp

Doon Academy and Kilmarnock College Motor Vehicle and Fabrication Department took delivery of their latest addition, a two-poster ramp. The aim of this latest acquisition is to provide the students with an enjoyable, challenging and active learning experience. Over the past few years, funding for these unique programmes have been sourced by the school, which has involved exploring many different opportunities. Other equipment we have includes MIG, TIG and spot welding equipment, machining lathes and a surface grinder. It is hoped that the department can open its doors wider and interest the local community by offering various short evening courses.

Motor Vehicle News

As the festive season approaches the students of the Doon Academy and Kilmarnock College Motor Vehicle and Fabrication Department have completed their 6 months projects. They now have a sectioned single point injection, which has been completely overhauled by the students and is now a priceless teaching aid. Finally, the quad bikes rewired and almost back to their original build. The team go-cart engine has now been remounted, tested and will hopefully be in full working order early in the New Year. These projects would not be possible without the assistance of college lecturers Billy Tomlinson and Tom Bone who have a huge input, out with school time, preparing for these tasks.

Citizenship programme

9 S2 pupils have successfully completed the After School Citizenship Programme. The Pupils took part in engineering activities with lecturers from Kilmarnock College; they prepared healthy fruit smoothies and they took part in litter pick-ups in the local community. There will be a graduation, which will be attended by the pupils, family members and teaching staff. We congratulate the pupils who successfully completed the 10-week programme.

Motor Vehicle Project

Doon Academy and Kilmarnock College’s 3rd year Motor Vehicle and Fabrication students have started their next joint project to be completed for Jan 2009. This task involves a complete strip down of an engine and gearbox from a Ford Fiesta. They will then cut away various parts of the engine to gain an insight of how the internal parts of the engine and gearbox operate. The Fabrication Students will build a stand to mount the engine. This task gives the students and opportunity to have a practical task where upon completion they will have an invaluable teaching aid for all groups.