S3 Leadership 2

The second part of the S3 Leadership Academy was a great success. Pupils developed various leadership skills from teamwork, respect, creativity, integrity, focus and awareness. An assembly will be held next week where students will graduate and receive their certificate and polo shirt. Well done to all who took part.

Leadership

The second half of our 3rd year students will take part in our Leadership Academy. Workshops will be based in school where students will be developing their team working skills, perseverance, creativity, awareness and focus. Students will also take part in a residential at Dalguise where they will be involved in various outdoor activities over the weekend.

Leadership Academy

S3 students will be taking part in the school’s Leadership Academy. Workshops will be delivered in school over three days and then a residential will take place in Dalguise where students will take part in outdoor activities over the weekend.

Volunteering Abroad

S6 students are aiming to undertake a volunteering project in Malawi in summer 2012. We want to take on some practical challenges which will improve the lives of needy children. We are working in partnership with East Ayrshire Council and Mary’s Meals - the Scottish charity which feeds thousands of African school children every day. We hope this will be a pilot trip for others involving other schools in East Ayrshire. We aim to raise the money we need by fundraising events and through sponsorships. We will keep you informed of our progress throughout this session. 

by Kirsty Millar, Hayley Bone, Paisley Gray and Shannon Jones, S6.

S6 Leadership Training

Our new sixth year started the session with a 2 day leadership programme which examined the roles and responsibilities of prefects and senior students. Speakers at the event, which was held in The Aviator Suite at Prestwick Airport, included Rev Alastair Morrison; Mr Robert Paterson, training officer  from Goodrich International; TV producer Andy Park; and ex-president of Glasgow University, Queen Margaret Union, Kirsty Hill. School staff also led workshops. We are very grateful to all who contributed to the event, including Gillian Cameron from Ayrshire Chamber of Commerce whose business links ensured the event's success.

Peer Education Project

8 S6 pupils have been participating in a Peer Education project as part of their Higher Leadership qualification. The pupils were split into 2 groups to present lessons on solvent misuse and alcohol abuse to younger pupils. 

On Wednesday 28th March, 4 S6 pupils presented a lesson on the dangers of solvent misuse to Dalmellington Primary 7 pupils. 

On Friday 30th March 4 S6 pupils presented a lesson on the dangers of alcohol to a S1 social education class. Both groups prepared superb lessons using a variety of resources which really engaged the pupils. It also provided an excellent opportunity for the pupils to develop their leadership skills .

Many thanks to Catrina O'Neil East Ayrshire Schools' Alcohol and Drugs Education Coordinator for providing excellent training for our pupils.

BESC launch

On Wednesday 29th February Doon Academy launched its Business Enterprise Skills Centre (BESC). Councillors and invited guests were treated to an overview of our Leadership course and the Fashion and Textile master class by Mr Richardson and Miss Fuller. It was then over to School Captain, Connar McCallum, who got the audience, motivated with some leadership games. The guests took part in some "speed dating"; visiting various groups of pupils who discussed Enterprise activities they had undertaken. Mrs Gillespie and her team then served canapés and cakes to finish. The BESC centre will allow Doon Academy to give our pupils many new and exciting opportunities in Art, Technical and Leadership. We are also planning projects which well develop our pupils’ skills for work.

Peer Education Project

Together with Auchinleck Academy, 12 S6 pupils will be taking part in a Peer Education Project where they will receive 2 days training on drug and alcohol misuse. The seniors will then deliver the lesson to S1 pupils and Dalmellington P7s.
This course will go towards the S6's Higher Leadership practice.

Children in Need Talent Show

Pupils and staff pulled out all the stops to raise the magnificent sum of £827.85 for Children In Need. There was a non-uniform day, talent show, face painting and bake sale. Well done to S6 boys Kieran Boyle, Callum Stevenson and Steven Slider who had their chest and legs waxed and Gavin McFadzean who had his hair shorn. Well done to everyone who took part in fundraising for such a worthy cause.

S6 Leadership Conference

On Thursday and Friday the 18th and 19th August, S6 students attended a Leadership Conference at the Aviator Suite, Prestwick Airport organised by our new Head Teacher Mr. John MacKenzie. On the first morning the students undertook Peer Mediation training by Mrs. McLay and Mrs. Dorans and workshops on conflict resolution by Donna MacPhee and Debbie Ashman from the West of Scotland Mediation. In the afternoon students discussed S6s role in the school with A/DHT Mrs. Stewart, and caring for yourself and the community by Minister Alistair Morrison On the Friday, DHT Mrs McRoberts led a session with the students on their role as prefects and school captains followed by a Leadership talk by Robert Paterson, Training Manager for Goodrich. Head Teacher Mr. MacKenzie discussed charity giving and fundraising and there was a talk on broadcasting and the media by Bafta award winner Andy Park. The last session of the day was a talk on university life by former pupil Kirsty Hill, President of the University of Glasgow’s Queen Margaret Union. Evaluation feedback from the S6 students concerning the conference was really positive and everyone enjoyed the event. Thank you to all our guest speakers and to Gillian Cameron from the Ayrshire Chamber of Commerce for organising the venue.

Successful Leadership Academy

Last week, 14 pupils and 3 members of staff attended our Leadership Academy at the PGL outdoor centre in Dalguise, Perthshire. The programme, facilitated by Mrs McLay, Mr McCrorie, and Mrs Gillespie was a great success with everyone participating in indoor workshops and outdoor activities relevant to the code of leadership for each day. Everyone gave 100% throughout the week, both individually and as a member of a team. A celebration dinner was held in the Atholl Arms Hotel, Dunkeld and everyone received their certificate and polo shirt, on the final day, at the graduation ceremony.

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.

Galloway Activity Centre trip

Tuesday 26th April saw a group of S3 pupils from Doon Academy visit the Galloway Activity Centre on Loch Ken to try their hand at sailing before their voyage with Ocean Youth Trust Scotland. They had a lovely sunny day and a great time out on the water in funboats. The morning session was an introductory one so the pupils could gain a feel for sailing. They did so well that the afternoon session was spent racing! Unfortunately a number of pupils capsized and were cold so the session finished early. An excellent introduction to the joys of sailing.

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.

Leadership Course

The new S5/6 SQA Leadership Course is progressing well and pupils are undertaking various leadership activities in the school and community. Nathan Allison organised a pool competition at the Zone and Fraser Cameron had a ‘Beat the Goalie’ competition for S2 pupils in the school.

Leadership Course

The new S5/6 SQA Leadership Course is progressing well and pupils are undertaking various leadership activities in the school and community. Nathan Allison organised a pool competition at the Zone and Fraser Cameron had a ‘Beat the Goalie’ competition for S2 pupils in the school.

East Ayrshire Learning Festival

Six of our senior pupils attended the East Ayrshire Learning Festival at Cumnock Academy on Saturday 1 November Nathan Gilmore and Jordan Kane of S4 manned a display which featured pupils' involvement in leadership activities such as the Ocean Youth Trust and the Citizenship programme. They also spoke to visitors about their work in the school's engineering department. Heather Dunn of S4 and Leanne Waugh of S5 delivered a presentation to the audience on the Dark Skies observatory project at Craigengillan Estate. Doon pupils have been involved in planning and securing funding for this exciting project which will attract star gazers to a new visitor centre and educational facility near Loch Doon. The area is officially classified as one of the best places in the world for studying planets in the night sky. Doon pupils are also developing the area’s reputation as a centre for art lovers. The school and working artists are creating an art trail which will link existing and new sculptures at the school, the town and in Craigengillan Estate. This project was presented to the audience by Megan McCleary of S4 and Gordon Copeland of S6. The pupils said the project would soon be attracting art lovers, families and walkers to the lovely landscape in and around Dalmellington.
The pupils were accompanied by DHT Mr MacKenzie, Mr Ellis, and Mr Tomlinson who is a Kilmarnock College engineering lecturer.

Leadership Academy

Doon Academy’s Leadership Academy at Dalguise will take place the week beginning the 10th May. Pupils and teachers, including former graduates, will undertake the intensive leadership programme in the 6 key areas: Perseverance, Integrity, Focus, Awareness, Service and Creativity.

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.