Fashion Show

Lots of pupils have expressed an interest in the fashion show. We now have a list of pupils who will be modelling in the show.

If you would like to model and have not already had a chance to audition, then auditions will be taking place on a weekly basis in the Art and Design department. This is a drop in session so feel free to pop in at any time between 12.30 pm and 1 pm every Friday lunchtime.

We are currently looking for raffle prizes, if you would like to make a donation towards the raffle please hand this into Mrs McCrorie in the school reception.

Tickets for the fashion show can also be purchased from Mrs McCrorie and are priced at £3.00.

SQA exams

All staff at the school would like to wish all our S4-S6 students good luck in their forthcoming SQA exams. Staff hope that all students receive the grades that they are looking for.

Students should return any overdue library books to Mrs Bax before they go on study leave.

Senior Prom

The prom will take place on Thursday the 6th of June in the Lochside Hotel, Cumnock. All outstanding balances must be paid to the prom committee ASAP. This promises to be a very fun and glamorous evening. Both students and staff are looking forward to the event.

Duke of Edinburgh Award

Seventeen pupils at Doon Academy recently received their Duke of Edinburgh Bronze and Section Awards. Mr MacKenzie, Head teacher, presented the awards at a special ceremony in school. He congratulated the pupils on their tremendous achievement in earning an award which is internationally recognised by education establishments and employers alike.

This is the largest number of pupils to achieve this success in many years and it is attributable to the commitment and dedication of the pupils and the staff responsible for the programme this year: Mr Kerr, Mrs Murray and Mr Gooding.

This year's group are well underway to duplicate this success and we wish them well in the coming months.

Premiership football trip

40 students and 6 members’ staff went on a trip on Saturday the 30th of March to the Stadium of Light to watch Sunderland and Manchester United play. This was a great day out and both students and staff thoroughly enjoyed the game. Thank you to Mr Kelly for organising the trip.

Fashion show

Doon Academy’s Art and Design Department fashion show will take place on Wednesday the 19th June 2013 from 6.15 pm - 9.00 pm approximately in M&Co Alloway Street, Ayr. This promises to be an excellent, exciting and glamorous evening.
There will be several sections to the fashion show, to which our students have contributed, particularly: Mardi Gras masks, customised fashion, bodices, recycled fashion, a senior pupil section, and of course an M&Co section. Our students and staff will be modelling the garments.

By purchasing a ticket you will receive a 10% discount for M&Co on the evening of the fashion show and some light refreshments. There will also be a collection for the “British Heart Foundation” charity. During the evening there will be an opportunity to buy raffle tickets as well as an enterprise stall where you can purchase items that students have made.

If you would like to purchase tickets you can do so from the school reception. Tickets are priced at £3.00 however; these are limited so please purchase tickets soon to avoid disappointment. The first fifty tickets sold will be eligible for free transport via bus to and from the venue.

Auditions for models are being held weekly on Friday lunchtime in the Art Department. Any pupils who are interested in modelling should come along.

If you have any questions please do not hesitate to contact Miss Fuller in the Art and Design department.

Ayrshire Association of Business Women

On Tuesday 19 March, 3 senior girls attended an event run by the Ayrshire Association of Business Women to mark International Women’s Day.

Hayley Bone, Heather Dunn and Tami McLelland accompanied Mrs Allen and Miss Fuller to the event at the Gailes Hotel, Irvine. The night was a great success and everyone enjoyed a 2 course dinner and the opportunity to network with other schools in Ayrshire.

Speakers at the event included Marie Macklin, CEO of The Klin Group, Fiona McKenzie, Director of Centrestage and Annie Lewis representing Oxfam.
To see coverage by Cumnock Chronicle click here.

East Ayrshire Schools Readers’ Cup

The Doon Academy heats for the East Ayrshire Schools Readers’ Cup competition was held on Monday 25th March in the Library.

S1 answered questions on humour, comics, witches and wizards and animals. The competition was very close and ended with a tiebreak between Raecar and Bradan however, Raecar were “pipped at the post” as Bradan won. The top two teams scored 31.5 out of 50 which is a very good result. Finlas were very close with 36 points. Well done to the winning team of Lee Uriate, Olivia McCutcheon, Sheryl Whiteside and Emma Blain.

 The S2 competition took place in the afternoon. This time Raecar were clear winners on 31 points. Well done to Liam Elder, Melanie Connell, Jade McClymont, and Ryan McMillan.

Librarian, Mrs Bax, with the winning S1 team.

East Ayrshire Conference

The school took part in an East Ayrshire conference which examined approaches and good practices related to children’s services. Mr MacKenzie and Mrs Hetherington, with Mrs McAvoy from Dalmellington Primary School and Mrs Hamilton from Social Work led a workshop on the changes we have made to our working with partners in Health, the Police, Social Work, Housing and others. It was also good to hear about work being done in other centres - Cumnock and St Joseph’s Academies and from the East Ayrshire Support Team.

Glasgow School of Art Students

On Monday the 18th and Tuesday the 19th of March two Product Design students from the Glasgow School of Art worked with S1-S4 Art and Design students. Students were involved in different projects and workshop activities along with a presentation on life as an Art student and different careers choices related to Art and Design. All students thoroughly enjoyed the workshops and some students are considering applying for an Art course in the future.

Comic Relief

Senior students organised various fundraising activities for Comic Relief ranging from a bake sale, sponsored silence and leg waxing. All monies raised will be donated to Comic Relief. Well done to our senior students for organising these events.

Alistair having his legs waxed while on a sponsored silence!

Dillan doing his bit for Comic Relief.

Bounce-a-thon

Social Subjects held a Boune-a-thon on Friday 15th March to raise funds for the trip to the battlefields of France and Belgium. The bounce-a-thon was well enjoyed by both students and staff. Well done to all students and teachers who took part in. This has raised almost £200. If you have not yet collected all your sponsor money please do so immediately and hand it into Miss Steele in the Social Subjects department.

Literacy Learners

This year's group of S1 Literacy Learners are powering ahead in their learning. Guided by the two Mrs Murrays, pupils have been improving their skills in spelling, punctuation, reading comprehension and Rainbow Writing. The small group of pupils are having great fun whilst learning skills that they will use across all their learning. A pupil said, "I love writing now, it just makes more sense and my reading has really improved." All students and staff wish the group good luck in the second half of its programme.

S1 Mardi Gras

Mardi Gras Queen with her mask.

Mardi Gras King with his mask.

Our annual Mardi Gras event took place on Wednesday the 13th of March. This was a really enjoyable afternoon of games, music, dancing, presentations, eating of crepes and wearing of masks. Thank you to Mrs McKenzie in the Modern Languages department for organising this.

World Book Day 7th March 2013

We celebrated WBD this year with an exhibition in the library of book sculptures made by S3 under the tuition of Mrs Murdoch, Art and Design student teacher. Visitors to the exhibition were asked to vote on their favourite. The winner was Colin McTaggart’s Tank with Rory Parker’s Lost at sea a close second. All the exhibits were much admired.



To see more pictures of the book Sculptures go to Doon Reads.

S1 and S2 had an opportunity in their library periods to view the exhibition, and also to see some of the book trailer videos that Ms Davidson’s S3 English class had made. Martyn Pig by Keiran Madden and Colin McTaggart and Roxy’s Baby by Katie Roberts were the two voted most likely to make you want to read the book.

 All pupils received their WBD £1 book vouchers and S1 and S2 received their Accelerated Reader certificates.

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Save your change

The SLC pupils are running a Credit Union savings scheme and can offer you the opportunity to save your money for a special event.

If you would like to register for a savings account, speak to Mr Kerr in the SLC. All you have to do is ask your parents to sign an account application form and we will issue you with your saving book.

Many of our current savers are handing in their change from lunch amd their savings are building nicely.

Accelerated Reader

S1 and S2 participate in the Accelerated Reader scheme where they read and take quizzes on the books they have read. Our pupils have read 13,891,614 words so far this session.
Two pupils have read over 1 million words each, Alison McCann and Melanie Connell.
Congratulations to them both.

Reader of the Month for February is Gabrielle Graham.  Congratulations to her.

To see how your child is getting on go to AR Home Connect and login.

The Lighthouse Foundation

The Lighthouse Foundation is currently in school delivering a series of substance misuse awareness sessions to pupils in S2, S4, S5 and S6. These sessions have been well received by pupils. It has helped to reinforce the spice resources already utilised in PSE lessons.

No Smoking Day

As we move closer to National "No Smoking Day" which will take place on Wednesday 13 March 2013, pupils in S1/2 have been learning about the physical, social and emotional effects of smoking within PSE lessons. This year’s slogan is "Swap Fags For Swag" and S1 pupils have once again entered the annual poster competition co-ordinated by Doon Valley Pharmacy in Dalmellington.

Chinese Banquet

The kitchen staff would like to say a big thank you to the owner of the Chinese takeaway in Bellsbank for donating the prawn crackers for the Chinese banquet that was held on the lunchtime of Wednesday the 6th of March.

The food was absolutely fantastic and both students and staff really enjoyed the meal.