Merry Christmas to Everyone!

Successful work experience

S4 pupils received their work experience certificates.

Observatory Funding

Doon Academy pupils and staff were delighted to host visitors from the Coalfields Regeneration Trust (CRT) and the Dark Skies Project, Craigengillan. CRT handed over a cheque for the magnificent sum of £89, 918 to the project to assist with the building of the new observatory.
Pupils from the astronomy masterclass were present at the ceremony. Thank you to the trust for their generous donation.

West Sound Awards

 Head teacher Mr. MacKenzie, accompanied by school captains Ritchie Lindores and Lauren Mitchell, attended the Provost’s reception, on Tuesday 13th December, for the winners and nominees of the West Sound Awards. The event was held at the visitor centre in Dean Castle and Country Park..

Netball success

On Wednesday 7^th December, Doon Academy’s S3/4 netball team played Queen Margaret. With the game not starting until 4.30pm, the girls were well warmed up and ready to take on the netballing world by the time the first whistle was blown. The centre court was occupied by Annabel McTaggart, Paige McMahon and Cheryl Allison and the opposition quickly discovered that they were up against some strong players. With Lauren Shaw out with a leg injury, it was up to Claire Boyd and Alana Murray to stop the goals coming from Queen Margaret and they did this with precision and determination. Up at the shooting circle Jade Scott and Sophie Dobbie did their usual fantastic job of getting the ball through the net. By half time the score was at 7-2 to Doon and by the end of the second half, the final score stood at 13-3 to Doon. 

Well done to Alana Murray and Cheryl Allison who stood in for the S3/4 team. 

Congratulations also go to Cheryl who walked away with Player of the Match after her valiant effort in Wing Attack.

Community Carol Service

 On Sunday 11 December Doon Academy pupils and staff attended the Community Carol Service at Dalmellington Church. Readings were given by S3 pupil Kirstie McCormick, S5pupil Nathan Gilmore and School Captain Ritchie Lindores. 

Thank you to the pupils for their willingness to be involved in the venture. Everyone had a wonderful time at the service.   

Italian masterclass trip

Mrs McKenzie’s Italian masterclass visited Ceccini’s Restaurant in Ayr to practise their conversation skills in Italian. Pupils ordered their food in Italian from the waiter and Mrs McKenzie was very impressed with their linguistic ability.

Thanks from Samaritan's Purse

    Thank you to Mrs. Parnaby from Samaritan’s Purse – Shoebox Operation Christmas Child who wrote to Doon Academy stating:

“As Area Coordinator I would like to say a HUGE Thank you for all the lovely shoeboxes your school donated for the children in Belarus and Ukraine. Thanks to you 1740 shoeboxes were collected, checked and packed in cartons and sent off from the checking centre in St. Leonard’s Church, a fantastic result from all in Ayrshire.”

Beauty and the Beast trip

S1 and S2 pupils visited Elmbank Theatre in Ayr to see a performance of Beauty and the Beast by the FIB Theatre Company which featured star performances by Doon Academy pupils. 

The pupils and staff had a fantastic time and really enjoyed the pantomime.

Christmas Dance

The Christmas Dance will now be held on Wednesday 21^st December from 7pm. The tickets cost £3 and are available from the prefects at break and lunchtime.  

Readers' Cup Round One

School Librarian, Mrs Bax, has been hosting the 1^st round of the Readers Cup Quiz. Pupils in S1/S2 were asked 20 fun questions relating to books and their authors and the winners from each class will take part in the 2^nd round.

Good luck everyone and keep reading!

Dates for your diary

Senior prelim examinations begin Monday 30^th January.
Burns Supper Thursday 9^th February.
S2 Parents Evening Wednesday 22nd February.
S3 FOCUS FE Day 3^rd February
HE Day 29^th February.

Christmas Holidays

Doon Academy staff and pupils will be on Christmas Holidays from Friday 23^rd December. The school will reopen for staff and pupils on Monday 9^th January. We wish everyone a Merry Christmas and a very Happy New Year.

Paris trip

 

The Modern Languages Department took a group of 8 Higher/ Intermediate 2 students to Paris at the end of November. The group visited the Arc de Triomphe and saw the tomb of the Unknown Soldier with the French wreaths laid from Armistice Day. Then, continuing down the Champs Élysées, the group visited one or two shops to practise their French and purchase some of the well-known, delicious French cakes - macaroons! 

The many other highlights of the trip included a Christmas market, a visit to the top of the Eiffel tower, Notre Dame Cathedral as well as the basilica of Sacré Coeur. The group also toured the memorial to the deportees of World War 2 on Ile de la Cité, which was very moving. On the final evening a delicious French meal was enjoyed by all in a typical French bistro near the Moulin Rouge. 

Everyone had a chance to practise their French as well as soak up the wonderful Christmas atmosphere in the city of lights!

School panto

The Dazzle performers are busy rehearsing for their pantomime Beauty and the Beast which will be performed on Wednesday 14^th December at 7pm in the school hall. 

Tickets are on sale from the school office 01292 550521. 

There will be a raffle, Christmas gifts for sale and refreshments. 

Come along and enjoy the show.

Rag Bag collection

   The Eco Group have organised a Rag Bag Recycling collection. Pupils and staff are asked to fill the bags with any unwanted clothes, textiles, shoes and books. The bags are then weighed by the ragbag company and a donation is made to the school.

Successful Poppy Appeal

Well done to Mr. Ellis and his team who organised the local Poppy Scotland appeal this year and raised the magnificent sum of £1600 for the British Legion. 

Willow masterclass

Local artist Geoff Forrest has been in school working with pupils in the art masterclass.  The pupils have been crafting a fish made from willow and using unwanted CDs for its gills.

Winning Cook

 

Congratulations to S3 pupil Amy Gibson who is one of four East Ayrshire pupils, selected by the chefs at Braehead Cook School, to represent East Ayrshire. Amy will go to the cook school at the end of January for the cook-off competition against teams from North and South Ayrshire. Good Luck to Amy and the East Ayrshire team.

Student teachers

Pupils and staff bid a fond farewell to our student teachers Lesley Crawford in English and Caroline Jones in Biology. We wish them every success for the future.