Christmas service

S1 to S6 pupils attended Dalmellington Parish Church on Wednesday the 19th of December. Well done to all student involved in the delivery of the service. The collection this year was for the Scottish Association of Children with Heart Defects. Thank you to our local minister Fiona Wilson for her hospitality and her sermon.

Christmas Market

Miss Borthwick’s master class held an enterprise marketplace in school. The stall boasted an excellent range of products that students had made. It was an excellent opportunity to get in some last minute Christmas shopping done!

School Christmas card

Well done to Higher Photography student Kirstie Millar for winning the school’s Christmas card competition. Her image was used as the school’s Christmas card.

Netball success

Doon Academy’s S1/2 netball team travelled to Kyle Academy on Tuesday 18th December to play their last game of 2012. After an intense warm up the girls were ready to take on the school currently at the top of the league. The first half got off to a flying start with Doon’s defence duo of Olivia McCutcheon and Sophie Paulin keeping all Kyle attempts at net away. Lori McLarty kept her cool every time she was given the ball in the top circle and with Macy Biggar’s help; she managed to score 4 goals in the first half. Although the score line was 4-0 in Doon Academy’s favour at half time, the game was incredibly tight and after a brief team talk, the girls knew they had to continue with their hard working ways in the second half. Melanie Connell took the first centre well and with Brook Paulin and Brook Welsh in the wings, Doon’s girls ensured they were driving forward once again. Kyle made a few team amendments at half time and the girls did a great job of making a comeback, getting 5 goals past Doon’s defence. Thankfully our girls were not put off by a strengthened Kyle team and managed to score another 3 goals. Well done to all the girls involved for beating a strong netball school and finishing the year on netball high. Particular congratulations to Olivia McCutheon who received the well deserved accolade of ‘Player of the Match’. Her defending skills were second to none and her effort level never faltered for her 24 minutes of phenomenal play!

Supported Study

Supported Study will continue to run after the holidays every Monday night for Business Management in Mrs Allen’s room and every Wednesday night for Computing in Mr Power’s room.

School Christmas Lunch

The school canteen held their annual Christmas lunch on Wednesday the 12th of December which was well attended by both students and staff. Well done to Rena and her team for their hard work in making a fantastic lunch.

Glasgow School of Art

Two fashion and textile art students from the Glasgow School of Art did a two day placement within the Art and Design Department. The students worked with senior pupils helping them with their art folios. The two art students also delivered a presentation to students on their own work and what is was like to go the art school. Thank you to Emma McAndrew and Catherine Farrar for their hard work. S6 student Ryan Watson is currently undertaking a portfolio preparation course at The Glasgow School of Art on a Saturday. Ryan is sitting Advanced Higher Art and Design this year and is hoping to secure a place at art school.

Art Exhibition

The opening of the Art exhibition at the Doon Valley Museum was a great success. The opening was well attended by local councillors, parents, pupils, staff and members of the local community. The exhibition will run for the remainder of December, opening times are Thursday to Saturday from 10am until 4pm.

Centrestage

Final preparations are well underway with our performers for next week’s Christmas Showcase event in conjunction with Centrestage. The Christmas show will take place on Tuesday the 11th of December from 1.30-3.00pm with all Centrestage workshop participants involved.If you are interested in attending please see Mrs Hetherington for more details.

John Muir

The John Muir Award group have been working in partnership with the Forestry Commission to plant new community woodland. The Forestry Commission have been gifted land on Mains Hill facing the town of Dalmellington for the purpose of benefiting the local community. The group of S3 student helpers have been involved in the initial planting of the woodland. Thanks to the Woodlands Trust for the donation of birch, rowan, cherry and oak saplings. The planning process is still developing and the group recently met with the Forestry Commissions planner and submitted ideas for the layout of the woodland. The group have also presented plans for the proposal of a woodland walk, picnic area and camping area which they hope the planners will be able to accommodate.

Literacy Across Learning Research Challenge

S3 pupils from the Supported Learning Centre took part in a Literacy Across Learning Research Challenge in the library with Mrs Whitson and Mrs Bax. Students spent two days learning different researching skills such as mind mapping, how to use keywords to search the internet and how to identify good resources. From this they then went onto research a topic of their own choice which ranged from horses, classic cars, forensic science, dogs and Dr Who. They all worked very hard and produced excellent final products that included, information leaflets, posters, auctioneer brochures and information leaflets for a museum. Well done to all involved.

Micro tyco Quiz Night

On Wednesday 28th November the senior Micro Tyco team, consisting of Frazer Buchanan, Lauren Shaw, Peter Featherstonehaugh, Sophie Dobbie and Fiona Kennedy, held a quiz night. Participants took part in six gruelling rounds, testing their general knowledge to the limit. Our winners for the evening were Doon Nothing comprising of: Mr Wilson and some members of the Pupil Support department. The evening finished with a buffet and a live performance from local band ‘Wasted Years’. Thanks to all who attended or donated raffle prizes; the group raised the £212.00 for the charity Wild hearts in Action. Well done!

Community Christmas Coffee Morning

The Supported Learning Centre are holding their annual community Christmas coffee morning on Friday 7th December between 10.00am and 12.30pm. There will be tea, coffee, home baking, a quiz, Christmas crafts for sale, guess the weight of the cake and a prize bingo. Everyone is welcome. We hope to see you there.

Art Exhibition

The annual art Exhibition will be held in the Doon Valley Museum in Dalmellington. The exhibition will run for the remainder of December. Opening times are Thursday to Saturday 10 am – 4 pm (closed public holidays).

Pantomime Trip

Mrs Rae, PT of Music, is organising a trip for students to see the pantomime “Cinderella” in Glasgow on Friday the 7th of December. The cost of the trip is £18.00. Please see Mrs Rae for more information.

Netball news

On Monday the 12th November, Doon Academy’s S1/2 netball team left a blustery Dalmellington and headed for Kilmarnock to play Loudon Academy. This was the first game of the season for the girls and was made more exciting by the fact it was away from home. The game started fiercely with Loudon gaining a four point advantage. Lori McLarty made heads go up as she scored from the circle line taking the game to 4-1. Loudon scored another point but thanks to Macey Biggar and Brooke Welsh helping get the ball to the Doon circle, Chloe Hainey and Lori McLarty were able to score another three points. Going into the second half, the score remained at 5-4 to Loudon. Katie Johnstone stayed in at Goal Keeper but after an energetic and successful first half, Olivia McCutheon was replaced by Sophie Paulin as Goal Defence. Melanie Connell, Alison McCann and Brooke Paulin took to centre court and soon the ball was quickly getting to Doon’s net. The score evened out at 5-5 one minute into the second half and from there on in both teams scored one after the next. The final score ended as 9-9 and everyone involved deserves praise for the maximum effort put into the game. Special recognition goes to Chloe Hainey who was awarded Player of the Match.

Willow Art

Local artist Geoff Forrest has been working with Miss Fuller’s master class making willow stars and wreaths for Christmas. The opening of the Art department’s annual exhibition will take place on Thursday the 29^th of November at 6.30pm until 8.00pm in the Doon Valley Museum in Dalmellington. All are welcome to attend, refreshments provided and arts and crafts will be on sale.

Poetry Workshop at the Sea Fever exhibition

S3 Art and Design students took part in a poetry workshop with author and poet Kate Tough at the Dick Institute in Kilmarnock on Monday the 19th of November. Students firstly had a tour of the Sea Fever exhibition and then created their own poems based on the exhibition. All students really enjoyed the workshops and had fun writing their poems. Students will now take what they have learnt and write a poem about themselves based on the self portrait they have been working on in class.

British show jumping – South West Junior Academy

S1 student Grant Smith has been horse riding for three years and show jumping for one year with his pony called George who is an Appaloosa gelding. He jumps between 70cm and 9cm jumps and has won 6 trophies and over 290 rosettes. Well done Grant and George!

Netball News

On Monday 12th November, Doon Academy’s S1/2 netball team left a blustery Dalmellington and headed for Kilmarnock to play Loudon Academy. This was the first game of the season for the girls and was made more exciting by the fact it was away from home.
The game started fiercely with Loudon gaining a four point advantage. Lori McLarty made heads go up as she scored from the circle line taking the game to 4-1. Loudon scored another point but thanks to Macey Biggar and Brooke Welsh helping get the ball to the Doon circle, Chloe Hainey and Lori McLarty were able to score another three points.
Going into the second half, the score remained at 5-4 to Loudon. Katie Johnstone stayed in at Goal Keeper but after an energetic and successful first half, Olivia McCutheon was replaced by Sophie Paulin as Goal Defence. Melanie Connell, Alison McCann and Brooke Paulin took to centre court and soon the ball was quickly getting to Doon’s net.

The score evened out at 5-5 one minute into the second half and from there on in both teams scored one after the next. The final score ended as 9-9 and everyone involved deserves praise for the maximum effort put into the game.

Special recognition goes to Chloe Hainey who was awarded Player of the Match.