Belmont Academy news

Oct 24 2008 by Julie Simpson, Ayrshire Post (main ed)

A LARGE number of parents attended the parents’ night for pupils in third year.

Parents found their way around the new building very quickly and for those who had been unable to attend the open night the occasion gave them the opportunity to see the tremendous new building that we occupy.

HEAD teacher, Mr Moir attended a conference organised by the Scottish Government as part of the consultation process for the new vocational qualifications which are coming as a result of the Curriculum for Excellence initiative.

CONGRATULATIONS to second year boys basketball squad of Craig Sturgeon, Aston Kerr, Arran Scroggs, Oliver Collinson, William Letinov, Joshua McGilvray, Marc Gurun and Charlie Adams who defeated Auchenharvie Academy 62:51 in the Ayrshire League.

The senior team of Graeme Cassels, Mungo Hay, Silas McGilvray, Stuart Ford, Neil Pitman, Jay Sinclair, Greg Murphy, Andrew Brown, Calum Hill and Owen Laing had a good match against James Hamilton Academy in Kilmarnock but were narrowly beaten by nine points.

MS Emma Hewitt from the Glasgow consultancy firm ODS visited the academy to meet with pupils and members of staff to discuss the impact that the Campus Cop initiative has had. All the responses were positive and these reactions will be fed into the final report which will be forwarded to South Ayrshire council and Strathclyde Police.

SIXTH year pupils in various forms of dress braved the grey and wet weather conditions to take part in the annual sponsored walk from Doonfoot to the Malcolm Sargent Home in Prestwick in order to raise money for this important local charity. The weather may have been overcast but spirits were high and a successful event was the result.

THE ANTI litter ‘Bin It to Win It’ initiative still successfully continues and the winner of this month's draw was Bethany McMurdo of 3 Cumbrae who received a £20 Argos voucher. Scott Cruikshanks also won a special award from Bin it to win it and received a ticket worth £50 to attend the Blackburn v Man United game in Blackburn.

Well done Bethany and Scott.

LAST week saw the presentation of the first round of the Royal Environmental Health Institute of Scotland certificates to pupils in third year who successfully completed the course and gained the certificate. The course is organised by Nan Walker our principal teacher of home economics and the ladies in the department.

Pupils in Arran, Craig and Cumbrae Houses will get their certificates at assembly after the October Holiday. Well done everyone.

STAFF and pupils wish Lillian McCleary, a fond farewell, as she has retired from the school on Friday, October 10, after being part of the catering staff for 30 years.