Queen Margaret Academy: 22 January 2009

Jan 23 2009

STAFF and pupils have returned to school with renewed vigour. The pupils settled very quickly into their routine.

Fourth year are in the process of receiving their results following their prelims and it is important that parents and pupils take time to analyse these results and to use them as a guide to current performance and an aid to planning future performance.

There are approximately twelve teaching weeks left before pupils sit the actual examinations and pastoral staff and teaching staff will be discussing methods of improving performance with pupils.

Fifth and sixth year pupils are preparing for their prelims. This is a particularly stressful time for pupils but that extra effort, at this time of year, can have a crucial impact on examination performance.

It is important however that pupils have a balanced approach to work with some leisure time built in, and lots of early nights in order to make sure that brains are working efficiently.

ON Tuesday evening, a whole staff meeting was held to discuss advances in our improvement agenda. Discussion took place on a variety of topics including: Aspects of learning and teaching, self-evaluation, raising attainment through tracking and mentoring, ICT improvements and promoting positive behaviour.

Mrs Stafford shared with staff some vital information regarding pupils with particular support needs and she also gave a summary of the programmes which are planned to support those pupils who are most at risk of missing out on education.

PLANS are well under way for the Grand Talent Show which normally takes place right at the end of this term. Mr Campbell and his band of workers are already auditioning the talented pupils to ensure that the finalists will be the most talented of the pupils.

PLANS are well under way for the first big fundraising event of 2009. A ceilidh/mini Burns supper will be held in the school on Friday, February 20. This will be a real family event which will give everyone a taster of a traditional Burns supper. They will have a little bit of haggis, a little bit of speech making, a little bit of entertainment and a little bit of dancing, the latter being included just to keep them all active.

Tickets can be bought from the school. Letters will be sent out to parents. Everyone is welcome.

ON Wednesday, January 14, three senior pupils represented the school in the Rotary Youth Speak Competition. Allan Ward chaired the presentation from QMA; Gillian Thomson – the head girl – delivered a really interesting speech on the benefits of enjoying the Scottish countryside, and Grant Kelly – the head boy – delivered a vote of thanks.

Unfortunately they were knocked out of the competition, but the judges stated that the standard was very high and they were very complimentary regarding the presentation from the team.

ON Thursday, January 15, Miss Seery drove a minibus full of third year pupils to Glasgow for a concert in the Royal Concert Hall, which was part of Celtic Connections.

Well done to Miss Seery who organised this excursion at very short notice and well done to all those pupils who represented the school so well.

ON the first Wednesday of every month, the head teachers of Queen Margaret Academy Cluster meet in the Conference Room in Queen Margaret Academy. This is one of the most important meetings to take place in the school as it ensures good communication between all of the Catholic schools in South Ayrshire.

The particular focus is on providing all of our pupils with seamless transition on their journey through schools between the ages of 3 to 18 years of age. The liaison programme is well under way.

This will be a particularly important term during which pupil support staff from Queen Margaret Academy will meet regularly with staff and pupils from the associate primary schools in order to glean information about the new pupils who will join them in August.

This month’s meeting of the Cluster has been postponed by one week until Wednesday, January 21, because the normal meeting clashed with a meeting of head teachers which was called by the authority.

That meeting which focussed on Curriculum for Excellence was particularly interesting and it will inform the Cluster agenda.

SUSAN Doyle has joined the school as principal teacher of modern languages. The school is delighted to welcome her and already she is making a positive impression on the pupils. She sets high standards and offers excellent support to the pupils and to her staff.

A MEETING of the Pupil Council was held on Friday, January 16. Mrs Gray met with the group and she had an interesting discussion with the pupils regarding learning and teaching.

The pupils had strong opinions about how lessons should be conducted in order to make them stimulating and interesting. While no teachers’ names were mentioned, the pupils were articulate in giving their opinions on the skills and qualities which the most effective teachers have.

Mrs Gray was delighted to be told that pupils feel that relationships with staff in Queen Margaret Academy are very positive.

Class reps have been asked to discuss a variety of matter with their peers, including how the Pupil Council budget should be spent, and decisions will be taken very soon on this matter.

ON Thursday, January 22, the Parent Council will reconvene. Mrs Gray is looking forward to meeting with parents, staff and pupils and it is hoped that a new chairperson will be appointed to replace Martin Shevlin who, regrettably, resigned in December due to work commitments.

ENCOURAGING the pupils to be active is an important aspect of life in Queen Margaret Academy. Kirsty McKay, the Active Schools Coordinator, works very closely with Mrs Logan and the staff in the PE department to ensure that Queen Margaret Academy pupils have lots of opportunities to try out different sports.

On Monday evenings, a Badminton Club will be starting in Queen Margaret Academy after school. A student from Kilmarnock College, Alan Todd, will be supporting the pupils. It is hoped that as many young people as possible will take advantage of the coaching offered. Badminton is a really enjoyable sport. Anyone interested should contact staff in the PE Department.

On Fridays from 1.15pm to 1.45pm, a Cheerleading Club will begin in QMA.

Y Dance will be offered in QMA on Mondays from 4pm to 5pm.

Soccer One sessions will be resuming in the school on Tuesdays from 3.35pm to 4.45pm.

Any girl who is interested in soccer should consult with members of the PE department.

The following activities are being planned by PE staff and the Active Schools Co-ordinator: Fitness Leader Award, Jog Scotland, cricket, rollerblading, basketball, table tennis, Get Active Club.

MR Mann’s science class 1P3 have been microbes.

The following pupils excelled in their presentations, which were judged by their peers: Justin McQuillan, Connor Black, Marissa Nowosad, Phoebe McDowall and Declan Dunlop.

Mrs Gray will present excellence certificates to these pupils at assembly.

MRS Gray has been discussing with staff, her intention to introduce a system for promoting positive behaviour in schools by rewarding those pupils who always behave well and never get any reward for it.

Special assemblies will be held for those pupils, identified by teachers, who consistently behave well at all times. All but a very small minority of the pupils come into this category.

During these assemblies, pupils will be entertained by their peers who are particularly talented; certificates will be given to pupils and a prize draw will be held for those pupils who gain gold certificates for excellent behaviour.

Mrs Gray will be meeting with staff over the next few weeks to finalise plans and parents will receive a letter explaining exactly how it will operate.

STARTING in the last week in January, the renovations in the modern languages department, Behaviour Support Room and RE department will get under way.

All classrooms will have new ceiling tiles, new floors and cupboards, walls will be painted and the white boards and interactive boards will be re-positioned to better support learning and teaching.

A new study area for pupils will also be created, the toilet blocks will be renovated and storage space will be improved. The PE and Crush Hall will be painted.

ON Monday, January 19, Michael Pringle and Euan McCall of the Ayrshire Post came into the school to speak to a group of the pupils who are particularly interested in pursuing a career in journalism. During this meeting, pupils were given advice on how to enter the profession. Michael also explained to them exactly what are the negatives and positives associated with undertaking a career in journalism.

THE SCHOOL are most grateful, as always, to the members of the Gideon’s Bible Association who came to speak to the pupils about the Bible and how it can be a great support to people in their daily lives. Particular thanks must go to Laurence McLelland who is so supportive of the school.