Doon Academy: 29 January 2009

Jan 30 2009

DOON Academy’s Burns Supper will be held on Thursday, February 12, from 7pm. The evening promises to be another outstanding success with the Immortal Memory presented by Kyle McCormick and recitations from our Burns competition winner, Lauren Shaw, runner up Fiona Kennedy and mathematics teacher Bryce Wilson. Tickets, priced £5, are available from Mrs Cassidy 01292 550521.

CONGRATULATIONS to former pupil Pamela Feggans who has qualified, in Murcia Spain, for the Women’s European Golf Tour. Staff and pupils at the school wish Pamela every success on the golf circuit.

IN English, S3 pupils taking part in Literature Circles have been choosing the books for their group reading. The pupils used book review sites to help them make their decision. The discussion directors have selected their group and are busy allocating team roles. Literature Circles are a fun way of encouraging pupils to read and discuss books.

DOON Academy’s BBC School News reporters have been invited in February to the Scottish Parliament to interview local MSP Cathy Jamieson. The reporters will be meeting Ms Jamieson and having a behind the scenes tour of the parliament building.

THE CITIZENSHIP programme has begun with a new group of S3 boys. Fourteen boys will be working after school every Thursday, for 10 weeks, on various activities including healthy eating topics, engineering with the college engineers, and sports. Good Luck boys!

IN PE, the netball season has begun and Doon’s first game is on Monday, February 23, against Ardrossan Academy.

THE LATEST challenge undertaken by third year Doon Academy students in the Motor Vehicle and Fabrication Department is a complete overhaul of two mini-motorbikes. The purpose of this task is for the students to understand the basic operating principles of automotive technology. The students will remove the engines, brakes, steering and wheels of the bikes until there is only the frame. They will then carry out basic fabrication repairs, paint the frame and then rebuild. It is hoped upon completion the bikes will be tested by our very own Stig (Tom Bone).

THE SCHOOL’S Eco group, chaired by Mrs Elder, will be holding a Rag Bag collection to raise funds by recycling old or unwanted clothing and shoes. Any items of clean dry clothing or other textiles may be brought to the social subjects department.

S1 to S3 Mentor Groups have begun discussing fundraising ideas to gain funds to provide meals for Malawian school children. These ideas will be developed into a programme of activities in the school. All the funds raised will go to the charity Scottish International Relief.

IN the art department, auditions will shortly be held for models for the fashion show. Lesley Baird, the president of the Burns Club, will be judging the Burns design competition and the winning design will be on the front of the Burns Supper programme.

In the Coalfield Art Competition, congratulations to first place Larissa Stirling, second place Natasha Allison, and third place Cameron McCrorie.

FOR the East Ayrshire Spring Read we are delighted that two authors, K M Grant and Catherine McPhail, will be visiting the authority to discuss their work and give pupils tips on how to improve their writing skills.

The senior pupils have begun their prelims and we wish them all the best of luck.

Natalie Millar and Michael McDicken