Prestwick Academy: 29 January 2009

Jan 30 2009

ON Wednesday, January 21, representatives from the Prestwick Academy Pupil Council delivered a presentation to a panel of judges hoping to secure funding to make improvements to the school. The judges – Parent Council member Margaret Thomson, DHT Shona Lauder and Lesley Kirkwood HMIe – were impressed by the high standard of the presentation and also the range of project ideas generated by the pupils. All class representatives asked their register class for ideas which would benefit everyone in the school, ensuring every pupil had their say. From a shortlist, the pupil council, made up of 68 students from S1-S6, voted for the top three. These were: Sports bibs in house colours for the Interhouse Challenges; funding towards TV screens in the foyer and dining hall, and assembly hall decorations and notice boards. The pupils were successful in their bids and will now order the equipment.

Well done to the presentation team and to the pupils for their ideas.

Presentation team: Rebecca Trayner, Calum Anderson, Nicole Scott, Allan Devlin, Linzi Noble, Suzanne White and Catriona Wilson (S6); Collette Baillie and Lindsay Mathers (S5); Shelley Candlish, Ross Dempster and Darren Middleton (S2); Andy Low and Shona Armour (S1).

THE SCHOOL welcomes student teachers Claire McGowan (home economics) and Graeme Peat (physics) to Prestwick Academy for an initial visit on Monday, January 26, followed by a six week teaching placement commencing on Monday, February 2.

A selection of senior pupils’ art and design work is currently on display in the Maclaurin Art Galleries. The exhibition will run until Saturday, February 21, and is open to the public Monday to Friday, 10am to 4.30pm.

CONGRATULATIONS to Wallace Graham, S2, who became west district indoor champion in two events last weekend at the Kelvin Hall, Glasgow. Wallace claimed gold in the 60m with a personal best time of 7.45 seconds in the final. He went on to win the 200m final with a time of 24.15 seconds after having achieved a personal best in the heats of 24.07 seconds.

Also on top form was Luis Douglas, S4, who achieved 3rd place in the British Figure Skating Championships in Nottingham.

AMY Hall and Gillian Graham have successfully qualified for the Scottish Schools Swimming Gala on Saturday, January 31, at Tollcross Leisure Centre in Glasgow.

HOCKEY training will commence on Wednesday, February 4, from 3.30pm to 4.30pm. The S1/2 team will have a game on Wednesday, February 18, at Kilwinning Academy.

First and second year gymnastics is still running on Mondays after school – 3.30pm to 4.30pm approximately.

Any S1/S2 girls (born on or after January 1, 1995) who are interested in representing the school at the Coca-Cola 7s tournament on Tuesday, February 3, please come and see Miss Murray in the PE department.

Rugby training will start up again for all year groups on Tuesday, January 27. Coaches from Ayr Rugby Club will be in school at 3.30pm.

Badminton club is now up and running on Fridays at lunchtime (1pm to 1.30pm) in the PE block. The next two Sunday league dates are Sunday, February 1, and Sunday, March 1.

ALL staff and pupils are invited to a family ceilidh in the school hall on Friday, January 30, at 7pm. Tickets are £5 and all proceeds go towards this year’s school show. Tickets can be purchased from the school office.

CALLING all S2 and S3 budding entrepreneurs. In February there is a business challenge called Make Your Mark with a Tenner. Pupils have to make as much money as possible from £10. If you think you have great ideas for making money and would like to put your them into practice, come along to business education room 1 to find out more.

ALL S2 pupils attended The Wall, a thought-provoking presentation delivered by the Tree Of Knowledge. The feedback from the pupils was excellent and the presenters commended the pupils on their behaviour and willingness to participate.