Prestwick Academy: 12 February 2009

Feb 13 2009

PRESTWICK Academy welcomes post graduate student teachers Mrs McCowan (home economics), Mrs Hynd-Gaw (art and design), and Mr Peat (physics) for their second teaching placement which will run from Monday, February 2, to Thursday, March 12.

A GROUP of pupils attended Gailes Lodge for a presentation and launch of the Puberty and Me? DVD, in partnership with NHS Ayrshire and Arran Health Board and M Dick Productions. Pupils of Prestwick Academy received a certificate for participation in this sexual health DVD, aimed at 11 to 13-year-olds. The DVD won an award from WISH (Well-being in Sexual Health) for its innovative approach and has been nominated to be entered into the national Brooke award. The WISH trophy is currently on display in the school foyer before it is passed on to one of the other participating schools.

We would like to thank the following pupils involved for making it such an enjoyable occasion: Alistair Edmond (S5); Lindsey Mair, Kiera McCambridge, Cara Welsh and Craig Peck (S4); Heather Dunlop (S2); Ross McLeod, Lauchlan Tate, John Glass, Christie MacKay, Daniel Sim, Joe West, Jessica McNeil, Shona Armour and Linsay Bicker (S1).

A GROUP of five third year accounts and finance pupils had the opportunity to take part in the annual Stock Market Challenge, held in the Mitchell Library in Glasgow. They competed against 25 other schools from across central and south west Scotland, finishing in a very respectable seventh place.

The Prestwick Academy team – comprising Hazel Jamieson, Holly Thomson, Nicola Gibson, Lauren McCreath and Lynsey Stafford – started with £15,000, and at the end of five rounds of trading on the stock market had turned it into £39,000. The team had a great day and thoroughly enjoyed experience.

LAST week, over 100 S4 students experienced the world of work with a range of local companies and organisations, from joiners to vets and air traffic controllers to photographers. The students found their placements to be informative, rewarding and enjoyable. Thanks to Mrs Marr who manages the work experience programme.

WELL done to the curling team who have qualified for the Scottish Schools Curling Championships, which will be held at Ayr ice rink from Friday, March 13, to Sunday, March 15. The team – Nicholas Dodds, Lindsay Alexander, Ruaridh Park, Sandy Darroch and Gemma Ross – won their game against Stewarton Academy on Friday, which means both Prestwick and Loudon Academy will now go through to the finals from Ayrshire.

Calling all S3 and S4 girls! Prestwick Tennis Centre is offering a free sports and physical fitness programme on Thursdays from 4pm to 5pm. Some activities on offer include tennis, dance and body toning. The programme will run for the next 10 weeks, and if you attend eight out of 10 sessions then you will be offered one month’s free membership at the gym. Anyone interested must collect an enrolment form from the school reception or from PE.

THE DATES for the Interhouse Challenge football matches are: First year – Monday, February 23; second year – Tuesday, February 24; third year – Wednesday, February 25; fourth year – Thursday, February 26, and fifth and sixth year – Monday, March 2.

Any pupil who is interested in representing their house should collect an entry form from Mr Hubbard. Any girls who want to play in inter-house games should contact Mr Hubbard.

SIX S2 pupils are taking part in the Make Your Mark with a Tenner challenge, where they have to make as much money during February as possible with a starting fund of £10. Any profits made will be given to a cancer related charity. The pupils involved in the challenge – Steven Matheson, Wallace Graham, Mark Clelland, Andrew McIntyre, Chris Scott and Andrew McGarva, will be selling pens and pencils for a bargain price in the main foyer each interval and lunchtime to help all pupils be prepared for class.

Orchestra rehearsals take place every Wednesday morning at 8am in the assembly hall.

ARE you a former pupil from the last few years or a parent of a former pupil? Do you have any school textbooks still at home that could be used by our current students? If the answer is yes, then we would be grateful if textbooks could be returned to the school office.