Kyle Academy: 18 February 2009

Feb 20 2009

CONGRATULATIONS to fourth year pupil Rachel Hunter who came third in the under 16 shot putt at the Scottish Schools Indoor Championships at the Kelvin Hall on Thursday, February 5, with a throw off 10.14m. Impressive again Rachel.

THANK you to all parents and friends of the school who attended the annual Kyle Parents’ Association Burns Supper on Friday, February 6. The evening was a success with some excellent speakers and performances by our pupils.

Sheriff Morag Galbraith proposed the toast to the Immortal Memory of Robert Burns. As an Ayrshire lass now living in Glasgow, Morag reflected appropriately on Burns’ take on hame, family and friends. Robert Bartholomew, depute head teacher, proposed the Toast to the Lassies and provided lots of entertainment for the assembled crowd. Sandra McCallum, previously head of English at Kyle Academy, provided a suitably robust and entertaining reply on behalf of the lassies. Ian Stirling, convenor of the parent council, proposed the vote of thanks. Keith Paul of the geography department made his debut by proposing the toast to the haggis, and Castlehill minister Mrs Crumlish led the company in the Selkirk Grace.

Pupil performers included first year trio Emma Boom and Rachel and Sarah McCourt, who sang their own, unaccompanied arrangement of My Love is Like a Red, Red Rose and Ye Banks and Braes. Senior pupil Melanie Stobie sang John Anderson My Jo and girls of the senior choir performed Caledonia. Rosie Eggo had feet tapping with her fiddle medley and sisters Megan and Katrina Baird performed two difficult Scottish dances. Second year pupil James Harper piped in top table guests as well as the haggis to an appreciative audience. The audience clearly enjoyed the quality and charm of the performances.

Special thanks to Mr Jarvie, depute head teacher, who worked closely with the Parents’ Association to organise the event, and to committee members Mrs Conroy, Mrs Harkness, Mrs Kerr and Mrs McCulloch who helped to dress the hall. Thanks also to Mrs Cravens who supported the pupil performers in their preparations and to Mr Campbell, head of music, who led the community singing. Cook Lesley Quinn and her team again provided an impressive four-course meal at a budget price.

FIRST year science CSI Conference: First year pupils took part in an exciting event organised on our behalf by Strathclyde University in recent weeks, when they learned about forensics through a day of simulated activities. Pupils enjoyed the event and learned a great deal in the process.

DUE to popular demand, PC Munn has organised yet another football extravaganza for pupils. They attended the Preston North End vs Ipswich Town match on Saturday, February 28. Pupils received coaching from the professionals as well as seeing the game. They will be off again on Saturday, March 14, to watch Bolton Wanderers play Fulham. Pupils will receive coaching, free entry to the Junior Whites Club and face painting.

To improve the range of diversionary activities at lunchtime, PC Munn has also purchased some portable sets of football goals for use in the campus. He has set up our first junior school mixed gender football team who had their first training session with Ayr United coaches on Tuesday, February 3. This opportunity is open to any pupil who may want to receive coaching and take part in some friendly games against other schools. He is also seeking pupil support to conduct litter picks in the playground at lunchtimes. These activities are in addition to his formal duties in school, which include delivery of personal and social education and the Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme. PC Munn has kindly agreed to extend the opportunity to all pupils to take part in the Duke of Edinburgh Award scheme next session.

PLANS are now well underway for this year’s Big Day Out – a reward for pupils who work well and cooperate with others, as well as an opportunity to try out a new healthy leisure activity. Miss Wilson and the Student Sports Council have been working very hard to create an extensive list of activities for pupils and staff. Pupils have been making their selections to allow the team to put final arrangements in place. It is no small undertaking to take the whole school out for a day. The event will take place on Thursday, June 25.

YOU may recall that the first cohort of second year pupils to be fast-tracked to Standard Grade mathematics all achieved the top credit award at Standard Grade in third year, two years ago. These young people have since been working very hard with Mr Anderson to achieve a good quality Higher pass in fifth year. The group have just completed their prelim examination. Everyone wishes them well when the results come through.

Best wishes also to fifth and sixth year pupils as they too await the results of prelims.

CRAFTY Cards have been hard at work in recent weeks producing custom made, personalised Valentine cards for our pupils. The funds raised will go to the Street Children of Peru.

A NEW basketball club has been established by Mr McKenna of the mathematics department. This takes place on a Friday and any pupil is welcome to attend.

PUPILS in fourth, fifth and sixth year will receive a booklet entitled Your Coursework this week, which provides information relating to projects, folios and essays. All pupils and parents should read the guidelines carefully and follow the advice provided closely.

PUPILS in the junior school who hold a current Activities Passport are invited to take part in a visit to the dry ski slope on Tuesday, March 31, as a reward for good behaviour. Places on this particular trip are limited and will be allocated on a first come, first served basis.

PARENTS and friends of the school are warmly invited to join members of the Kyle Parents’ Association for our popular annual wine tasting evening on Friday, March 20. School staff who will be making presentations on their chosen bottle of wine include Mr McKenna of the mathematics department; Mr Sargent, classroom assistant; and PC Munn, who will of course be off duty at the time! You will have the opportunity to taste six different wines, take part in our caption competition and enjoy a buffet provided by committee members. Tickets cost £10 again this session and are available from the school office. Why not get together with a group of friends and come along for a fun evening. You will help to raise valuable funds for the school in the process.

SCHOOL chaplains met with the head teacher this week to review arrangements for religious observance in the school and discuss new ways to promote the spiritual development of our school community and embed our shared values in the life of the school. The team will meet again with the aim to have revised proposals in place for August 2009.

EX PUPIL Susan Helps will be visiting the school again this week to provide alternative therapies for staff. The initiative was established by Mrs Reilly as part of her work to achieve the Healthy Working Lives Award for the school. The sessions have been very popular with hard working staff.

SIXTH year pupils, student councils and staff had their photographs taken this week. Over 90 staff posed together to create another historic record for the school. Sixth year pupils had their formal group photograph taken as well as their informal photograph, which allows our senior pupils to indulge their eccentricities! These will be available for sale soon.

WORK began on a range of refurbishment projects on Monday, February 9. This includes a full refurbishment of female toilets, a disabled toilet, boys’ and girls’ changing rooms in PE and the extension of an ICT suite. Good progress has been made.

DATES for your diary: Tuesday, February 24 – Meeting of the Parent Council, 7pm; Monday, March 2 – Week 2 of fourth year work experience begins; Friday, March 20 – Kyle Parents Association Wine Tasting; Monday, March 23 – S1 pupils depart for a week of outward bound activities; Tuesday, March 24 – Primary Netball Festival.