Belmont Academy: 04 March 2009

Mar 6 2009

BELMONT Academy was very well represented by pupils at the Duke of Edinburgh annual awards ceremony held in the Concert Hall in Troon last week.

The evening began with Councillor Hywel Davies highlighting the strength of the award scheme in South Ayrshire.

After this Barry Fisher the Awards Director for Scotland presented certificates to young people drawn from Belmont Academy, Prestwick Academy, Marr College, Girvan Academy, Carrick Academy, Ayr Academy, Queen Margaret Academy and the Domain.

The successful Belmont pupils were: Bronze Award: Callum Aitkenhead, Stewart Beattie, Lewis Cater, Olivia Chanock, Cameron Chape, Nia Clark, Beth Clelland, Nicolle Courtney, Lucy Dale, Robbie Dickie, Lucy Farrell, Joanna Hughes, Iona Izat, Raechel McGinn, Paul McKellar, Gayle McKenna, Jodie McLauchlan, Caroline Mack, Abby Mulholland, Shona Norval, Alison Peacock, David Philpott, Wendy Pope, Andrew Rae, Charlotte Reid, Sarah Rodger, Ashley Ross, Laura Stewart, Ruth Swanson, Ross Wallace, Amy-Louise Watkin and Jack Wylie. Silver Award: Kieran Bowbeer, Emily Callan, Perran Cater, Helen Fraser, Callum George, Anna Gibb, Naomi Hanna, Calum Hill, Timothy Hunter, Silas McGilvray, Monique Mahadik, Amy Martin, Christopher Muir, Ryan Muir, Rachel Queen, Holly Souter, Rachel Venton and Yvonne Wiseman. Gold Award: Rebekah George, Douglas McLaren, Christopher Muir and Caroline White.

BELMONT Academy pupils - Joanna Wilson, Rebecca Shearing, Jessica Griffiths, Natasha Szmidt, Stephen Henderson, Nicholas Lynn, Craig Graham, Jamie McGregor and Calum George along with Peter Black and Lorna Hardie of the music department played a key role in the West Sound Sunday at Seven Concert which took place at Ayr Town Hall on Saturday, February 21.

Over four hundred people filled the ground floor of the Town Hall and enjoyed the evenings programme which will be broadcast on West Sound on Sunday, March 22.

A LARGE audience of parents and friends attended the Gourmet Night organised by the parent council and featuring demonstration cooking given by Executive Chef of the Murdoch Hospitality Craig Hogarth and Chief Chef at the Carrick Lodge Grier Collins.

With lamb, pork, halibut and langoustines and chocolate featuring on each course Craig and Grier worked through the preparation of each course - their work being appreciated by the audience in tastings at the end of each presentation. To compliment the food Michael Hamilton from the Blair explained his choice of wine which added to the overall enjoyment of the evening.

TWELVE second year pupils took part in the Fire Reach Course at Dreghorn Fire Station, Irvine for four days last week.

The course involves working with fire officers and develop team and personal strengths through a range of different activities.

SIXTEEN fifth and sixth year students studying French and German travelled to Heriot Watt University in Edinburgh to take part in the multi-lingual debate day.

The party led by Angelique Coudert of the modern languages department found the event enjoyable and challenging and a further route to develop their language skills

MEMBERS of the school's guidance team have been interviewing fourth year students in order to make their choices for the course they intend to take in fifth year.

Fifth and sixth year interviews are taking place this week.

Depute head teacher Steve Anderson has, along with subject principal teachers, produced an Option Choice form with additional subjects available in order to enhance pupil options and to provide greater curricular range and opportunity.

ORGANISED by the business studies department students studying Higher and Intermediate 2 Administration visited BAE Systems in Prestwick to find out more of their practices and procedures.

CONGRATULATIONS to the Belmont team of Keir Gilius, Sophie Kerr and Lindsay Morrison who successfully represented the school at the National final of the Rotary Youth Speak Competition held at Reid Kerr College in Glasgow. Nine teams took part and while the Belmont three were not the final winners Richard Pugh of the English Department reported that they spoke confidently and effectively.

MEMBERS of the Belmont Youth Parliament team were at County Buildings last week to record their entry for the national competition.

Led by Caroline Peacock and colleagues from the modern studies department, young parliamentarians spoke well, debated effectively and so produced an entry whicheveryone hopes will repeat the successof previous years.

ALL pupils in second year sat their Shrek essay under exam conditions last Friday.

Pupils had been preparing for this in their English periods prior to the assessment so that everyone had the opportunity to give of their best. Marking is now underway and results should be with the pupils very soon.

MEMBERS of the 999 Club, the charity which raises money to support extra curricular activities held their annual general meeting last week. At this Gillian Cunningham, the treasurer, reported on the current state of funds in the account and highlighted where money had been spent since the last AGM. Thanks were expressed to all parents and friends who continue to provide the financial support to extra curricular activities through their involvement in the club.

FOURTH year Standard Grade History Students had a different curricular experience when Natasha Ferguson of the archaeology department of Glasgow University spoke to them about battlefield archaeology.

The particular focus for the day was the battlefields of the First World War.

CONGRATULATIONS to the Under 13 football team who won a convincing victory against Cumnock Academy 6:1 with the scorers being Jason Filippi (3), Michael Ahern (2) and Andrew Murdoch (1).

IN a closely fought game the Belmont First XV were beaten 26:10 by Marr College last Wednesday.

WELL done to fourth year student Shannon Scott who has qualified for the Future Champions Trophy in Short Track Speed Skating.