Queen Margaret Academy: 04 March 2009

Mar 6 2009

THE STAFF training day which took place on Tuesday, February 17 was led by the Learning and Teaching Committee.

The day began with staff being inducted into the enterprise activities undertaken by the XL group and then Mr Campbell and Mrs McMillan led the group in looking at good practice in teaching and learning.

THE VERY active Ecologists have great plans for making sure that we have a generous carbon footprint in QMA.

Miss Brewer of the maths department ordered a compost bin for the school and this has been sited in the garden.

Smaller bins will be placed in the staffroom, home economics and the Supported Learning Centre and paper will be collected from classrooms by a group of pupils working on a rota.

Mr Walker of Pupil Support has registered the school with the BBC's Breathing Spaces Scheme

KEVIN Mallon, principal teacher of guidance, will be working closely with the pupils council to give pupils a louder voice in the school. Working with Mr Ireland of the PE department and Mr Durnan of the geography department he is planning a variety of activities which will give pupils more power in decision making and which will encourage the pupils to help themselves and the school through fundraising and enterprise activities

THE ART department led by Mrs Parham and supported by Mrs Daly and Miss Smith have worked with the pupils to create some magnificent artistic mementoes of the Homecoming Year.

RENOVATIONS on the Crush Hall floor continue apace. The damaged concrete has now been drilled out and builders are now busy replacing and resurfacing the area. It will then be covered with flooring.

The modern languages classrooms should be ready for use in one week approximately. Currently the wiring is being completed and new ceilings are being put in place. During the next phase, work will move to the Religious Education classrooms and the XL room.

THE TRIP to Newmilns was a great success with forty of our pupils enjoying the thrills and spills of the dry ski slopes.

Everyone had a great time and Mrs Logan reports that within no time at all even the beginners were whizzing down the slopes like true professionals.

DURING the Inset Day our support staff undertook training in GLOW. They are now inducted into the mysteries of those aspects of GLOW to which the administrators must have access and expertise, to ensure the effective running of the school.

ON Mondays and Wednesdays four pupils, Gemma Davidson, Lisa Tosh Isobel McCreadie and Ashley Perez go along to the college to learn about the world of fashion.

On Mondays and Fridays groups of youngsters enjoy having their dramatic and artistic skills developed by college staff.

SLC pupils are working hard to prepare for their spring fayre.

ON Thursdays, after school, Scott Agnew from Ayr United Football Club, comes along to coach the boys and girls in improving their skills on the pitch.

THE SCHOOL’S Classroom Assistants have undertaken training in first aid, in order to support the pupils who present with illnesses or injuries.

ON Monday, February 23, pupils who had completed their bronze, silver or gold certificates in the Duke of Edinburgh's Awards Scheme were presented with their awards in Troon Concert Hall.

Mrs Gray is anxious to pass on her thanks, in particular, to Mr Bruce Harris, Mr Vincent McWhirter of the Duke of Edinburgh's Awards Scheme and Mr Gary Devlin and Mrs Corinne Barr, and other staff member who have supported the pupils in their endeavours.

THIRD year pupils will be involved in expedition training on Friday of this week. During this session they will be given training in camping skills including how to erect a tent, camp cooking and navigation.

WEDNESDAY, February 25 marked the beginning of Lenten preparations. Father Stephen McGrattan, school chaplain, issued ashes to pupils and staff.

MISS Seery and members of the Work Experience Committee are working hard to support the pupils as they prepare for their work experience which is planned for the week beginning Monday, May 18.

THE ENGLISH department have supported our pupils in preparing CVs. of the workplace.

NICK Parkin, the celebrated author, is visiting the school this week to work with first year pupils to improve their creative writing skills. In March Des Dillon will work with fourth year pupils.

QMA's badminton enthusiasts continue to meet after school on Monday evenings.

GIRL’S football training is available on Mondays after school.

RUGBY training has started up again on Wednesdays after school. Mr McGugan has promised to give an update on the skills of the teams.

AN afterschool basketball club is starting up this week in QMA on Thursday evenings.

THE FAIRWAY Forward Golf Initiative is looking for three pupils from each secondary school to take part in a golf tournament. Pupils must have an SGU handicap, or already have taken part in the Fairway Forward Initiative. Interested pupils should contact Mrs Logan or Mrs McKay.

SARAH Cassells has been invited by the Scottish Schools' Athletic Association, following her recent performance at the Indoor Track and Field Championships, for a coaching day at Pitreavie Stadium on Sunday, March 15. The focus for the day will be in middle distance running.