Parent Newsletter
School Show
The school show is being performed by pupils on Tuesday 22nd and Wednesday 23rd June. This year the show consists of excerpts from “Joseph”, “Blood Brothers” and “Guys & Dolls”. This promises to be one of the best school shows yet, judging by rehearsals, the enthusiasm and talent of those involved.
Prizegiving
The annual prizegiving took place on the evening of Tuesday 15th June. Over 120 pupils were presented with awards, which were earned through high levels of performance in subjects, sports and other activities. Photographs of the presentations can be viewed at our school website at www.garnockacademy.org The prizes were presented by Mr and Mrs Taylor. Mr Taylor retires at the summer after 33 years association with the school in a variety of posts from Principal Teacher of History to Depute Headteacher.
School Plan
The school plan for next year has been finalised. The complete plan can be viewed on our school website, under Information for Parents. The main themes of the plan are improving attainment at Standard Grade, improving the quality of pupils’ classwork and continuing our Assertive Discipline programme.
School Board
As usual, the School Board has contributed greatly to the running of the school over the session by representing parents’ views, assisting with staff appointments, awarding the Citizenship and Leadership award and generally arguing for the school in discussions with the Local Authority, etc. The Board has also managed the school Educational Trust very well, contributing a significant amount of extremely useful resources to teaching departments over the session. This work is valued greatly, and I would like to thank all School Board members for their work over the year.
Change of Time of School Day
Please note that after the summer holiday there will be a slight alteration to the school day, as indicated earlier in the session. Times will be as follows:
Start of school 9.00am
Important Dates for Next Session
Work over the Summer holiday
Whilst the summer holiday is a “holiday”, any pupil who wishes to spend some time thinking about school work will find a considerable amount of useful material on the school website under “revision and essential study”. This may take up an hour or two on a wet afternoon.
Activities Day
Wednesday 23rd June is Activity Day for pupils. This year we have trips going to Edinburgh Castle and the Dynamic Earth centre, a cycle trip going from school along the cycle path from Kilbirnie to Kilmacolm, a trip to Strathclyde Park, a trip to Edinburgh zoo, a trip to Loudon Castle theme park, a trip to Glasgow, a Golf outing to Kilbirnie Golf Course, a trip to Lochwinnoch outdoor centre, and a trip to Dundee. These trips are used as a reward to pupils who have done well over the year, particularly with regard to their behaviour. All parents who have a pupil on one of these trips should have signed a Parental Consent form giving details of return times etc. We also have a number of pupils away all week at Arran outdoor centre, taking part in activities towards the Duke of Edinburgh award scheme.
Inter house competitions
Competitions will take place on Tuesday 22nd June in football and basketball. Houses teams will compete for points towards the winning house, which will receive the Inter-House shield.
New Generation Concert
This took place in the School Hall on Sunday on the evening of Sunday13th June and was very well attended. Pupils from P5 to S3 took part in a musical evening of singing, solo and group performing. The concert was a pleasure to watch, and thanks have to go to the music and instrumental staff who tutored and coached the pupils to performing standard.
Senior School Prom
The Senior Prom for S5/6 pupils took place at the Lauriston in Ardrossan on the evening of 18th June. Stretch Limos, evening gowns and Highland dress were the order of the evening as 99 senior pupils enjoyed a beautiful meal followed by a ceilidh. This was a most enjoyable night, and again photographs can be viewed on our school website. Thanks must go to the staff who organise and attend this event, notably Mr Merrick whose untiring efforts go towards making the eveing a great success.
Retiring Staff
Several staff retire at the summer. Mr Taylor, Depute Head Teacher, Mr Innes, Principal Teacher of Physical Education and Mr McLeod, Principal Teacher of Technical all retire at the summer holiday after many years of excellent service to the school, and we thank them for all their hard work.
Mrs Bryan (Art Department), Ms Pesci (Modern Languages Department), Ms Ross (Mathematics Department) and Mr Dempster (Mathematics Department) also leave the school at the summer. We wish them every success in the future and thank them for their valuable work in Garnock Academy.
Appropriate School Wear
We have been making determined efforts to impress on pupils that appropriate school wear is important to us. We look forward to seeing all pupils appropriately dressed for school according to the school dress after the summer. The attached leaflet explains what the school dress code is.
Police 8 a side competition
A Garnock Valley community football event was organised by the Community Police officers on the school Astra pitch on Friday 18th June. Sixteen eight a side teams from our Associated Primary school and Garnock’s S1, took place under the assumed names of Portugal, Scotland, Greece, Germany, France, and so on. After some very close matches, the final came down to England against Germany. (Shades of 1966?) After a good match in which England scored a very controversial third goal, the England “team” won convincingly.
All participants were presented with a goody bag containing, amongst other items, a full size leather football, and there were silver and gold medals for the runners up and winners respectively.
This was a really enjoyable day for the pupils involved and we would like to thank the police officers, particularly PC Patterson, who made the day run so well.
Building Works
Work to construct a new road into the Valley Arc, housed in the former S & R wing of Garnock Academy, is well underway. This will allow traffic to and from the Valley Arc to enter via Dunning’s Lane without passing through the school playground. Work to increase the amount of car parking space for visitors to the school, adjacent to the bus park, is also well under way.
The scaffolding which had become a permanent feature around T-block whilst new windows were being fitted, has now been removed. The new Astra turf pitch is in daily use, and the newly refurbished computer suite is complete, apart from its new computers. Hopefully these will be delivered and installed before the new term starts in August. (STOP THE PRESS the computers arrived on 24th June)
Brian McNaught Rector June 2004Garnock Academy
School Road
Kilbirnie
KA25 7AX5
Telephone:01505 682685
Email: school@garnock.n-ayrshire.sch.uk
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