Parent Newsletter

No58
(May 2005)

Accommodation Improvements
Two Science rooms were recently refurbished to a high standard. They were completed and handed over to the school on Monday 11th April. These rooms will improve the teaching environment for Science

Mr Scott, Mr Urquhart ,Mr Muir, Mr McNaught, and Mr Slaven.

SQA Exams
Standard Grade exams are now starting, with Practical Art taking place from 25th April onwards. The main diet of Standard Grades start next week on 3rd May, with Highers starting two weeks later. S4 pupils will be on study leave from 3rd May until 5th June, with S5/6 pupils being on study leave from 12th May to 5th June.
Pupils have been given SQA timetables, but if anyone is in any doubt about examination times, the SQA timetable can be viewed on our school website under the “Revision and Essential Study” link. Good luck to all who sit examinations over the next few weeks.

Staffing
Mrs S Denovan (Principal Teacher of Guidance) left the school at Easter to take up a Depute Head’s post at Stewarton Academy. Mrs A Kennedy (RE Department) left school at Easter to take up a post at St Andrew’s Academy.
Ms D Ross commenced work in the Mathematics department on 11th April and Mr J Auty commenced work as Principal Teacher Social Subjects (History, Classics & RE) on 18th April.
Mr C Lowe (Depute Head Teacher) will retire at the summer holiday and interviews for this Depute Head’s post will take place on 4th May.
Mrs L Walker will be an acting Depute Head and Mrs S Baird acting Principal Teacher of Pupil Support until the 24th June.
Learning Game
The Learning Game for S4 pupils took place on 11th and 12th April. It was well received by pupils. The staff delivering the programme commented favourably on the attitude of the S4 pupils who took part.

Primary Visits
Mr McNaught and several S1 pupils are visiting Primary 7 pupils in each associated Primary school to talk to pupils about transfer arrangements. This is part of an ongoing liaison programme over this term which includes the P7 Parents’ Evening on 16th May and the “Summer’s Cool” programme for new S1 pupils in August, just before the school restarts for the Autumn term.

Appropriate School Wear
You should have received a separate letter on the subject of improving the number of pupils wearing the recommended school dress code to school. Over the study leave period, when senior pupils are sitting examinations, teachers have more time to focus particularly on years S1, S2 and S3. We hope to use this time to concentrate on improving the wearing of appropriate school dress and improving positive pupil behaviour in classrooms.

Important Dates for the Remainder of the Session
Staff In-service Day: Friday 29th April 2005
May Day holiday: Monday 2nd May 2005
P7 Parents’ Evening: Monday 16th May 2005
May weekend: Friday 27th May and Monday 30th May 2005
School breaks up for Summer: 1pm on Wednesday 29th June 2005.

Young Enterprise
“Totally Yellow Chicken” is a company devised and run by S6 pupils, under guidance from staff (Mrs C. Pettigrew) and an industry adviser (Mr C. Fisher), under the national Young Enterprise scheme. The school has had considerable success with its Young Enterprise companies over the past seven years, and we are certain that this year’s company will also do well. The “Totally Yellow Chicken” team WON the Ayrshire finals of the Young Enterprise scheme against other schools from Ayrshire, in the Park Suite at Kilmarnock Football Ground on the evening of 27th April. They now take part in the Scottish final in June.

School Plan
The three main themes in the current school plan are:
Improving Results at Standard Grade by best utilising the time gained on the course by the earlier start at Christmas of S2.
Improving the quality of pupils’ written work.
Sustaining and improving good classroom practice, particularly through the use of “Promoting Positive Behaviour” and the Assertive Discipline programme
The complete plan can be viewed on “information for parents” on the school website. We are now writing next session’s plan. If you have any items which you feel should be considered for next session’s plan, please let me know.

Tesco Vouchers for Schools
Thanks to the parents and friends who have contributed to this scheme. Each year we have obtained ICT equipment for the school by saving these vouchers. Please keep donating them – they can be handed in to or sent to the school office at any time the school is open.

School Sports Activities
Pupils have been involved in a good number of Sporting events over the session. Some of these are outlined:
Girls’ Football: The girls’ under 15 team recently took part in a North Ayrshire girls’ football festival, winning all their games.

Football: The S1 team recently won their group in the regional round of the Coca Cola sevens tournament.
The S5/6 football team reached the Ayrshire cup quarter-final and won their match against Prestwick Academy. In the semi-final, with a slightly under-par team, they were just beaten by Ardrossan Academy.
The U16 team also reached the quarter final of the Ayrshire U16 cup and won their match against St Michael’s Academy. They are now through to the semi-final.
The S2 football team recently lost 2 –1 against Largs Academy, although the S1 team drew against Largs 3 –3. The S1 team also won their match against Auchenharvie Academy, 1 –0.

Rugby: After school rugby, under the guidance of North Ayrshire Leisure Rugby Development officer Ross Gillies, has become very popular. The S1/2 team attended a festival organised by North Ayrshire Leisure and succeeded in winning all their games.

Badminton: This has been taking place on Thursday lunchtimes for S1/2 boys and girls, and is very popular. Pupils have played matches against Largs Academy and Auchenharvie Academy, and won both matches. Two S1 pupils, Becky Cumming and Calum Hercus recently represented Ayrshire at U13 level in an invitation tournament in Edinburgh.

Athletics: Pupils are currently very busily involved on the athletics track and field events. The PE Department has this term introduced an “athlete of the week” award, which has so far been been presented to Calum Shaw and Rachel Kane.

Please note that the Physical Education staff will all be taking part in the CHAS ( Children’s Hospice Association Scotland) run for Charity on 12th June in Edinburgh. They are actively seeking sponsorship from pupils for this most worthy cause. We wish them every success.

School Music Activities
The school was well represented at the Ayr, Inverclyde and Glasgow music festivals in February and March. As previously stated, the Senior girls’ choir won the Renfrewshire challenge trophy at the Inverclyde music festival, and the Senior mixed choir won the prestigious Ranfurly trophy.
Sixty-six Garnock Academy pupils performed at the NAC Flagship concert on Friday 25th February in the Royal Concert Hall in Glasgow.
At the Ayr festival, the S2/3 choir won the Symington Challenge shield and the S1 choir won the McRae trophy. The Senior girls’ choir won the Templeburn Challenge trophy, the Sandyford Burns Club trophy and the Saltire award. The Senior mixed choir won the Ayrshire co-operative trophy and were invited to perform at the Festival’s Final Concert.
On 9th March, the Senior Concert band won the Open Class at the Glasgow festival. On the same day, Robert McLean, S5, won the North Ayrshire Young Musician of the Year award, performed in Vikingar In Largs. Amanda Ferguson was awarded the Ayr festival’s Beresford trophy for Under 18 vocal solo singing.
On 12th March the Senior windband won a Silver award at the National Windband Competition at the Royal Northern College of Music in Manchester.
On 19th March the Senior girls’ choir won the Saville cup for the best overall choral performance at the Ayr festival. Amanda Ferguson won the Howard Waldron Memorial trophy for the best overall vocal performance of the Ayr festival, and Suzanne Bush won the Ken Hetherington trophy for the best overall French Horn Performance of the festival.
Many other pupils performed very well as individuals in the above festivals, and in recent Associated Board music examinations – well done to all.

Brian McNaught Rector May 2005

Garnock Academy
School Road
Kilbirnie
KA25 7AX5
Telephone:01505 682685
Email: contactus@garnock.n-ayrshire.sch.uk

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