Garnock Academy
Parent Bulletin
No77
(June 2009)
End of Term events
The annual Prizegiving took place on the evening of Tuesday 9th June, when over 140 pupils received awards for excellence in a wide variety of achievements. Photographs of the event can be viewed on our school website. Congratulations to all our prizewinners – if they continue this obvious success into their future they will do exceptionally well.
The Next Generation concert took place in the School Hall on Monday 8th June and was very well attended by parents and friends. Pupils from P5 to S3 took part in a musical evening of singing, solo and group performing. The concert was a pleasure to watch, thanks to the music and instrumental staff who tutored and coached the pupils to performing standard.
Our S6 Graduation Ceremony (colloquially referred to by pupils as the “chucking oot do”) will take place at 4.30pm on Monday 22nd June in the Assembly Hall. This has proven to be one of the most popular activities we have introduced over the past two years, and is very enjoyable for all present.
The school Prom for S5/6 took place on the evening of Friday 19th June. A great many seniors and staff again enjoyed the school prom, held in the Marriot hotel in Glasgow. Even in a recession, no expense was be spared as our seniors arrived at this prestigious event.
Various excursions will take place over the last week, from visits to Alton Towers, cycling round Cumbrae, trips to Loudon Castle, etc., and a good time will hopefully be had by all participants.
On 22nd June pupils and staff involved in the Drama Department’s trip to London leave to visit various drama workshops and theatre productions. They will return late on Wednesday 24th June.
On 29th June pupils and staff involved in the Music Department’s trip to Italy leave to tour and perform in various venues. Particular thanks are due to those parents who have made tremendous efforts over the session to support this venture in many different ways.
The school will again host a talent competition for pupils, largely organised by pupils, when the “Garnock Eurovision Song Contest” hits the Assembly Hall on the afternoon of Monday 29th June. (Hold me back!)
l to r: Mr McGrattan, Stuart Houghton (DSM Community Award), Mr B McNaught, Jennifer Locke (Leadership and Citizenship Award), Mr J Hodgart.
Staffing Changes
There are a considerable number of staff retiring or moving on to new opportunities at the summer. Staff retiring are: Mr George Kerr (Principal Teacher of Guidance), Mr John Hodgart (Principal Teacher of English), Mr George McGrattan (Principal Teacher of Computing), Mr Frank Kane (Principal Teacher of Modern Languages), Mr Neil Henderson (Mathematics Department), Mr Les Scott (Biology Department), Ms Sheena Baird (Pupil Support Department), Ms Mary Mair (Modern Languages Department) and Ms Jean Stuart (Business Studies Department).
Staff also leaving at the summer are: Ms Maxine Katsaros (Pupil Support Department), Ms Lara Ingram (NQT Chemistry Department), Mr James Burns (NQT Chemistry Department), Mr Richard Nimmo (NQT PE Department), Ms Yvonne Andrews (NQT English Department), Mr Matthew Reid (NQT English Department), Mr Christopher Thomas (NQT Mathematics Department), Ms Fiona Cunningham (NQT Mathematics Department), Ms Heather Brown (NQT Art Department), Mr Charles Barron (English Department), Mr Christopher Neill (PE Department) and Ms Debbie Blackburn (Computing Department).
In addition Ms Judith Stirling (PE Department) and Ms Samantha McKie (Biology Department) will be on maternity leave after the summer.
(NQTs are “newly qualified teachers” who are placed in schools to complete one year of teaching for final GTC registration purposes.)Interviews have been taking place over the past few weeks to replace the staff leaving. I will give an update on this when the school restarts in August.
School Plan
Items on next session’s school plan will be:
Improving attainment in S4, S5 and S6
Implementing the requirements of the Curriculum for Excellence initiative
Improving Teaching and Learning using Critical Skills methodology
Improving Learning and Teaching using the GLOW initiative (this is an ICT development sponsored by the Scottish Government)
Any parent wishing more detail on these planned areas should contact Mr McNaught at school.P7 Showcase Evening
On the evening of Monday 18th May, pupils, staff and parents enjoyed a tour around departments to observe pupils taking part in activities within each department. In science, pupils demonstrated dissection of a sheep’s heart, in HE pupils demonstrated making cakes, in Computing pupils demonstrated video editing software, in PE pupils taught parents how to dance and in music bands and choirs demonstrated their performance skills. All departments were involved, and an interesting, and hopefully enjoyable time was experienced by all present. I would like to make particular thanks to our Parent Council members who devised the idea and assisted in the planning and financing of the night.
SQA Examinations and Results
The SQA period again seemed to flash past very quickly. My major worry was that some swine flu scare would interrupt the examination timetable, but fortunately this did not happen. Results are expected to be published on Wednesday 5th August, but students can avoid delays and access their results on-line if they register with the SQA on-line. To access the SQA website click here. We all hope that students achieve the high level of results they deserve.Free School Meals / Clothing Grants
Earlier in the term you should have received an application form for free school meals, and incidentally, a clothing and footwear grant application form. If you satisfy the criteria for these, then you are entitled to the benefits. Too many parents each year who do qualify for assistance, for whatever reason, do not apply for the benefits to which their children are entitled. Please consider this carefully. If you have lost your application form and would like another please phone or visit the school office (01505682685) for a replacement form.
For information, the school dining areas have a “healthy eating” programme for pupils to encourage eating for health. This is to be commended. Please try to encourage your son or daughter to participate in this.
Building Upgrades and Decoration
There is significant work in progress at present as contractors install new lifts to allow disabled access to all areas of the school. A new lift shaft is being built at the end of T-block, at the end of A-block and the service lift inside S-block is being upgraded to be able to be used by students and staff.
Additionally, the Mathematics link corridor and the main bottom corridor are being refurbished over the summer holidays.Important dates for next session 2009/2010
Pupils return on Monday 17th August 2009
Inservice days on Monday 21st and Tuesday 22nd September (pupil holidays)
October break: Monday 12th October to Friday 16th October
School reopens Monday 19th October
Inservice day on Thursday 12th November (pupil holiday)
School holiday on Friday 13th November and Monday 16th November
School closes for Christmas at 2.30pm on Tuesday 22nd December
School reopens on Wednesday 6th January 2010
School holiday on Monday 15th and Tuesday 16th February
Inservice day on Wednesday 17th February (pupil holiday)
School closes for Easter holiday at 2.30pm on Thursday 1st April
School reopens on Monday 19th April
Inservice day on Friday 30th April (pupil holiday)
School holiday on Monday 3rd May
School holiday on Friday 28th and Monday 31st May (NB SQA exams still on)
School closes on Tuesday 29th June at 1.00pm for summer holiday
Pupils return on Tuesday 17th August 2010
The school closes for summer at 1.00pm on Tuesday 30th June and reopens for pupils on Monday 17th August. We wish everyone involved in school a safe and enjoyable summer break.
Brian McNaught Rector June 2009
Garnock Academy
School Road
Kilbirnie
KA25 7AX5
Telephone:01505 682685
Email: contactus@garnock.n-ayrshire.sch.uk
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