Girvan Academy Parents’ Newsletter 2009/10 Issue 8 February 2010 As you read this newsletter, you will see that there is a lot going on in the Academy, including the events before Christmas. Girvan‘s ‗G‘ Factor and the Christmas dances seem like a distant memory. We have entered a new decade and the staff and pupils are looking forward to the future. Thinking of our ambitions, for the future, was the focus for our recently held House Assemblies. We have 5 values which underpin all our work in the Academy, these being: Honesty Trust Respect Responsibility and Ambition I have always been struck by the high level of respect that is prevalent in the Academy, and visitors to the school agree. Creating and developing high levels of ambition is perhaps more challenging. With unemployment increasing in the KA26 area, incomes going down, and the community fighting to save amenities, believing that you can make a difference in the future is not easy. For young people to succeed, they need to believe they can make a difference. The Colombian Government certainly believes the young people in Girvan Academy can make a difference, with respect to drug use in Scotland and the effects of drug trafficking worldwide. Girvan Academy‘s involvement in the Colombian Governments Shared Responsibility project gets recognition on Sunday 14th February at 10.25pm on BBC1 in a documentary on Cocaine use in Scotland. A group of our young people feature in the programme for several minutes. In addition, the Colombian Ambassador intends to visit the Academy on February 24 th . As you can imagine, this is a very high profile visit for the Academy, and an honour that the efforts of young people are recognised at a national and indeed international level. Lastly, if you are a parent/guardian of a pupil in 1 st or 2 nd year, we would like to meet with you as part of a parent focus group. If you are willing to be contacted please complete the tear off slip at the back of this newsletter and return it direct to the school or via your child to their registration teacher. Regards Allan Rattray Head Teacher View our newsletter in colour by visiting our school website www.girvanacademy.sayr.sch.uk
Transcript
Gir van Academy
Parents’ Newsletter
2009/10 Issue 8
February 2010
As you read this newsletter, you will see that there is a lot going on in the Academy,
including the events before Christmas. Girvan‘s ‗G‘ Factor and the Christmas dances seem like a distant memory. We have entered a new decade and the staff and pupils are looking
forward to the future. Thinking of our ambitions, for the future, was the focus for our
recently held House Assemblies. We have 5 values which underpin all our work in the
Academy, these being:
Honesty
Trust Respect
Responsibility and
Ambition
I have always been struck by the high level of respect that is prevalent in the Academy, and
visitors to the school agree. Creating and developing high levels of ambition is perhaps
more challenging. With unemployment increasing in the KA26 area, incomes going down,
and the community fighting to save amenities, believing that you can make a difference in the future is not easy. For young people to succeed, they need to believe they can make a
difference.
The Colombian Government certainly believes the young people in Girvan Academy can
make a difference, with respect to drug use in Scotland and the effects of drug trafficking
worldwide. Girvan Academy‘s involvement in the Colombian Governments Shared
Responsibility project gets recognition on Sunday 14th February at 10.25pm on BBC1 in a documentary on Cocaine use in Scotland. A group of our young people feature in the
programme for several minutes.
In addition, the Colombian Ambassador intends to visit the Academy on February 24th. As
you can imagine, this is a very high profile visit for the Academy, and an honour that the
efforts of young people are recognised at a national and indeed international level.
Lastly, if you are a parent/guardian of a pupil in 1st or 2nd year, we would like to meet with
you as part of a parent focus group. If you are willing to be contacted please complete the
tear off slip at the back of this newsletter and return it direct to the school or via your child to their registration teacher.
Regards Allan Rattray
Head Teacher
View our newsletter in colour by visiting our school website
www.girvanacademy.sayr.sch.uk
Parents’ Newsletter Page 2
Child Protection
The first week in February is Internet Safety Week and a number of events have
taken place to raise pupil awareness of possible risks associated with internet use.
The activities focus on the risks of paedophile contact on social networking sites such
as Bebo, while recognising this rarely occurs.
On 3rd February 2010, a group of S6 pupils delivered an exciting presentation to all S1 pupils. Natalie Cameron, Kieran Farrell and Stephen Scholes gave considerable
time to being trained and confidently worked with S1 pupils. In addition, all S2, S3
and S4 PSE classes participated in a ―themed‖ Assembly, followed by activities in the
PSE class, aiming to consolidate work completed in junior years.
All the materials in use are available for parents to view at Open Night. Parents are
welcome to contact Mrs Rattray at any time if they wish to view these resources.
2010 sees the
C o m m u n i t y I n v o l v e m e n t
group continue to
provide a service
within the Girvan area. A number
of students are
actively involved in local Primaries
and Nursery
schools together with Invergarven
and Ainslie Manor
where they take
on a support role in these establishments. This not
only provides them with a worthwhile
experience but may also be useful in their intended careers and helps to
improve links within the local
community.
Other students are involved in activities
within Girvan Academy where they provide invaluable assistance as peer
tutors. One member of staff commented
on the quality of help provided and how
the student was able to show initiative in taking forward her own ideas within the
classroom context.
Members of the Community Involvement
class also take on the responsibility for
news gathering and reporting in the local
papers as well as providing an important
service to the visually impaired. The
‗Tapes for the Blind‘ service has been
provided by Girvan Academy for
approximately 20 years with regular
listeners being grateful to catch up on
local news. The course allows students
to develop inter-personal skills which will
be important for the future.
Community Involvement
Parents’ Newsletter Page 3
S3 College Course
Every Tuesday afternoon, a
group of Girvan Academy 3rd
Year pupils travel to Carrick Academy to participate in a
Construction Crafts Course. This
is delivered by Ayr College
Lecturers.
Girvan Academy students have
already passed units on Basic
Building (half-brick walling) and
Introduction to Plumbing (using plastic and copper pipes).
They are now starting the third unit: Decorative Painting and
Decorating Techniques.
The experience of working in
Construction Crafts gives our
students a real taste of the world
of work.
Parents’ Newsletter Page 4
BULLY BUSTERS
Girvan Academy places high importance with regard to the
prevention of bullying behaviour within our school. Our Anti Bullying policy aims to address all issues related to
bullying and highlight the excellent work done in Girvan
Academy to prevent bullying.
In order to raise the profile of the importance of bullying and the impact it can have on our
school community the 6th year are currently responsible for the ―bully busters‖ initiative.
This initiative involves the 6th years being spread throughout the school both at break and
lunch with the sole purpose of helping to prevent any bullying situations which may arise. It
is hoped that this will provide a happy and safe environment for all our pupils at Girvan
Academy. The pupils should know that if they have any questions or concerns they should
not hesitate to approach the ―bully busters‖ at break or lunch. They will be easily identified
by their bright orange bibs!!!
Working in a Business Enterprise – Girvan Academy Gifts
A group of S5/6 pupils are working hard
towards setting up a small business
enterprise within Girvan Academy. The pupils are undertaking an Access 3
Business Studies course this year and as
part of this they look into how a business
enterprise would be set up and operate.
In order to bring the Working in a Business Enterprise unit to life the pupils
chose to set up a business called ‗Girvan
Academy Gifts‘ , which is initially selling
beautifully presented mugs and champagne flutes filled with quality
chocolates for Valentine‘s Day and Easter.
The pupils are in the process of
transferring graphics onto the mugs with
various designs, and they will soon be offered for sale in the school. The Idea of
using Lazertran graphics came to the
pupils as they have been working at Ayr
College South, Girvan on creating graphics and transferring them onto
T-shirts. The pupils have recently being
using the skills that they have acquired
during this college course to add graphics to the school‘s ‗Bully Busters‘ bibs which
are worn by selected S6 pupils at
intervals to help avert incidents of
bullying within the school.
As part of this course the pupils have:
carried out market research; created a
business logo and advertising posters; allocated jobs based on individual talents
and skills; researched how to get start up
funding; held meetings with Agendas and
Minutes and kept records of income and expenditure, in the hope of making a
profit.
Bringing this Business Studies Unit into a
real life context has benefited the pupils
immensely and has made them aware that they have to be able to adapt their
planning and tackle problems and
difficulties as they arise.
It is hoped that the pupils will be able to
offer the Easter Gifts for sale within the
community and they will start their advertising campaign in March.
Parents’ Newsletter Page 5
We are also heading off
to Murrayfield on
7th February and 13th March to watch
Scotland in the
6 Nations!
RUGBY UPDATE
Rugby training has again started up on Monday after school from 3:20 till
5pm. All newcomers are welcome. The girls rugby team now have their own
kit and many pupils now have their own personalised tops. The girls rugby
team will have their first game of 2009/10 season soon so hopefully we will have lots of girls at training on Mondays to prepare for this game.
Our U15 team are currently sitting top of the U15 Ayrshire league but have played more games than the other teams and our U18 team are sitting on top
of their development league and are looking good for the title. We also have
the Ayrshire 7‘s tournaments coming up. Girvan have a good reputation in
these tournaments having reached the semi finals five times and we will be
hoping to fare better this year.
School Golf
Golfers should be cleaning their clubs and preparing themselves mentally and physi-
cally for the start of the school golf season. The following events will be held:
School Golf Championship
South Ayrshire Schools‘ Golf Championship
The Missing Links Trophy
Staff v Pupils Green Jacket Match
Dates of events to be confirmed.
Parents’ Newsletter Page 6
Award- Winning Girvan Academy on TV
As part of the Shared Responsibility Project
that has been running in Girvan Academy,
two of our award-winning pupils, Stephen
Scholes and Marianne Logan along with Mr
Rattray were invited to attend a preview of
a forthcoming documentary ―Avalanche‖
which features the Shared Responsibility
Team and their unique link-up with the Vice
President of Colombia. The programme will
be broadcast on Sunday 14th February at
10.25pm on BBC1 Scotland and high-
lights the issues associated with cocaine,
from not only a Scottish but an international
perspective. The programme features the
work undertaken within Girvan Academy
and will precede the visit of the Colombian
Ambassador to the UK, who will visit the
Academy this month to give a talk about his
country and to view the work of our pupils
around the issue of Shared Responsibility.
Burns Bairns
Burns Bairns continue to entertain hundreds of people, events so far in 2010 have
been as follows:
12th January Probus Club
25th January Crosshill Burns Supper
Adult Training Centre
Sacred Heart Primary School
28th January South Ayrshire Burns Supper, County Buildings
Future dates are:
24th February Columbian Visit
13th February Barr Community Association Burns Supper
26th February Alloway Village Hall event
Sweden 2010
During September 2009, a group of senior students from Girvan Academy
hosted an international event at the
Dolphin House at Culzean Country Park.
The theme was ―Fair Trade‖ and involved the students working together to find out
more about ―Fair Trade‖. This is the
fourth year of Girvan Academy hosting
the event and strong links have been formed with our partners from Karlskoga
in Sweden.
A group of senior students have been
invited to a return visit to Karlskoga
during Easter Holiday 2010. The theme
for the visit is ―Sex, Drugs and Rock & Roll‖. Students will work together to
explore the difference in their respective
communities and in the attitudes of
young people to Drug Use and Sexual Behaviour. Their leisure time will include
a shared enjoyment of Music (―Rock &
Roll‖).
Parents’ Newsletter Page 7
SFL Trip to Dobbies
The S2 Gardening Class wrote a letter to Dobbies asking them for advice on what
plants they could use to create wonderful gardens around the school grounds. The
manager at Dobbies quickly replied inviting the class to the store to meet some of
their experts.
Six members of the S2 Gardening Class visited Dobbies Garden World in Ayr and
were given a demonstration on how to plant different types of plants, seeds and bulbs and were given lots of information and advice about the types of plants they
are planning to use around the school.
The manager at Dobbies kindly donated several shrubs and bushes, three bags of
compost and a Weeping Cherry Tree for the Gardening Class to plant around the
school.
Parents’ Newsletter Page 8
Science Department
Focus on attainment
All S3-6 science pupils are facing a time of examinations over the next few months.
The Science staff are expecting all pupils to be working hard in class and at home to allow them to achieve their full potential in these exams.
The Science staff will support pupils by
Providing extra materials for revision as required Providing out of class support at an agreed suitable time, when individual pupils
request this.
Staff organise for assessed practical work to be completed at lunchtime when a pupil has missed this work through absence. It is vital that pupils ensure they turn up for
this extra help and support, as staff give up their own lunchtime to provide these
opportunities.
Examination Dates
S5/6 Prelims Starting 17/2/10 and final examinations starting 11/5/10
S3 exams starting 20/04/10 S4 final examinations starting 27/4/10
Parents/Guardians can support by Encouraging pupils to study at home on a regular basis (2-3 times a week for 30 min).
Encouraging pupils to use the SQA website to access past papers to use for exam
Encouraging pupils to use revision books and success guides in an active manner, not
simply reading them.
Encouraging pupils to make use of the extra support provided by the department.
Pupils must take on the responsibility of ensuring they are preparing themselves
as well as they can for these very important examinations.
The Science department wish all their pupils the very best for these examinations and look
forward to celebrating the success of the pupils.
‗Pimp’ my trolley
Girvan Academy Physics staff and pupils have been working in partnership with Road Safety Scotland to raise the awareness of car safety. The project entitled ‗Pimp my trolley‘ involved
designing a crumple zone for a vehicle and testing the effectiveness of the design using a
wireless Bluetooth sensor, which measured acceleration. The project was originally developed by the Scottish Science Education Resource Centre and has now been funded by
Road Safety Scotland. The project was piloted in Girvan Academy with the plan to use
Girvan‘s experiences to develop the course for all schools in South Ayrshire. The project sits within the Standard Grade Physics transport section. Pupils researched car safety features
are were introduced to Euro NCAP ratings for different vehicles. The activity involved
individual independent thinking and group collaboration to understand and apply knowledge
about forces and materials. The course was very successful with all pupils designing and building creative original crumple zones. The project was extended to look at car design and
how the safety aspects could be integrated. All the pupils enjoyed this opportunity to apply
the theory they had been studying in class to a real life situation. The course will be developed for next year with the introduction of a debate to highlight the issues between car
Trading Standards Department recently visited Girvan Academy Home Economics
Department to deliver a presentation on
their extensive job remit to help support the
delivery of the Standard Grade curriculum to S4 pupils. After an interesting talk, which
prompted a number of queries relating to
consumer problems, pupils tried to decide which of the goods on display had been
seized by Trading Standards Officers as
counterfeit. The Ugg boots provided an interesting dilemma for pupils who were
convinced most of the goods were in actual
fact as branded and were astonished that all
the goods brought to show pupils were counterfeit.
S4 revision
As part of the S4 revision programme a
further talk has been arranged from the
Environmental Health Department.
Practical exams
Practical exams are now under full swing. S4
have completed their practical exam work and are now ready to concentrate on finishing
knowledge coursework and prepare for the
final written examination in May.
Hospitality Intermediate 2 pupils have equally
been busy serving up a 3 course meal as part of their prelim. This examination is a test of
all the practical skills acquired by pupils so
far and is the first occasion that pupils can experience the length of the full examination
which is 2 hours 30 minutes of intense
cooking and serving at specified times. Pupils served up a mouth watering menu of Savoury
Toasts with side salad, dressed with Balsamic
Glaze to start followed by Sweet and Sour
Turkey with Fried Rice. A sweet finish was provided with a White Chocolate and Lime
Cheesecake served with chocolate butterflies
and strawberries. All pupils were exhausted at the end of the session but delighted with
their progress. This years final Practical
Assignment is available for pupils to read/start practicing from the SQA website.
Lunchtime Classes in Administration
S4 pupils are encouraged to come to the Business Studies Department any day at lunchtime
to work on their SQA Projects.
This invitation is to all S4 pupils but particularly to those pupils who have been out of school
on work experience courses or have been absent and missed class time.
Notable achievements
Athletics
A Murphy— Scottish Close Championships
U17 Pole Vault—2nd
Hurdles—3rd **
Shot—3rd
** Qualification for hurdles in AAA championship
Scottish pentathlon U17 champion
PE Department S4 Standard Grade
All pupils have been encouraged to approach PE
staff with problems relating to EV and KU at any time, eg. interval/lunch/after school.
Interhouse Activities
Football Results
1st Glenapp
2nd Killochan
3rd Penkill
Activities are ongoing with
Rugby to come soon....
Home Economics
DEPARTMENTAL NEWS
Parents’ Newsletter Page 10
Girvan Academy News
By David Girvan and Caitlin Monteith
Rewards Day – Friday 18th December
The promoting positive behaviour scheme – ‗Go for Gold‘ reward day took place on Friday 18
December 2009. During this day pupils who had achieved a ‗Gold‘ award enjoyed a day at the UCG Cinema in Glasgow where they saw ‗A Christmas Carol‘ in 3D then could choose
from ice skating in George Square or shopping in Buchanan Galleries. The ‗Silver‘ award
pupils participated in an activities afternoon in the PE department and the ‗Bronze‘ award
winners were given a movie in the schools theatre. It was a fantastic day for all involved.
The Gideons
The Gideons visited Girvan Academy on Wednesday 13 January, offering bibles to S1 pupils
and discussing the work of their organisation.
Engineer Club The Engineer Club, which has been running after school on Tuesdays this year, has recently
completed one of their robots. The group of pupils supervised by Technical staff, Mr Wilson,
Mr Connell and Mr Ware and Physics teacher Mr Burrows, have worked extremely hard at this task - the trickiest part being the electronics! The robot is now whizzing around the
department much to everyones delight! The group will now be able to start their second
project and will be able to enter their finished work into a national competition. Good Luck!
Homework Club
The homework club is now up and running again after the Christmas Holidays. Pupils of all
year groups can attend the homework club at lunch time every day from 1:10pm-1:30pm in
the library, support from a teacher is available.
Christmas Cards
The sale of Girvan Academy Christmas cards went extremely well this year with most of them being sold. The Art department would like to say thank you to all their customers and
a new design of cards will be on sale next year.
School Calendar The Girvan Academy school calendar, which includes photographs of the local area taken by
S4 pupils, is still available at a reduced price of £3. The calendars have been produced to
the highest standard and are very good value for money. All proceeds go towards the school fund.
S5 Road Safety
South Ayrshire Road Safety Officers have recently been in school to present a talk on road safety to all S5students. The presentation looked at the dangers of cars including: drink
driving, seatbelts, and speed limits. The students were also given out the Official Highway
Code to allow them to make themselves familiar with road signs and other road rules before they are eligible to drive.
Parents’ Newsletter Page 11
Employability Course This year‘s group of 12 S4 Girvan Academy pupils, who are undertaking an Employability
Course in school, have spent two days out on
27 and 28 January, taking part in Bushcraft Skills and Adventure Walking with ACE,
Adventure Centre for Education, Girvan.
These two days out have been organised as
part of the course in order to build the pupils‘ confidence and develop their team working
skills.
Day 1 involved the pupils travelling to Barr
Woods to take part in survival skills, where the pupils had to work in groups to build a
shelter from the elements as well as a fire
without matches. Their success meant that they could enjoy a cook out of bacon and
sausage filled rolls.
Day 2 involved travelling to Glentrool Forest
Park. The pupils walked many miles through
the hills and also travelled over a river and gorge dangling in a harness from ropes.
Both days were a great success and enjoyed
by all involved. On returning to school on Friday the pupils wrote a thank you letter to
Adrian, Chris, Mitchell and Bob from ACE. In
addition, they carried out a review of the how
the days went and what they had learned in the process.
Susan Lawson, Girvan Academy‘s Careers
Adviser also accompanied the pupils on the
outdoor activities as she has been working
closely with the pupils on the Career
Essentials course in school. In addition,
Susan and Mrs Aitken, PT Guidance,
organised for this group to spend the
morning on Monday 25th January at Dumfries
and Galloway College, Stranraer Campus.
This visit provided an excellent opportunity
for the pupils to see lectures and workshops
in full flow and to find out what the courses
on offer entail. Girvan Academy staff and
pupils would like to extend their thanks to
John Girvan and Dorothy Hannah for giving
up their valuable time to show this group
around the Stranraer Campus.
Valentine’s Poetry Competition
To celebrate St Valentine’s Day this year I have been running a Poetry Competition for both pupils and staff. S1 and S2 have been struck by
Cupid’s arrow during library period and I have been given everything
from a full length epic to all kinds of takes on “Roses are red”.
We have also had quite a few entries in other languages including
French, Spanish, Thai, Dutch and Gaelic, not all from the pupils!
S5 Learning Support have produced Valentine’s message cards which they are selling and delivering to individual pupils. There is also a
message board in library where the messages can be displayed.
Carol Morrison, Librarian
Parents’ Newsletter Page 12
GIRVAN ACADEMY DATES FOR YOUR DIARY
Further dates for 2010 can be found by visiting our website at www.girvanacademy.sayr.sch.uk
FEBRUARY
Friday 12th February 2010 School Holiday
Monday 15th February 2010 School Holiday
Tuesday 16th February 2010 In Service Day for staff
Wednesday 17th February 2010 Pupils return
S5/6 Prelims Start
Thursday 18th February 2010 S2 Course Planning Evening
Thursday 25th February 2010 S2 Reports Issued
S5/6 Course Planning Evening
Friday 26th February 2010 S5/6 Prelims End
MARCH
Friday 12th March 2010 S5/6 Reports Issued
Tuesday 16th March 2010 S2 Parents‘ Night
S4/5 Options Due In
Friday 19th March 2010 S2 Options Due In
Friday 26th March 2010 S3/4 Monitoring Posted Home
Monday 29th March 2010 Easter Concert
Parents’ Newsletter Page 13
Further dates for 2010 can be found by visiting our website at www.girvanacademy.sayr.sch.uk
APRIL
Thursday 1st April 2010 School Closes at 2.30pm
Monday 19th April 2010 School Re-opens
Tuesday 20th April 2010 S3 Exams
Monday 26th to
Friday 30th April 2010
Interhouse Week 5 — Golf & Rugby
Tuesday 27th April 2010 S4 Study Leave Starts
Wednesday 28th April 2010 S4 SQA Exams Start
MAY
Monday 3rd May 2010 School Holiday
Tuesday 11th May 2010 S5/6 Study Leave Starts
Wednesday 12th May 2010 S5/6 SQA Exams Start
Monday 17th May 2010 S3 Reports Issued
Tuesday 25th May 2010 S3 Parents‘ Night
Thursday 27th May 2010 School Holiday
Friday 28th May 2010 School Holiday
Monday 31st May 2010 School Holiday
Tuesday 1st June 2010 Additional In Service Day - TBC
GIRVAN ACADEMY DATES FOR YOUR DIARY
Parents’ Newsletter Page 14
Visit our school website
www.girvanacademy.sayr.sch.uk
Parents’ Newsletter Page 15
If you are a parent/guardian of a pupil in 1st or 2nd year, we would like to
meet with you as part of a parent focus group.
If you are willing to be contacted please complete this tear off slip.
