Friday 24th April saw two Auchinleck Rugby 7s teams travel to Kilmarnock RFC to take part in the Ayrshire 7s festival. Both sides were strong with several experienced Rugby players backed up by eager and pacey footballers and new recruits. The S1 side was a clear stand out, winning their first game against tournament favourites Marr College A, five tries to three. Auchinleck Rugby S1s then went on to win their next game against Garnock Academy eight tries to two, with a twelve tries to nil win against a big Ardrossan Academy team. Two games followed with the same score of seven to nil versus local rivals and club team mates Cumnock Academy and Marr College B. In the final game Loudon Academy were defeated ten tries to nil with man of the match Ruairidh Airlie scoring four fine tries using his strength and speed to great effect. Mr Raby would like to award Jamie Kennedy the Auchinleck Rugby player of the tournament due to his defence and work rate and would like to mention that all the boys played fantastic, well spirted rugby.

 The S2 side were also undefeated and impressively did not concede a single try. In their first game against Cumnock Academy the score line was the same as in the S1 game with Auchinleck Rugby running out winner’s seven tries to nil. Ardrossan Academy was convincingly beaten by eight tries, as were Marr College B by the score of six tries to nil. Auchinleck Rugby S2s were now playing some very attractive rugby with one newcomer more used to the round ball Kaylum Ferguson scoring a couple of fine tries. Garnock Academy was dispatched four tries to nil. The deciding game versus Marr College A was tight with both sides giving their all to break the deadlock however the game finished a scoreless draw. Player of the tournament Andrew Houston led his charges well and all pupils involved should be proud of themselves.

 Next up for Auchinleck Rugby is Belmont House School in May.

Wednesday saw a very enthusiastic Auchinleck Academy Rugby girls’ team travel to Maybole to take on Carrick. Eight S1-S2 girls with only one amongst them, the player of the match Leigh Hill, having played before. They were keen but nervous when they saw the experienced Carrick side warming up. Those nerves appeared to be with the Auchinleck girls throughout as Carrick scored several unanswered tries. Hill was impressive making tackle after big tackle but the Carrick tide kept coming and soon the score was too much. Both Mr Raby and the Carrick Development Officer decided to ‘mix’ the teams up and let the girls learn more from a competitive match. Mr Raby would like to thank the Carrick DO and his team for refereeing the game in the correct manner by allowing certain things to go and keep the game flowing. All of the girls involved enjoyed the experience and have asked for further fixtures to be organised.

Eight was also the number of S3-S4 girls who travelled with Miss McKeich hoping for a win. The game was end to end with new comer to egg shaped happiness, Iona Rogers leaving her mark with some wrecking ball like tackles. Carrick used their strength and made good ground in the tight conditions. Auchinleck Rugby used the width well, and in one brilliant try worthy of any rugby game at any level the ball was passed through four sets of hands to find older sister Louise Hill for a try in the corner. Auchinleck Girls first outing was also against Carrick and that game was lost by one try. Auchinleck Rugby highlighted its rapid improvement by drawing this game nine tries a piece.

Mr Raby would like to thank Hope Homes for their cash donation to Auchinleck Rugby.

Come and join us for some fierce competition for the prestigious title of ‘Young Musician of the Year’. We have five Junior finalists and eight Senior finalists ready to demonstrate their excellent musical talents and entertain you for the evening. As well as our final thirteen, we also have contributions from the Junior and Senior choirs and the Auchinleck and Cumnock Concert Band. Tickets are now on sale from Auchinleck Academy school office, any remaining tickets will be sold at the door on the night of the concert. Refreshments will be available at the interval and are included in the price of your ticket. Come along and enjoy a relaxing evening featuring a variety of musical styles to get you into the holiday mood!

Concert starts at 7pm

All S4 pupils at Auchinleck Academy have been working, throughout the year, on the Youth and Philanthropy Initiative (YPI).  This initiative provides funding which young people can win on behalf of a charity of their choice.  Pupils at Auchinleck Academy worked to research the needs of their community and to identify a registered charity making a difference to local people.

A number of pupils invited representatives of their chosen charity to visit the school. They were able to ask these representatives questions to help them to gather detailed information about the impact of the work of the charity in the area.  Some pupils visited their chosen charity during their free time.

Pupils then competed against each other by making presentations on behalf of the charity they had chosen.  The final of the competition was held in Auchinleck Academy on Thursday 12^th March. Heather Morrison, Christie Allan, Scott Weir, Laura Borthwick and Lucy Hutton won the competition and were able to present their charity, Gardening Leave, with a cheque for £3000.

Representatives of several local charities attended the event.  The representative of Gardening Leave attended and was delighted with this donation.   She was impressed by the quality of the presentation made by the pupils and by their detailed knowledge about the work of Gardening Leave.

Twenty one S4 Pupils and 3 staff tackled Cairn Table above Muirkirk recently as part of their Bronze Duke of Edinburgh’s Award training.  The weather was cold but dry and all of the pupils worked on their navigation and walking skills.  Well done to all.

S2 and S3 Computing Science pupils recently used their programming and game making skills to raise money for Comic Relief.  Keen coders spent a week creating “Red Nose” themed games using a program called Scratch.  Once the games were complete and had been fully tested other pupils from the school were invited to play the games.  On Friday 13th, in the afternoon, pupils from across the school donated 50p to the good cause and were allowed to play the games.  A grand total of £41.75 was raised.  Well done to all involved!

Auchinleck Academy pupils and staff helped raise money for Comic Relief with a week-long activity programme of various sports organised by the schools Young Ambassadors and Active Schools.

The activities ran every lunch time from Monday 9 March through to Red Nose day on Friday 13 March. Activities were £1 to play and 50p to watch and each sport took the format of pupil’s v staff.

Monday was the badminton challenge, which the staff won with a higher total of victories over the pupils. Tuesday saw the pupils take a narrow 1 point victory in the basketball. On Wednesday the staff powered their way to victory with a 2 games to 0 win at volleyball. Staff took the plaudits on Thursday as well in the table tennis with a higher game wins total and Friday saw the football played out with a 1 – 1 draw, meaning the staff were victorious overall.

All involved had a great time and the main aim of the event was to raise money for this good cause. £69 was raised through participation and spectating which will be a big help. Thank you to all who got involved in the event!

Auchinleck Academy is further developing rugby in the school by purchasing a new full set of rugby jerseys. Pictured are pupils from the schools S1 and S2 boy’s team, under 15 girls and under 16 boys. Staff pictured, Head teacher Mr Gilchrist, teacher in charge of rugby, Mr Raby and rugby Development Officer Harry Reilly. Any pupil that is interested in joining the school rugby team should speak to Mr Raby.

The Young Ambassadors have set up a fund raising challenge week to raise funds for Comic Relief.

All S3/4/5/6 pupils are invited to take on school staff in various sports. Monday is badminton, Tuesday is basketball, Wednesday is volleyball, Thursday is table tennis and Friday is football. Pupils should come along prepared to play and pay a donation of £1 or 50p to watch. Who plays will be on a first come first served basis so be quick at getting ready!

S1/2 year groups can also watch the matches for 50p and cheer on their favourites.

All money raised will be donated to Comic Relief.

Higher Order Thinking Skills

The focus on ‘Higher Order Thinking Skills’ during March at Auchinleck Academy will see pupils participate in a range of activities in order to develop and reinforce their higher order thinking skills. Pupils will participate in activities throughout the school with this level of engagement providing a deeper insight into the importance of higher order thinking skills. Using a taxonomy of thinking skills to plan and reflect on learning opportunities can ensure that the young people of Auchinleck Academy are challenged. Exploring these skills can help the young people to develop a set of transferable skills that will help them cope with the challenges of future learning, life and work.