On Sunday 18th March Auchinleck Academy travelled to Perth to compete in the Scottish Gymnastics National Championships. This was the girls first time competing at this level and they had a fantastic competition with the level 2 team of Caitlin King, Iona Young, Ashley Boyd and Lauryn Hanlon coming 12th out of 84 teams. The level one team of Amy Biggans, Charlie Devlin, Eilidh Pirrie and Olivia Dumigan also finished in 12th place in their category out of 76 teams.  Individually Caitlin King was 3rd on vault for Scottish Schools along with Amy Biggans who finished 10th and Eilidh Pirrie who finished in 8th place

The Scottish handball finals for the S3/4 boys took place at Ravenscraig in Motherwell on Friday 16^th March.

Wins against Kelvinside Academy and Linlithgow saw Auchinleck get to the 3^rd place play-off where another win meant they were successful and finished 3^rd in Scotland. This is a fantastic achievement and all credit goes to the boys who worked hard every game and made great improvements throughout the day

Player of the tournament was GK Andrew Wilson and top goal scorer was Matthew Morrison.

Pupils form Auchinleck Academy took part in the Go4SET Celebration and Assessment day at Dumfries House where they presented their 10 week STEM project to a panel of judges. The pupils were able to go and look at the projects completed by other schools throughout the day and hear from professionals in different STEM careers. At the end of the day the prizes were announced and Auchinleck Academy took home the best prize, Ayrshire Regional Winners. They will now compete in the National competition due to take place in June.

Congratulations to S2 pupils Hannah Duncan, Lauryn Hanlon, Kirsty MacLeod and Stephanie Wyper  who were the winning team from Auchinleck Academy in the Frankie and Benny pizza pasta challenge for East Ayrshire.  They were required to develop and produce a new recipe using healthy ingredients. The team created Pizza Doughnuts which were chosen as the winning dish in the final.  The team were a credit to themselves, the HE department and to the school. Well done to them and all who took part in the competition throughout.

On Thursday 8th March Miss Smith and Mrs Wallace, from the Art and Design Department, were thrilled to attend this year’s East Ayrshire Schools’ Art and Design exhibition at the Dick Institute, Kilmarnock, to see the fantastic work of students from across the authority. There, representing Auchinleck Academy on the night, were S5 students Lana Ferguson and Lauren Bradford, who both have work in the exhibition; senior work by Caragh Tommie and Emma Watson is also included amongst the fantastic displays. The exhibition is open to the public until Sat 14th April, so get down there and see our students’ great work!

While Easter is still a few weeks away, S2 pupils at Auchinleck Academy have been busy learning about how Easter is celebrated in France. All pupils as part of their S2 French course have completed a research project on the traditions of Mardi Gras which marks the start of lent in France. Pupils learned that while we have “Shrove Tuesday” or “Pancake Day” celebrations, this day in France is called “Mardi Gras” which literally translates as “Fat Tuesday”! In addition to learning about traditional Mardi Gras parades and the tradition of dressing up, pupils had the opportunity to make their own masks and crowns which many were keen to wear. Joyeuses Pâques tout le monde!

As part of World Book Day all pupils aged under 18 can collect a £1 book token which can be exchanged for one of the £1 World Book Day Books at a participating bookseller. The token can also be used to get £1 off a book or audiobook worth £2.99 or more.  This year five full length books for teens are also on offer at participating stores for £2.50 each (£1.50 with your £1 token).

 You can use your token at branches of WH Smith and Waterstones, and ASDA, Tesco and Sainsburys are also involved. Details of how to enter a competition on the World Book Day website are also printed on the back of each token.  The token is valid from Monday 26^th February to Sunday 25^th March.

 You can also use your token towards the cost of books from the Scholastic Book Club. Magazines are available from the Library and English classes and you can also browse and buy online. The deadline for Scholastic Book Club orders will be lunch time on Friday 16^th March.

 World Book Day tokens will be available from your English teacher from Monday 26^th February and also from the Library if you don’t take an English class.

February is LGBT history month. Pupils will take part in various activities such as face painting, bake sales, busking, competitions to raise awareness of LGBT issues this month. House assemblies this week will have a focus on the rights of the child including LGBT pupils. Facts and figures will be in the school bulletin every day this month as well.

A help section for parents and pupils will be on the website in the coming weeks. Here, you will find support and more information on LGBT. A variety of leaflets are available for those pupils requiring some support. See Mrs McPheator if you require any more information.

A LGBT group has started every week in school, run by Mary Gladwell to support pupils.

Auchinleck Academy is working towards LGBT charter status. The aim of this is to ensure all pupils are supported in school and are safe, healthy, active, nurtured, achieving, responsible, respected and included.

Mr Robertson and a number of senior pupils travelled to Kilmarnock on Wednesday to attend the East Ayrshire Council Cabinet meeting where the name of the new school and campus was announced. The new multi-million pound state of the art educational development at Cumnock will be known as The Barony Campus and the merged secondary schools will become The Robert Burns Academy

The school will be closed on Thursday 18 January because of adverse weather.  More details are available at:

www.east-ayrshire.gov.uk

We are planning to re-open on Friday.

Prelims exams that have been cancelled will be re-scheduled as soon as possible.