NEW SUPER SCHOOL CAMPUS by Lucy, Sophie and Jy

NEW SUPER SCHOOL CAMPUS

As you will already know, plans for a new “super school”, are being finalised as we speak. There are many things that we would like to see in this new school which would make the campus a safe environment for pupils as well as staff. There are also some points we would like to discuss which in our opinion would have to change in order for the school to run smoothly. So without further ado let’s start with some of the things we think the new school should have.

We think the building itself would have to be very large if it were to meet the requirements of the merged senior schools. It would have to have lots of outdoor space for school activities and this would help keep pupils amused, healthy and happy. This could mean grassy areas for sports, good space for younger children to socialise and play and so on.

As well as, it should have big classrooms; crush areas, gym halls, working spaces and cafeterias.

Also, the new school should have a good car parking system in place to reduce the risk of injuries and keep pupils and staff safe. Children should be informed about road safety and with an organised car parking system pupils and staff will be very safe in the campus. The car park should also include easy access for disabled people and busses. This would mean disabled parking spaces nearer to the building and a designated area for school busses, taxis and other transport.

Furthermore, the whole campus should have easy access for disabled people. This means: widened doors, ramps installed, stair lifts/lifts, light switches closer to the ground, toilets downstairs and disabled toilets fitted with emergency buttons in case an accident occurs.

Next, special learning support and special working areas should be included to meet the needs of pupils with learning disabilities such as dyslexia. It would also be useful to have teachers who are qualified to teach and support these pupils throughout their entire education.

In addition to our last point, other departments within the school should be dedicated to meet the needs of other children who have more physical and mental disabilities such as: Down syndrome or Autism. Teachers should consider the following things to help these pupils:

Setting clear classroom rules
Helping to teach social skills and play skills
Communicating clearly and giving children time to process information
Creating a friendly environment (colourful classrooms, etc.)
Support in the playground , including buddy systems and other interactive groups
Lunchtime clubs and structured activities

As the new school will have children from nursery school age to seniors, the number of pupils and the age difference attending will increase bullying. The school would have to have a secure and safe anti-bullying system to help decrease bullying and all pupils must be informed regularly about the effects bullying has on others. More than 16,000 children are absent from school each day due to bullying.

62 million pounds is being spent on the construction of this new school, so it seems money isn’t much of a problem however would need to remain that way to insure compulsory items such as textbooks, stationary, foods, etc. are affordable.

As so much money is being spent on the new school, each department should be fully equipped in order to give pupils learning opportunities some schools would never get. For example: the music department should have a variety of instruments, recording equipment and other high-tech equipment; the art department should have plenty good quality art tools, materials and cameras for photography classes that will last a long time.

Cafeterias would have to have plenty tables and chairs to seat if not all then most pupils and they should have a line system to save pupils wasting their lunchtime standing in the queue. Food options should vary and there should be vegetarian and vegan options to suit pupil’s needs.

A vary of clubs and afterschool activities should be available to join to allow the pupils to do more of what they love. Whether that is playing football, basketball, painting, learning languages or journaling.

In conclusion, we think that the new super school should have lots of outdoor space, a safe car parking system, disabled access, special learning centres, an effective anti-bullying system, fully equipped departments, a vary of food options and easy cafeteria access and finally opportunities to join clubs, etc.

Lucy M., Sophie McM., Jy G.

March 15, 2017March 15, 2017

East Ayrshire towns’ sporting opportunities inspires young people by Jordan O.

East Ayrshire towns’ sporting opportunities inspires young people

In recent years, East Ayrshire has been given the tagline of a deprived area. Although there has been a notable lack of funding within one of the town’s inside this local authority, Cumnock there are still opportunities for the community, for example; in sport. Initiatives such as; School of Football (SFA/SoF) and Active Schools have encouraged people to be more involved.

After speaking to SFA School of Football coaches Jack Hannah and Keir Samson it is evident that the opportunities youngsters receive through this programme improves their abilities to perform better both on the pitch and in the classroom in their academic education.

Both coaches seemed extremely certain that their main priority is player development as they have a schedule for each period that they take a session, for example: on a Monday the pupils enter the School of Football classroom to receive a prepared presentation on various aspects such as nutrition, watch clips from the

top players and analyse how they play their own game or participate in activities like fantasy football. On a Tuesday, the coaches could prepare a session on passing. As a key skill in the game the coaches make sure that the pupils’ enjoy their training however are learning the skill. On a Wednesday the pupils don’t receive any sessions therefore they return to their academic classes. On a Thursday the pupils will work on attacking strategies like a 3v2 scenario or work on when entering the

final third of the pitch. On a Friday the pupils receive a double period and work on shooting for the first period then play different types of conditioned games for the second period. Both coaches agreed that it is important to make sure the pupils enjoy participating however their job is to develop their abilities. They said “It is important for them to play various types of games on a Friday so that they are consuming all that they have learned through the week into a game which will make them more confident when performing each aspect of the game.”

A scheme which is brought to the community through East Ayrshire Council is Active Schools. Active Schools is all about increasing participation and providing opportunities through sport. It is a scheme which is not funded and I caught up with one of the

ambassadors, Scott Guy, he informed me that he is increasing his network of volunteers, from teachers, students etc. and has to build a sustainable network of volunteers. The main aim of Active Schools is to give children an experience of different ports and if they enjoy it then Scott, or any of the other ambassadors will signpost them to a local or nearest club. Active Schools’ other main aims are participation, leadership, volunteering and employment opportunities. Scott gives 20+ sessions in schools every week. He has started a girls football community through the back of those sessions, as well as gymnastics and netball clubs so there is 130 girls participating at club level every week. Leadership opportunities are given for senior pupils which provides them with coach education courses for them and gives them opportunities at schools and in the wider community which gives them a really good chance for future employment. Jack Hannah and Keir Samson, as well as other former School of Football graduates who attended Cumnock Academy are classed as level 4 coaches and are employed by Kilmarnock FC and although they are receiving money for employment, they still choose to volunteer in the community. There is also a sports calendar where schools in the area compete competitively against one another. When asked how the School of Football develops kids, Scott said “School of Football is all about developing the person and giving them life lessons through sport, for example discipline and respect. Former SoF graduates have used these skills to achieve their employment.”

March 14, 2017

Pi in the Skyline

Mr Burns always celebrates Pi day.

March 14, 2017March 15, 2017

Deryn B. S4 – Ace reporter

Deryn investigates how young people are supported with their learning.

March 14, 2017March 16, 2017

CUMNOCK ACADEMY MUSIC DEPARTMENT by Rebecca

Most schools have a music department. What makes Cumnock Academy’s different from others?

Mr Anderson, Brass Instructor

What made you start playing an instrument and how old were you?

I started playing the organ/piano when I was around 6 or 7 years old. I had always sang and shown signs of being musical from a very early age so my parents encouraged it. My mum was a singer and my grandpa was also a singer. My dad played flute. At age 12 I was attending drama lessons at the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama Junior School when I happened to hear the symphony orchestra. I loved the sound of the brass section and went straight to school on Monday morning and asked if I could learn one. Soon brass took over the piano.

Is it important for children to play an instrument? Why?

Learning to play an instrument is extremely important for people of any age. It allows you to express feeling through music, to tell stories through music and to train your brain and personality. It’s an amazing way to learn patience, team work, dedication, commitment, punctuality, responsibility and may many more attributes. I could go on and on about it. It’s also proven to really help coordination skills as well as language and maths. Not to mention how it can help boost confidence and most importantly it’s FUN!

Rebecca S. S1

March 14, 2017March 15, 2017

Scotland and Teenage Pregnancy by Taylor P.

Scotland and Teenage Pregnancy

By Taylor P.

Teenage females living in a deprived area are 4 times more likely to experience a pregnancy. Dumfries and Galloway recorded the lowest rate of teenage pregnancy in the under 18 age group with 18.9 per 1,000 population. Whereas Fife recorded the highest rate in bother under 18’s and under 20’s age groups with rates of 31.6 and 48.4 per 1,000 people respectively. Fife is the 3^rd most deprived area in Scotland whereas Dumfries and Galloway is the 27^th most deprived area in Scotland according to recent records.

https://isdscotland.scot.nhs.uk/Health-Topics/Sexual-Health/Publications/2015-07-07/2015-07-07-TeenPreg-Report.pdf?71546572447

Back in 2005 the city of Dundee had 96.3 per 1,000 women under 20 fall pregnant which is considerably higher than the Scottish average rate in 2005 what was 57.7 per 1,000

However the strain is not just on the teen mother, most young fathers do not stay in long term or committed relations with the mother of their child this means the child is more likely to grow up without a father figure which leads to more stress on the mother which can cause, anxiety depression and an unhappy home environment. Some teenage parents can face a lot of negative opinions from family and friends and face a lot of discrimination from society. Fathers also have the right to ask for a DNA test to see if they are the biological father of the child. However pre- birth the father does not have the right to dictate medical treatments for the mother, including the mother’s decision regarding abortion.

While some people may feel that this topic is outdate teen age pregnancy is still a very modern concern. 11% of all babies worldwide are born to girls aged 15 to 19 years old. 3 million girls aged 15 to 19 undergo unsafe abortions every year as they don’t have the mean , funding or support to raise a child at such a young age. Pregnant teens have a higher risk of having high blood pressure later in life compared to women who become pregnant in their 20’s or 30’s. Teenage birth can also be dangerous for the baby not just the mother. Babies born to a teenage mother are at risk of having lower than average birth weight which may mean the babies having to be put on to a ventilator in a hospital’s neonatal care unit to assist with breathing.

The good news is that across Scotland all three age groups (under 20’s, under 18’s and under 16’s) have seen a decrease in teen pregnancies:

Under 20’s pregnancies have decreased by 40.9% going from 57.7 per 1,000 in 2007 to 34.1 per 1,000 women in 2014.
Under 18’s pregnancies have decreased by 47.3% going from 41.9 per 1,000 in 2007 to 22.1 per 1,000 women in 2014.
Under 16’s pregnancies have decreased by 45.4% going from 7.8 per 1,000 in 2007 to 4.2 per 1,000 women 2014.There are multiple teenage pregnancy support groups on the internet and in most local communities you can find some of these at http://www.nhs.uk/conditions/pregnancy-and-baby/pages/teenager-pregnant.aspx. However if there are no support groups in your area you can also contact the NHS by phone or email, the Samaritans or even Childline if you are under 18. There are plenty of people you can talk to, and talking with someone may help you process this stressful situation if you or someone you know is expecting a child. Support is not just for teenage mothers you can also find support for fathers here info@straighttalking.org.

March 14, 2017March 15, 2017

East Ayrshire’s drug and alcohol problem by Jack A.

East Ayrshire is seen as an impoverished area, especially when compared to the rest of the counties in Scotland. Despite this, the percentage of underage youths who have had an alcoholic drink has been in decline over the past few years, as seen by the graph below.

Although there is still vast room for improvement, a 13% reduction in both fifteen and thirteen year olds prove that the methods the council and other involved group are using are in fact working.

Some may argue that underage drinking has become part of the youth culture in Scotland, especially in rural areas where there is little to do.

The drug problem, specifically that in young people is still alive in Scotland, however it has declined drastically over the past decade.

This shows the efforts being taken are working, with more than half of 15 year olds previously having not tried drugs, and almost a third of thirteen year olds. Among both ages, however, boys are still more likely to be offered drugs, with 31% of boys having been offered drugs compared to the 22% of girls. Despite the drastic decrease teenagers are still being offered drugs, with 61% of all fifteen year olds being offered drugs in 2002 – a recent survey shows that the percentage of teens offered drugs is now 38%, showing that it has almost halved too. This again proves the efforts being taken are working, as about two thirds (67%) of thirteen year olds and fifteen year olds (68%) were shown lessons or shown DVDs and given discussions about drugs. 70% of pupils asked felt that their school was giving them enough information and support about drugs and alcohol and their dangers, however the pupils who had never used drugs seemed more likely to agree (71%) compared to pupils who’d used drugs in the past month (56%).

The school system and the council have taken every precaution when educating school pupils about the dangers and abuse of drugs, despite this though, the methadone program employed by the Scottish government has been described as “out of control” and “literally a black hole into which people are disappearing” by Dr Neil McKeganey, with data obtained by BBC Scotland showing pharmacies in Scotland were paid £17.8 million for handling almost 500,000 prescriptions.

McKeganey also said “We still don’t know the exact amount of people on the methadone programme, what progress they are making and if they are managing to come off methadone”

It is clear from even a medical standpoint that the methadone program was employed to stop the heroin addiction – it has done this to an extent but has also brought in a new addiction with methadone. Despite this however, in 2015 The Community Safety Minister Paul Wheelhouse told the BBC “Fewer Scots are taking drugs – numbers are continuing to fall amongst in the general adult population and drug taking amongst young people is the lowest in more than a decade.

Recently, however the number of under 18s in Scotland who’ve been convicted for drug offences are on the rise. More than 100 youngsters have been convicted via the drug misuse act last year, but with a ban on these psychoactive substances taking place last year in May,

90 retailers across Scotland were no longer selling these openly. Across the UK 144 people have died as a result of these legal highs with 62 deaths in Scotland in 2014 alone.

March 13, 2017March 15, 2018

Super School by Abbie and Olivia in S1

Concept art for the school
Credit Sheppard Robson

Soon, pupils from nursery school and beyond will be learning in a £62 million school. This school will include: Barshare and Greenmill primaries, Cumnock and Auchinleck academies and Hillside. The new super school will be built on Broomfield and Knockroon. The new super school has had very mixed reactions. A lot of people like it and a lot of people totally disagree with the idea. Although we are first year we will be in third year by the time the school is built. Our opinion is that the new school is a great idea but not on Broomfield as there are many other suitable places for the school to be built. We have interviewed some students and teachers to see what their opinions are.

“I think the new school is going to be really good for the community. The technical department moving in will affect me because I have to clean out my room much quicker than the other teachers.” A Science teacher.

“I think the new school is an okay idea because the other schools are falling apart.”

-Hannah L. ( S1 )

“We have to plan much further in advance because we are being moved twice. We are moving to the main building and then to the new super school, But I’m looking forward to getting new equipment.” A technical teacher

“I would change the location because lots of people use Broomfield. I learned how to ride my bike there.”

-Rebecca S. (s1)

March 13, 2017March 15, 2018

Is the Super school as eco-friendly as it seems? by Beth, Charlie and Evie

Is the super school a good idea?

This is an exclusive report from three school pupils who will be pupils in the new school, but not for long when it is finished. They will be presenting their facts and argument on the environmental effects of this new campus giant. Many people strongly object to where the new school will be built, and we will look more deeply into this matter.

Firstly, Cumnock Academy and Auchinleck Academy are certainly not new buildings. In fact Cumnock Academy itself was first used as an academy in 1969. We believe that actually building four new buildings for Greenmill, Barshare, Cumnock Academy and Auchinleck Academy would be much more efficient, eco-friendly and less costly that building a new campus costing billions of pounds. This is partly because there is a major problem with the location of this new campus. Some people say that the location (Broomfield running track and rugby/football pitches) is for the best and it will be the most eco-friendly place for the campus. Some teachers we interviewed over this matter have said that because they are not local themselves, the location does not impact them greatly at all. However, this was not the case with one long-term teacher at Cumnock Academy, who was concerned with the traffic and environmental effects of the new school being where it is planned to be.

“I would be concerned about the traffic around Broomfield. I think there will be a lot of pollution from cars. I think this would be a massive shame for Broomfield.” While being interviewed, the teacher also revealed that the new school being built will very probably have complications with classes in the Physical Education department. She suspects that although there are meant to be extensive playing grounds and outdoor areas, there will always be classes outside, even in the colder months.

There is one thing that many people do agree on though. The number of pupils expected to be in the new school is rather alarming for some teachers. The majority of teachers have said that they don’t like the number of pupils. Even with split areas for different year groups in the school, the amount of pupils mean that teachers will have bigger classes and longer hours of teaching.

Report by Beth S., Evie S. and Charlie M.

Second-year pupils from Cumnock Academy.

March 13, 2017March 15, 2018

Locals’ opinion on the Superschool matter! by Alix K. S2

As the new ‘superschool’ – which is going to be situated in Broomfield, Cumnock – is in the design process, the long-awaited images of the plans are now available to the public. This article is based on pupils and parent’s views of the school and what they hope is included in the new school.

David Kay, the parent of a Cumnock Academy pupil, believes that the facility needs to be fully accessible to young people with a variety of needs and fully inclusive of all.

David also believes that overall the campus has a positive impact on the community as during our interview he said: “The community is fortunate to have such a state of the art facility, to be built in the middle of it which will strengthen the relationships of the young people of Cumnock and Auchinleck.”

Lucy M. – a pupil from Cumnock Academy – also believes the school should be built with disabled children in mind, for example, lowered light switches and easy access classrooms.

Lucy M., a second-year pupil who attends Cumnock Academy said “the whole reason people are against the new school is where it is being built – Broomfield, where a lot of people like to go during their spare time.” This may show the council that the public are not against the superschool, yet where it is going to be situated.

Evie S., another pupil from Cumnock Academy, believes that new state of the art facilities should be in place to help different departments thrive.

In addition, David Kay, the father of a Cumnock Academy pupil believes that locker space would be hugely beneficial from their own experience as their daughter suffers from back pain due to the heavy bag she carries around the school daily.

Also, as a Cumnock Academy pupil myself, I think a study room should be put in place, equip with computers and state of the art technology to help the students. This would be a great aid to the students to help them study especially for pupils who don’t have access to the internet or a place which is quiet and peaceful.

Another issue which the ‘superschool’ carries is that both Cumnock Academy and Auchinleck Academy are merging. This may cause some problems due to the supposed ‘rivalry’ between both schools. Lucy Menzies, a pupil from Cumnock Academy, has mixed emotions about both academies merging as the propaganda of the two academies being rivals, yet she believes a good aspect of the merger is that pupils will meet new friends.

After research, it has become apparent that included in the plans are purpose-built areas for dining, games, sport and recreation, information communication technology, drama and the arts which will hopefully include some of the ideas above.

By Alix K. S2