We are keen to support parents to ensure all young people are Cyber safe, especially with the growing use of a wide range of Apps and online forms of communication (WhatsApp / TikTok / Instagram / Snapchat etc).

As part of our continued commitment, we are delighted to promote our new ‘Safer Schools’ App. This App is a reliable source of advice on all things Cyber. It gives empowering, current and informative information on all current digital platforms/tools/apps in an accessible manner.

We have a range of tailored user accesses (pupil, staff and parents/carers). To access your parent platform please

• Scan the QR Code below or go to your app store or Google Play and search for ‘Safer School’
• In school field type ‘East Ayrshire Council’
• The code for Secondary parents is: 7675

We would recommend that you discuss with your child which apps and social media platforms they currently use/access. This will help ensure they know how to stay safe online – using the app to start these types of conversations is great.

Good morning,

Please click here for national guidance in relation to Coronavirus. As our Pila ski trip returned on Friday 7th February, there is no requirement for staff or pupils to self isolate. We will continue to monitor the situation and provide updates to pupils, staff and parents if required.

Regards

Ryan Miller

We have added a tab in the ‘Parents’ section of the website with a link to the National Parent Forum of Scotland – Nationals in a Nutshell series, which helps parents navigate the world of SQA qualifications and progression pathways.

Mr Johnston alluded to these publications during tonight’s parental information evening and you can access the series by clicking on the image in the newly created tab.

Good afternoon.

Concerns have been raised by local residents about the use of private car parks on approach to and adjacent to the school being used to drop children off and pick them up before and after school. We understand that parking restrictions and road access have been exacerbated by the building of the new Nether Robertland nursery next door and would ask that, wherever possible, parents could utilise the bus turning circle at the end of the street to drop off and pick up in the morning, allowing pupils to make the short walk from there to school.

With the increase in the volume of traffic and the inclement winter weather, please take as much care as possible on approach to the school and exercise consideration for the pupil traffic and other road users. Safety is always paramount in our thoughts and we appreciate your support with this.

Thank you,

Ryan Miller
Head Teacher

With Christmas fast approaching we are all more mindful than ever of the effects of poverty on the lives of many of the families we work with and the pressure many families feel to show their appreciation to staff in the school through gifts and tokens of appreciation.

Last year the BBC ran a feature about this with the simple message that thank you is enough. We want to share this message with you again this year to reassure any parents that are worried about affording a gift for a teacher in the run up to the Christmas break.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-46580014

I also want to reassure you that there is no ban on bringing gifts to teachers, but that a thank you, a card and even just the thought behind these small gestures, is more than enough for us as a staff.

Wishing you all the best this festive season,

Ryan Miller
Head Teacher

To all pupils, parents and carers,

Please see the message below from East Ayrshire Council Transport regarding arrangements for the last day of term on Friday, December 20th.

Transport

The festive school closure on Friday 20 December 209 whereby all schools close at 2.30pm will no doubt have an impact on pupils who access school transport. We have many linked contracts that serve both primary pupils as well as secondary pupils across both mainstream and ASN schools.

To ensure efficient transport provision on this date and to ease congestion, all contractors will arrange to collect primary children at 2pm and secondary pupils thereafter at around 2.30pm.

Please note exceptions are

• Loanhead primary to be collected at 2.15 pm
• Netherthird Decant to be collected at 2.15 pm and Link to Rural to be collected at 2.30 pm.
• Willowbank primary and Hillside primary to be collected at 2.30 pm
• Grange Academy to be collected at 1.50 pm and Park Primary to be collected at 2.30 pm
• St Josephs Academy and St Andrews to be both collected at 2 pm
• Loudoun Academy to be collected at 2.30 pm
• Kilmarnock Academy to be collected at 2.30 pm

A full version of the letter can be accessed by clicking here

Kind regards

Mr R Miller

Head Teacher

We are delighted to share news of Stewarton Academy’s success at the Scottish Concert Band Festival on Saturday. All five bands played exceptionally well and were fully deserving of the following Awards:

Stewarton Academy P7 wind band – Gold Award

Stewarton Academy Junior Band – Gold Award

Stewarton Academy Intermediate Band – Gold Award

Stewarton Academy Senior Band – Gold Plus Award

Stewarton Academy Percussion Ensemble – Gold Plus Award

As a result all bands/ensembles now qualify to represent Stewarton Academy and East Ayrshire at the SCBF National Finals in Perth Concert Hall on 14 & 15 March 2020. We are delighted for every pupil involved in this success and pass on our congratulations.

As ever, the pupils were tremendous ambassadors for the school and EAC and it’s wonderful to see their efforts and industry being recognised and rewarded in such a high profile setting. Thank you to all the band directors, IMS Instructors and music staff who help the pupils prepare and work so hard to give our young musicians this opportunity.

Thank you to all pupils, staff and parents for your support with today’s early closure. All pupils are now home or on the way home.

The burst mains that cut off our water supply is expected to be fixed by this evening and school will be open as normal tomorrow. If, for any unexpected reason, this situation changes, we will communicate it across our SMS, school app, website and Twitter platforms.

Ryan Miller
Head Teacher

Dear Parent/Carer

We have been forced into an early school closure today following the damaging of the water mains supplying the school by the contractor at the building site next door, which has left us without running water. Pupils will be provided with a school meal as planned and will be dismissed at approximately  2:00pm, when transport will be on hand for pupils that travel by school bus.

Should your child be unable to return home early for any reason, please contact the school office to inform us. Staff will remain with pupils in this position until the end of the school day at 3:35pm. Any pupils in this position will have to be picked up from school or make their own way home as school buses and transport will not be available.

I appreciate your support and patience with this matter.

Ryan Miller

Head Teacher