As you may know, every September we take senior students to Belgium. This trip has been running since 2006 and has become such an important part of school life, especially for S6 students. Over the years we have done research into the former pupils of Airdrie Academy who are remembered in the Ypres/Passchendaele area and have visited the resting places of all of these men. We have shared this research with the local community and churches and have been honoured to hear back from relatives who appreciate that we, on behalf of Airdrie Academy, still pays our respects.

Last year we visited St George’s Memorial Church in Ypres, built to commemorate over 500,000 British and Commonwealth troops, who had died in the three battles fought for the Ypres Salient, during World War I and discussed the possibility of having a plaque dedicated to the former pupils of our school. Thanks to the Parish Council of St George’s Memorial Church for permission and to our own Parent Council who very kindly agreed to provide funding for the plaque, this has now been installed in the church. We always appreciate the Parent Council support for our trips, but this in particular has a special meaning for us.

Rev Robbie Hamilton is currently in Belgium with his own congregation and has sent us the photos attached. I hope you agree that this is a lovely tribute to our former pupils and will provide a permanent place for Airdrie Academy to remember those who gave their lives in WW1.

This September when we visit, we will have a special service in the church to dedicate the plaque.

L Baird

The Parent Council are having their annual Quiz Night on Friday 18th May at 7.30pm in the Drama rooms, tickets cost £5. We are looking for your support to help this evening to be a success once again. I will be around the school next week selling tickets and raffle tickets (prize donations also welcome) so please help the parent council as they do a FANTASTIC job for our school in fundraising. Many of you don’t know what the Parent council donate to so here’s a few events in which the Parent Council have sponsored this school year.

£50 to each house to support their fundraising events and activites
£50 to the Enterprise Group. This group also have a printer and banner which was previously purchased by the parent council.

Literacy week costs
Equipment for the Hub
Christmas lunch for older people in our community
Achievement Certificates for hospitality students
Plus many many more

We are supporting the “BIG LUNCH” on the 13th June.

E McGuire

Hi my name is Chloe and I am going to tell you about what I do at that @Home Centre. I have been a volunteer and I have been doing it for nearly 2 years. I help with any events at the centre and I help with the tea and coffee and the food. I have been involved in many different events at the centre and I usually serve the tea and coffee. I was also involved in helping give out Christmas presents to others. I try to interact with other people as it is good to talk to new people and make new friends. If any visitors come to the centre I then show them around. Tuesdays and Thursdays are my days – one day is 4.30 to 6.30pm and the other is from 6.00 to 8.00pm. This has been a good experience for me after the loss of my mum. It’s helped me focus outside my home life for a wee while and I enjoy helping and meeting new people.

The staff are all very friendly at the centre. Joanne Boyle is one of the leaders that I get on with very well as she is a nice person to talk to and gives me advice when I am worried about things. During one of the award events I received my Solitaire Award for giving up my time at the @Home Centre. I felt very proud of myself.

Now, the @Home Centre are starting up a café for young people and it will be run by young people. I am going to be involved in setting it up and then helping it run from 4:30 to 8:30 pm. I think this is a great idea as it gives young people a place to hang out and not be on the streets. It is also an opportunity to meet new people.

Overall, I would advise anyone to join the @Home Centre because it is fun, you get to meet new people and you even can achieve different awards. For me, it has been a great experience as it helped me through a tough time in my life.

S3 Parents Evening will be held

on Tuesday 24th April

from 4.15 pm to 6.15 pm

Easter School will take place from Tuesday 3rd April until Thursday 5th April – 9.30am to 2.15pm. The aim is to provide additional support, advice and extra practice in the majority of subjects in the lead up to the SQA exams. Pupils in S4/5/6 who are sitting Advanced Higher, Higher or National 5 exams have signed up and we look forward to welcoming them in school on Tuesday at 9.30am.

The launch date for the S1 Future Funds Initiative Scheme (FFI)/Credit Union is after the Easter holidays. If you haven’t yet picked up a form go to room F03 (ICT).

All S1 pupils in the catchment area are entitled to a ‘free’ £10 for setting up a Credit Union account!

On Saturday 17th March 2018 two of our very talented S2 Athletes, Eilidh Shaw and Emily Arthur competed at the Scottish Schools X-Country event at Hopetoun House in Edinburgh. Both girls ran very well mixing with the best of what Scotland has to offer at this age group.

Both girls competed in the Group C Girls race. Eilidh Shaw placed 24th which was an excellent finish for mixing with S3 pupils.
Both Eilidh and Emily will have another year at this age group so wishing them all the best for next year.

The conditions were snowy and very windy so both Eilidh and Emily represented Airdrie Academy well and I am sure made everyone proud.

Now that is the X-Country season over we look forward to see what the Athletics and X-Country club bring during the track season.

S2 pupils took part in the Giant Heptathlon on Friday 9th February 2018.

This event involved all the pupils participating in the following events at Ravenscraig Sports Centre;
• Step Up Challenge
• Relay Race
• Standing Long Jump
• Standing Triple Jump
• Shot Putt
• 60m Sprint
• 60m Hurdles

Overall Airdrie Academy were 5th.
All the pupils involved were excellent and achieved some of their best performances.