The annual Rotary Bake-Off took place last week and, as always, was a great success. The pupils spent the morning baking and, early in the afternoon, their cakes were judged. Congratulations to Jennifer Wright and Kimberley McBride, this year’s winners, who baked a delicious rainbow cake and chocolate brownies. In the afternoon, some older citizens from the local community visited the school and were treated to afternoon tea, with an opportunity to eat the cakes that had been baked earlier.
A team of S1 pupils took part in the Salters’ Chemistry Challenge, held at the University of Glasgow. There were two main challenges, the first in the morning set by Salters’ and the second in the afternoon set by the university. In the morning challenge the students worked in teams and used Analytical Chemistry techniques to help identify a suspect in a crime. In the afternoon they again worked in teams to solve another forensic science based problem. This was followed with a lecture on “Chemical Magic” involving fun chemical reactions. Despite not winning any of the top prizes the pupils had a great day out. Members of the S1 team representing Kilsyth were Morgan Waite, Aaron Fitzsimmons, Alana Thomson and Mark Donnelly. Well done!
We had a great representation at the first day of the North Lanarkshire Athletics Championships, last week. The weather was superb and the competitors performed well. A number of pupils have qualified for finals next week and already we have five medallists:
Scott McIntyre – Bronze – Discus
Eleanor Duncan – Silver – Discus
Aidan Belton – Bronze – Hurdles
Rebecca Love – Silver – Long Jump
S3 Boys Relay (Jamie McCaughey, William Burke, Jamie Stevenson and Jay Coyle) – Silver. Congratulations to all.
We look forward to welcoming the P7 children, who will be transferring to Kilsyth Academy next session, on Wednesday 8th and Thursday 9th June. During the two-day visit, the pupils will become familiar with their new classes and have an opportunity to meet some of their new teachers. The Information Evening, for parents of P7 pupils, will take place on Thursday 9th June, at 7.30 p.m. This is an opportunity for parents, to find out about all the arrangements for next session and to meet the Pupil Support staff, who will be parents’ first contact with the school. Our second Uniform Evening will also be on Thursday 9th June, from 5.00-8.00 p.m., in the café.
The Senior Awards Ceremony will take place on Wednesday 15th June, at 7.20 for 7.30 p.m., in the Assembly Hall. Invitation letters have now been sent to the parents of recipients finishing S4, S5 and S6 and we hope for a large turnout, to celebrate the many achievements of our young people, throughout another busy year in Kilsyth Academy. Our Principal Guest will be Gerry Hughes, the first deaf yachtsman to sail single-handedly around the world, via the five southernmost capes, and I am sure his story will prove inspirational.
Junior Award Ceremonies will take place, during the school day, on Thursday 16th June, when we will once again celebrate a wide range of pupils’ achievements, for those finishing S1, S2 and S3.
Congratulations to Miss Elspeth Strang, our new PT Support for Learning and Inclusion. It is hoped that Miss Strang will take up post on Monday 20th June and we look forward to working with her, in the future. Currently, Miss Strang teaches at Denny High School and she is a former pupil of Kilsyth Academy.
