ARDROSSAN ACADEMY WINTER NEWSLETTER 2016 I hope you find this Winter newsletter informative and useful. Inside you will find out lots about what has been happening in Ardrossan Academy in recent months and what is coming up in the new term. Page Content 1 Welcome 2 Personal Support 3 Broad General Education and Senior Phase 4 Junior House Ambassadors 5 Developing the Young Workforce 6 Pastoral Support 7 Pastoral Support 8 Nurture 9 Astra Base , EU Congregational 10 News from the Library 11 Modern Languages, English and Drama 12 Pupil articles 13 & 14 Pupil Achievements Visit our website at 15 Mathematics www.ardrossanacademy.co.uk 16 Health and Wellbeing Follow us on Twitter 17 Office and Parent Council @ardacademy 1118 followers and counting! 18 Important dates CHARITIES Personal Support The Charity Group was delighted to be able to hand over cheques Our daily input to personal support continues to develop this session with a range of for £500 to the Ayrshire Hospice departments and staff contributing to the learning programme. As well as daily attendance and the North Ayrshire Foodbank. checks and bulletin notices, pupils are participating in learning activities using their learning There have been a number of journals and other interactive activities. Pupils should be at their Personal Support Class ready to fundraising activities which have start at 8.45am every day and ensure they have their journals with them. taken place over the last year to support both of these charities, and more opportunities to raise even more funds will continue Personal Support Programme Jan– Mar 2017 into the New Year. As well as cash donations, staff Week Begin- and pupils have continued to ning BGE Senior Phase donate items of food on a 09.01.17 monthly basis to the Foodbank as part of Foodbank Friday, In 16.01.17 November 102 selection boxes 23.01.17 Holocaust Memorial Holocaust Memorial were donated by staff and senior 30.01.17 Number Day Number Day students to help support the 06.02.17 Day for Change Day for Change Foodbank over the Christmas period. 13.02.17 Fairtrade Fortnight Fairtrade Fortnight Earlier this term we had a staff 20.02.17 Decorate your doors Decorate your doors coffee morning and pupil cake 27.02.17 World Book Day World Book Day and candy sale to raise money for 06.03.17 Smoking Awareness Smoking Awareness those affected in Haiti and Syria. This, coupled with a donation 13.03.17 Learning Journals Learning Journals from the school allowed us to donate £400 to each of these 20.03.17 Achievement Tracker Achievement Tracker appeals. 27.03.17 World water Day World Water Day Spring Holiday December 16th also saw all staff and pupils participate in the national Christmas Jumper Day. Student Leaders making our donation to Foodbank Money collected will be donated to Save the Children. Thank you to the school community for your continued support of our chosen charities. 2 Broad General Education Tae celebrate St Andra's Day, 3.6 maunaged sum richt fantoosh wurk oan the Scots Leid. They screived oan a picture o the Wee Broon Moose fae 'The Gruffalo in Scots' then pickit thur most gallus Scots words fur the wa'. They took aw the ideas fae Julia Donaldson's screivin and thocht up thur ain cherecters and wrote a story o thur ain fur the weans. The hud a richt gallus time, freens! Senior Phase Prelim examinations commence week beginning 16th January. Pupils studying at National 5, Higher or Advanced Higher level will be assessed in a format similar to their final SQA exams. Miss McEvoy has been leading sessions on “How to Study” for senior pupils. These have proved to be popular amongst students as they have learned about time management, note taking, mind mapping and other techniques. Other departments have been running regular supported study sessions with subject specific focuses. Pupils will not have exam leave for prelims and should be attending normal classes out with scheduled examinations. Timetables were issued on Friday 8th December and copies are also available via the school website, www.ardrossanacademy.co.uk under School Information and Calendar. The prelim examinations provide staff with evidence of pupils’ likely levels of achievement. This data is used to provide estimated grades to SQA which may have an impact on whether Marking Reviews can be considered in August. Staff also use professional judgement on progress with internal coursework, where it is part of the course, to inform these estimates. It is therefore vital that pupils apply themselves fully to prelim examinations and maintain good study habits over the holidays. We wish all our seniors the best of luck in their upcoming exams! 3 UNIFORM Junior House Ambassadors Just a reminder of the expected uniform standards for session 2016-17. In October we launched a new initiative aimed at encouraging leadership Plain black/white shirt. development at all levels in the school and promoting the House system in the School tie (£4 from office) school. Pupils in S1-3 were invited to apply for the role of House Ambassador by or senior tie (£5 from office) completing an application form. We then invited pupils to take part in group (S1 & Plain black jumper or S2) and solo interviews (S3) where candidates were asked questions by the senior cardigan (no hoodies) House Captains. The House Captains then made the extremely difficult decision on who was selected to be a House Ambassador! The House Ambassadors will now be Plain black trousers or skirts expected to participate in House activities and represent the school when required to (no jeans or leggings). do so at various events. For example, Annick and Barra House Ambassadors have Plain black footwear worked with their House Captains to assist at recent Parents’ Evenings and our S1 House Ambassadors recently represented the school at the James McFarlane Xmas Blazers can be Fayre. The ambassadors were issued with their lapel badges at assemblies in purchased from the office November and we look forward to seeing them take their ideas forward in the New for £20. They are a great Year. Pictured below are some of our S1 and S2 ambassadors. alternative to a jumper and can be worn in class. PE Kit Black, blue or white t-shirt or polo shirt. Vest tops are not appropriate. Ardrossan Academy badged t-shirts and polo shirts can be purchased from office. Black or navy shorts or tracksuit bottoms. Soft soled shoes. Hoodies etc may be worn for outdoor activities. Pupils not participating in PE are still expected to change into kit and be involved in theory aspects of lessons. Clean kit will be provided for any pupil who forgets to bring it. 4 Developing the Young Workforce YOUR FUTURE We're looking forward to S2 Leadership Program seeing you all at our annual Your Future careers event will A group of 26 S2 pupils have been lead through a series of workshops on the attributes be held on the 11th January and values needed to become a leader by Derek Gall, of CANI Coaching. The pupils from 4-6.30pm. A range of worked hard for four full day sessions learning through various interactive experiences stalls will be available to help and discussions the pupils. The pupils discovered more about their own values and why you plan your own future in they are important as well as how these relate to their own leadership qualities. Now the world of work. that our leadership group have developed their skills relating to leadership they will be Employers including leading more events across the school in the near future. EDF, Booth Welsh, SimpsInns, the Army, RAF, Braehead Some of the inspiring messages that the group would like to share with the rest of our Foods and more will be school community are: available to discuss working within these sectors. “If you think you can, you can.” Colleges and Universities to discuss entry requirements “Happiness is key. Once you are happy you can do anything that you dream.” for courses as well as tell you more about studying at these “Never give up. Continue to push towards you goals no matter how hard they are!” institutions. Teachers will also be available “Anyone can be the best version of themselves.” to discuss progress within subjects as well as the variety “Don't worry about the future. Focus on now - developing your skills with your goal in of careers which become mind.” available by choosing their subject. “All you need is to be you.” “When you set your mind to something and believe you can do it - you will!” ArdCo The Ardrossan Academy Art and Design Company would like to thank all pupils, parents, carers and staff for their support at the School Christmas Fayre and throughout the year. Pupils framed art works will be displayed throughout the school with future plans to display art work within our local community. Best Wishes for your Festive Holiday and a Happy New Year to all. ThE ArT & DeSiGn Company. 5 HOLOCAUST Pastoral Support MEMORIAL ASSEMBLIES Impact Arts Caitlin Johnston, S5 and Six pupils have been taking part in a Creative Pathways' programme with Impact arts at the Alice Blades, S6, delivered a Harbor Arts Centre in Irvine. They have been learning a range of environmental skills includ- fascinating and moving ing planting and growing, enhancing and protecting, regeneration, design and recycling and account of their recent trip biodiversity. Pupils have been developing life skills in improving confidence, working in to Auschwitz to the S1 year teams, leadership, consultation and communication.