Greenwood Academy: 10 December 2008

Dec 12 2008 Irvine Herald

ATTENTION all wind band members – there are no rehearsals until January so you are free on Wednesdays from 3.30pm.

A reminder for those who still have Smarties tubes to return, please do so quickly! Thank you. Pupils who have music from the Winter Concert, please return it to the pink box! If you have done all the above, well done. See you all in the New Year!

l S2 Outdoor Programme – Last week on December 2, a group of four pupils began their weekly outing to Castle Semple, Lochwinnoch, unfortunately due to the black ice there was no access to the surrounding area. The group re-arranged their journey and arrived at the hills above Largs. The scenery was stunning and the pupils had fun building snowmen. Later in the afternoon they travelled up to the Fairlie Moor and descended upon the waterfalls, which were spectacular. This week, December 9, the group are planning the Cairn Table or Glen Afton Walk.

l THANK you to all staff and pupils who contributed to the XL raffle which took place at the Winter Concert last Thursday. Prizes have now been issued to all winners and a total of £230 has been raised in aid of Ayrshire Cancer Support. Thank you to all who donated prizes to the cause.

l CONGRATULATIONS to the Junior Badminton Team on its successful performance last week.

The team drew against Irvine Royal Academy 8-8 and a winning result for Greenwood against Kilwinning Academy of 14-10. Congratulations also to the seniors who played against and won by 11-9. Well done everyone!

l MR MACDONALD (Art department) and a group of 21 pupils who are undertaking their Higher Art and Intermediate Art exams this year visited an art exhibition of SQA work at the People’s Palace in Glasgow. The trip was inspiring and the pupils were most impressed. This should give the students inspiration and encouragement to achieve high standards in their exams.

l SATURDAY, November 22, saw the annual Ayrshire Mini-Trials initiative take place at Kilmarnock Sheriff Court under the direction of Des Browne MP. Greenwood Academy pupils took to the courts after three weeks of giving up their lunch breaks to work on their ‘prosecution’ and ‘defence’ cases. Seven schools from East Ayrshire and Greenwood Academy, the only North Ayrshire entrant, met to present their cases which were based on the kind of real life criminal cases heard regularly within the Scottish Court System. On the big day, any nerves were quickly replaced with excitement and determination and it was not without payback, as both teams tasted success when they ‘won’ their respective cases by majority juror votes.

Should any of those involved decide to pursue a career in law a fine future lies ahead, equally for a few, a life on the stage would be well suited such was their outstanding and innovative performances!

It was a day in which the pupils of Greenwood Academy excelled and one which will be remembered by all involved for many years to come.

Much credit is due to Mr Kelso and Mrs McNeilly of Greenwood Academy’s Modern Studies department for their tireless help and to Mr Scott for assisting on the day. Well done to everyone!

The pupils involved were: Jacob Tomnay, Stephen Alfonso, Stephen McTaggart, Christopher Reilly, Scott Crossan, Toni Lenox, Thomas Gormley, Amy Morrell, Douglas Watson, Jacqueline Oliver and Lisa Slater.

l THE SENIOR Football Team progressed through to the Ayrshire League Cup semi final against Auchinleck into the final at Dam Park on Monday, December 15. Goals from Ryan Hamilton, Kenneth Hogg and Jack Pooler secured a 3-0 win. Well done!

l SENIOR Maths Challenge – Stuart Singleton of 6A received a bronze award for the recent Maths Challenge which took place. Very well done, Stuart!

l S6 PUPILS are visiting the Gaiety Theatre in Ayr to see the pantomime of ‘Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs’ on Tuesday, December 16.

l PUPILS in S1 will be visiting the Odeon Cinema in Kilmarnock to see the film ‘Four Christmas’s’. Pupils who received their bronze award earlier in the year are being rewarded for all their hard work by going to the cinema.