November 2011 Newsletter |
| Posted by Rachael (office) on Nov 14 2011 |
NOVEMBER NEWSLETTER
Curriculum for Excellence Information Evening
The new curriculum is being introduced with current S1 and S2 pupils already involved. Current S2 pupils will be the first to sit the new National Qualifications in 2014. An information evening for parents of pupils in S1 and S2 will be held on Thursday 1st December 6.30pm – 7.30pm in the school hall.
S5/6 Contact Evening and progress checks
The S5/6 Contact Evening takes place on Wednesday 7th December. Appointment sheets will be issued towards the end of this month. Information on S5/6 progress will be posted to parents on Monday 28th November.
Prelims
S4 Prelims have now started and run until 6th December. Good luck to all pupils in their prelim exams. S5/6 Prelims start on Monday 16th January.
Industrial Action
Wednesday 30th November has been identified for possible industrial action in schools. Further information will be communicated to parents as soon as possible.
S1 Anti Bullying Sessions
S1 pupils are taking part in an innovative project during PSE time. Mairs Black Belt Academy will take pupils through a series of workshops where they will be asked to consider why bullying occurs and how it might be prevented. Further information has been issued to S1 pupils.
Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme
Congratulations to the following pupils who recently received their Duke of Edinburgh Bronze Award. Irene Cronie, Suzannah Mack, Amanda Love, Kirsten Brown, Bruce Foster, Sophie Horne, Fiona Paul, Sally Millar, Lisa Swanson, Abbie McLeod. The group have been working on the award for about a year and have completed the four required sections; these were a new skill, a physical activity, volunteering and a 2 day wild camping expedition.
DingwallAcademy Fright Night
On the 27th of October our ASDAN class organised a very successful Halloween disco for the senior pupils of DingwallAcademy. The event was described as “a fantastic night” by pupils and teachers, as well as the ASDAN class themselves. The disco was held in the multipurpose hall which was jam-packed because altogether 175 pupils attended, along with 16 teachers. The pupils out-did themselves with a range of fabulous costumes, most of which were homemade. Among our best dressed winners were Avatars, Fab Ice lollies, Barbie (still in the box!), Willy Wonka and a lamp. The ASDAN class’ effort was highly noted, especially by the cleaners who said that it was the tidiest they had ever seen the hall after a school function. The disco was an excellent way to raise money for our young enterprise project. Each ticket was sold for £5 and overall we managed to make a profit of £720, meaning that all the hard work of the class paid off. Thank you to everyone who contributed in making it such a memorable night, watch out for our young enterprise project in the near future.
Robbie Stanners and Ellen MacPhee S6
Teenage Cancer Trust
Johannes Kristensen 2N1raised £125.00 for Teenage Cancer Trust with a sponsored bike ride and run of 30 miles. Well done Johannes! This will be added to the £5500 already raised.
Blue Light Disco
Blue Light Disco will be held in Strathpeffer Pavilion 7.30pm-10.30pm on Friday 2nd December. Tickets £3 will be available from school.
Recycling
The school now has separate collections for general waste, paper, cardboard and plastic bottles. Those S2 pupils taking part in the interdisciplinary project ‘Waste Not Want Not’ help to collect the rubbish from classrooms and sort it into the recycling bins.
Chess Club
A school Chess Club now meets in Miss Macleod’s room (210) on a Friday lunchtime. All pupils welcome to come along and anyone wanting more information should speak to Miss Macleod.
DiGGers’ Club
The school gardening club goes from strength to strength and a very impressive arrray of vegetables can now be seen growing behind the school.
Back in May, 12 pupils and staff paid £1 to plant Walking Stick Cabbage seeds. The seeds were potted on and looked after by the gardening group “DiGGers” at the Academy. Over the summer break, the plants were on display at Frank Nicol’s Garden Centre where anyone could guess which one would grow the tallest. On Thursday 27th October, DiGGers members measured them and found a clear winner – number 2 – at 97cm. Josh Fraser in S2 won the £20 prize for guessing the correct one. Thanks to Frank Nicol’s for hosting the competition and donating the prize. Overall, the competition raised £70 for the Mary’s Meals charity. This will feed seven children in Malawi for a month. A huge thank you to all those who took part!
The cabbages will be planted out in the school garden to continue growing. We hope to dry out the stalks to make walking sticks from them! You can keep up with DiGGers’ exploits at www.dingwalldiggers.blogspot.com
Photo (left to right) Miss Swallow, Danielle Burton, Charlotte Finlayson, Catriona MacIver, Lewis MacKenzie (all S4)
Friends of the Pavilion Art Fair
A number of senior pupils have been asked to exhibit at the Friends of the Pavilion Art Fair. The event takes place at Strathpeffer Pavilion on Thursday 24th – Friday 25th November 10am to 8pm, Saturday 26th 10am – 6pm and Sunday 27th 10am – 2pm. Congratulations to all pupils taking part.
DingwallAcademy Drama Society
Since the formation of D.A.D.S we have gone from strength to strength. The size of the group is now over thirty members and still increasing. For our first production, in keeping with the season, D.A.D.S will be performing “The Winters Tale” by William Shakespeare, it is shaping up to be a brilliant show as rehearsals are going extremely well and everyone is enjoying themselves. So for a pre Christmas treat come along to see the show on the 14th and 15th of December at 7.30pm with teas, coffees and home baking served at the interval! Bring friends and family for a great evening out. Irene Cronie S4, Vice President of D.A.D.S.
Last changed: Nov 14 2011 at 10:16 AM
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