Sporty pupils win cap calls
Well done to Auchinleck Academy S4 students Jamie Drummond and Thomas Mangan who have represented Scotland at rugby and ice hockey respectively. Jamie played for Scotland Under 16 in the Colwyn Bay Festival and Thomas for Scotland U17 in the Czech Republic. This brings the number of Scotland internationals in Lochlea House to four and Jamie and Thomas. They join football international Frazer Bryden and Basketball international Rebecca Morrison. To have so many pupils being selected for international recognition in one school is amazing but even more so given the fact that they are in the same House. Auchinleck Academy hosted the quarter- final of the Glasgow Science Festival K’Nex Challenge, a national competition that our cluster participate in each year, and an excellent opportunity for P6 pupils to engage with engineering, problem solving and team work. The first stage took place in primary schools across our cluster. Winning teams from these heats were then invited to participate in the quarter final challenge in Auchinleck Academy. This year, the teams were asked to construct a bridge while adhering to strict technical design criteria. The teams were also constrained by a tough time limit of only one hour. All teams were able to successfully meet the design brief and our judges, Mrs Kerr and Mr Gilchrist, were impressed by the standards achieved by all teams. Ben Hyslop and Ross Lindsay from Ochiltree Primary were the winning team. Aarran Whitfield and Jack Strawhorn from Mauchline Primary came a close second with a very solid design. The winning team will represent the Auchinleck Cluster at the regional semi- finals later in the year.
Ten Auchinleck Academy S1S3 girls took part in the Active Schools Competitive Sports Calendar girls’ football festival at Ayrshire College. The girls were up against St Josephs, Grange and Loudoun Academies playing each team twice. The girls were coached by senior pupils Jenna Gardiner and Rachel Scott, who did an excellent job. The girls did the school proud finishing with some great performances, particularly from top goal scorer Tamzin Ballantyne.
The Netball club gave out certificates and medals to the following prize winners. S1- 2 team: most improved player: Robyn Cunningham; players’ player of year: Jennifer Sharpe; player of year: Bronte Mangan; S3- 4 team: most improved player: Heather Gemmill; players’ player of year: Amy Taylor; player of year: Laura Purdie. Mrs Wallace is extremely super proud of the girls’ dedication and improvement made. Look out next season!
S4/ S5/ S6 pupils sitting SQA National 5/ Higher/ Advanced Higher Exams will be on Study Leave until Friday, May 26. Pupils who are returning to school after the exams will start their new timetable on Tuesday, May 30.
The school will be closed to pupils on Monday, May 29..