Pupils take part in careers day

PSE day: All S4 pupils took part in a careers day as part of the personal and social education programme.

Pupils attended a careers’ fayre in the morning where they communicated with employers about a range of different careers.

Over 20 employers attended and feedback from pupils and employers was very positive.

Students gathered a variety of information on different careers and the skills and qualities required for work.

In the afternoon, pupils listened to a motivational speaker and then worked on the My World of Work website. This allows pupils to complete CVs, access job opportunities and a wealth of information on careers and skills for life, learning and work. LGBT charter status: The school is working towards LGBT bronze charter status. A group of staff have attended training and a range of activities will take place to highlight the issue of homophobic, biphobic and transphobic bullying in school. This will ensure that all pupils feel included and respected as part of the school community.

Mossgiel Farm Trip: National 4 Hospitality visited Mossgiel Farm to learn about the importance of eating sustainably and buying locally. Farmer Bryce introduced them to the Mossgiel Girls and explained how they were looked after, the process of milking and what made the farm organic. Everyone had a great afternoon especially meeting the calves during the tour and having a chance to sit in a tractor. Thanks Farmer Bryce.

Basketball The U15 girls battled well against Williamwood High in their second Scottish Cup group game. This year is all about the girls getting experience, playing against older opposition in the hope that they will get challenged and try better themselves each game. They did just that - eventually! Going into the fourth quarter, Auchinleck trailed 32- 6 and needed a lift. Players’ player Ashley Boyd decided she wanted to score and with help from the rest of the girls, they rallied back to an outstanding fourth quarter performance and the game finished 36- 27.

Handball: The school competed in the Scottish Handball Finals at Ravenscraig. After a tough loss to Marr College, the girls won the two and drew with Girvan Academy, Linlithgow Academy and Duncanrig Academy respectfully. In the fourth placed play- off, the team trailed to Belmont Academy in the final 10 seconds before joint top goal- scorers, Kate Drummond and Charlie Devlin combined to score a great goal in the corner and force a penalty shoot- out. Sam Robertson scored the decisive goal and Courtney Graham, player of the tournament, made her fifth penalty save out of five.

Conference Rugby: Auchinleck Academy Rugby’s three opening conference fixtures have been successful with the U13s and U14s playing three and U16s playing one against Largs Academy. The U13s, in the first ever game for most of the team, displayed a lot of positive rugby with Modern Apprentice and coach, Samuel Gillony proud as his side ran out comfortable winners. This group then lost by one try to Cumnock Academy before beating Kyle Academy.

The U14s beat Largs and then met Cumnock but with injuries played with one less player, still scoring some impressive tries. The Kyle fixture followed more closely to the Largs fixture in that a dominating performance meant the full pitch fixture was shortened to a half pitch affair at half time.

The U16s beat Largs and now face a quarter- final to Stornoway to take on Nicolson Institute.