Friday 27th November 2009

Movember!

After intensive effort growing and grooming moustaches and beards in support of Movember! the several members of Nairn Academy staff with attractive facial hair have now reached the peak of their achievement. Mr. Lisle, Mr. Baird, Mr. Caddell, Mr. Hay, Mr. Mackenzie, Mr. Durkin and Dr. Gregson have made considerable sacrifices. The appeal for funds to help the work of Movember! in raising awareness of prostate and testicular cancer, goes on, and there will be a collection at the end of the month (this week).

Dress Down Day

The next Dress Down Day is scheduled for Friday this week (Friday 4th December). The event is being organised by the ‘Dreams and Teams’ group, who will be raising money for Help the Aged and the forthcoming trip to Malawi. Pupils will receive further details this week.

Communication

The next Parent surgery is scheduled for Thursday this week (3rd December). This is a drop-in surgery when no appointment is necessary. Rector Julie Macdonald will be available to meet parents between 4.30 and 6.00 p.m. to discuss general school matters.

The December Newsletter will be issued on Friday 4th December. The Newsletter will also be available on the school website at http://www.nairn.highland.sch.uk. All parents should ensure that they get hold of a copy of this issue, as this one will contain important information regarding adverse weather arrangements.

A Curriculum for Excellence

Current P7 pupils will be breaking new ground next school session, when the first year of whole-hearted activity through A Curriculum for Excellence really gets under way. The growing range of inter-disciplinary and innovative work will be assessed using new criteria, and teachers are beginning to make sense of the vast array of Learning Experiences and Outcomes published earlier this year. Exciting times.

Highland Literacy Project

The school’s involvement with the HLP takes on a new face for the remainder of this term, as a major focus on Paragraphing skills gets under way across the curriculum. HLP Co-ordinators Michael Gregson and John Chalmers are keen to see the whole school work together in raising standards of literacy. Watch this space for news of the Paragraphing prizes later this term.

Duke of Edinburgh’s Award – Royal visit to Inverness

On Monday 23rd November, S6 pupil Mark Bain represented Nairn Academy at a reception with HRH Earl of Wessex. The event was held in Inverness Royal Academy and was attended by Duke of Edinburgh’s participants from the Inverness area. The Earl spent 45mins with the participants, discussing the different areas of the award and what they had learnt by undertaking it. He spent several minutes talking to Mark about some of the activities he has undertaken and also about his involvement in Dreams and Teams, his trip to Malawi and other community projects. Mark was accompanied on the trip by Miss Gray. A great day was had by all.

Highland Youth Voice

Nairn pupils Aimee-Lee Stewart, Bethany Goodwin, Stuart Davidson and Zoe Finlayson all attended the Highland Youth Voice Conference at Badaguish last weekend. The feedback from the event was enthusiastic and the mini-Parliament agreed on a host of new initiatives, including lowering the voting age to 16. Our thanks go to Christie Fullerton and the team at the Nairn Youth Café, as well as to Audrey Anthoney, Rebecca Raynes and all at Youth Development who did so much to make this and the other young Citizenship events happen.

Staffing

We bid farewell to Mrs. Robertson of Business Education, who leaves us to take up a post at Culloden Academy. We also welcome back Mrs. Millsopp to the Modern Languages Department. Mrs. Millsopp returns on Monday 7th December following her maternity leave.


Murrayfield Trip

A large party of rugby-loving pupils played their part in Scotland’s famous victory over Australia at Murrayfield on Saturday. The 9-8 triumph was cheered enthusiastically by the crowd and Nairn’s support was whole-hearted.

Nairn Academy School Notes, Friday 20th November

Debating
We wish our team all the best for the finals of the North of Scotland schools debating competition which takes place this Friday (27th) in Forres .

Reports
We have experienced difficulties in completing our S5/6 reports due to the recent level of staff absence. We aim to have them issued early this week. S4 reports will follow on from this and due out early next week.

Parents’ Meetings
We were pleased that so many S1 parents were able to come along to parents meeting last week. This was an ideal opportunity for parents to meet S1 teachers and get initial feedback of S1 progress to date. Our thanks also to those who managed to complete a questionnaire. We are currently collating the responses and along with the S3 returns, we will provide feedback on the points raised.

Absences
We have noticed an increase in the number of pupil absences this week due to illness. We have also experienced an increase in the number of staff absent due to ill health. We will continue to monitor the situation and will aim to minimise disruption to classes.

Pupil achievement
Well done to Freddie Brown (S5) who won the handicap category at the Highland Junior Golf championships at Spey valley golf course last month.

21st Gala celebrations
A group of Nairn Academy pupils participated in this musical event at Eden Court theatre on 13 / 14 Nov. They joined pupils from across the Highland area to provide an excellent evening of musical entertainment. Our pupils did us proud. Well done to Bethany King, Jack Ledsham, Amy Riley, Jennifer Callaghan, Sophie Strain, Ailsa Baird, Sean Wilson and Holly Garrow. Our thanks also to the music tuition team for their continued support and direction.

More Pupil Musical Success
Following the Moray Piano Competition for 2009, many congratulations congratulations are due to Victoria Laidlaw, who was this year’s Winner of the Betty Wyness Rosebowl and Winner of the Cathedral Class Competition for this year . Victoria played ‘On an overgrown path’ by Janacek and ‘La Sarabande’ by Groblez


Basketball Qualification
Congratulations to Sports Leader Jodie Patterson who completed the Level 1 Basketball Floor Officials course.

Parent Council Coffee Morning
This event, on Saturday 19th December, from 10-12 at the British Legion, will be a great opportunity for families to relax in good surroundings and help support the school community. We are always looking for offers of help/ baking/ bric-a-brac and raffle prizes, so please get in touch with the school directly or via Parent Council members if you can help.

‘Dreams and Teams’ Malawi-Scotland Link

Have you bought your bag yet?

A Malawian baby elephant meets a Scottish Highland cow on the bag Nairn Academy’s Dreams and Teams group is selling to raise money for their visit to their ink school in Lilongwe in June 2010. Made in natural calico with the animal logo printed in black the long handled bag costs £4. This will make and excellent stocking filler for all who support Scotland’s friendship with Malawi. The bags also help with our environmental project as they help reduce waste.
The design has been drawn by Nairn artist Celia Laidlaw from Embroidery Design, the company that supplies Nairn Academy’s school uniforms.
Anyone wishing to purchase a bag should contact Ailsa Baird and Jamie McDonald at Nairn Academy, Duncan Drive, Nairn IV12 4RD (01667 453700). Cheques should be made payable to Nairn Academy.

Winter Draws on
Many of Nairn Academy’s busy community will be involved in this week’s Winter Lights Switch-on (27th November), and the elves are active even now in the creation of Santa’s Grotto.

Sports Leaders’ Activity
Among a host of events, there are opportunties for parents to leave children to ‘Stay and Play’ at Rosebank Primary School on 29th November; and also the seasonal fun at the Cawdor Xmas Fayre on 12th December. Also on 12th, a Bingo Night will take place at Househill; and on 13th, all hands are on deck for bag-packing at Somerfield. Thanks to all who are already supporting these hard-working youngsters.