Oldmachar Academy Newsletter July 2013 Message from Mr Brown It gives me great pleasure to present to you this newsletter, which celebrates the end of session events that we staged in July. It covers a number of important celebrations that we have. There is also important information for parents about the start of next session, which will help everyone understand the school’s expectations with regard to uniform.
Featured Items Leadership Development Days End of Session Awards Ceremonies Summer Challenge Days
Finally, I would like to wish everyone a great summer.
S6 Leadership Development Days
Summer Challenge Day
S1 Awards Ceremony
S2 – S5 Awards Ceremony
S6 Leadership Development
Training Leaders for Next Year S6 students undertook two days of leadership development activities in preparation for the important role that they will have in the school next session. Students researched leaders they admired and completed the first of the two Units involved in the SQA Leadership Award. They also investigated leadership styles and behaviours.
Reflection and Planning In addition, students underwent a Myers Briggs personality profiling exercise to help them reflect on their own behaviour preferences and the impact that these might have on others. Finally, there was extended discussion of how to manage projects successfully from conception to closure. This work will underpin all of the planning of projects that the group will deliver next session.
S6 Leadership Training Days (continued) Senior Student Leadership Team In addition to the other aspects of the training, students also took part in an election process to establish our Senior Student Leadership Team. This team will have important duties in managing aspects of school business, such as Parents Events. They will also support the senior management team in the routine management of the school.
S6 Projects for 2013 – 2014 This year the S6 group will take responsibility for a number of specific projects in relation to: Eco Schools Peer Listening 30th Anniversary Celebrations Commonwealth Games Referendum Awareness Raising
Best of luck to everyone in the new S6!
S1 Awards Ceremony Guest of Honour We were delighted to welcome Ewen Kerr (former student and Global Director of Sparrows Group) to our ceremony. Ewen gave a talk about his role in Sparrows and about what they young people needed to do to be successful. He then presented awards to all S1students. Awards were for academic merit and were based on their performance throughout the year. Matthew Tosh performed an excellent musical item.
S1 Awards Ceremony (continued)
S1 Awards Ceremony (continued)
S2 – S5 Awards Ceremony Merit and Effort Students in S2 – S5 were awarded certificates on the basis of how they had performed throughout the year. Teachers recommended people for awards and then those with a certain number of awards received certificates. Ewen Kerr presented the certificates to the students who were chosen for awards. Katie Mackie and Alex Thom provided an excellent musical item.
S2 – S5 Awards Ceremony (continued)
S2 – S5 Awards Ceremony (continued)
S2 – S5 Awards Ceremony (continued)
Summer Challenge Day Summer Challenge In the next few pages we show images from the Summer Challenge Day: July 2nd. Thanks to Aberdeen University for the Use of Balgownie Playing Fields. Thanks also to Cammy Campbell from Atmosphere Lighting and Sound for the use of the PA system for the event. This is an important day for us, as the whole school comes together as one. Students and teachers are pictured engaged in the day’s activities. The weather was really good and everyone had a great day out.
Summer Challenge Day (continued)
Summer Challenge Day (continued)
Summer Challenge Day (continued)
Summer Challenge Day (continued)
Other News School Uniform Update Frances Scanlon from the uniform company Logo Xpress will be in Oldmachar Academy on Thursday 15th August, from 11am – 2pm, to deliver, fit and issue school blazers from those parents who have purchased them from her company. To ensure that parents are reminded about the date of Frances’s visit to Oldmachar Academy, we will issue a Group Call announcement in the week of Monday 11thAugust. School ties will also be able to be purchased from Frances’ company on the day for S4 and S5 students (S6 will retain their black ties for this session only. Ties will retail at £5 each. So far, all but a few students have purchased blazers for next session. Since we are keen to ensure that all students follow our uniform policy, we ask that all parents ensure that their young people have blazers and are able to wear them on the first day of school. Early Education and Childcare Group Pictured left are students from last session’s Intermediate 2 Early Education and Childcare award. They are pictured with Susan Greig their course tutor at the Aberlour Trust annual awards ceremony. The students have worked all year to develop skills and knowledge relating to working in early education and childcare settings. This included placements at local primary schools and private nursery providers. Well done to everyone involved. Best wishes for a great summer! From all the staff and pupils of Oldmachar Academy, we wish all parents, carers, and friends the very best for the summer. Let’s hope we get great weather and a proper rest in advance of yet another important year. Best wishes for session 2013 – 2014!