Brought to you by PressgangEditor: Jono McDermott 5M1

Once again, we have had an extremely busy term with a number of notable eventstaking place: some of these are documented in this newsletter. Thanks are due, once again, to the Pressgang team led by Mr Holding, for their hardwork and the high quality of their reporting: some budding journalists here no doubt! We were delighted by the success of our S1 girls’ Cross Country team who, for thefirst time, brought home the North East Schools Trophy! Their team win included 1st,2nd and 3rd places: almost unprecedented! Another first was achieved by our Senior Girls’ Netball Team who beat RobertGordon's in a hard fought final to win the Aberdeen Schools Senior League Netballtrophy. Well done to all concerned. We had a very successful Fairtrade Fortnight with presentations at assemblies andFairtrade goods sold and used in school. The canteen staff did us proud in their use ofFairtrade products in the tasty meals on offer. They repeated this when providing mealsfor a Global Citizenship event too. Planning for the new school continues. We are fortunate to have very good ongoingconsultations with the architects who have spent a great deal of time in school discussingour requirements. Look out for news of the official sod cutting ceremony soon! We strive constantly to improve what we do. To this end, I would like to thank youfor the return of Parents Evening questionnaires and, more recently the return ofconsultations on school dress along with the questionnaires completed and returned to anoutside company. These provide very value information to enable us to take forward anynecessary developments. Some happy news: Miss Robertson, Guidance Teacher of Keith House, got marriedon 15th March and will now be known as Mrs Sinclair. Congratulations!! We also welcomed Mr McKay back to school this last week of term and wish him allthe best as he takes over the running of the school again over the first couple of weeksback after Easter. Finally, to all our pupils who will very soon be facing their SQA exams, our very bestwishes! Hope all your hard work in classes and in revision pays dividends in your results.Good luck to you all.

I hope you enjoy reading this newsletter. Happy Easter everyone.

Glynis McClymontRector(Acting)

We have singers and dancers, comediansand magicians: out of the classroom, it’sincredible what the pupils of Ellon Academy getup to. And let me tell you, if we were assessedon these talents, everyone would go away withan A+! The Talent Show is an annual event thatfunds the school’s Link Committee and gives aidto our link school in Sri Lanka. It is also one ofthe most exciting events of the year, when theperformers among us emerge into the spotlightand never fail to impress the judges and, often,their bewildered teachers, who suddenly viewtheir pupils differently!

The show began with the judges entering, one by one, introduced by the fabulous hosts, AshleyMcIntosh and Josh Brock. And then the night was opened by a powerful Michael Jackson number byJono McDermott that stirred the audience up, ready for the energetic Mexican wave of talents that wasto take to the stage. Kirsty and Amy Fraser’s stunning Chicago routine had the audience crying out formore while acoustic group -Yasmin and Sons - were cheered back onstage for an encore! Host, Josh,got to fulfil another of his life’s missions by declaring, “Please welcome to the stage: Josh Brock!”then promptly blew the audience away with an Evolution of Dance number that ranged from ElvisPresley to Kung Fu Fighting, before joining the other sixth year pupils in the annual sixth year Boysvs. Girls dance-off showstopper.

During the break, the entertainment ranged from InnuendoBingo to two resounding pieces sung by last year’s winner,Declan Langlan. In the end, Jono took third place, second spotwent to singer Maria Misacas, while The Fraser Girls wereproclaimed overall winners and awarded the Cup!

However, the real winners were the audience and everyoneinvolved. For the artists it is a nerve-racking but thrillingexperience to perform on stage and those watching certainlywent home with a grin!

Saltire Award

Duke of Edinburgh Awards

As an addendum to the successful Party in the Park, it has recently been confirmed that EllonAcademy now holds the official Guinness World Record for the largest performance of the Supermandance! Well done to everyone involved and especially to those who put in a lot of effort to make thisday great fun!

Bethany Pace, 3K2

Over 100 of Ellon Academy’spupils have received The SaltireChallenge Award for their contribution toParty in the Park. Pupils of all ages, S1-S6, set up stalls around the field, givingup their own time to make the day moreenjoyable.

Elaine Wallace, Lauren Cassie, Luke Thorley, Stuart Gill,Liam Ray and Alex Budge have been awarded their Duke ofEdinburgh Silvers after camping and trekking for three days andtwo nights. The group enjoyed their time together, despite a fewhiccups in their journey, as they ended up having to cross somerather large rivers to get back on their way again. Some spentsome wet nights as the tent broke, which meant they slept insodden sleeping bags. Most of the group are going on to do theirgold award so they will have all three awards. Elaine told me,“It’s a superb experience and I would recommend people to goand do their Duke of Edinburgh Awards.”

These pupils were awarded a certificate, acknowledging and thanking them as individuals; theyalso gained 250 Young Scot points as a reward. The Saltire Award is made to those doing any sort ofvolunteer work. If you think you are eligible for an award, then you should find out more from Mrs Hallor Miss Tomlinson.

Bethany Pace, 3K2

“How dost thou like this tune?”Kirsty Fraser and Oliver Murray

The players are ready!

Environmental Success! On February 7th Ellon Academy hosted visitors from Eco Schools Scotland who were assessingthe school’s bid to land a coveted third Green Flag. Throughout the morning pupils from first year tosenior made presentations demonstrating progress made in areas as diverse as: Control of Litter, WasteMinimisation, Food and the Environment, Sustaining Our World, Transport and Health and Wellbeing.After the presentations, the delegation made a tour of the school.

Also present at the assessment were representatives from local community groups the schoolpartners with: Carole Hawthorne attended from Ellon Civic Pride, while Joyce O’Donnell attendedfrom ‘Friends of MacDonald Park’. Support from these partners reaffirmed the close liaison the schoolfosters within the community. This was enhanced further with a short visit made to McDonald Park tosee the excellent work done by pupils to date in planting trees and creating the foundation for what willbecome The Jubilee Garden.

The assessment went very well with Dugald MacGilp, Secondary Schools Assessment andDevelopment Officer, saying ours was the best example of integrated work in this area that he had seen.High praise indeed!

In early March, Mr MacGilp confirmed the award of Ellon Academy’s third Green Flag and, inparticular, praised our articulate and empowered students. Ellon Academy can take great pride inbecoming the first secondary Aberdeenshire school to achieve a third Green Flag.

To celebrate this fantastic achievement the Environmental Committee held a celebratory lunchon March 21st where, after enjoying the fine foods laid on, pupils were presented with Well DoneSlips by Deputy Rector Mrs McMillan.

Leona Anderson, 3M2

“But if ye wish her grateful prayer, Gie her a Haggis!”

That’s what the honest Scot exclaims, as he ends the Address to a Haggis, leaving it up to MrsBrown to recite the Selkirk Grace and command us all to eat our haggis, neaps and tatties. It’s Burn’sNicht again, and the fantastic Library Committee have organised another excellent lunch time event inmemory of Scotland’s greatest poet, Rabbie Burns. My turn came once the plates had been cleared(licked clean, I hasten to add, owing to the excellent cookery by our canteen staff) as I did the toast tothe lassies, which was replied to by special guest Deborah Leslie, our Reader in Residence forAberdeenshire. The entertainment also included a couple of pieces by the school Ceilidh Band and, ofcourse, the traditional bagpipes; Lauren Kyle and Kiera Stephen sang a heart-warming capellarendition of Loch Lomond by Runrig and Mr Ritchie also sang Johnny Cope to obvious delight ofeveryone present. Other special guests included former English teacher, Mrs Green and SeniorLibrarian for Educational and Cultural Development, Sue Cromar.

A big well done to the Library Committee for an excellent lunch time event, promoting ScottishLiterature and providing interruption to what can often become a dull school life!

Burn’s Lunch

Jono McDermott, 5M1

Visit from author, Anne Donovan

Leona Anderson, 3M2

On the 20th of March, well-known Scottish author, Anne Donovan spent almost two hours withpupils from Ellon Academy’s S4 top set English class and the Advanced Higher English classproviding tips to help them with their creative writing and folio work. Anne explained her work as anovelist and short story writer and read extracts from some of her books including her latest novel“Buddha Da”.

Public speaking in Ellon Academy has been taken to a whole new level, as Mr Coyle and MrMorrison and their respective class pupils went head to head to see who could produce a winning S3public speaker. During an event held in the School Library, pupils from both classes drew from abag a random topic that would become the subject for their talk. There were a wide range of topicssuch as money, marriage and even cheese!

The pupils battled alone when the speaking began though, as they were not allowed to usesupport aids such as PowerPoint or notes during their three minute talk! The hope for the S3 publicspeaking competition is that it will take off across the whole of S3, with classes competing againsteach other and helping to promote public speaking and its importance.

In the end Morrison’s Marauders were crowned overall victors with Steven McDonald, of3M2, taking the prize for best S3 public speaker. Steven will receive a trophy and a book voucher atthe end of the year prizegiving ceremony. Congratulations to Mr Morrison’s class and to Steven fora resounding victory!

Coyle vs. Morrison: Let Battle Commence

Leona Anderson, 3M2

River of WordsThe New Academy will be an exciting stream of

learning and, as we can now begin to see, a building of greathistoric importance. At a small gathering in Better ReadBooks on 1st February, local poet, Bernie Briggs, revealed anew project: River of Words, which will involve members ofthe Ellon community writing phrases to do with the Elloncommunity and our relationship with the River Ythan, whichwill then be inscribed on to the glass that separates the NewAcademy entrance and the swimming pool.

As part of this project, a group of S1/S2 pupils met withthe Ellon Memorial Group at Ellon Library before embarkingon a walk around Ellon’s historic points of interest, includingMoot Hill, the Seat of Justice for all of Buchan, which wasburnt down by Robert the Bruce, in the year 1307.

This is certainly a very exciting project and one thatwill no doubt make one of many great features to the NewAcademy, which is due to open in 2015.

Jono McDermott, 5M1

Tearing Up the Track

Boxing Champ Reigns on!Congratulations to Ellon Academy’s S6 pupil Alex Paterson who won the Scottish Intermediate

Championship in Motherwell, in January! Alex overwhelmed Conner Prudende in the semi finals by ascore of 21:2 and then went on to the final where he defeated Daniel Fairweather 8:7 to win the title, in awin Alex described as “scintillating”. Now Alex will move on to compete in the Scottish BoxingChampionship in March, hopefully regaining the title he won two years ago.

Once more, congratulations to Alex for his “scintillating” win and good luck for the forthcomingcompetition!

Craig Ward, national 10-mile and 25-mile time trial champion, has been cycling in competitionsall over Scotland, claiming accolade after accolade. Having recently won Aberdeenshire’s Best AllRounder or BAR award, he is awaiting the results of the National BAR. As Craig is an Ellon Academypupil and is such an inspiration to budding cyclists, I sought him out for an exclusive interview.

I was surprised to discover that Craig got his first road bike four years ago, but only startedracing two years ago! However, after this year’s Olympic Games and Tour de France, it came as nosurprise that his cycling idol is Bradley Wiggins. Like Wiggins, his favourite terrain is road. Whenasked why he liked cycling he answered, “It keeps me fit… and you get to go fast!”

“How fast?” I asked.

“49 miles per hour,” he replied, with a smile. It’s no surprise, then, that after a long race, his legsget so tired and sore he can barely walk.

Craig admits he gets nervous before races but says the more races he does, the less nervous hegets; his most exciting race being the Bellahouston Criteria in Glasgow. And despite never havingcycled in a different country and his longest distance to date being 70 miles, our speedy cyclist aspiresto pedal his way into the Tour de France one day. He has even acquired a range of professional cyclingequipment, from clip-on shoes to an “aero helmet”.

He says he has acquired assorted cycling injuries, but nevertheless fervently disagrees withBradley Wiggins’ idea of a law against cycling without a helmet, as he feels this would discouragepeople who feel very uncomfortable wearing one. (However, we would like to advise that a helmetshould always be worn, especially when cycling near roads or at great speeds.) To close the interview,Craig mentioned that he feels the cyclist, Lance Armstrong, who faces allegations of doping, “was notas bad a cheat as the media made out” and believes the investigation into Armstrong was “biased”.

Cycling nationwide against all ages, Craig Ward is a rising star in the world of cycling and onewe should look out for! Magnus Dixon, 1F1

Leona Anderson, 3M2

SEEKING INVIGILATORS FOR ELLON ACADEMY We are looking for people in our area to support pupils during the main SQA exam diet from the26th April to the 7th June. An Invigilator undertakes the duties of invigilation for the externalassessment of National Qualifications, in accordance with SQA policy and instructions. Details of themain duties are outlined below:

• Supervise external assessments (examinations) to ensure candidates have the appropriateassessment materials provided by SQA.• Ensure that the assessments for which responsibility is assigned are carried out in accordancewith the specified instructions.• Report to the Chief Invigilator any anomalies during the external assessments.• Assist with the collation of the candidates’ answer books and other work for submission toSQA.• Responsible for the accurate recording of candidate attendance on attendance registers whereappropriate.

Invigilators are paid per hour. If you are interested please contact Depute Rector JEANMCMILLAN on 01358 720 715 for more information.

BadmintonWe attended three tournaments this term and were successful in two of them. In the North East

Junior Restricted Tournament held at the Aberdeen Sports Village on Saturday 16th February, JennyTones was runner-up in Girls Singles, Jenny Tones and Rachael Clark won Girls Doubles and GrantPirie and Alex Kearney were runners-up in boys doubles. The very next day, we played the final dayof four in the Crombie League at the Beach Leisure Centre and our Division Two team of Grant Pirie,Alex Kearney, James Rae and Jenny Tones won the Crombie Shield coming ahead of Robert Gordons,Cults Community Centre and Forres Academy by winning all their eleven matches over the four days.Our Division Three team of Rachael Clark, Rhys Jones, Rebekah Clark, Jennifer Hendry and LoisNicol played well, coming 5th out of eleven teams. Well done to everyone!

Sessions continue in the Games Hall asnormal for the summer term on MondayLunchtime, Tuesday after school, Wednesday afterschool and Sunday 4-6pm in Newburgh PublicHall. Cost is £2. Tina Kearney

Netball Well done to the Senior Girls Netball Team who won the Netball League by beatingRobert Gordons 23-19 in a very exciting match on Thursday 14th March.

To celebrate World Book Day a group of S1/2 pupils,Paired Readers and The Library Committee had anentertaining afternoon in The Reading Bus. AberdeenshireWriter in Residence, Deborah Leslie, and 'The Blacksmith'sDaughter', Helen Macdonald, read and told stories toAfrican musical accompaniment provided by the pupils.The Reading Bus will be heading to Zambia soon to spreadthe joy of reading!

Reading Bus and Red Nose Day

On the 7th February, pupils and teachers paid £2 and came into school wearing items of red insupport of the British Heart Foundation. In addition to inspiring a ‘fun’ with some inspirationalcostumes, we are pleased to advise that a cheque for the princely sum of £1,000 has been forwarded tothe charity.

Rock Up In Red!

25 seniors are about to complete another year of supporting S1 and S2 pupils in Reading forFun. The final get together on Wednesday will signal the end to paired reading support, for themoment, as Seniors get geared up for their all-important Highers. S1 and S2 pupils thank them fortheir input and look forward to it starting again in the next academic year!

S1/2 pupils, Mrs Murdoch, Mrs Willox and Mrs Adams

Mrs Adams

PairedReaders

Ellon Academy is a Fairtrade school and that title comes only as a result of the great amount ofhard work that we put in every year to promote the Fairtrade organisation and fair trade for farmers ineconomically less developed countries. This year promised to top all other years with a greatabundance of special activities and sales, including the usual stall in the canteen at Friday Lunchtimesas well as a special Fairtrade menu on the 6th March. The staff room was also home to a bananabonanza and a Fairtrade coffee morning during Fairtrade Fortnight.

In addition to this, the pupils involved in World Challenge 2014 have led a bid to sell 90kg ofrice, which would make enough money for a Malawian farmer to send his children to secondary schoolfor a year. Several activities were also featured in-class to raise awareness of the benefits of Fairtrade.

Fairtrade Jono McDermott, 5M1

16 S1/S2 pupils organised and set up a Bake-off for Comic Relief with Mrs Adamson and MrsAdams and raised £55! They baked and sold 100 Red Nose cakes-delicious!

Following Two VERY successful events, we are holding another Evening ofEntertainment on Friday 27th September, 2013. This is an event for the WHOLEcommunity! Parents, clubs, organisations, businesses etc are all welcome. It isbecoming very popular and already tables have been reserved.

Please note this is an evening with a meal, a bar and is for adults only.

Among the entertainment this year will be:1. A band of former Ellon Academy pupils,“The superb Edinburgh-

based band Modhan…have created a fascinating blend of traditional Scottishmusic married with splashes of jazz and funk. The result…. is constantlySURPRISING world music that charms and engages” (Press and Journal 2012).For more information see their website www.modhan.com

2. Former pupil, Carla Zambonini: a popular singer in the AberdeenCircuit. Carla continues to go from strength to strength performing with her bandat many functions/ weddings and as a soloist.

3. Former pupil, Scott Armstrong: Scott’s popularity at our Evening ofEntertainment sees him return for his third year. He is well known in MusicalTheatre. His credits include many performances across Scotland and in London.

Tickets will go on sale before the summer holidays priced at £25 pp. To reservetickets or a table (for 10 guests) please contact: Helen O’Brien at Ellon Academy(01358 720715) or email hobrien@ellonacademy.aberdeenshire.sch.uk

We also have information and photos from previous events on “EllonAcademy Business Partners” Facebook page.

Evening of Entertainment

Ellon Academy Hosts TheNorth East Business week

What is the North East Business week event we are hosting?• We have been asked to set up a business lunch here in Ellon

Academy, on Tuesday 23rd April 2013, as part of a timetableof events for the North East Business Week running that weekwith the theme 'People Driving Growth'. The organisers:Enterprise North East Trust, Federation of Small Businesses,Aberdeen Grampian Chamber of Commerce and ScottishCouncil for Development and Industry have askedAberdeenshire Council to host an event focussing on howyoung people are preparing to move into the business world.

What is the Ellon Academy Business lunch for?• Ellon Academy won the national “Scottish Education Award

for Promoting Enterprise and Employability Across Learning”in June 2012 in recognition of our excellent work in theseareas. We would like the opportunity to present our school tothe North East Business Week organisers and to our wellestablished business, education and service links so they cansee first hand what we do here to prepare our pupils for thework place. This lunch will enable guests to browse displaystands manned by pupils and staff as well as listen to apresentation by our pupils on: “How schools prepare youngpeople for work?” Then we will be delighted to welcome SirMoir Lockhead from First Group and Scott Wells from BP todeliver presentations on: “What businesses want from youngpeople?” An optional tour of the school is available prior tothis event for guests to see the school in action on a typicalday.

Ellon Academy welcomes and values the support of itsbusiness partners. For more information, contact KimHall on 01358 725272 orKim.Hall@aberdeenshire.gov.uk.

£££££ RE-CYCLE FOR CASH £££££

Why not re-cycle your oldmobile phones and ink

cartridges?

What do we need?

Please bring any old mobile phones or emptyprinter cartridges to Mrs Hall’s office. Make sureyou have your parent/carer permission to passthese to school. We have companies who willbuy these from us and the money raised will bespent on you! Meanwhile, your old phones andink cartridges will be repaired or re-filled andused in developing countries.

If you are a company or local organisationwho wants to help us with these collections,please drop off donations at the school office.Thank you to SCORE and Banff Buchan Collegewho have already volunteered their old inkcartridges to support the school.

All donations welcome!