Argyll and Bute Council
Comhairle Earra Ghàidheal agus Bhòid
Community Services
Executive Director: Cleland Sneddon
Headteacher: Mr D C Mitchell B Ed / Dunoon Grammar School60 Ardenslate Road, Dunoon,
Argyll, PA23 8LU
Tel: 01369705010 Fax: 01369702168 12 May 2014 Our Ref: DM/HMcV Your Ref:
If phoning or calling please ask for:
email:
Dear Parent/Carer,
Since our Newsletter in April there has been a great deal of success to celebrate at Dunoon Grammar School. I am sure you will be extremely impressed with the wide variety of opportunities your son/daughter is offered at our school.
The SQA examination diet is well underway. Our senior pupils have prepared themselves well by attending the extra study tutorials that are on offer.
I would like to take this opportunity to thank our S3 prefect team who have been doing a great job in the absence of our senior prefects.
A big well done to, Grant Emery, Ross Noble, Ross Montgomery, Rory MacRae, Ronan Walker, Hamish MacLean, Cambeul Walker, James Turton, Michael Seery, Robert Miller, Jennifer Marr, Elise Blair, Beth Hunter, Isla Alexander-McGarry, Heather Wilson, Sarah Fulton, Sadia Taj, Amy Thompson, Holli Scott, Georgia Wallace, Roisin Ballie-McCrossan, Claire Gray, Katie Stroud and Linzi Melville.
Dunoon Grammar School Summer Extravaganza
Dunoon Grammar School is holding a Summer Extravaganza to promote health and beauty within the area. Anyone in the community is welcome to come along.
There will be live music performed at the school with stalls with mini makeovers, we will offer you with a shiatsu head massage, hair up tutorials, nibbles, metafit, there will be mini work out tutorials with a guest expert and there will be range of mocktails.
Everyone is welcome to come and try it out, the event will be taking place on the 4th of June from 6.30pm until 8.30.
Under 15 Football Team news
Our under U15 football team played Woodfarm High School in the semi final of the St Mirren Cup. After a hard fought match Dunoon Grammar School won 2-1. The team now face St Ninian's in the final which will be played at Paisley University on 21/5/14. The kick off is 6.30pm.
Good luck boys
Dates for your diary
Friday 16th May - S1 reports issued
Week beginning 26th May - S1 tracking interviews begin
Friday 29th May - S3 reports issued
Monday 2nd June - New timetable
Monday 2nd June - S5/S6 induction day
Thursday 5th June - S3 parents' night
Tuesday 10th June-Friday 13th June - Primary 7 Induction days
Thursday 12th June - Primary 7 parents' information evening
Wednesday 18th June - Prizegiving
Thursday 19th June - Friday 20th June - S1-S4 award ceremonies
Friday 27th June - School closes 1pm
Dunoon Grammar School Pipe Band
The Pipe Band hosted a Charity night on Saturday 26th April in Cowal Golf Club and the money will be going to Asthma UK and Finding Your Feet. The night was great success music was provided by the Pipe Band and the Ceilidh band, Heron Valley, both were amazing. At the moment we have raised £1,200 and money is still coming in. It is for 2 great charities and we would like to thank everyone who supported us.
Dates of Pipe Band competitions and events, dates may change depending weather.
Sunday 11th May Gourock Games
Saturday 31st May The British, Bathgate
Saturday 7th June Shotts
Saturday 14th June Sandbank Gala Day
Sunday 22nd June Strathlachlan, Cairndow
Sunday 13th July Commonwealth Games Baton in Dunoon
Saturday 16th August The Worlds
Saturday 23rd August Rothesay
Wednesday 27th August Kirn Gala
Saturday 30th August Cowal
Commonwealth Games
Congratulations to Robert Miller(S3) and Alastair Ireland(S6) who have been selected to carry the baton during its journey through Argyll. This is a great achievement for two very talented youngsters. Both boys deserve this honour and we wish them well.
S3 Geography Field Trip
One of our S3 Geography classes had the opportunity to undertake 'real' Geography field work with a visit into Dunoon on Thursday 8th May. Pupils were accompanied by Miss Bruce from the Geography department and Helen MacLeod from Outdoor Learning.
Pupils were taking part in the trip as part of the CfE National 4/5 Geography course. As part of this course pupils are required to conduct a research project, involving carrying out field work activities. The techniques we were developing on the trip included carrying out a traffic survey, carrying out a land use survey and carrying out an environmental quality survey. We carried out traffic surveys and Environmental Quality surveys on Ardenslate Road and at the junction of Argyll Street & John Street to allow comparison. We also conducted a land use survey of the buildings of Argyll Street which we will be able to plot onto a map and also use to create a land use transect.
The pupils involved were a credit to the school and our other S3 Geography class are looking forward to completing the same field trip soon.
P7/S1 - Gaelic/Geography/ Maths & Music
P7s from Sandbank Primary Gaelic Unit along with S1s from Dunoon Grammar School are just beginning a project which brings together Gaelic, Geography, Maths and Music.
The pupils have done some work already looking at Gaelic place names and will shortly be visiting the Geography department to work on basic map reading skills. They will also hopefully have the opportunity to carry out some orienteering exercises around DGS and will complete some work looking at ratios and measuring distance.
This will culminate with a visit to Ardnadam archaeological site and some work on the use of place names in Gaelic songs.
Trip to Dublin, Ireland – Gaelic department
Pupils from S1 – S6 will leave for Ireland on Monday 2nd June for a 5 day trip which will include visiting a local Irish school and visiting sites of importance throughout Dublin and the surrounding areas. Pupils will also visit the Dublin Wax Works, Dublin Castle and The Leprechaun Museum as well as experiencing Irish music and culture at a traditional ceilidh.
S1 PSE class
Mrs Clark’s S1 PSE class have been working on Personal Safety this term. (Internet, Smoking, Drugs) At the end of the unit, they chose an area they found interesting and in pairs prepared a powerpoint or poster to be delivered to the P7 Pupils in Kirn Primary.
Pupils from the PSE class will be visiting Kirn Primary School where our they will be able to deliver their material to the Primary 7 pupils.
School Prizegiving
The main school prizegiving will take place on Wednesday 18 June 2014.
S1- S4 Award Ceremonies There will be award ceremonies for each year group, S1 – S4 on Thursday 19 and Friday 20 June 2014 to be held as follows
Thursday 19 June / Friday 20 June 2014P1 and P2 / S1 Mr Stewart / P1 and P2 / S2 Mr Wilson
P5 and P6 / S3 Mr Clark / P3 and P4 / S4 Mrs Biggart
More information will be issued in June.
Ski trip
Well done to the pupils who recently visited Pila in Italy for the school skiing trip. We met with Greenwood Academy and all pupils were a credit to the school.
Break Time S1 and S2
After speaking with a number of parents/carers I have taken the decision to instruct all S1 and S2 pupils to remain on the school premises during the morning interval. I would ask all parents/carers to discuss this with their child.
Litter Pick
Our S1 pupils will be involved in a litter pick on Friday 30th May.
The pupils will be kitted out in the forum with hi-viz jackets. Pupils will pair up - and given a gripper and rubbish bag per pairing.
They will then be escorted and supported to their allocated litter pick area by staff.
We would expect pupils to leave the school at approx 2.50 and litter pick until 3.20pm. Parents will receive a letter and consent form.
Learning Support Department
Please support Learning Support Department's sponsored walk on Tuesday June 12th when all learning centre pupils, staff and friends will take one of three routes to the top of The Camel's Hump according to their ability. Nicknamed 'Kilimancamelshump' the walk is in support of parent, Frances Halligan who is trekking to the peak of Mount Kilimanjaro to raise money for CLASP/ Cornerstone. CLASP/Cornerstone is a charity that provides additional services for adults and children with learning disabilities throughout Scotland including Cowal. Learning centre pupils are playing key roles in organising this event and are hoping to achieve a target of £500. Please support them by sponsoring them - every little helps.
Staff retirements
A number of our staff are retiring at the end of the session
Fiona Biggart - Depute Head Teacher
David Johnstone - Principal Teacher of Mathematics
Sandra Johnstone - Head of House
Janet McDougall - Teacher of Support
Joy Kennedy – Special Educational Needs Assistant
I am sure you will join me in wishing them all a very happy retirement.
Head Teacher Drop in
Mr Mitchell is available every Wednesday between 4pm-5.30pm for parents/carers who wish to discuss any issues or concerns.
D C Mitchell
Head Teacher