This fine trophy was won by the school’s Cadet Corps at the Scottish  Command Naval & Military Tournament in 1905, as first prize (tent  pitching).

 The Cadet Corps at the school had been established some four years  earlier by Captain (later Lieutenant-Colonel) David Yuille, TD, JP, a  member of the Territorial Army (1st Volunteer Battalion, Royal Scots  Fusiliers), former pupil, and at that time a primary teacher at the  Academy. It is believed that this Corps was amongst the first to be  established at a state-aided school in Scotland.  The uniform consisted  of “…a Norfolk-type jacket with .... (To read on click here)

 Photo by Hinks Photography  

 Report by Stephen King - School Librarian

U CAN DO IT 2

63 KA pupils attended U Can Do It 2, a careers event organised through Determined to Succeed, on Tuesday 2nd February. During the event each pupil took part in two separate workshops delivered by a variety of companies & training providers. They thoroughly enjoyed the event and it certainly gave them food for thought on what their aspirations may be for the future.

Report and Pictures by Mr Ramsay

REMINDERS.....

Summer activities (Mr Ramsay)
Only pupils who have gained the appropriate amount of rewards can attend.  Pupils unable to attend will be informed in due course.  Alton Towers is only open to years 3,4,5 and 6.  All other trips/activities are open to all year groups. Only a certain number of places are available on trips.  This year’s trips will be held on Monday 28th June.  Activities are:

Skatepark, Unit 23, Dumbarton – cost £12  (£18 with skateboard hire and helmet hire) – Unlimited places
Inverclyde Leisure Centre – Swimming and Skating - £8 including skate hire – Unlimited Places
Laserquest and Ten Pin Bowling at XScape - £17 – Limited Places
Alton Towers – S3-S6 - £40 (£15 deposit) – Limited Places
Loudoun Castle Theme Park - £10 per head – Unlimited Places
           
Sign up for all activities in the Old Academy Hall at lunchtimes Monday to Thursday (8th - 11th February).

Quiz club (Miss MacDonald/Miss James)
Sorry but Quiz Club will not be on this Thursday (21st January) but will resume as normal next week.

Y Dance Class (Mrs Miller)
Sign up for this class now.  Starts on Thursday 21st January 3.30 – 4.30 pm.  Spaces are limited.  See noticeboard in PE Department.

Free Football on Fridays (PE Department)
Football for 12-18 year olds on Friday evenings – see notice in PE or link corridor for venues and times.  Come along as part of a team or individually to play.  .

For more details and events click here.

DON'T SUPPOSE MISS BROWN'S BEEN UP TO MUCH.....  

It was really good to hear recently from Miss Brown who left our English Department in June 2009 and is currently touring Australia:


We have had an absolutely fantastic trip so far.  We spent a couple of weeks in Sydney when we first arrived - what a beautiful city.  We did all of the touristy things like 'Jet Boating' around the harbour,  a visit to the Opera House (disappointingly brownish/nicotine stained in colour), hiking through the Blue Mountains and sun bathing on the infamous Bondi Beach.  We had dinner at the revolving tower restaurant where I declined the opportunity to taste Kangaroo.  I just couldn't bring myself to do it (see photo).
 
Our Sydney adventures did not last long, as the cost of living there is unimaginable!  We knew it would be expensive but we were not prepared for AUD$14 per drink, with the measures a measly 15ml!  We took a few weeks to travel up the East Coast, stopping at some beautiful surfing towns such as Byron Bay, Rainbow Beach and Hervey Bay.  I had a few surf lessons and you will be pleased to know that I can now stand up on a surf board, without stabilisers.  As disappointing as this may sound, I can assure you all that this is a great achievement.  Other fantastic activities we have participated in during our travels on the coast include scuba diving and snorkelling on the Great Barrier Reef, sky diving, self drive jeep safari on Frazer Island, a cruise around the Whitsunday Isles and jungle surfing in the rainforest of Cape Tribulation.

While the weather here is utterly roasting with temperatures in Perth reaching 43 degrees over the last few weeks, I have indeed experienced some winter nostalgia and almost wished I was at home with you all in the ice and the snow.  On learning that there was not a single hip replacement left in the whole of Dumfries and Galloway over the Christmas period, I quickly came to my senses.
 
I hope that everyone is well at K.A, it is hard to believe it is this time of year again already.  My thoughts are with those of you who have to deal with second year after the Christmas holidays.  I have attached a few photos of my adventures for you to laugh at.
 
Best Wishes
 
Lauren Brown

brouhaha

 1 - (noun) excited public interest, the clamour attending some  sensational event, or a hullabaloo
 2  -(noun) an episode involving excitement, turmoil, confusion, etc,  especially over a minor or trivial case
 
 History:  C16th, French, from exclamations made by characters  representing the devil in French drama

 Example: “There was a bit of a brouhaha over Mushy’s speech at Burns  Night: especially when he accused Fraser of not wearing the kilt in the  traditional style!”                                 

 To view previous Words of the Week click here.

REMINDERS.....

Summer activities (Mr Ramsay)
Only pupils who have gained the appropriate amount of rewards can attend.  Pupils unable to attend will be informed in due course.  Alton Towers is only open to years 3,4,5 and 6.  All other trips/activities are open to all year groups. Only a certain number of places are available on trips.  This year’s trips will be held on Monday 28th June.  Activities are:

Skatepark, Unit 23, Dumbarton – cost £12  (£18 with skateboard hire and helmet hire) – Unlimited places
Inverclyde Leisure Centre – Swimming and Skating - £8 including skate hire – Unlimited Places
Laserquest and Ten Pin Bowling at XScape - £17 – Limited Places
Alton Towers – S3-S6 - £40 (£15 deposit) – Limited Places
Loudoun Castle Theme Park - £10 per head – Unlimited Places
           
Sign up for all activities in the Old Academy Hall at lunchtimes Monday to Thursday (8th - 11th February).

Quiz club (Miss MacDonald/Miss James)
Sorry but Quiz Club will not be on this Thursday (21st January) but will resume as normal next week.

Y Dance Class (Mrs Miller)
Sign up for this class now.  Starts on Thursday 21st January 3.30 – 4.30 pm.  Spaces are limited.  See noticeboard in PE Department.

Free Football on Fridays (PE Department)
Football for 12-18 year olds on Friday evenings – see notice in PE or link corridor for venues and times.  Come along as part of a team or individually to play.  .

For more details and events click here.