Some Feedback

"Great things in this site. Congratulations to you & all involved."
Robert Ireland "Irish"

"Just had to say that I think the website is fantastic!
"
Malcolm Fulton

"Just been checking out your website. How wonderful! Brought back some lovely memories."
Lauren Logan


    

      
Special Features 

by Dr Neil Dickson



Writing by
Hugh McIlvanney

    
              
    
Ali v Foreman - an account of one of the most remarkable bouts in boxing history by former pupil and sports journalist, Hugh McIlvanney.

Best Years of Our Lives - Hugh McIlvanney recalls one of football's legends.
 


                Writing by
       William McIlvanney


              

The Prisoner - a short story by author and former pupil William McIlvanney.

Dreaming Las Vegas - William McIlvanney writes about his trip to the city of shining lights.     

  

 

  Kilmarnock Academy

    Worldwide



Click on the map to navigate

   


Thanks to Sirius Concepts for hosting our school website.




Kilmarnock Academy School Web Site                            


Welcome to

Kilmarnock Academy's

School Web Site

All images of staff and pupils - copyright of Kilmarnock Academy
This site is best viewed in 1024 X 768 pixels

      
 SITE MAINTENANCE & UPDATES
 
 At the moment, I am trying to do some major, behind-the-scenes  maintenance on KA Web. As there are currently over 800 pages on the  site, there's a strong possibility that I may miss some corrections or  updates. If you spot anything that requires fixing or updating then  please e-mail me  (maintenance@kilmarnockacademy.co.uk).

 One problem I am aware of with the site is that the drop-down menu  fails to appear in certain web browsers and on some machines. If any  experts, tech-heads or general computer wizards out there can point  to a solution - or recommend a web-menu software that works with all  the main browsers - then please get in touch.

 Neil McIlvanney

 S4 PRELIM TIMETABLE
 
 If you are in S4 and you really want to have a Merry Christmas and a  Happy New Year, then we strongly recommend that you consult your  prelim timetable now (not the night before the exams start) so that you  can get yourself organized and properly prepared. Remember, these  exams will help to determine your future - no pressure, you understand.  Click here to start planning your journey to the land of Brainy.Also  check out:

 Helping your child to Revise at Home  &  S Grade English Study Guide

GAVIN MORRISON SAYS "HI!"

Hi everyone.
 
I came across the website and I think it is fantastic.  I attended KA from 1995-2000.  I can't believe the change in staffing and it would be lovely to see some old faces on the site.  From the age of 14 onwards I would tell my guidance teacher at the time, Mr. Kerr that I wanted to be an air-steward and I did fly for 3 years.  I'm currently doing my Nursing degree at UWS in Hamilton and I have one year left to complete, then I will be set free in to the wards, what a scary thought!!!  To earn money whilst I'm studying, I work for a homeless association.  I really love this work and it is very rewarding (it pays not too bad also). 
 
Anyway hi to all of the staff who remember me and to any former pupils who come for a look. 
 
Gavin Morrison
 
p.s. my side kick and partner in crime, Greig McMurray also says hi!!!  

KILMARNOCK ACADEMY'S GOT TALENT

As part of the programme for Children in Need, Miss Templeton arranged an afternoon of fine entertainment and what a good job she made of it! The judges for the event - Mrs Mckenzie, Mrs Dunsmuir and Mr Reid - were well impressed by the acts on show although some of Mr Reid's comments and views attracted a hostile response - something he's used to, being a Rangers supporter living in Coatbridge. To view more photos of the event click here.


Some winning contestants

Hughie Walsh & Granni Minogue

More talented contestants

 FRIDAY - CHILDREN IN NEED

Friday was the big day – and everyone dug deep in their pockets for Children in Need!

  • It was a non-uniform day – pay £1 at registration to wear what you like!
  • Kilmarnock Academy’s got Talent, Friday periods 5 and 6.
  • Pudsey Stickers were on sale in the foyer at interval and lunch – only 10p each.
  • Pudsey Cakes were on sale in the foyer.
  • Guess Pudsey’s Birthday to win Pudsey – 20p a go!

Remember this was all for a very good cause, and thanks for giving generously! We raised an amazing £1,733.79.

Miss Templeton


BAG-PACKING AT ASDA

Over 130 pupils and staff took part in the recent bag-packing event at Asda in Kilmarnock and they came in fancy dress because it was Hallowe’en. They did us proud and were complimented on their appearance and attitude. (To view more photos of the event click here.)

L. Hamilton

Mrs McFarlane - the happy witch

Mrs Hamilton's Fenwick night out!

Mrs Ford poses as an academic...

 KILMARNOCK ACADEMY WAR MEMORIAL

This time last year, we added the K.A. War Memorial to our website. While former pupils of K.A. will be familiar with the War Memorial in the Old Academy Hall, most probably were not aware of the fact that, after each world war the staff and pupils at K.A. compiled a booklet of "Short Biographical Notices of the Old Boys that fell" during the conflicts. These tributes were scanned by Dr Neil Dickson and uploaded to our website by myself. Our Memorial also contains work by pupils and photographs of Mr Reid's school trip
to visit the trenches. If you have not yet viewed this section of our website, you should do so.

Neil McIlvanney

 CLASS 1A1 - KILMARNOCK ACADEMY 1923

 My father was James Dempsey Burnie, he is in the center of the 3rd  row down.I thought you might like this for your archives. 

 I wonder do you keep an archive, have any old records survived.?  I  would be pleased to hear so I might ensure the orginal picture goes  back home to Scotland from Suffolk. 
 
 Noreen Burnie Finch

 FINANCE WEEK

 Kilmarnock Academy held a Finance Week at the end of October. The  aim was to focus on money matters, not only because of the current  “credit crunch”, but to increase awareness of how much things cost.  Pupils were made aware of how much more things cost when borrowing  was involved.

 Every pupil in the school was given a “cash tracker” to keep for the  week. This was a money diary ... (to read more click here)


 HOW MUCH DO YOU KNOW?

 It's firework time again and, of  course, we all know what we're doing  - so did the 69 UK fireworks  casualties in Oct/ Nov 2006. If you  think you know the score, then try to  guess the other rules in the Fireworks  Code (there are another 9 of them).  Click the picture (left) to see if you  were correct.

 HALLOWEEN......

 Friday October 31st has now passed  and it meant that, this year,  Kilmarnock celebrated Halloween on  the same night as the rest of the  country (it is tradition in Kilmarnock  that Halloween is celebrated on the  last Friday of the month - we do like  our weekends in these parts).
 Those who dared to go out reported  that there were even more scary  characters abroad than on the usual  Friday night in Killie.


COMPETITION TIME

The Herald newspaper group is running a competition to find the best description of where to have fun in Scotland.  You can win £1000 for yourself and £5000 for the school.  You simply have to write a short description (a paragraph or two at the most) of a good place to visit or spend time (eg Mr Fyffe's class, the Burns Mall, the Smokey Mountains).
 
To enter go to www.s1play.com/inspire

REMINDERS.....

Book tokens (Mrs Ford)
The Times and The Sunday Times newspapers are running a book token scheme for schools.  If you collect and hand in the token from these newspapers we can claim free books.  Please hand in tokens to Reception.


Past papers (Mrs Ford)
Any senior pupil who has past paper books they no longer require is kindly requested to hand them in to Reception.  These will be distributed to departments to use them for current classes.  Thank you in advance for your (anticipated) generosity.

For more details and events click here.

MRS FORD MAKES NEW FRIENDS

Our Head Teacher, Mrs Ford, made some new friends on her October trip to the Smokey Mountains in the United States. She told each of her new friends all about her previous trips to the US and gave them the lowdown on the current state of education, the world economy and life in the old days.


Cardboard Obama

Solitary Alligator

Wooden Owl

DANIELLE McKENZIE SAYS 'HI!'

Hi To all,
 
I dont know if you will remember me but I was flicking through the website and it's looking great - except the picture of me playing my clarinet. I remember that day I was practising for my exam and Mr McIlvanney popped his head round with the camera!
 
Just thought I would pop by and leave a wee e-mail to say thanks for putting up with me - don't know how you did, lol. I am now working in beechams catering department and loving it. I am starting management training soon and can't wait.
 
My wee sister is now at kilmarnock academy and she says it's great. All my best memories are there from young life and I would do it again if I could - but actually do the work this time.
 
Say hi to Mrs Timmons for me - one of the teachers I remember the most - and my computing teacher Miss Wilson but I dont think she is there now.
 
Thanks for all your support - I wouldn't be where I am now if it wasn't for my techers at Kilmarnock Academy.
 
Danielle Mackenzie (2000-2004)

WORDS OF WISDOM - HOLLY STRAIN


Alright teachers,
 
I'm doing my HND Photography & Digital Imaging now at a young seventeen years old. I'm also on chapter thirteen of my own novel, which I hope to have published someday, and in the coming years, after I sit my HND, I'm hoping to move to either Yokohama or Tokyo. I just want to say that I couldn't have gotten where I am today without the help and advice of my teachers. In particular, Mr Rigg, my guidance teacher who seemed to have endless amounts of patience.
 
I want to mention Mrs Ogg, Mr Reidford, Ms Fullerton and Mrs Lightbown in particular. All of my teachers have helped me throughout the years, but they're the ones who come to mind. I didn't always get on with some of you, but you each inspired me in different ways, and helped push me forward.
 
It actually saddens me when I see my friends who are still at school always complaining about how much they hate it and want to leave. It didn't take me long to realise that your school days are the best days of your teenage years. I have one friend in particular who has no respect for education, and it's sad to say, but if you don't stick in at school and try your best, you're limiting your chances of being successful in later life. I learnt that the hard way when I got my standard grade results through. While I did mostly well, I realised that there were two subjects in particular I could have tried much harder at. I knuckled down in 5th year, and after an art portfolio course, I got into an HND. I'm doing something I thoroughly enjoy and without education, I wouldn't be where I am.
 
I don't know what I'm trying to say here. I just want all the pupils who don't take school seriously and think they 'hate' their teachers to listen to me. I see it too often, young kids who go out and get drunk, and don't give a damn about schoolwork. Most of them are setting themselves back for the future. I'm not speaking as someone who used to go on like that, I'm speaking as someone who's had friends like that, and I've watched them fall further and further behind in coursework, and really regret it afterwards.
 
Education is one of the most imporant things in life. It's all good to say you can go and resit everything at college, but why resit when you could maybe have passed first time? College is fine, but there's something special about your school days that you can only really appreciate when you've left and moved on.
 
I just hope that some of you will read this and have a think, and then try a little bit harder.
 
Holly

 OCTOBER HOLIDAY ENDS

 School closed for the October holiday on Friday 10th.  Staff returned  for an in-service day on Monday 20th October and pupils returned the  following day.  Whether you manage to get away for a bit or just stay  at home and potter around, we hope all pupils,  parents and staff had  an enjoyable break.

 The term running up to Christmas is always a busy one. You can find  out what lies ahead by
checking our School Calendar.


 HI, FROM STUART GALLACHER IN THE USA

 
"Hey, just a quick e-mail to let you know that I am having an awesome  time out here in the U.S.A. The basketball is going well along with my  subjects and I am enjoying the American life style of eating, sleeping  and playing sports.

 Yours faithfully, Stuart Gallacher"


 Stuart, an extremely talented sportsman & a gifted musician, is one of  the good guys and we wish him well!
"A WONDERFUL SCHOOL!" - LILLIAN McGHIE

Ah! the wonderful memories of Kilmarnock Academy. Our family did not have much which was the way of many in the early 70's but the camaraderie at Kilmarnock Academy helped diminish any shortcomings we may have had.  I am Lillian McGhie (Doran) and enjoyed my time at the great school with many many friends. Starting out with Mr. James Hyslop and advancing to Mr. Frank Donnelly, with very fond memories of all the teaching staff.

I am now the owner of an environmental air pollution control company based in St. Catharines Ontario Canada and have a wonderfully talented 16 year old daughter.  I did travel to Kilmarnock on a regular basis before the passing of my parents and always made that nostalgic stop at the Old School. Sad to see the apartments as we had so much fun in the Music department down there.  I could go on forever, but to all of the Students today enjoy our wonderful school. It was a pleasure and a wonderful honour to have attended such a grand institution.

Fond memories of Mrs Torrance who forced me to improve those office skills that I still use today in my own business.
 
Lillian J. McGhie

KA WRITERS' WINDOW COMING SOON

A new section, KA WRITERS' WINDOW, will be added to KA Web soon. This section will feature the creative writing of pupils - although submissions from parents, staff and former pupils will also be welcome. To get a taste of what's to come, you can click on the pieces of writing below. The pupils - who produced the work in class - had to write a short piece about a special place and try to bring it to life for the reader. The pieces were written last year by members of 1P3 (now 2P3). To view more writing, click here.



Former Pupils

    Worldwide

We have recently heard from Peter Holt (Portugal), Gerry Greensmith in Brighton and Janie Henstock in South Africa who visited Kilmarnock in July 2006. She sent us some pictures and her thoughts on her visit.
GET IN TOUCH WITH K.A.

We have already heard from
Billy Lennon (Derby), Daryn Bolland (Canada), Linda Sewell (Kentucky, USA), Jamie Ross (Weston, Florida, USA), David McGaw (Hamilton), Kara Lou Ross (Kilmarnock), Julie Clemmy (Kilmarnock), Winifred Holland (Ontario), Heather Farrell Andolsen (New Jersey), Laura Hastings (Cape Cod), Russell Dowson (Boston), Alison Macmillan (London), Janet Smith (Auckland), Gordon Mutch (Ontario), Ed Wilson (Arkansas), Lesley Anne Campbell (Glasgow), Iain Brown (Kilmarnock), Jane Henstock (Johannesburg), Angela Brown (New York), Elaine McCulloch (Chicago), Roy McClymont (Atlanta), Craig Hanlon (Paris),Kirsteen Wright (Tokyo), Clifford McMillan (Korea), Elinor Kerr (Kilmarnock) and Scott Bell (Norway).



K.A. WORLDWIDE

Is anybody out there?

Over the past year we have received a number of e-mails from former pupils living abroad (check out the list on the left). These are being posted on the Former Pupils' Notice Board.

If you are a former pupil living abroad, then e-mail us and let us know what you've been up to lately.

As you can see from our list, we also welcome e-mails from former pupils who are still living locally.

So, what are you waiting for? Contact us at:

formerpupils@kilmarnockacademy.co.uk

            
                
K.A. Promoting Reading and Access to Knowledge

   Read all about it! Access all the UK national daily and Sunday papers at the click of a button.
     
     Here you can get reading lists, advice, book reviews, the latest reads and competitions.


   No matter what your interests, you should find something to suit you here.

   Here you can find out what's going on from L.A. to Moscow, at the click of a button.

K.A. Web - Credits

The creation and maintenance of this site has taken place (and continues to do so) outwith school time during evenings and weekends. It consumes serious amounts of time for which the creators receive no payment whatsoever. Neil Dickson and Neil Mcilvanney are both full-time English teachers with full timetables. Eric Gordon works full-time in I.T. for South Ayrshire Council.


Alistair and Stuart Livingston
The idea to upgrade our school website came originally from Alistair Livingston, (a former KA Maths teacher
and member of our school board) and his son Stuart.


Thanks to Sirius Concepts for hosting our school website.
The Pupils of K.A.
Enthusiastic contributions to many areas of the site - especially reviews of Books, Films Games and CDs. Keep those contributions coming.


Former Pupils of K.A.
Contributions from across the world to Former Pupils' Notice Board, K.A. Worldwide, Feedback & Requests. Your contributions are gratefully received - keep sending them in!


Neil McIlvanney
Creating and uploading all (700+) pages; site layout; all ideas for site content; all photos (except Art); researching links; updating content; developing additional features and content to be uploaded soon; design, layout and uploading of subject content pages (an additional 200+ pages coming soon).


Eric Gordon
Site menu system; many, many hours of invaluable technical support and advice; making up initial country pages for K.A. Worldwide.


Dr Neil Dickson
Content in History , Famous Former Pupils, Former Rectors.


Individual Subject Departments
Subject Content; Art Dept. - Art & Fashion photographs.

Carole Ford
Content for What's on This Month, the Weekly Bulletin and the Term Newsletters; arranging 5 days for Neil McIlvanney to work on the School Handbook Section; sanctioning finance for the creation of the site menu system.

Hugh & William McIlvanney
For giving permission to include their work on our school website.