Alford Academy

The RYLA 2024 camp is being held at Abernethy Outdoor Centre this year. This is a week-long residential trip focusing on leadership in the outdoors, with like-minded people from across Scotland. Throughout the week, you will take part in a variety of activities such as raft-building, gorge walking, climbing, hiking, mountain biking and archery, working as part of a small team to support and encourage each other to achieve your goals. There will be a focus on leadership skills during the activities, including group management, health and safety considerations, team problem solving, and your individual performance as a leader. During the week, your group mentor will accompany you on your activities and provide feedback about your individual and team progress.

RYLA is a wonderful opportunity to try new activities, push yourself out of your comfort zone, meet people who may become friends for life, and make lasting memories. The experience isn’t just limited to during the day – evenings are an important time to get to know others on the course by organising group game sessions, exploring the centre, going for an evening swim, or forming an impromptu band in the music room.

 

Girls’ camp: 6^th – 13^th July

Boys’ camp: 13^th – 20^th July

 

The camp is open to young people of age 16-17, and participants are fully sponsored by their local Rotary club. Candidates must submit an application form and complete an interview with a member of Alford Rotary Club.

If you think you would be a good candidate for the course, find out more information and submit an application, by visiting www.ryla1010.com or talk to Fionn Sewell (S6) or Mrs Rees-Jenkins in science.

Well done to our Pipe Band who brought a packed out Music Hall audience to their feet last night as they performed on stage with the Red Hot Chilli Pipers. Special thanks to Ian Dallas and Scott Niven without whom this would never have been possible. Watch their performance of Highland Cathedral and Wake Me Up.

Well done to S3 pupils Christopher, Logan and Katie who took their fiddles down to The Richmond Fellowship in Alford to play some festive tunes on the last day of term.

The Richmond Fellowship Scotland is a charity which supports around 2500 people across Scotland with a broad range of needs to live as independently as possible in their own homes and communities.  They are the largest provider of social care services in Scotland, providing personalised, high-quality community-based support services for those who require support in their lives.

Well done to our three musicians who delighted their very appreciative audience with a selection of festive music.

As part of Techfest, one of our fifth year pupils recently completed her own TedEd talk on the famous red dot.  Isabella, was one of only 12 pupils chosen from across Aberdeenshire to take part in the programme.  TedEd Aberdeen is a new initiative created in the spirit of TED’s overall mission to inspire, educate and share “ideas worth spreading”.  Isabella’s talk was on ‘Underappreciated women in STEM’.   Well done for all your hard work!

The senior boys football team travelled down to Fife to take on Levenmouth Academy in the 2^nd round of the Scottish Shield on Thursday afternoon.  The game was played at Bayview Stadium, home of League 2 side East Fife.  Levenmouth took an early lead in the game, a corner to the back post was headed in by the home side with only 5 minutes on the clock.  Soon after, Matthew made a great diving save low to his right to keep the deficit to 1.  However, the Alford boys did not panic and managed to get the ball down and play some good football and created a number of chances before finally getting the equaliser after 40 minutes.  Liam’s free-kick was flicked on by Harrison over the Levenmouth defence for Adam to latch onto and he drilled a low shot beyond the ‘keeper into the far corner of the net.

Alford came out in the second half and continued to dominate possession in difficult conditions with the wind and rain picking up.  Alford’s second goal had a touch of fortune about it as the Levenmouth defence, under pressure from Harrison ended up putting the ball into their own net after the ‘keeper’s clearance hit his team-mate and bounced onto the bar then spinning into the goal.

The midfield three of Angus, Mungo and Innes were relentless in their pressing of the Levenmouth midfield which led to Alford getting a free-kick 30 yards from goal.  Angus struck a peach of a shot that was heading for the top right corner but the ‘keeper got his hands to it but only managed to divert the ball into the bottom left corner of the goal to make it 3-1 to Alford.

With 25 minutes left, the Alford defence held strong and the whole team worked very hard to maintain their 2-goal lead.  They handled everything that Levenmouth threw at them and looked comfortable throughout.  Alford almost added to their tally in the final few minutes as Findlay and Harrison came close with efforts.  A fantastic effort from the whole team with everyone playing their part in a well-deserved victory.

Alford face another trip down to Fife in a couple of weeks’ time against Beath High School or Woodmill High School.

The Dresscode annual coding competition is now live! This years theme has been revealed.  Open to all Primary & Secondary pupils!  Lots of prizes to give away https://dresscode.org.uk/competitions

See Mrs Czarnecki in the Faculty of Business and Digital Education for more information