Session 2025-2026 Term 3 – Alford Academy

Daily Bulletin – Thursday 26 March

25th March 2026 Daily Bulletin Comments 0 Comment

Activities Week consent forms

All activities week consent forms need to be handed in to reception, or the pupil drop box as soon as possible and no later than end of day Thursday.

Plant Donations

Next term, if anyone has any extra plants or plant cuttings we could use them for the community garden.

Plants which have worked well in the past:

Tomatoes
Cucumbers
Berries
Peas

Daily Bulletin – Wednesday 25 March

24th March 2026 Daily Bulletin Comments 0 Comment

Exam Timetables

All S4 to S6’s will receive their exam timetables this afternoon. S4s will be given to them during their PSE classes, S5 will be handed out during an assembly period 7 and S6 will receive at an assembly period 6.

S6 Yearbook photo’s

All day today there will be a camera and photographer set up in the new S6 study area on the ground floor before PE corridor. All S6 pupils should go there at some point in the day to have their individual photo’s taken.

There will be a group photo for S6’s at 1:30pm in the amphitheatre.

Woodwork

Could any pupils who completed N5 Woodwork last year, who would like to take their projects home, come and collect them by Fri 17th of April please. That’s the Friday of the first week back after the Easter Holidays. Come and ask any of the Technical teachers for assistance.

Dress Down Day – Friday 27th March

The interact group & YPI winners representing the Asthma and Allergy Foundation have organised a dress down day on Friday 27th March. (This is instead of Comic Relief this year). Senior pupils will going around collecting donations period 1.

The Asthma and Allergy Foundation is Scotland’s only dedicated asthma charity providing evidence-based health information, confidential advice and practical support to over 23,000 adults, young people, and children with asthma and allergies, their families, and carers across Scotland annually. The charity also provide certified Asthma training to first aiders, offshore medics, teachers and healthcare professionals.

Free Toast

Just a reminder to pupils that to access the free toast at breaktime, you should be accessing this through the doors from the canteen and NOT through Reception.

Thank you

Litter in the village

We have had complaints from members of the public about our pupils throwing litter in the village. Please use the bins in the village or at school to dispose of your litter.

Thank you

Activities Week consent forms

All activities week consent forms need to be handed in to reception, or the pupil drop box as soon as possible and no later than end of day Thursday.

Food Fuel and Futures Alford Monday 30th March

24th March 2026 Daily Bulletin Comments 0 Comment

Community Cohesion Week Engage Survey

10th March 2026 Daily Bulletin Comments 0 Comment

Please see below a link to the Talking about Diversity and Community Belonging Engage page and a link to take part in a short survey for Community Cohesion week. The survey closes on Friday 13^th March.

Talking about Diversity and Community Belonging Engage survey:

https://engage.aberdeenshire.gov.uk/embeds/projects/48354/survey-tools/55788

Talking about Diversity and Community Belonging Engage page:

Talking about Diversity and Community Belonging | Engage Aberdeenshire

Daily Bulletin – Monday 9 March

6th March 2026 Daily Bulletin Comments 0 Comment

Dress Down Day – Friday 27^th March

Advance notice: Last day of term.

The Interact group & YPI winners representing the Asthma and Allergy Foundation, are organising a dress down day on Friday the 27th March. (This is instead of comic relief this year). Pupils will be collecting donations P1 that day.

Career Fair

Just a reminder that on Thursday 12^th March, we will have our annual career fair at the campus from 6pm – 8pm. We will have a representation across most job sectors in attendance along with apprenticeships / further and higher education.

I hope you can make it.

BGE Football Training

BGE Tuesday football training has now finished for the year.
We’ll start back up again at the beginning of the next school year.

A huge thank you to every single one of you for your hard work, commitment, and energy over the past eight months. Your effort, enthusiasm, and positive attitude have made the sessions a pleasure to run, and it’s been fantastic to see your progress.

Enjoy your break, and I look forward to seeing you all again next year!

Energy Drinks

5th March 2026 Daily Bulletin Comments 0 Comment

Dear Parents and Carers,

I am writing to raise an important concern that has increasingly come to our attention in school: the growing consumption of energy drinks among young people, and the impact these drinks can have on their wellbeing, behaviour, and learning.

Across Scotland, schools are reporting similar issues, and recent guidance from health professionals highlights why this is becoming such a significant concern. Energy drinks typically contain very high levels of caffeine and sugar. Even one can may exceed the daily recommended caffeine intake for a young person. This can lead to a range of short-term effects including headaches, heart palpitations, difficulty concentrating, irritability, and sleep disturbance. Over time, regular consumption can contribute to anxiety, poor sleep routines, and changes in mood and behaviour.

In school, we are seeing the effects firsthand. Young people who arrive having consumed energy drinks often struggle to settle, concentrate, or manage their emotions effectively. This not only affects their own learning but can also have an impact on others in the classroom. Staff have also observed an increase in students skipping breakfast and relying on these drinks for an energy boost, which can lead to further issues later in the day.

We will continue to review our PSE curriculum and as part of the review we will make sure that we highlight the health impact of energy drinks to our pupils.

I have spoken to retailers in the village about the sale of energy drinks to our pupils and most of the retailers abide by the voluntary code of conduct and do not sell energy drinks to young people under the age of 16.

To support our young people’s health and wellbeing, the school will continue to reinforce our policy that energy drinks are not permitted on the school grounds. Any energy drinks brought into school will be confiscated. We also ask for your support at home in discouraging your child from consuming these products, especially on school days. Encouraging healthier alternatives such as water, fruit juice, or a balanced breakfast can make a significant difference to their concentration, mood, and overall readiness to learn.

We recognise that young people can be influenced by marketing and peer trends. Your encouragement and clear messages at home play a vital role in helping them make safer and healthier choices. If you would like any further information or support on this issue, please feel free to contact us, and we will be happy to help.

Thank you, as always, for your ongoing support in promoting the wellbeing of our learners.

Yours sincerely,
Angela M Wotherspoon
Head Teacher

Daily Bulletin – Wednesday 4 March

3rd March 2026 Daily Bulletin Comments 0 Comment

Easter Quiz

For Easter, the Interact Club is running an Easter themed quiz around the school from the 9^th to the 13^th of March. Pupils will go through the school to answer questions and fill out an answer sheet. These can be collected from Mrs Rees-Jenkins in B1-23. Every single person who completes the form will receive a small chocolate egg and stand a chance to win an Easter hamper of Fairtrade goods, including chocolate, biscuits, soft drinks, and more. Entry costs 50p and you can enter from the 9^th onwards.

Senior Boys Football

Can the 14 players selected for the match v Mearns on Friday please attend a short meeting at 10:30 today down at the Games Hall.