YOU’RE ENTITLED!
As part of the Customer First programme, the Scottish Government, East Ayrshire Council and other agencies have introduced the National Entitlement Card (NEC) to make it easier for people to access many public services across Scotland.
With the East Ayrshire card, anyone aged over 60 and many disabled people are able to travel free on virtually all scheduled bus services available to the general public. Anyone living in East Ayrshire qualifying for free bus travel can also benefit from other concessions ..read more Read more
FIRST SECONDARY SCHOOL GETS THE GREEN FLAG
Pupils at a local secondary school are reaping the reward for years of hard work – but not in the classroom.
Loudoun Academy has just become the first secondary school in East Ayrshire to get a Green Flag – the highest award under the Eco-Schools programme. The award recognises achievement in the areas of litter, waste minimisation, health and wellbeing.
Staff, pupils and friends of the Galston school organised lots of activities, including a very successful Bin It to Win It campaign. ..read more Read more
SUNSHINE ON SPORTS DAY
The sun shone brightly on north-west Kilmarnock last week as Onthank Primary kids raced out of the classrooms and on to the sports field.
Parents, friends and neighbours of the school flocked through the gates to get a ringside seat for the hard-fought sprints and obstacles races. The teachers’ skipping race drew cheers – but even more popular was the dads’ race, with kids yelling as the men hared towards the finishing line.
Refreshments were on offer and the audience showed ..read more Read more
PARTNERSHIP IN PRACTICE
Successful ways of supporting people with learning disabilities to live ordinary lives was the focus of a ‘Partnership in Practice’ event held at St Kentigern’s Church in Kilmarnock last week.
The event was a curtain raiser for Learning Disability Awareness Week which takes place from 20th June.
A wide range of organisations and agencies involved in working with people with learning disabilities and their families in East Ayrshire met to discuss and learn more about important issues affecting this key section of ..read more Read more
GROUND-BREAKING WEBSITE GIVES PUBLIC THEIR SAY
East Ayrshire’s young people, teachers and parents have been given the chance to speak directly with Government and share their views on Scottish education.
Engage for Education (www.engageforeducation.org) is an innovative website for anyone with an interest in learning and teaching. Participants will have the opportunity to influence government policy by providing feedback on key issues facing Scottish education.
The process will be two-way, with quick responses from the Scottish Government – including direct input from Education Ministers. ‘Workshops’ on hot education ..read more Read more
LIGHTING UP ST JOSEPH’S
St Joseph’s Church in Kilmarnock is looking resplendent at night thanks to the Council’s regeneration strategy for Kilmarnock town centre.
The illumination of St Joseph’s follows similar floodlighting schemes that have illuminated the Kilmarnock Viaduct and public art features within the town, including the twa dogs, the reading man and the Burns statue at the Cross. All of these buildings and art works have been brought to life as night time features and have made the town centre a much ..read more Read more
LOCAL SCHOOLS WIN THROUGH TO NATIONAL AWARDS FINALS
Two East Ayrshire schools have won places as finalists in the Scottish Education Awards 2010.
And staff and pupils from Grange Academy, Kilmarnock and Hillside School, Cumnock will attend a glittering awards ceremony in Glasgow’s City Halls on 18 June to find out if they’ve won a trophy and a £1,000 cheque.
Councillor Jim Roberts, East Ayrshire Council’s Spokesperson for Lifelong Learning, said:
“I am delighted that two of our schools are in the running for these prestigious awards. This reflects the ..read more Read more
GETTING REEL: KILMARNOCK PUPILS WIN LOCAL FILM COMPETITION
Two budding young film-makers from Kilmarnock have just scooped first place in a Scotland-wide film competition.
Nicole Crawley and Calhi Young of James Hamilton Academy, Kilmarnock, created their three-minute film about how they would like to get to school, to win first prize in the creative competition launched by sustainable transport charity Sustrans.
They win a Canon FS100 Digital Camcorder for their school, as well as a Samsung F30 camcorder for themselves, as did four other runners-up across Scotland.
Nicole and Calhi’s ..read more Read more
WALK THIS WAY… TO SCHOOL
Children across East Ayrshire said goodbye to the car and walked their way to school last week – some in cool sunglasses, hats, spiky hair and odd shoes.
26 local primary schools and 23 nurseries and family centres joined in Walk to School Week, 17-21 May, a national initiative involving thousands of schools across the UK. Focus of the campaign was to encourage parents and pupils to leave the car at home and stride to school instead.
Christine McManus, Travel Plan ..read more Read more
ONE WOMAN SHOW FOR ‘BREAK THE SILENCE’
A one-act play at the Palace Theatre by Sandra Brown OBE managed to raise £500 for Break the Silence, a local charity which supports adult survivors of childhood sexual abuse.
After Sandra performed an excerpt from her play at the Break the Silence Christmas Ladies Lunch last year, the charity was delighted when she then offered to bring the show to Kilmarnock’s Palace Theatre in aid of Break the Silence. A previous Scotswoman of the Year winner, Sandra set up the ..read more Read more
