Catherine MacPhail at Spring Read 2008

On Wednesday JHA was host to an author event featuring the excellent Catherine MacPhail, with guests from Loudoun Academy and Stewarton Academy. Catherine's talk was superb, engaging the pupils in the creative process and providing her fans with insight into her well-known books.

I will be ordering additional copies of most of her novels due to great demand. Pictures of the event can be seen here.

Thanks to pupils and staff from Stewarton and Loudoun for being perfect guests. And thanks too to East Ayrshire School Librarians for organising the Spring Read events along with Pat Standen at East Ayrshire Libraries!

Readers' Cup 2nd Round Winners!

The 2nd round of the Readers' Cup took place P4 & P5 on Thursday 6th March (World Book Day). With guest quizmasters, prizes and sweets, this was an enjoyable event to liven up a dreich Thursday afternoon.

Congratulations to those who made it through to the final JHA team:

S1 - 1st place: Alan Reynold (1G); Joint 2nd place: Ryan Steel (1G) and John Priest (1B)

S2 - Joint 1st place: Lewis Moue (2R) and Matthew Griffen (2W)

There are more pics of the quiz at the side of the page.

Thanks also to Mr McGraw and Mr Chatham for being excellent Guest Quizmasters - both clearly watched Bamber Gascoigne when they were kids!

Catherine MacPhail site

The JHA Library Group have produced an amazing new website for our Spring Read visiting author, Catherine MacPhail. Please have a look at the site - www.freewebs.com/catherine-macphail/. There is lots of great info on the site as well as book reviews by the group, and you can also sign our guestbook!

Hopefully Catherine will be able to have a look at the site before her visit on 19th March. There are still some places free for this special event - if you'd like to attend just ask in the Library.

Book Oscars

As part of the Spring Read Book Festival 2008, Doon Academy is holding a Book Oscars and they are inviting you to vote. To do so just follow this link - http://www.misterpoll.com/polls/325920. I will post a message here with the results!

World Book Day & Readers' Cup 2nd Round

The Readers' Cup 2nd Round will be held on Thursday 6th March - World Book Day!

The S1 quiz will be held during P4 and the S2 quiz will be P5 (English periods). There will be special guest quizmasters and prizes for the winners.

Remember the winners will be representing the school at the Ayrshire Readers' Cup Final at Cumnock Academy in June.