Scottish Children's Book Awards 2011

The Scottish Children's Book Awards (formerly the Royal Mail Awards) are Scotland's largest children's book awards, judged entirely by young people between September 2011 and January 2012 in three age categories: Bookbug Readers - 0-7 years, Younger Readers - 8-11 year and Older Readers - 12-16 years.

The Shortlist – Older Readers -

Nicola Morgan - Wasted

Theresa Breslin- Prisoner of the Inquisition

Teresa Flavin - The Blackhope Enigma

Mr Waterston is looking for keen readers to join the Shadowing Group!

Voting & Review Competition Deadline: Friday 27th January 2012


Curriculum for Excellence Experiences and Outcomes -

Shadowing the Book Awards can fulfil Literacy outcomes in Enjoyment and Choice (LIT 3-11a) as well as in Understanding, Analysing and Evaluating (LIT 3-16).

More Information - http://www.scottishbooktrust.com/scottishchildrensbookawards

Accelerated Reader Star Readers!

Awards were presented at Assembly to the pupils with the highest scores for the term. Congratulations and prizes were awarded to Niamh G (S1) and Craig G (S2).

S1 Star Reader – Niamh G – 249.5 points

S2 Star Reader – Craig G - 235.1 points

Library Club book sale for Pudsey!

Kyle Academy Library Club held a book sale on Wednesday 16th and Thursday 17th November to raise funds for Children in Need.

A grand total of £81.82 was raised!

Many thanks to all staff and pupils who donated books.

Authors live - Creative writing with David Almond!

S1 pupils at Kyle today enjoyed the live Scottish Book Trust web broadcast by David Almond.

David is the author of Skellig (1998) winning both the Carnegie Medal and Whitbread Award in the same year. His latest book, My Name is Mina, is a prequel to Skellig, and features the character of the same name in the title.

During the live event David sought to inspire children to write their own stories. This he achieved to great effect with his enthusiastic stories about the capabilities of the human imagination as well as a history of how he, an ordinary boy, came to be a successful author. Great fun!!

You can watch this and other Authors Live events (including Michael Morpurgo, Jacqueline Wilson & Charlie Higson) at http://www.scottishbooktrust.com/childrens-authors-live/2010-11

Edinburgh Book Festival 25th August 2011!!

76 S2 and S3 pupils (and 7 staff) from Kyle Academy had a fantastic time at the very sunny Edinburgh Book Festival this year! Kyle pupils enjoyed a fantastic session from Kevin Crossley-Holland who took them behind the scenes of how he researched his new novel, Bracelet of Bones, set in the Viking era.

http://www.kevincrossley-holland.com/

Benefits for pupils : the chance of meeting a 'real live' author can provide the incentive to get fully engaged in reading and writing projects at school. Thanks to the parents of pupils as well as the EBF Travel Fund who made this trip possible. Roll on 2012!

We are on GLOW!

Welcome back to 2011/2012!

The Library Blog is now on GLOW!
https://portal.glowscotland.org.uk/establishments/sakyleacademy/default.aspx

Sponsored Read update!

Thank you!!
:-)
A very big thanks to pupils and parents who so kindly took part in the recent Sponsored Read to raise funds for the Accelerated Reader Programme! We have raised £586.36 to spend on exciting new books! Thanks also to families who have donated books to the Library, your support is as always very much appreciated!!

Accelerated Reader Prizes!!

Congratulations to the following outstanding pupils who achieved the highest Accelerated Reader scores in their S1 and S2 classes and won National Book Tokens.

Abby E; Joni G; Jodie C; Kenneth B;

James M; Laura D; Charlie B; Owen G;

Liam J; Jordan S; Ryan M; Dean L;

Jasmine B; Duncan Mac; Nuala A.
Congratulations also to Ryan T who was presented with the first John Peter Boyle Memorial Award for effort and enthusiasm in Reading. Well done to all the above pupils, you are a credit to the school.

Well done Nuala!

Congratulations to Nuala A, S3, who has had a story published on the Scottish Book Trust website as part of their recent Family Legends Competition! read Nuala's story here http://www.scottishbooktrust.com/family-legends/stories/prisoner

Carnegie Medal winner announced!

SURPRISE WINNER!!!!

Patrick Ness has won the CILIP Carnegie Medal for Monsters of Men.

Kyle Academy Shadowing Group chose their Top 3 - White Crow, Out of Shadows and Prisoner of the Inquisition. Thanks to all who took part! View our homepage with reviews and a barometer of what we think is hot here -http://www.carnegiegreenaway.org.uk/grouphomepages/index.php?GroupID=10321

The CILIP Carnegie Medal 2011The shortlist for the 2011 Carnegie was incredibly strong, and each was a potential winner. However, the judges chose Monsters of Men by Patrick Ness because it really is outstanding. It is an extraordinary achievement. Not only does the author succeed in creating a richly imagined world that completely convinces the reader while challenging the imagination, he also poses profound questions about relationships, war, the horrors and heroism that can result and the nature of government. In the characters of Todd and Viola the reader meets real people facing real dilemmas. Above all Monsters of Men is an enthralling read that is well nigh impossible to put down and while a fitting conclusion to a remarkable trilogy, it is novel that both stands alone and stands out.

Take part in the Carnegie Book Awards 2011!!

Kyle Academy has registerd for the 2011 Carnegie Awards! The Carnegie Medal is awarded by children's librarians for an outstanding book for children and young people. The shortlist is:

• Prisoner of the inquisition by Theresa Breslin
  
  




• The Death Defying Pepper Roux by Geraldine McCaughrean
  
  




• Monsters of Men by Patrick Ness
  
  




• The Bride’s Farewell by Meg Rosoff
  





• White Crow by Marcus Sedgwick
  





• Out of shadows by Jason Wallace ... find out more information here:

http://www.carnegiegreenaway.org.uk/2011awards/carnegie_shortlist.php

Kyle Academy is registered under K on the Shadowing Site where you can submit reviews! Have a look at our page!

http://www.carnegiegreenaway.org.uk/grouphomepages/index.php?GroupID=10321

MYSP Elections @ KYLE Academy

MYSP Elections Congratulations to Cameron Fong (S4) who was elected to the Scottish Youth Parliament on Friday 25th March, 2011. The election was a great success and Kyle Academy had a high turn out of voters - thanks to all who participated and to the prefects and Mr Waterston who helped with the organisation of the voting. Commiserations to Sean Harris (S2) who campaigned well and was a good candidate. The other candidate elected to the Ayr constituency was Kirsty Lang, a pupil at Belmont Academy.

Opportunities !!! - PlanIt Plus for Careers

PlanIT Plus - 10 years of dependable excellence.

PlanIT Plus is Scotland's most accurate and up-to-date resource of careers, learning and school information.

Kyle Academy blog now links you to the excellent Plan ITPlus website where you can explore the fantastic Career Zone, Learning Zone, School Zone and Job Zone as well as create a winning CV!

http://www.planitplus.net/

Open University in Scotland’s Young Applicants in Schools Scheme.

The school has received a certificate to recognise our partnership with the Open University in Scotland’s Young Applicants in Schools Scheme.
S6 students undertake taster courses at first year University level to encourage independent learning and to assist the transition from school to University. More information at http://www8.open.ac.uk/choose/yass/

Royal Mail Book Awards - Winner!

Royal Mail Book Awards

The School Library Club shadowed the recent Royal Mail Book Awards where we read the short-listed books discussed their merits and voted on our favourite. The winning title was ‘Grass’ by Cathy MacPhail. http://www.scottishbooktrust.com/royalmailawards
Kyle Academy received a certificate of participation from the Scottish Book Trust and participants received a bookmark and free book.
Next up, the Library Club will shadow the Carnegie Awards. http://www.carnegiegreenaway.org.uk/home/index.php

WORLD BOOK DAY 2011 @ KYLE!

Kyle Academy celebrated World Book Day 2011 on Thursday the 3rd of March!! Every S1 and S2 pupil received a free book with Doctor Seuss and The Teacher's Tales of Terror proving to be extremely popular! Big thanks to Ms Moore who helped organise delivery of books to classes and is co-ordinating the National Book Token Design a Book Mark competition. Good luck everybody! http://www.worldbookday.com/

Competition Winner!

Congratulations to Alan G of 3rd Year who won the recent Strathclyde Police Internet Safety Competition with the message:
"If you want to add someone on chat sites make sure you know them.If you do not, ignore them even if they add you."
Alan received a Police goodie bag with this practical no nonsense slogan, well done Alan!

Book review -

Grass By Catherine MacPhail as reviewed by Nuala Abramson

This book is about a young boy in a town where the gang leaders know all - and rule all.
Leo witnesses a murder by one of the main gang leaders and is immediately spotted, putting his friends and family at risk, not to mention himself.
Like a fly in a web Leo is drawn into the murderers sinister net and there eventually seems no way out without harming someone he loves. Or is there?
This story is gripping, sinister and completely down to earth. Every scene is easy to imagine and it is understandable without being childish. The story weaves about at a quick pace but you are able to hang on without being able to guess what is coming around the corner.
I would recommend this book to anyone with a reading age of 11+, simply because it takes a bit of working out to fully understand. I can assure you that your fingers will not be able to wait to turn each page until the very end.