Grange Academy

As we start back for the new term I find myself in the very surreal position of announcing that this will be my last term as Head Teacher here at Grange Academy. After almost 11 years of being a ‘Heidie’ I’ve decided it’s time to go, move on to pastures new and let someone else take over the reins. It has been an honour and a privilege to serve as your Head Teacher and my time here at Grange Academy has been for the most part the happiest of my career. I will finish at the end of March and the recruitment process for a new HT will commence in the very near future.

With 12 weeks remaining it’s a bit early to be saying farewell but thank you for your support, advice and encouragement in my time here at Grange. Our young people are second to none and I will miss them greatly when I leave at Easter.

Kind regards,

Robert Johnston

Head Teacher

January 5, 2022
by Mr COWAN
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School Update – 5th January 2022

Dear Parents/Carers and Pupils,

We are looking forward to welcoming you all back to school tomorrow morning after what I hope has been a good rest. The school day starts at the usual time of 08:45 and it is essential that as a school community we make every effort to keep ourselves and others safe over the coming weeks. As challenging as it can be we are asking pupils and staff to wear masks, wash/sanitise their hands regularly and to socially distance from each other whenever possible. It is also important for us to test regularly (twice weekly) using the LFT kits available from the school office.

Please make every effort to do an LFT this evening or tomorrow morning before coming to school.

Pupils should not attend school with symptoms (cough, temperature, loss or change to taste or smell and any cold-like symptoms such as sore head or sore throat) and they should isolate and book a PCR test – a negative LFT is not acceptable if someone has symptoms. Please remember LFTs should only be used for asymptomatic testing, (ie. when you don’t have symptoms), and results should be uploaded to the gov.uk portal (details included in all test kits). If you have symptoms – stay off and book a PCR.

With regard to the latest government advice issued this afternoon relating to periods of self-isolation please note that new isolation rules will not apply retrospectively – if staff and pupils are currently isolating they should follow the isolation dates previously given.

Given the current weather conditions we would also recommend that pupils wrap up well and wear warm clothing as teachers will have to keep some windows open in class to ensure good ventilation.

SENIOR PHASE ASSESSMENT BLOCK

Our Senior Phase Assessment Block will take place from Friday 7^th until Friday 21^st January 2022. The schedule is available on our school website here. If a pupil requires to be absent when they should have an assessment – please contact the school office.

Kind regards and a Happy New Year to everyone!

Robert Johnston

Head Teacher

December 22, 2021
by Mr COWAN
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School Update – 22nd December 2021

Dear Parents/Carers and Pupils,

As we reach the end of yet another busy and productive term at Grange it is incredible to reflect on what has been achieved by our young people and staff at a time when there are many pressures on our school. Although learning and teaching has been hampered by pupil and staff absence, our young people have made a determined effort in their studies, and this will stand them good stead for the future.

The young people of Grange Academy have been a credit to themselves, their families, and the school throughout all the challenges this pandemic has presented. Their attitude to giving of their best, to showing responsibility and to demonstrating resilience has been outstanding. We have asked so much of them in terms of learning to work and behave in new ways and they have stepped up to the mark. They are wonderful young people, and it is a privilege working with them each day.

We never cease to be amazed by the achievements of our young people and our weekly bulletin is an excellent opportunity to capture these – a huge thank you to Mr Smith (Maths) who has compiled our bulletin over the last term. If you haven’t had a chance – please take the time to look through some of our previous bulletins which are all available on our school website.

SCHOOL CALENDARS (JAN – JUNE 2022)

In preparation for January 2022 a copy of the key dates for January to June 2022 are now available on our school website.

Individual year group calendars in addition to a collated full school calendar are also available below:

Whole School Calendar

SENIOR PHASE ASSESSMENT BLOCK

STAFFING

Today we say farewell to Mrs Worrall (English) and Mr Keachie (Music). We wish them every success in their future careers and thank them for their contribution to Grange. In January we look forward to welcoming a number of new staff to the school:

Mr S McArthur (Music)
Ms H Anderson (English)
Miss S Ramage (Social Subjects and Modern Studies)
Mr C Mann (Social Subjects and History)

In addition, we offer our continued thanks to our supply staff who have been helping out across the school this year: Mr Hollywood, Mr Taylor, Mrs Miller, Mrs Harvie, Mr Donaldson, Mr McLaughland, Mr McGarvey and Miss Crossland.

JANUARY 2022

We start back in the New Year on Thursday 6th of January at 08:45 and it’s my hope and prayer that there will be little or no disruption to schools in the New Year. We are learning to live and work in a climate of uncertainty, and I believe we will emerge stronger from this experience.

Wishing you all the very best on behalf of myself and my colleagues here at Grange Academy.

Robert Johnston
Head Teacher

December 20, 2021
by Mr COWAN
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End of Term Update – Chief Education Officer

Dear Parents/Carers

Please find below an update from Linda McAulay-Griffiths (Chief Education Officer and Head of Education)

Letter to parents final 20.12.21 (click here to open in new tab)

Click to access Letter-to-parents-final-20.12.21.pdf

December 17, 2021
by Mr COWAN
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School Update – 17th December 2021

SCHOOL UPDATE – 17^th DECEMBER 2021

It’s been another busy week in Grange Academy with the added challenges of increased staff absence and, as in wider society, an increase in the number of pupils and staff self-isolating. Despite these challenges, there continues to be a positive energy and lots of exciting things happening within the school.

HEALTH AND SAFETY
This week has seen us offering LFD Asymptomatic Testing kits to pupils in the Street at the start of the school day. Any pupil who wishes to have some for the return to school in January can collect them from the school office.

PARENT COUNCIL RAFFLE
Our Parent Council’s 12 Days of Christmas raffle was a tremendous success raising £954. A huge thank you to all those supported the initiative by buying tickets, to our Parent Council members who not only organised the entire event but also donated and collated the incredible range of prizes and to our very own Mr Adams (PE Department) for selecting the winners each day and Mrs Carrie (School Office) for admin and ParentPay support throughtout.

P7 TRANSITION EVENTS
Miss McBride (PT Transitions) has been out visiting our associated primaries over the last few Friday afternoons. Visits to Shortlees PS, Crosshouse PS, Hillhead PS and Annanhill PS have already taken place and Miss McBride will be undertaking two Teams calls with Gargieston PS this afternoon. We look forward to our Transition programme continuing in 2022.

ADVENT REVISION CALENDAR AND STUDY SKILLS
Our Grange Advent Revision calendar continues to give daily tips and advice for Senior pupils in the run up to the January Assessment Block. These daily videos will continue right through until the 24^th December being released at 9:30am each day.

ONLINE RESOURCES
A reminder to our Senior Pupils who may want to undertake some studying over the holiday that resources are available on our Grange Academy Tile on Glow (Sharepoint). Information on how to set that up is available on our school website here.

SENIOR PHASE ATTAINMENT REVIEWS
Mr Cowan (DHT) and I have been meeting with all Principal Teachers (Curriculum) over the last two weeks to review Senior Phase attainment following the recent S4 reports and S5/6 Parents Evening. These have been very fruitful discussions allowing a chance to hear about the hard work of our Senior Pupils in the run up to the January Assessment Block.

CHRISTMAS IN THE COMMUNITY
Thanks to Mrs Brotherston (DHT) who has been working with some pupils to record Christmas Festive messages that will be shared with the residents of our local care and nursing homes.

STAFFING
A very warm welcome to Mr D Baird (Technical) and Ms J McKenzie (Art) who will join us full time from Monday 20^th December.

SCHOOL HOLIDAYS
As intimated last week, we close for the Christmas Holidays on Wednesday 22^nd December at 2:30pm and reopen on Thursday 6^th January 2022 at 8:45am.

Have a lovely weekend

Robert Johnston
Head Teacher

December 13, 2021
by Mr COWAN
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Asymptomatic Testing

Dear Parent/Carer,

As mentioned in recent communications, we are encouraging all young people and staff to self-test regularly using LFDs (Lateral Flow Devices). In the remaining days before the Christmas break we are having a final push on this and hope that the majority of pupils and staff will take part in the self testing programme.

LFD test kits will be available in The Street before school, morning interval and lunchtime from tomorrow for pupils to collect. NB. Kits will only be distributed to pupils who have a school bag to carry them in.

Staff and pupils are encouraged to start testing as soon as possible and also test prior to returning to school after the holiday.

Please see attached letter from NHS Test & Protect

Kind regards

Robert Johnston

Head Teacher

UPDATED ARRANGEMENTS FOR SCHOOL TESTING

December 10, 2021
by Mr COWAN
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School Update – 10th December 2021

Dear Pupils, Parents and Carers,

Health & Safety
With the increasing number of Omicron variant cases it is essential that as a school community we redouble our efforts to stay safe over the remaining 8 school days before Christmas. As challenging as it can be at times we are asking pupils and staff to wear masks, wash/sanitise their hands regularly and to socially distance from each other whenever possible. It is also important for us to test regularly (twice weekly) using the LFT kits available from the school office.

Senior Phase Assessment Block
Our Senior Phase Assessments are due to take place from the 7^th – 21^st January 2022. Mrs McLean (PT Science and SQA Coordinator) issued a letter yesterday afternoon (available on our website here) and spoke with all Senior Phase pupils in class throughout the day. A paper copy of the schedule will be issued next week.

S3 Parents Evening
Thanks to all our S3 Parents and Carers who joined us on Wednesday for our virtual Parents Evening. A survey has been issued to capture your feedback and is available to complete here.

Supported Study
Well done to all those pupils who are turning out at our various Supported Study classes. A massive thank you to all staff who are offering these opportunities for our pupils. Next week is the final week before the Christmas Holidays – please take up the opportunities on offer in advance of the January Assessment Block. An update to Week 3 is attached to this message and available on our school website here.

Grange Advent Revision Calendar
Our Advent Revision Calendar continues to provide a variety of tips and suggestions for effective study. You can view the entire playlist to date here.

School College Courses
Ayrshire College will close on Tuesday 21^st December at 4pm. School College courses will run as normal on this date but any class which normally finishes at 5pm will now finish at 4pm.

Christmas Holidays
Please note that we will close for the Christmas Holidays on Wednesday 22^nd December 2021 at 2:30pm and reopen on Thursday 6^th January 2022 at 8:45am.

Have a lovely weekend!

Robert Johnston
Head Teacher

December 10, 2021
by Mr COWAN
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