SENIOR LEADERSHIP TEAM
Mrs Whiteside, Depute Head Teacher will commence her secondment to Doon Academy on return from the September Break. In the interim, members of the Senior Leadership Team will assume her various remit responsibilities and I will communicate further detail on this in the course of next week.
FIRE ALARM ACTIVATION
As you may be aware, we have had a few fire alarm activations since returning in August after a spell of nearly a year without any. We put a high priority on young people’s safety, wellbeing and learning in school and unfortunately the most recent have been identified to be coming from vaping in the toilets and excess deodorant in the changing rooms. I would wish to commend and thank our young people for how sensible and cooperative they have been throughout these matters and assure parents and carers that appropriate steps have been taken in connection to students responsible.
Any student identified setting off a fire alarm will be dealt with in the most serious of terms. Our position on unnecessary out of class time, students gathering in toilets and vaping in school has been made clear time and time again, although this involves a minority of students. We have seen big improvements in these areas of late and will ensure this continues through engaging with parents and carers where this is an issue for their child specifically.
ASSEMBLY PROGRAMME
Over the last week or so, Depute Head Teachers have led year group assemblies focussing on how we can get the best out of school, and be learning together, achieving together. As a team of staff, we also recently relaunched our Excellent Learning Framework setting out expectations for high quality experiences in every classroom and this was also shared with students. Our assemblies for next week will be led by the newly appointed Student Leadership Team on their roles and what they hope to take forwards this year.
DUKE OF EDINBURGH
We will be having a Parent & Carer Information Evening on Monday 7 October 2024 from 6.00 p.m. to 7.00 p.m. for students in S3 who are considering starting the Bronze Award. Last year we had nearly 40 students going through Bronze Award with almost all continuing to Silver this year. This is a fantastic programme for young people to take part in for their personal development and wider achievement and the evening will give parents and carers, and their young person, all the information needed to get started.
FAMILY LEARNING EVENT – HEALTHY LIVING
On Wednesday 9 October 2024 from 4.00 p.m. to 6.00 p.m. in the Assembly Hall and other locations around the school, we are having a family learning event focussed on healthy living, organised by S4 students in English classes. Special thanks to Mrs McCrone, Principal Teacher of English for organising with the team of staff supporting. There will be lots of different things to try and do, either fun filled, energetic or relaxing, which will promote good wellbeing and bring us together as a school community. More info to come as we approach the date on the activities available. I really hope you will be able to make it.
S1-S6 TRACKING REPORTS
Tracking reports will be issued to all S1-S6 students early next week. These will indicate ratings for Behaviour, Effort and Progress and up-to-date working levels. For S4-6 students, these will also include Aspirational Grades that students should hope to achieve if they work hard in their courses and how close they are to this at present. These early Tracking Reports are issued following target setting conversations in classes with learners and are designed to give a good indication of how students have settled into learning since returning in August.
S1 & S3 PARENTS’ EVENINGS
S3 Parents’ Evening will take place on Tuesday 1 October 2024 and S3 Parents’ Evening on Wednesday 30 October 2024, both between 4.15 p.m. and 6.45 p.m. in the Assembly Hall. Information will follow to the Main Contact email we hold on our school records for each student on how to access the booking system to make appointments with individual class teachers.
HELPING YOUR CHILD EVENINGS
In response to feedback from parents and carers which told us they wanted more information on how to support their child at each stage, we introduced our Helping Your Child evenings, which will run again very soon. These are informal opportunities to meet with staff in departments and learn alongside your young person about what they experience in their curriculum and across the school environment, allowing you to help them achieve their best.
These will run again on Tuesday 22 October 2024 for S2/3 students and Wednesday 23 October 2024 for S4/5 students between 4.30 p.m. and 6.30 p.m. starting in the Assembly Hall, then across different departments. We hope to see as many young people with their families as possible and a sign-up link will come in the next few weeks.
LONG WEEKEND
I am sure you need no reminder that the school is closed tomorrow, Friday 20 September 2024 and Monday 23 September 2024 for the local holiday. It looks to be really lovely weather and I hope you have nice plans for quality time with your family.
We look forwards to seeing our young people back in school on Tuesday 24 September 2024, bright and early, in full school uniform, eager and ready to learn.
Take care and best wishes for now
David Falconer
Head Teacher
