Dear Parent/Carer
The school holidays are here! Very best wishes to you and your family. May I take this chance to thank all of our staff, from the cleaners, jannies and canteen staff to the support assistants and the teachers, for the hard work they have put in over the course of 2015-2016. They are an exceptional group of people and the break is a very well deserved one.
Last week was the final week of term and we had 8 young people attending the University of St Andrews Sutton Trust Summer School. The Trust was founded in 1997 to improve social mobility through education. It is concerned with breaking the link between educational opportunities and family background, and in giving young people the chance to prosper, regardless of their social class, school or neighbourhood. I understand that the experience has been a great success. Shauni Boyd, Depute in the Prefect Leadership team will be attending the Edinburgh University summer school during the holidays. Also, best wishes to Head Boy Lachlan Duncan, Depute Leah Bidgood and Prefect Liam Lindsay, all of whom will be taking part in the Rotary Club RYLA Camps in the Cairngorms over the next fortnight.
We also held 2 special assemblies last week. On Monday the S2 had a talk from the Fire and Rescue Service about fire safety and this event was actually cut short when the speaker was called away to attend an emergency! On Tuesday, speakers from the Teenage Cancer Trust gave a talk to S3. Also on the Tuesday our Higher Maths pupils took part in engineering challenges set by the training department of Babcock Rosyth. Thanks to Mr Allan of the Mathematics Department for organising this valuable employability experience. Also that day, we had another group involved in an outdoor experience at Lochore Meadows with Mr Broadway.
On Wednesday afternoon a group of S4 pupils went on a short work experience at the Kwik Fit Training Academy at Broxburn.
Thursday was our end of term celebration; we call it the Big Event and we had stalls, craft “try-outs”, fun outdoor games, exhibits, a petting zoo, ice cream, a bouncy castle … all sorts of fun was had. Many thanks to all the community partners who helped out. We also had our prize draw with dozens of excellent prizes. The top prize of a £150 voucher for Spokes Cycles was won by Emma Murray.
Friday was our end of session Dress Down Day in support of our drive to purchase a defibrillator for the school. Thanks for donations received … and please stand by for news of the acquisition of this equipment in the new session. We also had our pupil Talent Show (organised by the Prefects). Very well done to all who took part – especially winners Holly (dance) and Morgan (hula hoops)
On Saturday, our LGBT group, which promotes equality and diversity (especially for gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people) visited the Pride March in Edinburgh and had a great day out between the rain showers!
Please expect a letter from me during the holidays – I will send this home along with a copy of our latest newsletter in the middle of July. It will be delivered by the 14th Fife (Dunnikier) Scouts as opposed to the Royal Mail. Apart from being a far less costly option, it is good to be able to give financial support to a local community group.
The exam results are delivered on Tuesday August 9. The staff will return to school on Monday 15 August with pupils back in classes on Wednesday 17. The morning of Tuesday 16 will be an opportunity for S5/6 pupils to discuss possible course changes in light of their exam results. The Guidance team will be available from 10am until 11.30am. More details will be given in the letter I will send out shortly.
As I say, do have a great holiday. Thanks for all your support – it makes all the difference.
With regards
Derek Allan
RECTOR
3 July 2016
