Dear Parent/Carer

 

I hope that you are well, have had a good week and are looking forward to the weekend.

This week has been another busy one with a special assembly for S2 on Monday. We had a guest speaker from the Teenage Cancer Trust. We also had a group of 30 S2 pupils up at Perth on a visit to the Black Watch Museum to mark the centenary of the Great War. Thanks to Miss Osborne of the History Department for her work with this. As I mentioned last week, she has also been working with young people at lunch times to create a display for the Assembly Hall. On Monday Evening, our S5/6 organised a Halloween Disco in the Hall, which was great fun. Many thanks to all the staff who helped out, especially to resident DJs, Mr Dick and Dr Murray

On Tuesday we had a large group of S4 attending the Foundation Apprenticeship Roadshow, which took place at Fife College, St Brycedale Campus. We also hosted the Rotary “Young Chef” Competition. Well done to Jake Ramsay and Andrew Collins, who go through to the next round to be held at Fife College on 26 November. Thanks also to Miss Collins (Head of Home Economics) who made the arrangements in conjunction with Sharon Munro, proprietor of the New York Sandwich Company, a Kirkcaldy based business which is supporting the event. Andrew and Jake are photographed with their successful menus.

In the afternoon, our Senior Football Team were away at Grove Academy (Broughty Ferry) in the Scottish Shield where they unfortunately lost out. However, our U14 had a better day, and beat Glenrothes High School 6-0 at KHS in the same competition.  I attended the Area Committee of Fife Council, joined by Cameron Bowie, Alanah Ferguson and John Hamilton, to explain about our success in the “COSLA” Awards. As ever, I was exceptionally proud of our young people. Fife Council is planning to hold a reception in Glenrothes to mark their success. We have been invited by the Provost. In evening, our English team hosted a special Parent/Carer Evening for all those sitting National 5 English next May. This was very useful and I must thank Mrs Thompson for her input. Thanks also to Katie Brown (S6), who spoke very well and gave excellent advice.

We had a trip to Glenrothes on Wednesday, when Miss Tennant took a group of S2 scientists to compete in the “Quadcopter” design and build competition and there was a Drama trip to Edinburgh on Wednesday afternoon, to see “Dracula” at the Kings Theatre. Mrs Bruce reports that this was an excellent production.

I was also in Edinburgh that day, at a meeting at the University, discussing how we can get more KHS kids involved in a wider access scheme. The University of Edinburgh is keen to extend its work to ensure that more young people from working class backgrounds get the chance to experience Higher Education. Their new programme was launched by John Swinney, the Education Secretary and KHS was the only Fife school invited along.

Yesterday, our “Walk and Talk” Group completed a sponsored walk at Lochore Meadows. They had a beautiful day for it and thoroughly enjoyed the activity. Thanks to Gillian Easson (Pupil Support Officer) for all her work with these health and wellbeing initiatives. Being outdoors is recognised as boost for emotional and mental health.

Then, yesterday evening, myself and the Depute Heads met with Callum Henderson, Scotland’s Honorary Consul to Rwanda, in advance of our school visit to that country next year. Many thanks to Ms Mahr (RME), for all her work to build this very important link to Africa. Later on, we had a “Friends of Kirkcaldy High School” meeting. Once again may I offer my appreciation of the support given by this group. A further donation has been received this week and this is going towards the purchase of another set of laptop computers. This is especially useful now that we now have wifi available throughout the building. This evening is the FoKHS “Race Night” This is always a good night out, and the funds raised once again go to help the school, for example by subsidising school trips for less well-off families.

Please look out for our young people tomorrow if you are shopping in the B and M Store at the Retail Park. We have a large group of Spanish language students bag packing to support their trip to Madrid next June.

Next week we’ll have House Assemblies on Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday when we will mark Remembrance. Blain Aitken, Cameron Bowie and Fraser Anderson will deliver short monologues based on the book “The Memorial in the School”, which gives a fascinating insight into the brief lives of the 108 former pupils and staff who lost their lives in the Great War. Dr Murray will sing, and Cameron Hamilton (S4) will close with the “Last Post” on cornet.

On Tuesday afternoon, our S5 are at the “Safe Drive, Stay Alive” Roadshow in Glenrothes and at the same time, the S6 will be working on a driver induction programme in school with Kwik Fit. This is called “New to the Road” and we are grateful to Kwik Fit for their support.

On Wednesday, our Advanced Higher English group is attending an event being held in St Andrews University Library. We also have our “quadcopter” design team working with engineers from Raytheon in Glenrothes, perfecting their drones. Also, good luck to those taking part in the Senior UK Maths Challenge, and thanks to Miss Brown for her work with this. We also have a “FoKHS” mentoring session for S5 Higher students that afternoon.

That evening, you are invited to come along to school at 6.30pm, when KHS takes on Balwearie in the Rotary Club “Youth Speaks” Public Speaking Competition. Best wishes to Brooke Wishart, Cara Hayes and Morgan Faulds, who are representing the school. This takes place in the Library and many thanks to Kirkcaldy Rotary for supporting it.

Thursday 8 November is another one of those “Speedy STEM” days for S2, when we have a series of technology challenges in the Hall. This is supported by Fife College, and we are grateful for that support.

On the Friday, we will be laying wreaths at our school war memorial as a mark of Remembrance. After school, I will be joined by Mollie Turner and Fraser Anderson to attend an Armistice Day commemoration at Dunfermline Abbey, hosted by Jim Leishman, the Provost of Fife. This is followed by a Civic Reception in the Glen Pavilion. On Sunday (11 November) we’ll be part of the Remembrance parade in Kirkcaldy and Fraser and Mollie will lay a wreath at the town memorial on behalf of all of our young people. That same day, we will also be part of the commemorations at the Adam Smith Theatre and Blain, Cameron and Fraser will honour the KHS dead by reciting their monologues once again … these short talks are designed to represent “ghost voices” of past pupils of KHS.

Also next weekend we have a large group of young people taking part in a trip to Premier League football matches in England. Many thanks to Mr I’Anson and Mr English, who are leading the excursion which takes in Newcastle United versus Bournemouth on the Saturday then Manchester City against Manchester United on Sunday. This is sure to be a very exciting weekend for our young people.

Next week’s menu is;

Monday: Lentil soup, Butter Chicken Tikka Masala and Rice, vegetables

Tuesday: Mushroom soup, Grilled Sausage/burger – veggie/beef/chicken, chips, baked beans

Wednesday: Scotch broth, Roast chicken and gravy, potatoes and vegetables

Thursday: Carrot and coriander soup, Mince pie, potatoes and vegetables

Friday Yellow split pea soup, Breaded fish/Sausage roll, chips, peas.

We also have baked potatoes, pizza, pasta, sandwiches and salad available every day as well as our outdoor snack bar. Please do be aware that we offer a free cup of soup with bread for all our young people, regardless of their “free school meals” status. We also have our “Breakfast Club” available from 8.10am and this is free to those facing hardship (it costs 44p otherwise). We have cereal, toast and jam and juice on offer.

Looking ahead, it’s our S1 Parent/Carer evening on Wednesday 14 November. Also, please note that the school is closed to pupils on Friday 16 November for staff training.

Always be assured of our assistance or support, and please do not hesitate to be in touch if we can help.

All the best

Derek Allan

RECTOR

2 November 2018