Dear Parent/Carer

I hope you are well … and avoiding or surviving the lurgy which has affected so many of us. Happy New Year and very best wishes for 2019.

But first a final word on last year. I’m wondering if you saw the Fife Free Press at the end of the Year? Each year, the paper chooses its “Top Forty Fifers” of individuals and groups who have had the greatest positive impact in the local area in the year past. I am absolutely thrilled to tell you that our school’s LGBT Support Group was this year named at number one! It is a huge honour for us to be recognised in this way … tackling homophobia and all forms of prejudice and promoting the human rights of all our young people. We are committed to the principles of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) which basically guarantees the right to “be yourself” whatever your identity. Read the article on the FFP website.

Our group is heavily involved in delivering equalities training and have events lined up for; NHS Fife staff (separately at Queen Margaret and Victoria Hospitals), the clergy of the Scottish Episcopal Church (Diocese of St Andrews, Dunkeld and Dunblane), local primary pupils (P6/7), Kirkcaldy youth Workers and the Scottish Community Learning and Development Conference, which takes place in Glasgow in March.

We got back to business on Monday and welcomed a new member of staff to the Music Department. Welcome to Mrs Michaela Duckett, who joins us from a school near Walsall, Staffordshire. It was also good to welcome back Mr Cromb (Maths) after his sabbatical last term. Finally, welcome to Stelle, a young woman from Brazil who is joining us in S6 until May. Stelle joins the growing number of foreign exchange students we are currently hosting. We have Chiara and Marco from Italy, Fiona from Switzerland and Karoline from Germany.

Our main business this week has been the prelims. We kicked off on Wednesday with English, Chemistry, Drama, French, History and Physics. I have attached a final copy of the timetable for reference. Preparation is the key, and the prelim exams will allow or young people to understand what they need to do now to prepare for the final SQA exams in May. As you’ll see it’s a complex arrangement and I’m very grateful to Mrs Davidson for the effort she has expended in making it so efficient.

Part of that preparation will be the Saturday School sessions which begin on 19 January. The other attachment I have included this week is the finalised version of the programme. Many thanks to Miss Diamond, who has coordinated the programme, and special thanks to all the staff who are giving up their time at the weekends. Please stand by for the “Easter School” timetable, which will be available at the start of March.

Next week we have our first Primary Seven Parent/Carer “Roadshow” evenings. These are on Tuesday 15 January, 5pm at Torbain and 6pm at Capshard. Mr Young, Mr Broadway and myself will be joined by S1 and S6 pupils to meet parents and carers and discuss transition to KHS. Primary pupils have received letters of invitation. However, if you know of any parent or carer who is considering a “placing request” from outwith the area we normally serve, please advise them that they are welcome to just come along on the evening.

That same evening, we are hosting the first round of the Crown Office Procurator Fiscal Public Speaking Competition. Team KHS will comprise Amber Thomson and Logan Piotrowicz (both S3) and they will discuss the merits of school uniform along with teams from Auchmuty, Dunfermline, Queen Anne and Madras. Many thanks to Miss Osborne and Miss Diamond, who will be looking after the event.

On the Wednesday we’ll be hosting the Disability Sport Fife football tournament and this is always great fun. Then, on Thursday evening, it’s a meeting of the “Friends of Kirkcaldy High School”. Anyone interested in supporting KHS is welcome to come along. The meeting starts at 7pm in the boardroom.

Our prelim exams finish next Friday and Mrs Davidson (Depute) will, after school, be involved in the working group developing the Foundation Apprenticeship programme for Fife. This is an excellent way for young people to gain experience of work place skills whilst still at school. We are involved in quite a few programmes and hope to offer more in the sessions ahead. Areas of expansion include; childcare, engineering, software development and food and drink.

Next week’s canteen hot meal menu is as follows:

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, Lasagne, garlic bread 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. We are delighted to receive support from Stephens the Bakers, who are now the official sponsors of our Breakfast Club.

Here is an appeal.  If you know in advance that your son/daughter has an appointment in school time, please tell us by phone, email or a note as soon as possible so that an appointment slip can be put to tutor teachers to keep the register right. We’ll understand if it’s an appointment made at short notice, but if you can, it helps to tell us in advance.  Thanks.

Looking ahead, please note that we are holding a “Silent Disco” to raise funds for our trip to Madrid in June. Mr Spink (Modern Languages) has asked me to invite family members as well as all young people along on the evening of Wednesday 6 February, at 6.30pm. Tickets cost £6 from the Languages Department.

Everyone here is looking forward to working with you again in the coming year to ensure that all the young people of KHS get the best possible experience … one which builds their character, intellect and all their capacities as a human being. Working together, we can make Kirkcaldy High the very best school there is. Let’s call that a sort of collective New Year Resolution.

Yours aye

Derek Allan

RECTOR

11 January 2019