Dear Parent/Carer

First off, apologies that the usual update is delayed. There was a general “busyness” about the place last week, which was a short week, and I didn’t quite manage to sign off the final draft. Here it is now!

Monday 3 June was a public Holiday and Tuesday a staff training day. The main theme was our collective work on a new relationships framework guided by a programme called “Pivotal”. We recently underwent an audit and scored very well. However, our aim is to become more consistent in terms of school uniform, expectations and how we handle conflict … all of which can occasionally cause problems. I must say that we were enthused by the programme, delivered by Hannah Hall, one of Pivotal’s best trainers. More information shortly.

After school on Tuesday we were joined by Councillor Jim Leishman, the Provost of Fife. The Provost presented our Sports Colours Awards, Saltire Volunteer Awards and helped us with the Prefect presentations. We also had short speeches from our Head Boy and Head Girl candidates.

Back to school last Wednesday and it was the start of our new timetable. Many thanks to Mrs Hamilton (Depute Head), who has put in the hours to get this right. I am delighted to say that we have had very few issues to “tweak”.

We also had two Science trips to Edinburgh, with a team of four S1 taking part in the Salter’s Festival of Chemistry at Heriot-Watt University and our S2 “Go4SET” team competing in the national final of this  “STEM” competition at Our Dynamic Earth in Edinburgh. KHS were declared winners of the Fife and East Scotland heat which was held at Fife College and our floating eco-friendly research station impressed the judges last week too. Many thanks to Miss Tennant (Principal Teacher) for her excellent work with this.

On Thursday we held Yeargroup Assemblies and as well as a “setting the tone” input from me, the Deputes took the lead. S2 hadan additional input from Miss Osborne on our World War 1 Battlefields trip in May 2020, S3 had a focus on the Youth and Philanthropy Initiative, which went very well and S5 were introduced to a programme called “Career Ready” by Miss Malcolm, our work placement coordinator. This is a fantastic opportunity involving a paid internship and mentoring.

The week ended with our Induction Day for S6 and I am grateful to Mr Farquharson (Guidance) for the programme he developed involving employers, support agencies and providers of further and higher education. We also held the elections for head Boy and Girl last Friday. Congratulations to Jake Ramsay and Cara Turner, who were duly elected by S6 and staff. Very well done also to the Depute Team for 2019-2020; John Hamilton, Aiden Russell, Morgan Sinclair, Natasha Stoddart, Rachel Suttie and Caitlin Tindal (photo).

At lunchtime on Friday we had a special treat. Ramiza Ahmad (S3) and a group of Muslim kids organised our first ever Eid Party, marking the end of Ramadan, the fasting period for followers of Islam. Muslim and non-Muslim pupils and a large group of staff got together to enjoy some home cooking. It really was a lovely celebration, and a visible way of showing our commitment to including everyone in our school.

Also at break and lunchtime that day, the pupils involved in our trip to Madrid at the end of June held a bake sale in the War Memorial area. At lunchtime we had a meeting for those interested in taking part in our arts trip to Italy. The main themes will be based on music, drama and the visual arts and the location (to be confirmed) is likely to be Veneto, the area around Venice. This sounds like a wonderful opportunity.

For this week. It’s all a bit hectic again! Yesterday we hosted Mike Haines, who is head of an organisation called “Global Acts of Unity”. Mike delivered a passionate talk about reconciliation and forgiveness to our Senior Phase students in the Assembly Hall. He is the brother of David Haines, the aid worker who was kidnapped and murdered by “ISIS” terrorists in 2014. We had a BBC2 film crew in making a documentary about Mike and I am very grateful to Ms Mahr, who set up a very worthwhile engagement. We were joined by Lesley Laird MP and by David Torrance MSP for face to face discussions with young people too. I am very proud of our young people’s contributions.

Mrs Cunningham (English) took a group of pupils to Glasgow to take part in a celebration event in respect of the First Minister’s Reading Challenge. Last night was the AGM of “Friends of Kirkcaldy High School”. If you want to know more or would like to join FoKHS, why not be in touch with Mrs Davidson, Depute Head?

Today we have our Interact Club members helping at the Rotary “Kids Out” Day for disabled children and a large team competing in the Fife Schools Athletics Championships at Pitreavie. Many thanks to Miss Steedman, who is taking this on. On Wednesday, our Sports Leaders will be back at Pitreavie as adjudicators and stewards for the Disability Sport Fife Athletics.

But, of course, our main event and a highlight of the school year is our Prizegiving. This evening, the prizes will be presented by Jacqui Low, the Chairman (and she insists on using that title!) of Partick Thistle. Jacqui is a former pupil who has a very successful and varied business career. It’s a lovely celebration of success, of all types. Our main academic award is the Dux Trophy, which is this year shared by Shannon Houston and Kiara Montgomery.

Thursday and Friday are our primary 7 Welcome Days, which includes a Parent/Carer Evening on Thursday, whilst the kids are having a party downstairs. On Day 2, we are holding a walk around Dunnikier Park and along Dunnikier Way involving the entire school. We are doing this in support of the “Brake” Charity, which highlights road safety concerns around schools. Our pupils will have banners etc, reminding drivers to slow down near school.

At lunchtime on Friday there will be a memorial service to remember John Beck, the former Chairman of FoKHS. Our pupils will be speaking at the event and we will have a musical input too. It takes place at the Oswald House Hotel (formerly Dunnikier House) at 12.30pm and John’s wife Diana has asked me to share that everyone is welcome, especially if you knew John.

The week ends with the final farewell to the Class of 2019 as we say cheerio at the “Prom”, this year held at the Fernie Castle Hotel, by Cupar. Well done to the Prom Committee of S6 and staff, who have been planning this event for months. I’m looking forward to what is always a poignant and proud occasion.

Fortunately, from my point of view, the final two weeks of term seem to be considerably less hectic as we work towards the close of session on Friday 28 June.

This week’s hot meal menu is;

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.

Always yours

Derek Allan

RECTOR

11 June 2019