Dear Parent/Carer

I hope that you are in good fettle and have, if that has been possible, enjoyed a wee break over the school holidays. Welcome to update one of this new term.

This week started with a staff training day on Monday. We had a good shared opportunity to work on building consistency of approaches to issues such as school uniform and safe pupil movement around the building. We also agreed our next steps towards the UNICEF “Rights Respecting School” Gold Award. We have an assessment date of 20 November. Thanks to Miss Young and Miss Diamond (Depute), who are leading on this, and to those of you who have given feedback about our approaches to “rights” at recent parent/carer events

This week were have been joined by new staff, including Miss Lucy Kirkwood, who had previously been teaching in Edinburgh. Miss Kirkwood is a skilled dance and Physical Education teacher and we are delighted to have secured her services. We have also been joined by a new Maths Teacher. Mr Stuart Spence was teaching at the Bridges Centre in Rosyth and has a wealth of experience. We also have Mr John Douglas in school helping out for the rest of the session. Mr Douglas is an English teacher who will support learning across different departments. Welcome to all of our new teachers.

We held House Assemblies this week. The main theme was “Being Well” with a mental health focus. Our “champion” is Mrs Kendrick and she is in the process of putting together a team of senior pupils to act as “Mental Health Ambassadors” who will advise the school and help us getting the right messages out there. We are fully committed to making the very best support available. She was joined at the assemblies by Sam Michie and Amber Thomson (both S4), who attended a conference on emotional wellbeing in Edinburgh on Monday. Sam and Amber spoke very well about our plans for supporting young people. I am grateful to them, and to Mrs Kendrick, for their commitment to such an important issue.

At that conference at Edinburgh University, our LGBT Equalities group led “workshop” sessions for young people from across South East Scotland. Very well done to John Hamilton (S6), Blake McBride (S3) and Morgan Cameron (S3) for their leadership. Carrie Lindsay, Fife’s Head of Children’s Services, contacted me to tell me how impressed she was by our kids. Thanks also to Dr Murray and Mrs Birrell (Pupil Support Officer), who are part of the group too. I am proud that our school is regarded as leading the way in equal and fair treatment for everyone. We’re hoping to achieve the LGBT Youth Scotland “Gold” Charter in the new year. Thanks for all your support and encouragement. A good number of you have commented in person or by email that you too are proud of our pioneering work.

I was also over at Edinburgh University, on Tuesday, to discuss an extension of the “Your Ed” programme. This is a wider access project and KHS is the only Fife school involved. It’s about allowing working class kids to experience higher education and take part in a study programme which will guarantee them a university place based on the “minimum entry requirement”. It sounds really exciting.

On Wednesday we welcomed colleagues from St Andrew’s and Viewforth High Schools to spend time in classes here and talk with pupils and staff about our work. We asked for feedback about the quality of relationships and the consistency of staff practices and approaches. I am happy to report that we received several compliments and a few pieces of improvement advice. Collaborating with other schools in this way is the best route to further improvement and I am delighted to say that Mrs Hamilton (Depute) and I had a chat with Mr Callaghan (Headteacher of St Andrew’s) about pupils having the chance to visit each other’s schools to compare notes in the new year.

Other highlights this week include our “Rights Respecting School” group visit to the Kinghorn Ecology Centre on Wednesday, thanks to Miss Young, and the Geography Department’s engagement with ”Youth Link Scotland” yesterday afternoon on the theme of climate change and coastal protection. Also, very well done to our U13 footballers, who defeated Arbroath Academy 6-2 in the Scottish Shield on Wednesday afternoon.

I must also mention our Community Choir, which had another rehearsal yesterday with Mrs Duckett, Head of Music. I hope you can make the next gig, which is at “Rejects” in St Clair Street, from 2-3pm on Sunday 10 November. These guys (pupils and staff) are brilliant. Many thanks to Mrs D, our expert choir master.

This morning, we extended our tutor time to explain the new rules for being “out of class” during lessons. Please emphasise to your son/daughter that the scheduled breaks are the times for toilet visits or for filling water bottles. That would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

We also have a large group of First Year along at St Andrews University as part of the “First Chances” scheme. This is another “wider access” programme aimed at opening doors for kids from working class backgrounds. Our group are accompanied by Mr Dick and Mrs Hunter. Thanks to them for their commitment to this.

Next week we’ll have a special assembly for S2 on Monday morning. This will have a focus on career opportunities in the NHS. I am grateful to Miss Malcolm for organising this. A group of pupils will be visiting the Victoria Hospital in a couple of weeks time.

Tuesday evening is our Primary 7 Open Evening, which takes place from 6pm. Pupils in P7 at Valley, Torbain, Fair Isle and Capshard have received a letter of invitation, but if you know of any other families interested in sending their kids to KHS, please advise them to be in touch, or just turn up on the night. Mr Young (Depute) and I will welcome our guests. Thanks to all the staff and kids who are laying on demonstrations and talks for the parents, carers and primary pupils touring the school.

We have a technology focus on Wednesday and Thursday next week. Dr Murray and Miss Tennant (Principal Teachers) have organised “STEM” workshops for S5/6 science pupils on Tuesday and the next day we have “STEM” ambassadors from industry taking part in a “speed dating” style event with all our S3 pupils. The kids will be able to find out about job opportunities in science and engineering by chatting with our visitors. Helping young people work out what their “destination” after school could be is a big part of our work.

Miss Malcolm is our Principal Teacher with lead responsibility for this aspect and she is leading a trip to Dundee University on Thursday. The programme is called “Discovering Degrees” and is for a large group of S3 learners. We have a “FoKHS” Committee Meeting on Thursday evening. Thanks to all our supporters and to Mrs Davidson (Depute), who has set up our fund raising Race Night for Friday 8 November. All funds raised support good cases and improvements in the school.

Also on Thursday, we are working with the Templehall Youth Worker team to undertake a litter pick of the “Den”. Many thanks to Brendan and Steven (Fife Community Learning and Development), who have been spending time at lunchtimes getting to know our kids and are leading this engagement.

The week ends with our hosting of the KHS leg of the Rotary Club “Young Chef” Competition. Many thanks to Ms Collins (Head of Home Economics), who has organised this event. I understand that we have ten entrants and I am hoping that I may be called upon to assist with the judging. Hoping this isn’t too strong a hint! Thanks also to the Rotary Club of Kirkcaldy, who are brilliant partners in so many fields.

The hot meal menu for next week is as follows;Monday: Lentil soup, Stovies with crusty bread, turnip Tuesday: French onion soup, Chicken korma, boiled rice and vegetables Wednesday: Tomato soup, Steak pie, potatoes and vegetables Thursday: Green pea soup, Sweet chilli beef and noodles, vegetables Friday: Vegetable soup, Breaded fish/Scotch pie, 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. There is also our “Breakfast Club” (sponsored by Stephens the Bakers) available from 8.10am and this is completely free for those facing hardship. We have cereal, toast and jam and juice on offer. Lunchtime meals are priced at £2.20 for pupils, and this is the value of the “free meal” entitlement. Main courses are £1.55 and desserts are priced at £0.65. Please call if you are facing financial hardship and would appreciate help to apply for free meals. You should ask for Mrs Hardie (Family Link Worker).

Looking forward to our S2 Parents’/Carers’ Evening Thursday 7 November.Once again we are using the “paperless” booking system which allows you to book teacher appointment times online. This is called “Parents Evening Booking System” or “PEBS”.  All parents/carers of S2 with an email address will receive an email with log in details and a copy of a letter and thesystem will go ‘live’ at 6pm on Monday 28 October.

I am also looking for some feedback from you about our Parents Evenings. It has been suggested that many of you would prefer an earlier start for these … perhaps 4.30pm rather than 5pm? We are considering trialling the 4.30-6.30pm timeframe from after Christmas and would appreciate your comments. Should you feel strongly about this issue, please make your opinion known by tapping “reply” and stating your preference. That would be greatly appreciated.

Last term, we learned the terrible news that Paige Dougall (S4) would have to undergo surgery and chemotherapy for a rare form of bone cancer called Ewing Sarcoma. It was a great pleasure to welcome Paige back to school to meet up with her friends and teachers on Tuesday this week. She is a wee star, and Paige wants to thank everyone for their support and best wishes for her recovery. There is a “Go Fund Me” appeal for Paige’s family at this time and her cousin, Shauni Boyd, who is a former Depute Head Girl of KHS, has organised a fund raising afternoon with live music, raffles etc at The White Heather on Hendry Road from 3pm on Sunday 3 November. You can pay at the door or email Shauni at boydshauni99@gmail.com for more details. I know that any funds raised will support Paige’s family with transport and accommodation costs associated with her treatment and will be very helpful at this time. Thank you.

Finally, all our pupils received a paper copy of the most recent KHS Newsletter this week. I’m guessing that in 50% of cases this is news to you! Please find an electronic copy attached. We try hard to keep you informed.

Aye yours … and mind that the clocks go back!

Derek Allan

RECTOR

25 October 2019