Dear Parent/Carer

Welcome to the usual weekly email and social media update from KHS. I hope that you are well.

Our week started with a special assembly for S2 on Monday morning. This had a focus on career opportunities in the NHS. I am grateful to Miss Malcolm for organising this and now a group of pupils will be attending an awareness day in a couple of weeks time. It’s about increasing access to allied health professional careers such as physiotherapy, radiography etc.

Tuesday evening was our Primary 7 Open Evening, when pupils and families from P7 at Valley, Torbain, Fair Isle and Capshard, as well as others who have made “placing requests” joined us for a tour of the school and the chance to meet staff and pupils to find out what KHS is all about. We want those joining us in August 2020 to feel good about their new school well in advance of the move. Mr Young (Depute) and I welcomed our guests. Thanks to all the staff and kids who laid on demonstrations and talks for the parents, carers and primary pupils who joined us. Many enjoyed the explosive experiments in Science and some enjoyed the meal worm snacks offered by our Hospitality students … seriously! It really was a terrific evening, which was very well attended. Mr McPherson of the Drama Department is pictured.

We had a strong technology focus this week. Dr Murray and Miss Tennant (Principal Teachers in Science) had organised “STEM” workshops for S5/6 science pupils on Tuesday and the next day we had 32 “STEM” ambassadors from industry taking part in a “speed dating” style event with all our S3 pupils. The kids were able to find out about job opportunities in science and engineering by chatting with our visitors. As you know, helping young people work out what their “destination” after school could be is a big part of our work.

On Wednesday, Mrs Cunningham (PT Equity) organised for a large group of S1 pupils to pay a visit to the Public Library at Templehall. It’s important that we promote reading and all S1 will have this opportunity over the coming weeks.

Miss Malcolm led a trip to Dundee University yesterday. The programme is called “Discovering Degrees” and was for a large group of S3 learners. They had an excellent day, with a focus on civil engineering, graphic design etc. (photo right)We had a “FoKHS” Committee Meeting on last night. 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. The group has donated over £8000 this year allowing us to enhance learning and teaching through the purchase of additional laptop computers and a 3D printer. FoKHS has also sponsored school prizes and a place on our amazing trip to Rwanda. If you are a former KHS pupil and interested in finding out more please contact Mrs Davidson on 01592 583405.

Yesterday, we welcomed an international delegation of teachers from Poland, Germany, Italy and Slovakia. They are on an EU sponsored “Erasmus” programme of professional development and were keen to know how we do things at KHS. Our visitors were especially impressed by the warm “family” ethos of the school which they thought was less formal and a bit more natural than in their own countries. I’m happy with this assessment as it’s what we aim to do here… to treat learners as being worthy of complete regard and respect without relying on notions of “authority” or “discipline”. Not that we don’t have boundaries, but we generally prefer reason and respect to obedience (photo below left).

Also yesterday, we welcomed the Templehall Youth Worker team to lead a group of pupils 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.

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 quite a few entrants and I am hoping that I may be called upon to assist with the judging. I hope 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, 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. 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).

Next week is another busy one. The S3 have a special assembly on Monday to share details about our upcoming “Employability Week” which takes place from 11 November. In the afternoon we will be joined by Mary Patrick and a team from Kirkcaldy Rotary to conduct interviews for the Rotary International Leadership Camps which take place next summer in the Cairngorms. Best wishes to all our potential RYLA students. I’ll update when we hear more.

We have House Assemblies on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday which mark Remembrance. These are being organised by Miss Osborne of the History Department, with support from Mrs Duckett, Head of Music. We have an illustrated talk from pupils who were part of our Great War Battlefields trip in May, monologues based on the brief lives of some of the 105 former students of KHS who died in that conflict and original music composed specially on the theme of “Remembrance”.

The assemblies are extended, and during the longer tutor sessions, young people will have a further input on The United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child. As I mentioned last week, we are expecting people from “UNICEF” to visit KHS on 20 November to assess our claim for the “Rights Respecting School” Gold standard.

Tuesday, which is an especially busy day, also sees our “Quadcopter” design and engineering team up at Auchmuty High School in Fife competing for a place in the UK finals in Birmingham. It’s about making a working drone and the competition is sponsored by Raytheon. Miss Hay will accompany our “Enterprising Maths” team of S3 to The Glasgow Science Centre to compete in the Scottish final. They did so well recently up at Glenrothes. At lunchtime that day, we have an outreach team in from Edinburgh University to support our S6 with their “UCAS” applications, especially the “Personal Statement” element. We also have an English Department trip for S3 and S4 to Jupiter Artland, near Edinburgh. It’s an amazing outdoor space and sculpture park which is an inspiration for creative writing.

Thanks again to the Rotary Club of Kirkcaldy, sponsors of the “Youth Speaks” public speaking competition, which takes place on Wednesday evening. We have a team of Third Year girls who will talk on the theme of Human Rights. Eilidh Drummond, Rebecca Greig and Phoebe Brand will be up against teams from the other Kirkcaldy secondary schools.

On Thursday we are holding the Senior UK Maths Challenge, thanks to Miss Cunningham (Principal Teacher), who is overseeing this. Our Modern Languages Department has also organised a trip to Edinburgh to the Filmhouse on Lothian Road, for a special showing of “La Famille Belier”. In the evening, it’s our S2 Parent/Carer Night. You should have received instructions to allow you to make online bookings for teacher appointments. The system is still “live” if you have not yet done this.

The week ends with our issuing of the reports for S4 pupils and our “Friends of Kirkcaldy High School” Race Night in the evening. Once again, may I add that I am very grateful to “FoKHS” for all their fantastic fundraising efforts.

Looking ahead, I am hoping that you are able to join us for the next Parent Council Meeting on Tuesday 12 November. The main focus will be our efforts at consistency of approaches to relationships and the upcoming “Rights Respecting School” initiative. I’ll also be happy to take questions on any aspect of our work from any parents attending. Every parent or carer is automatically regarded as a member of the Council I would be delighted to see a good turnout. If you have anything you would want to raise, please be in touch and I’ll pass you on to Gillian McIntyre (Chair). This invitation to be in touch applies to any query you may have, please do be in contact if we can help with anything.

Finally, last week I explained about the “Just Giving” page in support of Paige Dougall (S4). Thanks you for your donations. I would also like to make you aware of an online appeal to support Ava Nicol (S3) and her family. Ava is awaiting a kidney transplant and is currently travelling to Glasgow several times a week for dialysis. The appeal link is www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/jennifer-howie

Thanks for your ongoing support and best wishes to you for the weekend.

Yours sincerely

Derek Allan

RECTOR

1 November 2019