Dear Parent/Carer
Welcome to our update as usual. I hope you are well.
Last week I explained that our Head Boy and Girl elections were taking place on the Friday. I am delighted to announce that the new Pupil Leadership team for session 2022-2023 comprises; Head Boy – Harry Turner, First Depute – Blake McBride, Deputes – Callum Husband and Hassan Mahmood. Head Girl – Ellie Ness, First Depute – Rebecca Greig, Deputes – Eilidh Drummond and Morgan Cameron. Harry and Ellie will be invited onstage by retiring Heads Charlie (standing in for Daanish) and Jessica at next week’s Prizegiving and they will be presented with their special medals.
This week, after the Monday holiday, our new timetable started. Massive appreciation goes to Mrs Hamilton. It takes a great deal of skill to put together a good timetable for hundreds of different class groups. We had an extended “tutor” session that day to ensure that everyone understands their new timetable and our expectations around uniform, timekeeping, mobile phones, food or juice in the corridors, litter etc were also shared. Being consistent and fair in these matters is important in building good relationships across the school. Please try to avoid calling or messaging your son or daughter during lesson times as it can be quite disruptive to learning. We will contact you, usually by text message, in cases when mobile phones are causing a problem.
On Tuesday, we had an outing for our Supported Learning classes, who visited the Scottish Deer Centre at Cupar. Many thanks to Kirkcaldy Rotary Club, who sponsor this event. It was a brilliant day out for our kids. Our new S4 had a brief input from staff from Abertay University as part of the Lift Off Programme that day too. Also, Mel from Surge Scotland came in and gave a talk/workshop session to our S4 and Senior Drama classes about street theatre in the hope of getting some of them to sign up with the Street Theatre project they are producing as part of Fife Pride. She spoke about what street theatre is, the skills needed etc and did some practical exercises with the Seniors. Please see the attached leaflet, which includes sign up details and details of the training sessions at Templehall Community Centre in advance of Fife Pride on July 2. It’s open to all age 13 or over.
On Wednesday, our S2 First Chances pupils started their residential experience at St Andrews University. Many thanks to Miss Nessel and Mr Spink, who accompanied our kids. I’m delighted to say that KHS was officially awarded the top “clan” prize at the event. We also had Yeargroup Assemblies to welcome everybody to their new stage and go over those “expectations” as part of our “positive relationships” approaches. Mr Young stays with the new S1/2, Mrs Hamilton is now S3 Yearhead and Miss Diamond moves on with the new S4. Mrs Davidson is Yearhead for S5/6. On Wednesday evening, Mr English and Mr I’Anson took a bus to Hampden, where Scotland did a bit better against Armenia than we had managed against Ukraine the week previously.
Yesterday was National Empathy Day and we marked this in various ways, promoting kindness and understanding. Thanks to Mrs Hume (Head of English), who shared lesson ideas with staff. Appropriately, it was also our Youth and Philanthropy (YPI) Finals. This is a competition which sees a local charity being awarded £3000, sponsored by the Wood Group. Congratulations to everyone involved. There were a wide variety of charities being represented; Fife Women’s Aid, The Yard Kirkcaldy, Diabetes UK, Curly Star Foundation, Oliver’s Army Assistance and Therapy Dogs, Shelter Scotland and DAPL. To see the passion and enthusiasm and the spirit of philanthropy shown was very powerful. However, there could only be one winner and that title was awarded to S3 pupils Amy, Sasha, Sophie and Caleb who were promoting the cause Fife Women’s Aid. I was one of the judging panel, joined by our winners from last year; Ewan, Macauley and Lewis. It was great to welcome Susan and Collette from YPI and many thanks to lead organiser Ms Mahr, supported by Mrs Whyte. The other causes will be supported by our end of term “dress down” in a couple of weeks.
Also yesterday, Miss Steedman took our girls’ U14 football team through to Renfrew to compete in the Scottish Seven a Side Championships, organised by the Scottish Schools FA. KHS were already winners of the Fife Cup and were representing the County. They came through four group stage matches, a semi-final and final and only conceded a single goal in their six games. KHS lifted the cup and are now official Scottish Champions. Well done to all of the girls. It was my pleasure to congratulate them personally in my office at interval today, along with Miss Steedman. Our footballers have enjoyed great success recently, both the boys’ teams and the girls. Our girls taking this national title is the perfect end to the season. they will be presented with Achiever’s Ties at our Prizegiving next week.
On the sporting theme, we have our “Kit for All” initiative going on right now. Please encourage your son/daughter to donate any sports equipment or clothing they no longer need and we will distribute it to families who struggle to supply PE kit or have sports gear at home. Thanks to our “Active Schools” ambassadors, who are coordinating this. Check out Twitter where there is an appeal video, explaining this campaign. Thanks to new Head Girl Ellie and Prefect Leon for their input.
Next week is a busy one with a “Battlefields” trip parental meeting at 6pm on Monday in school. It’s also the FoKHS AGM online. On Tuesday evening we hold our Prizegiving … a highlight of the KHS year. Our guest speaker is Carrie Lindsay, Fifie’s Executive Director of Education and Children’s Services. We also have a special performance from renowned singer/songwriter Callum Beattie, who will be helping to present the inaugural Paige Dougall Award for Musical Theatre. There’s an immunisation session on Wednesday (appointment slips issued in advance) and on Thursday and Friday it’s our welcome days for the new S1. On the Thursday Evening we have a parent/carer evening whilst the kids are elsewhere in school enjoying a party. A busy week ends with our S6 Leavers’ Prom taking place at Forrester Park near Dunfermline. It’ll be great to be able to give the Class of 22 a good send off. Our last two Prizegivings and last two Proms have been lost to Covid.
Some staffing news to close and I am delighted to report that we will joined by another nine new teachers in August. Probationers have been appointed in Maths, English (2 posts), Music, Art, DET and Biology. We also have new positions filled in Modern Studies and Business with permanent vacancies filled in DET, Home Economics and Computing. In all, it’s looking quite promising considering the need for extra teachers due to our sharply rising roll. It’s possible we could be at around 1500 next session, depending on the staying on rate. More details soon once all our new appointments have “checked in”. Our Guidance vacancy (Mrs Hunter’s position) will be filled by Mrs Clare Donaldson, currently a Guidance Teacher at Inverkeithing High School. However, her move is delayed for now and our own Mrs Dempsey will be continuing to “backfill” after the holidays.
Do have a good weekend. You take care.
Aye yours
Derek Allan
RECTOR
10 June 2022
