Welcome to this weeks Rector’s log. I hope you and your family are doing well.
The week that’s been…
The time is just flying past here at KHS and I can’t believe we are almost at the half-term break! Our young people continue to be engaged in a wealth of learning and broader experiences. For young people in the senior school, focus is on upcoming assessments, including ‘practicals’ and assignments in some subjects. As ever, we are proud of all our young people for the hard work, effort and positive attitudes shown.
It was an absolute pleasure to read about the Fife Festival of Music that has taken place over the past couple of weeks in this weeks Fife Free Press. Young people and staff from Kirkcaldy High School have been fully involved throughout the festival. Well done to everyone involved.
This week, there has been a focus on Children’s mental health, through tutor, SE and across the school. Ms Black has shared some information about this in Supported Learning as well as some other updates:
This week is Children’s Mental Health week with lots of learning across Supported Learning to empower ourselves, to give ourselves strategies to express ourselves and ways to promote our wellbeing. Kitbag is becoming embedded across the department and it has been great to see learners using it independently and outwith timetabled sessions. Some of our young people are marking Chinese New Year with SLD2 sharing an afternoon of celebration based around their learning this week. Learners have suggested other cultural or important events that they would like to share in addition to those also recognised in the department such as World Smile Day or Mobius Day. And combining celebrating and wellbeing as well as an important local event we have had a senior pupil taking part in the Fife Festival of Music. We love to hear them rehearsing in the department and we are super proud of your achievements.
Mrs Hamilton has been leading assemblies with S2, S4 and S5 in preparation for course choices in the coming weeks. Mrs Hamilton has shared course choice booklets through a SWAY with all parents / carers of S2, S4 and S5 also.
Lastly, our consultation about changes to our Curriculum and School day closed last Friday. I am greatly appreciative of the feedback from a wide range of our community. We had over 200 responses from parents / carers, young people, staff and partners.
We have spent time this week reading this feedback and, working with other Kirkcaldy Secondary Heads and Fife Council, produced an FAQs about the changes. Further information will be shared in the coming weeks about how we will take these changes forward.
The week ahead…
Next week, we have a Parent / Carer evening for young people in S2. This is an important opportunity for young people and family to talk to their teachers about their progress in learning and ask questions about subjects they may wish to take in S3. We look forward to seeing all there!
We also have 2 trips leaving – one to Paris, France and the other to Iceland. We wish everyone a safe, fun and enjoyable trip and look forward to hearing all about it when they return.
Please have a look at the information about the upcoming FoKHS Ceilidh and Fife College open days.
A reminder that School will close to young people on Tuesday 13th February at 3.15pm for the February break and re-open at the usual time on Monday, 19th February.
The next Rector’s log will be issued on Friday 23rd February 2024.
Best wishes,
Chris McKay
Rector
09 February 2024
