Dear Parent/Carer

Are you well? I do hope so. Here’s the weekly conversation starter. Or maybe you can challenge your kid when you ask them about what happened at school and they say “nothing”!

This week has been “Book Week Scotland” and we had various events planned. Also, our S3 started to undertake the Scottish National Standardised Assessments (SNSA) in reading, writing and maths. These are computerised tests which indicate progress with “Curriculum for Excellence” so far. Many thanks to Miss Samfat (Business Education) for her support of this. On Monday, it was also the training day for our S4 “Boozebusters” peer mentors and we had a large group of S1 pupils taking part in the St Andrews University “First Chances” programme. The engagement took place at Fife College on this occasion. Many thanks to Mr Dick and Dr Beattie for the time they have committed to this.

Tuesday was the Adam Smith Assembly -and we had feedback from last month’s Rwanda trip all week. Many thanks to Ms Cunningham, Dr Murray and all the young people who led this. The feedback given was very powerful and a real challenge to open our eyes and minds to see the global picture. We are planning a further African adventure for 2021.

We had a guest input for Higher and Advanced Higher English classes on Tuesday. This took the form of creative writing advice from popular Scottish thriller writer Doug Johnstone. Doug has visited KHS before and his talk was part of our author focus for “Book Week Scotland”. That evening we hosted the Rotary Club of Kirkcaldy Sixth Form Quiz in KHS. This was for all the four local high schools and I am absolutely delighted to share that we are officially the brainiest school in town! Very well done to team captain John Hamilton, joined by Megan Jobson, Melissa Francis, Emma Reekie, Callum Ritchie and David Manzie (photo). Special thanks to Mr Dick and Dr Murray for being excellent quiz masters. Thanks also to the teachers from Balwearie, St Andrews and Viewforth who brought along their school’s teams on the night.

Also on Tuesday evening, Mr English and Mr I’Anson ran a bus to Hampden for the Scotland v Kazakhstan Euro Qualifier. Unfortunately, there were no delays and they were there for that uninspiring first half. That was compensated for by a much brighter second half and now we dare to dream of qualification in the spring. Or is that just getting carried away again?

Wednesday was UNICEF World Children’s Day and we were delighted to be joined by Jenny Price and Clare Westwood of “Rights Respecting Schools” to mark this event. It was the 30th Anniversary of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child and we had various events, including a special assembly, as well as our Rwanda reflections. Thanks to Jake Ramsay (Head Boy), who hosted the assembly and very well done to Rebecca Greig (S3), who delivered a very powerful speech about the impact of the UNCRC. Our visitors have asked permission to use film of Rebecca on the “Rights Respecting School” website. What an honour for KHS. Thanks also to the parents and carers who met Jenny to discuss our progress as a “Rights Respecting School”. We were rated very highly on the “UNICEF” scale and will hear word soon about our confirmed “Rights Respecting” status.

On Wednesday afternoon, our U16 footballers were up at Harris Academy, Dundee for a Scottish Shield Third Round tie. Despite going a goal behind on a difficult pitch, KHS eventually ran out 4-2 winners. Well done to the lads and best wishes in the next round. That same evening, there was a meeting about our “Battlefields” trip which takes place in May 2020. Many thanks to party leaders Miss Osborne, Mr Harrower and Mr Mitchell. Last year’s trip was highly successful and this week’s meeting was very positive.

Yesterday, we held those “Boozebusters” training sessions in the Hall for all S2. Our S4 mentors delivered special alcohol awareness sessions. Many thanks to our supporters in this initiative: NHS Fife, Police Scotland and “Clued Up”. I was in on a session when Jessica McGregor (S4) was in charge and I was hugely impressed by the power of her communication. All of or mentors have been outstanding. For Book Week Scotland, we had a Royal Society of Edinburgh sponsored talk on poetry from Professor Jeremy Smith of Glasgow University (photo). It was terrific. In the afternoon, Miss Wallace (Geography) and I met with Kate Somervail from the Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme to discuss our progress with the programme. Our first group have been practising their outdoor skills preparing for the expedition element soon and now we are planning a significant expansion, to be launched at the S3 Assembly next week.

This morning was the Oswald Assembly, not the usual Thursday as the Hall was in use for “Boozebusters”. I have to say that I thought the contributions from our young people were outstanding. We also had another Royal Society of Edinburgh “Book Week” talk today, this time from Dr Alice Koning of St Andrews and a lunchtime bake sale in support of the Cottage Family Centre Christmas Appeal, organised by Ellie Hitchcock ( S5). Well done Ellie, the ginger cake was particularly delicious! We are holding a dress down day just before Christmas and proceeds will be passed on to the Cottage Family Centre, where such great work goes on.  Finally, as is fitting for “Book Week”, another group of S1 English pupils walked down to learn about the services, and become members of Templehall Library.

Apart from that fine football win away at Harris Academy, it was also a good week for our netballers with the S2 team beating Woodmill High School 7-3 and our seniors drawing 8-8 with the same school.

Next week we have assemblies for Year groups (except S4) with a focus on our “Active Schools” work and the role of our School Nurse team. I would remind you that we offer a full range of nursing services and that this includes a contraception and pregnancy testing service on a Friday. Also on Monday, we have a large group of S1/2 working with youth workers based at the YMCA to bake scones, biscuits etc for sale the following day in support of a local homelessness project. It’s part of the wider “Templehall Action Group” initiative. Many thanks to Steven and Brendan, the youth workers involved.

It’s also the Rotary Young Chef Kirkcaldy final at Fife College. We have Holli Moffat and Jake Ramsay representing the school, supported by Ms Collins, Head of Home Economics at KHS. Holli and Jake are up against other competitors from the local schools. I’m sure they will do very well, having witnessed their skill level in the previous round.

On Tuesday we are having Patricia from the Commonwealth War Graves Commission speaking to our S2 “Battlefields” group during periods 1 and 2. Then, in the evening, we are hosting a special Parent/Carer Evening for S4 who will be undertaking the qualifications in National 5 English and/or Maths.

Wednesday is the S3 Assembly and in addition to the active schools and nurse team input, Miss Wallace will be looking to recruit a new group of 20 pupils to undertake the Duke of Edinburgh “Bronze” Award. This is a great initiative which involves volunteering, skills development, physical fitness and outdoor skills. I expect that we will be oversubscribed and hope that you will encourage your son/daughter to sign up. Dr Beattie and Miss Osborne will be helping Miss Wallace with the programme. We have another S1 trip along to Templehall Library later in the day. We are also planning a “live screening” of a film called “Balisong”, which was made by the “No Knives Better Lives” Campaign to highlight the dangers of carrying a weapon. We have a responsibility to tackle difficult issues such as this and at assemblies last year, we successfully encouraged all our pupils to pledge that they would “grass up” any pupil they knew had a knife or similar item to school. I am very grateful to Miss Young (Modern Studies) for taking this on to the next stage.

There is no S4 Assembly next Thursday due to the Hall being used for a “Speedy STEAM” event. This time it’s for S2 and we thank Fife College and “STEM East” for their support. We have teamwork, problem solving and engineering challenges to be solved. The week ends with our S5/6 Assembly and the issue of the latest S5/6 Tracking Report. We hope these will be useful as students work towards their SQA qualifications. Being “on track” with work towards various milestones is essential. In the afternoon, our musicians and choir will be along at ASDA to mark the official Christmas launch.

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).

Last week I mentioned our Christmas Fair. This takes place on Wednesday 4 December from 6pm and coincides with our S2 “Learning Fair”. We have stalls with gifts, crafts, cake etc and all proceeds go towards our S6 Yearbook and Prom, which takes place at Forrester Park, Dunfermline on 12 June 2020.

Finally, best wishes to Miss Kerr (Teacher of Technical), who is leaving us today to take up a post at Queen Anne High School in Dunfermline. We thank Miss Kerr and wish her well. Miss Kerr’s replacement will be Ms Karyn Czudek, currently teaching along the road at St Andrew’s High School. Ms Czudek happens to be a former KHS pupil and she will be starting with us before Christmas.

Please never hesitate to be in touch if you need anything. All the very best.

Derek Allan

RECTOR

22 November 2019