Dear Parent/Carer

I hope that you are well and are enjoying the fine weather.

It’s been a short week but a particularly eventful one! Monday, June 4, was a public holiday and the last of the SQA exams. Tuesday was teacher in-service training, and we had our Sports Colours Ceremony with Saltire Volunteer and Prefect presentations at 4pm. I must say that we were all blown away by the quality of the election speeches delivered by the Head Boy and Head Girl candidates. They spoke passionately about their school and how they plan to be part of our ongoing improvement. The leadership team will be: Blain Aitken, Fraser Anderson, Cameron Bowie, Katie Brown, Ella Dews, Kirstin Graham, Shannon Houston and Mollie Turner (see photo below with Mrs Aitken).

On Wednesday we got underway again on our new timetable, which is running smoothly. Many thanks to Mrs Aitken, our expert timetabler. We had yeargroup assemblies yesterday, including an input from Ms Mahr and Mr Mitchell (RME) who will be leading our upcoming trip to Rwanda in October 2019. This is a very exciting prospect and the next stage in developing our partnership with Group Scoliare Bumbogo, near Kigali. It was fascinating to hear about school life in Africa and I am sure that the 10 available student places will be taken up. I explained that, although this is an expensive trip, we are able to support two entirely funded places (worth over £3000 in total) through sponsorship. These places are being reserved for pupils who qualify for free meals. We are also intending to fundraise to support the other participants too.

Mr Harrower (PE) spoke at the S2 assembly about a World War 1 Battlefields Trip to Belgium and France which he is planning for May 2019. Again, this sounds like a fantastic opportunity … do encourage your son/daughter to be involved in these rich out of school experiences. Again, financial support is available for pupils on free meals. For help with registering for free meals entitlement or a clothing grant please call 01592 583405 and ask to speak to Mrs Hardie (Family Link Worker). At the assemblies, we had a further input from Robert Greenhorn, our Active Schools Coordinator. Robert will be recruiting potential Sports Ambassadors and potential “Sports Stars” for the year ahead.

Last night, our U14 football team contested the final of the Scottish Schools Plate against Wallace High School from Stirling at Bathgate. I am delighted to report that KHS won in a penalty shoot-out. It was a dramatic final which ended 2-2 (with scorers Jordan Tosh and Cameron McGregor). In the shoot-out, the winning penalty was scored by Owen Dews. Well done on a magnificent achievement, and thanks to coaches Mr English and Mr I’Anson.

Further congratulations go to Cameron Bowie (S6), who last night was named as “Young Volunteer of the Year” in the Fife Voluntary Action Awards. Cameron, who is chair of the KHS LGBT+ was nominated by Pink Saltire for his work in promoting “Inclusivity in Fife Schools”. Well done Bowie …. your school is very proud.

Today is our S6 Induction Day, many thanks to Mr Farquharson (Guidance), who has put together an interesting and varied programme with inputs on volunteering, careers, university applications, financial health and leadership opportunities. We also have team building activities and problem solving in the afternoon. At the end of the day, I will announce who will be our Head Boy and Head Girl for the session ahead. As I type this, the ballot papers have just been counted and I am very pleased to tell you that the Head Boy for next session will be Fraser Anderson and our Head Girl is to be Mollie Turner. Congratulations both … and to all our Student Leadership team.

Also today, we have an author visit from Dion Leonard, author of “Finding Gobi”. A group of RME pupils are meeting with him to discuss his work. This true tale is about one man’s love for his dog, and dedication and resilience in overcoming the odds. I was very impressed after meeting Dion and Gobi earlier … it truly is an inspirational story. Gobi is the cutest of dogs too!

As if there wasn’t enough going on, our “Learning Council” met this afternoon with their counterparts from our local primaries to finalise our shared “Learning Charter”. What an excellent project this has been. It should help improve the “learner journey” of all our young people over time.

Finally for this week, we have a group of 15 pupils heading off to Nethy Bridge in the Cairngorms for an outward bounds experience until Sunday. Many thanks to Miss McIntosh and Miss Malcolm, who are leading this trip. It sounds like a fantastic and very challenging programme. It’s all about boosting confidence and the young people will be involved in all sorts of active, outdoor adventure experiences such as canoeing and abseiling.

Next week, it’s the AGM of Friends of Kirkcaldy High School on Monday evening and our Prizegiving on Tuesday. We are delighted to be joined by Joe Pike as our Principal Guest. Joe ITV Political Correspondent and is the husband of the late Gordon Aikman, former Head Boy of KHS. Gordon died of Motor Neurone Disease last year and was a remarkable ambassador for that cause. We intend to make the Scottish Motor Neurone Disease Association the main focus of our charity work for the next few years ahead and have introduced the “Gordon Aikman Cup” for charity work, sponsored by Gordon’s family.

Prizegiving celebrates academic, sporting and wider achievement, largely in the senior phase. We do have other awards, including our “Distinction Awards” for years 1-4. I should explain that these are limited in number, mainly so that we can finish the Prizegiving before midnight!  We restrict it to the pupils who have been the “top performer” in more than one curricular area, although in S4, the criteria are extended. It means that many worthy, hard-working and high achieving learners (especially in S1-3) will not gain “Distinction”. To counter this, we are looking to introduce “Merit Awards” which will be presented at assemblies after the summer break. More details shortly.

The other big deal next week is the Primary 7 Welcome Days on Wednesday and Thursday. Many thanks to our buddies, escorts and Prefects who are bringing the P7 to the school and looking after them. They will follow a “normal” timetable and meet their new teachers as well as take part in our road safety awareness “Brakewalk” on Thursday. On Thursday evening there is a parent/carer evening and a disco/barbeque for the P7. It’s a great way to break down barriers, get over any fears and make new friends.

I can also confirm that that Academy Uniforms will be in school on Mon 11 June, from 5-7pm and Thurs 14 June, between 5-8pm with blazers and knitwear for sale. Uniform orders can also be placed for collection in August.

The week ends with our leavers’ Prom, which is being held at Forrester Park, Dunfermline. It will be a final send off for the “Class of 2018”. Good luck to them all, they have been a credit to KHS.

Next week’s menu is;

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. We also have our “Breakfast Club” available from 8.10am and this is free to those facing hardship (it costs 50p otherwise). We have cereal, toast and jam and juice on offer.

As I say, it has been an exceptional week of achievement, success and new learning. I continue to be amazed by our young people’s capacity to do their best, in all sorts of ways, sometimes in difficult circumstances. It takes great teachers and support staff to create the conditions for this … and I know that you value our collective efforts.

Many thanks for your support, and very best wishes.

Derek Allan

RECTOR

8 June 2018