Dear Parent/Carer
First off, may I take this opportunity to wish you a Merry Christmas and, in due course, a Happy New Year. The weekly update comes a day early due to tomorrow’s half day closure.
It’s the end of term, and farewell to 2016; a year which has been marked by some excellence successes for Kirkcaldy High School. Our most recent newsletter was issued to pupils earlier in the week, but just in case it hasn’t made it home, I attach an electronic copy. As always, it’s a round up of our most recent achievements and the important news. You’ll be impressed, I’m sure.
On Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday we had House Assemblies with our school Chaplain, Rev Ken Froude. These had a good impact on our young people. Ken’s message was a universal one; peace over war, cooperation over conflict. It was a relevant message, especially at Christmas, and in these troubled times.
On Tuesday, Mrs Aitken accompanied Ashley Davidson (S6) to lunch at Kirkcaldy Rotary Club, which meets at the Dean Park Hotel. Ashley was a special guest after being selected for the “Euroscola” programme – a fully funded trip to Strasbourg in February 2017 to meet young people from across Europe and participate in a special debate in the European Parliament … in French. Very well done to Ashley, and many thanks also to Ann Mitchell of the Rotary, who helped Ashley undergo a very tough selection process. Across Scotland, only 20 or so young people are selected annually.
We also had a couple of trips this week; to the McManus Art Galleries, Dundee and the Continental Christmas Market at Edinburgh. Both of these were, in different ways, a great experience for the young people involved. Our “in-house” Christmas Chemistry Lecture in the Hall on Wednesday afternoon was great fun with fire-balls and bangs. Last night was our Christmas Disco, held in the Hall. Great fun was had by all those who attended. Many thanks to our MC, Mr Dick, who resurrected his past career as a DJ for the evening.
In fact, it would be good to record my thanks to all the staff for their hard work throughout the year. It is a pleasure to be part of a school staffed by such a hard working, dedicated and caring group of professionals. They have earned their Christmas break.
And that begins tomorrow, when we have our traditional staff “X-Factor” or “talent” show. The kids love to be surprised by staff with hidden talents, and they also enjoy it when staff have a lack of talent which becomes unhidden! We expect the buses at around 12.15pm. It will be a “Dress Down Day” tomorrow and we welcome donations (50p or £1 if possible) for “Refuge Fife” in support of Syrian refugees resettled in Fife and those stuck in a camp in Thessaloniki, Greece.
After the break, we return on Monday 9 January 2017. We will be posting home the S4 Reports that week and S5/6 will be taking their Prelim exams from the Wednesday. This will be a great chance to identify what needs done in the run up to the final exams in May.
Thanks for your donations to the Kirkcaldy Foodbank – we delivered a vanload on Tuesday … and well done to Mrs Nelson and her Personal development class for their hard work. Thanks too for the clothing bundles donated for Refuge Fife. It looks like this will be two vanloads being sent off to Greece.
Thanks also for your ongoing support. All our school’s successes depend on it. Once again, on behalf of all the teachers and other staff of KHS, may I wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. I hope you can find some of that elusive “peace” and have time to relax and enjoy being with family and friends.
Derek Allan
RECTOR
22 December 2016
