Dear Parent/Carer
Some weeks are less busy than others … this week wasn’t! It’s been very busy and exceptionally successful for KHS.
On Monday, our whole school focus on “Respect for Learning” was well received. We are trying to get home the message that time and effort invested in education right now will pay off in the future. Almost all of our young people get this, but it’s good to revisit it sometimes. We will probably do something similar again in the new year.
On Tuesday all S5 pupils attended the Safe Drive, Stay Alive Roadshow in Glenrothes. They met families affected by careless driving, some having been bereaved. Many of our pupils were deeply moved and all came away with much to consider. Many will be driving soon and I hope that safety will always be a priority for them.
On Wednesday, our Engineering Science students enjoyed a work placement visit to FMC Technologies in Dunfermline. That evening was the Quiz for all the Kirkcaldy secondary schools, sponsored by Kirkcaldy Rotary Club. After a very closely fought contest, I am delighted to report that KHS are the champions! It went down to the wire, with Balwearie coming a very close second only 1 point behind.
Yesterday, we had a Science Trip to “Bright Green Hydrogen” based at the Energy Park in Methil in order to take part in the “Hydrogen Challenge” which focused on renewable energy. Then last evening, our Christmas Fayre drew a very good crowd. We had over 20 traders offering a fantastic range of candles, cosmetics, gifts and jewellery. We also had a bake sale, raffles and other treats. A fantastic total of £900 was raised and proceeds from the night go to subsidise our S6 Prom and Yearbook. On behalf of our seniors, many thanks to Mr I’Anson and Mrs Hardie for the excellent support they gave this event.
As the Fayre was in full swing, over in Edinburgh, our team of S5/6 Modern Studies pupils were scooping the top prize and the Eve Crowe Trophy in a very prestigious legal competition supported by the law faculties of Glasgow and Edinburgh Universities, and held at the Signet Library in Parliament Square, off the High Street. The KHS team, up against other, mainly fee-paying, schools from Edinburgh and the Lothians, took part in a mock trial. They had been working very hard on their case for several weeks beforehand and fully deserve to have done so well. It’s a magnificent success and I must thank Miss Ashby and Mrs Meek for their part in it. Above all, congratulations to; Osama Aslam, Alisha O’Callaghan, Ashley Davidson, Jay Elder, Jennifer Thomson and Isla Wright … the sharpest young legal brains in the East of Scotland!
Well done also to our U13 Football team, who beat Auchmuty in the Scottish Schools Shield last night and now play away at Portlethen, near Aberdeen, in the next round.
Today we have an English Department trip to Holyrood to take part in the “Language in Parliament” there. I’m sure it will be very stimulating. The photos which have been posted on “Twitter” are looking very impressive.
Apologies if you were expecting the Third Year reports to be posted out today, as per our calendar. Unfortunately, due to a glitch in our computer system, they will now be posted out the middle of next week. Thanks in anticipation of your understanding.
Today is the last day in KHS for Skills Development Scotland Careers Advisor, Ramsay Dow. Ramsay has been a brilliant support to our young people and will be sorely missed as he moves to a new post in Edinburgh. Many thanks and best wishes. And good luck to Ramsay’s replacement, Diane Lautredou.
Next week is Fife Business Week and Miss McIntosh and Miss Nessel, our Principal Teachers of Employability, are attending an employer event at the Dean Park Hotel on Monday morning. In school we are having Dynamic Youth Award presentations for the S1 pupils who took part in our enhanced transition programme as they stepped up from primary.
On Tuesday through to Thursday our House Assemblies will focus on Remembrance with senior students delivering monologues which recall the brief lives of some of the 105 former KHS pupils who died in the Great War (1914-1918) Then, on Friday, we’ll be laying wreaths at the memorial in the school, where those names are so prominently displayed. Logan Thomson (S1), who I mentioned last week, will also talk at the assembly about his fund raising for Poppy Scotland. You can support Logan on his “Justgiving” site.
Also on Tuesday, two S6 students, Josh Binnington and Ashley Davidson, are heading to Poland as part of the “Lessons from Auschwitz” programme, organised by the Holocaust Memorial Trust. Josh and Ashley will visit the Nazi death camps at Auschwitz-Birkenau and I am sure that they will find it a shocking but moving experience. In January they will lead at assemblies here, sharing their memories and photographs and spreading the message; that hatred, discrimination, racism and intolerance have no place in a civilised world.
On Tuesday evening, all pupils and parents/carers are invited to attend the Kirkcaldy Schools’ Careers Convention, which this year takes place at Balwearie High School between 4-6pm.
Next Thursday evening Mr Young and I are meeting with the parents/carers of the young people in S5 who are undertaking a course of 5 Higher exams. There are about 30 young people in this group and it is set to be a challenging session ahead for them. We want to make sure that all possible supports are in place. We already have a mentoring programme supported by “Friends of Kirkcaldy High School” and a special study space adjacent to the library. On Thursday we’ll have advice from students who have successfully passed 5 Highers and other helpful inputs.
On that theme of succeeding in exams, Miss Diamond has now collated our study support programme (please find attached). All learners in S4-6 are invited to take up these excellent opportunities to strengthen their learning – it relates back to my initial comments about “Respect for Learning”. From January we will be laying on “Saturday School” once again and we will also be operating study sessions over the Easter Holidays. It is never too soon to get serious about studying for exams. I will perhaps include next May’s exam timetable as an attachment next week. Please also remember to make good use of “Show My Homework” for up to date details of homework at all levels.
Next week’s hot dish menu is; Monday: Chicken and mushroom pie with potatoes. Tuesday: Gammon steak and chips. Wednesday: Mince pie and mash. Thursday: Lasagne with garlic bread. Friday: Chicken curry with naan bread. We also have our pasta, sandwich, soup and salad options too.
As always, if we can be of any help at all … we are here for you.
All the best
Derek Allan
4 November 2016
