Dear Parent/Carer

Welcome to your weekly news update. I hope that you are OK.

This week we have had a couple of Covid cases and some pupils are having to self isolate. It’s a clear reminder of the importance of good hygiene, face coverings, ventilation and testing at home. I’m grateful for your support and happy with our pupils’ willingness to follow the rules on these matters.

Increasingly, our focus is on getting the SQA certification process right over the period ahead. S4-6 are receiving a “tracking report” and over the next 6 weeks or so, they will be assessed (in class time) before we submit “provisional grades” to the SQA at the end of June. These will be the basis of the awards this year. Please remember that we have shared a link to all the info you will need on the SQA website.

We don’t want there to be any surprises for SQA candidates or parents/carers, and teachers are discussing progress and “next steps” with their pupils as part of ongoing “learner conversations”. Those in S4-6 should now be planning their study and revision programme. I have to say that I completely understand the anxieties around this and sincerely wish that the arrangements were different. Last year, we were permitted to take account of “inferred attainment” and this year it must be “demonstrated”, hence the need for evidence. This seems to have been an inevitable consequence of cancelling the exams due to the public health risk.

To help answer any queries, and hopefully allay some of those anxieties, we are planning to hold a special parent/carer evening at 6pm on Wednesday 5 May, please take a note of the date for now and we’ll share the log in details for “Zoom” next week. Mrs Davidson will give an overview of the system and we’ll have several of the Principal Teachers on hand to provide some details and take questions. The joining details will be in the Rector’s Log next Friday.

Of course, we are not just about qualifications. The wellbeing of our young people is also very important. I think that it’s fair to say that our S1 pupils have had it especially hard. Their transition to KHS was very limited and they have never yet experienced KHS at its best … a vibrant, varied set of learning experiences and challenges. We currently have no school choir, no football teams, no trips and only a few after school clubs. These are the things which really enhance and augment what we are about. We reckon that this needs our specific attention. So, next week, S1 will be completing an important online survey about their thoughts, feelings, views on school life and hopes for the future. The information from the survey will be invaluable to staff who will be devising a ‘renewal’ action plan based on pupil responses. We really need to capture the S1 “pupil voice” and I am very grateful to Mrs Duckett (Music) who has offered to support Mr Young (Yearhead) to do this. As the rules become a bit more relaxed, I’m hoping that we can have some kind of S1 social event in May, probably outdoors … maybe a picnic or fun activity afternoon, that kind of thing. Please stay tuned.

I have some welcome staffing news to share. Congratulations to Jonnie Crawford (DET), Kerry Black (Chemistry) Robbie McNab (Chemistry) and Dana Irvine (Biology), who have all been successful in gaining permanent contracts at KHS. All are currently probationer teachers in training and I am delighted that all will be retained on a permanent basis from next session. I can also share that we have recruited a Latin Teacher called Dora Burbank, who will be joining us in August. Ms Burbank is currently finishing her training at the University of Cambridge. There will be further staffing news in due course. We need quite a few additional teachers as our roll is projected to grow again. We are currently at around 1350 and anticipate a rise which will take us to over 1460.

Next week sees more S3 pupils (Carlyle House this time) being offered vaccinations for diphtheria, typhoid, polio and meningitis. These take place on Monday and letters have been sent home. It’s also a “catch up” for some of the S4-6 who missed out last time round. On Tuesday, I’ll be attending the Kirkcaldy Area Committee of Fife Council. I’ll report back on SQA processes and the plans we have for “renewal” over the session ahead.

Finally, an appeal. If you must pick up your son or daughter at the end of the day, please arrange a safe pick up point away from the school. It’s such a congested area and the school buses need priority to get away. We have particular problems with parking on the Golf Course road. Please don’t do that, and use the astro car park if you must pick up. That would be appreciated … I am fielding complaints about this issue and have had discussions with Fife Council about measures we might take.

I should end by reminding you that Monday 3 May is a Public Holiday, and the school is also closed to pupils on Thursday 6 May. We have a staff training day on that Thursday to coincide with the Scottish Parliamentary elections as some schools are polling stations. We’ll be working collectively on SQA assessment procedures.

All the very best.

Derek Allan
RECTOR
22 April 2021