Dear Parent/Carer
Welcome to the weekly news from KHS. I do hope that you are well.
Despite some positive news about Covid infections and the ongoing relaxation of restrictions, we need to continue to be very wary. This week we have had, in total, four new cases linked to the school. This morning, we had to arrange isolation for a further group of 19 pupils (mainly S3). We have also now issued additional LFD test kits to all of our young people. This should ensure that everyone is able to take a test twice a week until the summer break. Thanks again for your ongoing cooperation with that.
On Tuesday, we had yeargroup meetings, by House, for all S1 and Mr Young and I were able to reiterate “the givens”. These are a positive attitude to learning, school uniform, good timekeeping etc. In other words; the basics. We reminded pupils that chewing gum is not allowed in class, that hoodies and jackets need to be removed (unless indicated otherwise by the teacher), mobile phones should only be out at breaks and that we must continue to observe all the Covid rules. This was set in the context of our core values of Respect for Self, Respect for Others and Respect for Learning.
On that theme of mobile phones. Please do not contact your son or daughter during class time unless it is a real emergency. Often, when pupils disrupt a lesson to check a phone, they explain that it’s a message from home. The best time to send a routine message would be at interval (10.25-10.40am) or lunchtime (1.00-1.40pm). That would be much appreciated. Thanks.
Our senior pupils continue with the very challenging task of producing their best evidence of achievement for the SQA. For many, this will involve a series of in-class assessments, sometimes with several in a day. There is no doubt that this is a difficult time for those engaging with the SQA’s “Alternative Certification Model” … and this includes the teachers, who are setting, marking and moderating the assessment instruments. On June 3 and 4, we will be working together, including with colleagues in other schools, to agree the grades which will be reported to the SQA later that month. Please be reminded that we won’t officially share the “provisional grades” until week beginning 21 June. These will be confirmed by the SQA when the certificates are issued on Tuesday 10 August. Best of luck to all our candidates. This is not an ideal way of recognising achievement, but I can understand why the SQA consider it to be the best which can be done in such a disrupted school year. Please be assured that our teachers are operating in ways which will ensure fairness and give the best chance for kids to prove what they can do.
As for our current S1 cohort, they too have had a particularly difficult and challenging experience. There was not really a proper transition to high school, and it’s been the very strangest of years from them. No school football team, no choir, no Christmas Concert and no day trips out of school … it’s not what we would have wanted. I apologised to the young people at the yeargroup meetings on Tuesday and we explained about our proposed “Picnic in the Park”. It was our plan to lay on food and entertainment for all of the yeargroup next week. I say “was” because the messages coming from Fife Council this morning about the latest public health concerns around Covid make it impossible at this time. We are instructed, in the strongest terms, to maintain our current risk assessments until the impact of the “Level 2” relaxation of the rules is know. Our new (provisional) date is Wednesday 2 June. We are still hoping to have games and fun activities, with a visit from the Fire Service and special guest appearances from Batman and Roary, the Raith Rovers mascot. Many thanks to ASDA for their support with the catering, and a huge thanks to Mrs Duckett (Music), who is our chief organiser. All we need now is some good news about the Covid trends and some decent weather.
Further thanks to ASDA for their recent award of a “Supporting Communities Grant”. After a successful bid, we received a substantial donation of items which have been distributed to some of our young people and their families this week. This included foodstuff, cleaning products, toiletries and items for health and wellbeing. We are grateful to the ASDA Foundation – it really has made a difference to many local families this week. Thanks also to Mrs Davidson, Mrs Squires and the PSO team who helped distribute the donated goods using the school minibus.
On a closing note, and sorry that it continues to be a cautionary one. Please continue to urge your kids to follow all the Covid rules, test twice weekly and stay away from school at the slightest sign of illness. We saw the situation get out of hand at Elgin Academy recently, with 51 linked cases contributing to the decision to keep the Moray Council area in “Level 3”. We just cannot afford to take any chances.
Very best wishes to all, perhaps especially to our Muslim families marking the end of Ramadan.
Eid Mubarak!
Derek Allan
RECTOR
14 May 2021
