Dear Parent/Carer
Welcome to the penultimate “log” of this term. I hope that you and all your family are keeping well.
Firstly, thanks to all of you who came along (virtually of course) to our Parent Council meeting on Tuesday evening. We had a good engagement with a focus on our progress so far over this disrupted term, latest developments in respect of Covid, the SQA’s proposals for this session, online Parent/Carer evenings and possible future timetable models, particularly the asymmetric week with an earlier finish on a Friday. I am especially grateful to parent Laura Frew, who has agreed to be the minute secretary and has produced the attached record for your information. Thank you so much Laura … this is greatly appreciated.
I should say that we have no immediate plans to change the school week. In fact, the bus contract means that I don’t think we’ll be able to do very much for another couple of sessions. However, the feedback from Balwearie and the other schools which have adopted the 32 period model with longer periods, four slightly longer days and an earlier finish on a Friday, is such that it’s well worth considering for KHS.
You’ll see that one of the other things we discussed on Tuesday was the recent S1/2 adventure camp at Fordell Firs. These trips concluded this week and I have to say that they have been an outstanding success, especially given the unusual circumstances in which our younger pupils transitioned from Primary School over the past two summers. We are indebted to the leadership of Robert Greenhorn, Active Schools Coordinator, and the support of all the staff involved, especially Mrs Duckett (Music) and Miss Wallace (Geography). Miss Wallace is also our Duke of Edinburgh’s Award Coordinator and this week we discussed ways of supporting the programme in the session ahead, despite some of the limitations in place eg restrictions on young people sharing a tent on expeditions etc
Yesterday, and also this morning, we held yeargroup meetings at which the Depute Heads and I reiterated some of the “givens”, the basic expectations and rules which make things run as smoothly as possible. With restrictions in place (especially around face covering and limits on larger gatherings of young people) this has been more difficult than usual. Please be reminded that outdoor gear, including “hoodies”, need to be removed in class unless it is particularly cold and phones need to be out of sight except at social times. We expect all of our learners to be respectful at all times, and to use respectful language. They need to move around the building safely, walking on the left in corridors and knowing that certain areas are “out of bounds” at breaks.
Perhaps it’s worth reiterating above all, that our young people are here to learn … and not just from books of course … they are here to learn how to get on with others and be part of a community, forgiving each other when things go wrong and showing kindness at all times. These are basic human values which matter so much but which, may have been, in some cases, put aside during lockdown and over the course of the pandemic. All of these things need to be the focus of our “recovery”.
We also discussed the calendar and important dates for the year ahead … parents’ evenings, report dates etc. Normally we would have these avialable via the electronic school calendar on our website. However, the extent of uncertainty has once again been an issue. In the meantime, please the the “important dates” given as a footnote below, and do bear in mind that some plans will be liable to change.
Next week sees our S5/6 online Parents’ Evening on Tuesday and flu vaccinations (by nasal spray) taking place on Wednesday in our Hall. At the end of the week, we should be able to issue our “Setting In Report” for S1 pupils. This is a brief report with various codes which give you an indication of how things are going in different subjects in relation to effort, behaviour and homework.
We close for the October break on Friday (8 October) and we will have a “Dress Down Day” with a collection (suggested donation £1) being taken in support of Fife Voluntary Action. School returns on Monday 25 October. Next term there is an In Service Day for teachers on Friday 12 November and the Christmas holidays begin on Thursday 23 December this year.
Although I’ve had to make a few Covid references, I’ve deliberately avoided it being the top news story. That’s because I’m pretty sure that we are on an improving trend now. For the fifth week running (since the end of August) we are seeing declining case numbers and also reduced absence for both staff and pupils. This week we’ve reported 15 cases. Here’s hoping that this is the start of a new phase in the pandemic.
Of course, everyone needs to keep doing their bit … face coverings, hygiene, distancing, testing and taking up the vaccination. The appointment letters are out and the centres are also offering a “drop in” for 12-15 year olds. Also, it’s maybe worth sharing that we have three members of the teaching staff who are entering the latter stages of pregnancy over the next couple of months. Covid presents a heightened risk in these cases. I wonder if you could discuss this at home and asking your kids to be especially careful? Many thanks for this … it’s greatly appreciated.
On a wee note of celebration, very well done to Morgan Cameron and Blake McBride (both S5). It was my pleasure to award them both with our special “Achiever’s Ties” this week in recognition of their services to equality and fairness. Cameron and Blake are leading members of the KHS LGBT+ group which was so important in the school being awarded LGBT Youth Scotland “Gold” Charter status just before “lockdown” last year. Both have been brilliant campaigners against prejudice and hate in their time at KHS and are rightly recognised for that, albeit belatedly. Well done Cameron and Blake.
Finally, in wider news, congratulations to Kim Littlejohn, former pupil. Kim attended KHS in the late 1980s and has recently been inducted into the Scottish Rugby Hall of Fame. She was capped 43 times and captained Scotland women to their only ever Grand Slam win in 1998. What an achievement for an inspiring figure in women’s sport.
You take care
Derek Allan
RECTOR
1 October 2021
IMPORTANT DATES
Tues 5 Oct: S5/6 Parents’ Evening
Wed 6: S1-3 Flu Vaccinations
Fri 8: S1 Settling In Reports, Dress Down and close for holiday
Mon 25: Return after holiday
Fri 12 Nov: Inset
Fri 19: S4 Reports
Fri 3 Dec: S5/6 Tracking Reports
Wed 8 Dec: Christmas Concert (tbc)
Wed 15: Christmas Party/Disco (tbc)
Fri 17: S3 Tracking Reports
Wed 22: Dress Down and close for holiday
Thurs 6 Jan 2022: Return after holiday
Mon 17: S4-6 Prelims begin (2 weeks)
Fri 28: S2 Reports and Course Choice issued
Wed 16 Feb: Inset
Thurs 17 and Fri 18: Holidays
Wed 23: S2 Respect for Learning Awards (tbc)
Mon 28: S4 Tracking Reports
Tues 29: S5/6 Reports and Course Choice issued
Thurs 3 March: S4 Parents’ Evening
Fri 25: S1 Tracking Reports
Fri 1 Apr: Dress Down and close for holiday
Mon 18: Return after holiday
Tues 26: SQA Exams begin
Mon 2 May: Holiday
Thurs 5 May: Inset (Local Govt Elections)
Tues 17: S1 Parents’ Evening
Wed 1 Jun: SQA Exams end
Thurs 2: S3 Parents’ Evening
Fri 3: Additional Holiday re Platinum Jubilee (tbc)
Mon 6: Holiday
Tues 7: New Timetable
Tues 14: Prizegiving (tbc)
Thurs 16/Fri 17: Primary Welcome Days
Fri 17: S6 Prom (tbc)
Thurs 30: Dress Down and close for holiday (return 17 Aug).
