Dear Parent/Carer
Welcome to the first weekly “Log” of the new term. I hope that you are well. Our young people have settled back in very well this week and it’s been a wee bit quieter on the Covid front. This week we have reported 26 new cases. This is still a concern but it does include “backlog” cases from the holidays. In effect, it’s probably the lowest weekly number since the middle of August. Maybe the vaccination message is getting through? Anecdotally, I’m picking up that the vast majority of young people age 12-17, with the support of their families, have arranged to be jagged. Whatever the situation, we need our pupils to be masked and testing twice weekly to suppress spread. Thanks for all your help with this.
Although not solely connected to the current situation, during the term ahead we want to have a strong emphasis on routines and basic expectations … the school rules if you like. The absence of assemblies and “tutor time” have meant that this has been difficult so far this session. We intend to hold more yeargroup based meetings (staying within Covid guidelines) next week and at other times later this term. Also, as you know, we will be reintroducing tutor as of Monday 15 November … full details of which class each young person has been allocated will be issued by the end of next week. In almost all cases (S2-6), this will be the same class as before “lockdown”.
Getting lessons off to the right start, and that being a consistent experience for all young people every period is clearly very important. To help with this, posters have been placed outside every classroom door. The message is particularly simple, with a focus on dress code, mobiles, ear phones, chewing gum and facemasks. These are the “givens” (to mirror the language used at our recent year meetings) and these will be our collective focus this term. Please help us by ensuring that your son/daughter is well prepared for school with their bag, pencil PE kit etc, they should bring their own reusable face covering to school every day and follow the school dress code. Many thanks.
We had a big surprise on Wednesday, when Paige Dougall (S6) dropped in to KHS for a blether, in between her busy recording and media engagements. You’ll likely know that Paige has taken the music charts by storm (working with Ella Henderson of X Factor fame) with a single version of her own song “I’m Going Through Hell”. Paige has Stage 4 Ewing Sarcoma and has had several spells in hospital recently. In case you aren’t aware of this remarkable young woman there is a terrific piece in this week’s Fife Free Press. As the editor Allan Crow remarks, Paige’s song is unbelievably moving and haunting. She is a true superstar and it was great to have her back in KHS this week.
Looking back at the end of last term, and I must say that our House Captains from Adam Smith, Carlyle and Oswald have made a fantastic start to their new roles at KHS, delivering a programme of Inter-house sports competitions in S5-S6 Futsal, S1-S2 Basketball & S3-S4 Basketball. With all 3 houses taking part the level of competition has been exceptionally high but played in good spirits. Our current inter-house points standings are 1st – Carlyle 27 points, 2nd – Adam Smith 22 points, 3rd – Oswald 10 points. This term we will introduce more sports opportunities, but also poster competitions, quizzes, charity events and even staff competitions. To keep up to date with our progress please follow us on Twitter @HousesKHS.
Of course we also had those S1/S2 outdoor education trips to Fordell Firs, also House based. Robert Greenhorn, our Active Schools Co-ordinator, has attached a parent/carer survey offering you the opportunity to feedback on how you think the S1-S2 transition trips have impacted your son/daughter Many thanks.
On a similar theme, we have three S6 girls who are undertaking an additional qualification in Leadership through Edinburgh College. They are Jessica McGregor (Head Girl), Isla Wheatley (Pupil Leadership Team) and Lauren Pitcaithly (Sport Ambassador). All three were involved in the Fordell trips and the course they are taking at College will enhance their skills significantly. We are delighted that Kirkcaldy Rotary Club, on learning of this initiative, has decided to cover the travel costs to Edinburgh. Many thanks to all at the Club.
On that thread of support for school activities, last night we had a meeting (online) of “Friends of Kirkcaldy High School” (FoKHS). It was great to catch up again and I am delighted to report that, in addition to the previously given commitment to invest in set of 20 laptop computers, FoKHS has agreed to pay the travel costs associated with our recent Fordell Firs trips (c£2000) and to purchase a new set of strips for the senior school football team (around £500). Please watch out for details of the FoKHS Christmas raffle shortly. Mrs Davidson will put together an appeal for donations for prizes and will give details of how to buy a ticket online. Last year’s raffle raised £1000.
Next week we will be sending out an invitation to all of our S4/5/6 parents/carers to join a virtual parents’ night to help boost their confidence in being able to support their kids in upcoming SQA assessments and exams. In order to best support our young people, we will be sending out a survey to gather parental thoughts on what you would like us to cover. The parents’ evening will take place using “Zoom” on Wednesday 24 November at 6 – 7.30pm and more information will be sent out shortly.
On that theme of supporting young people undertaking SQA qualifications I’m delighted to report that we have acquired a discount arrangement with a well known educational publisher which will give a 25% reduction on all revision booklets. If your son/daughter is studying for National 5, Higher or Advanced Higher, it is worth checking out the “Bright Red” website Please use the discount code: Kirkcaldy25
Of course, academic or exam success is not the only type of achievement we value. However, it’s been harder than ever for us to be able to mark wider achievement recently because of restrictions on assemblies etc. But we have a plan. You are invited to reply to this email telling us about any recent successes your son or daughter has had. We are thinking about things like sporting or volunteering successes outside school or activities with other organisations eg Guides, Scouts, Youth Clubs, charity fundraising etc. We also want to know about achievement linked to interests and hobbies eg dancing, skating, art drama or music etc. It’s almost without limit really. Our intention would be to collate all the reports into a regular achievement round-up, probably in video format, which will go up on the KHS website. I’m grateful to Mrs Duckett (Music), who has offered to look after this. All we need now is for you to tell us the good news stories about your kids. As I say, please reply to this email with all the details (including name, year etc) and please include a photo if you can. Much appreciated.
Next week sees us given an opportunity by Napier University (Edinburgh) for our S6 UCAS university applicants to receive support with their personal statements. Those involved will be split into two groups and the sessions take place on Tuesday afternoon. Thanks to Miss Fotheringham (PT Guidance) and Mr Paterson (Young Workforce Coordinator) for setting this up. Mr Paterson is also responsible for putting together our latest jobs bulletin (attached).
Next week also sees another step towards something approaching “normal” when we have foreign teachers visiting the school for the first time in a couple of years. On Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday we’ll be hosting trainee English language teachers from the People’s Republic of China. We’ll have six student teachers in total as part of their Moray House (Edinburgh University) course. Many thanks to Mrs Morris (Head of Humanities), who has arranged a programme of observations in our Languages Department over the three days.
On a different tack, but still on the staffing/teaching theme, this week we welcomed Mr Campbell Davidson Kelly, new teacher of Computing. Mr Davidson Kelly joins us having just moved down to Fife from Aberdeen. He has made a great start here and will be a real asset to KHS I’m sure.
And finally, with Halloween upon us, I wonder what you make of this bunch of guisers? …
I hope you’ll consider yourself treated rather than tricked. Thanks to all who contributed!
So, please take care, and do encourage your son or daughter to take a Covid test this weekend … and to get vaccinated if required. Also, please get back to me with those good news stories of wider achievement. It’ll be good to be able to celebrate success. Just click “reply”.
All the best
Derek Allan
RECTOR
29 October 2021
