Dear Parent/Carer

I hope that you are well enough. Here is the news from KHS.

I’m afraid that Covid still presents a significant problem with more new cases this week, especially affecting the staff. Since returning in January, we’ve now had almost 140 cases in total, staff and pupils. This leads to inevitable disruption in learning and means that staff cover is overstretched. I understand that it’s become a familiar picture in schools all over Scotland. As always, I am indebted to our teachers, support and office staff for their dogged resilience and commitment to the cause in such strained circumstances. This week’s special “shout out” goes to Mrs Gillian Wood (Pupil Support Officer) who has been working single-handedly all week giving emotional first aid to pupils and support to teaching staff to get arrangements right for every kid at any given moment.

Please be reminded that there are no changes to our Covid risk assessment at present. Masks, hand hygiene, 2m distancing for adults and regular testing remain and we can now check the effectiveness of ventilation around the building using CO2 monitors which have been recently installed. Please support the home testing routine, keep your son/daughter at home if they are unwell and help them to be properly prepared for school … with a face covering. Very much appreciated.

Our prelim exams are now complete and for learners in S4-6, we are expecting a firm focus on the SQA exams, which start at the end of April. For information, I attach a copy of the finalised timetable. Some of the timings have been adjusted slightly. Of course, the main SQA news this week has been the announcement of the additional guidance and support being offered to candidates at the start of next month. At the start of session, the content requirement for most subjects was reduced and now there will be study guides with “hints” about what will be covered in the exams. The SQA has also said that, given all the past and ongoing disruption to learning, marking will be “generous” this year. There is more detail on the SQA website. You can also check out the arrangements for “exceptional circumstances” consideration which can be applied if a candidate has to miss an exam due to Covid or self isolation requirements.

The second attachment is our regular jobs bulletin, thanks to Mr Paterson. You know that we have a big focus on helping our leavers move on to a “positive destination” such as college, university, an apprenticeship, training, work or volunteering.

This week saw another “catch up” immunisation session for S2-6, with injections, by invitation, against HPV (which has links to cervical cancer). On Wednesday and yesterday we held special yeargroup meetings for S1 and S2 to raise awareness of our school trip to visit the French and Belgian battlefields of World War 1 in April/May next year. I’m very grateful to Mr Harrower and Miss Osborne, who are leading on this. A copy of the letter was sent home yesterday, so please be in touch right away if your son or daughter (current S1 and S2 only) is interested. We are keen to support families who will find the cost a problem, and should be able to provide a travel grant (courtesy of FoKHS and other generous supporters) to those who qualify for free meals. I have to say that the response has already been amazing. You will appreciate that the party size will be limited by transport and accommodation availability, as well as our own staffing. If the level of interest exceeds the numbers we can take on this occasion, and it looks like it will, we will work out the fairest way to decide who will take part.

Today we are posting home the S2 reports, along with course choice information for S3. Mrs Hamilton will send an email message with further information. We always try to offer as wide a range of courses as we can. However, please be aware that we may have to “cap” some classes. Also, some courses might not run if the minimum class size is not reached. Staffing availability may be a factor too. For example, you may be aware that teachers in certain subjects such as Computing Science are in short supply across Scotland. As I say, we will offer as broad a range of curriculum pathways as we possibly can in the circumstances. It is very important to make “reserve” choices.

We end the week with our U18 footballers away to Aberdeen Grammar School in the Scottish Shield today. Very best wishes to Mr English, Mr I’Anson and the boys, who will be wearing very smart new strips, kindly donated by FoKHS.

Mind that the week after next is the mid term break. Pupils will not be in school from Wednesday 16 to Friday 18 February. The Wednesday is in service staff training and we’ll be having a focus on child protection and the SQA exams.

You take care

Derek Allan
RECTOR
4 February 2022