Dear Parent/Carer
As usual, welcome to the KHS news. I hope you are healthy and happy.
The Scottish Government has this week decided against any further relaxation of the Covid rules at this time. It’s not really surprising given the escalating case numbers, and we are experiencing that too here in KHS. It had looked like an improving staff absence picture, but this has stalled this week, with new cases bringing the total number of staff cases reported since January 6 to almost 40. We’ve also had well over 300 pupil cases in that period. You can imagine how disruptive this is. Please accept my apologies that many classes will not have their regular teacher at times. You’ll appreciate that we are doing whatever we can to get by.
Well done to our Sports Leaders, who made a great job of officiating, timekeeping and stewarding at the Disability Sport Fife Badminton at Kirkcaldy Leisure Centre on Wednesday. It’s a great experience for our young people. Thanks to Active Schools Coordinator Robert Greenhorn, who does so much to support these valuable initiatives.
Today we have been marking Red Nose Day and have been raising funds for “Comic Relief” in a variety of ways. I’m especially grateful to Mr Geissler and his S3 Personal Development class who organised a whole school quiz. Prizes for the winners will include vouchers from McDonalds, Bob and Bert’s, Subway and Greens. The class also held a raffle for the chance to win a walk with Lexi (our “therapy” dog) today. It’s a beautiful day for it. We even had a mystery cupcake competition with the winner receiving the terrific a prize of £30 cash. Thanks for your support of our fundraising.
Also today, it’s “exam day” for our Practical Cake Craft students … good luck to them in their SQA “bake-off”. I had a wee look in this morning and some of the creations were starting to look really good. Next week our Dance candidates are involved in their final assessment. Best wishes to them.
On Tuesday, we’ll have another Primary 7 “enhanced transition” group visiting KHS. Please spread the word that parents/carers anticipating their child starting with us in August really need to have registered online by now, especially if they are outwith our local catchment. Many thanks.
Next Wednesday we’ll have another “First Chances” session in the Library, with staff and students from St Andrews University mentoring S3 pupils who might consider Higher Education as a route on leaving KHS. On Friday, NHS Fife nurse team are in school again to administer HPV vaccinations for S1 pupils. Appointment slips will be issued soon. We should also be issuing the S1 “Tracking Reports” on that day too. On that theme of “leaving school”, please remember to check out our KHS Young Workforce “padlet”.
The week after next is the final week of this term. On return, S4-6 will have only one further week before study leave for the SQA exams. Study leave begins on Monday 25 April and lasts until Wednesday 1 June (inclusive), with an Induction Day for the new S5/6 on Thursday 2 June. We’ll have everybody back in full time for our new timetable on 7 June. You are perhaps aware that Friday 3 June and Monday 6 June are Public Holidays marking the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee.
Please expect an “Easter School” SQA study timetable (for S4-6) to be emailed out next Friday. We’ll have some special revision sessions in school during the break as well as online opportunities for some serious study time before the exams. Candidates will also be invited in during study leave for “masterclass” sessions, usually the day before the exam.
Please keep us notified of pupil appointments in advance rather than on the day if possible. It’s a good deal easier for our Office staff to keep our records straight if you do that for us. We are happy for you to do this by phone, email or even a hand written note, days, weeks or even months ahead. Very much appreciated.
In closing, very best wishes to Mrs Little (PE), who goes off on maternity leave today. We all wish her well. Interviews are taking place early next week for a teacher to “backfill”.
Of course, it’s very best wishes to you too. Take care …. please keep taking the tests and encourage your kids to do the same. Remember that young people can still get kit boxes in school up until Easter. Thanks.
Yours
Derek Allan
RECTOR
18 March 2022
