Dear Parent/Carer

Here is the final news update of this very eventful term. I hope you are well.

I’m afraid that there has been no let up in the absence situation with around a quarter of all pupils off this week. We’ve also had 22-25 teachers absent again, many of them with Covid. They say that this rise in case numbers is expected to peak very soon … let’s hope so. It would be good to think that next term can be a more settled experience for everyone. I’m grateful for the support of Fife Council in acquiring the services of additional specialist teachers all this week. It has made a difference to our ability to cope with such high levels of absence. I’m attaching a letter from Carrie Lindsay (Executive Director of Education and Children’s Services) which outlines expectations, although these are not set in stone by any means, for after the break.

This week we had Fife Fire and Rescue in to our S2 Assembly to talk about the dangers of grass and woodland fires. This took place on Tuesday, which was also the day of the SQA Higher Dance assessments. On Wednesday, Fife Council conducted the first round of interviews to select the next Headteacher of KHS. The final appointment is being made on 22 April. Yesterday we held the Higher Drama performance and also Practical Cookery exams, and we also had a group of young people from our LBGT+ Group attending a performance of the hit musical “Everybody’s Talking About Jamie” at the Festival Theatre in Edinburgh.

This morning, we held an assembly for S5/6 and explained to the S5 how the Prefect application and selection process will work. Also, we are having a “Dress Down” to mark the end of term. A collection is being taken for “Comfort Rwanda”, which supports work in our partner school in Kigali, Rwanda. We are at the early stages of planning a visit to Africa for Autumn 2023. More details soon. I’m delighted to say that our recent fund raising has been very successful. This week I signed off cheques for £1805 for UNICEF’s Ukraine Refugee Appeal, £480 for Fife Voluntary Action and £630 for Comic Relief. Many thanks for all your support.

On that theme of school excursions, Mr Harrower and Miss Osborne have asked me to thank S2 parents/carers for their patience and understanding. As you know, we had a fantastic, and quite frankly overwhelming, level of interest in our trip to the Great War Battlefields Tour next April/May. Personally, I am thrilled at being permitted to be one of the adult helpers. I’ll be part of the trip to Belgium and France despite being a former member of staff by then! We will be holding a meeting of all the young people who were successful in the ballot during the first week back after the break. A parent/carer evening will follow … watch out for details soon. The current S1 can look forward to an excursion in the spring of 2024.

This morning, we have issued our “Respect for Learning” Award Certificates for S2. We would have liked this to have been a physical ceremony, but public health considerations make that difficult. Two years ago, we invited parents and carers in to be part of the presentation and it was a lovely occasion … a nice way to recognise the young people who just get on with doing their best. Those young people who have shown a good positive attitude to learning have been awarded a certificate. Commendation is given to those who mostly show good respect for learning, Merit is for those who do this almost all of the time and we have the Distinction Award for those who always have a good attitude in class. Congratulations to all the award winners.

Please be reminded that we’ll be returning to our normal “full uniform” expectations next term with no hoodies or outdoor gear in classes. Also, all young people need a complete and proper change of gear for PE, and jogging pants are not appropriate school wear. Should you require any support (including financial help) to ensure that your son or daughter is properly kitted out for school, please be in touch and ask for Mrs Hardie (Pupil Support Officer).

So, after today, we close for two weeks to mark the Easter holidays and return on Monday 18 April. We have House Assemblies on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday of that week and these will be extended to allow our S6 leavers to take charge. It’s always nice to have the leavers take the lead, and it’s a KHS tradition I’m glad we can revive again. After our SQA assembly on Friday 22 April, study leave begins for all S4-S6. We’ll have everyone back and a new S6 induction on Thursday 2 June, then after the long weekend to mark the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee, our new timetable begins on Tuesday 7 June.

Before all that of course, it’s those exams, and all S4-6 should now have a paper copy of the “Easter School” timetable with revision/study sessions in most subjects. We are also planning “masterclass” sessions right before each exam so that some last minute revision or exam practice can be offered in school. We’ll send you a copy and get print versions for kids in the first week back. I’m grateful to Mrs Davidson for her work on this. The secret of exam success is to be as well organised as possible. I should add that we now have details of the exceptional circumstances arrangements which will apply when a candidate has to miss an exam due to illness or another valid reason. The SQA have made it clear that an “appeal” in a case such as this will be based on “demonstrated attainment”. In other words, actual evidence of achievement will be required and “estimates” won’t be enough. It means that it’s likely that any candidate’s best interests will be served by them making it in for an exam and trying their very best whenever possible.

Congratulations and well done to the Tuckwell brothers, Owen (S6) and Spencer (S3), who competed in the Scottish Schools Badminton Championships recently. Both did very well with Owen losing out to the top seed and eventual winner and Spencer made it through to the quarter finals. Both boys can be very proud of their achievements.

And so can Ramiza Ahmad (S6). Ramiza was elected to represent Kirkcaldy in the Scottish Youth Parliament at the end of last year and has now been elected by her fellow MSYPs to serve as Deputy Convener of the Equalities and Human Rights Committee. This is a very important role and it’s a brilliant achievement for Ramiza. She will be excellent in the role, and a fantastic voice for fairness and equality at Holyrood.

Many thanks to Mrs Whyte (DYW Coordinator), who has updated our job opportunities “Padlet”. Highlights this week include a few admin trainee/ apprenticeships roles, several retail jobs including Tesco, Morrisons and Boots, and Trade Apprenticeships with Clark Contracts. As part of her Teacher Leadership course with Fife Council, which has a focus on parental engagement, Mrs Whyte is looking for feedback on the online study skills session we held in November. We are hoping to do something for families with younger kids too. Please check out our survey. Much appreciated.

A wee bit of further staffing news to close, and very best wishes to Mrs Sammy-Jo Berwick (Supported Learning), who leaves KHS today to take up a Guidance post at Glenwood High School. Mrs Berwick has been a huge asset here and will be sorely missed. She thoroughly deserves her promotion.

I would also like to share the news that Miss Emma Fotheringham (Guidance) is getting married … at last. Miss Fotheringham and her fiancé had a few false starts due to Covid but will eventually get hitched in the second week of the holidays. She will be known as Mrs Sim on return. Congratulations and best wishes to the happy couple!

I do hope you have a good holiday and that your son or daughter is refreshed and ready to learn to best of their ability after the break. Thanks, as always, for all your ongoing support and encouragement to make the best of the hand we are currently dealt. You take care.

Derek Allan
RECTOR
1 April 2022