Dear Parent/Carer

My usual message is a wee bit early this week due to the extended weekend. Best wishes to you.

This week sees the end of study leave for S4-6 with our SQA candidates returning to school today. The last exam was Drama, which took place yesterday. Huge thanks to our invigilator team, led by Dee Maloney and Helen McKenzie and to our own staff, particularly Mrs Davidson and Mr Broadway for all their excellent efforts. The whole process has gone very well. Senior pupils are collecting new timetables and returning books today with the new S6 taking part in an induction. The Head Boy and Head Girl elections are also taking place with all staff and S6 pupils entitled to vote.

On Monday afternoon we had a very successful athletics competition for S1 and S2. I am very grateful to Miss Steedman (PE) who was our chief organiser. On Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday we arranged for all pupils in S1 and S2 to have special single sex lessons outwith the normal timetable on the impact of social media and cyber bullying. Thanks to the Guidance Team, who have responded to a worrying rising trend in harmful content and sharing. Much of this is connected to platforms such as Snapchat and TikTok. Please be aware and alert.

On Tuesday, our S3 footballers (many of whom were part of the Fife Shield winning team) were along at Capshard Primary doing some coaching with an emphasis on teamwork, fair play and sporting values. A different group of new S4, our Junior Sports Leaders, are helping out at the Disability Sport Fife Athletics too, held at Pitreavie today. Good on them, and thanks to Mr Greenhorn, our Active Schools Sports Coordinator, who has set up these excellent engagements and opportunities for our kids.

Last night was our S3 parents’ evening, held online, and we also had a group of pupils away to Hampden for the World Cup play-off match against Ukraine. It was not to be our night, as you likely know. Well done Ukraine, especially in the circumstances right now. It’s quite some story.

As I say, today sees the return of our senior pupils from study leave. Our S6 induction has been organised by Mrs Sim and includes inputs on mental health, teamwork, leadership, volunteering (Saltire Awards), careers and job applications. At lunchtime we are laying on a “getting to know you” buffet for our new Prefect team and the election results for Head Boy and Girl will be announced at the end of the day, more news of this for you next week.

Also next week, after the Monday holiday, our new timetable starts on Tuesday. We will have an extended “tutor” session that day to ensure that everyone understands their new timetable and our expectations around uniform, timekeeping, mobile phones, food or juice in the corridors, litter etc. Being consistent and fair in these matters is important in building good relationships across the school. Please avoid calling or messaging your son or daughter during lesson times as it can be quite disruptive to learning. Much appreciated. We will contact you, usually by text message, in cases when mobile

That same day we have an outing for our Supported Learning classes, who are visiting the Scottish Deer Centre at Cupar. Many thanks to Kirkcaldy Rotary Club, who sponsor this event. Our new S4 will have a brief input from staff from Abertay University as part of the Lift Off Programme.

On Wednesday 8 June, our S2 First Chances pupils have a residential experience at St Andrews University. We will also have Yeargroup Assemblies to welcome everybody to their new yeargroup stage and go over those “expectations” as part of our “positive relationships” approaches. Thursday is National Empathy Day and we are planning to mark this in various ways, promoting kindness and understanding. Thanks to Mrs Hume (Head of English) who has been sharing lesson ideas with staff. Appropriately, it’s also our Youth and Philanthropy Initiative finals, held in the Hall. I am delighted to be one of the judges. Thanks to Ms Mahr and Mrs Whyte, our organisers, and very best wishes to all the competing teams. Also that day, Miss Steedman is taking our girls’ football team through to Renfrew to compete in the Scottish Championships. KHS are already winners of the Fife Cup and are representing the County. Best wishes to the girls.

Very well done to our Business and Computing pupils who had success in the recent Fife Connect-ability “STEM” Superhero poster competition. Olivia Greig (S1) was the overall winner, winning £200 for KHS to spend on technology equipment. Teddy Duckett (S2) was runner-up and Noel Lamont (S1) was commended. There were over 300 entries from Fife Schools, so this is a truly excellent achievement. Many thanks to Miss Samfat (Principal Teacher of Digital Learning) who supported our entries.

This week on the KHS Employability “Padlet” there are apprenticeships in NHS Fife as a Pharmacy Technicians. If young people are thinking of a job in medicine there are also upcoming Medicine Open days at St Andrews and Aberdeen; we have school contacts for other experiences. Lots of local businesses are hiring including B & M, Young Spuds, Lidl and in Care roles. Mrs Whyte is happy to help with finding work placements or helping pupils look for a positive destination on leaving school

A wee bit of staffing news to close, and best wishes to Mr Crawford (CDT) who starts along at St Andrews High School next week. Many thanks and good luck. It’s also very best wishes to Mrs Hunter, who is now off to begin a new life in the Highlands and take on a new post at Turriff Academy. She has been a terrific asset at KHS. I am delighted to share that Mrs Hunter’s role as Guidance Teacher in Carlyle House will be fulfilled by our own Mrs Dempsey (Biology) on a temporary basis for now. I am confident that Mrs Dempsey will excel in that position.

Enjoy your long weekend … and very best wishes.

Derek Allan
RECTOR
2 June 2022