Dear Parent/Carer

Welcome to the penultimate “Log” of session 2021-2022. I’m hoping you are ok, despite the recent rise in Covid cases. It’s something which has affected the staff this week.

I have to start with the school show, “Little Shop of Horrors”. If you haven’t already been, get along this evening. If you have already seen it, you are probably already booked up to go again tonight. It’s brilliant. Huge thanks and congratulations go to everyone involved, especially to Director, Mr McPherson who has led the staff team and all of the cast superbly well.

Also, last Friday’s Prom was brilliant. What a fantastic and happy send off it was for the Class of 2022. Our organising committee, led by Mr Fulton, did a fantastic job and it was really good for Mr Fulton to receive this lovely message from the venue; “I must tell you that it was a breath of fresh air with all your students attending. They were so very well behaved and respected the venue so well. Your students are fantastic, it is a credit to you and the rest of your staff”. How nice was that?

This week we had a large group of senior science students attending Fife College for a “CSI” style event to improve their lab skills, including DNA and fingerprint analysis and flame photometry. By all accounts it was an excellent day, with lots of high quality learning. Many thanks to the College.

Our House Assemblies have been led by the Guidance team, who have developed new ways to keep in touch using a QR code system when a pupil needs an appointment. We also highlighted the relocation of our SDS (Careers) base, which is now right across from the main reception and quite close by the Guidance base. This is where our new Careers Advisors, Eve Crawford and Anne Hay can be found.

On Tuesday evening we held a meeting of the Parent Council. Victoria Stokoe (Chair) has asked me to thank those who tuned in and I must pass on my apologies once again for the technical malfunction I experienced halfway through. Mrs Hamilton came to my rescue though … she is such a professional! We discussed the Standards and Quality Report, Improvement Plan, budget and staffing as well as key dates for the year ahead. I’m ever so grateful to Laura Frew, who took the minutes (attached). I mention dates, and it was only on Wednesday morning that we learned about the change to the Easter Holidays. I asked that the office share Carrie Lindsay’s letter as a matter of urgency. I understand that more information is coming out soon.

Yesterday, we had a group of around 30 young people along at the Royal Highland Show at Ingliston near Edinburgh. The trip, organised by the Home Economics Department, and involving Environmental Science students, went very well and all had a brilliant day out.

Next week is the final week of the session, and in effect, my last week as Rector. My official finish date is 14 August, although the time before then is the school holidays. I’ll likely be in contact during July just with a wee reminder about the arrangements for August, including our expectations around uniform. Please remember that we expect a white shirt, school tie, plain black trousers and shoes. Blazers are also a good choice as they do not count as “outdoor gear” which needs to be removed in class. Hoodies, leggings and track pants are not acceptable schoolwear. If you are struggling to buy the right gear, and we are deliberately keeping it as simple and as affordable as we can, please be in touch, we’ll help out.

Also next week we have our Duke of Edinburgh Award Group expedition to the Lomond Hills. Many thanks to Miss Wallace and Mr Sanderson (Social Studies), who are supporting our pupils. On Tuesday afternoon I’ll be attending the Capshard Leavers’ Show, taking along some of our Prefects and also Logan Thomson and Madison Fraser (now S2), who are former winners of the Gregor Smith Award at Capshard.

On Wednesday afternoon, we have a special end of term treat, with all S4-6 invited along to the hall to attend an unplugged gig by local indie rock band The Shambolics, who have a strong reputation and following. Darren and Scott from the band are former KHS pupils and were in touch to say that they wanted to put on a show to raise some funds for Kirkcaldy Foodbank. The show is free but we’ll ask the audience members to make a donation if they can.

Recently, we welcomed Lee from the Tool Shed at Kinghorn Ecology Centre. A study leave clear out of our freshly decorated DET workshops meant we had a number of surplus and broken tools in need of a new home. These have been donated to the Ecology Centre and will now be restored by volunteers including men living with dementia, before being sent in kits to support self reliance projects in Africa. What a brilliant concept. I am indebted to Mr Ritchie (Principal Teacher) and Mr Crawford (now at St Andrews High School) who organised this.

I mentioned staffing earlier and we are expecting 19 new members of the teaching staff to be joining us in August. This is quite a significant addition to the team. The incoming teachers are; Kris Moore (currently at Viewforth), Cherelle Torrens (currently at Levenmouth) and Danielle Mendes (Probationer) in Design Technology, Leigh Donaldson (Probationer) in Biology, Emmanouil Mastoridis (Probationer) and Stephanie Barclay (currently Royal High School) in Maths, Stewart Turnbull (currently Glenrothes High School) in Computing, Ellie Brown (currently Levenmouth) in Home Economics, Iona Quilter (currently Whitburn Academy) in Music, Leah Crichton (Probationer) in Art and Design, Paula Cobban (currently Levenmouth), Kiera Robertson and Hannah Britton (both Probationers) in English, Lisa Millar (currently Lornshill Academy) in Modern Studies, Robbie Crow (Madras College) in Drama, Lauren Edmonston (currently Woodmill High School) in Business Education and Rebecca Wilkie (Balwearie) in Supported Learning. Rebecca won’t start until the October beak when her maternity ends. We’ll also be joined by Clare Donaldson in Guidance (currently Inverkeithing High School) but Clare’s actual start is delayed due to her maternity leave which starts in September. Finally, I am delighted to be offering full time permanent contracts to Euan McCowan (History) and Rachel Geddes (Biology). Both are current teachers here on a temporary basis.

We have a few staff retiring or moving on as you know, but this influx is chiefly required to address our sharply rising roll. This is estimated to be around 1475 for August with a new S1 intake just shy of 280. It’s the busiest this school has been in almost 20 years.

Mrs Whyte has asked me to share this week’s “employability” highlights. Raith Rovers are looking for coaches to help with summer camps, and this may lead to paid employment and coaching qualifications. Speak to Mrs Whyte by end of Monday if interested. Medicine Summer School – for new S6 pupils interested in medicine, NHS Fife is hosting a one-week work experience at the Victoria Hospital. See the poster on our Padlet for more details. Fife Leisure Trust is looking to train Swimming Teachers. More details on the padlet. New Apprenticeships in – Quality Control, Mechanical Engineering, Administration. Job Opportunities include temporary work at the British Open, as a Warehouse Operative, Production Engineer, Local Supermarket vacancies, restaurants, and a few summer roles.

So, I’m really looking forward to this evening’s performance. Get yourself along for a 7pm start, I understand that there are likely to be tickets available on the night.

And then have a lovely weekend.

All the best.

Derek Allan
RECTOR
24 June 2022