Dear Parent/Carer

Well, we made it … most of us. Many thanks for your understanding, support and cooperation over what might well count as the most difficult term this school has faced in decades. I’ve been teaching almost 40 years and have never known anything like this. Contact tracing, self-isolation … all the new jargon, these are what we are routinely handling these days.

However, despite all the disruption and distraction, it’s to the credit of our learners, their teachers and our support staff, that our “core business” goes on with little hindrance. Well done everyone who has progressed their education and expanded their mind over this term. Thanks to the adults who have guided them.

In addition to our own significant Covid related issues, we had two very important pieces of national news this week. As well as the additional restrictions on hospitality announced by the First Minister, the Deputy First Minister gave details of the revised assessment arrangements for SQA Qualifications for 2021. There will be no exams for National 5 and the Highers and Advanced Higher exams will start in the middle of May, two or three weeks later than usual. For those in S5/6, it means that a bit of “catch up” time has been built in. We are also awaiting word from the SQA as to how the exams will be adapted to take account of the disruption experienced last session and this. As for the National 5 qualification, this will entail teacher judgement, which in turn will be based on validated assessment, spot checked by the SQA. It means that ongoing tests and prelim exams in particular, will be very, very important. We need all our learners, at all stages, to be “on their game” at all times. It just won’t be possible to coast for a couple of terms and then “cram” for the exams. That was never a good plan anyway and quite frankly, although it has been said that the Highers are going ahead as planned, you never know what might happen by next May.

To help our learners be ready for the continuous assessment model, we have an excellent range of study support opportunities available. I’m very grateful to all the staff who are giving up time to run these study/revision clubs and also to Miss Diamond, who has put together the attached timetable.

In school, it was the AGM of “Friends of Kirkcaldy High School” on Monday evening … a meeting which was held remotely online. I’m grateful to FOKHS, who continue to be a vital support to the school. The latest initiative is to purchase an additional set of laptop computers and a charging trolley for use in Science. “FoKHS” welcomes new members and you can join from only £5 per year. I attach a membership form for you to complete and return. Many thanks in advance from Mrs Davidson, our in-school link.

There was a very harrowing and heart-breaking documentary on terrorism on BBC2 on Monday evening which was partly filmed at KHS last year. We hosted a talk from Mike Haines, whose brother David was beheaded by “ISIS” in Iraq in 2014. It’s a difficult watch and quite upsetting but it highlights Mike’s mission to find healing and understanding among the trauma and horror. Watch out for episode 2 of “In the Face of Terror” next Monday or catch the series on iPlayer.

On Tuesday, Miss Osborne and training staff from the Royal Navy launched (no pun intended) our exciting new leadership programme with S5. It’s a pilot programme (again, no pun meant) and we are really happy to be selected to partner the navy. Above all, it’s an exploration of the RN values; Commitment, Courage, Discipline, Respect, Integrity and Loyalty. Many thanks to Miss Osborne, who has personal experience of these values as a Royal Navy Reservist.

In the afternoon it was my great pleasure to present former pupil Liam Newton with his Scottish Schools FA international cap (right). We were joined by Mr English of the PE department who is current President of the SSFA. Liam was a real credit to KHS and now plays for East Fife. In fact , he made his first team debut that evening in the League Cup win over Cowdenbeath.

We marked another achievement this week with the news that Logan Piotrowicz (S5) has been awarded a very prestigious engineering scholarship. The Arkwright scheme is for the cream of the UK’s budding engineers and the selection process is exceptionally rigorous, including a challenging theory test. I had a chat with Logan (left), along with Mr Fulton of the CDT team, on Tuesday afternoon. Logan is looking forward to being mentored, receiving financial support and possibly gaining work experience as an Arkwright scholar. He has a particular interest in aerospace. Well done Logan and thanks to Mr Fulton, Mr Hamilton and the rest of the Techy team who deliver such a fantastic “STEM” experience in KHS. Also on Tuesday, in the evening, our S3 St Andrews University “First Chances” kids were involved in another online session. Many thanks to Mr Dick, the Principal Teacher who supports this programme so well.

We recently introduced a new recognition scheme to complement our subject based “Achievement Boards”, “Pupil of the Week” Awards etc. Many thanks to Ms Mahr (RME Dept) who is overseeing our “Kind Hearts Stars”. This is just a wee way of placing kindness up there with the other human qualities we value. Pupils and staff can nominate anyone in our school community for a Kindness Star and the names are shared on a Friday using social media. We also have a board in the main stairwell. Very well done to all those who have been recognised this week, including the group who organised and baked for Christine Paterson’s retirement presentation (see below). Check out all the names out on Twitter.

Today, as is traditional for the end of term, we are holding a “Dress Down Day”, this time in support of Kirkcaldy Foodbank. Many thanks for your contributions. The Foodbank is a long established partner and I think that we have raised almost £8000 for the charity over the last few years. It’s a terrific cause, aimed at relieving distress in our community.

And there is plenty of distress around at the moment. The wellbeing of our young people has always been a priority at KHS and we have worked hard to provide information that helps them make choices that positively affect them. We pay particular attention to mental health within the social education curriculum as it has become an area of concern for many of our pupils. It is human behaviour to experience numerous different emotions and we can’t be happy or feeling good all the time. We have been letting our pupils know that ‘it is ok to not be ok’. In fact, it’s a very common feeling at this time. Feeling sad does not mean we are depressed and feeling nervous does not mean we have anxiety, but we recognise that sometimes people do develop these conditions. When it is ‘not ok to not be ok’ is when it starts to have an impact on our daily life: not wanting to get up or leave the house; stopping speaking to friends; can’t concentrate in class; truanting etc. At these times we need help from family, friends, outside agencies and resources, so that we can develop coping strategies and create a plan to get back to where we want to be feeling.

Our young people have continued to show incredible strength and resilience during this testing period of time and deserve a lot of credit. However, there has been an increase in kids reporting feeling anxious, low in mood and depressed, with a number now developing self-harming behaviours and talking about suicide. Several of our staff have undergone “ASIST” suicide prevention training. Sometimes, kids may appear strong but are expressing worries including SQA exams; rumours around potential lock-downs; family members losing jobs; financial stress in the home, etc. Please continue to talk to your family, ‘check-in’ with them and remember you can use the KHS Mental Health Toolkit to access help and advice. It can be found here:

The link includes contact details for various agencies, including the number for the Samaritans. It’s 0330 094 5717 or maybe try @KirkcaldySams on Twitter.

May I pay a particular tribute to our Guidance Team, so ably led by Mr Farquharson and Miss Kendrick, acting in a joint capacity. The team are in the “front line” and work tirelessly to support our kids through tough times. A more dedicated team of skilled professionals won’t be found anywhere else. I thank them. And thanks also to Christine Paterson, our in-school counsellor who took retirement this week. Christine worked for DAPL, one of those agencies I mentioned, and was a brilliant asset here. The good news is that she wants to continue links with the school as a volunteer, and also as a member of “FoKHS”. Christine wants to work with our kids in our Serenity Garden. Thanks Christine, and very best wishes to you (photo right).

After the holidays, please remember that the school day will end 5 minutes earlier with lunchtime being shortened. This is a wee temporary “tweak” to help infection control. Same for our decision to suspend “Tutor Time” for the now. At the warning bell (8.41am) on Monday 26 October, all pupils should report straight to their Period 1 class ie Maths, Geography, French etc.

Finally, Mr Young and I were checking the parental/pupil comments on the S1 Settling In Reports this week and found that to be an uplifting experience. Despite the gathering darkness and the storms out there, it’s reassuring to know that so many of our kids are loving school, they’ve settled well and made new friends, they are doing well in their lessons and are looking forward to making the most of KHS.  For me, that’s a good enough note to close.

Wishing you all the very best. Do have a good break. Take care.

Derek Allan

RECTOR

9 October 2020