Dear Parent\/Carer<\/p>\n
Welcome to the regular KHS weekly email. Maybe you are like me and finding it hard to believe that we’re into December already. It’s only three weeks until the Christmas break … best of luck to us all!<\/p>\n
You’ll maybe recall that last week I mentioned the achievements of Sam Aslam (S6)\u00a0in the Scottish Mock Trial Competition.\u00a0\u00a0Sam, who is Depute Head Boy here, \u00a0was named as\u00a0one of two\u00a0“Rising Stars” in this important\u00a0legal competition\u00a0and I am now delighted to report that he will represent the\u00a0UK team of “solicitors”\u00a0in the European Mock Trial Competition to be held in The Hague, Netherlands, in January 2018. This is a brilliant achievement … very well done Sam.<\/p>\n
This week has been\u00a0a Personal Learning Planning week for S4 and it was\u00a0also “Book Week Scotland”. We marked\u00a0Book Week\u00a0at House Assemblies on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, with staff and young people talking about their favourite reads.<\/p>\n
Another notable event has been World Aids Day\u00a0which takes place today. Earlier this week, had a group of young people explaining\u00a0HIV\/AIDS at the assemblies, and dispelling some myths. \u00a0Also, Mrs Aitken, Dr Murray and a group of young people\u00a0from S4 and S5 attended a reception at the Scottish Parliament on Tuesday evening to mark\u00a0World Aids Day. Then, this morning,\u00a0all young people\u00a0were offered a red ribbon to wear. There’s been an education stall in the War Memorial area and pupils have had the chance to learn more about blood borne viruses and keeping safe. We\u2019re even on Kingdom FM News today, with our young people talking about the importance of tackling HIV stigma.<\/p>\n
Also on Tuesday, our Advanced Higher Modern Studies class enjoyed a research themed visit to the National Library of Scotland and also the High Court, in Edinburgh. \u00a0In the evening,\u00a0we held our special parent\/carer evening sponsored by the\u00a0KHS Parent Council. It was\u00a0all about internet safety and\u00a0included issues such as online grooming, sharing inappropriate images, “sexting” and online scams. \u00a0As well as\u00a0our own staff explaining how we deliver lessons which\u00a0help young people stay safe,\u00a0we had\u00a0a\u00a0very well received\u00a0input from Scott McGready, “ethical hacker” and cyber security expert.\u00a0 Scott\u00a0is a very skilled communicator and also has another career\u00a0as an internet consultant on TV and radio.\u00a0He delivered excellent safety talks in school to all of our pupils during the day and was\u00a0the main event at the\u00a0parents evening too. Please be sure you know that your children are safe online. Please check out this web link which we shared with parents\/carers on the night;\u00a0www.thinkuknow.co.uk<\/a>. \u00a0This is the education website of CEOP, the Child Exploitation and Online Protection Centre.<\/p>\n On Wednesday, we had a group of Geography students attending a lecture sponsored by the Royal Geographical Society along at Dunfermline High School. The theme was glaciation and it was delivered by Professor Colin Ballantyne of St Andrews University. Thanks also to crime writer Doug Johnstone\u00a0who gave a special talk\u00a0to English classes\u00a0on Thursday, supported by “Bloody Scotland”. \u00a0This was part of “Book Week Scotland” and it was very informative with some excellent advice about creative writing. Doug is also an accomplished songwriter and performer, and demonstrated these skills too.<\/p>\n As well as our marking of World Aids Day today, we also have our School woodwind and brass players performing\u00a0seasonal music along at ASDA to coincide with the switch on of the Christmas lights in the store.<\/p>\n Looking ahead, and continuing on that seasonal theme, we have a date for your diary … our Christmas\u00a0Variety Show\u00a0on Thursday 14 December. It’s going to be a little different this year and will\u00a0include some dance and drama along with the usual Christmas musical items. Our drama students will be performing an abridged version of Shakespeare’s\u00a0“Much Ado About Nothing”.\u00a0KHS presented this at the Byre Theatre last month and I’m sure it will be\u00a0a big hit again. The evening will also include mulled wine and nibbles from 6.30pm. All the young people\u00a0performing will receive two free invitations and other tickets are available from the School Office for only \u00a31.<\/p>\n Next week we’ll have a special assembly for S2 on the Monday afternoon, with a talk from the Teenage Cancer Trust. In the evening we are hosting the annual Rotary\u00a0“Hi 5” games night when our Interact Club take on the other Kirkcaldy schools. It’s always a fun event.<\/p>\n On Tuesday, Mrs Davidson is attending an\u00a0event at Fife College with S4 pupils. It’s all about Foundation Modern Apprenticeships, a qualification which we are keen to support. We currently host the Software Development FMA and have senior students attending other schools to be part of the scheme in\u00a0Engineering and Children and Young People.\u00a0Next session this range\u00a0is likely to be extended. Also that afternoon, we have the “Big Brain Box” outreach team from St Andrews University in school working with science classes. In the evening it’s our S5\/6 Parent\/Carer Evening. Schedules have been issued. Please be aware that “Bright Red Publishing” will be on hand offering SQA revision guides and past exam papers at Higher for sale.<\/p>\n On Wednesday we’ll have staff from the Dundee Science Centre in school working with science students on various interactive “STEM” experiments.<\/p>\n On Thursday evening we’ll hold our first ever S5\/6 Christmas Ceilidh in school. Many thanks to Miss Malcolm, who is our chief organiser.\u00a0 It’s been set up as a formal “do” with tickets on sale at lunchtimes this week and next.<\/p>\n Also, our Christmas Party is on Wednesday 20 December, tickets \u00a31. Our very own DJs Murray and Dick will be running the show with games and prizes on the night. Great fun!<\/p>\n Next week ends with our Fourth Year Tracking Report being\u00a0posted home then on the Saturday and Sunday, we have a large group of pupils away at Huddersfield Town and Manchester United for a Premier League football experience weekend. \u00a0Many thanks to Mr I’Anson and the other staff involved in this excursion.<\/p>\n The\u00a0menu next week is;<\/p>\n Monday:\u00a0<\/strong>Lentil soup, Macaroni Cheese, chips, vegetables<\/p>\n Tuesday<\/strong>: Tomato soup, Roast Chicken, baby boiled potatoes, broccoli<\/p>\n Wednesday<\/strong>: Minestrone soup, Pork sausage casserole, potatoes and vegetables<\/p>\n Thursday<\/strong>: French onion soup, Red Thai Chilli Beef, noodles and vegetables<\/p>\n Friday<\/strong>: Leek and potato soup, Breaded fish\/Steakbake, chips, peas<\/p>\n We also have baked potatoes, pizza, pasta, sandwiches and salad available every day as well as our new outdoor snack bar. Please also remember that we offer a free cup of soup with bread for all our young people, regardless of their \u201cfree school meals\u201d status.<\/p>\n With very best wishes for the weekend.<\/p>\n Derek Allan<\/p>\n RECTOR<\/p>\n 1 December 2017<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Dear Parent\/Carer Welcome to the regular KHS weekly email. Maybe you are like me and finding it hard to believe that we’re into December already. It’s only three weeks until the Christmas break … best of luck to us all! … Continue reading