Dear Parent\/Carer<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Welcome to the latest KHS email update … I hope that you and your family are well.<\/p>\n
Last week’s Saturday School was English, and I am delighted to report that it was particularly well attended, with\u00a0over 100 young people in school for extra exam\u00a0support.\u00a0Tomorrow we have Latin, Classical Studies, Spanish, Design and Manufacture, Graphic Communication and Engineering Science on offer. Many thanks to the staff for their commitment to this SQA study programme.<\/p>\n
The week past was another busy one with several highlights including our concert at Chapel Level Care home on Monday afternoon – I understand that this was very well received. We also had House Assemblies (Tues – Thurs) to celebrate British Science Week.\u00a0As well as the fun of the\u00a0interactive science\u00a0demonstrations,\u00a0Ms Mahr of the RME Department\u00a0told young people about\u00a0the humanitarian work she is undertaking in Africa over the Easter holidays. Before her visit to Rwanda, she is asking for contributions of stationery items to help a street kids education project in Kigali, the capital city. On Tuesday, we also\u00a0had a trip to Glenrothes for those interested in a Modern Apprenticeship in the Army, as well as a careers talk from Scottish Water for our Engineering Science students.<\/p>\n
On\u00a0Tuesday evening, we hosted the AGM of Kirkcaldy Foodbank and I\u00a0was honoured to have been asked to be the guest speaker.\u00a0My talk\u00a0focussed on the negative impact which living in poverty\u00a0tends to have\u00a0on learning and I explained some of the things which KHS does to lessen that impact. I also spoke of the “Pupil Equity Fund” – the Scottish Government’s direct grant which will support our efforts to\u00a0“close the gap” over the next\u00a0sessions.\u00a0Some of our pupils\u00a0were part of it too, which is only right as they have been very active supporters. Liam Lindsay (S6)\u00a0talked about our fund raising and the collections we have made and Mrs Nelson and her personal Development pupils laid on refreshments.<\/p>\n
On Wednesday and also\u00a0today\u00a0we welcomed a group of 50 young people and staff from Vannes School in Brittany. Mrs Morris (Head of Languages)\u00a0set up a varied and interesting\u00a0programme for our French visitors, who have been very complimentary about KHS. Thanks to everyone who has made them so welcome. We also had a\u00a0“Go4SET” visit to Brand-Rex in Glenrothes as part of the national STEM competition on Wednesday. That same day we had a “First Chances”\u00a0trip to\u00a0St Andrews University. This is an excellent wider access project which involves\u00a0groups of young people with no family background of university life being mentored by undergraduate students to complete an academic study. There is also a week long residential experience and a graduation ceremony. We are\u00a0pleased to receive such\u00a0great support from St Andrews. On Wednesday\u00a0evening our Drama pupils once again performed “Three” in conjunction with the National Theatre of Scotland. It was\u00a0a terrific piece of work; funny, thought provoking and a bit edgy. I was a very proud headteacher.\u00a0 Our pupils now take their work to the\u00a0Traverse Theatre in Edinburgh on Wednesday 22 March.\u00a0Get along if you can\u00a0…\u00a0you won’t be disappointed.<\/p>\n
This afternoon, our U13 football team are playing Dumfries High School in the quarter final of the Scottish Shield, very best wishes to them. The\u00a0week ends\u00a0with our annual fund raising Ceilidh tonight. It is\u00a0organised by “Friends of Kirkcaldy High School” and our own Mrs Davidson (Depute Head). Thanks to all who have bought tickets or donated raffle prizes. I’m looking forward to what will\u00a0be a great night with the Bert Pozzi Band and we hope to raise another \u00a33000 or so to support our work.\u00a0Many thanks\u00a0to FoKHS … we are lucky to have such a proactive group of supporters.<\/p>\n
Next week we’ll have a Biology trip to Dundee Science Centre on the Monday as well as a Friends of KHS mentoring session for our S5 pupils who are sitting 5 Highers. We are also holding SQA Music performance exams and in the evening it’s the Fourth Year Parent\/Carer Evening. This will be a great opportunity to get any issues resolved in time for course completion or exams in May.<\/p>\n
On Tuesday we are marking “Pi Day” by having themed activities across the school. The focus will be on circles and triangles in recognition of the achievements of Pythagoras. The 14th of March is chosen as it translates (US style) as 3.14 … get it?<\/p>\n
On<\/strong>\u00a0Tuesday evening, I do hope that you can come along at 6pm<\/strong>\u00a0for a special event. We are having a focus on\u00a0Teenage Drugs and Alcohol Issues<\/strong>.\u00a0<\/strong>Representatives from\u00a0the school, support agencies such as DAPL and “Clued Up”, and the Police\u00a0will share information on drugs, alcohol and new psycho-active substances\u00a0–\u00a0or so-called\u00a0“legal highs”.\u00a0\u00a0It\u00a0should be a great opportunity to learn more about these issues\u00a0and give\u00a0parents\/carers a better understanding.\u00a0If you haven’t already done so, please respond to this email if you are able to come along.<\/strong>\u00a0Thanks to those of you who responded last week.<\/p>\n On Wednesday, Thursday and Friday we are hosting NHS Fife nurses who will administer HPV vaccinations to S1 and S2. On the Wednesday, our Higher Geography students will attend a special Conference at St Andrews University\u00a0and on\u00a0Thursday, the University’s “Geobus” will hold earthquake “workshops” in school. Also on the Wednesday, there is an Engineering Science trip to visit FMC Technologies in Dunfermline.<\/p>\n Over the weekend, we’ll have several groups of young people involved in the Adam Smith Festival of Ideas, organised by the Adam Smith Global Foundation. Mrs Meek, Ms Young are I\u00a0are accompanying groups of young people to seminars, lectures and various events. I’m looking forward to Friday when I’ll be joined by Lachlan Duncan and Shauni Boyd (both S6)\u00a0to the reception and lecture being delivered by Ed Balls, former Chancellor of the Exchequer. Another eight of our pupils will also attend the lecture. In all, about 25 young people, all of whom are interested in politics, are\u00a0taking part in\u00a0events.<\/p>\n Our\u00a0Saturday School next weekend\u00a0is Biology, Chemistry and Physics at National 5, Higher and Advanced Higher.<\/p>\n Next week’s hot dish menu is; Monday: Steak Fajita. Tuesday: Gammon steak\u00a0and chips. Wednesday: Butter Chicken with rice or noodles. Thursday: Lasagne with garlic bread. Friday: Chicken curry with naan bread. We also have our pasta, sandwich, soup and salad options too.\u00a0 Do remember that a cup of home-made soup is available free to all young people at lunchtime.<\/p>\n Please feel free to\u00a0be in touch\u00a0for help or support – your son or daughter’s Guidance Teacher is the usual first point of contact.\u00a0PLEASE REPLY BY EMAIL\u00a0IF YOU CAN COME ALONG NEXT TUESDAY EVENING.<\/strong><\/p>\n On a final note, very best wishes to Mrs McCormick of the English Department, who leaves us today to take up a post in Falkirk. Mrs McCormick has been a great asset to KHS and will be sorely missed by us all. Thanks and good luck.<\/p>\n And good luck to you too!<\/p>\n Derek Allan<\/p>\n RECTOR<\/p>\n 10 March 2017<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Dear Parent\/Carer Welcome to the latest KHS email update … I hope that you and your family are well. Last week’s Saturday School was English, and I am delighted to report that it was particularly well attended, with\u00a0over 100 … Continue reading