March 2011

25 March 2011
Published: 25 March 2011

Last Friday, David Martin MEP, visited the Advanced Higher Business Management class. On his website, Mr Martin comments that he ‘was hugely impressed with the pupils’ wide-ranging knowledge of Europe and the perceptiveness of their questions. East Lothian's business is in good hands with such exceptional students and their mentor, Principal Teacher of Technology, Mr R Flood has taught them well indeed.’ He wished S6 pupils, Aileen McKnight, Christina Laing and Campbell Hastings the best of luck with their future studies.

On Monday, the school hosted a visit from Shona Robison MSP, Minister for Public Health and Sport. The visit was to mark the community sports hub initiative that aims to meet the sporting needs of the local community by maximising the opportunities and facilities available and linking schools with local clubs and support. The Minister viewed the facilities at Knox Academy and spoke with the Sports and Physical Activities Co-ordinator (Mr Lambert), members of the PE Department and pupils. Ms Robison seemed impressed by the range of activities on offer at the school (boxing, cheer-leading and yoga have been added to the programme recently) and could not resist taking a turn on the trampoline, impressing the pupils with her agility and enthusiasm. My thanks to the Minister for visiting us and to all staff and pupils, including the S6 Leadership Team, for making the visit such a success.

During the week, S4 Drama pupils have been completing their Standard Grade Practical examinations. These seem to have gone very well and I look forward to seeing the results in August. Yesterday evening, senior pupils studying Higher Drama, went to see ‘Small Town’ at the Traverse Theatre in Edinburgh. The trip was very successful, the pupils were excellent (‘as usual’ says Mr Campbell) and staff and pupils enjoyed the very funny play.

Parents/carers of pupils in S1: please note that due to a technical hitch (the reports gremlins are at it again), the S1 Progress Reports due to be issued on 30 March will be delayed. We hope to send the reports home as soon as possible and certainly before the end of term. Our apologies for any inconvenience this may cause.

Please take a look at the ‘Kidnapped’ mystery photograph competition (on the website), all staff are involved plus various visitors to the school and some identities are more obvious than others!

Best wishes,

JB Craig

18 March 2011
Published: 18 March 2011

A very busy week at Knox Academy!

Badminton success continues for Megan Richardson and Hannah Laing, at the weekend they were in Perth for the Scottish Schools Championships. They won the U18 girls’ doubles title; this means they have now won the doubles title at every level: primary, U14, U16 and now U18. Also, Megan won the singles title and Hannah was runner up. Congratulations to them both.

During the week I visited all S1 Maths classes; the theme was homework. It is a pleasure to report that the vast majority of pupils were considered satisfactory by staff, regarding homework. A few however, need to be more organised and use their Homework Organisers to make sure homework is completed on time.

On Tuesday evening, we held the information evening for the parents and carers of pupils moving from S4 to S5 and S5 to S6 in August. The coursing arrangements were outlined and details of the subjects on offer discussed. I hope all who attended, found the evening helpful and informative.

As part of their NC Acting and Theatre Performance (Musical Theatre), seven very talented S6 pupils presented a cabaret, ‘Sing! Sing! Sing!’ on Wednesday evening. This proved to be an entertaining and moving evening of song and dialogue. Charlie Cowan, Kelsie Hamilton, Ailie Henderson, Katie MacKinnon, Flora Muirhead, Ryan Bissoonauth and Leanne Adams treated the full and enthusiastic audience to performances of professional standard. Congratulations to them all and many thanks to the Drama and Music staff for their support and assistance in making the evening such a success.

Today is Red Nose Day of course, and the S6 pupils have been busy collecting money for this good cause. Last night, the S6 Charities Committee organised the ‘Knox Talent Show’. The very enthusiastic audience showed their appreciation for the various acts of singing and dancing. The five judges had a very hard task to decide on an overall winner from amongst the talented youngsters. After a great deal of discussion, the judges named singers Katie Holton, S2 and Jonathan Fraser, S1, as highly commended joint runners-up. The overall winner was Mary-Beth McFern, S3, who sang and accompanied herself on the guitar. Congratulations to Mary-Beth and all the participants and organisers on a successful event, all money raised will go to Red Nose funds. Also, many thanks to the gallant staff who took part in the surprise teachers’ acts, special thanks to Mrs Ingham who charmed the whole audience with her lovely singing. Various events are continuing this morning and details of the total raised for Red Nose Day will be available next week.

All in all, Knox really does have talent, and lots of it.

Best wishes,

JB Craig

11 March 2011
Published: 11 March 2011

Last Friday, Iain Gray MSP (East Lothian) and Scottish Labour Leader, visited the Advanced Higher Modern Studies class. Mr Gray spent an hour with the class, discussing and answering questions on the theme of ‘Crime and Punishment’. Many thanks to Mr Gray for fitting us into his busy schedule and for providing ‘food for thought’ for the pupils.

Following their badminton success of last week, Megan Richardson and Hannah Laing, they have received notification that they have been selected to represent Scotland in the U19 European Juniors competition in Finland from the 15th to the 24th April. They will be the youngest players in the squad and this will be their 4th cap for Scotland. I am sure you join me in wishing them every success in the competition.

For 3 days this week, the school hosted a group of 19 Swedish Sixth Form students and their teachers (the students study Drama, Media and Photography at Taby Sixth Form College in the north of Stockholm). The group worked on various projects with Knox pupils: workshops on theatre techniques, creating a piece of 'International Theatre' using a mixture of physical theatre and storytelling, producing a film and shadowing partners from the Higher Drama class to experience a typical day at a Scottish secondary school. Knox Academy and Taby Enskilda Gymnasium have been linked for several years and it was a great pleasure to welcome the group to the school.

The Parent School Partnership (Parent Council) met on Wednesday evening and various issues and areas were discussed. The meeting began with a presentation by Mr K MacDonald and Mr R Greenaway, regarding the innovative approaches to reporting and communication with parents on their youngster’s progress. Minutes will be available on the Parents’ website.

From Monday to Wednesday, pupils were involved in the SQA Practical Music examinations. From the lovely sounds coming from the Assembly Hall, we are hopeful this has been a very successful diet of examinations.

Best wishes,

JB Craig

4 March 2011
Published: 04 March 2011

On Monday, the school hosted an all day event for the Cluster P7 pupils: ‘Enterprise is the Business’. It was a busy day involving planning a company, buying, marketing and selling. All the pupils seemed to enjoy the day and welcomed the opportunity to spend some time in what, from August, will be their own school. Many thanks to our primary colleagues and the Business Education Department for organising such a successful event.

Last weekend, S5 pupils, Megan Richardson and Hannah Laing competed in the Scottish Glasgow Senior Badminton Championships. Although the aim was to give them experience competing against senior players for the first time, they won the doubles, 19-21, 21-19, and 24-22 in a nail-biting final. At match point the couple were down 15-20, but fought back to become the youngest players to win this title. Many congratulations to Megan and Hannah.

Until the end of term, all S1 pupils are involved in the ‘Big Read’. The chosen book is ‘Kidnapped’ and various events are planned to coincide with the reading. Why not read along with the pupils and follow the adventures of Davie Balfour? The National Library of Scotland website has a first edition to read on line. 

I would like to draw attention to the letter from Inspector Fraser Jervis, Road Policing Branch, Lothian and Borders Police that can be found on the website (page 2 News). I am very concerned about the movement of traffic in and around the school campus at the start and end of the school day. Hopefully, the police will be able to advise us and make recommendations on how to secure the safety of all members of the school community.

For the diary: along with all East Lothian schools, Knox Academy will be closed on Friday 29th April (the day of the Royal Wedding).

Best wishes,

JB Craig