November 2011

25 November 2011
Published: 25 November 2011

The amount of money raised last Friday for ‘Children in Need’ was nearly £600 and the fund- raising has continued this week with 2 raffles. The final total should be available next week. Well done to everyone involved.

Today is the last day of the S4 pupils’ Work Experience week. I am looking forward to hearing how the pupils got on, I am sure the week has been a great success.

After the resounding success of last year's Business Question Time, on Tuesday afternoon, Knox Academy hosted the event for the second year running. The brave panel of 6 local business people responded to a series of questions from Higher and Advanced Higher Business Management pupils. The questions ranged over many aspects of setting up and running a business and there was discussion of the effects of the recession. Following the ‘grilling’, panel members, guests and pupils mingled while enjoying refreshments prepared by the Home Economics Department.  The afternoon was a great success, many thanks to all who took part and Mr Flood and the Business Education Department for organising the event.

On Thursday, agroup of S2 Pupils: C Taylor, D Jones, K DeVos, A Hunton, S Hay, S Flood, B Scott and R Betts took part in the Construction Challenge. This involved three different practical challenges that were arranged by the CABEC team at Telford College. The pupils had to lay roof tiles in a pattern on a roof structure, build a brick paving path in a tight space and construct a tall tower from straws. Ms Moore reported that ‘Team Knox’, took on the challenges with gusto and worked extremely hard. They all pulled together and were commended for their team work. Unfortunately, they were not successful in going through to the next round, but had a fun and educational day learning about the construction industry. Well done to the pupils and many thanks to the staff at Telford College who were extremely helpful and encouraging. Also, many thanks to Ms Moore for organising the trip and accompanying the pupils.

A very big well done to S5 pupil, Erin Baillie, who remained calm and called an ambulance when she witnessed a bad accident that injured a cyclist.

Today we say farewell to Mr Campbell, who is leaving Knox to take up a post at Telford College. In 2007, Mr Campbell was the first Drama teacher to be appointed at the school and in the time he has been with us, he has played a major role in establishing the subject in the curriculum and as a thriving extra-curricular activity. The high standards he has extolled are reflected in all aspects of the department’s work (an excellent example being the NC Drama pupils’ workshop performance yesterday evening). I am sure you join me in wishing Mr Campbell every success in his new post.

Please note that due to industrial action, the school will be closed to pupils on Wednesday 30 November (please see details above).

Best wishes

J B Craig 

18 November 2011
Published: 18 November 2011

The group of senior pupils and staff who visited Samye Ling last week, had a very successful trip. Samye Ling is the first Tibetan Buddhist Centre to be established in the west and the pupils participated in meditation and courses regarding the Buddhist faith. Many thanks to Ms Montgomery and the RMPS staff for organising the trip.

On Wednesday evening, 8 members of the Higher Music class attended 'Opera Unwrapped' at the Festival Theatre, Edinburgh. This was a presentation by Scottish Opera, demonstrating how one of their productions is put together. Also, the pupils were lucky to get a back stage tour of the theatre, including a walk around the set. The Assistant Stage Manager commented that the pupils were enthusiastic, interested and a pleasure to show around. On Thursday evening, 6 of the pupils returned to the theatre to see a full production of 'The Barber of Seville' by Rossini. All agreed that it was a very entertaining opera and a ‘brilliant evening’. 

Ms Orr reported that our pupils were a credit to themselves and the school, and were a real pleasure to accompany to the opera. We hope this may be the first of many trips to the opera and thanks to Ms Orr for organising the trips and accompanying the pupils on both evenings.

The preliminary examinations for S4 pupils finish today, I look forward to hearing all about the results. From Monday, the S4 pupils are on Work Experience and I am sure you join me in wishing all the pupils good luck for the week.

This morning, pupils have been raising money for ‘Children in Need’. The S6 pupils have been very entertaining sporting a wide variety of fancy dress costumes, including several penguins, superheroes, soft fruits, blue men and hippies. A brave band of staff had ‘custard pies’ thrown at them, Pudsey Bear’s birthday was guessed and a group of S3 girls baked and sold cakes. Also, an honourable mention for Rebecca Doyle, 1G1, who baked a ‘Children in Need’ cake and sold slices to staff. Well done to the pupils for a successful morning; news of the sum raised will be available next week.

Best wishes

J B Craig 

11 November 2011
Published: 11 November 2011

The preliminary examinations for S4 pupils have continued this week and so far seem to be running smoothly. I look forward to hearing all about the results and I am sure you join me in wishing all the pupils good luck in these important examinations.

On Tuesday, the author Michael Dahl visited the school. Mr Dahl has written many books for children, but his focus at Knox was graphic novels. An audience of 25 S2 pupils attended his interesting talk on how graphic novels are written and that now he has the licence to use well known ‘superheroes’ in his fiction (Batman, Spiderman, etc.). The talk was appreciated greatly by the pupils and staff who attended.

On Wednesday, the first ‘Purely Positive’ pupil was awarded the monthly prize. Randomly picked from the list of pupils who had no demerits during the month, the winner for October was S4 pupil, Bethany Quirk. Congratulations to Bethany and all the purely positive pupils. 

Yesterday afternoon, accompanied by the staff of the RMPS Department, a group of senior pupils studying RMPS at Higher and Advanced Higher levels, set off for Samye Ling, located on the banks of the river Esk. Samye Ling is the first Tibetan Buddhist Centre to be established in the west. At the centre, the pupils will participate in meditation and courses regarding the Buddhist faith. Many thanks to Ms Montgomery and the RMPS staff for organising the trip. 

Yesterday evening, senior Drama pupils (including those studying Musical Theatre) travelled to Edinburgh to attend a performance of Stephen Sondheim’s musical ‘A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum’. Staff report that it was quite funny, the pupils ‘laughed at bits’ and the cast was good. 

During the week I have visited all the S3 classes in column D of the timetable. It is a delight   to report that all the classes are progressing well and most work is being completed to a high standard. Also, I visited the S5/6 classes in column A, again a positive experience as the vast majority of the seniors are working hard and keeping up with their studies. 

Today, along with Mr Illingworth and Mr Plain, it has been a pleasure to judge the models of First World War trenches made by S3 pupils studying History. As usual, the standard was very high and this year, for the first time, included a wonderful (and edible) trench cake. 

The week ended on the sombre note of the two minutes silence that we held at 11.11 am on this 11/11/11. During the silence, pupils and staff watched images from the two World Wars and other conflicts. As in all previous years, the school community has given generously to the Poppy Appeal.

 Poppy Image 

 

Best wishes
J B Craig 

4 November 2011
Published: 04 November 2011

Some Preliminary Examinations for S4 pupils have taken place this week; the main diet begins on Monday. I am sure you join me in wishing all the pupils good luck in these important examinations.

On Wednesday, we welcomed a group of teachers from Norway to the school. They were interested in the arts and culture in Scottish schools and spent the morning with members of the Expressive Arts Faculty. Our visitors enjoyed the art, drama and music classes they observed and were very impressed with the extensive extra-curricular programme. Congratulations and thanks to the Expressive Arts Faculty for providing such a positive experience for them and to Mr Campbell for organising the morning. 

Yesterday saw the launch of the Literacy Café (or ‘Book Bar’ as it will be known). This is an exciting initiative from the Communication Faculty and is aimed at encouraging reading by pupils and, very importantly, the enjoyment of reading. The Book Bar will be held every Tuesday and Thursday at lunchtime in the Food Court classroom. Activities include recommended books to borrow, a book swap table, newspapers to read and space for private reading. The launch was very successful and I am sure the Book Bar will be popular with pupils and staff alike. Congratulations to Mr Swinney and his team for setting up the Literacy Café, sorry, Book Bar. As Dr Seuss says:

‘The more you read the more things you will know. The more that you learn the more places you'll go’.

Best wishes
J B Craig