December 2012

20 December 2012
Published: 20 December 2012

One of the best bits of my job is the fact that I get to be impressed so much of the time by the pupils, and this week has been no exception leaving me with something of a smug grin on my face.

On Tuesday we had our Christmas Concert.  We were treated to orchestral music, ensemble playing, Jazz, choral music, and Glee Club.  The way that the concert has come together over the months has been amazing and a testament to the dedication and enthusiasm of all involved.  I would like to say “thank you” again to everyone involved and I really do wonder how we are going to top it next year.

Today has seen the S6 put on their, now traditional, Pantomime.  It’s wonderful to see pupils who are normally shy and retiring giving their all, and stepping out of their comfort zones, in the pursuit of putting on a good show.  The younger pupils loved it and I was to be found at the back of the Hall boo-ing and cheering with the best of them.  Again, thanks have to go to the all the staff and pupils who made it happen.

Whilst the Panto was going on, P.E. staff were calling Ceilidhs for House Groups.  The sight of up to two hundred youngsters dancing for all they are worth in the Large Gym is a thing to behold.  I particularly enjoyed the seasonal “Cha-Cha Slide”.

The Christmas Boxes were brilliant this year.  Forty-three Tutor Groups put together boxes to be distributed to the elderly.  This morning 4L3 received the following message: “I write to thank you for the Christmas Box, which Mrs Ball delivered to me.  There is so much to admire in the whole make-up of your gift, that a small ‘thank-you’ seems hardly adequate.  I shall certainly enjoy everything for many meals to come.  I wish you all a very Happy Holiday”.  Jennifer Macrae from St Mary’s Kirk came to give assemblies the other week and she read out a quote from a five year old who was asked what “Love” means and she replied “Love is what’s in the room if you stop opening presents and listen.”  I think our youngsters have a pretty good idea of this and have demonstrated it through their giving, not only with the boxes, but through their charitable events this term having raised over £2400.

On that high note I shall wish you all the best for the festive season and 2013.

 

 

The school re-opens for staff on the 7th January for staff and the 8th for pupils.

14 December 2012
Published: 14 December 2012

The uninitiated amongst you might think that with only six more “sleeps” left until the Christmas Holidays that things might have slowed up here – well, you’d be very wrong. 

I spent some of Monday visiting PE classes and joining in with the Social Dancing lessons.  It was great to see pupils working together and enjoying themselves.  Not only is a great physical activity it provides the youngsters with a skill that they will use long into their adult lives.  I suspect that there will be much ceilidh-ing to be had on the last day of term, and I look forward to seeing as many as possible of the pupils smiling and pas-de-bas-ing for all they’re worth.

I spent an enjoyable couple of hours looking through some of the S3 e-portfolios as well this week.  Some have more information on them than others, but they are well worth a look.  If you are an S3 parent, do ask you child to get onto GLOW so that you can have a look.  They should be uploading bits of work that they are particularly proud of and writing a bit of a commentary about them.  I have been leaving the odd comment on pupils’ work and look forward to seeing how they are getting on as the year progresses.

The big event this week was the School Production of “The Nightmare Before Christmas”.  It was closely based on an original story by Tim Burton, much-loved by the cast and crew. The show featured Jack Skellington’s journey of discovery, creepy choral singing, demonic dancing and some unrequited love.  The talent on show was amazing and every cast member had an opportunity to shine.  The Junior Drama Club did their own presentation – The Tale of Cinders.  We were treated to a new twist on the tale that involved the Seven Deadly Sins and their contribution to this tale of love overcoming all.  It was a magical night and huge thanks must go to the creative team of Ms Orr, Ms Whitfield, Ms Mackinnon (and her sister who helped put the Junior script in the form of rhyme) and Ms Brown.

Yesterday evening a group of pupils made the trek into Edinburgh to go and see the Lyceum’s Christmas Show: Cinderella.  Ms Whitfield was a little apprehensive as it hadn’t got the usual 5-star  reviews, but Mr Young informed me this morning that he chuckled his way through it – as glowing an endorsement as you’d want, really!

Not content with a show this week, we have the Christmas Concerts on Tuesday of next week, followed by the S6 Panto that will be performed to the whole school on Thursday.  Ross Prentice (of Prentice Coaches fame) will be coming in on Tuesday morning to judge the Christmas Boxes and Ms Duff and myself will be touring classrooms to judge the best decorated.  Phew!
School will close at 4pm on Thursday and will re-open on Tuesday 8th January 2013.
 

Have a good week!

 

7 December 2012
Published: 07 December 2012

This week is what might easily be termed as “full-on”.  The excitement has been building towards the Christmas Dance with pupils planning their outfits and the organisers organising for all they are worth.  It was a lovely evening with the pupils obviously enjoying themselves and looking very fine indeed.

Wednesday evening’s “Talking To Teens” coaching event went well.  As I had mentioned in a previous post, it focuses on a coaching approach to talking youngsters through difficult decisions and hard times.  The context we use for the training is talking about Prelim results, but the skill is transferrable.  If you couldn’t make it to this training we will happily run it again, probably after the S5/6 Prelims.
Talking of S5/6 Prelims, it was great to see so many familiar faces at the S5/6 Parents’ Night.  I hope that the information you got was helpful and that youngsters and parents alike got information and ideas that will help and encourage.

Last week, Saimah Uddin and Owen McHugh went to give a presentation at Haddington Community Cinema.  Saimah and Owen have been involved in the KWN project and went to talk about the two films that the Knox teams have made.  The feedback that I received was that they were “fluent, confident and engaged the audience – they were a real credit to Knox” – and so say all of us!

Yesterday we had House Assemblies to celebrate success with the pupils.  It was a great opportunity to celebrate all that is good about the school – cooperation, hard work, team work and going above and beyond what is expected.  It was lovely to reward pupils as groups and individuals and offer incentives to the pupils to encourage them to take responsibility for themselves and work with others.  I spoke to the pupils about the revised Dress Code and you will find a copy of it on the website either today or Monday and letters will be coming home next week.  I really appreciate the support that all members of the school community give to Dress Code and hope that it continues.
Next week sees the Christmas Drama Production being staged on Monday and Tuesday.  Please come along – all I can say is that the rehearsals are sounding very interesting and I am certain the performances will reach the usual high standards that we have come to expect. 

Finally – a plea – the pupils are in the throes of organising the traditional Christmas Boxes that go to members of the local community.  Each tutor group decorates a box and fills it with goodies.  Pupils are told to ask before taking things from the cupboards at home, but if you see your youngster wandering off with a bag of pasta, that is likely what it is for.  The elderly recipients really appreciate these boxes as they not only provide them with items to stock up their larders, but the decorative nature of them brings a bit of good cheer at what might be a lonely and bleak time.  Thank you for anything that you donate.

On that note I shall sign off, wishing you all the best for the next week.