January 2013

25 January 2013
Published: 25 January 2013

The long-promised snow finally appeared this week but didn’t cause as much disruption as we had feared.  Unfortunately for those of you who live in Gifford and beyond, it wasn’t as easy as all that and I appreciate your help when we did have to send some youngsters home.  Thanks must also go to the intrepid Prentice Bus driver who had to follow a snow plough to get some youngsters home!  Luckily the S5/6 Prelims weren’t too badly affected and any youngster who has missed an exam either because of the weather or illness will get a chance to resit when they return to school.

In other news the Business Education Department welcomed in tutors from Business Dynamics to deliver a Core Skills programme to S3 pupils.  The tutors were overwhelmingly positive about the youngsters, commenting on their politeness and enthusiasm.

Despite the weather Charlotte Smith and Findlay Wallace have been practising their dishes for the Rotary Young Chef competition that will take place this afternoon at Preston Lodge High School.  Thanks to Mrs Jackson and Mr and Mrs Boyd in particular for making this happen.  We wish them all the best and hope that sauces do not split, oven temperatures remain constant and that there are no plating-up disasters.

Last night we enjoyed a sell-out Burns’ Supper here at school.  Jack Thomson welcomed everyone to the event and we were treated to talent in abundance.  The Head Boy and Girl (Ben Nisbet and Erin Lowe) gave humorous and well-thought-out Toast to the Lassies and Response, and Mr Edwards was masterful in his praise of Burns in the Immortal Memory.  We were enthralled by entertainment from Josh Marsh (Pipes), Caitlin Bruce (Clarsach), Louise McKay (Piano Accordion), The Goat’s Toes (Folk Group), Mary-Beth McFern (Guitar) and Grant Campbell (Poetry).  Huge thanks should go to KASG, Mrs Ball, Mr Woolley, Mr Swinney and the catering staff for helping to ensure that the evening was such a success.

I took the opportunity to visit some S4 classes this week.  Thanks to everyone who allowed me to disrupt their lessons.  I enjoyed visiting Maths, where pupils were being very clearly directed as to what they needed to do to get to the right level for their exams in June.  In English I was able to talk to a very engaged class about their thoughts on Wilfred Owen’s “Dulce In Decorum Est”.  I also visited a Music class where I was able to hear the pupils’ Inventing work.  They are working on a “Scottish Song” and I have to say that some have a definite talent for composition.

In terms of upcoming events, I have a couple of reminders:  there is a PSP meeting on the 6th February and we break for a week’s holiday at 12.05pm on the 8th February – everyone resumes on the 18th February.

Next week:  it is business as usual (hopefully), with all senior pupils back in school (even if they have an exam).

Enjoy your week.
 

18 January 2013
Published: 18 January 2013

Well, it’s been a week of “will it? Won’t it?” with the snow – there was a point on Tuesday when I wondered if we might have to start thinking about sending youngsters home but thankfully we were spared that.  Please make sure that we have any new contact details and that your children know what “Plan B” is if they do get sent home i.e. who else they might be able to go home to, who else they should get in contact with if you’re at work, or that they shouldn't get the bus and should wait in school for you to come etc.

I received an exciting email from Haddington Rotary Club this week letting me know that Jaimee Pickard and Louis Harrodine have both made it through to the next round of the Rotary Young Musician competition.  They will have to travel to Heriot-Watt University on the 27th February to compete, so we wish them all the best for that.

I have been pleasantly surprised by the way that the youngsters have embraced the re-vamped Dress Code.  The bit that a number of them aren’t embracing fully is black shoes. Please be aware that footwear needs to be black with no different coloured eyelets, piping or other adornment.  The only exception is in bad weather when pupils can wear their wellingtons (whatever their colour or design).  Please drop me a note if this is going to be difficult for you to support and I’ll see what I can do to accommodate or assist.

Some S6 have been taking part in “Employability Skills” training over the last few weeks and that culminated in mock interviews and feedback yesterday.  All the interviewers were very impressed with the pupils and the pupils should have got valuable advice that they can use in the future.  It is great to have people from local businesses and the Council supporting the school.  Mr Flood is in the process of organising a more compressed course for some of our S4 and I hope that they get as much out of it as the S6 did.  I would like to take the opportunity to thank all the interviewers who gave up their time from their working day to help us.

Last night it was a pleasure to welcome so many S1 parents for the consultation evening.  I enjoyed talking to the “old hands” and getting to know the newer members of the parent body.  There were a couple of staff absences, so please don’t hesitate to get in contact with the school if your child is taught by someone who was absent and you’d like to catch up with them.

The S5 and S6 pupils start their Preliminary Exams on Monday.  I wish them all god luck and hope that they make the best use of their week of exam leave.  I expect all of them to be back in school on the 28th January.
 

11 January 2013
Published: 11 January 2013

 

“Be at War with your Vices, at Peace with your Neighbours, and let every New-Year find you a better Man.” ~Quoted in Benjamin Franklin's 1755 Poor Richard's Almanac.

Happy New Year!

Despite what I was thinking on Monday morning it is good to be back at school, seeing the youngsters and colleagues and planning for the rest of the session.

We have welcomed Mr Simpson (Depute in charge of Lammerlaw House) and Ms Dornan (Physics and Science) and welcomed back Ms Mcintyre (Chemistry and Science).  New starts at New Year are good but it is challenging coming into a school at this point, so I wish them all well in their endeavours to hit the ground running.

There are five weeks between now and the February Break and there is much to be done in a short space of time.  Most notably the senior pupils (S5 and S6) have their Prelim Exams, starting on the 21st January.  The pupils are on exam leave for that week but are expected back into school and are to attend all classes in the week beginning the 28th (unless, of course, they have an exam).  I spent a bit of time with my S5 Core class on Wednesday talking about the exams and they were updating me on how they think they will do.  They mostly seemed to have a realistic idea of how they might fare and I hope that they aren’t disappointed.  We did discuss what support some of them need, and a few have taken up my offer of being nagged by me over the next week or so.

I spent a very pleasant half hour last night sampling the entries for the school heat of the Rotary Young Chef Competition.  All the pupils did themselves proud and congratulations to Charlotte Smith and Findlay Wallace who go onto the next round.  Thanks must also go to Ms Hossack for helping the pupils to prepare and Mr and Mrs Boyd who represented the Rotary Club of Haddington and were fellow judges.

Next week there is an S1 Parents’ Information Evening from 5-7pm.  Pupils should have taken a letter home and be in the process of making appointments with their teachers.  I look forward to meeting new parents and reacquainting myself with “old hands”.

K.A.S.G. is hosting a Burns’ Supper at school on the evening of the 24th January.  Tickets are £10 per adult and £5 per pupil.  Please contact the school or a member of K.A.S.G. to reserve your place.

Have a very good week.