September 2013

27 September 2013
Published: 27 September 2013

I am delighted to report that all S6 pupils arrived home in pretty much one piece after the team-building weekend at Dalguise.  They were a credit to themselves and the school and were complimented by the centre staff for their politeness and enthusiasm.  However, I have noticed that the pupils have looked more and more tired as the week has gone on, and I suspect that they will be appreciative of a lie-in on Saturday.

On Monday afternoon I accompanied Charlotte Smith and her family to the awards ceremony for “Young Writer of the Year” run by Tyne and Esk Writers.  Charlotte’s entry (“When I come home” – a story of three young people reunited in an airport lounge) was one of 705 spread over East and Mid Lothian Primary and Secondary schools.  She did exceptionally well to be awarded the prize for Secondary Prose.  Unfortunately she wasn’t awarded the overall secondary prize, but her writing shows a level of maturity and insight far beyond her years.  I think we will hear a lot more in the future about Writer-Charlotte-Smith.

Saimah Uddin in S5 took the brave step of giving a talk at both the S1 and S2 assemblies this week.  She spoke evocatively of her trip to Makkah last year and about how that has informed her faith.  It’s no mean feat to stand up in front of whole year groups to speak about something that is so important to you, and she did it with aplomb and assurance.

On Tuesday I was accosted by a number of School of Rugby pupils wanting to know what they could do to help out.  It was brilliant to be offered assistance by this group of pupils and demonstrates that learning and service goes way beyond the rugby field.

On Tuesday evening some pupils attended a lecture at Loretto School given by Professor Tom Devine of the Edinburgh University, Centre for Scottish Diaspora Studies.  The lecture, on Scottish Migration and Empire, was full of facts that perhaps challenged long held beliefs about this area of Scottish History.  The pupils listened intently and several took the opportunity afterwards to debate personally with Professor Devine. 

On Wednesday Lyndsey Herkes and Struan Stuart (both S6) introduced themselves to pupils as the new Sports’ Ambassadors for this session.  They are looking to reconstitute the Sports’ Council and are looking for participants.  Please encourage your youngster to volunteer if they are interested.

This morning I am looking forward to heading down to Home Economics for their Macmillan Coffee Morning.  Pupils have been working hard to prepare goodies for the staff and, if past experience is anything to go by, there will be many a tempting morsel.  Thanks to pupils and staff for arranging and managing this worthwhile event.

Next week is going to be quite busy what with the S1 Settling-In Evening on Tuesday (6.30pm) in the Hall and the Parent School Partnership Meeting on Wednesday at 6.15pm down in Learning Support (turn left as you come in the front doors).  All parents are welcome to attend the PSP and I look forward to reacquainting myself with our S1 parents at their evening.  Good luck to the Duke of Edinburgh Groups who go out for their assessments on Thursday and Friday – I’ll keep my fingers crossed for good weather.

Have a very good weekend.
S Ingham
 

20 September 2013
Published: 20 September 2013

Another short, but interesting week at Knox Academy.

Work Experience forms confirming self-found placements continue to come in, and an S4 class that I visited briefly on Tuesday were starting to get to grips with the database that holds offers of work experience placements for people who aren’t set up yet.  Please have a chat with your youngster about what they have chosen and help them plan this important week.

Yesterday we held a UCAS evening for parents and pupils who are applying to university this session.  There were a number of speakers and I hope that they managed to answer questions and allay any concerns that parents might have.  If you missed it and want to have a chat about the process your child is going through, please give the school a call.  These pupils should be in the thinking about their Personal Statements and are asking staff for references, so the process is well under way.  I read all the UCAS forms and I am looking forward to seeing what our seniors’ hopes and aspirations are.

Unfortunately we had to postpone the dance that was planned for Wednesday evening.  By Tuesday morning the pupils who were organising it had only sold 50-odd tickets and we decided that it would be better to postpone than to go ahead on this basis.  Organising a dance is a big bit of learning for our senior pupils and sometimes their best laid plans go very much astray.  We are hoping to reschedule for just before the October Break.  Please also be aware that tickets to any dance held at Knox will NEVER be available to purchase at the door, so make sure that your youngster remembers to get their tickets early.

Next week sees us as busy as ever.  Hopefully the S6 will come back from their weekend at Dalguise in one piece and won’t have worn out the accompanying staff.  I suspect that there will be many a tale and lifelong memories will be made.

On the 26th September the Modern Languages Department will be ensuring that everyone is aware of the European Day of Languages.  There will be various competitions all week – from finding out what languages staff members speak to a “Vocab Hunt”; there will also be a daily screening of excerpts from the Simpson’s Movie in French. 

Just a reminder of two evening dates for diaries:
There is a Settling-In Evening for the parents of S1 on the 1st October at 6.30pm in the Hall.  It’s never a long meeting but it is an opportunity to find out how your child has settled in to their first few weeks at Knox.  It promises to be very interesting.
Owing to the way that the holidays and start of term have fallen there are two, yes two, Parent School Partnership meetings in October.  The first is on the 2nd October and the second is on the 30th.  They will both start at 6.15pm and will be held in a classroom in the corridor to the left as you come in the front doors.  I am looking forward to seeing folks there.

Have a very pleasant weekend.
S Ingham
 

12 September 2013
Published: 12 September 2013

Whilst it might be a “short” week in terms of being in school, it has not been one that has been short on activity.
On Monday I was able to help announce our new S1 representatives on the School Council.   Congratulations to all pupils who put themselves forward, but there could only be one representative per House:
Garleton:       Heather Ainslie
Lammerlaw:  Ailish Barry
Traprain:        Alexander Riddell

That means that the School Council is now up to its full complement and all the pupils are looking forward to the training day on the 19th September.  I was speaking to the Head Boy and Head Girl today as they are organising some of the training, and I think that everyone is going to have a great time and hopefully bond well as a team.

The S2 and S3 pupils had assemblies this week about Activities’ Week and the possible out-of-school excursions that they can go on.  Please be aware that these trips will only run if there are enough pupils to take part.  I am aware that some of the trips are expensive, so parents who are on benefits and need a bit of help with funds should contact me.  Equally, if any parent has problems with paying any monies – be it for Activities’ Week or courses, they should let me know and we can hopefully arrange something.  If your youngster is interested in an away-from-school trip they should have a booklet that details the cost and possible itinerary, and that also has a return slip declaring interest in trips.  These slips should be returned to the box outside the School Office by the 17th September.

Today I attended the opening of the joint St Mary’s and Haddington Infant School campus.  Mike Russell the Cabinet Secretary for Education and Lifelong Learning did the honours along with the Provost.  What made me particularly proud was that our Jazz Band had been asked to play and were outstanding.  Everyone commented on their performance.  Thanks to them for being such great ambassadors for Knox Academy.

The school is closed to pupils tomorrow and on Monday and will reopen on Tuesday, 17th September at the usual time.  It’s going to be a fun-packed week next week with Young Enterprise trying to raise funds during lunchtimes; a UCAS evening on the 19th at 7.30pm; and the S6 pupils set off for their team-building residential at Dalguise on Friday after school.  Phew!
 

Have a very good weekend (when it comes)
S Ingham
 

6 September 2013
Published: 06 September 2013

Last Friday we said a fond farewell to Anne Hubbard who had been a member of the Learning Support team for 12 years.  She was positively glowing at Interval when she gave her retiral speech and we wish her all the very best for the next phase in her life.  She will be much missed by parents, pupils and colleagues.

On Saturday I had the pleasure of being invited by Haddington Rugby Football Club to a lunch, and their home game against       Jed-Forest.  The lunch was to thank everyone who contributes to the success of the club and to promote involvement in what they do.  The club has played a huge part in the success of our School of Rugby and it was a pleasure to feel so welcomed.  Unfortunately Haddington were beaten 7 – 28, but I am reliably informed by those in the know that the score line didn’t really reflect the quality of play from the Haddington side.

On Wednesday we had the first meeting of the PSP.  It was great to meet so many new faces and I hope that we didn’t put them off!  If you want to be involved, just come along to the meetings.  Alternatively, if you want to be more involved in the fundraising side of things, then the Knox Academy Support Group might be for you.  To get more details contact Mrs Ball through the School Office.

I was delighted to attend the “Commonwealth Moves: One Year To Go” performance and presentation at the Brunton Theatre last night.  Every secondary school in the authority has worked with a choreographer to put together a dance routine reflecting one of the sports that will be seen at the 2014 Games.  All that was required was a willingness to try something new and the resilience and commitment to see it through.  I have to say I was incredibly proud of our group, made up of youngsters from the School of Rugby, whose dance (based on Rugby, oddly enough) included a scrum, a line-out and some break dancing.  They were brilliant.  As if I couldn’t get any more proud, the KWN group have put together a documentary of the whole process for all of the schools and included interviews with people from the project.  This will be a real and lasting legacy of the games and I am delighted that the KWN team are getting the county-wide recognition that they really deserve.

I received a letter from Heriot-Watt University this week letting me know that the following Former Pupils graduated during the summer:
Thomas Hurst  BSc Building Surveying
Karl Park          BSc Physics
Mark Hill           BSc Psychology (Applied)

If you are a parent or carer of a youngster who is hoping to apply for university this session there is a UCAS evening on the 19th September at 7.30pm, here at school, that will hopefully demystify the process and let you know what you can do to best support your child.

Please remember that next Friday is a holiday as is the following Monday.  The school will be closed on both of those days. 

Have a lovely weekend.
S Ingham