March 2014

28 March 2014
Published: 28 March 2014

Apologies for the “radio silence” over the last week – circumstances beyond my control, I’m afraid. 

The last two weeks have been jam-packed with events and happenings, and there looks to be no let-up for next week as well.  We have had visitors from the Ministry of Education in Singapore.  They visited the PE Department specifically and were looking at how we planned for and assessed pupils in PE.  Given Singapore’s standing in the league tables of education it was quite an honour that they felt that they might have something to learn from us.  Carrying on with the sporting theme the football match against the Forth One Allstars on the 14th March was great.  Thanks to everyone who turned out on a particularly cold evening to support the Knox Academy team.  It looks like we have raised well over £1000 for the Cash For Kids charity. 

If you are an S3 parent, please encourage your youngster to apply to be an S3 Prefect.  The closing date for applications is the 22nd April and all that the pupils need to do is to present me with a letter of application.  This can be the traditional handwritten letter, or a recording, a poem or a picture (as long as I can understand what the pupil is trying to get across).  The pupils have a letter with further details that should be helpful in the application process.

The East Lothian Showcase Concert took place on the 19th March.  Unfortunately I was not able to be there, but I know that Knox was strongly represented in almost all the groups.  Thanks to all of the instructors and parents who have supported the youngsters in their musical endeavours.  I am looking forward to our own Spring Concert next Wednesday (7pm) when I will be able to revel in the musical talents of our young people.

We had another productive Parent School Partnership meeting this week.  Mr Plain, our Librarian, came along to talk to the group about all of the electronic access that there is to library resources.  Please check out the Library page here on the website.
 

The S2 Information Evening on Tuesday was very well attended.  Thanks to everyone for turning out.  S2 pupils will be getting their reports and course booklets next week, and they should receive their appointment sheets for their Parents’ Evening very soon.  The Parents’ Evening itself is on the 24th April.

I would like to take this opportunity to remind both parents and pupils that smoking in any form is not allowed on East Lothian Council property, and we do not tolerate smoking in and around the school in any case.  This includes the use of e-cigarettes.  These will be confiscated from pupils and parents informed.  We are trying to play our part in ensuring that youngsters lead healthy lifestyles and would really appreciate everyone’s support in this matter.

We have had numerous successes over the last two weeks in the sporting arena with particular kudos going to the Rugby and Hockey Teams.  Well done to all involved for their winning streaks (I’ve probably jinxed it now!).  Please follow our Twitter feed for up-to-the-minute sporting news. 

Finally, huge congratulations should go to all of our Young Enterprise competitors.  We had two teams this year “Valu£ It” and “Teapots and Whatnots”.  At the Young Enterprise Awards’ Evening on Tuesday, Valu£ It won Best ICT Director, Best Business Idea, Best HR Director, and came second in the Best Managing Director category.  Teapots and Whatnots also got second place for Best Sales Director category.  Thanks to all the pupils, staff and the Business Advisors.  This is an excellent showing and everyone should be proud of their hard work and commitment – I certainly am.

Next Friday the school will close for the Easter Holidays at 12.05pm.  Pupils in S4 to S6 are welcome to attend the Easter Revision programme that will take place each Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday of the holidays.  The school will reopen to all at the normal time on Tuesday 22nd April.

S Ingham
 

14 March 2014
Published: 14 March 2014

Last weekend was a very good weekend for Scottish music in these parts.  Friday Night saw the school Hall full to the brim of pipers and musicians as we hosted the Haddington Pipe Band “Striking Up” concert.  It was an event to mark the end of the collaboration between the Pipe Band and composer Ailie Robertson.  A number of our pupils were part of the pipe band and still more were part of “The Goat’s Toes” – our folk band.  Each group performed separately and then joined together to perform “The Dance of the Haddington Goat”.  I could not have been prouder of all the pupils involved given the hours of rehearsal that went into the evening.  I would like to thank Haddington Pipe Band for allowing us to share in their evening and Mr Johnston for directing The Goat’s Toes.

On Sunday I was invited to attend the Scottish Schools’ Pipe Band Championships held at Broughton High School.  In last year’s competition, the Knox Academy Pipe Band were pipped to a place in their class, so they were determined that this year would be different.  The pupils were stunning and played their hearts out (and given that some were also involved in the heavy rehearsal schedule to be ready for the “Striking Up” concert, doubly impressive).  This resulted in them being placed third in their class – not bad for a group that’s only been together for 18 months!  We are all delighted and I am hoping to persuade them to play at assemblies in the near future.  Thanks to the instructors: Davy Barnes and Dave Henry and to the dedicated parents – they couldn’t have done it without you!

The Cross Country Team ran for all they were worth last Thursday, and the team managed to place a creditable third.  They functioned well as a team, but there were some outstanding personal performances, too.  Well done all.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank the community volunteers who have been helping with our “Paired Reading” scheme.  One of the organisers, Ms McBride writes: "This term the Communications Faculty has successful started running a Paired Reading Scheme. We currently have volunteers coming in everyday to work with pupils from S1 and S2 to further their reading skills. The initial stages of the scheme have been encouraging and beneficial to all involved. We hope to continue the Paired Reading programme after the Easter Holidays."  Reading is one of the vital skills that youngsters need to access just about everything that happens in a school, so we cannot underestimate the good that this scheme is doing.  If you are concerned about your child’s reading, or would like some advice on what they should be reading,please do not hesitate to contact the school.

I had an informal meeting with some S1 parents this week – just to get their views on the school, how we are doing, and if they had any concerns.  We talked a lot about communication and I really can’t commend this website to parents more strongly.  If you are unsure about an event, if you want to know what’s going on, or even what pupils are covering in classes, you are likely to find it on this site.  I know that staff spend time updating information e.g. Modern Languages has recently posted updates with links to homework tasks and links to support learning.  Click here.

Have a very good week.

S Ingham

 

7 March 2014
Published: 07 March 2014

We have had a bumper week of activities here at Knox.

The week started with one of the S6 Young Enterprise Groups speaking at assemblies.  They were talking about how they developed and marketed their app “Valu£ It” (which enables customers to compare prices at supermarkets to ensure savvy shopping).  It has been good to let younger year groups know about Young Enterprise and what it involves, and has also served as a rehearsal for the Young Enterprise Awards’ Ceremony that is happening in Edinburgh on the 25th March.  The Young Sports’ Ambassadors and pupils from the Sports’ Council have also been talking to pupils about “Sport Your Trainers” Day that is on Monday 10th March.  In a show of solidarity for the Glasgow 2014 Games, all pupils are invited to wear their trainers to school (a 50p donation is requested, which goes to charity).  I have also stuck my tuppence-worth in at assemblies this week talking about litter around the school.

We have had some real successes around the school this week.  Two Fifth Year pupils have had great news: one that they are moving on into the second round of applications for support from the Sutton Trust to go and study at an Ivy League University; another has won a place at the Scottish Space School being held at Strathclyde University during the summer holidays.  Another S6 pupil – Jaimee Pickard, was playing in the Glasgow Music Festival this week in the Woodwind Solos Open Class.  She won!  Jaimee played “Carnival of Venice” by A Giampieri.  If you want to hear Jaimee in person, she is playing at the Haddington Pipe Band Concert that is being held here, at Knox, tonight at 7.30pm (there will be tickets available at the door).

In the sporting sphere the rugby teams have been playing well and are training up a storm.  I popped down to see how the pupils were doing at an early morning training session yesterday, and they are working hard.  We also had pupils representing us at the East Lothian Cross Country Championships yesterday.  I have yet to hear how they did, but they get my total respect for giving it a go and representing the school.

The S4 are working hard towards their exams and I was delighted to hear from Ms Orr in the Music Department that the Practical Music Exams had gone well.  All the Music teachers were generally very pleased with how the pupils did and it’s good to know that they have banked a good percentage of their final mark in advance.

The S6 organised a fantastic debate on Wednesday in aid of the Bridges Project (a local charity that helps young people prepare for the next steps in their careers).  The motion was “Should Scotland be an independent country?”  It was a good-humoured, but well-argued debate and the pupils were assisted by Councillors Dave Berry and John McMillan, and the event was chaired by the Provost, Councillor Broun-Lindsay.  Councillor Berry has written about it on his blog here (well worth a read).

Next week looks like being similarly busy, ending up on Friday with a charity football match between “Knox Academy Select” and the “Forth One Allstars”. Given that the Forth One team are advertising a "special guest" (whom I can only assume might be quite a good player) I think we might have to stretcher off some of the more "mature" members of the Knox team – so please come down to the 3G at 6.30pm to support.  We are having a Dress Down Day that day in school in the hopes of raising more money for good causes.

Phew!  I’m off for a lie down!
Have a very good weekend.

S Ingham