The BBC School Report team has successfully completed their submission for News Report Day. The S2 pupils have been working extremely conscientiously to produce a news report on the "Impact of Housing Developments in Haddington".
Their news broadcast can be viewed on the BBC School Report area of the website and work is also on display in the library.
If you are making payments to the school for various activities (including Activities Week) before the Easter holidays, please could these (if paying by cash/cheque) be made by Friday 18 March 2016. This will assist the school office in end of term arrangments: cheques handed in after this may not be cashed until after the Easter Holidays, and this means no cash is in school over the holiday period for security.
The Italy Excursion has a final payment date of Wednesday 23 March 2016 - this is now extended until Wednesday 13 April 2016.
The S5/6 Course Choice Booklet, letter to parents and course choice sheet and dialogue form have been uploaded to Curriculum Section of the website. This information is for pupils who are currently in S4/5 and will be entering S5/6 in August 2016.
On Monday 29 February 2016, fourteen intrepid reporters who form the BBC School Report team left Knox Academy armed with video cameras, tripods and questions to meet with Iain Gray MSP at the Scottish Parliament.
Accompanied by Mrs Prime DHT, Miss Bulloch, Modern Studies teacher and Mrs Fraser, ASN Learning Assistant they boarded the 104 Lothian service bus and arrived at Holyrood after a short walk at 11am.
Iain Gray’s assistant, John Erskine met us and showed us to the room that had been set aside for our interview purposes and the filming crew set up their cameras, while the investigative team rehearsed their questions.
Iain Gray was charming and affable and spoke in a relaxed and uncomplicated way about his feelings with regards the extensive building that is happening in East Lothian. He is not in disagreement that housing should be provided but he is angry that the developers are being given the green light by Ministers even after the local council has rejected planning applications for certain sites in and around Haddington, which is the focus of the BBC School Report Team. The biggest concern is that the infrastructure hasn’t been embedded and so there is a real fear that schools, health centres and surgeries will not be able to cope. Meanwhile busier roads and parking issues will continue to cause problems for local residents.
The BBC School report team have also interviewed some local businesses who, while welcoming the possible increase in footfall and revenue are concerned that the infrastructure hasn’t been properly considered.
After the interview, Iain Gray kindly took time out of his busy schedule to show us around the parliament building and was an excellent raconteur, making the visit personal and particularly relevant to East Lothian. The concrete came from Dunbar and the seats in the Debating Chamber were crafted in East Lothian.
All pupils behaved impeccably and are excellent ambassadors for Knox Academy.
The BBC School report team will now edit their videos, with the help of Mr Dempster and Mr Plain to create a 3-4 minute news item which will be submitted to the BBC School Report website which goes live on Thursday 10 March 2016.
C Prime
World book day is on Thursday 3 March. Your English teacher will give you more information regarding events, tokens and competitions.
Any pupil aged 16 and above is eligible to vote in Scottish elections, If you have not already registered to vote, please bring your National Insurance number to school on Tuesday 1 March because there will be an opportunity to register as Electoral Register staff will be in school to help you.
Groupcall registration forms were issued to all pupils before the holidays. In order to fully implement the system it is essential we receive returns from every individual.
Groupcall is a system that will notify you if your child is absent from school and other important messages.
Dunbar are holding their Annual SciFest between Friday 4 March 2016 and Sunday 13 March 2016. For more information visit their website.
Details can be found below for current pupils being presented for an Award in National 5 or Higher Administration & IT this session.
The N5 Administration & IT course is assessed through 100% Coursework Assignment. This is effectively an 'exam' and is carried out over 4 hours (on a 2x2 basis). The current S4 will complete this assignment on Tuesday 15 and Wednesday 16 March 2016.
As pupils are aware this is earlier than the SQA Examination diet in May 2016 and they must ensure that they are fully prepared for this assessment which is externally marked by the SQA. Every day after-school pupils have the opporutnity for additional support, subject to speaking with their class teacher to arrange. In addition to this on Friday 11 March 2016 there will be the opportunity for an afternoon revision session (until 4 pm) for 'last minute' revision.
When pupils receive their Benchmarking results this week they will be asked to think about an 'action plan' (a template will be provided) to improve their potential result to the highest possible Grade that they are capable of achieving. Often a lack of proof-reading results in unnecessary marks being lost. Pupils must be aware of the timescales involved and not leave preparation to the final moments.
The Higher Administration & IT course is assessed through 70% Coursework Assignment, and a 30% Exam in May 2016 during the SQA diet. As with National 5, the Higher Coursework Assignment is effectively an 'exam'. The current S5/S6 will complete this on Monday 21 March 2016 over 2 hours.
Pupils should (as with all subjects) be reflecting on what went well, and what could be improved from their Benchmarking Assessments. It is vital that pupils work on areas of difficulty at this 'early' stage and do not leave this to the last minute. However on Friday 18 March 2016, there will be the opportunity of an extended revision session (until 4 pm) for additional practice and final questions and support. As with National 5, every day after-school, pupils can receive further support as required by arrangement. This is an ideal opportunity for one-2-one support for advice and help on specific areas of the practical work.
Pupils must be aware of the timescales involved and not leave preparation to the final moments.
For pupils at both National 5 and Higher Level, the Final Grade awarded will be reflective of the commitment put into the preparation before the date of the assignments.
Self found forms and the letter of understanding (essential reading for employers!) are now available on the Work Experience page. If you are in S3 and are organising your own placement for June 6th - June 10th you can print off a copy for yourself or download it to your computer and send it electronically to your potential employer.
