Not that I want to panic anyone but… there are only 9 working days until the S4 exam leave starts and 16 until the S5/6 go away.  Eek!  The Easter Revision programme was well attended and I hope that youngsters have been working out what gaps they need to fill between now and the exams.  Pupils should be coming home soon with their exam timetables, but you can check on the SQA website for the timetable here and there is even the facility to build your own exam timetable here.

Pupils seem to have had a good time over the Easter Holidays and have come back full of vim and vigour.  I had the pleasure of congratulating Josh Nisbet (S4) on his win in the 50m freestyle at the Lothian Disability Swimming Gala.  He came to show me his medal and both myself and Mrs Little are as proud as punch.

I was delighted to welcome the Head of Education in to visit the school on Wednesday.  It was Darrin Nightingale’s first visit to the school and he had a tour with the Head Boy and Head Girl.  He asked them some interesting questions and I suspect that Erin and Ben “told it like it is”.  I think the biggest surprise for him was being in the Food Court when the bell for Morning Interval went and hundreds of youngsters descended to get their morning snack and beverage.

Planning for Activities’ Week is going on apace and we are in the process of finalising details for the various packages.  The pupils are looking forward to their excursions and experiences and I urge parents to be as supportive of these as possible.  Every experience will have educational value and should be seen as an opportunity for pupils to work in different ways and to better get to know staff and peers.

We had a gratifying turn out to the S2 Parents’ Information Evening on Tuesday.  It was good to be able to speak to the parents and talk about the pathways that their youngsters would be experiencing next session.  We have the S2 Parents’ Consultation Evening on the 17th (from 5pm until 7pm).  On the 23rd we will (fingers crossed) be having the East Lothian Youth Games that had to be postponed owing to bad weather at the end of last term; and on the 24th there is a PSP meeting from 6.15pm.

Remember that the school is closed on the 15th April and everyone resumes on the 16th.

Good luck to everyone involved in the Haddington Street market on Saturday.  It deserves to be a huge success.  Look out for some of the Knox Academy Jazz Band who will be playing thanks to the swift organisation of Mrs Woodsend,  and other pupils who will be helping around the place.

Enjoy your weekend.