It’s always nice to start with some congratulations…
 

Firstly to the S4 Outdoor Challenge Teams:  Last Friday they did us proud, taking part in activities designed to promote independence, self-sufficiency and confidence.  The placings went as follows: 1st Place Knox Academy (Team 2)
Then:
2nd Place - Musselburgh Grammar School (team 2) 3rd Place - Ross High School 4th Place (joint) - Knox (Team 3) - Musselburgh Grammar School (Team 1) 6th Place - Knox (Team 1).

Secondly, three of our S3 pupils who are taking part in the Saltire Award received their first certificate crediting them with 10 hours’ of volunteering.

Well done one and all and huge thanks to the staff who supported each of the pupils in their endeavours.

More excitement is to come with the “Literacy Plus” volunteers who will be joining us for the first time in a couple of weeks.  Half a dozen or so people, are going to give up an hour (and in some cases, more) of their time every week to come in to support some of our S1-3 pupils in improving their literacy skills.  It is my aim to encourage and facilitate more community and parental involvement in the school, so if you have any ideas, please get in touch.

I am in the process of meeting up with S1 classes so that I can feed back to parents at the S1 Settling-In Evening on Thursday 27th September.  This is mainly an event for parents (although you can bring your youngster along with you, if you’d like) and usually lasts for an hour.  There will be an opportunity to ask questions and raise any concerns.  I look forward to seeing as many of the S1 parents there as possible – it’s a 6.30pm start.

The S6 go off to Dalguise for the Staff, S6 Weekend this afternoon.  I hope that the weather holds up, that said,  I can confidently forecast that a fine time will be had by all.  I suspect that there will be tales of derring-do on Monday morning and I look forward to hearing all about it.

Finally, we say "farewell" to Mr Andrew Lambert who leaves us today having been involved with Knox Academy as a teacher and Sports' and Physical Activities Coordinator on and off for the last five years.  We wish him well for the future.  We welcome Mr Steve Wands in his stead and look forward to working with him.