Anyone who thinks that schools coast into the last week of term would be in for a shock if they visited Knox last week.

On Tuesday our two teams participated in the Young Enterprise Awards’ Evening held at Stewart’s Melville College.  Despite the ghastly weather the teams and staff travelled safe and sound.  The trip was worth their while as they received the following plaudits decided from 40 companies:
Engage (engageeastlothian.edubuzz.org)
3rd place – Best Managing Director
3rd place – Best IT Director
3rd place – Best Overall Company
2nd place – Best Business Idea

Bottle It Up
2nd place – Best Interview

On Wednesday the school was a-buzz owing to the Red Nose Bake-Off that was held in the Home Economics Department from 4.15pm.  Pupils had to invite a member of staff to work with them.  The staff member had to bring their “Signature Bake” and then the teams had to work to produce a “Technical Bake”(, which was Maids of Honour) – testing our skills at both sponge and pastry.  The technical bakes were not without mishap – some people mistaking salt for sugar (pass me a glass of water!), but the twenty teams worked really well together and had a lot of fun.  The signature bakes were sold at Interval and Lunchtime around the school and made a heap of money for Comic Relief.  Our thanks must go to Ms Hossack and her team for all their hard work and I salute the bravery of our two judges:  Craig Hunter (The Avenue, Haddington) and Martin Kelly (Malmaison, Edinburgh) who faithfully tasted all of the technical bakes (even the salty ones).  The overall winners were Lucy Anderson and Mr Woolley.
 

Not only did we have the bake-off on Wednesday, but we also had the annual Spring Concert.  The pupils excelled themselves.  Every aspect of the evening was outstanding from the performances to the Stage Crew, to the lighting.  My thanks go to all the staff involved for working so hard with the pupils.  The progress that they make with the various groups is astounding, and to hear it all come together on the night makes me very proud.  The pupils demonstrated their diligence and passion for what they do and, if you missed it, I am sure that the recording of it will be posted on the website soon.

I had assemblies with all year groups last week and with the juniors made specific reference to behaviour in Haddington and showing respect for their environment.  The seniors got a little bit more of a hard time as I shared their overall prelim results with them.  We talked about the targets that I have set for them as year groups and I reminded them of the need for them to dig in and work hard between now and exam leave.  To that end all of the seniors (S4 to S6) should have received a copy of the Easter Revision Timetable . I would endorse it to all pupils – they can drop-in and out of the sessions, and it is a great way of getting that bit of extra help.

We have been spotlighting Dress Code recently and challenging youngsters who have not been complying.  Thankfully there aren’t many, but the pupils that we are seeing day-in-day-out are those who are choosing not to wear the requested footwear.  Just to remind you – pupils can wear any footwear that they like as long as it’s black – no coloured piping, no coloured edging to the soles, no coloured laces.  If you are out and about and buying shoes this, or next week, can you please bear this in mind – just in case your youngster has a momentary lapses of memory as regards the Dress Code.

So, as you can see – it was a very full week and this round-up only scratches the surface of what goes on at Knox.  I would like to thank all parents for supporting us this term – be it through attending extra-curricular, commenting on S3 Profiles, attending Parents’ Evenings or just ‘phoning in to have a chat.  We couldn’t do very much of what we do without you. 

The school re-opens to all on 8th April.

All the best.