There has been so much happening in school this week, it’s hard to know where to begin!

Hot Chocolate Friday
This week saw our first Hot Chocolate Friday and what a delightful occasion it was for a proud heidie! Five S1 pupils came to my office for hot chocolate at interval, pupils who put in their best effort every day at school – being polite, keen, kind, well-behaved and curious. #HotChocFri is a way of acknowledging and celebrating the fact that there are so many young people in our school who give of their best as a matter of course. The pupils are chosen by staff, one nomination from each faculty; I love to think of each group of teachers sitting at a faculty meeting, discussing all our wonderful pupils and deciding which one to put forward this week. The S1 #HotChocFri pupils may have been a bit daunted at first as they arrived at the Head Teacher’s office, but it didn’t take long for them to relax and enjoy sharing tales with me and with each other. I have two favourite quotes: when I asked what were the best things about school, one pupil replied, “I just love learning.” And as they left my office, I overheard another pupil say “I thought it would be hardcore but that was really fun.” It was certainly fun for the heidie, too! Next week, it will be the turn of S2s and already I’m really looking forward to it. I have a feeling that #HotChocFri may turn out to be a highlight for me each week. 

Above and Beyond
Another initiative started this week which focuses on positivity is Praise Postcards. Every member of staff is given one Praise Postcard per week, to be issued to a pupil who has gone above and beyond in some way. On Friday, there were pupils all over the school receiving a Praise Postcard, and I hope these postcards have been proudly shared at home. I loved watching the change of expression on the face of my chosen pupil, from puzzlement to a big smile, as he read the message on the postcard. With over 70 staff giving out a Praise Postcard each week, there’s going to be a lot of positivity on Friday mornings in Knox Academy!

Home Learning Evening
This week saw the launch of Knox Academy’s Home Learning Policy, with an event for parents and carers. We were delighted that well over 100 people came along to learn more about the policy and to attend workshops on supporting young people with their learning at home. Four of the workshops – on research, reading, revision and resources - were delivered by teachers from our Learning & Teaching working group. The fifth workshop, on types of home learning tasks, was very professionally delivered by three pupils from the Pupil Learning Team: Eilidh Graham in S3, Sam Thomson in S5, and Emily Merritt in S6. During the evening, depute Mrs Falconer gave a presentation on Show My Homework, a software package that will enable more effective communication on home learning between pupil, parent and school. Parents have been sent a letter providing more information on Show My Homework, which we intend to launch after Easter. Feedback from participants on our Home Learning event has been very positive, so much so that it is likely this will become an annual event. I would like to pass on a huge thank you to the staff and pupil team for organising such an informative event. We plan to deliver the presentation on revision to all pupils in year group assemblies before the Easter holiday. It will certainly be timeous for our seniors as they prepare for their forthcoming National Qualifications.

Eco Week
We have a very active Eco Committee at Knox Academy, as well as a junior Green Team, and this week environmental issues were very much to the fore. S6s delivered an excellent presentation in assemblies, challenging us to be ambitious in respecting our school space and the wider environment. They also shared lots of practical strategies on how to do that, and prepared challenges, activities and video clips for registration each day. On Thursday, we were delighted to welcome Louise and Rab from Blooming Haddington, who worked with the Eco Committee and S1 pupils to improve the raised beds in the courtyard garden. We look forward to watching the garden bloom as spring approaches. The week culminated in everyone wearing green on Friday (or, at least, everyone who had a green item in their wardrobe), to show our support for tackling environmental issues. Well done to the Eco Committee – you really have made a positive impact in school this week. 

Trips and Activities
Some of our junior pupils had adventures in distant parts this week. On Wednesday, 40 excited pupils – and a group of just as excited staff – travelled to the Etihad Stadium to watch Manchester City play Basel in the Champions’ League. For many pupils, this was their first experience at a football match on this scale. While the game may not have been the most riveting, with the home side losing 1 – 2 to the visitors, the pupils still had a ball (excuse the pun) and loved the whole experience. There were some bleary-eyed young people in school on Thursday, as they had arrived home in the early hours of the morning. I hope they’ve now managed to catch up on their sleep! On Thursday, S2 history scholars headed in the opposite direction, north to Discovery Point in Dundee. The tour of RRS Discovery certainly helped to bring their discovery and exploration topic to life. Closer to home, our Bronze Duke of Edinburgh group enjoyed a bit of spring sunshine as they practised their navigation skills around the River Tyne. One of our S4 pupils, Leo Washington-Mackay, was also out in the community this week, volunteering with Guide Dogs Scotland in their fundraising drive at Tesco in Haddington. Leo proved to be a real credit to Knox Academy and Guide Dogs Scotland are very grateful for his help in raising over £360 for the cause. On Friday morning a familiar face delivered a presentation to our S2 pupils when Jayne Easson, formerly a Knox guidance teacher, spoke about the work of the Teenage Cancer Trust. 

Off to Aubigny!
At Friday’s Haddington Twinning Association quiz night, S6 pupil Ailsa Wrinn was officially awarded the Aubigny Scholarship 2018. Ailsa will be spending a month in Aubigny, during which time she will carry out work experience in a local pharmacy, in preparation for her university studies. I know that Ailsa will be a great ambassador for Knox Academy and for the wider Haddington community, and I hope that she has a wonderful experience in our twin town. 

Maths Camp
This weekend, twenty S5 and S6 pupils and their teachers are attending Maths Camp near Newcastleton in the Scottish Borders - a great opportunity for our seniors who love maths and love the outdoors. I have been following their tweets over the weekend, hearing of vectors, optimisation, trig equations, calculus, creating outdoor patterns - and the zip wire. There’s plenty of maths in action, that’s for sure!

Boccia Festival
On Friday, Meadowpark pupils took part in a Boccia Festival. The event was held at Dunbar Grammar School, organised jointly by Scottish Disability Sport and East Lothian PE staff. It was such a success, and the pupils enjoyed themselves so much, that we have offered to host it here at Knox Academy next year. You can read more about it in Meadowpark’s newsletter.

Parent Council
Our Parent Council held its regular meeting and its AGM on Wednesday evening. I am delighted that our Chair, John Wrinn, has agreed to remain in post, and the PC are pleased to welcome two new members. At the meeting, topics discussed included: positive destination statistics; the school handbook for P7 pupils and parents; communication; and the prefect system. There are two further PC meetings this session, on Wednesday 25 April and Wednesday 30 May. Meetings are held in the school Library, beginning at 6.15 pm; all parents and carers are very welcome to attend. 

HMI Continuing Engagement Visit
I hope that everyone in our school community is now aware that HM Inspectors are returning to Knox Academy in the week beginning Monday 19 March. Parents and carers have been sent a text message drawing their attention to the HMI questionnaire which they have been asked to complete by 12 noon on Thursday 15 March. I would appreciate it hugely if all parents and carers would take this opportunity to share their thoughts on the school. Pupils, staff and partners have also been asked to complete questionnaires. I am really looking forward to the HMI visit, sharing with the Inspectors all that we are doing as we strive to be the best school that we can be. This is an exciting period in Knox Academy’s history and I feel very privileged indeed to be leading the school at this time.     

Lauren Rodger
Head Teacher
lrodger@knox.elcschool.org.uk