The last five weeks seem to have whizzed by and we are at the mid-term break already. It is a busy time of the year, particularly for our senior pupils who are only eight weeks away from the start of the SQA exam diet. For this reason, please can I ask parents/carers to encourage their young person to do some study during the break and to help support them in studying regularly up until their exams start and throughout these. I gave lots of study advice and guidance in a previous HT's update and there is a lot of information on our website to support study skills too. If your young person needs support with organising a study timetable please ask them to see their Pupil Support Leader (guidance). Attendance at our many after school study sessions and Scholar UK can also support them.
Recruitment
Advertising - Temporary teacher of Music
Recruited - Business Support Administrator – Lisa Lambert was appointed to this post and will start on 27th February. Also we recruited a Science Technician on Wednesday – subject to pre-employment checks.
Pupil News
Young Enterprise Christmas Market
It was lovely to receive a letter from Michelle Ballantyne, MSP, congratulating our Young Enterprise Team ‘Oceanic’ for their excellent eco-products, teamwork and creativity. Ms Ballantyne has submitted a motion in the Scottish Parliament which read as follows: “That the Parliament congratulates the Knox Academy Enterprise Team on winning the Lothians Best Overall Team Award for its participation in the Young Enterprise Christmas Market; understands that the five –strong team was named Oceanic and was composed of the S6 students, Gregor Naysmith, Ben Ritchie, Clara Wilberforce, Matthew Nelson and Charlotte Gray; notes the team sold ‘eco-packs’ that contained metal straws and bamboo toothbrushes, which raised over £200 at the market; acknowledges that. In addition to winning Best Overall Team, Oceanic took second place in both Best Sales Pitch and Best Product; commends Oceanic for its hard work in taking part in the market, and wishes everyone in the team all the best for the future.
Robert Burns
Knox Academy pupils supported 2 Burns Lunches in the local community this week. On Monday 27 January, the Goats Toes played a set of Burns tunes at the Haddington Probus Club Burns Lunch in the Maitlandfield Hotel. Pupils who played were Isla Booth, Sophie Charbonnier, Tom Wilson, Dillon Ball, Clara Wilberforce, Isaac Ingram, Jamie Gentil, Nikolaus Hogg and Tristan Swan. The group took time outwith school to practise for the event. Thanks to Isla and Tom for organising. On Wednesday 29 January, Donald Bathgate and Catriona Dee did a great job of being the MCs at the Community Kitchen Burns Lunch. Daniel Hall piped in the haggis and the Goats Toes played 2 sets. Comments were made on both occasions about how much people attending enjoyed the music and speeches. Well done to all the pupils involved. (Robert Flood, CL Social Subjects)
Gymnastics
Huge congratulates to Amy Reid & Oakleigh Robertson (S3) who won gold at today’s Scottish Team Gym Championships with their Saltire (Junior Level 2) team. They have also been selected to attend a Scottish Gymnastics training camp in Sweden from 9-14 Feb.
Hockey
Daniel Hall and Charlie Gates represented East District in the Scottish Under 18 Indoor Championships at the weekend. Daniel scored and Charlie made some fantastic saves in his goal keeper role. The team came second, narrowly missing out on winning due to a goal count.
Cross Country
Congratulations to all our young people who represented Knox Academy at the East Lothian Schools Cross Country Championships at Foxlake on Wednesday. Everyone gave their all and were great ambassadors for the school. A particular congratulations go to Ryan Pirie for coming third in the S1 race.
Parent/Carer news
Careers Fayre
We held our third annual Careers Fayre on Monday evening and with over 40 stalls to visit there was a real 'buzz'. A wide variety of sectors were in attendance - the emergency services and armed forces were well represented as were Financial Services, Health & Social Care and Science, Technology & Construction. Information about our local labour market can be found here. In addition we welcomed a number of 'first timers' including Winton Castle, East Lothian Food & Drink and 'You Can Be a Doctor'. We'd like to thank all the Volunteers - including a number of Parents/ Carers from the school - who gave up their evening to support our young people to think about their future and the potential pathways available to them.
Dates for your diary (please also refer to the CALENDAR on the school website for all events across the year):
- 7 February – school closes for mid-term at 12.15pm
- 17 February – staff in-service day
- 20 February – S2-S5 Learner Pathways Information Evening – 6.30pm
Have a good mid-term break
Sue Cook
