Congratulations to Maria Millar (who works in the Food Court) on becoming “The Scottish Schools Cook of the Year 2016” at a competition earlier this month. She had to prepare a two-course meal for £1.60 – she did a marvellous job and she wowed the judges with a menu of chicken enchilada with coleslaw, followed by strawberry cheesecake made with a wide variety of locally-sourced ingredients. More importantly, we had the privilege of taste-testing some of her practice-runs and I can vouch that they were delicious, so I am not surprised that she won.
Last weekend saw the traditional Staff/S6 weekend to Dalguise. Despite some fairly damp weather conditions everyone seemed to have fun, as Mr. Edwards reported, “Battered, bruised but bolder than when they left, a triumphant S6 returned to Knox Academy last night around 8.30pm. The previous 48 hours had seen some of the finest displays of cheering, persevering and creative use of fruity language ever to grace rural Perthshire. Although the rain on the Saturday made everything wet and muddy (not that those on Raft Building would have noticed), this fine year group did not become forlorn or daunted but rose to meet the challenge and the weather had been swept up in their sunny spirit by Sunday morning. The PGL Staff were most complimentary (as was the tea and coffee) and the students themselves comported themselves in an impeccable manner. Many thanks to Mr Redford for organising the trip and Mr Illingworth, Mr Dempster, Ms Doig, Ms Campbell, Ms Laudi, Ms McBride and Ms Brannigan for providing sound support, good company and those wee Dinky Decker chocolate bites.”
We recently welcomed Ms. Robb to our Biology and Science Department and Mrs Reynolds (who has been in an acting position for a while), permanently to the English Department. I look forward to working with both of them and think that they will bring much to the school.
If you follow us on Twitter, you will have seen the work that Modern Languages have been doing to celebrate the Week of Modern Languages. We have had quizzes, morning greetings, and other activities to raise pupils’ awareness of other languages. Certainly the classes that I visited were having fun, as were the staff – thanks to Mrs Cochrane, Ms Laudi and Ms McBride. Also, excitingly, we had a visit from Google Expeditions yesterday. S2 pupils were involved in virtual explorations of places a diverse as Mexico and the sea bed. It was a real opportunity for youngsters to interface with technology and see its educational benefit. Thanks to Mr McSwan for organising it all.
Next week we have a Parent Council Meeting (Wednesday, 6.15pm in the Library), which is open to all parents. I look forward to seeing you there.
Have a good week.
S Ingham