It has been a great last week at school starting with Meadowpark’s Musical Extravaganza on Monday afternoon. They then did it all again for their parents in the evening. What a talented group and so good to see the PSAs and Teachers joining in too (and Mr Johnson on the drums and guitar)!
We also had fifteen pupils compete for places on our Pupil Leadership Team. Following their interviews last week and placing their manifestos online, they were Open to Question on Wednesday morning with staff and pupils asking them about their ideas in more detail. Voting took place all day Thursday and the results are now in. Our Head Pupils for next session will be Lauren Clark and Oscar Pirie, Our Depute Head pupils will be Kirsty Dee, Olivia Dale and Hannah Pathirana.
Congratulations to our new Pupil Leadership Team for Session 2022-23. I am really looking forward to working with them and supporting them taking forward the aspects within their manifestos. We are keen to harness all of the skills and talents of all our young people who applied for these positions, and the wider S6, in leading many other aspects across the school. We have a great S6 and I have very high hopes for what they can do in terms of leadership next session.
Staffing
Today we say goodbye to Mrs Ann Cochrane, our Modern Languages teacher. Ann has been with us for 27 years and has been an inspiration to many across these years in her teaching of French and Italian from BGE up to Advanced Higher levels. We wish her a long and happy retirement.
We also say goodbye to Nick Swanston, one of our teachers at Meadowpark, who leaves us to take a teaching position at Gala Academy supporting pupils with ASN. We wish him all the best in his new post which starts in August.
Trish McLeod – Biology - congratulations to Trish who is the preferred candidate for a Support for Learning teaching post at Ross High School.
Ola Tkacz – Psychology Probationer – best wishes to Ola who moves to a new teaching post at St Augustine’s starting in August.
Parents’/Carers’ Information
Anthem for East Lothian
This was premiered during the recent Haddstock Festival and aired again on Tuesday evening. It is absolutely tremendous and features a number of Knox Academy pupils in it. It can be viewed here.
Haddington Pump Track - Public Consultation
I have been asked to share this with pupils and parents so if you and your young person could look at this consultation and make a response that would be great.
Please find a link to the pump track information page on the ELC website. The site also contains a link to the Haddington pump track page which includes additional details on potential locations and a link to the public consultation for that area (closes 31st July).
A pump track is designed to create a safe, fun and inclusive playground for all wheels-based users regardless of age or gender. They provide a playground for kids and adults from beginners to professionals and a sustainable and fun-packed activity for everyone in the community.
An early mapping exercise identified a number of Council-owned areas in Haddington that might be suitable for a pump track. Each location has its own unique attributes and opportunities, meaning that community views are essential to identifying the most appropriate space that could be progressed. All projects are subject to further detailed design, planning permission and full project funding, with the views of local people vital to help shape the projects at concept stage.
Pupils’ Achievements
Success Stories
Football
A huge congratulation to the 17 S4 boys who have been awarded two trophies for their success in playing football for Haddington Athletic U15 Colts. They were crowned League Division 3A champions on Sunday 26th June and Division 3A cup winners last Sunday on 19th June when they bet Armadale United 3-1. A very talented group of players at the school!
Summer Holidays
I would like to wish all our families a lovely summer holiday from all here at Knox Academy. I hope the sun shines wherever you are – at home or away. Thank you for all your support throughout this session and we will look forward to welcoming all of our young people back to school on Wednesday 17 August. I will write out to you all on Monday 8 August with the arrangements for the new term and our school handbook will also provide with all information about the school in advance of this too.
Dates for your diary:
Wednesday 17 August 2022 – Pupils Resume at 8.28am
Sue Cook
Covid-19 Update
The guidance for schools was updated on Monday 2 May. From Sunday 1 May public health advice changed to a ‘stay at home’ message replacing self-isolation for people who have symptoms or have tested positive for Covid-19. People who have symptoms of Covid-19 and who have a fever or are too unwell to carry out normal activities will be asked to stay at home while they are unwell or have a fever. Pupils and staff will no longer be advised to take a PCR test. Full information on the stay at home guidance is available here. Continuing with our approaches to good hand hygiene, ventilation, and physical distancing (where possible). Our latest Risk Assessment can be read here.
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