December 2024

Published: 20 December 2024

We Care Award

We are delighted to announce that Edinburgh Young Carers have officially awarded us with the We Recognise level of the We Care Award! A huge thank you to Gail Fraser, from Pupil Support, for successfully leading on this award and showing how important our Young Carers are to us at Knox Academy.  We are leading the way in East Lothian as the first school to achieve it in the county!

Meadowpark’s Christmas Concert

This was an absolutely fabulous event, yesterday, with lots of singing (with audience participation); drumming and a piano solo. The whole concert was very much led by the talented pupils and got us all in to the Christmas spirit. There was even a visit from Santa and his Elf at the end with a selection box for everyone. We also said a fond farewell to Mrs Dalgleish, who has been with us for the last four years and has been an amazing teacher (after only coming on supply for a day). We wish her a happy and healthy retirement.

Anthony Nolan Trust

A huge thank you to so many of our S5/6 pupils, and staff, who volunteered to have a swab taken, to register for STEM cell donation, which can save the lives of others. We had 70 donors! What a lovely Christmas gift!

Achievement Ties

It was brilliant to be able to award sixteen achievement ties and an endeavour certificate yesterday, to pupils across all year groups and for a variety of achievements at local and national levels: football; dance; rugby; swimming; athletics; triathlon; air-cadets; gymnastics; hockey coaching. Thank you too who applied and our Achievement Tie Committee for deciding the award categories.

Quadrant (update)

We have now engaged our S1 andS5/6 pupils in researching the history of Knox Academy, and John Knox, and they have created some designs too. These have now been passed to Tree-ditions to start the design of the Totem pole – which will be a central piece in the new outdoor learning garden. Other year groups will also be involved in the design of other aspects of the garden.

Careers Event - Wednesday 15 January 6-8pm

We are really looking forward to hosting our annual Career Event on 15 January 2025. We have 55 confirmed exhibitors, with several new additions, from a diverse range of sectors, so there is something for everyone!

The brochure of attendees can be viewed here.

Please come along and have a wander, ask questions and explore the possibilities.

Lammermuir Larder

A huge thank you to staff, pupils and parents/carers who donated food for our fundraising donation for Lammermuir larder. These boxes were delivered to them on Monday.

Pupils’ Successes

Congratulations to Toby Marcham (S2) and Fred Macfarlane (S3) who were awarded certificates for being the best in school for the UK Bebras Challenge 2024! This is for outstanding performance in computational thinking.

Shop Local

If you are looking for some last minute gifts or food for your Christmas dinner, Haddington Farmers Market is also on tomorrow and has a great array of goodies.

Merry Christmas

I would like to thank all parents/carers for their support across the year(s) and, on behalf of all here at Knox Academy, wish you a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.

Dates for your diary:

6 January 2025 – school resumes at 8.28am

13 January – Coursing Information Evening (S2-S5 parents) - 6.30-7.30pm (Knox Academy)

15 January – Careers Fayre – 6-8pm (Knox Academy)

Our school calendar is updated regularly and should be used to access all information throughout the year and allows you to plan ahead too.

Sue Cook

Quick Links:

Remote learning resourcescourse choicessupported study and careers news. Clicking on these headings takes you straight to these pages.

Please also look at our website for lots of other information. Please also follow us on Twitter for up-to-date news on a day to day basis.

Please also remember to follow us at: www.ka-net.org.uk 84CEAEA2   for the latest information and updates.

Published: 13 December 2024

Staffing

Our new Curriculum Leader of Maths (Numeracy) and Computing will start on Tuesday 28 January 2025.

Diligence Awards

These were issued to pupils yesterday and today. Diligence awards are given to those pupils who have demonstrated hard work and commitment, on a day to day basis, throughout Term 1 (August – December).  These certificates detail all subjects your young person has been nominated in. The ultimate aim is for pupils to be nominated in all of their subjects. If they are not, the goal for term two (January – April) is to aim higher and achieve this. The idea behind these awards is to create ambition (one of our school values) and raise attainment and achievement through sustained effort and commitment to their studies, thus ensuring they achieve their potential. These are really important awards and parents/carers should review these with their young person to identify their successes and also support them where ‘subjects’ missing require more sustained effort. More information on our diligence awards is available by clicking on this link Diligence Awards.

Careers Event - Wednesday 15 January 6-8pm

We are really looking forward to hosting our annual Career Event on 15 January 2025. We have 55 confirmed exhibitors, with several new additions, from a diverse range of sectors, so there is something for everyone!

The brochure of attendees can be viewed here.

Please come along and have a wander, ask questions and explore the possibilities.

Enterprise Fayre

Thank you to all parents/carers, staff and friend of the school, who came along to support his last Saturday. The array of products on sale was immense and the entrepreneurial skills demonstrated by our S1 pupils were impressive – some brilliant, intuitive ideas! Thanks to the Business Department for nurturing these skills and organising the event, along with the support of our Senior Retail class.

Treasure Island (S1)

On 11th December 30 S1’s (including me) were lucky enough to get taken into Edinburgh by two great English teachers to go and see Treasure Island.

We took the bus there and then we were allowed to buy some snacks for the show. Then we walked to the Lyceum Theatre and watched the show. It was great fun and such a memorable show. The teachers even treated us to an ice cream at the interval. 

After the show they took us to the Edinburgh fair so we could experience all the Christmas delights of our Capital City! This was a great day out and I learned so much from the show while getting to know some new people in my year! (by Sula Wyllie,1L2)

Christmas Dance (S4-S6)

It was a fun night at our S4-S6 dance. They all arrived looking amazing in their stunning evening wear and most took the opportunity to have their photo taken, at the Nutcracker backdrop, with their friends, to mark the occasion.  It was great to see so many on the dance floor throughout the evening, both for the disco music and the ceilidh!

A huge thank you to our PTA for organising the refreshments and doing the cloakroom; to Liam Morrison for being our DJ for the evening; the janitors for setting up and cleaners, for cleaning up; and last, but not least, all the staff who gave up their evening to supervise it. Thank you all!

Christmas Concert

This took place last night and the quality of performances, by all those taking part, was simply stunning! From the jazz band, to the dancers, to the singers and guitarist, and our S1 choir, it was a show to behold. A huge thank you to all our performers, all staff involved, those on sound, lighting and stage, and finally, all those who came along to watch and make it what it was.

Christmas Fundraising

Meadowpark had Christmas Jumper Day yesterday and raised an amazing £45.72 for Save the Children - thank you to all who donated to this great charity! Today Knox has organised a bake sale and "Wearing Something Christmassy" to raise funds for UNICEF.  Both of these fundraisers are part of our approaches to raising awareness of the fantastic work charities do and links directly to the work we are doing as a Rights Respecting School.

Christmas Lunch

Please note this has now changed to Tuesday 17 December 2024. The menu can be accessed here.

End of term arrangements

Parents/carers should have received a letter from me on Monday regarding these. A copy of this letter can be read here. Learning and teaching will continue as normal right until Thursday, and on Friday, we will have a ceilidh, Christmas Quiz and then all come together to sing the 12 Days of Christmas before we depart for the festive break.

Pupils’ Successes

Football

Congratulations to Summer Deans (S4) who was awarded the ‘top goal scorer’ trophy at Haddington Football Club.

Dates for your diary:

17 December – Christmas lunch

20 December – End of term

6 January 2025 – school resumes at 8.28am

Our school calendar is updated regularly and should be used to access all information throughout the year and allows you to plan ahead too.

Sue Cook

Quick Links:

Remote learning resourcescourse choicessupported study and careers news. Clicking on these headings takes you straight to these pages.

Please also look at our website for lots of other information. Please also follow us on Twitter for up-to-date news on a day to day basis.

Please also remember to follow us at: www.ka-net.org.uk 84CEAEA2   for the latest information and updates.

 

Published: 06 December 2024

Staffing

Following interviews for our Curriculum Leader of Maths (Numeracy) and Computing, our preferred candidate is Paul Goodall, currently CL Maths and Newbattle High School.

Congratulations to Lorraine Arnot (currently Senior Business Support Assistant at Meadowpark) who will be joining the Knox Academy team, in January 2025, as Business Support Administrator.

Prelims (S4-S6)

These have gone well and there are only two days left of our prelims now. Well done to all of our young people for their hard work and commitment to their studies and giving these their best!

Christmas Concert

It is less than one week away from our concert, which takes place on Thursday 12 December. Tickets are selling fast! They can be bought from the Music Department - £4/£2 cash. It would be lovely to see as many parents/carers along as possible on this evening! There's going to be a fabulous array of talent and lots of festive cheer! 

End of term arrangements

Parents/carers should have received a letter from me on Monday regarding these. A copy of this letter can be read here.

Christmas Lunch

Please note this has now changed to Tuesday 17 December 2024. The menu can be accessed here.

Christmas Dance (S1-S3)

Great to see just about all of our S1-S3 young people attending last night’s Christmas Dance. It looked like they all had a great night! A huge thank you to our PTA for organising the refreshments; to Liam Morrison for being our DJ for the evening; and last, but not least, all the staff who gave up their evening to supervise it. Thank you all!

Christmas Fundraising

The Christmas Advent Calendar we will be using this year will be one based on the United Nations Rights of the Child and register classes will discuss these rights each morning as there is a different right covered each day of advent.

We are also going to be collecting for the Lammermuir Larder. If you are able to provide your young person with something to bring for this (non-perishable), by Monday 16 December, that would be great. They should pass this to their registration teacher in the morning.  We will then take all donations to the Lammermuir Larder the last week of term. A great was to show our value of ‘community’ at this time of the year.

Our Rights Respecting School group will be organising a bake sale to raise money for Unicef and a "Wear Something Christmassy" on Friday 13 December.  We hope young people can make a suggested donation of £1, if they are able to, and to wear something red/green or Christmas jumper or anything they feel represents Christmas – bobble earrings/tinsel. However we would like to stress that, in terms of Equity, the expectation is that nobody should be buying something especially for this.

The Haven

The Haven, based at The Gatehouse, Whittinghame Drive, Haddington, is open to families living within the catchment area of Knox Academy and/or registered with any of the medical practices in Haddington.

They are there to listen, to support and to help you through the challenges that having a young person who struggles with their mental health can bring. Any family who has a young person with a mild to moderate mental health concern is welcome.  Parents, carers, siblings and grandparents can benefit too. They are there for the whole family. 

They offer support in a fully accessible, relaxed and informal setting. They do this through a range of activities they know young people will enjoy.  Or, if all you need is a cup of tea and a listening ear, they are there to help you cope.

The team is there on the good days, the bad days, and everything else in between.

To find out more or to self refer, click here.

Pupils’ Successes

Ice Hockey

Congratulations to Harry Hudson (S2) who has been trialling for the U14 Scotland squad has been selected again. Harry now has a tournament v England between Christmas and New Year. Play well!

Dates for your diary:

23 November – 10 December – S4/5/6 Prelims

7 December – S1 Enterprise Fayre – Hall – 10am -12 noon

11 December – S4-S6 Christmas Dance (7-9.30pm)

12 December – Christmas Concert (7-9.30pm)

17 December – Christmas lunch

Our school calendar is updated regularly and should be used to access all information throughout the year and allows you to plan ahead too.