November is the month of Remembrance and Knox Academy is always proud to commemorate this in a variety of ways. One of those ways is our S3 History classes who, every year, provide models and presentations to make a Remembrance Display. This year’s classes have their work on display in the school foyer. In addition, the school honours the two minute silence at 11 am, which will go ahead this morning. But perhaps the most far reaching of our actions is Knox Academy’s partnership with Poppy Scotland; a huge thanks to Mr Flood and the S6s who have been organising and collecting for Poppy Scotland both in the school and in the community. And finally sincere thanks to all those who have donated during these collections – you make a huge difference in peoples’ lives.
We also held our Veterans’ Coffee Morning yesterday, when we welcomed many of our local veterans from a variety of the armed services. They spoke about their experiences with our young people and enjoyed some tea, coffee and poppy designed cakes made by our pupils. It was great to have them back at the school after nearly three years.
Parents’ and Pupils’ Information
Youth and Philanthropy Initiative (YPI)
Our YPI final took places on Wednesday and it was a highly contested event with outstanding presentations from all the groups who were representing the six charities: Simpsons Special Care Babies; The Wave Project; Our Community Kitchen; Beech Wheelchairs; Keep the Heid and New Horizons. The judging panel took over half an hour to deliberate on all S5 presentations before we were able to agree on a winner! Alas, however, there can only be one winner of the £3000. The winning team, made up of Tess, Katie, Abi and Polly, made a fantastic case for The Wave Project to receive the funds. Well done to all teams – not just those who made it to the final. Every charity represented would have been a worthy cause and it was great for all our young people to research and find out more about them all and the amazing work they do to support people in our community and beyond.
S4/5/6 Prelims
The Prelim Timetable now has all accommodation added. Those young people with additional exam arrangements will have individual timetables with this detail.
BBC Bitesize has also produced some fantastic resources to help guide young people prepare for prelims/exams and well worth reading through this advice as it cover studying tips and issues such as how to get a good sleep in readiness for these.
Author visit during Book Week Scotland (and linked to our focus on Diversity)
We are delighted to be welcoming Victoria Williamson to Knox Academy on 15 November, when she will be speaking to our S1 and S2 pupils. A qualified teacher (in a career which included teaching in China, Cameroon and Malawi) and award-winning children’s author, she now divides her time between writing, visiting schools and running workshops to encourage young people to write.
The Fox Girl and the White Gazelle and The Boy with the Butterfly Mind were based on her experiences of teaching children with diverse backgrounds, while Hag Storm is a spooky historical fiction novel based on the life of Robert Burns, who in the novel encounters the witches from his poem Tam O’Shanter. Victoria Williamson's latest book, War of the Wind, is a teen eco-thriller, set on a remote Scottish island. For those who would like to buy a copy, signed by the author, please bring £8.99 to school on Tuesday. (Victoria Williamson will be bringing books to sell, so this will be the only opportunity to buy them at school.)
We are very much looking forward to our first author visit in a number of years, and to hearing all about War of the Wind from the author herself.
Children in Need
Next Friday we will be raising money for Children In Need and this will be a dress down day for all pupils. Our senior pupils will be ‘dressing up’ in a variety of fun costumes and organising a bake sale and some staff have been ever so kind and agreed to get pied!! I am sure this will be a popular fund raiser on the day! This day is always a lot of fun at school, as we come together as a school community to support a great cause - it is also great for everyone’s morale. It also links directly with our school vision of ‘kindness’ and value of ‘community’.
If you are able to donate any money to this charity please pass this to your young people so they can pop it in our collection buckets. Last year we raised £780.47, so it would be great if we can equal (or surpass) that total this year.
Achievement Ties – Applications Open
Applications are now open and the deadline for nominations this session is Friday 25 November. Over the last three years Knox Academy has recognised achievement in school based extra-curricular and non-school based wider achievements through the awarding of Achievement Ties. Nominations can be completed through the google form found here . Further information can be found in this presentation.
DYW Live Scottish Careers Week and then Creative Careers Week
From 21-25 November Esgoil will be offering five different 30 minute sessions on creative careers. For more information and to sign up click here.
Open Days December
Media, Music and Sound open days in December. The Eventbrite booking links can are here: Milton Road and Sighthill.
Parents’ Information
School Photographs
Due to circumstances beyond our control, Tempest was only able to do half of the school photographs and will return on another occasion (TBC) to do S3, S4 and Meadowpark’s photos. Proofs for S1/S2 pupils were issued yesterday and today and S5/6 ones will be issued next week.
School Uniform
I am sure we have all been affected by the cost of living crisis. As a school, we want to make coming to school each day as accessible as possible. One of the ways we do this is by asking all of our pupils and parents/carers to support the wearing of our school uniform. Our school uniform doesn’t keep up with the latest trends and is far more about function than fashion. Uniform is also important for safety in the school as it allows us, at a glance, to know that pupils in the school building are ours.
School uniform also speeds up dressing in the morning as pupils don’t have to spend time picking out their clothes as they know what they need to wear. Often it is ‘dress down’ days when we have the highest absence rates as some young people feel ill-at-ease coming to school if they cannot wear the uniform and they do not have the latest trends to wear. This is one of the reasons we have moved away from these events as they demonstrated to us the need to retain a uniform as it allows everyone to look the same (although we appreciate there will be variations within styles of clothes worn) and attend the school with confidence.
Our school uniform is detailed here. The following are not part of our uniform and should not be worn to school: non-black trousers, ripped trousers, crew neck jumpers (can be worn over shirt) , leggings/sports leggings, jogging bottoms, hooded tops (banned over two years ago for safety reasons) and tops which are short/cropped.
If your young person doesn’t have uniform, or needs items replaced, we have a uniform bank with both brand new and high quality pre-loved clothing which we can arrange for them to have discreetly. Information about financial support/clothing grants can also be found in this link. Thank you for your support of this and hopefully it will also keep costs down for families as well as supporting our approaches to equity and inclusion at the school.
Please do not hesitate to contact our Pupil Support Team by emailing your young person’s House Team garleton@knox.elcschool.org.uk, lammerlaw@knox.elcschool.org.uk, traprain@knox.elcschool.org.uk if you would like to discuss any support we can offer.
Dates for your diary:
Thursday 24 November S3 Parents’ Consultation (in school) 4.30-6.30pm
Friday 25 November - S4/5/6 Prelims
Monday 12 December (incl)
Tuesday 6 December Dasher's Dance BGE (S1-S3): 7pm-9.30pm
Wednesday 14 December Christmas Concert
Thursday 15 December Blitzen's Ball Senior Phase (S4-S6): 7pm-9.30pm
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
Parent Council
The Parent Council has requested a footer on my HT’s update that remains there year round and which offers quick links to remote learning resources, course choices, supported 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 
@knoxacademy @knoxacademyHT for the latest information and updates
