SQA exams continue to go well and attendance remains really high – which is great! Pupils I have spoken to have been confident but a little nervous before the exam (a little adrenalin being a positive thing) and in the main, comments after exams have been positive too.

Our Assembly this week was on Kindness, which links in with our school vision of ‘to always choose kindness.’ The focus this week has been on Random Acts of Kindness and doing at least one a day – whether this be at school or home. It would be great if parents/carers can continue to raise the profile of this at home with your young people over the coming weeks too, as we will also be doing. Thank you.

Next week we are going to ask S1-S3 pupils to try to focus only on their schooling and to try not to use their mobile phones at all, during school time, to see how this impacts on their focus in learning. Mr Illingworth is leading an assembly on this on Monday and highlighting the positives in such an approach. We will ask them for their feedback at the end of the week. Please can ask I parents/carers to support this as best as possible (75% of you said you would like us to try this in the recent survey). Thank you.

Staffing

Computing Teacher - this has been re-advertised and closes this Sunday. This is a full-time post starting ASAP.

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, physical distancing (where possible), and recommending face coverings be worn in social areas and larger gatherings will still be a feature until the end of the summer term.  Face coverings are still recommended on school transport too. Our latest Risk Assessment can be read here.

 

Pupils’ News

Curriculum and SQA Information

Easter Revision School and Booster Sessions

A reminder that our supportive Booster and immersion sessions will take place over the coming weeks and all of our S4-S6 are welcome to attend these to support their SQA exams. No need to sign up – just come along.

Keep the Heid and Read

On Wednesday the school took part in the national reading event, Keep the Heid and Read. It has been shown that reading for as little as 6 minutes a day can reduce stress by up to 68%, so this was a national initiative to support Mental Health Week. The school pledged all S1 - S3 pupils to read for 6 minutes, and this was done during an extended registration. Hopefully pupils will keep this going by reading in the evening when they go to bed and help them to relax and go to sleep (and wean them off their electronics).

 

Parents’/Carers’ Information

Awards Evening

Our Evening of Celebration will take place, at Knox Academy, on Thursday 23 June. it will be amazing to have this in the school and our community together again after two years of being virtual. We have been advised to keep the assembly hall to a maximum of 80% capacity so rather than limit numbers massively, we have taken the decision to run this event over two sittings that evening. S1-S3 awards will take place from 6-7pm, and the S4-S6 will take place from 8-9pm. This will allow our audience to be more spread out and therefore reduce the risk of Covid. Pupils receiving awards at this evening will be notified by early June.

Venturing Out – Summer Programme  

Venturing Out is running a summer programme for young people. This is in partnership with the Council’s Outdoor Learning Service. The activities went live for booking at 6pm on Friday 6 May 2022.

Sports Day

S1- S5 (or new S2-S6) will have their heats on 7 June and finals 14 June. All pupils will be given the chance to take part.

Parent Council

The next meeting is on Thursday 19 May at 6.30pm (virtual meeting). If you would like to attend this meeting please email our Chair of the Parent Council to gain access to our meeting code, parentcouncil@ka-net.org.uk. It would be great to see as many people attend as possible.

Financial Assistance

The cost of living has sky rocketed recently and is affecting many families in our community and in the wider world.  The pandemic and loss of jobs during this time has also had a significant impact on many. Financial Support is available and if you think you may be eligible, please read up on it and apply. It is important that we are able to get the support we need and make life a little easier. So many families are eligible for support and yet don’t apply. Please do!

Pupils’ Achievements

Rugby

A huge well done to the S1 Rugby Team for winning the Callum Veitch Memorial Trophy at the Musselburgh 7s last weekend – a fitting end to their season.

Gymnastics

Congratulations to Kyla Hynd (S1) who won 2 gold medals with her Saltire Team Gymnastics team at the English Team Gym Tournament and Championships in Newcastle on Sunday. What a great achievement.

Inspiring Purpose

S1 have been participating in the Inspiring Purpose - Global Citizens in the Making.  

Well done to Mirren Scott, Aoife Swan-Ashe and Lottie Heald for their hard work and dedication in receiving an outstanding achievement certificate.  Every S1 pupil who finished their project got a completion certificate

Success Stories

If you have any success stories about your young person please send these in to our admin@knox.elc.school.org so we can share these with everyone in our school and community. Thank you.

 

Dates for your diary:

Thursday 19 May             Parent Council – 6.30pm (online)

Monday 23 May               Pupils’ Holiday – Staff in-service day

Thursday 2 June               Senior Pupils’ Induction sessions

Friday 3 June                     Platinum Jubilee Holiday (staff and pupils)

Monday 6 June                 New Timetable – all year groups

Tuesday 7 June                 P7 Information Evening – at Knox Academy

Thursday 16 June             S6 Prom

Thursday 23 June             Awards Evening (two sittings; S1-S3 6-7pm and S4-S6 8-9pm)

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