General News

Published: 30 May 2011

Information from NHS Lothian...

There has been a recent increase in the numbers of measles cases in Scotland and the rest of the UK, mainly affecting teenagers and younger adults. Many of the cases have been associated with recent travel abroad especially to France. A number of current measles outbreaks have been reported from France, Belgium and Switzerland.

Measles is highly infectious and can be a dangerous illness. It spreads easily in schools, universities and summer camps. Those who are not fully immunised with two doses of MMR are most at risk of developing measles.

As we approach the time of year when many children and students are travelling abroad on summer trips and family holidays, NHS Lothian is urging parents to protect their children against measles. If your child has missed out on two doses of MMR vaccine please consider getting your child fully immunised with MMR before you travel abroad during the summer break. Please contact your GP or practice nurse to arrange MMR vaccination as soon as possible.

Published: 27 May 2011

From Monday 30th May, this 'bus service will revert to its previous timetable, allowing Knox pupils to catch it at the stop on Pencaitland Road around 1605.

The service will proceed directly to Pencaitland as previously.

Published: 27 May 2011

Knox Academy NC Acting and Theatre Performance (Musical Theatre) students are presenting 3HREE!  (a series of three exciting musicals) on Tuesday 14 June and Wednesday 15 June 2011 at 7 pm.

Let the Musical Theatre students of Knox Academy entertain you in their final year production. We are delighted to bring to the stage three, completely different, short musicals... all shown in one night.

 

The Lavender Girl
by John Bucchino
Directed by Miss Whitfield, Musical Director: Miss Brown

Meet Emily... a young girl who wants to have one night of dancing and fun. Meet Colin... a young man who will never forget the young girl he met on the Hill. Set in the 1920s this story is a timeless tale of love, loss and life.

  

Elegies for Angels, Punks and Raging Queens
by Bill Russell
Directed by Mr Campbell, Musical Director: Miss Orr

Not quite a play, not really a musical, Elegies for Angels, Punks and Raging Queens is more of a theatrical celebration of life, pieced together like a collage of poetry, free verse, monologues, song and choreography. This piecing together was inspired by the Names Quilt Project, a symbol of love and commemoration for people who have died from AIDS.

Elegies has been performed all around the world. The secret to its popularity is that the production illustrates a very sad fact in a very humble and often light-hearted way: AIDS Can Kill Anyone. It's one of those home truths that can never be repeated enough and if the numbers on seats is anything to go by, people still want to hear it.

If you love life, if you have ever loved and lost, if you are prepared to cry and laugh out loud then this production if for you!

 

 Les Miserables - short concert version.
by Boublil and Schonberg
Musical Director: Miss Brown 

To celebrate the 25th anniversary of Les Miserables we close our evening with this short concert version including the hit songs 'I Dreamed a Dream' and 'On My Own'.

 

Cast includes:

Leanne Adams, Ryan Bissoonauth, Charlie Cowan, Kelsie Hamiliton,
Ailie Henderson, Katie MacKinnon and Flora Muirhead

 

Tickets are available from the Drama Department £5/£4 (conc).

Published: 26 May 2011

On Wednesday 25 May at 7.30 pm the Knox Academy Amnesty Group were invited to be a part of the 50th Birthday celebrations where a host of exciting guest attended including Iain Gray MSP who cut the fabulous Birthday cake.

The Knox group gave a talk on the work they had been involved in during their time as members of Amnesty including campaigns, assemblies, Amnestea events and the Christmas card campaign. The local group were very impressed by the work done by both Knox and Campie Primary school.

After the presentations and some touching readings there was an opportunity to mingle, chat and eat delicious cake.

 

 

Mrs Montgomery, Liska Crofts, Beth Revuelta, Rosie Murray, Jennifer Galbraith and Catriona Galbraith

Published: 26 May 2011

S2 Coursing interviews take place next week for S2 pupils to choose their subjects for S3/4.  Pupils have been informed of their relevant interview time during the period Monday 30 May - Wednesday 1 June 2011.

Course Choice forms should be returned to the school no later than Friday 3 June 2011 (the day before S2/3 Activities Week - especially important to note for pupils on residential excursions!!).

The S3 and S4 Course Choice booklet for Session 2011-2012 can be accessed in the Publications > Curriculum Booklets section of the website - click here.

Published: 25 May 2011

Rachel Morris is one of Britains’s top Paralympians. She has a condition known as Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS) which has resulted in her having both legs amputated. Rachel competes in handcycling road events, and has won gold medals at the World Championships, and at the 2008 Beijing Paralympic Games.

STEMNET and Cisco challenged 11-14 year olds from across the UK to raise the profile of Rachel Morris by designing an interesting, informative and educational website.

Fifteen S1 pupils have spent the last six weeks researching and designing (with the help of Global Web) websites which would not only raise Rachel's profile but educate people about CRPS and inspire and motivate young disabled people to choose sport. 

 

For further information on the Stem Club and to view their presentations - click here.

 

A logo created by A. Hay    A logo created by J. GidneyA logo created by A. Hay

 

 

Published: 20 May 2011

Knox Academy can now invite applications for an additional position commencing in August 2011.  For further details please visit myjobscotland (via the link below).  The closing date for this position is Sunday 5 June 2011.

Links for the positions of Teacher of "Drama and Music" and Depute Head Teacher (which have a closing date of 29 May 2011) can be accessed via the recruitment page.

Published: 20 May 2011

Third year pupils at Knox Academy have spent the past seven months working on a short documentary film called ‘It Gets Better’.  The film focuses on homophobic bullying in schools and gives hope to young Lesbian, Gay, Bi-sexual and Transgender people that ‘It Gets Better’.

The pupils were part of the Panasonic Kid Witness News project, a Global contest, which asks young people to create an engaging short film with Global importance. Pupils and staff had travelled to the Panasonic awards ceremony in Derby on 4 May 2011 and the Knox Academy KWN Team were awarded the ‘Best Global Citizenship’ Award.

Out of the fifteen schools involved in the UK, the Knox Academy team were one of only two Scottish representatives.

 

To see the award-winning film and read more about the KWN project - click here.

 

Some comments about the film can be read below...

'The judging team was deeply impressed by the commitment of the Knox Academy students in bringing such a loud and proud message to the competition. Their film encapsulated the spirit of KWN through placing citizenship at the core and leading the audience through a challenging, yet optimistic, narrative. We loved the film. Well done! We will ensure that this film reaches as wide an audience as possible. Panasonic supports KWN in 679 schools across 26 countries and we will ensure that this film reaches as wide an audience as possible.'
Gill Brigg, Education Director for KWN

'I hope this team of motivated and intelligent young people will inspire others around the world to speak out about homophobic bullying; a problem that destroys lives. I was delighted to work with such a passionate group and I’m thrilled that the panel have recognised their efforts.'
Laura Ferguson, Education Officer at Stonewall

‘It’s been such a fun day; we didn’t expect to get any award. Some of the final films were really good. I was just pleased that our work has been recognised. I’ve learnt so much about film production from doing this. It’s a great project.’
Maura Drew, S3 Pupil and KWN Member

‘This has been an amazing opportunity for our young people and I am so proud of them. Homophobia is a serious issue in schools and I want to thank these young people for getting the message heard that ‘It Gets Better’. This is our first year in the contest and to come away with the Best Global Citizenship award is really special, I’m truly honoured to work with so many inspirational people.'
Mr Campbell, Drama Teacher at Knox Academy

Published: 20 May 2011

Parents/Carers are reminded that the school is closed to pupils (except those sitting examinations) on Monday 23 May (Victoria Day) and Tuesday 24 and Wednesday 25 May (staff in-service days).

Published: 18 May 2011

Knox Academy would like to congratulate Sophie Lawrence 2L3 and Charlotte Smith 1T2 and Zenith (Rock/Punk Band) who entered the East Lothian’s Got Talent competition and were succesful at the auditions.  The members of Zenith are Alexa Hay 1L1, Gregor Syme 1G3, Lewis Bunting 2L3 and Roisin Kennelly 3G1.

The final will be held on the 28 May 2011 in the Corn Exchange, Haddington and the winner will be decided by the public vote on the evening.

For further information about the final, please click here.

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