Staffing
Mrs Rhona Smith was appointed to our full-time permanent post in Technologies
School Improvement Planning for Session 2024-25
Just a short reminder to parents/carers to please complete the survey sent out to you last week (closes on Sunday). So far we have 80 responses (about 10% of the school) so it would be great to get that up to about 50% to be truly representative. It takes about 10 minutes to complete. We really do value your views. Thank you.
Quadrant
We now have approval to go ahead and develop the quadrant as an outdoor learning space. I have issued the design brief and drawing of the area to parents/carers and pupils so they can start designing this. Submissions for this will be Friday 26 April 2024. A design committee, made up of pupils, staff and parents/carers will then meet to look at these, alongside FES, to take one (or a combination of) designs forward. This is a very exciting opportunity for pupils and parents/carers to have input to improving our school and to develop our learning environment. We hope to get lots of submissions in.
Parent Council Meeting
The Parent Council and AGM will take place on Wednesday 20 March, at 6.30pm, in the Library at Knox Academy. It would be great to see as many parents/carers there as can make it. Tea, coffee and biscuits available too.
Easter Letter
A link to the letter I sent home to parents/carers, about the arrangements for the next few weeks and end of term, can be found here.
Spring Concert
Just a reminder that tickets for the Knox Spring Concert 2024 are on sale and selling fast! The concert will take place on Wednesday 27 March 2024, at 7pm, including an exciting range of performances from the Knox Orchestra, Pipe Band, Jazz Band, Goats Toes, Choir, String Quartet, bands, duets and soloists! Please come along to support our wonderful musicians, with all proceeds going towards Our Community Kitchen & the Spring Concert Fund.
Tickets (£4 adult, £2 concession) are available to buy at the following times until the concert day:
Music Department - every break time and School Office - from 3-4pm - Cash only
S1 Parents’ Evening
It was also great to see so many parents/carers in attendance at the S3 Parents’ Evening last night and parents/carers seemed very positive about the feedback they received from teachers in terms of their young person’s progress and next steps. Thank you to all who attended. If you were unable to make it for any reason, or the staff member you had hoped to see was unavailable, please do contact your young person’s House Team so they can get information from teachers for you: garleton@knox.elcschool.org.uk, lammerlaw@knox.elcschool.org.uk, traprain@knox.elcschool.org.uk. Thank you to staff too for your preparation and input before and on the evening itself; to the Prefect team for helping out and our wonderful janitors for setting up.
Canon Workshops – Importance of Cultural Awareness in International Business
During the past few weeks, Max Sykes from Canon has been in to talk to the Higher Business Management class about the cultures within the workspace, specifically Canon. From this we had to present to the class about how we would bring our best self to the workspace by incorporating Canon’s 3 principles, Self-Motivation, Self-Management and Self-Awareness. To end this course we were awarded with a certificate of completion; this is a valuable award which can be used on CV’s or personal statements which will help differentiate us from others in the future. (By Melody Pilkington, S6)
Many thanks to Max and Nadia from Canon for leading the workshops, and Elaine Gorman from DYW, for her support. (Mr Flood, Business Education).
Achievement Ties – Applications opening
These are now open and the deadline for nominations will be Friday 19 April 2024. Over the last four 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 and these nominations can be made by pupils, staff and parents/carers/coaches etc. Further information can be found in this presentation.
Dates for your diary:
20 March – Parent Council and AGM – 6.30 – 8pm (Library at Knox Academy)
27 March - Spring Concert - 7-9.30pm
29 March – 15 April – Easter holidays – all resume Tuesday 16 April 2024
19 April – S4/5/6/ Leavers’ Ceremony (pupils only)
22 April – SQA exam leave starts for S4/5/6 pupils
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 
@knoxacademyHT for the latest information and updates.
