Staffing
We wish Mr Johnston all the very best for his secondment, which starts at Kaimes on Monday.
Congratulations to Emma Robertson, who was appointed as our School Librarian, yesterday, following a success interview. Emma will start full time with us after the Easter holidays. Emma has been with us part-time (acting) up until now.
Assemblies
This week’s assemblies were on ‘Welcome to your Vote’ and were led by Mr Flood.
Hong Kong
It was lovely to welcome three senior leaders, from our link school in Hong Kong – Tsung Tsin Christian Academy. They visited classes and spoke to teachers and pupils about Scottish Education and Knox Academy. They also spoke to us about what education and schooling is like in Hong Kong for secondary pupils.
S2 Parents’ Evening
This takes place on Thursday 3 April from 4.30-6.30pm at the school. S2 pupils should be busy making appointments with their teachers, prioritising the subjects they have chosen for next session.
Diligence Awards
These will be issued to pupils next week. Diligence awards are given to those pupils who have demonstrated hard work and commitment, on a day to day basis, throughout Term 2 (January - March). 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 is to continue to work even harder in the subjects not mentioned to achieve their potential. 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.
School Improvement Planning for Session 2025-26
A reminder that this questionnaire will close on Sunday 23 March. If you haven’t already completed it (link re-sent on Monday) we would be grateful if you could. Thank you.
HPV vaccinations (S1) in school Wednesday 21st May
All young people in S1 are offered the HPV vaccine which protects them from HPV-related cancers such as head and neck cancers and cervical cancer, as well as genital warts in later life. The HPV vaccine is given as an injection in the upper arm and most young people will only need one dose. These vaccinations will take place at Knox Academy and Meadowpark on Wednesday 21st May.
Young people should have brought home a consent pack home from school with more information. NHS Scotland encourages parents/carers and young people to chat about the free HPV vaccine using the enclosed information leaflet, before signing and returning their consent form to school in the envelope provided by Friday 28th March. If they did not receive a consent pack and were present at school, please ask them to speak to Mrs Swallow, the School Welfare Assistant.
Please visit www.nhsinform.scot/chat-sign-protect for further information, including videos about why vaccines are offered to young people and what to expect at the vaccination session. (By Mrs Swallow, Welfare).
Teenage Cancer Trust
On Saturday 24th May a group of staff and pupils will be taking part in the Edinburgh Marathon Festival, running the 10k in support of the Teenage Cancer Trust. The Teenage Cancer Trust is dedicated to ensuring no young person faces cancer alone. Every day, seven young people in the UK aged 13-24 receive a life-changing cancer diagnosis. This incredible charity provides specialist nurses, vital emotional support, and tailored care to help them through the toughest times and has offered a huge amount of support to pupils in the past, and at present.
We’re coming together to raise funds for this life-changing cause, and we need your help! Your donation—no matter how big or small—will directly support teenagers battling cancer. To donate please click here.
Thank you for your support!
S6 is also raising money for the above charity and will be selling tickets at the school for a mountain of prizes including: Dinner for 2 at the Waterside Bistro; Dinner at Eastern Eye; Vouchers for Gibson’s, The Loft, Leisure Time Sports, Health and Beauty Centre, Haddington Pet Shop, Ozy’s Kitchen, Story 68 and Kelsey’s Bookstore. Tickets will be on sale on Friday 28 March at breaktime (£1 a ticket or £5 for a strip), the work positive staff gathering and also at the S2 Parents’ Evening. Please do support this great charity and hopefully with one of the great prizes donated to us from our local businesses – a huge thank you to them! Prizes will be drawn on Friday 4 April and winners notified as soon as possible after this date.
Sport and Wellbeing
Pupils from S4-S6 across East Lothian attended a career workshop held at Knox Academy delivered by Jack Cole from the DP World Tour, Looking at all the different career paths in the industry. All pupils were really engaged throughout the morning and are really looking forward to the trip to Renaissance Golf Club were they will get a tour of the club and speak to all different members of staff.
U16s Rugby Final
Good luck to our U16s Rugby team who take on Trinity on Saturday morning at Haddington Rugby Club in the East Youth Bowl Final.10:30 kick off.
Sustrans Big Walk And Wheel
For the next two weeks (24th March-4th April), Knox Academy will be competing in the largest UK walking and cycling challenge, Every day pupils will be asked how they got to school which will then get recorded by our Active Schools Coordinator (Thomas Salkeld). By taking part, we will be promoting active Travel which leads to our young people starting the day of well and is great for their mental wellbeing.
Pupils’ Successes
Eco Team
It was lovely to welcome Jo Gibb, on Wednesday, to present the East Lothian Climate Hub's Climate Creativity Collaboration prizes to Delilah Brady (S2), who won first prize for her beautiful illustration and Emily Westgarth (S2) and Karis Hutchison (S3) who jointly won second place for their poem called "New Dawn”.
Dates for your diary:
3 April – S2 Parents’ Evening - 4.30-6.30pm
4 April – End of term (12.15pm) and Easter holidays commence
22 April – School resumes for all at 8.28am.
25 April – exam leaves starts for S4-S6 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
Quick Links:
Remote learning resources, course choices, supported study and careers news. Clicking on these headings takes you straight to these pages. E-Sgoil also has some great resources.
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.
