We are now into week two of our senior prelims and our young people seem to be coping admirably with them, given most have not experienced any formal type exams previously. I would like to commend them for giving their best throughout the prelims so far, to encourage them to keep the study going right up until their last one has been completed, knowing that they have done as well as possible through their preparation.
I hope you all received the letters from our Head of Education, updating you on our Covid-19 in Schools guidance and her letter on Social Media (TikTok). In relation to LFD Tests – we have lots available for pupils/families so please have your young person pick these up from the school entrance on weekdays or at the office at all other times. It is looking increasingly likely that proof of a recent negative LFD is going to be the ticket to social interaction and access to many venues this festive period. We will also be looking for pupils/staff to continue testing during the Christmas holidays and to do a test the night before or the morning they return to school in January, to ensure we limit any spread of Covid at Knox Academy. LFD tests are available at the main entrance every morning and from pharmacies, test centre and soon from shopping centres too.
Staffing
Family Support Worker – Meadowpark – will be advertised this weekend
Tracey McConnachie – our Cook Supervisor, leaves today after being at Knox Academy for almost 13 years. We wish her well in her new role as an Assistant Area Officer (Facilities Management).
Christmas Jumper Day – Friday 10 December
To enter into the festive season we are asking our young people and staff, if they have a Christmas jumper, to wear it to school next Friday. If your young person doesn’t have a jumper, decorating a normal jumper with some Christmas tinsel or bobbles would be great too. No need to go to any expense though if they don’t have one and ideally they should wear something brightly coloured to school instead.
Alongside the Christmas jumper day, we are also asking our young people (and staff), if they are able, to bring a non-perishable food item to school over the next few weeks, and pass this to their register teacher in the morning (or hand in to the office). We will donate these to the Lammermuir Larder, which is our local foodbank (and is part of the East Lothian Foodbank) for their Christmas parcels. Our community approach to giving these food gifts can make a huge difference to many people and also provide a meal for families on Christmas Day (see video by East Lothian Foodbank). Items most needed are listed here. Thank you for your support with this.
School Bells
Following on from our evaluation of the school bell, 57% of pupils and staff wished to retain our current approach of reduced bells (a further 20% stated that they didn’t have a view either way about keeping them, or not). To support this move further, clocks have been ordered for all classrooms to allow pupils to refer to these rather than their mobile phones (this came through in the survey results). Many staff and young people reported that corridors seems calmer and also some pupils reported a decreased level of anxiety due to less bells and also the calmer environment.
S2 Parents’ Evening
Letters have been sent to all parents about the S2 Parents’ Evening (virtual) on Wednesday 8 December. Pupils should now be making appointments with their teachers for these Google Meetings.
Remote Learning Resources
As a number of pupils self-isolate, work is being provided on our own Google Classrooms. Additional work/learning can be accessed at E-sgoil, West_OS and the National E-Learning offer for both Broad General Education (BGE – S1-S3) and Senior Phase (S4-S6). All pupils can now access recorded video lessons on @West_OS using their Glow login to support their learning and revision at home! (If they do not have their Glow Login details please ask them to email admin@knox.elcschool.org.uk to request these from our admin team). Pupils can find West_OS in the Glow App Library where they will be able to add the tile to their personal Glow Launchpad. There are lots of quality assured video lessons available for all our pupils across a range of subjects. Pupils will find this a great resource to support their learning and revision on Glow @GlowScot.
Free School Meals/Clothing Grants
We are aware that some parents/carers circumstances may have changed as a result of Covid-19 and this may mean you are now eligible for Free School Meals and/or a Clothing Grant. If you think this may apply to you, please visit the Free School Meals and Clothing Grants area of the East Lothian Council website for further information and the relevant forms. If you need help completing these forms there is support available on the website, or alternatively please contact your young person’s Pupil Support Leader (Guidance teacher) who should also be able to help you via a telephone call/email.
Child Disability Payment
Child Disability Payment opens for new applications across the country from 29th November. Further information can be found here. Child Disability Payment provides money to help with the extra care and mobility costs that children and young people with a disability may have, up to the age of 18. People can find out more and apply through mygov.scot or by calling 0800 182 2222.
For the first time anywhere in the UK, disability benefit applicants can apply online, as well as by phone, post or face-to-face. This is the first of three complex disability benefits to be introduced nationwide by the Scottish Government. This new payment replaces the UK Government’s Disability Living Allowance for children. Those already receiving Disability Living Allowance for children do not need to apply, with approximately 52,000 current cases are being automatically transferred in phases from the Department for Work and Pensions to Social Security Scotland. This will be completed by Spring 2023.
Child Disability Payment, which will be administered by Social Security Scotland, provides families with support for extra costs that a disabled child might have.
Parent Council Meeting - Learner Pathways and Careers (Focus)
The next meeting is on 9 December at 6.30pm (virtual meeting). At this meeting our invited speakers are Chris Trotter (Skills Development Scotland and our Knox Academy Careers Advisor) and Elaine Gorman (Developing the Young Workforce). They will be talking about learner pathways (course choices); supporting young people with their aspirations and qualifications for routes in to employment, university and college. This will be of great interest in particular to parents/carers of young people in S2, S3, S4, S5 and S6. 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. Further learner pathway information sessions are also planned for January and Mr Russell will be issuing more detail about these soon.
Christmas Lunch
This will take place on Thursday 9 December. There will be vegetarian options available too. Please encourage your young people to enjoy this great feast that our Food Court put on for our school pupils and staff. Soup and sandwiches will also be available on this date.
Haddington Christmas Windows' Judging - Head Pupils
On Saturday we went to judge the Christmas windows around the high street. All of the windows were amazing as they had an array of colourful lights and Christmas decorations. We loved all of the handmade decorations and the Christmas themes shown through the windows. It was very hard to choose only one winner as all the windows were fantastic and everyone should be so proud of their efforts. Eventually we came to a decision and our winners in first place was Fabrications, second place went to Looks, third place went to Gibson's, fourth place went to Footlights and the outstanding achievement award went to The Victoria Inn. Thank you for all the effort put in this year and a huge congratulations to all the prize winners. (by Bethany Ross, S6)
Reporting Pupil Absence
Parents/Carers are reminded that student absences should be reported as soon as possible to allow the attendance record to be updated. Absences can be reported either by telephoning the main office or e-mailing attendance@knox.elcschool.org.uk stating the reason for absence. (Office team)
First Point of Contact
During your young person’s time at school, their registration teacher will be their first point of contact for any ‘quick’ questions regarding areas such as absences or their school timetable. If further advice or support is needed, pupils and parents/carers should always contact their young person’s Pupil Support Leader or House Team (which includes the Depute Head Teacher) in the first instance by emailing:
Ms Adam/Mrs Falconer (Garleton) garleton@knox.elcschool.org.uk
Mr Meekison/Mr Russell (Lammerlaw) lammerlaw@knox.elcschool.org.uk
Mrs Doig/Mr Illingworth (Traprain) traprain@knox.elcschool.org.uk
If you do not have email, please phone the school office on: 01620 823387.
Covid-19
Please continue to report all positive Covid-19 cases to covidinschools@eastlothian.gov.uk or if you do not have access to email, telephone 01875 613921. Please also inform the school so we can amend your young person’s attendance record. Pupils should continue to do twice weekly LFD tests. LFD kits are available every morning on arrival to school and during the day from the office. They can also be collected from pharmacies and test centres.
Please do not send pupils to school who have symptoms. They should self-isolate and book a PCR test and not return to school until they know this is negative and they have no symptoms.
The Parent Club also provides useful information on testing for pupils.
Dates for you diary (please also see the School Calendar for overview and updates):
Thursday 25 November – Friday 10 December – S4/5/6 Prelims
Wednesday 8 December – S2 Parents’ Consultation (virtual) – 5-7pm
Thursday 9 December – Parent Council (virtual) – 6.30-8pm
Thursday 9 December – Christmas lunch (Food Court) (sandwiches and fruit still available too)
Friday 10 December - Christmas Jumper Day (and donation to food bank)
Friday 17 December – End of Term (12.15pm)
Sue Cook
Please also remember to follow us at: www.ka-net.org.uk 
@knoxacademy @knoxacademyHT for the latest information and updates
