Staffing
Our Curriculum Leader (PT) Science post will be advertised on Friday 17 May.
PT Equity – congratulations to Hannah McBride who had been appointed to the permanent post.
On behalf of all at Knox Academy, I would like to thank Kathryn Zhong, our Mandarin teacher, who leaves us on Friday to go to Queensferry High School. Kathryn has been an inspiration to our pupils in her teaching of Mandarin and we wish her well in inspiring many others in years to come.
SQA
Exams continue to go well and a few ‘big’ exams, N5/H English and N5 Maths have now taken place this week. Pupils reported that these exam papers seemed fair.
Evening of Celebration
This will take place on Thursday, 20 June 2024. The S1-S2 ceremony will take place from 6-7.15pm and the S3-S6 from 8-9.15pm. All award winners will be notified over the coming weeks.
Parent Council
The next Parent Council meeting will take place in the school library on Thursday 16th May. Come along for coffee and a chat from 6 pm, the meeting will start at 6.30pm and will include a discussion around reporting. This will be our final meeting of the year so it would be great to see as many parents/carers as long as possible. (By Sarah Ramsay and Morven Atkinson, Parent Council Chairs)
Music
Knox Academy’s new band ODDSOCKS were invited to play at an assembly at Belhaven Hill School on Friday 3rd May. They played a set of songs by David Bowie, Nirvana, Tears for Fears and Eurythmics. The young musicians inspired and impressed the 120 strong audience of pupils and teachers with their performance and conduct. During a quick tour of the school, they resisted the temptation to drive a Rolls Royce into the Belhaven’s outdoor heated swimming pool before heading back to Knox. They’re now working on a full set for future gigs. (Kenny Hutch)
Knox Choir will launch with the new academic timetable on 5 June and rehearsals will take place every Wednesday after school in the Music Department 3:30 - 4:30pm.
Knox Students, Staff, Parents/Carers and Alumni all welcome! We will be singing 'What a Wonderful World' and 'Leaving on a Jet Plane' with Haddington Community Choir at 5pm on Saturday 22nd June at St Mary's Kirk. Free Entry. (By Martha Middlemiss)
East Lothian Council Arts Service is delighted to offer a selection of taster sessions at the Bridge Centre (Haddington) on Saturday 25 and Sun 26 May.
These sessions form part of the wider Haddstock festival, and will run alongside the Newcomer Stage and ELJam's Battle of the Bands competition.
No previous experience will be required but places are limited and you will need to book online. (Pay what you can afford)
Families Together – East Lothian Survey
Win a £50 shopping voucher
There are all sorts of reasons that families can feel pressured. Our Families Together East Lothian Team is out and about in the county speaking with families about the challenges they face and what helps them to thrive.
Share your views on what works for your family and how you feel about your local area by completing a short online survey. Your views will help shape support for families in East Lothian and you could even win a £50 shopping voucher!
The survey closes on 21 June.
Find out more about Families Together East Lothian and how they could support you, and complete the survey: www.eastlothian.gov.uk/families-together
Arts Taster Workshops at Haddstock
We will be offering:
Family samba drumming
Community singing
Introduction to drama
Musical Theatre
If listening is more your thing, we have a Newcomers Showcase at the Haddington Corn Exchange (12-4pm), which features youth acts from Haddington and around East Lothian:
Woodwind warriors; Dance network; Knox guitar ensemble; String quartet; Knox jazz band; Jell; Room 5; The watts; Gaslight; Room 27; Human renegade
On Sunday 26th you are also very welcome to come along to the Battle of the Bands competition to hear 12 bands from 6 local high schools perform:
12pm-1.30pm:
Oddsocks (Knox A); The Watts (Dunbar GS); Sixteen Again (Ross HS); Cryptid (Knox); Girls of Stone (DGS); Room 5 (RHS)
2.30pm-4pm:
High Speed Real Estate (North Berwick HS); Black Diamonds (Prestonlodge); Scene One (Musselburgh GS); Title of Your Mixtape (NBHS); Sofia’s Choice (PL); About ’08 (MGS).
We hope to see you there. It’s going to be a fabulous weekend of local talent on display! (By ELC Arts Service Team).
Successes
Duke of Edinburgh
Congratulations to Finlay Taylor (S5), Leon Williamson (S5) and Katie Llewellyn (S6) who have achieved their Silver Duke of Edinburgh award.
Rugby
Congratulations to Holden Duff-Smith Holden who has competed consistently at a high standard for Musselburgh Rugby Club U14s. His team were undefeated in the league, won the Calum Veitch Trophy, Portobello 10s and the East Lothian Sevens U14 Trophy. Holden was also selected for the West East Lothian Team.
Air Training Corps
We have an amazing group of young people involved in the North Berwick ATC Group (S2: Alexander McBain, Fred MacFarlane, Sam Maguire, Cee-Jay Jaffary, Izzy Corrin and Malcolm Crawford and, from S3, Robert McWilliams Snow). They are great ambassadors for the school and our community and are involved in so much. After supporting a tough mudder down in Coldingham a week ago, they also attended the South East Scotland Wing athletics day at Grangemouth at the end of April. On the 5 May, they attended the Service of Remembrance for Coastal Command and the Maritime Air Association (CCMAA) at North Berwick. With Alexander and Cee-Jay given the honour of being banner party. (All attended)
In addition to the commitment of attending twice a week, they are also achieving SQA recognised qualifications in leadership and aviation topics. A huge well done to them all!.
Dates for your diary:
22 April – Friday 31 May - SQA exam leave for S4/5/6 pupils
13-17 May – S1-S3 Activities Week
16 May – Parent Council – 6.30-8pm (school library)
20 May - holiday (pupils only) - those sitting exams must still attend these
24 May – S3 BGE Graduation (Pupils only)
27-31 May – S3 Work Experience
3 June – start of new timetable for all year groups
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
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