HEAD TEACHER'S UPDATE 13 JANUARY 2023

Parents’ and Pupils’ Information

Industrial Action

On Monday 16th January 2023 (EIS – all teachers Primary and Secondary schools and AHDS for all schools).  All East Lothian Council schools and Early Learning and Childcare settings will be closed to all children and young people for learning, including those who attend Additional Support Needs Hubs. Lets in schools for breakfast, after school and sports clubs can continue. School crossing patrols will not be operational. All ASN and Home to School transport will not operate. A BACs payment will be made for those children and young people who qualify for a free school meal under the income threshold.

Please note: Even though there is industrial action on Monday 16 January, the virtual Coursing Information Evening will still go ahead. Pupils should have been sent a link for this.

Work for pupils on strike days: for S1-S3 and S4-S6 and all year groups here

Careers Evening

A reminder that this takes place this Wednesday, 18 January 2023. S1-S3 6-7pm and S4-S6 7-8pm. And over fifty businesses will be in attendance. It would be great to have as many of you along as possible and it will also help your young person consider their learner pathway subject choices. The list of businesses attending can be found here.

Course Choice

All S2-5 pupils have received an email this week with an update on course choice. It is essential that they get into the habit of checking their edubuzz email regularly and especially over the coming weeks as further updates and information will be issued.

16 January – Course Choice Information Event – 6:30pm-7:30pm on Google Meet. The meeting code has been emailed to all S2-5 pupils. The meeting must be joined via the pupil’s edubuzz account. There is a maximum of 200 attendees, but the presentation will be shared on the school website afterwards and all information that will be covered is already available via the Course Choice section of the website.

Thursday, 19 January, 6.30pm – 7.15pm

How much do you know about Scottish Apprenticeships? Sign up to the national webinar for parents/carers to hear about Foundation, Modern and Graduate Apprenticeships and how work-based learning can open the door to a wide range of careers.

Click here to sign up.

 

S4 Parents’ Evening

Thank you to all parents/carers who attended the online parents’ evening. From talking to staff they said it was great to talk with you about progress and next steps for S4 pupils with their national qualifications. If you did not manage along for any reason and you wish to discuss your young person’s progress, please contact their House Team (email details below or you can phone the school on 01620-823387). Thank you.

Diversity Evening – 9 February from 5-9pm

This in a really exciting event for our community as Knox Academy comes together with our associated primary schools to put on a huge event to celebrate our diversity and inclusion. As well as a show from 7-9pm, there will be an international market place and workshops. All in our community will be warmly welcomed. More information will follow by letter next week, on Twitter and on our website. Although the international market place will be free, you may need some money if you wish to purchase your dinner from the variety of cuisines we will have available on the evening or buy anything from the array of market stalls. Many of the workshops we will be running will be free and some will have a small cost in order to cover resources. Access to the show, which is limited to 300 people, will be by ticket only (£5/£3 concessions) and these tickets will be available for purchase from our school office from Thursday onwards at break and lunchtime. Please do come along and support this event – you will enjoy it! A great opportunity to bring all of our community together post Covid.

Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths (STEM)

During week commencing 23 January S1 pupils will take part in an event to study the impact a storm has on the infrastructure of a town.  This will be carried out in Houses with the pupils spending 2 periods in the hall with staff from SSE Renewables.

Also w/c 23 January S2 pupils will take part in an event to gain knowledge of the various sources of renewable energy used and why investment in renewable energy is important. They will delve deeper into the topic of wind generation, understanding the mechanics and environmental factors of a wind turbine. This will also be carried in Houses with the pupils spending 2 periods in the hall with staff from SSE Renewables.

On Thursday 9 February, forty eight S2 pupils will be going to Edinburgh College, Dalkeith to take part in an all-day STEM inspiration day focusing on the design and build of a water mill and a hot air balloon. 

On Thursday 9 March, forty S1 pupils will take part in an in-house programme in conjunction with Edinburgh College based on building a water tower.  (By Mr Taylor, CL Science)

Volunteering

As part of the Pupil Leadership Team's idea to improve the schools already great relationship with the local community, we have created a booklet that provides a small amount of information on many charities and volunteering opportunities supported by the school and co-op Haddington.

 In the booklet you can find many local charities that are looking for help, volunteers or support to carry out the amazing work they do. We encourage you to read through the booklet and look further into any charities whose work you truly admire to see how you can help out. You can volunteer as often as you like and there is no minimum time you have to spend volunteering, but even spending a little time helping out can make a giant difference!

Anyone can volunteer. It is an amazing way to meet new people, learn new skills and get involved with helping your local community. Volunteering locally can bring around great changes in the community and help many people. 

We really hope you read through the booklet and take away some ideas of how you can help out in the local community (By The Pupil Leadership Team)

 

Parents’ Information

Use of Inhalers in School

Parents/carers are reminder that if your young person uses an inhaler for asthma, please check that it is in date and that pupils carry it on their person/ in bag during the school day.

Alternatively Mrs Fraser can safely store Inhalers in the medical room for your child to access as needed. (Mrs Fraser, School Welfare)

Support

Please do not hesitate to contact our Pupil Support Team by emailing your young person’s House Team if you would like to discuss any support we can offer.

 

Dates for your diary:

Monday 16 January – Course Choice Information Evening S2-S5 (online) – 6.30-7.30pm

Wednesday 18 January – Careers Fayre – at Knox Academy – all year groups – 6-8pm

Thursday, 2 February, S3 Parent Consultation (in person) - 4:30 to 6:30pm (in school)

Thursday 9 February – Diversity Evening – 5-9pm – at Knox Academy (tickets for show £5/£3)

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 96D4F7EE for the latest information and updates.