Staffing
The preferred candidates for the Pupil Support Assistants at Meadowpark, pending pre-employment checks are: Isabella McDermid; Scott Thomson; Hayley Robinson (temporary).
David Hunter – has been employed at Knox Academy (currently at Meadowpark) and will start in a few weeks.
Part-time Senior Business Support Assistant – goes live this morning
Temporary teacher of Support for Learning (to backfill Sophie Shorthouse) – interviews take place today
Geography – permanent one day – closes today and interviews will take place week beginning 19 May.
PT Equity (acting) – we have advertised, internally for a PT Equity as Mr Welsh, who is currently doing this post, is returning full-time to English. We will be interviewing for this post next week.
SQA Examinations
The SQA Exams are well under way at Knox Academy and from speaking to our young people, seem to be going well. Pupils coming into school to attend an exam should be in dress code and a reminder that that the Your Exams guide is now online. Departments have organised revision sessions ahead of exams and pupils are encouraged to attend these where possible.
Safeguarding and Child Protection
Our Safeguarding and Child Protection Polices are an important part of ensuring that all of our young people are safe and protected. Everyone who is part of our school community should be familiar with both of these policies. The links below will take you to our school website where you can read the following: ELC Child Protection and Safeguarding Policy; Safeguarding at Knox Academy (Presentation); Our Safeguarding Policy; Our Child Protection Policy
VE Day
I will be attending the VE Day 80th Anniversary, with senior pupils, on Thursday 8 May. Our seniors will be laying crosses and wreaths on the war graves of members of our community. Wreaths and crosses will be laid at St Martin’s, St Mary’s and St Mary’s Collegiate Cemeteries. All in our local community are invited to assemble at the Corn Exchange, at 2.45pm, on the 8th May to commemorate VE Day.
Quadrant Design
Our outdoor classroom is coming along really well over the last week and we have some of our young people helping Treeditions with this – which is great! We are on schedule for it to be finished before the start of the new timetable on June, when it will become a bookable resource for learning and teaching. Very exciting and even more so as our young people/parents/carers came up with the design in terms of what they wanted it to look like.
Activities Week
This takes place from Tuesday-Friday next week (following our Monday holiday) and a whole host of exciting things are happening at the school for our S1, S2 and S3 pupils. Lots of amazing opportunities to extend skills and knowledge through a variety of activities. Most of S3 are off to a PGL residential in Yorkshire. Thank you to all staff who are running activities and to those giving up their evenings by accompanying the residential.
Pupil Support Base at Knox Academy
We are planning to slightly change the function of the Pupil Support Base rooms next year and are taking the opportunity to change the names of the rooms too. We are consulting pupils, staff and parents/carers as part of this process. We would be very grateful if you could select your preferred choice of names using the link below (which also contains information on how each room will be used next year).
Please click this link make your choice. If you have any other ideas for names, please feel free to add them as requested. Thank you (Susanne Fox, Pupil Support Leader, Inclusion)
Feedback on Skills Development Scotland’s (SDS) career service:
Parents and carers are key influencers over young people’s career ambitions and choices. SDS work in close partnership with this school to support our young people to make informed career choices and they would value feedback from parents and carers on their services. You can do this by taking part in a short survey.
All responses are confidential and anonymous, and the results will be used to inform SDS services.
The survey should only take about 10 minutes to complete.
S3 French Trip
S3 had very enjoyable time, on Wednesday, when they made a trip to the Fraser Centre to watch a screening of Divertimento. Thank you to languages staff for organising this.
Edinburgh Marathon Festival
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.
Please do support us by clicking on this Link.
Thank you for your support!
Pupils’ Successes
Congratulations to Aidan Smith, Andrew Millar and Hamish Mainstone who all represented Edinburgh under 17’s last weekend at Oriam against Coventry rugby academy, Newcastle Falcons and Glasgow under 17’s.
S1/S2 Boys’ Rugby Teams
Good luck to our S1/2 team who is off to play at the Darlington Rugby Festival this weekend.
Athletics
On 27 April, Isaac Swan-Ashe represented Haddington Athletic Club in the Under 15 age group at the Forth Valley Athletics League (FVL). Isaac placed 3rd in the 100m; 3rd in the Long Jump and 2nd in the Javelin. Such was his fantastic all round performance he was named "Athlete of the Match.”
It is great to hear positive stories about our young people, so parents/carers, please do get in touch with us about these. Thank you.
Dates for your diary:
25 April – 30 May – exam leaves for S4-S6 pupils
5 May – May Day holiday (pupils and staff)
6-9 May – S1-S3 activities week (including S3 PGL trip)
19 May – Pupils’ holiday and staff in-service day (note those doing SQA exams this day must attend for these)
20 May – Parent Council, 6.30-8pm, School Library (all welcome)
26-30 May – S3 Work Experience
2 June - New Timetable starts
5 June – S3 BGE Graduation Ceremony
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.
