I really enjoyed meeting with our Head Pupils recently to work together to make the school the best we can for our learners. The Pupil Leadership Team and Prefects will be involved in leading our school committees (such a Pupil Council and Charities) and also in supporting events at the school such as Parents’ Evenings, Trips, School Concerts/Dances and volunteering in classes. They are an amazing S6 and this year looks to be an exciting one for the school as we also prepare to host our first ever Diversity Event in February next year. More information to follow on this in due course.
It was also fantastic to have our first face-to-face Parent Council meeting, on Tuesday evening, after nearly two and a half years. It was great to see some new parents/carers attending too. The topics covered were the SQA results, the School Improvement Plan and our improving Mathis results due to their Mastery Maths approaches to learning and teaching. The next one will take place on Wednesday 26 October with venue/online TBC. All parents are warmly invited.
Mobile Phones
In order to ensure effective learning and teaching in all of our classrooms and around the school we are asking that mobile phones are not seen or not heard during school hours (excluding breaks and lunches) to allow young people to benefit fully from face to face teaching and interactions with their peers. If the teacher requests them to access mobiles for learning this is fine but we have a large number of chromebooks in the school now, so this would be in a minimum number of cases. We want to minimise the disruption caused by pupils looking at their phones and sending messages during class time. We would like to ask for parental support in speaking with your young people about this and helping us to ensure they benefit fully from their classes. Thank you.
Pupils’ News
Parents’/Carers’ Information
Risk Assessment
Our updated risk assessment can be read here.
School Processes
A reminder that if pupils need to leave school during the day for appointment, parents/carers must let the school know this in advance so we can mark this on your young person’s attendance record. No pupils, unless in S6 who can sign out, can leave the building without prior agreement. This is for health and safety reasons. Parents can notify the school of forthcoming appointments through the Parents Portal (which parents should now have or register for). If for any reason you cannot access this you can email attendance@knox.elcschool.org.uk or phone the school office on 01620-823387. Thank you.
Information Session on Scholar for Parents and Carers (S4-S6 pupils)
Scholar is holding an online information session for parents and carers on Wednesday 26 October 2022 to provide an overview of SCHOLAR and how it can support their young people in S4-S6, as well as answer any questions. Click here for details of this event and how to register for it.
Standards and Quality Report (SQIP)
Our review of our progress last school session can be read here.
SQA Vision and Values Consultation
Scotland's qualifications (including exams & the ways young people are assessed) are under review! Connect and the National Parent Forum Scotland are working together to hear the views of a wide range of parents and carers.
A short survey on the draft 'vision & principles' for the review can be accessed here.
You can also sign up for more info here.
There's also a closed FaceBook group for parents and carers to discuss the review - Reforming Scottish Qualifications: The Hayward Review (by the Parent Council)
Dunbar Music Festival Workshops for S1 - S6
As part of the Dunbar Music Festival, there will be a choice of workshops which pupils can sign up for on Saturday 23 and Sunday 24 September. This is an exciting opportunity to learn something new, and the workshops will be led by professional musicians and experts from the music industry. All are free of charge, but it is advisable to get tickets as soon as possible as numbers are limited. All will take place in Dunbar. For full details and information on how to book tickets they should speak to their music teacher. It would be great if parents/carers could encourage their young person to get involved.
Workshop 1: Off the Record: experts unpack the music industry.
Workshop 2: For singers and jazz fans, Eileen Hunter will teach different styles of singing and how to communicate with accompanying musicians.
Workshop 3: An introduction to fingerstyle guitar playing with award-winning guitarist and teacher Tony Cox.
Workshop 4: For adults and pupils over the age of 11, Dunbar Voices director Moira Morrison will lead an afternoon of harmony singing.
To sign up, speak to Mrs Martin. Further information can be seen here
Pupils’ Achievements
Rites of Passage
Following the success of last year’s rites of passage group, in collaboration with the friends of the River Tyne (FORT), our young people were invited to submit photographs of the river and surrounding area to the FORT calendar competition.
All photographs were taken by our young people during their time in this group and then judged anonymously by the FORT Committee. We are pleased to announce that the winner was Sasha Ford (S3). Sasha’s photo will now feature on the front cover of the official 2023 Friends of the River Tyne calendar......... Very well done Sasha!
A copy of the calendar can be purchased for £5. If you would like to order a copy of the calendar, you can do so by contacting myself gfraser@knox.elcschool.org.uk
All profits raised from the sale of the calendars will be reinvested into the continued good work of the Friends of the River Tyne. (Gail Fraser, PSB)
Squash
It was the Scottish Inter-regional squash tournament at Oriam (Heriot Watt). It is an honour to be invited to play for East Region, with only 4 players being selected at each age level. To have 5 players from one school is very rare indeed! Dylan Pearman (S6) was part of the winning under 19 team, whilst Jamie Pearman (S2) and Isla Hamilton (S3) claimed second place in the under 15 age group.
S1 Phoebe Hamilton’s under 13 team went unbeaten in their age group, with the pick of the games being against another pupil from S2, Fraser Westgarth (who represented Central region as he trains there every weekend). Fraser also picked up a second place medal. What a fantastic achievement for all 5 of our Knox Academy pupils!
Remembering Together East Lothian bus
Remembering Together is a Covid community memorial programme taking place in every Local Authority area in Scotland. Funded by the Scottish Government, Greenspace Scotland has been commissioned to work with Local Authorities to develop Covid Community Memorials and is working in partnership with East Lothian Council’s Arts Service to create a memorial specific to East Lothian.
Phase one of the project involves exploration of ideas with East Lothian residents and community groups, to decide what a fitting memorial or memorials might be. The latest way for people to comment on ideas for the memorial, is by dropping in to the Remembering Together East Lothian bus, which tours the County in the coming weeks.
Locations include: Saturday 17 September, 2pm – 4pm at Court Street, Haddington; Dropping in is free. (Rachel Menzies, The Brunton Marketing Manager)
Dates for your diary:
Friday 16 – Monday 19 September Holiday (staff and pupils)
Tuesday 20 September S2 Parents’ Evening – 4.30-6.30pm – in school
Thursday 6 October P7 Information Evening – at Knox Academy
Monday 17 – Monday 24 October School holiday for pupils (staff return on Monday 24)
Tuesday 25 October Pupils return
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 
@knoxacademy @knoxacademyHT for the latest information and updates
