This concise weekly HT Update is generally published every Friday afternoon. It’s a simple opportunity for you to also feedback/ask questions via the link at the bottom of each Update. Feedback received, where appropriate, will be responded to and published by Monday afternoon on the school website link.
Key messages from this week
Calendar: Key events in school next week: Monday 1st May is the May Day Holiday with the school closed to students and staff; on Tuesday we hold our S3 Student Voice Council meeting; Wednesday and Thursday is our S3 DofE Bronze Curricular Qualifier; and on Thursday we’ll hold S1 and S2 Student Voice Council meetings
Staffing Update: This week we welcomed another batch of student teachers to our school. Taylor Kimmond (Science), Cameron McGovern (Science), Tom Scott (Music) and Raegan Fielding (PE). This is an important part of our work as often students return as Probationer Teachers and subsequently permanent members of staff. We also welcomed our Invigilation Team this week, led by Sandra Ingram. This team do a fabulous job supporting the arrangements around the SQA Diet.
BGEd Awards Ceremonies: Further to my note last week on this the dates for the BGEd Awards Ceremonies have changed due to multiple bookings in the Assembly Hall. Apologies for the possible confusion. The updated dates are highlighted below. Students and families will receive more information in mid-May.
Easthouse PS Consultation: On Wednesday 3rd May HMIe staff will visit the school as part of the Easthouses PS project and the associated adjustment of our catchment area. We’ll ‘lose’ a few streets who feed Bonnyrigg PS, and ultimately us, to the new Easthouses and ultimately Newbattle CHS. There is an opportunity for staff and students to give their views. In addition, there will be a parent/carer session at 6.45pm via Teams on the same day. This is scheduled to last no more than 30 minutes. We’ll send out the Teams link to all parents/cares on Wednesday morning. Although the public consultation is now closed this visit is an important part of the process. Details are still accessible on the Midlothian website click here.
New S6 Induction: We are finalising arrangements for our Induction Day for the new S6 (current S5) when they return from Study Leave. This is scheduled to be on Wednesday 31st May. This means all new S6 will be off timetable that day.
If you have any feedback/questions relating to this update please submit them via the link below
Take Care
Campbell Hornell and Ali Mitchell, Head Teachers
S4-6 students who are leaving this summer should return their Chromebooks, as soon as they complete their final exam. You will find a guide to returning Chromebooks attached.
Chromebooks should be taken to Student Support, where they can be logged as retuned. It is important that students ensure that they send themselves any files they wish to retain and that they return chargers and cases.
School Leaver Device Return Guidance 2023
No feedback received from our HT Update week ending 21st April 2023.
This concise weekly HT Update is generally published every Friday afternoon. It’s a simple opportunity for you to also feedback/ask questions via the link at the bottom of each Update. Feedback received, where appropriate, will be responded to and published by Monday afternoon on the school website link.
Key messages from this week
Calendar: Key events in school next week: on Monday we’ll begin our formal SQA Examination Diet with exams in Photography, Mandarin and PE, Senior Phase Study Leave also begins, in addition we’ll hold our first online P7 Transition Family Information Session at 6.00pm; on Wednesday and Thursday we’ll have our S3 DofE Bronze Practice Expedition; our Complex Needs (Pod) Parents’ Evening is on Thursday; Friday is a Dress Down Day, see update below.
Staffing Update: This week we offer our congratulations to Lynsey Whitson (HE) and family as they welcomed their twin girls, Paige & Niamh. All are well. Lovely news also for Wendy Easterbrook (Science) and family who safely welcomed baby George. Best wishes to Daisy Forbes (PE) who’s running the London Marathon this weekend. We say goodbye and good luck to Rebecca Milliken (Creative Learning) who finishes with us on Monday to go onto teacher training, thanks for all your hard work with LHS Rebecca. We welcome Hayley Harlick, Administrative Officer to the Administration Team, on Monday. Finally congratulations to Julie Nisbet, (Creative Learning) who has secured a new role with the SQA, Julie will finish with us on 14th May.
Welcome back: It was lovely to see our students again after the Easter Break. I hope the holiday period was enjoyable and productive. We move through this term at pace with lots of key events. Thank you for your anticipated support. We’ll keep you updated through the usual channels.
BGEd Awards Ceremonies: These events will be taking place in June. We will be hosting four special events to celebrate the achievements of our S1, S2 and S3 students in each House. Families of the S1-S3 award winners will have the opportunity to come into school to be part of the audience for their child’s ceremony. At present, award winners have not yet been decided but please be aware of the dates. Students and families will receive more information in mid-May.
Easter School: Huge thank you to all staff and students who attended support sessions over Easter. The sessions were well attended, with around 700 attendees recorded at the 60 sessions offered.
Study Leave: A reminder that our Senior Phase students will go on Study Leave from Monday 24th April. Students who are returning to school will do so on Tuesday 30th May. There are dedicated areas in the school for those who find it easier to work in school during this period.
Grade Booster Days: Details on this service are available on our website click here All sessions are virtual and our staff will share Google Meet links via Google Classrooms.
S1-S3 Social Times: As the SQA exam diet is about to begin, all S1-S3 students have been reminded to be quiet and respectful in and around the school building. Students will be spending more time outside during break and lunch times, to minimise noise in the building, and have been advised to wear appropriate outdoor clothing.
Change of Timetable: For clarity, new S2-4 (current S1/2/3) will start their new timetable on Monday 29th May, and new S5 and S6 (current S4/5) will begin their new courses on Tuesday 30th May, as they return from Study Leave.
S1 Update: As of Monday 24th April, S1 students will be allowed to leave the school campus during break and lunch times. This has been shared with them via Google Classroom. Students have been reminded of our school values, safety and time keeping.
Free School Meals and Clothing Grants: We have been asked to share the following information by Midlothian Council. They are not accepting applications for FSM/Clothing Grants yet for August 2023. The application for this will not be available until at least the beginning of July. Anyone applying now on the old application will have to apply again when the new form is available. However, new FSM applications can still be applied for this term.
Dress Down Day: Our Dress-Down Day on Friday 28th April is organised by our S3 Geography students who would like to raise money for the Fairtrade charity, click here for more information. This charity helps people in developing countries achieve a good price for their products and have a better standard of living. We ask that if possible students and staff wear green and/or blue, like the charity’s logo, to show support for this great charity.
Dress Code: Over the last few weeks we have been engaging with students and parents/carers regarding our dress code expectations. I’m pleased to report that of the respondents to date over 70% are in favour. There have been some interesting comments that’ll we’ll consider and additional engagement with our students. This will delay slightly confirmation of our August 2023 expectations.
Review of Qualifications and Assessment: Our LHS response to the consultation has been submitted. If you’d like to see a summary of what was submitted click here.
If you have any feedback/questions relating to this update please submit them via the link below
Take Care
Campbell Hornell and Ali Mitchell, Head Teachers
Our Grade Booster Day timetable is now available. Please note that all Grade Booster Days, apart from Higher Applications of Maths, will be online. Students will be able to access these sessions via Google Meet. Departments will make Google Meet codes available via Google Classroom prior to each event.
HeadStrong also have a great website to support learners to prepare mentally for their exams, and to minimise stress and anxiety. There are also resources available on this website to provide help for parents and carers.
Feedback submitted from HT Update week ending on 31/03/23. Please note we are later than usual due to the Easter Break. Thank you to those parents who positively acknowledged both our Easter School and measures in place to support students during Ramadan.
| My Question | Comment | Suggestion related to the school this week is: | HT’s Response |
| How do you decide what sports are recognised for SPOTY other than the main award nominations? | The sports recognised at SPOTY are a result of the nominations process. This identifies individuals, but by association the sport. |