HT Update Week Ending 10th February

Friday 10th February 2023

This concise weekly HT Update will be published every Friday afternoon with 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 on Monday afternoons on the school website link. 

Key messages from this week

Calendar: Holiday next and we return on Monday 20th February, key events that week include:  Senior  Phase Course Choice begins on Monday; there is a S3 Course Choice Assembly on Tuesday; S3 DofE Curricular Bronze Training Day is on Wednesday as is S5 Course Choice/LEAPS Assemblies;  on Thursday we’ll issue the Senior Phase Report; S4 Course Choice Assembly are also on Thursday; Friday 24th February is a Dress Down Day

Staffing Update: This week we offer our best wishes to Emma Haynes, P.E. who starts her maternity leave after the February break; we wish her good health and enjoy the rest before the baby arrives.  Matt Solomons, POD Youth Worker leaves us today to start his career in the police force.  We thank him for his work with the school and wish him all the best in this new chapter.                                                                                                                                                                                 

Planned Industrial Action:  Please click here to access a letter regarding upcoming Industrial Action.  If the action goes ahead it means schools will be closed on Tuesday 28th February and Wednesday 1st March.    

SCQF Ambassador Programme: As part of our work we have been approached by SCQF to participate in a short film about our curriculum/learner pathways, to showcase our work and journey towards our Silver Award which we are almost ready to submit the evidence for.  Congratulations to the School Ambassadors and Angela Wallerstein for their hard work on this. We’ll let you know when the film is ready to be premiered. 

Midlothian Council Budget:  Further to the main budget setting Council meeting on 21 February our School Captains have requested a Deputation.  This is an in-person ‘audience’ just prior to the Budget Meeting with Elected Members.  The students are concerned about some of the options that remain under consideration.   This includes a possible reduction in teacher staffing of over 170 full-time equivalents over the next five years.  

Midlothian CLLE:  Please click here to access a message regarding looking to switch careers or indeed just start a new hobby or volunteer                                                                                                                                                              

If you have any feedback/questions relating to this update please submit them via the link below,  we’ll respond on Monday 20th February

Feedback here

Take Care and enjoy the February Break if you’re off work, or if not love your work

Campbell Hornell and Ali Mitchell,  Head Teachers

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