HT Update Week Ending 21st April 2023

Friday 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.

• Melville – Wednesday 21st June 1.45pm
• Mount Esk – Thursday 22nd June 1.45pm
• St Leonard’s – Monday 26th June 1.45pm
• St Anne’s – Tuesday 27th June 1.45pm

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

Feedback here

 

Take Care

Campbell Hornell and Ali Mitchell,  Head Teachers

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