HT Update Week Ending 31st March 2023

Friday 31st March 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.  Given the Easter break we’ll aim for Monday 17th April.

Key messages from this week

Calendar: Key events in school on our first week back after Easter: on Monday we’ll have HPV Immunisations for S1 and any students who missed their one previously; on Tuesday we’ll have our final S4 SQA Assembly; on Wednesday morning we’ll hold a DYW Event (see below)

Staffing Update: This week we offer our best wishes to Wendy Easterbrook and Lynsey Whitson as they both commence their maternity leave.  We say goodbye to Ant Mayer today and thank him for all his excellent work supporting our Outdoor Learning programme.  We’ll welcome Kelly Diamond, Support Assistant to the Office Team, on Monday 17th April. 

Dress Code:  Over the last few weeks we have been engaging with students and parents/carers regarding our dress code expectations.  Yesterday we posted a website post click here  and will share information via Google Classrooms for our students summarising what we plan to apply from August 2023.  You’ll see we have broadened the opportunities to comply and are going for a black/white theme with at least one item that has a clear link to the school, i.e., tie, blazer or our new branded half zip top.  As part of the website post we are asking your view on our expectations. 

Review of Qualifications and Assessment:  A sincere thanks to those able to attend our meeting on Wednesday.  We’re collating the thoughts of our students, parents/carers and staff and will submit our LHS response next week.

SQA 2023:   Please visit our website for our most recent update.  This includes Easter School details. Click here.

DYW Event: We will be hosting a pilot DYW event on Wednesday 19th April which will focus on construction and the built environment – one of the key growth sectors in Midlothian and across the country.  We will welcome 50 x S3 students from other secondary schools (and will include 10 of our own!) from across Midlothian and they will meet invited employers, college and university colleagues and participate in some practical activities to raise awareness and understanding of the jobs and pathways within this sector. 

Midlothian’s Festival of Music Young Musician of the Year: Congratulations to Alister Doig, S4, who was awarded first place for his guitar performance in the Midlothian competition on Monday night.  Other outstanding performances came from Maisie Walker (Flute) and Maggie Goodall (Voice) and Fraser Robertson (Tenor Saxophone) who all represented the school so well.  Thanks to our Music Team who have supported all the performers and in particular to Mr Brown who attended the event to support and accompany performers.  

SPOTY:  Congratulations to all our students and staff who were recognised at our annual SPOTY Ceremony last night.  Particularly to Tilly Bee who is a highly skilled gymnast and our overall winner as Sports Personality of the Year.  Photos can be viewed click here  Our thanks to ‘Lee Live’ for his support and Mark Martin for hosting.  

COVID-19: From Monday 17th April the extra spot-cleaning we have had in place will cease to be provided by Midlothian Council. 

Thank you:  As we head off for our Easter Break, Ali and I would like to thank all students and staff for their hard work and efforts during what has been a busy term for everyone. Your support, as parents/carers,  is also essential and appreciated.  We hope that you are able to enjoy some downtime as families.  Having said that, Senior Phase students should be busy studying!   School reopens for all students on Monday 17th April.  

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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