HT Update: Week-ending Friday 15th May 2026

Friday 15th May 2026

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.  Any feedback received will be responded to and published on Monday on the school website.  

No feedback from the last HT Update.

Key messages from this week  

Calendar:  Significant events week beginning 18/05/26:   the Qualifications Scotland Exam Diet continues Monday through Friday of next week;  on Monday it’s our last Inset Day of the session,  students should only attend if they have an Qualifications Scotland Exam;  on Tuesday we’ll have students out on the S3 Extra Curricular DofE Bronze Qualifier and it’s our POD Parents Evening & Celebration of Work; on Wednesday students are still on the S3 Extra Curricular DofE Bronze Qualifier, others are away on the Jupiter Artland Trip and we have others involved in the  Midlothian Athletics Championship;  on Thursday we have more students away on the Jupiter Artland Trip,  we’ll hold our fourth Meaningful May work with P7 pupils we’re expecting as S1 in August and it’s our S1 HPV Vaccinations day,  see below;  on Friday it’s Lasswade HS Book Day

Staffing:    Wendy Easterbrook finished up with us yesterday.  Wendy worked within our Science Team, lately as PT for our Broad General Education (BGEd).  A fantastic person and professional who served the school for 14 years.  We wish her well as she moves next week to Beeslack CHS as PT Science.   She’ll be brilliant.   Congratulations to Scott Cairney who came through a competitive process to secure the acting Head of House role within Mount Esk.   Congratulations also to Robyn Taylor who yesterday secured the permanent PT BGEd Science role.  All of these colleagues are excellent examples of ‘growing our own talent’.  We have 3 posts live on MyJobScotland;  Science Technician, Teacher of History and ASN Teacher.

Site Security: As you may recall phase one of this programme is asking staff and students to refrain from using fire exits at the front of the building to enter/leave the building. We are now focusing on ensuring that students are not in the building unsupervised at the beginning and end of the school day. From Tuesday 19th March, the doors to the atrium area will be opened no earlier than 8:20am and, at the end of the day, they will be closed at 3:40pm.  The public Costa area and back playground are accessible.   We will remind students that, if they want to study after the end of the school day, they should use Lasswade Library which is open every day and supervised by Library staff.  Students will also be reminded that they should not be in the school building after the end of the school day unless they are participating in an organised activity that is supervised by school staff.  

HPV/MMR Vaccinations:  These vaccinations are scheduled for on Thursday 21st May.  Teachers have been asked to register students and then send them to the double classroom 114/115.  The vaccination schedule involves all of S1 who have consented and some S2-6 who missed out on vaccinations previously.  S2 and S3 students will be called out of class individually.

Our disclaimer to the schedule,  click here,  is that these are the planned timings subject to change.

The Band of The Royal Regiment of Scotland:  The Band of The Royal Regiment of Scotland are pleased to invite you to attend an upcoming Parents’ Evening Webinar hosted by representatives from The Band of The Royal Regiment of Scotland.  The event takes place this Monday coming, the 18th May at 7.00pm.  The session is designed for parents, and teachers, of students who are interested in a career in music and may wish to consider British Army Music. The webinar will include a short presentation outlining career opportunities, followed by an open Q&A where you can ask questions directly to our team.  I understand that families can sometimes have concerns when there is an expression of interest to join the military. This event aims to provide clear information, address those concerns, and help dispel some of the common myths surrounding military careers.

Any parent keen to attend should let me know via the ‘Feedback here’ link below and I’ll distribute the Teams link on Monday morning   

Kelly Diamond, Reminder:  Kelly works in our School Office.  She’s brilliant, and is looking for your support.  Kelly is running the Edinburgh Half Marathon on Sunday 24th May for a charity that is very close to her heart.  If you can spare a few minutes please have a little read of her story and give what you can. Thank you.  Click here to donate.  

 

Feedback here

Take Care

Campbell Hornell,  Head Teacher and IMS Lead.

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