HT Update: Week-ending Friday 24th January 2024

Friday 24th January 2025

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, and where appropriate, will be responded to and published on Monday afternoons on the school website.  

Key messages from this week  

Calendar:  Significant events week beginning 27/01/25;  on Monday our Pod students are involved in a Museum on the Mound visit;  on Wednesday we’re involved in UK Maths Challenge activities and it’s our S3 Student Progress Information Evening; on Thursday we’ll hold a Holocaust Memorial Assembly with S6; on Friday it’s our January Dress Down Day, our S2 to S3 course choice process closes and our Mandarin students take part in a China Red visit 

Staffing:  We’re pleased to confirm we appointed a Teacher of Physics on Tuesday.  I’ll release the name/start date when HR processes are complete.   It’s likely to be a start date towards the end of February/start of March.

Dress Down day: Friday 31st January will be a dress down day raising funds for UNICEF. The S6 Charities committee will be collecting any cash donations on the door and donations can also be made via Parent Pay.

Sutton Trust University of Edinburgh Summer School: This week Mrs Sharp posted details of this excellent opportunity in the S5 Year Group Classroom.  The week-long summer school is aimed at current S5, who’ll return for an S6, and are interested in going to university at the end of S6. It’s an opportunity to experience student life, explore a range of subjects, take part in social activities, receive support on the journey to university, and stay in halls of residence.  The application process is now open with further details and advice in the Classroom post. Applications close on March 6th 2025. 

Summer 2025 School Leavers:  A ‘head’s up’ that Edinburgh College has opened its applications for courses starting in August 2025.  While not all courses are yet listed, many are – so if this is a route your child is considering for later this year, even if it’s a back-up option,  now is the time to start checking the site and getting applications done.  Early applications are strongly recommended so please don’t delay!  

Malicious Fire Alarm Activation:  Following the malicious activation of the fire alarm on Tuesday 14th of January, and full evacuation of The Lasswade Centre, Police Scotland have charged a young person in relation to this offence.  You’ll not be surprised that we take any activation of the fire alarm very seriously due to the impact it has upon the learning process.  Events such as these are always fully investigated and followed up using witness statements and CCTV footage. We would like to thank everyone who helped us this time, and hope that the action taken deters anyone else in the future.

Coldwells – S6 – High School Leavers Set:  Coldwells have created a Leavers Set for our current S6.  It’s a possible memento of your child’s high school years.  It shows a portrait from S1 to S6.  To preview, go online to view your set.  Coldwells have ‘early bird give away offers’ if pre-ordered before 2nd February.  Visit ColdwellsArt.co.uk then use the ID finder to get your unique ID  If you have any queries email info@coldwellsart.co.uk giving them your child’s name, class and your relationship to the child.  Coldwells advise this is a slower option, the online option is faster.

Graduate Apprenticeship Event:   Reminder, that the Heriot-Watt Graduate Apprenticeship Recruitment Fair is on 20 February 2025.  This is a chance for those interested to speak to employers about some fantastic career opportunities in construction, civil engineering, engineering, software development, data science and business.  The event is aimed at

• School students/leavers who have achieved or are on track to achieve at least 4 Highers or equivalent at level B or above
• Parents/carers

Please click here to sign up for the event.

If you have any feedback/questions relating to this update please submit them via the link below

Feedback here

Take Care

Campbell Hornell,  Head Teacher

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