HT Update: Week-ending Friday 28th March 2025

Friday 28th March 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 afternoon on the school website.  

Key messages from this week  

Calendar:  Significant events week beginning 31/03/25;  on Monday we’ll hold an SQA Exam Assembly for S4, sharing important information on the process;   on Tuesday we’ll do the same with S5/6, acknowledging they have been through the exam process last year;  on Thursday we have the Drama AH Practical Exam, S2 will be issued with their Report, it’s our Student Voice Parliament, and S6 have organised a Duck Race;  on Friday our S6 have a bespoke programme as it’s their last Friday they all are available and some not involved in SQA Exams, we’ll also have an Extended Break to allow staff to come together. 

Staffing:  Congratulations to Carly Dowie who was appointed as permanent PT Humanities yesterday.  This week we also appointed a new Teacher in Business who’ll begin in August.  Next week, we are holding interviews for our Teacher of Computing position.  We’ll interview for our Teacher of Biology the first week back after Easter.   We have no posts currently live on myjobscotland.

Easter Activities:  Midlothian Council’s Spring Activities events page is now live ahead of the upcoming Easter Holidays. There are over 70 FREE activities across Midlothian Libraries, including Easter Egg Hunts, Crafts and Lego Clubs. Sports and Leisure have also put together an Easter programme including intensive swimming lessons, football camps.  To find out more,  click here  

Easter School  2025:  Our Easter School will begin on Monday 7th April, offering our Senior Phase students the opportunity to access revision sessions over the Easter holiday period. Sign up details were posted earlier this week on Google Year Group Classrooms.  Subject teachers have also been ‘advertising’ the opportunities with classes.   Sign-up closes on Monday 31st March at 4pm. Places will be confirmed thereafter.  We also posted on the website this week, click here.

Free School Meal:  As we approach the holiday period please be aware of the following in relation to Free School Meals: 

Payment	Paid to Bank Accounts	Notes/Comments
School Holidays Monday 7th April 2025 to Monday 21st April 2025	Wednesday 2nd April 2025	£23.10 per Primary School pupil £26.40 per Secondary School pupil

Help with school meals during holidays

Free School Meal 2025/26 Applications:  We have been asked to make you aware that free school meal applications for the 2025/26 term will not be available until July.   Please be aware that any application for next term received before July will not be processed and parents/carers will have to re-apply in July. Click here to access further information.

Clothing Grants:  The application for clothing grants closes on 31st March 2025.  Click here to access further information.

SAAS Funding:  This week Mrs Sharp posted a message on Year Group Classrooms for those leaving and applying to university.  Essentially, it reminds our students to create an account with SAAS to apply for their fees. There is a video link for further information,  click here.

Fire Alarm Drill Update: On Tuesday we had an unplanned fire alarm evacuation, following an accidental activation in PE.  We were able to quickly identify that the alarm was false. Our new staged fire alarm procedure, developed with the Fire Brigade staff,  proved to be highly effective, allowing us to return to the building in a quick and orderly manner.  With well over 1,700 people in the building at the time, we achieved an evacuation and re-entry time of just 14 minutes.  This allows students to get back to their learning as quickly as possible. 

Rugby Final,  Reminder: Tomorrow, Lasswade High School Under 18’s will compete in the East Shield Final at Lasswade Rugby Club against their local rivals Preston Lodge. The previous game between the two teams was a thriller, finishing 38-31 to Lasswade. The boys would really appreciate the support of the school community in their biggest game of the season. Kick off is at 2pm on the main pitch. Hope to see you there! 

UNICEF Donation,  Reminder: Throughout February, Tareena, one of our School Captains has been sharing her thoughts on the humanitarian impact of conflicts across the world.  As stated, in March, the plan is to move to a series of in-school fundraising events.  As parents/carers I appreciate that you also may want to contribute.  To that end we have set up an option for you through Parentpay, click here.

Feedback here

Take Care

Campbell Hornell,  Head Teacher

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