HT Update: Week-ending Friday 29th August 2025

Friday 29th August 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.  Any feedback received will be responded to and published on Monday afternoon on the school website.  

No feedback received from last HT Update.

Key messages from this week  

Calendar:  Significant events week beginning 01/09/25;  on Monday we’ll hold our S1 and S2 Student Voice meetings;   on Wednesday thorough Friday we’ll have staff and students involved in our Silver Duke of Edinburgh’s Award Expedition;  on Thursday we hold our Modern Languages Business Breakfast and a Road Safety Assembly for our S6 students 

Staffing:   Sheena Young, Teacher of Business, has her last day with us on Tuesday of next week.  She has given many years worth of service to the school and in the most recent sessions on a part-time basis.  Sheena has supported a countless number of students in our school who, like us, will think fondly of her.  She has worked with a quiet determination, dignity and commitment to her students and subject.  Thank you Sheena for your service to our school and enjoy your well deserved retirement.

Community Work:  As part of their S6 Experience we ask our S6 to ‘give back’ and volunteer in ways that help the community.  When I speak with members of the public at the front of the school often they share concerts about levels of litter in and around the school.  Earlier this week 4 of our S6 went out to help. Click here  to see their work.

Reporting:  As you are aware, this session, we’re pleased to announce that all student reports, written by teachers, will be issued exclusively online through parentsportal.  We do not plan to print out reports and send them home with your child.  Parentsportal is a brand-new application for Midlothian, and we’re delighted that over 70% of our families have already signed up and are using it daily for attendance reporting – thank you for embracing this change!   A particular well done to those parents/carers of S2.  Very impressive work.  

If you haven’t registered yet, you’ll find the link here with information on how to register and what else is available through the application. Our school office team will be happy to help with any questions or technical issues, so please do not hesitate to get in touch.

The percentage, per year group, of parents/carers not yet linked with paentsportal and the date the first report of the session is shown below.  Hopefully this will continue to encourage sign-up!

• S1 32%;  first report issued on 30/01/26
• S2 16%;  report issued on 19/12/25
• S3 28%;  first report issued on 10/10/25
• S4 33%;  first report issued on 19/09/25
• S5 36%;  first report issued on 19/09/25
• S6 32%;  first report issued on 19/09/25

Lasswade Star Search:  Several of our senior Performing Arts students, a.k.a. The Performing Arts Committee,  are working to put together an evening of entertainment for your enjoyment.  The evening will showcase some of the most talented folk we have in our community.  Wednesday 17th September is when it all happens.  It’s sure to be a great night.  Click here for more details. 

S4 Work Experience 3rd-7th November:  This week we posted details in the S4 Year Group Google Classroom regarding Work Experience.  Students have been asked to complete a form that is ‘attached’ to the post.  If students have questions they are asked to speak with their Student Support teacher or Mrs Sharp in 110 for more information.  Please note that paper copies of the form are available for students in room 110.

New Service for Parents:  ‘Into Work’ has launched a new in-work support service to support neurodivergent and autistic parents in Midlothian to sustain employment. Click here for more information. 

Midlothian Council School Travel Plan Survey 2025:  Every two years we work with Midlothian Council to update our “School Travel Plan”.  This process allows parents/carers to highlight any road safety issues and also notify the council of young peoples’ travel habits. To have your say Midlothian have asked us to share an easy to complete online survey.  The survey can be accessed by the following link – click here

Please be vigilant to the section regarding School Crossing Guides.  This is extremely important as the current locations of guides are being reviewed. We will be using the data we receive back to identify if crossing guides are being under utilised or could benefit from being put at another location.

All data received will be used to update School Travel Plans.  A completion date of Friday 26th September 2025 has been set for those to submit their responses. If a child is travelling from multiple residencies throughout the school week, please submit multiple forms.

Feedback here

Take Care

Campbell Hornell,  Head Teacher

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