HT Update: Week-ending Friday 6th December 2024

Friday 6th December 2024

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 on Monday afternoon on the school website.  

Key messages from this week  

Calendar:  Significant events week beginning 09/12/24;  on Monday we’ll continue the festive feeling with Christmas related Assemblies for all Year Groups; on Tuesday our N4/N5 RMPS students will take part in a Mosque Trip;  on Thursday it’s our Christmas Jumper Day (in effect our December Dress Down Day) and S6 Bake Sale, we’ll also hold our Student Voice Parliament meeting and it’s also our Christmas Concert from 7.00pm, see below,  and;  on Friday it’s our annual Santa Dash and our Mission Christmas donations drive closes  

Staffing:  Our Support Assistant vacancy closed yesterday and we aim to interview before Christmas.   Currently live on MyJobScotland, and closing on 16/12/24, is our PT Creative Design and Professional Learning post.  We expect to interview for that position towards the end of January.  

SQA Appeals: This week SQA published the 2024 appeals outcomes report for National 5, Higher and Advanced Higher courses, by subject and other measures.  The report published shows that, in total, 7.6% of appeal requests (3,390) resulted in an upgrade in 2024, a decrease from 10.0% in 2023.  You can read the report here.  

Christmas Concert:  This annual event will be held on Thursday 12th December. It’s always a terrific evening,  click here for more details, including ticketing arrangements.

Senior Phase Reports:  These were distributed yesterday, if students were not in class/school to receive their report they have been asked to collect it from Student Reception.

S5/6 Chromebook Clinic:  The Midlothian Digital Learning team will be offering a Chromebook Clinic for all S5/6 students on Friday 13th, Monday 16th and Tuesday 17th of December. Learning Technologists will work 1:1 with students for a 25 minute slot to make small repairs to Chromebooks and ‘powerwash’ older devices, improving their efficacy. Appointments last 25 minutes and students will also be given some tips and tools for managing common device issues. Students can sign up for an appointment slot via their year group Google Classroom.

Winter Illness:  We are seeing a rise in winter illnesses and would like to remind families of exclusion periods set by Public Health Scotland.  Please familiarise yourself with the most recent guidance,  Public Health Scotland.

Teenage Booster Consent Forms:  Teenage Booster Vaccinations are scheduled for February 2025, NHS consent forms are being sent home this week and next for all students in S3 and any students in S4-6 who have missed this vaccination previously.  Please complete and return the forms to Student Reception before the Christmas Break.  

Attendance Information for Parents/Carers:  Midlothian have asked us to share the following links which may be of interest.  We are keen as a school and local authority to support excellent attendance habits in our students as we know the outcomes for students are stronger for those with higher attendance levels.  There are three sources of potential support for parents/carers 

• Talking to your child’s school about attendance | Parent Club 
• Tips for helping your child if they feel unable to go to school | Parent Club 
• Help if your child feels unable to go to school | Parent Club 

School Panto:  Over the Rainbow tickets for this year’s school panto, on Wednesday 18th and Thursday 19th December, are now LIVE on ParentPay, grab your tickets quick as this always sells out fast.  

Lasswade High School Childcare Service:  Reminder, as you may be aware the school runs a childcare service.  In consultation with Midlothian we are consulting on a proposal to close the service.  The consultation opens today, Friday 29 November 2024 and closes on Friday 24 January 2025 and Midlothian Council are seeking your views.  You can find more information, such as the consultation proposal document and online survey, at https://midlothiancouncil.citizenspace.com/education/lasswade-hscs-consultation

 

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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