HT Update: week-ending Friday 7th March 2025

Friday 7th 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 10/03/25;  on Monday we have a visit from the Navy to do a catch-up session with some S2 students, there is also our S3 Student Voice Year Council Meeting;  on Tuesday it’s Sports Personality of the Year (SPOTY) Assemblies for S5 and S6;  on Wednesday we have SPOTY Assemblies for S1, S2 and S3;  on Thursday it’s S2, S4 and S5 Student Voice Year Council Meetings;  on Friday we have our S1 Student Voice Year Council Meeting.

Staffing:  This week we welcomed Andy Atkinson who has joined our Physics Team.  The vacancies we have ‘live’ close in the next few days, they are  Teacher of Business Studies (closes 09/03/25), Teacher of PE with Dance (closes 09/03/25), Principal Teacher Humanities (closes 10/03/25), Teacher of ASN Complex Needs (closes 10/03/25), and Learning Assistant ASN (closes 12/03/25).  All vacancies are accessible via myjobscotland.  We are working with our central team on the next phase;  Teacher of Biology and Teacher of Computing.  

Parent Council:  Please note the change of date for our meeting this month.   It was Thursday 27th March and has now moved to Tuesday 18th March.  The meeting will be online, via Teams, and begins at 7.00pm.  The School Calendar and school website,  have been updated to reflect this change. 

Vape Usage:   You may be aware of highly-publicised  reports on social media of young people at another Midlothian high school becoming seriously ill after consuming a vape which was laced with ‘Spice’,  a synthetic cannabinoid.  A similar incident occurred last session involving some of our students.  Substance misuse is a central feature of our PSE curriculum and next week we will remind all young people about the dangers of vaping.  As a school we also work very closely with MYPAS which can offer a targeted drug and alcohol service to young people where there are concerns around substance misuse.  Please do not hesitate to contact your son/daughter’s student support teacher if you have any concerns.  Click here  for contact details.

Maths ASG Moderation:  On Wednesday we hosted a moderation session for teachers from across the Lasswade Associated Schools Group.  This involved the primary schools we are linked with.  We collaborated on specific topics from our mathematics curriculum. High quality discussion and examples of good practice were exchanged, and all schools shared their key takeaways on how they intend to continue to improve the quality of maths education for our young people. 

Cheer Success:   A huge congratulations to Miss Naismith and the Cheer and Dance clubs who performed at the annual Scottish Schools Cheerleading Competition last week. Our Cheer team placed 2nd in their division and brought a very impressive trophy back to the school. We had a photo opportunity where the students attempted, and failed, to teach me some moves! 

UNICEF Donation:  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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