HT Weekly Update: Week-ending Friday 24th November 2023

Friday 24th November 2023

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 by Monday afternoon on the school website link.   

Key messages from this week

Calendar:  Next week sees a series of events across the school;   on Monday we’ll hold a S2 Horizons and Pathways Event to support students in career planning and course choice, that same evening we’ll hold a S2 to S3 Course Choice Information Evening, via Zoom from 6.00pm (see below);  on Wednesday we’ll hold a SQA Coursework Assembly with S5/6;  on Thursday we’ll hold a SQA Coursework Assembly with S4.

Staffing: Congratulations to Mandy Bennett who will be joining the Student Support team as a PCWO. Charlotte Cole will be joining us on Monday as a Teacher of Art & Design. As part of an Administrative Restructure, we also have a number of changes in the school’s admin team.  Hayley Harlick has successfully secured the position of Senior Administrative Officer, with a focus on HR.  Laura Robb has successfully secured the position of Senior Administrative Officer, with a focus on leading the school office and supporting finance.  Kelly Diamond has successfully secured the position of Senior Support Assistant. Kelly will take on additional responsibilities and will focus on timetabling at key points.  We will shortly advertise a G2 Support Assistant role.

P7 Open Afternoon:  If you currently have a child in P7 you may already be aware of this from your child’s primary school.  Nevertheless, we are aware that some parents were not able to attend our P7 Open Evening held on Tuesday 24th October. We are holding a shortened version of that evening on Thursday 7th December for those that missed the October event,  click here.  Mrs Brown and Mrs Main will lead this event.

Study Skills Week: Our thanks to Katherine Lebida and Erin Thomson for all of their efforts in the planning and delivery of this week’s Study Skills Workshops and Parents’ Information Night.  Student attendance was very encouraging.  The sessions will support our seniors in the development of their study skills ahead of the first Formal Assessment Window. In addition, thank you to Matt Kennedy who has created an Infographic to support learners and families in encouraging good study habits,  click here.

Mission Christmas & Hamper Appeal: The S6 Charities Committee have launched Mission Christmas and our Christmas Hamper Appeal, for local families. If you are able to help contribute items we’ll be happy to receive.  Today’s Dress Down Day resulted in a phenomenal response.  See our socials for more details.  Donations are welcome at our School Office at anytime during the school week.    

S5/6 Parents’ Evening Evaluation: Parents/carers of S5/6 students are asked to please visit the website and complete an evaluation of the evening,  click here

Coldwells Art: Our school photographers have shared an update, for all parents/carers,  this allows clarity about the cut off dates for Christmas delivery,  click here.

Parent Council: On Thursday we held our third meeting of the session.  At the meeting we gathered feedback on our website and our communication practices.  We gathered good information from those able to attend, but are keen to hear from a wider ‘audience’.   Please have a look across our website, click here, and consider what’s positive/effective and what would help improve things.  In addition,  we have a short paper on our communication practices with students and with parents/carers, click here.  Please have a look at this paper and consider what’s positive/effective and what would help improve our communication. Thereafter, we’d welcome feedback via this Google Form

S2 into S3 Course Choice: We posted a website story on this last week.  The evening will be online and be held on Monday 27th November.  It is aimed at the parents/carers of S2 students.  Click here for details.  

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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