It has been another productive week of learning and teaching at Knox Academy and pupils seem to have settled back in really well and enjoying face to face teaching and learning and seeing their peers. The latest guidance from the Scottish Government states a full return to school after the Easter break, with the removal of the 2M physical distancing in school but the retention of many of the current mitigations, including face coverings for staff and S1-S6 pupils (unless exempt) and a focus on ensuring all classrooms are well ventilated.
Although we will still have many of the mitigations in place to reduce the transmission of Covid-19 in school, it is going to be amazing to have our school community back together after nearly four months apart. The weather should also be better (we hope) and therefore we would hope to make as much use of outdoor learning as we can with our S1-S3 pupils. Our S4-S6 pupils will be fully engaged in their SQA assessments during the month of May and I know many of them will be studying for these over Easter. I would ask parents/carers to support them in finding a balance with this in terms of having some time off studying too and enjoy some fun, rest and relaxation so they are not exhausted come May and can give of their best.
Staffing
We are advertising for a teacher of Home Economics – this closes on 4 April and we will have interviews for this the first few weeks in the new term.
Pupil News
Parents/Carers Information
S1/2 Parents – HPV Vaccinations
If you are the parent/carer of a S1 or S2 pupil you will receive a letter, very shortly regarding, the roll out of this year’s HPV Vaccination programme. The team will be rolling out this vaccine on the 17th and 18th of May 2021. Due to NHS workload and Covid restrictions the letters have been late in arriving to schools and we have an incredibly tight window to process the return of consent letters. They must be returned to Knox Academy by the morning of 31/03/2021 as they are being uplifted on the morning of 1 April 2021.
I appreciate that this is not ideal for parents and carers but would appreciate your co-operation with this request. Many thanks (Karen Fraser, Welfare Assistant)
SQA – School Assessment Diet (May) – S4/S5/S6
This has now been finalised and Mrs Falconer is emailing home a letter to all parents/carers and S4-S6 pupils today with the details of this. These letters can also be found here. These letters have also been shared with our S4/5/6 pupils. Our Verification Policy also provides you with our approaches to internal verification of our assessments for our SQA pupils.
Leavers’ Information – S4/5/6
The official leaving date will be Friday 4 June for all pupils in S6 and any pupils who wish to leave school in S5 and S4 (and who are 16 prior to 30 September). The office team have sent out a Google Form to all S4-S6 pupils, via their EduBuzz emails, and this form should be completed by Friday 1 April at very latest. If your young person is leaving school is it vital we support them in to a positive destination (University, College, Employment or Training) so we can know they have a bright future ahead. The S6 Leavers’ Committee is also trying to arrange a Leavers Event so we can celebrate their time here at the school and see them all off in style.
LFD Test Kits
A number of LFD test kits have being issued this week to our young people in S1-S6 who have/parents have consented to being part of the programme. If you wish your young person to receive a test kit prior to the holidays, so they can test before returning after the Easter break, please complete the e-consent form by Sunday 28 March so these test kits can be issued to them next week. Pupils over 16 can consent themselves but parents/carers must consent for those under 16 (before any testing kits can be handed out to this age group). Although participation is voluntary it is recommended as it is helps support our safe return to school and keeps our families/community safe too.
A reminder that these LFD tests are only for use by pupils and cannot be used by anyone else other than those whom they are registered for. Please can you remind all young people to log their results each time they complete a test. Thank you.
COVID-19
Positive Cases: Please continue to report any positive cases to covidinschools@eastlothian.gov.uk or telephone 01875 613921. It would be great if you can also inform the school by telephone on: 01620 823387. During the Easter break please use the covidinschools@eastlothian.gov.uk or if you do not have access to email, telephone 01875 613921 as the school will be closed. Thank you.
Please note: If your young person is attending school (or in-school provision), please do not send them if they, or anyone in your household has tested positive or has Covid-19 symptoms. Please self-isolate and book a test. If they are in S4-S6 and attending school for a practical subject(s) and they test positive using the lateral flow device testing kit, they should also self-isolate and book a PCR test.
Dates for you diary:
Friday 2 April – Monday 19 April 2021 (inclusive) – Easter Break
Monday 3 May – Bank Holiday
Monday 24 May – Pupils’ holiday (staff in-service)
Please note: There will also be two in-service days next term (April-June) to support staff with SQA assessment, moderation and verification processes. I will give more information about this as soon I know these dates.
Have a lovely weekend and remember that the Haddington Farmers Market is on this weekend if you want lots of amazing local produce.
Sue Cook
Please also remember to follow us at: www.ka-net.org.uk @knoxacademy @knoxacademyHT for the latest information and updates