March 2022 Newsletter
Dear Parent / Carer,
Since I last wrote to you in this capacity, much has changed in our world and – locally at least - we are looking towards a brighter future. The gradual easing of the necessary constraints created by the pandemic is most welcome in our school community; however, we approach the changes to our practices next week with both optimism and caution.
Young people and staff are no longer required to wear face coverings in classroom settings but will still be supported to do so if they so wish. This is very much a personal choice, and our focus will be on respecting each individual’s right to choose what is best for them. We recognise that many of our families are still living with the very real challenges and worries that Covid has brought. As part of our ‘end and send’ routines at the end of each lesson, young people will be asked to put face coverings on before entering the school corridors. When moving around the school and in communal areas such as the canteen - when not eating - masks are still mandatory, and our enhanced school hygiene routines remain an integral part of our approach to limiting the spread of the virus.
The constraints I referred to earlier included the limiting of visitors to our school and this created the need for Online Parent/Carer evenings, the last of which took place for S2 last week. I am pleased to report that this format has been embraced by both staff and parents and, before agreeing on the approach for next session, I will lead a consultation process.
Year Group Assemblies return for the first time in almost two years, and we will use these gatherings - so important in promoting a positive ethos - to communicate and connect with our young people.
Extra-curricular programmes continue to flourish, and I would ask that you encourage your child to take part in at least one regular extracurricular school activity. They are most often free and run by experts - our staff – and details are shared via social media and the website.
In our school, young people continue to do great things, many of which you can keep up to date with through our social media output. Please follow us on Twitter for ‘real time’ updates on our school. Formal communications such as this Head Teacher update will always be posted on our school website. Speaking of our website, a new more user friendly one is under construction. This will include pathways to all of our social media channels, enabling non-social media users to access all of our communication in one place for convenience. We aim to have the website ready to go ‘live’ on Monday 14th March. If you are already registered to receive the Rector's Monthly Newsletter, you will need to re-register again on the new school website.
Teaching and learning is our core business, and this has continued apace since the new year. Pupils in the senior phase are working productively to get ready for SQA examinations, giving our young people the chance to show just how much they have learned despite the challenges they have faced. To support them, our staff are delivering regular Supported Study classes which I strongly encourage young people to take advantage of.
This term is a busy one, particularly for our senior pupils as they prepare for their SQA exams in April/May. It is important that they commit time to study now to ensure they are ready to achieve their potential.
- INFORMATION SQA EXAMS 2022
Study leave for pupils in S4, S5 and S6 will begin on Tuesday 26 April. Pupils will return to school on Monday 6 June.
During the study leave period, study facilities will be available in school. Pupils who wish to avail themselves of these facilities should advise subject teachers in advance and report to the School Office on the day or days in question to allow appropriate arrangements to be made. Pupils who are not sitting any exams during the 2022 SQA Exam Diet should be attending school as normal.
Pupils will be issued with their exam timetable containing details of exam times week beginning 7 March. Can you please ensure your son/daughter checks this carefully and notifies Mrs Chalmers of any concerns or questions they may have?
Conduct in Examination Rooms - When sitting an exam, in fairness to other pupils in the same room, pupils should remain in the exam room for the duration of the exam and will not be allowed to leave early. If a pupil has prepared properly for the examination, he/she should be able to stay for the full examination time and make use of the time given to complete the paper to the best of their ability.
School Uniform - Pupils are required to wear full school uniform when they are in school sitting exams and during any visit, however short, to the school.
Illness - Pupil illness on the day of an exam, or any change in circumstance that may affect exam performance, should be reported to Mrs Chalmers as early as possible on the day of the exam. Senior staff in the school can then make appropriate arrangements for Exceptional Circumstances Consideration.
Mobile Phones and Smart Watches - Please note that mobile phones and smart watches are NOT permitted in examination rooms. Any pupil found with a mobile phone or smart watch in the examination room will be removed from the exam. This is in line with SQA policy and will be strictly adhered to.
Return to School - S4 and S5 pupils will start their 2022/23 timetable in June. Pupils will return from study leave on Monday 6 June. S4 should arrive for an 8.55 am start, S5 will return for a 9.45 am start (not before this time). Both year groups should report to the Assembly Hall on arrival and will have an assembly during which they will be given details of their new timetables. Work on the new courses will begin immediately.
Exam Results - Pupils will receive their exam results by first class mail on Tuesday 9 August. - S4 MOC INTERVIEWS
Every pupil in S4 has received a Mock Interview from someone from industry. Interviewers have ranged from Lawyers to Joiners and Doctors to Engineers. This has been a great opportunity for our young people to gain invaluable employability skills to prepare them for the world of work and we are very grateful to all the interviewers who gave so generously of their time. - COVID-19 UPDATE
It is great to finally feel we are moving back to a more normal environment where we can see each other’s faces again after nearly two years! Face coverings for staff and pupils can now be removed in classrooms. However, if staff are going to be working with a pupil and be within 1-2 metres of a young person/other member of staff, they must wear a face covering. Face coverings must be worn by pupils and staff in corridors and social areas (unless eating or drinking or exempt). The Library and Assemblies will be seen as communal areas/gatherings so face coverings must still be worn. We can start planning for transition events as P7s are now allowed to visit once a risk assessment is in place. - SPRING CONCERT
The Spring Concert, presented by the pupils of the Music Department will take place on Tuesday 29 March in St Mary’s Church. Tickets are available from the Music Department for families of those young people taking part, tickets are £5 each with a maximum allocation of 3 tickets per family. - GAMES MORNING
The Games morning will take place on Friday 1 April, hopefully at Ravenscraig Sports Facility. There will be numerous events taking place that pupils will participate in to compete for the Games Morning Shield. - EASTER SERVICE
The Easter Service will take place on Thursday 31 March. The Service will take place in the afternoon starting at 2.45 pm. - DATES FOR YOUR DIARY:-
- Thursday 10 March - 3 Online Parents’ Evening
- Friday 18 March - S5/6 Tracking Report 4 issued
- Tuesday 29 March - Spring Concert
- Thursday 31 March -Easter Service
- Friday 1 April - Games Morning
- Friday 1 April - School Closes Spring Break
- Tuesday 19 April - School Opens
- Tuesday 19 April - S3 Exams Begin
Yours faithfully
Mrs J. Martin
Head Teacher