Dear Parents and Students
Head Teacher Update 14/10/21 (previously shared through email)
As we look forward to a short break and a chance for everyone to re-charge their batteries, I would like to thank you for your continued support and perseverance during a particularly tough term. I hope that the school we return to on Tuesday 26th October is significantly different and that things continue to move toward a more normal way of working.
Today, we have sent updated information, through email, to our S1 parents regarding Parents Evening on Tuesday 2nd November. We will also send specific information to S5 students regarding study periods after the break.
New Structure of the School Day
When we return, students will follow their timetable periods 1-6 each day (1-4 on Friday). Initially, we will maintain a staggered start and end to each day – S1-3 will arrive at 8:25am for Daily Morning Tutor (DMT) and S4-6 will arrive at 8:40am to begin period 1. We will also continue to operate two lunchtimes and two morning breaks. Please see the day structure tables below for more detail.
S1-2 Structure of the School Day
| Periods | Mon -Thurs | Periods | Friday | |
| DMT | 8:30 – 8:40 | DMT | 8:30 – 8:40 | |
| Period 1 | 8:40 – 9:40 | Period 1 | 8:40 – 9:30 | |
| Break | 9:40 – 9:55 | Break | 9.30 – 9.45 | |
| Period 2 | 9:55 – 10:55 | Period 2 | 9.45 – 10.35 | |
| Period 3 | 10:55 – 11:55 | Period 3 | 10:35 – 11:25 | |
| Lunch | 11:55 – 12:45 | Period 4 | 11:25 – 12:05 | |
| Period 4 | 12:45 – 1:35 | |||
| Period 5 | 1:35 – 2:35 | |||
| Period 6 | 2:35 – 3:25 |
S3 Structure of the School Day
| Periods | Mon -Thursday | Periods | Friday | |
| DMT | 8:30 – 8:40 | DMT | 8:30 – 8:40 | |
| Period 1 | 8:40 – 9:40 | Period 1 | 8:40 – 9:30 | |
| Period 2 | 9:40 – 10:40 | Period 2 | 9:30 – 10:20 | |
| Break | 10:40 – 10:55 | Break | 10:20 – 10:35 | |
| Period 3 | 10:55 – 11:55 | Period 3 | 10:35 – 11:25 | |
| Period 4 | 11:55 – 12:45 | Period 4 | 11:25 – 12:05 | |
| Lunch | 12:45 – 1:35 | |||
| Period 5 | 1:35 – 2:35 | |||
| Period 6 | 2:35 – 3:25 |
S4-6 Structure of the School Day
| Periods | Mon -Thursday | Periods | Friday | |
| DMT | NA | DMT | NA | |
| Period 1 | 8:40 – 9:40 | Period 1 | 8:40 – 9:30 | |
| Period 2 | 9:40 – 10:40 | Period 2 | 9:30 – 10:20 | |
| Break | 10:40 – 10:55 | Break | 10:20 – 10:35 | |
| Period 3 | 10:55 – 11:55 | Period 3 | 10:35 – 11:25 | |
| Period 4 | 11:55 – 12:45 | Period 4 | 11:25 – 12:15 | |
| Lunch | 12:45 – 1:35 | |||
| Period 5 | 1:35 – 2:35 | |||
| Period 6 | 2:35 – 3:35 | S4-S6 |
Physical Education
Until we are told the risk of infection is reduced further and we can again access changing rooms, students can continue to come to school ready for PE (only on PE days). However, I would really appreciate your support in insuring that students wear something appropriate for school each day. Where possible, something as close to school uniform as possible, on PE days, would be best. Students who do not have PE should continue to wear school uniform.
S1 Parents Evening
Parents’ evenings are going online. We have been busy over the past two weeks, testing our online Video system and developing contingency arrangements for our planned Parents’ Evening on Tuesday 2nd November. S1 parents should have received a separate email explaining how this will work. If you have not yet received this communication, please contact our admin mail box:
Our booking system will go live at 6:00pm on Monday 25th October.
Duke of Edinburgh
Congratulations to our outstanding Duke of Edinburgh students who all successfully completed their Bronze qualifying expedition last weekend, despite the wind and rain! They walked up and over quite a few hills in the Pentlands on Friday, from Carlops to Threipmuir, where they then camped for the night. On Saturday, they took on even more hills and walked all the way back to school. All this, with very heavy rucksacks and they were completely self-sufficient, carrying all their own camping kit, food and water! All in all, they all clocked up around 30km over the 2 days! Understandably, there were a few tired legs and sore feet this week!
Friends of the Award, who helped lead the expedition, were very impressed and said that many of the routes planned and completed by the groups were closer to a Silver DofE level than a Bronze!
Well done to:
- Angelika Bednarek
- Richard Cutt
- Jennifer Cameron
- Leyla Gallagher
- Iratxe Garcia-Hernandez
- Kaitlin Grieve
- Jack Harding
- Piotr Jaranowski
- Paige Moles
- Abbie Norris
- Joanne Reeves
- Kasey Reeves
- Eve Ritchie
- Will Thiboutot
- Sarah Wilson
- Niamh Woodrow
Updated Guidance
You may be aware that recent ‘draft’ guidance suggests that some other aspects of school life could return to normal after the October break. Although not yet confirmed, this would be most welcome news and I will keep you updated with any official guidance I receive.
Finally, I would like to wish everyone an enjoyable and restful break and I look forward to seeing you back, refreshed and ready to go, on Tuesday 26th October.
Thanks and best wishes.
Stephen Rafferty
Head Teacher