Dear Parents, Carers and Students
The weeks are flying in and already we are two weeks into the SQA exams. Our senior students are coping well with the pressures of exams and finishing off assessments, while our junior students are being respectful of the need to be quiet around the exam areas.
Ready – Respectful – Responsible
We have developed our three classroom rules, Ready – Respectful – Responsible, to support all students to make progress in their learning and to thrive and be successful in school. Next week we will be focussing on the first of these rules – being Ready to learn. This includes being on time for lessons with everything required to participate fully – dress code and a bag with iPad (charged), stationery and books.
Being ready is not just essential for school. It is an important skill for life and work, and we would greatly appreciate your support to help establish good habits and routines. We will carry out some spot checks during Daily Morning Tutor next week and keep you informed of how things are going.
Scholar Programme
Today I caught up with eight outstanding young people from S3 to congratulate them on completing the Scholar Programme (all with a first-class award).
Having successfully navigated the selection process, including application forms and interviews, they attended weekly university level tutorials, culminating in the submission of a 2000 word assignment on Robotics!
The successful students were:
- Emmett Leishman
- Phoenix Innes
- Saul Mballow
- Sampoorna Biswas
- Honzik Zikmund
- Nikhil Yaparala
- Kelvin Kinghorn
- Mara O’Kane
Thanks to Ms McLaren for supporting them through the programme and for supplying the biscuits and hot chocolate today.
School Football
Football at Forrester is going from strength to strength, thanks to the commitment of our staff, parents and volunteers. We currently have three teams who have a chance of silverware this year, with cup finals and league deciders in the next couple of weeks for our S1, S3 and Senior teams. The players have worked hard all season and I wish them all the best for these important matches.
Duke of Edinburgh
Thanks to the outstanding dedication of a growing band of staff, Forrester has a thriving Duke of Edinburgh programme. Over 50 young people are going through training this year. This includes weekly sessions, day walks, practice expeditions and final expeditions. We have a group just returned from a camping and walking expedition in the Pentlands, and have more planned throughout May and June.
For many students, the DoE programme is the thing they will always remember from school, and the skills and resilience they develop will stand them in good stead for whatever the future brings. They develop social skills, friendships and an appreciation of the world outdoors. I cannot understate how grateful I am to the staff who give up so much of their time to make this happen. Thanks to:
- Lisa Bayliss
- Eleanor Burns
- Hannah Craig
- Carol Epp
- Stan Intihar
- Riccardo Romano
- Francesca Smith
Finally, please make sure that all KIC forms are returned for the Activities Programme which is approaching fast (24th and 25th May).
I wish you all an enjoyable long-weekend and look forward to seeing everyone back safe and well on Tuesday 9th May.
Thanks and best wishes
Stephen Rafferty
Head Teacher