Kinlochbervie High School

Newsletter 4 - January 2010

Vision Statement

Kinlochbervie High School is an inclusive community.  Excellence in education, the welfare, security and happiness of all pupils and staff are our priorities.

Kinlochbervie High School endeavours to take the needs of the individual into account.  We aim to provide pupils and staff with the skills, experiences and qualifications they need to give them choices in their progression through life.

Staffing

Interviews were finally held just before Christmas for the vacancy created when Debbie Gunn was promoted to Depute.  Two appointments were made: Julia Mann and Steph Sutherland.  Julia will continue to work her 1½ days per week and will now look after S5/6 pastoral guidance.  Steph will coordinate Personal and Social Education (PSE) and careers.  Over the next couple of weeks the management team will review arrangements for line management of staff and the plans for the implementation of a Curriculum for Excellence (CfE).

HMIe Report

The inspectors’ final report will be published on the HMIe web site and released to the press on Tuesday.  All parents will receive a copy of the report – these booklets will be sent home with pupils on Monday.  The report is positive and constructive - the inspectors have recognised some of the very many positive aspects of the school.  All of the staff are praised for their involvement in school and community activities that proved beneficial to pupils.  The report also identifies as strengths the quality of learning support and the caring, supportive environment for learning.  As with all such reports on schools, the inspectors have highlighted areas for improvement and teachers have already started work on their suggestions.  Dr Smith will be arranging a series of meetings in each of the four communities to discuss the HMIe findings with parents, gather their views and describe the school’s plans for improvement.

Fundraiser and Open Day

Planning has just started for this – the day chosen is Saturday 27 February.  Ideas include some small exhibitions, pupil work on display and different groups within the school organising fund raising activities.

Absences Notes

We need to tighten up on pupil absence procedures.  We can no longer continue with our policy of only requiring absence notes for absences of more than a day.  From now on, would parents please continue to e-mail or phone the school on the first day of an absence, but also send in a signed note giving the reason for the absence.  Such a note is a necessity for all S1-6 pupils and for every absence, even if earlier contact has been made by phone or e-mail.

Tartan Day/Haiti

Monday is a non-uniform day when pupils and staff are invited to wear a tartan and donate £3 (more from staff!) to the Highland Hospice.  We will also be raising funds for the Haiti earthquake appeal: already a superb £75 has been donated by pupils at the school dance last night.  All next week there will a collection box at the canteen till for loose change and there will be a special collection from all pupils and staff during Thursday’s Tutor Group.

Defending the Past

This impressive project is supported by a lottery funded coordinator from the Royal Commission for Ancient and Historic Monuments (Scotland) and the MoD (Defence Estates).  Many of the subjects within the S1/2 curriculum are involved and work will be based on materials relating to the military training area of Cape Wrath.  Next week S1/2 will work in school creating poems, recordings, images and stories.  On Thursday they will hopefully visit Faraid Head to observe a military exercise.   Recently a story relating to the project was on the BBC News web site.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/highlands_and_islands/8468126.stm

Parent Council

The next meeting will take place on Wednesday 27 January at 7.30 pm.  New members are always welcome – please contact Fiona Belbin or any member of the council.

Dates

It was very pleasing to see there was a very low absence rate around the October break in 2009.  Parents should continue to make every effort to ensure holidays are not taken during term time.

Parents Evenings

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