Dear Parents and Carers

Thank you for your continued support this week.  Staff have been busy marking the prelims from our senior pupils, along with producing our final tracking summaries which we hope to be able to share with you very soon.  If you or your child have any questions about support available in the lead up to the national exams, please don’t hesitate to contact your child’s Guidance teacher.

Today’s update contains 4 quick notices:

• An update about wearing face coverings in school
• A reminder about our ongoing options programme (Mr Ewing)
• An update on our drive for strong punctuality and positive behaviour choices (Mr Harvey and Mrs Watson)
• A consultation about the cost of the school day (Our Equity Group)

​Miss Claire Meakin
Head Teacher

The Scottish government have announced a change in their approach to face coverings in schools.  From Monday 28th February, pupils and staff will still be asked to wear their face coverings in communal areas, but there will no longer be a requirement to wear them in classrooms.  Any pupil or staff member who would like to continue wearing theirs in lessons will be supported to do so.

Senior Options:  All our options materials are “live” on the KGS website under the options tab and parents were also sent an Options Parents and Pupils guide electronically.

The Senior Option Course sheet will be given to pupils in PSE but is available electronically if required. Pupils choose from the courses which are listed on the Courses on Offer sheet.

Also on the website is a short Parents and Pupils Guide to Options booklet as well as the Senior Phase Course Descriptors, which gives more detailed information on each of our course.

Finally, for details on the offer from Orkney College, the College Brochure is also on our website.

To help S3 pupils plan for their options in S5 and S6 there is a Progression Pathways sheet available.

Online Support: There are two presentations on the KGS website to support parents of S3 and S4/S5 pupils. They can also be accessed by following the links below.
S4 into S5 and S5 into S6 https://prezi.com/view/1InsAXQZpPoROerwRQgT/
S3 into S4 https://prezi.com/view/nWLfUw7CM6MFTo4E583t/
 
The deadline for the completed option forms is Friday March 4th.

We continue to see improvements in time keeping for most our pupils. The number of pupils receiving a lunchtime detention for being late three times in one week is getting fewer each week. We hope to see all pupils, where possible arriving to school on time, ready for the day ahead.
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On a less positive note, once again, it has come to our attention that during break and lunchtimes, some of our pupils are behaving in an unsociable and disrespectful manner around the Papdale shop. We have high expectations of pupils’ behaviour when in school and we would like to ensure that pupils display the same respectful and responsible behaviour in the community. Please can we ask for your support and stressing the importance of ensuring their conduct is always respectful, particularly in public areas. 

Our Equity Group is looking for as many KGS families as possible to tell us their thoughts about the 'Cost of the School Day'. 

We know education can be expensive at times and it is really important to us that we are removing financial barriers and making sure that all of our pupils can access the same educational opportunities.

But to do this, we need your help!

Please spare a few moments to fill in the quick, anonymous questionnaire about what the biggest costs are for your family and whether there is more we can do to help with this. No need to include any names so please be entirely honest and open - the more we know, the more changes we will be able to make for everyone.

A link to the online version of the questionnaire can be found below and on the school website and social media pages. However, paper copies and a bespoke post-box will also be available just inside the double doors from Monday onwards until Friday 11th March: https://forms.office.com/r/vdGqjPAfug
 
Thank you so much for supporting us with this.

Dear Parents and Carers,

Despite this being a shorter week, the last few days have been incredibly busy as our senior pupils prepare for their upcoming national qualifications and our S2 and S3 pupils are busy choosing their options for next session.

It was great to see lots of parents at our Senior Options Information Evening and Mr Ewing has more details about this process below.

Today’s update includes 4 key notices:

1. An update on our options process (Mr Ewing)
2. Information about e-Sgoil, a fantastic study support programme (Mr Ewing)
3. An update on our drive to promote positive behaviour and relationships (Mr Harvey and Mrs Watson)
4. Support services available for pupils, families and staff (Ms Devlin)

If you have any questions, about these topics or others, please don’t hesitate to contact us.
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We hope you have a relaxing weekend,

Miss Claire Meakin
Head Teacher

S2 into S3 Options: Just a reminder the deadline for the S2 into S3 options forms is today (Friday 18th February) . There is a recording of the recent S2 into S3 Options Information evening available here: http://www.kgsorkney.com/options2.html

Senior Options:  All our options materials are “live” on the KGS website under the options tab and parents were also sent an Options Parents and Pupils guide electronically.

The Senior Option Course sheet will be given to pupils in PSE but is available electronically if required. Pupils choose from the courses which are listed on the Courses on Offer sheet.

Also on the website is a short Parents and Pupils Guide to Options booklet as well as the Senior Phase Course Descriptors, which gives more detailed information on each of our course.

Finally, for details on the offer from Orkney College, the College Brochure is also on our website.

To help S3 pupils plan for their options in S5 and S6 there is a Progression Pathways sheet available.

The deadline for the completed option forms is Friday March 4th.
​
Online Support: There are two presentations on the KGS website to support parents of S3 and S4/S5 pupils. They can also be accessed by following the links below.
S4 into S5 and S5 into S6 https://prezi.com/view/1InsAXQZpPoROerwRQgT/
S3 into S4 https://prezi.com/view/nWLfUw7CM6MFTo4E583t/

e-sgoil is an online study support programme with live webinars designed to support learners in most N5 and Higher subjects. It’s free and more information including a timetable of events can be found here: https://e-sgoil.com/study-support

​We are continuing to support pupils’ punctuality in the mornings. Pupils who arrive after the 8:35 bell three times in one week receive a whole school lunchtime detention. We are pleased to report that the number of pupils who receive a detention for late coming is low. We would like to thank you for your continued support in promoting positive behaviour choices. 

Last week we shared with you some details for support services available for pupils, families and staff across Orkney: http://www.kgsorkney.com/orkney-support-service.html
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We continue to add information to this page but if there is additional support you or your child need and there isn’t a link on this page, please don’t hesitate to contact us via your child’s Guidance Teacher.

Dear Parents and Carers,

Thank you for your exceptional support over the last few days. We have been incredibly grateful for your kindness and understanding whilst we work together to ensure pupils are well-supported, in school and beyond.

Earlier this week we shared a link to a page on our website which details a number of support services across Orkney. (You can find the link from our homepage or directly here: http://www.kgsorkney.com/orkney-support-service.html)

Next week, we’ll continue our support for pupils, communicating with you if we have any concerns. Over this long weekend though, we do hope you all have a relaxing few days. 

If you have any questions or concerns, please don’t hesitate to contact me.

Miss Claire Meakin
Head Teacher