Parent and Carers Update, September 2, 2022

Dear Parents and Carers 
 
Thank you for your continued support during another busy week. We are currently preparing for possible school closures next week and ensuring our pupils are ready for individual learning on these days.
 
In the meantime, we hope you all have a relaxing weekend. 

Mr Neil Ewing 
Acting Head Teacher 

Today’s update contains 7 notices 

1. School closure arrangements 
2. OIC Attendance policy changes 
3. Family Fridays@KGS 
4. Maths for S1 Parents 
5. Promoting Positive Behaviour and Relationships - Dress Code 
6. Securing the Highest Level of Universal Support - Younger pupils’ safety on school buses 
7. Orkney Careers Fair 2022 

1. School closure arrangements - should industrial action take place next Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, and KGS is closed to pupils:

College Courses - Wednesday morning and Thursday afternoon 
Orkney College will be open as normal to KGS pupils who attend classes there on Wednesday morning and Thursday afternoon. However as there will be no school transport, pupils will need to make their own travel arrangements. Bus passes are available in the school office if pupils need them.

Independent learning for S2 to S6 
S2 to S6 pupils will have tasks to complete during school closure days and all resources will be available on their individual class Teams. Pupils must check they have access to their Teams. Any pupils having password problems should email Mr Harvey: alasdair.harvey@glow.orkneyschools.org.uk 

Independent learning for S1 
S1 pupils aren't ready for Teams quite yet, so there will be an area on the front page of the school website where S1 pupils can find a link to each of the subjects they would study on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday and instructions on the tasks they should complete.  

The work provided will not mirror the amount of class time the pupils will miss in each subject and instead will be a proportion of it. Our experience of lockdown was that pupils were sometimes overwhelmed by the amount of work they were being asked to do so we have tried to make the work provided easy to access and realistic to complete. Pupils can complete their subject work in any order. 

There will be assemblies for S1 and S2 pupils on Monday explaining how they will access learning. 

2. Attendance policy changes 

School communities – from head teachers to parents and carers - are being asked to help support attendance at schools throughout Orkney. 

If your child is absent due to illness, please phone the school office before 9.00am and leave a message on the answer machine - explaining the reason why your child will not be in school. Parents will be expected to phone and inform us on each day of illness unless it is a planned absence.  

Where the school has not been informed of a pupil's absence, a text message will be sent to the main parental contact number (usually a mobile telephone number) asking them to contact the school to explain why their child is not in school (at this stage choose option 3 and speak directly to a member of the office staff). Parents/guardians/carers are asked to respond to these texts promptly, as there may be a serious reason why a pupil has not reached school in time to be registered. 
If we haven't heard from parents or carers at this stage, we will then try to contact you by phone to confirm that your child is absent with your permission. 

3. Family Fridays@KGS 
Over the course of this session the Parent Council would like to invite parents into KGS on Friday mornings for school visits. The visits would be in small groups and run between 10am and 11am. Each visit would include a tour of the school in action, a chat with the Senior Leadership team over a cup of coffee, and a visit to some classrooms. The first date is Friday 9th of September and parents can email parent.council@glow.orkneyschools.org.uk by Wednesday 7th September to book a place. The next visit will be on September 30th and then take place monthly after that 

4. Maths for S1 Parents  
Roz McMahon, our Acting PT of Maths, is putting on a series of Maths information events this session.  
The first online event will be on Wednesday 21 September, 7.30pm to 8pm on Vscene - Introduction to Maths and will look at the topics covered in S1, available resources, Assessments in S1 and Maths progression in the BGE and beyond 

Join here:  
https://app.vscene.net/r/V3x9LacmRa 

The second online meet will be on Wednesday 5 October 7.30pm to 8pm on Vscene and will cover the following: 
Number and how we teach it 

Join here: 
https://app.vscene.net/r/uYOoVaC7XL 

5. Promoting Positive Behaviour and Relationships (Mr Harvey) 

Dress Code 
Over the first 3 weeks of the new term we have continued to consistently share our expectations with pupils. As always the majority of our pupils conduct themselves in an exemplary manner most of the and are a credit to their families and the school. 
It has been great to see pupils in Dress Code. It is now extremely rare for us to have to remind pupils about Dress Code during the day. As the weather gets colder in the weeks ahead the temperature in school can fluctuate so we ask that pupils have both a school hoodie/jumper and a hoodie/jumper so as they can continue wearing Dress Code as the top layer in all circumstances. 
Please take a minute to watch the short video below that gives an explanation of our Dress Code and why we have it: 
https://prezi.com/v/view/748XzCvTZJJACWmYchXg/  

Securing the Highest Level of Universal Support (Ms Devlin) 

6. Younger pupils’ safety on school buses  We have had a few concerns raised about S1 and 2 pupils crossing the road in a dangerous way when they get on and off school buses in different locations in our school catchment area, and members of the public have reported this to us. We would very much appreciate it if you could remind your young person not to walk out from behind school busses to cross the road. 

7. Orkney Careers Fair 2022 
The Orkney Careers Fair 2022 will be held on Thursday 15 September 2022, in the Arena, Pickaquoy Centre, Kirkwall.  There will be 66 exhibitors attending, representing a wide range of career pathways available to young people and adults in Orkney. The event will be open from 9.30am-6pm.  

​The Guidance team are working to make sure as many of our S3 to S6 pupils will be able to attend the event as possible and more details will follow shortly once arrangements are finalised.