KNOX NEWS

TheNewsletterofKnoxAcademy
October2011

FROMTHEHEADTEACHER
DearParents/Carers, Welcometothis,therstKnoxNewsofsession20112012.Iamsurethatthesessionwillbehectic, enjoyableandsuccessful.Iknowyouwillsupporttheschoolinencouragingyouryoungsterto achievetheirpotential,notonlyinexaminationsbutalsoacrossarangeofactivitiesandareasandI amsurewealllookforwardtohearingabouttheirachievementsduringtheyear. Sofar,wehavehadaverybusyterminvolvingawidevarietyofeventsincludingtheS1Induction Morning,sportinganddramaevents,S1SettlinginEvening,Sta/S6Weekendandmore.Detailsof theseeventscanbefoundontheschoolswebsite. AsummaryoftheSQAresultsiscontainedinthisnewsletter.Congratulationstostaandpupils alikeonanimpressivesetofresultsthatreectthehardworkoflastsession.Itisagreatpleasure toseetheseniorsachievetheresultsnecessarytomoveontothenextstageoftheirlivesand careers. SincethelastKnoxNewsinJunetherehavebeensomestangchanges.InAugustwewelcomed thefollowingstatoKnox:MsKMacready(ArtandDesign),MrSFerriman(Geography),MsS Moat(History),MsCCrightonandMrAMacKinnon(PE),MsSBaird(RMPS),MrSDisbury (English),MrARedford(ModernStudies)andMrJTennant(Computing).Also,wewelcomeback MrsKFairbairn(English),MsKJohnston(ArtandDesign)andMsGGood(Biology).MsCSlowther hasbeenappointedActingPrincipalTeacher(Curriculum):Science. WebreakfortheOctoberholidayonFriday14Octoberat12.05pm,pupilsresumeonTuesday25 Octoberat8.44am. Verybestwishes. JBCraig HeadTeacher

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KNOXNEWS

S4PUPILSGOTOWORK
ThenewFourthYearpupilsarealreadygearingupforaweekofrealworkoutinthe community.Initiallettershavebeengivenout(ifyouhaventseenit,itsontheschool website)givinginformationaboutplacementsanddates.Theweekwereallplanningtowards is: November21st25th Inthepastsomepupilshavegainedfulltimeemploymentfromshowinghowcommittedand hardworkingtheyareduringthisoneweekplacement,whilstothershavelearntthevery importantlessonaboutwhichcareertheyDONTwanttopursue! Thereisalottodobeforepupilsareallowedoutonworkexperienceandweappreciateyour support. Ifyouhaveanyquestions,pleasedonthesitatetocontactMissEassonatschool.Thankyou. JEasson PTGuidance

EDINBURGHINTERNATIONALBOOKFESTIVAL
OnTuesday23rdofAugust,agroupof2ndyearpupilswenttotheEdinburghInternationalBook Festival.ThepupilswereattendingtheeventBestandWorstofTimeswithElizabethLairdand JasonWallace.ThestudiotheatrewaslledwithpupilsfromschoolsacrossScotlandandKnox pupilswerefantasticambassadorsfortheschool.Aspupilssettleddownforthesessionthe authorswalkedintofacetheirappreciativeaudience. Bothauthorshavelivedinothercountriesandtheyusetheirexperiencestoinuencetheir writing.ElizabethhastaughtEnglishinmanycountries,andstillreturnstoplaceswhereshehas livedandworkedfortheinspirationforhermanynovels.Shespoketopupilsaboutherpassion forwritingandhowthesmallestofthingscanbeturnedintoastory.Pupilsgaspedasshespoke aboutbeinginvolvedinsituationsmanyofthemhadheardaboutonthenews,fromthe bombingsinLebanontostreetchildreninEthiopia.Elizabethhasseenmanyoftheconicts aroundtheworld. JasonwhohasjusthadhisrstnovelpublishedOutofShadowsspokeabouthowgrowingup andbeingschooledinZimbabweshapedthenovelandhowtheexperienceshehadin Zimbabwehavehadanimpactonhislife.Hepointedoutthatthoughtheschoolinthenovel wasnothingliketheschoolheattended,hedidseeandhearmanyoftheattitudesofthepupils voicedinthenovelbeingexpressedashewasgrowingup. TheauthorsthentookquestionsfrompupilsattendingtheeventandRuairidhBrucemanaged togettheauthorsthinkingaboutwhatwastheirfavouritenovel.Pupilshaveallsaidtheevent wasworthwhileandhavegivengoodideasonhowfutureeventscouldbedeveloped. B.Plain Librarian

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ACCELERATEDREADER
S1/2andpupilsattendingLearningSupporthavebeguntousetheAcceleratedReadersoftware fromRenaissancePlace. AcceleratedReaderallowsschoolstatoencouragepupilstodeveloptheirreading.Staare abletomonitorpupilscomprehensionandvocabularythroughthebookquizzesand comprehensiontestsonthesoftware. Parents/CarerscankeeptrackontheirchildsprogressthroughHomeConnect.Lettersonhowto accessHomeConnectwillbeissuedtopupilsaftertheOctoberbreakandfurtherinformationwill beavailableonthelibrarywebpageatwww.kanet.org.uk. OneareaofAcceleratedReaderthatisveryinteractiveisARBooknd.Bookndallowsyouto organisepersonalreadinglistswhichyoucanthenrequestfromEastLothianCatalogueortaketo theschoollibrarytoborrowthebooksonyourlist.PupilswillneedtheReadingZonethathas beenfoundtottheircomprehensionresultintheinitialtesttoorganisetheirreadinglist.This willhavebeengiventopupilsbeforetheOctoberbreak. ARBookndalsoletsyouselecttheageappropriatetextsforthechildaccessingthesoftwarein InterestLevel.PupilsmayalsonditusefultoselectAdditionalCriteriaandbrowsebookswith quizzesonareasthatinterestthem;therearemanysubjectstochoosefromincludingAnimals, MythologyandBiographies. AnyquestionsrelatingtoAcceleratedReadercanbedirectedtoanymemberofEnglish DepartmentstaortheSchoolLibrarian. B.Plain Librarian

ABSENCES
Itisvitallyimportantthatparentsandcarerskeepusuptodatewithinformationaboutpupil absence.Ifwedonotreceiveverbalnoticationofabsence,pupilswillautomaticallyberecorded as"Truancy".Ifwedonotreceiveafollowupnote/emailfollowingtelephonenotication,pupils willbemarkedas"ToBeConrmed"whichiseventuallycountedastruancyinoursystem. Pleaseremembertogivetheschoolacallordropusanemailassoonasyouknowthatyour youngsterisgoingtobeabsentthisisespeciallyimportantgiventhenumberofositeactivities thathavebeenarrangedoverthenextfewweeks. SIngham DeputeHeadTeacher

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KNOXNEWS

S2LANDYACHTCHALLENGE
On3rdand4thOctober2011allS2pupilstookpartintheDesignTechnologyDepartmentLand YachtChallenge.Thegroupsworkedover3periodsingroupsof4todesignandmanufacturea windpoweredvehicle.Theteamshadlimitedmaterialstocreateastrong,stablestructureto catchasmuchwindaspossibletopropelthevehiclealonginastraightline.Theaimofthe projectwastoseewhichgroupcouldmakeayachtthatcouldtravelthefurthest. Allteamssuccessfullycompletedtheircolourful,inventivelandyachtsandracedagainsteach other.Certicateswereawardedinthefollowingcategories:mostoriginaldesign,most eectiveteam,mosteectiveindividualandthewinningteam,whichproducedthevehiclethat travelledthefurthest. Thefourwinningteamsforthefurthestdistancewere: Mondayam:LucyCouperwhite,RowanCraig,ConallBoardman,LeonDoig Mondaypm:AngelaLynch,GeorgeDavies,RobbieFinlayson,VictoriaBlake Tuesdayam:HarryDawson,BriegeDick,GregorSyme,MaxTinch Tuesdaypm:PeterMacaldowie,AmyMead,SarahNugent,RebeccaSmith Manythanksmustbegiventothejudgesofthefourseparateevents:MrSHarrisonfrom HadFab,MikeLemmonfromMikesbikes,JanWilsonandEmilyArmatagefromtheCommunity Councilandourown,MrJYoung. SMoore TechnologiesFaculty

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E X A M R E S U LT S
Congratulationstoallpupilsonaverygoodsetofresults. Resultsbyend %ofrelevant of SeptS4roll achieving S4 English&Maths @Level3or better 5+@Level3or better 5+@Level4or better 5+@Level5or better S5 1+@Level6or better 3+@Level6or better 5+@Level6or better S6 1+@Level7or better KnoxAcademy EastLothian Scotland

08/0909/1010/11 08/0909/1010/11 08/0909/1010/11 98 96 100 97 95 93 96 95 94 96 96 95 93 92 93 92 93 93

84 46 46 28 14 25

84 52 50 36 22 20

84 45 62 39 19 24

84 38 45 27 12 16

83 39 46 26 12 19

82 37 47 27 12 16

78 35 41 23 11 14

78 36 43 25 11 15

78 35 44 26 12 15

Pleasenotethatall10/11guresarepreappeal. Level3=Access3andStandardGrade56 Level4=Intermediate1ACandStandardGrade34 Level5=Intermediate2ACandStandardGrade12

Level6=HigherAC Level7=AdvancedHigherAC

LIBRARYELF
Wouldyouliketoreceivenoticethatyouarejustabouttogooverdueonyourlibraryloansoran emailnoticethatyouhavereservationswaitingforyou?ThenLibraryElfcouldbewhatyouneed. Fromasafe,externalwebsitethatmonitorsonlyyourloanandreservations,LibraryElfsendsyou anemailintimeforyoutoreneworreturnitemsbeforeyougooverdue.Yousetyourown preferencesforthereminderswithinthesiteandcanrequestthatLibraryElfsendsyouanotice whenyourreservationsareavailable. FormoreinformationonLibraryElfpleasefollowtheEastLothianLibrarieslinkontheschoollibrary webpage. BPlain Librarian

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KNOXNEWS

THELAMMERMUIRFESTIVAL
TheLammermuirFestivalisacelebrationofclassicalmusic,bringingprofessionalperformersto variousvenuesacrossEastLothian.Nowinitssecondyear,theorganisersoftheFestivalare keentoinvolveschoolpupilsinasmanyoftheconcertsaspossible.Thismightbeasaudience members,critics,boxocestaorparticipantsinworkshops.KnoxpupilsBenNisbetinS5and GayleMiddletoninS6bothvolunteeredtohelpwithsellingticketsandprogrammesatsomeof theHaddingtonconcerts. StileAnticoatStMarysParishChurch On19thSeptemberanumberofpupilsintheHigherMusicclassattendedaconcertof RenaissancechoralworksperformedbyawardwinningchoirStileAntico.Thiswasnotonlya veryenjoyableconcert,butalsoausefulrevisionexperienceforthepupilswhohadjustnished studyingRenaissancemusicinclass!StileAnticoconsistsof12singers,andtheysangeverything unaccompaniedandwithoutaconductor.Duringtheinterval,BenNisbetinS5hadthe opportunitytointerviewamemberofthechoiraboutwhatitisliketobeaprofessionalsinger. OneoftheothersingerscametochattotheHigherpupilsaboutwhattheyhadbeenlearning inclass.ThiswasafantasticopportunitytohearoneoftheUKsbestchoirsinourownback yard. NorthernLightsWindQuintetRecitalatKnox AspartoftheLammermuirFestival,theNorthernLightsWindQuintetvisitedKnoxAcademyto givearecitaltopupilsstudyingMusicinS5andS6.Themembersofthequintetareallstudents attheRoyalConservatoireofScotland.Theyplayedawiderangeofpiecesfromthe1600sright uptothepresentday.Theytoldpupilsalittlebitofthebackgroundtoeachpiece,andpointed outsomeoftheimportantmusicalfeatures,orconcepts,thatpupilsmightcomeacrossintheir Listeningexams.Attheendoftherecital,theplayerswerehappytoanswerquestionsand demonstratesomeofthemoreunusualsoundsthatwoodwindinstrumentscanmake.Thiswas anothergreatopportunityforpupilstoexperiencelivemusicperformedbyaprofessional ensemble. EOrr MusicDepartment

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LANCECORPORALJAMESWHARTONSALUTESKNOXACADEMY
WewerehonouredanddelightedtohostavisittoKnoxAcademyfrom decoratedsoldierLanceCorporalJamesWhartononWednesday28th September.HespoketotheawardwinningKWNteamwhowerethrilledto showJamesthelmtheymadecalledItGetsBetter.Jameswasveryimpressedbythe enthusiasmandprofessionalismoftheteamwhoselmwontheGlobalCitizenshipAwardfrom KWNandPanasonic. Jamesthentalkedtotheassembledthirdyearinthehall.Usingnolms,slidesorfancyaudio visualeects,JamesspokehonestlyandfranklyaboutlifeintheArmyasanopenlygayman. HerearejustsomeofthecommentsfromS3pupilssumminguptheirexperience: Itwasveryinspiring! ItwasinterestingtondyoucouldntbegayintheUSforcesuntillastweek! Ireallyadmiredyouropennessandthoughtitwaslovely.Veryinteresting Ilearntthateveryoneisequalnomatterwhat Jamesheldtheaudienceenthralledashetoldusoflifeinthearmy,servingQueenandcountryin theHouseholdCavalryandghtinginIraq.Hecameunderheavyquestioningrefromthegroup andheansweredeveryquestionfromHaveyoushotanyone?toWhendidrealiseyouwere gay?withintegrityandhonesty.ThepupilsrespondedsowelltoJames,theyspontaneously applaudedthroughoutthetalkandweretouchedwhenherecountedhisproposalandsub sequentmarriagetoTom.Jamestackledtheuseofthewordgayasaninsult,describinghow thatfeelsandIfeelsurethatThirdYearwillthinkagainbeforeusingthewordinaderogatoryor insultingway. JamestimewithuswasalltooshortandImsurehecouldhaveentertainedandeducatedusfor longerbutsadlyhehadtogo.HehasletusknowthatKnoxwasoneofthemostinterestedand enthusiasticgroupshehasmetonhiscountrywidetourofschoolsandhewasveryimpressed withthewarmreceptionfromourpupils. JamesvisitwassupportedbyStonewallScotland.IfyouwanttolearnmoreaboutJamesyou willndhimonYouTube. JEasson PTGuidance

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KNOXNEWS

THEECOCLUB
TheBiologyDepartmenthassetupathrivingEcoClubinKnoxAcademy.EveryTuesday lunchtimeagroupofveryenthusiasticS1pupilshavebeenmeetingtogetinvolvedin environmentalactivities.Thistermwehave:madeearringsandbanglesusingoldbeadsfrom necklacesthatwouldhavebeendiscarded;plantedseedlingsandtakencuttingsofplants;and mostrecentlywehavestartedarecyclingrota.Thisweekwearegoingtomakekeyringsfrom oldcrisppacketsthatwewillshrinkintheoven. TheEcoClubisnowgoingtofocusongettinginvolvedinEcoLife,whichwillbeheldon1st December.WeaimtobuildonthesuccessoflastyearseventwithaChristmas Market,aDonateStationforlocalCharityShopsandafashionshowwithsome veryspecialguests!Wehopethatyouwillbeabletojoinus.Fulldetailswillbe postedontheschoolwebsite. DrGWilson BiologyDepartment

UNIVERSITYSUCCESS
Congratulationstothefollowingformerpupilswhohaverecentlygraduatedfromuniversity: AberdeenUniversity: BarrieJessLedingham ClaireGaughan CatrionaSmith RachelBlackburn MBChB MBChB MBChB MBChB EdinburghNapierUniversity: KevinBarrie BSc UniversityofAbertay: SamanthaSmith BA

VickySharpDipHE HeriotWattUniversity: StephenDale CallumElliot ScottKillen JennyMaggio IainQuate BSc BEng MEng BSc BSc BSc

EdinburghUniversity: AndrewMcInnes TraceyHutcheon JuliaGalloway JaneRobb BSc BSc BSc BSc

ErinVallance

GlasgowUniversity: SarahJalicy BSc

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SALUT!FROMAUBIGNY
InJune,GregorMcMillanwastheworthyrecipientoftheAliceBurnettTwinning Scholarship.InascenereminiscentoftheOscars,Gregorcouldntbewithusatthe AwardsCeremonyashewasalreadyenjoyinghistimeinAubigny.Hewroteamuch longeraccountofhistimeinFranceandhereisanexcerpt: Theaveragedaybeganatsometimebefore10:00whenIstartedworkatAubignyTouristOce. Aftertwohoursseriouslyhardgraft(thinkbuildingpyramids)translating,orwriting,or researching,Iwanderedoforalittlelunchbreak(thinkbanquet).Andthenonceagain,backto theoceforsomefurtherlabour(thinkAugeanStables).Theocewasagreatplacetobe,and thestagoodhumouredandwonderfullyexible.80hourswellspentIthink! ButwhatdidyoudotherestofthetimeIhearyouasking?Heresalist:Ireadsevenbooks, sunbathed,taughtpeopleCeilidhdancing,ranaroundAubignyTown,ateanddranktoexcess,got invitedtoafunctionbyacount,madefriends,learnedaboutRussianBallet,waswinedanddined inamassivecastle,visitedavineyard,wentmountainbikingthroughtheSancerreVignobles,was inthepaperfourtimes,learnttouseanAZERTYkeyboard,mademorefriends,visitedParis climbedtheEielTowerandwanderedthroughMonmartre,ateFoieGras,tookaleapoffaith withcheese,visitedaglasshousemadeofstone,madeyetmorefriends,spentadayinVersaille andnaturally,putonthreekilos.Abusymonth,alltold. Sucetosay,Imgoingback. GregorisnowundertakinghisundergraduatestudiesatStJohnsCollege,Cambridge.Wewishhim allthebestnow,andinthefuture.

GOINGFORGOLD
S4pupilLloydConnellrepresentedCityOfEdinburghTrampolineClub(wherehehasbeena memberforjustunderayear)attheScottishGymnasticsSeptemberGradingCompetition.He competedinalargegroupofover30gymnasts(male&female)intheOver15RegionalG Category,whereheleadtheeldinroundoneandwalkedawaywiththeGoldMedalposition afterround2.ThiswasonlyLloydssecondScottishCircuitcompetitionandnotonlydidhewin Goldforhisagegroupandlevel,hequaliedfortheScottishNationalChampionshipstobeheld onNovember12thatBellsSportsCentre,Perth.Wewishhimthebestofluckwithhistraining priortotheNationalsandwishhimwellatthisprestigiousevent. LJerey GeographyDepartment

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KNOXNEWS

THEEASTLOTHIANSPECIALNEEDSPLAYSCHEME
EveryyearnumerouspupilsfromalloverEastLothiantakepartintheSpecialNeeds Playscheme.Pupilscanworkatoneofthreelocations:NorthBerwick,Prestonpansand SandersonsWyndPrimarySchool.Theyspendtimewithyoungsterswhoneedthatlittlebit morecareandattentionandlearnahugeamountintheprocess.Ireceivedthefollowingnote fromtheHeadTeacherofSandersonsWynd: Theirhardwork,enthusiasmandpatienceallcontributetomakingtheplayschemesso successful.Theschemeswouldnothappenwithouttheseamazingvolunteerswhosupportthe staandpupilsinsomanyways.Seeingtheminactionisaprivilegearealcredittoyourschool. Ourpupilsgaveupatotalof51weeksbetweenthemduringthesummerholidays. Theyare:SamBland,JuliaCockburn,KathrynCouperwhite,GabyFoy,SarahHall,Alasdair Hastings,AilieHenderson,KatieHogg,ShellbyLeckie,FrancesMcBean,ConorMcHugh,Aileen McKnight,RobertMcPake,GrahamMcWilliams,GavinRedpath,MeganRichardson,Abbie Scott,BethThomson,JackThomson,andJadeWatson. SIngham DeputeHeadTeacher

TRAMPOLINING
ClassesruntwiceaweekandarefacilitatedbyCityofEdinburghTrampolineClub(CETC). ClassesareopentoS1S6andnoexperienceisrequired.TheCETCcoachesoerprofessional tuitioninmovesandroutines.Thistermclassesareworkingoncompetitionroutinesandmany areworkingontheirfrontsomersaults.ForsignupinformationseeMrLambert. AdevelopmentclasshasbeensetupatMeadowmillSportsCentre,thisisprogressingwelland manyKnoxpupilswillstartcompetingontheScottishCircuitforthestartofthe2012season. ParticipantsareallworkingRegionalGcompetitionroutine. AnOpenNightwasheldonWednesday14thSeptember,withvisitingScottishNational ChampionsandBritishLeveltrampolinistsfromCityOfEdinburghTrampolineClub.Youngsters fromallyearswereinvitedtocomealongandhaveagoalongsidethecompetitivegymnasts whogaveanimpressivedisplayofsomeoftheirskillstotheKnoxpupilsandActiveSchools CoordinatorsSuzanneLaingandAndyLambertwhowereinattendance. LJerey GeographyDepartment

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CAREERS
IamJenniferJones,theCareersAdviserforKnoxAcademy.TheorganisationI workforisSkillsDevelopmentScotland.Iamusuallyinschoolalldayona WednesdayandaThursdaymorning.Mostofthistimeisspentcarryingout 1:1careersinterviewswithpupilsinS4S6.Attheirinterviewpupilshavethe chancetotalkabouttheircareerideas,askquestionsandexploretheir options.Iwillbeaskingthemlotsofquestionstoo!!Attheendoftheir interviewpupilsmaygetaPlanofActionwithalistofthingstheyneedto do.Acopyofthisisgiventotheirguidanceteacher.IvisiteachS4,S5andS6classduringtherst halfoftheacademicyeartodoacareersbasedlesson,explainmyroleandhowpupilscangetin touch.TheyarealsoissuedwithaCareersNewsletterwithmycontactdetailsandlotsofother usefulinformationaboutcareersandplanningtheirfuture.OnaWednesdayduringmorning breakIholdaCareersDropInwhereanypupilfromS1S6cancomealongtoaskaquestion. PupilsinS4,S5andS6canrequestacareersinterviewbycompletingainterviewrequest formtheseareavailableinthecareerssectionoftheschoollibraryandfromtheschoollibrarian andguidancesta.Competedcardsshouldbeplacedinthecareersboxinthelibraryortheycan behandedtotheschoollibrarianortheirguidanceteacher.WhenIamnotinschoolIcanbe contactedbyemailorphone.Idbehappytohearfromyousopleasegetintouchifyouhaveany questions. JenniferJones SkillsDevelopmentScotland

TOTSNTEENS
Asyoumighthaveseenfromthewebsiteandthelocalpress,KnoxAcademyisproudtowelcome theTotsnTeensnurserytoitsfamily.Atpresentthereare10Totswhocomeintothenursery threetimesaweek.Thereare18Teenswhoareinvolvedoverthesessiononarotabasis (otherwisetheteenswouldoutnumberthetots!),learningaboutchilddevelopmentandchild care.Itisaveryexcitingventureandhasbroughtanotherdimensiontotheschool,asCouncillor PeterMcKenziesays:Havingamixofpupilsandstabringsthebestofbothworlds;enthusiasm, energyandideasfromthepupils,whoareguidedbysta,withthematurity,knowledgeand experienceofpreschoolchildcare. Pleasecall07974379161or01620827156forfurtherinformation. SIngham DeputeHeadTeacher

DATESFORTHEDIARY
Monday24thOctober Tuesday25thOctober Wednesday26thOctober Thursday27thOctober Monday7thNovember Monday21stNovember Wednesday30thNovember Thursday1stDecember Monday5thDecember Thursday8thDecember Tuesday20thDecember Thursday22ndDecember Monday9thJanuary2012 Tuesday10thJanuary Wednesday11thJanuary Thursday19thJanuary Monday23rdJanuary InServiceDay PupilsResume S4ParentsConsultationEvening S3DipTetImmunisations HigherDramaInvestigativePresentations HigherDramaInvestigativePresentations S4Prelimsbegin S4WorkExperienceWeek PSPMeeting(6.15pm) EcoLifeEvening S2MidYIStesting(wholeweek) WinterDisco(7pm) ChristmasConcerts(2pm&7pm) AllBreakat4pm InServiceDay PupilsResume S6Pantomime(7pm) PSPMeeting(6.15pm) S3ParentsConsultationEvening S5/6Prelimsbegin

KnoxAcademy PencaitlandRoad Haddington EastLothian EH414DT 01620823387 knoxacademy@knox.elcschool.org.uk