What’s happening next week?
| Date | Year Group | Event |
| Monday 20th – 24th Jan | S4-S6 | SP formal assessments continue |
| Monday 20th Jan | S1-S3 | Launch of updated mobile phone policy |
| Tuesday 21st Jan | Parent/Carers | Information Options Evening |
| Wednesday 22nd Jan | Parent/Carers | Parent Council Meeting – in person |
| Thursday 23rd Jan | Parent/Carers | Information session for N5 Maths |
Our website has all the dates for the school year (as currently planned), click here to see them – https://www.kelsohighschool.org.uk/calendar/
Mobile Phone Policy
As highlighted last week, we have updated our Mobile Phone Policy as part of our commitment to fostering a focused learning environment that prioritises achievement. This updated policy is designed to minimise the potential negative impact of mobile devices on teaching and learning.
Implementation Timeline:
- S1 – S3 learners: The policy will be start on Monday, 20th January.
- S4 – S6 learners: The policy will take effect from Monday, 27th January, as this is a whole-school policy.
Yesterday, I spoke with all S1–S3 learners to explain the changes and answer their questions.
Parent/Carer Support:
We kindly ask that all parents and carers contact their young person through the school office during lesson times. Learners may use their mobile phones only during intervals (10:30am – 10:45am) and lunchtimes (1:15pm – 2:05pm). Please note that the school accepts no responsibility for replacing lost, stolen, or damaged mobile devices.
Frequently Asked Questions:
- My child uses their phone for a medical purpose. What will they do?
We are aware that a small number of learners use their phones for medical purposes (e.g. managing diabetes or heart conditions). These young people are exempt from handing in their phones, and staff are fully informed of their needs. - My child is a young carer. What will they do?
We understand that many of our young people are young carers. While all learners will still be required to hand in their phones during lessons, they will have access to their devices between lessons, at intervals, and during lunchtime. If you have concerns, please contact your child’s pastoral teacher to discuss further - What happens in the event of a fire alarm?
In the event of a fire alarm, all young people must follow the school’s emergency evacuation procedures, making their way to the closest evacuation point as quickly as possible with their class teacher. In an emergency, the school will contact parents/carers directly. - Will all learners need to hand in their phones during every lesson?
Yes, all S1–S6 learners will be required to hand in their mobile phones at the beginning of each lesson. A consistent approach will be applied across the school to ensure fairness.
Thank you for your support in helping us implement this policy effectively. Should you have any further questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to get in touch.
Information Evening: Options for Young People in S3–S6
Date: Tuesday 21st January 2025
Time: 6:00pm – 7:00 pm
Location: Abbey Row Community Centre
We invite parents, carers, and young people in S3 – S6 to an Information Evening focused on exploring options and pathways for life after school. This session is particularly valuable for those considering leaving school at the end of S4 and seeking advice on available routes.
The session will be facilitated by:
- Julie from Skills Development Scotland
- Stacey from Developing the Young Workforce
- Louise from the CLD Service
We hope you’ll join us for this opportunity to gain insight and guidance tailored to support your child’s future plans.
Information update for National 5 Maths
We invite all our National 5 Maths young people and their parents/carers to a brief meeting on Thursday 23rd January at 6:00pm.
This meeting will provide an opportunity to share our plans for the completion and support of National 5 Maths in light of the current shortage of Maths teachers. We encourage young people to attend as we will also outline study support options and gather feedback on preferred approaches. Your input and engagement will be invaluable as we work together to ensure the best possible outcomes for our learners. We look forward to seeing you there.
Parent Council Meeting Wednesday 22/01/25
We warmly invite you to attend our next in-person Parent Council meeting on Wednesday 22nd January at 7:00pm held at Kelso High School.
This meeting provides an opportunity to hear updates on staffing, school news, and other important developments. The primary focus will be on the KHS Curriculum Offer – exploring what and how we deliver the Scottish Curriculum.
We encourage you to join us, share your thoughts, and take advantage of this opportunity to ask any questions. We look forward to seeing you there!
AGENDA
- Welcome / Introductions / Apologies
- Approval of previous meetings minutes – 07.11.24
- Matters Arising / Action Tracker
- Chairperson’s Report
- Head Teacher’s Report
- Treasurers’ Report & Funding Requests
- Curriculum at KHS
- AOB
- Date of next meeting
If you would like to raise any particular queries please do so at the meeting or if you are unable to attend please submit the details by email to pckelsohighschool@scottishborders.npfs.org.uk
Senior Phase Formal Assessments
This week is our final week of Senior Assessments with all our Seniors returning to school on Monday 27th January. If any young person has missed their assessment(s) due to health or unforeseen circumstances then please contact DHT Mrs Wilson to rearrange a suitable time to complete any outstanding assessment(s) this week.
S3 Work Experience
Please see below letter regarding an upcoming work experience opportunity for all our S3 pupils. Details of next steps and support available are all detailed within this attachment.
Cheviot Youth
Parentspace
Please see the below details of a Parenting in the Teenage Years course for interested parents / carers. The course starts on Monday 20th January 2025 at 6.00pm (arrival & refreshments from 5:45pm) in Insight Youth, Kelso.
This course is for parents/carers of 11-19 year olds providing a space to share ideas and information as you chart your way through the challenges of the teenage years.
The first three sessions look at laying good foundations in relationships with your teenagers: understanding the pressures they face, connecting with them, meeting their emotional needs and improving how you communicate with them.
Then we come to some of the harder topics: how parenting style effects your teenager, negotiation, setting boundaries and dealing with some of the big issues like drugs, sex and the internet. Finally we look at building good family memories. There will be a 2 week break for the SBC half term holiday. To book a place on the course click here.
Equestrian Team
The first NSEA Competition of this year will be held at Alnwickford Equestrian on 1st March 2025. This will be a jumping with style competition. There will be a open classes from 30cm up and NSEA classes from 60cm to 1m 10cm. For more information please contact Gillian McFadyen 07767 757013 / gillian@borderstraininggroup.co.uk.
Rugby – Well Done!
Huge congrats to our eight KHS learners on the Borders Girls’ U16 rugby team, who were runners-up in the U16s National Quaich on Sunday! They gave it their all against Boroughmuir/Lasswade at Peffermill – final score 42-35!
Special shoutout to coach Mrs. Whitson and a big thanks to Scotland Women’s coach Bryan Easson for handing out the medals! This amazing feat is even more remarkable given it is the team’s first season!
S2/3 Re-purposing Challenge
S2 and S3 pupils had an awesome time taking part in a Repurposing Challenge with Developing the Young Workforce – Borders and Borders Construction Forum! They kicked things off by surveying the Thomas Maconachie building, then let their creativity flow with ideas for how they’d repurpose it. Some even went all in, brainstorming new business names and logos!
A huge thank you to our amazing mentors from SBC and Scottish Building Standards who joined us to share their expertise and guide the students through the planning process. So much talent and teamwork in action!
Well Done!
Well done S1 Dramatists! Congratulations to Nina Kielo, Niah Wilson, Jocelyn Young and Ewan Murray in S1 for their recent fantastic work in Drama. Thank you to Miss Riley for her support of our learners.
Canteen Menu
