Calendar
Monday 19th May – Pupil Holiday
Parent Partnership
The next Parent Partnership meeting will be held on Tuesday the 10th June from 7-9 in the Art Department. The change of date is to avoid a clash with the P7 Information Evening.
The first hour of the meeting will be the Partnership Meeting. The second hour will be given over to the AGM. This part of the meeting will be particularly important as a new co-chair and secretary will need to be appointed. I would like to take this opportunity to thanks Joanne and Ed who have filled these roles respectively with great distinction for a number of years. I would also like to thank the Parent Partnership for being such a huge source of support, information and encouragement for me over the course of this session – I couldn’t have done it without you!
Common Breaks and Lunches
As you know we have been running a pilot of common breaks and lunches for all pupils over the last couple of months. The data around wait times, numbers using the canteen and reduction in disruption during senior lessons is all very positive but it is important that everyone has the chance to have their say. To that end I would be very grateful if you would complete this short online survey which will close to responses on 22.5.25. If the link below doesn’t work please just copy it in to your web browser and that should do the trick.
https://forms.gle/Ssdyp2cSxc5GS69T8
Thanks and Farewell
I am finding it very hard to believe that my year here at Dalkeith High School is coming to an end. Mrs Ormerod will be back with you on Monday 19th May and I know she is looking forward to getting back in to the thick of things.
My time here has been short but will count as one of the most important and formative periods of my career. I have learned so much and had the pleasure of working with an amazing group of staff, who truly go above and beyond for the young people on a daily basis. I would like to thank the parents and carers also – you have been nothing but supportive, patient and understanding in dealing with a new head teacher and I will remember the kindness you have all shown me fondly.
People told me that I would find the pupils here friendly and enthusiastic – and of course they were right. The pupils at Dalkeith High School are an amazing group of young people and are a credit to their community. I look forward to hearing of all of your successes and achievements over the years and cannot thank you enough for making my first experience of being a head teacher such as special one.
Best wishes
S Illingworth
Head Teacher (Acting)
Dalkeith High School runs a number of Lunch Clubs, Monday to Friday, in various locations around the school. Please take a look at the table here and speak to the relevant teacher if you are interested in taking part.
Week Beginning 17.3.25
Calendar
19/20.3.25 N5/NPA Drama Evening Performances
20.3.25 Youth Philanthropy Initiative Final
21.3.25 S2/3 Tracking Reports Issued
Parent Partnership
The next parent partnership meeting will be held in the Art Department from 7pm – 9pm on 31 March.
Senior Phase – Exam Preparation
Scotland’s National eLearning Offer is providing study support webinars during the Easter holiday across a range of subjects at National 4, 5 and Higher levels. Please use the link below to register for these sessions. If a young person does not know their GLOW login (required for registration), please see Mr Gordon.
Easter Study Support | e-Sgoil
We will be running our own Easter revision sessions here at DHS – Mr Knight is currently putting the timetable together and we will be in touch with the timetable very soon.
The school offers a range of study support sessions across the week, details can be found at this link. Supported-Study-Timetable-2024-25
We have purchased a whole school license for an online resource called Achieve (achieve.hashtag-learning.co.uk/accounts/login/). Pupils in S4-6 have been given login details.
Free School Meals
If your child qualifies for free school meals please remember that there is also some support during school holidays. Please see the link below for details. The link also contains information on clothing grants and checking for eligibility for free school meals.
Help with school meals during holidays and strike action | Free school meals and clothing grants | Midlothian Council
Polar Academy
Our Polar Academy Team of nine pupils and one member of staff are currently half way through their amazing expedition to Greenland. I know they are having an amazing time and we will be sharing highlights, photos and videos after they return. The dedication the pupils (and staff) have shown to prepare for this experience is quite remarkable!
Break/Lunch Trial
Thanks to everyone who has shared their views on the trial of a common lunch and breaks across all year groups. It has been really useful to hear people’s thoughts and this has allowed us to ensure we are taking everything in to account when planning the trial. I will be really interested to see how it goes and we will be in touch with ways for you to feedback once the trial is complete.
Best wishes
S Illingworth
Head Teacher (Acting)
This year Kinship Care Week will run from Monday 17th March – Friday 21st March 2025. This will be a chance to celebrate the connections and support local kinship peer support groups provide to Kinship Care families.
Find out more here
Upcoming in March is Scottish Apprenticeship week 2025. Click the link below to access a virtual booklet promoting live apprenticeship opportunities and events that will be taking place. Of further interest is an event on Tuesday 11 March. On this date, at least 13 local businesses will attend the school to offer current, ‘live’, apprenticeship opportunities. Pupils can apply for the posts there and then.
Pupils in S5 will attend during PSE time; those in S4 and S6, can attend during senior phase lunch. This is something that the school and Developing the Young Workforce are providing together for the first time. Young people are encouraged to attend this exciting event.
Read the virtual booklet by clicking HERE.
Change of exam day
Change of exam time
An updated timetable is available below.
Calendar
4.1.25 House Assemblies – Holocaust Memorial
4.1.25 Parent Partnership Meeting (7PM – 9PM Art Department)
5.1.25 Senior Phase Parents Evening (Telephone appointments)
10.2.25 – 17.2.25 February Break
Parent Partnership
The next parent partnership meeting will be held in the Art Department from 7pm – 9pm on Tuesday 4th February. I will be giving an update regarding what our data is showing in terms of bullying and equalities on the back of the launch of our new anti-bully policy in the autumn.
The policy can be found on the school website (https://dalkeith.mgfl.net/bullying-equalities/)
Dress Code
The school dress-code is designed to be flexible and to give parents/carers and pupils various options. However since the Christmas break we have seen an increase in two issues I am looking for your support to address.
More female pupils are wearing crop-tops and both male and female pupils are wearing coloured leisure wear. Crop-tops are not appropriate for school and your support with reinforcing this message would be appreciated. The school has been flexible about leisure wear as it is comfortable and something pupils will happily wear, but too many pupils are now wearing a range of colours, not the black outlined in the dress-code. On a campus with nearly two thousand pupils it is very important that staff can quickly identify pupils by their school. St David’s pupils wear grey/maroon hoodies and Dalkeith wear black. If our pupils are wearing multi-coloured tracksuits this identification becomes more difficult.
I am very aware that buying clothes for teenagers is expensive and some families find this particularly challenging. We have a clothing bank of new school uniform and if a young person needs anything we will happily provide this – please just let us know and this will be handled confidentially and sensitively.
Senior Phase – Exam Preparation
The school offers a range of study support session across the week, details can be found at this link. Supported Study Template 24 25.xlsx
We have purchased a whole school license for an online resource called Achieve (achieve.hashtag-learning.co.uk/accounts/login/). Pupils in S4-6 have been given login details.
Vaccines
The monthly bulletin you were sent last week contains specific information about the vaccine programme and dates for the return of consent forms. For general information about the vaccines please see the link below.
Vaccines for young people | NHS inform
Best wishes
S Illingworth
Head Teacher (Acting)
Calendar
14/15.1.25 S3 Coursing Appointments (PSL/Pupil)
20.1.25 Senior Phase Tracking reports issued, including Formal Assessment results.
Senior Phase – Formal Assessment Results and Next Steps
The tracking reports for S4-6 will be with you by the beginning of next week. These reports will include results from the recent formal assessments. If there are to be any changes to levels departments will either have indicated this in the tracking report or will be in touch directly. It is very pleasing that a number of pupils who were entered for National 4 will be changed to National 5 having done well in the assessments.
The school offers a range of study support session across the week, details can be found here.
We have purchased a whole school license for an online resource called Achieve (achieve.hashtag-learning.co.uk/accounts/login/). Pupils in S4-6 all have been given login details.
Achieve gives pupils access to a wide range of material to support independent study including past paper questions, video tutorials, and topic quizzes. I cannot emphasise enough how useful a tool this is, and I strongly encourage pupils to use it to support their studies.
HPV Vaccines
Parents of pupils who are entitled to the HPV vaccine will have received consent forms. For more information on the vaccine please follow the link below.
Vaccines for young people | NHS inform
Skills Development Scotland – Parent/Carer Survey
Skills Development Scotland (SDS) would like to find out how you talk to your child about careers and your awareness and use of our services. Your feedback will help us to understand your needs and how we can improve our services.
The survey should only take 10 minutes and it will be open to responses until Friday 30th May 2025.
All participants have the chance to win one of four £100 Amazon gift cards. To enter the prize draw, please leave your details at the end of this survey.
Please click here to complete the survey.
Happy New Year and best wishes
S Illingworth
Head Teacher (Acting)
Calendar
10.12.24 S3 Parent/Carers’ Evening – 1600 – 1900
12.12.24 Expressive Arts Christmas Showcase – Doors Open 1800
16.12.24 Formal Assessments – Final Day
19.12.24 Winter Ball – 1830 – 2100
20.12.24 Term Ends
Attendance Information for Parents/Carers
Ensuring all pupils who are able attend school remains a priority for the school and Midlothian Council. We know that dealing with a child who struggles to attend can be very challenging for parents and carers. The following resources have been produced by Parent Club Scotland to support parents in this situation.
Talking to your child’s school about attendance | Parent Club
Tips for helping your child if they feel unable to go to school | Parent Club
Help if your child feels unable to go to school | Parent Club
Expressive Art Showcase
The pupils and staff are working hard to prepare for the Christmas Showcase on Thursday evening. Tickets are still available from the school office or on ParentPay.
Festive Fridays
Over the next two Fridays pupils may wear something festive to mark the holiday season.
Edinburgh Zoo/Highland Wildlife Park Summer School
Information has been shared with pupil on the whole – school Google Classroom about the RZSS Science Summer Schools for pupil 16-18. For more information please see the following link.
https://www.edinburghzoo.org.uk/events-experiences/events/science-summer-school
Skills Development Scotland – Parent/Carer Survey
Skills Development Scotland (SDS) would like to find out how you talk to your child about careers and your awareness and use of our services. Your feedback will help us to understand your needs and how we can improve our services.
The survey should only take 10 minutes and it will be open to responses until Friday 30th May 2025.
All participants have the chance to win one of four £100 Amazon gift cards. To enter the prize draw, please leave your details at the end of this survey.
Please click here to complete the survey.
Best wishes
S Illingworth
Head Teacher (Acting)