Parental Update November Part 2 – Reopening of Catering Facilities

Re-opening of Catering Facilities from Monday 29 November

• Payment System
• Menu
• Health and Safety Measures

Payment System – Catering Cash Machines

All students will be expected to pay using their personalised pin numbers – the Bitesite runs a “no cash” system.  S1 and S2 students will be issued with their pin numbers by the end of this week.  Parents/carers can use the Parent Pay system to add money to pin numbers.  Students can also add money to their pin numbers using the Catering Cash Machines in school.  When purchasing food items students simply type their pin number into the keypads when instructed to do so by our catering staff.  There are two Catering Cash Machines that students should use to “top up” their pin.  Please see additional sheet attached for instructions and machine locations.

S3-S6 students should use their pin numbers issued previously.

Menu

The Bitesite will only sell food at lunchtime.  This will be reviewed after the Christmas break.

Week 1 Menu:

 

 

Health and Safety Measures

In line with current mitigations, all catering facilities staff will wear masks.  Students will be expected to wear masks while purchasing food as they are likely to be within 1m of our catering facilities staff.  Masks can then be removed once seated at their table.

All food will be provided in take away style packaging.  This will enable students to take Bitesite purchased food away to other designated areas.  This will assist in reducing overcrowding in the Bitesite.

 

Use of Catering Cash Machines

To use the cashless catering system students need to use the machines located outside the Janitors’ Office and the Bitesite to load money onto their account.

Students will be issued with an individual 6 digit pin number.  This must be kept securely and not shared.

The cash machine at the Janitors’ Office takes cash only (10p-£2 coins).. The machine at the Bitesite also accepts notes.

1. Cash Machine (Shown Below)	4. Students should then put in their coins in the slot
2. Students should enter their pin number on the keypad.	5. To finish students MUST PRESS THE RED BUTTON
3. Students should then press the Enter button – #ent

 

 

House Points Update 25/11/21

PENICUIK HOUSE POINTS

Clerk Maxwell are catching up!

The points now stand as follows…

LIDDELL is currently in the lead with 2960 points, closely followed by Clerk Maxwell with 2875
points. The number of points for each house will be displayed on the bulletin board outside the Guidance Base, on twitter @PenicuikHS and the school website.

Liddell	Clerk Maxwell
Participation – 1100	Participation – 840
Respect – 90	Respect – 90
Inclusion – 1020	Inclusion 1170
Determination – 0	Determination – 0
Excellence – 750	Excellence – 775
Total – 2960	Total  – 2875

 

A special mention to those that have been awarded Respect Points for an exceptional act around the school. 

Abbi Marshall and Emily Walker – Outstanding results under difficult circumstances. Awarded by Ms Blake

Ethan Brown – Put up the 20p for a new French jotter after a friend lost his. Awarded by Ms Andrew

HOUSE POINTS WILL BE AWARDED IN THE FOLLOWING CATEGORIES 

PRIDE points are the updated House points system. The points are as follows: ● Participation: 20 points for participating in House events

• Respect: 30 points awarded by teachers throughout the year for exceptional acts and successes
• Inclusion: 30 points for each club you attend (this will be reviewed termly) ● Determination: 20 Points to all pupils with 100% attendance each term. Doesn’t include authorised absences and off sickness absence.
• Excellence: Up to 100 Points for the winners of House events

PRIDE postcards will also be awarded throughout the year as recognition of achievements. 10 points will be awarded per postcard under their corresponding categories.

 

Penicuik High School House Points Totals 19/11/21

19/11/21

PENICUIK HOUSE POINTS

This week we have started to collect points for Inclusion and Respect. The points now stand as follows…

LIDDELL is currently in the lead with 2640 points, followed by Clerk Maxwell with 2300 points. The number of points for each house will be displayed on the bulletin board outside the Guidance Base, on twitter @PenicuikHS and the school website.

Liddell	Clerk Maxwell
Participation – 904	Participation – 600
Respect – 30	Respect – 60
Inclusion – 1020	Inclusion 990
Determination – 0	Determination – 0
Excellence – 650	Excellence – 540
Total – 2640	Total  – 2300

 

A special mention to those that have been awarded Respect Points for an exceptional act around the school. 

Josh Naismith and Lucas Finlay helped save an injured bird from a sparrow hawk at the front of the school. – Awarded by Mr Smith

Emily Ross for helping out another student by making sure they have the correct equipment – Awarded by Mr Berry.

HOUSE POINTS WILL BE AWARDED IN THE FOLLOWING CATEGORIES 

PRIDE points are the updated House points system. The points are as follows: ● Participation: 20 points for participating in House events

• Respect: 30 points awarded by teachers throughout the year for exceptional acts and successes
• Inclusion: 30 points for each club you attend (this will be reviewed termly) ● Determination: 20 Points to all pupils with 100% attendance each term. Doesn’t include authorised absences and off sicks.
• Excellence: Up to 100 Points for the winners of House events

PRIDE postcards will also be awarded throughout the year as recognition of achievements. 10 points will be awarded per postcard under their corresponding categories.

 

Skills Development Scotland Webinar

Skills Development Scotland national webinar to support parents and carers with S2/S3 option choices

Skills Development Scotland (SDS) is delivering a nationwide webinar to support parents and carers with S2/S3 option choices.  The webinar is on Wednesday 1st December at 6.30pm.

Parents and carers can find out more about how to support option choice decisions, including the support and resources available from SDS.

SDS Careers Advisers will be providing advice and there will be opportunities for parents and carers to ask questions during the session.

To attend this webinar please register here:  https://s2-s3optionchoices.eventbrite.co.uk

Penicuik High School House Points

Please see attached letter which advises how our students have been collecting points for their house and how each house currently stands

House points – 19.11.21

S1-S3 Chromebook Handout

School Concerns

Social Media Concerns

We have become aware that a number of Tik Tok accounts have been created about Penicuik High School in recent weeks, the content of which includes inappropriate and offensive references to staff and comments by other students. The incidence of these accounts has become a concern locally and nationally for schools as in many cases they often contain offensive language; as well sexist and racist and defamatory comments. I am sure you will agree staff do not deserve to be subject to such inappropriate behaviour on social media.

Our Community Police Officer, PC Cassidy, will support us to identify any student responsible for creating and sharing such inappropriate accounts featuring the schools name as well as those who may be complicit in sharing or making offensive comments about school staff. We will also report these accounts to Tik Tok to be closed down.

I would be grateful of your support in discussing this with your son/daughter and would encourage you to monitor your child’s social media content. If you have any further information that can support identifying the individuals responsible please get in touch with their Head of House as follows:

Ms Lyon – Clerk Maxwell

Mr Craig Dewar – Liddell

 

Vapes/ E Cigarettes

There has been a recent surge in cases of students using vapes/ e-cigarettes within schools across Scotland and we also are starting to see a few incidents here, some in toilet areas. The school is totally smoke free, including a ban on such devices at all times. Students who are found in possession of and/or using such devices in the school will be subject to disciplinary action and parent/ carers will be contacted to collect the device.

This is as much a health issue as anything else as e-cigarettes/ vapes have been found to have negative effects on the heart, lungs and circulatory system and long term use could be damaging to individuals.

Thanks again to all parent/ carers for your on-going support of the school and we will update the new lunch service details next week prior to the 29 November.

 

Best wishes

Craig Biddick

Head Teacher

Parental Update November 1918

• Staffing Update
• Return of catering facilities
• Changes to Covid mitigations
• Social media concern
• E Cigarettes / vapes in School

 

Staffing Update

Please note recent or coming staffing changes at Penicuik High School.

Ms Hanna Petrie will join us on secondment from Lasswade HS in December 2021 as Acting DHT Learner Experience to cover Ms Hollie Lyon’s maternity leave.

Mr Iain Christie has joined the school as Principal Teacher of Mathematics from Lasswade High School.

Mr Ken Garvey has joined the Music Department on a temporary contract until June 2021.

Mrs Catriona Simpson will join the school in January 2022 as a maternity cover in Art. She joins us from Dollar Academy. Ms Nicola Keir is currently on maternity leave.

We have three new learning Assistants who started this term – Mrs Therese Buxton, Mrs Stephanie Murray and Mr Ross Jack.

Ms Campbell has taken up the role of Acting PT Guidance in Mr Saffhill’s absence. If your child has Mr Saffhill as their Guidance teacher then please contact Ms Campbell with any current issues or to follow up if you have not had a response to any query.

I am sure you will join me in welcoming new staff to the High School.

Return of catering facilities

From Monday 29 November we will be able to offer students lunchtime catering facilities.

Parents have been asked to complete an online survey to gauge expected numbers of students who will use catering facilities when they re-open.  Please ensure this is completed as soon as possible.  The survey can be accessed via our school website.  Further information regarding the following below will be sent out next week:

• Payment details for students
• Health & Safety Arrangements for purchasing food
• Food choices

 

In order for our catering facilities to operate we have had to make some changes to our current mitigations.  Please see details below. Changes to Covid mitigations

From Monday 22 November we will no longer use a staggered timetable.  All students will follow the school day as outlined below:

Monday – Thursday		Friday
Registration	8.30 – 8.40 am	Registration	8.30 – 8.40 am
Period 1	8.40 – 9.30 am	Period 1	8.40 – 9.30 am
Period 2	9.30 – 10.20 am	Period 2	9.30 – 10.20 am
Period 3	10.20 – 11.10 am	Interval	10.20 – 10.35 am
Interval	11.10 – 11.25 am	Period 3	10.35 – 11.25 am
Period 4	11.25 – 12.15 pm	Period 3	11.25 – 12.15 pm
Period 5	12.15 – 1.05 pm	School Closes	12.15 pm
Interval	1.05 – 1.50 pm
Period 6	1.50 – 2.40pm
Period 7	2.40 – 3.30 pm
School Closes	3:30 pm

 

To maintain high levels of health and safety, there will still be a number of mitigations in place:

• Facemasks and strict hand sanitising in all areas
• One way system
• 2m distancing between staff and students at all times
• The school will not open until 8:25am. All students (S1-S6) will be expected to be in registration by 8:30am.   Students will still be expected to enter via year group specific doors (which will be clearly labelled) and hand sanitise on entry/exit.
• We will monitor lateness from 29^th November to give students a chance to adapt to the new arrangements.
• The following break and lunchtime restrictions will be in place with staff supervision:

 

Year Group	Break	Lunch
S1-S6	Use of outdoor space at the back of the school and/or area between green seats and Bitesite.   Students should not congregate in staff car parking areas or be at the front of the school.	Use of outdoor space at the back of the school and/or area between green seats and Bitesite.   Students should not congregate in staff car parking areas or be at the front of the school.
S1	Bitesite   Use of outdoor space at the back of the school and/or area between green seats and Bitesite.     Students are not permitted to leave school premises at break.	Bitesite for those who wish to eat their packed lunch indoors (students are welcome to eat outdoors – use bins provided) or for those who have purchased food from the Bitesite.   Use of outdoor space at the back of the school and/or area between green seats and Bitesite.     Students are not permitted to leave school premises at lunch unless special parental/carer request has been made to go home for lunch.
S2/S3	Use of outdoor space at the back of the school and/or the area between green seats and Bitesite.   When bad weather indoor areas will be made available.   Students are not permitted to leave school premises.   Students should not congregate in staff car parking areas or be at the front of the school.	Bitesite for those who wish to eat their packed lunch indoors (students are welcome to eat outdoors – use bins provided) or for those who have purchased food from the Bitesite.   Use of outdoor space at the back of the school and/or the area between green seats and Bitesite.   Students have permission to leave the school premises at lunch.   When bad weather indoor areas will be made available.   Students should not congregate in staff car parking areas or be at the front of the school.
S4/S5	Green Seats   Students have permission to leave school premises at break but must return promptly for period 4.  This allowance will be removed if late-coming becomes problematic.	Green Seats   Students have permission to leave the school premises at lunch.   Take away food can be purchased from the Bitesite and brought to the Green Seats.
S6	S6 Common Room   Students have permission to leave school premises at break but must return promptly for period 4. This allowance will be removed if late-coming becomes problematic.	S6 Common Room   Students have permission to leave the school premises at lunch.   Take away food can be purchased from the Bitesite and brought to the Common room.

 

 

New mitigation:

To reduce overcrowding at lunch time students who chose to leave the school premises at lunch time are not permitted to re-enter the school building until 1:45pm; students can congregate in the outdoor space at the back of the school and/or the area between green seats and Bitesite. This is inclusive of students who return home for lunch or those who decide to use local shops to purchase food.

Only packed lunches should be consumed on school premises.

Best wishes

Craig Biddick

Head Teacher

Changes to the School Day

From Monday 22nd November we will no longer follow a staggered timetable.  This is in preparation for our catering facilities opening from 29 November.  All S1-S6 students will follow the timetable listed below.  A letter detailing all the changes will be sent to all parents by the end of the week.

Monday – Thursday		Friday
Registration	8.30 – 8.40 am	Registration	8.30 – 8.40 am
Period 1	8.40 – 9.30 am	Period 1	8.40 – 9.30 am
Period 2	9.30 – 10.20 am	Period 2	9.30 – 10.20 am
Period 3	10.20 – 11.10 am	Interval	10.20 – 10.35 am
Interval	11.10 – 11.25 am	Period 3	10.35 – 11.25 am
Period 4	11.25 – 12.15 pm	Period 3	11.25 – 12.15 pm
Period 5	12.15 – 1.05 pm	School Closes	12.15 pm
Interval	1.05 – 1.50 pm
Period 6	1.50 – 2.40pm
Period 7	2.40 – 3.30 pm
School Closes	3:30 pm

 

School House Points – Halloween Fancy Dress

Please find attached the house points update after the Halloween dress down day.

PENICUIK HOUSE POINTS – 12.11.21