Thursday 18th November 2021
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:
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:
| 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
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