Transport Scotland are conducting an evaluation of the Young Person’s Free Bus Travel Scheme, with a survey available for parents/carers of children aged 5-23, and young people themselves aged 12-23. Feedback is being sought from both those with experience of using the Young Person’s Free Bus Travel, and those that do not use it in order to find out why. The survey seeks to understand use of the scheme and any benefits or challenges that have been experienced since its introduction. It should take about 10 minutes to complete, and there is the opportunity to enter a free prize draw to win up to £250 in One4All vouchers.

Access the survey HERE. The closing date for all responses is 9th July 2023.

The timetable for new S5/6 students returning from study leave begins on Monday 29th May. Pupils should attend from Block 1 (8:40am) and report to the Social Area where staff will issue students with their new timetables. Once students have received their timetables they can go straight to their Block 1 class. A reminder that the configuration of the school day has changed, as below.

click the image to enlarge

The new school timetable for pupils in S1, S2 and S3, moving up to S2, S3, and S4 begins on Monday 15th May. Pupils in these year groups will receive their new timetable on Friday morning. Any pupil who is absent on Friday should collect their new timetable from their Guidance teacher on Monday morning.

From Monday 15th May the configuration of the school day is changing slightly. While the overall timings of the school day/week are not changing, the day will now start with Block 1 classes at 8:40am rather than Registration. All pupils need to be in class ready for lessons starting at 8:40am. A warning bell will ring at 8:35am to signal to pupils that they must now make their way to class. Pupils should arrive at school no later than 8:35am so that they have enough time to then get to their first class at 8:40am.

*Click the image below to enlarge it.

Why Have We Created This?

Sometimes we can have questions about our health but can be overwhelmed by the volume of information available online or don’t feel comfortable (yet) to speak to a trusted adult.

The Guidance Department have chosen a selection of resources and videos to increase your knowledge which you might find useful.

We have included Highland based support groups and agencies which you can self-refer to or access through school.

That said, the Guidance department are always willing to have a chat so please get in contact if you have any questions.

Parents and Carers were emailed the attached letter this morning. It covers:

• Celebrating Success
• Pupil Achievements
• Changes to the Start of Day / Registration
• CCTV installation
• Dates for next term
• Building Works

On Thursday 30^th March pupils in S1, S2 and S3 took part in a spontaneous drop everything and read event during their block 2 class to celebrate reading for enjoyment and World Book Day (which was earlier this month). All junior pupils chose a World Book Day book during an English lesson from the “mini bookshop” set up in the library. These books were personalised with their name and gifted to the pupils in the morning of the event. You could hear a pin drop in classrooms across the school as pupils lost themselves in their new book!

If you are in S1-3 and you didn’t get chance to choose your book, there are still a few left to pick from. Please speak to Mrs Ingram in the library or Miss Machin in room 124.

Following on from the Science and English interdisciplinary project, two pupils’ creative writing pieces were submitted into the Scottish-wide competition ran by the University of St Andrews. Congratulations goes out to Freddie Hoare in S2, who was one of the four runners-up of the competition. His story was an imaginative take on the events which led to chemist, Christina Cruikshank Miller, losing her sight in one eye. Well done Freddie!

Congratulations to Jenna Campbell in S4 who reached the final long list with her thought provoking fox hunting essay in this year’s Scottish Schools’ Young Writer of the Year competition and was “Commended”. The full report of finalists and judges’ comments can be viewed here:

Scottish Schools’ Young Writer of the Year 2022/23 Report

Work will be taking place on Station Road in Ardersier for 12 weeks, from Monday 3rd April. This means that after the Easter break the No 111 Stagecoach service for Ardersier will be diverted along Stuart Street into and out of Ardersier. However the No 111 will not service Nairn Road as the bus will not be able to turn.