1. Welcome to
Thurso High School

2. Starting Secondary School
Finding your way around a large school
Having different teachers for different subjects
Remembering the right books and equipment each day
Carrying your bag from classroom to classroom
Travelling on the school bus

3. SENIOR MANAGEMENT TEAM
School Staff
Mrs H Flavell
Head Teacher
Mrs A Nicoll
S3 and S5 Year Head
SENIOR MANAGEMENT TEAM
Mr C Omand S2 and S6 Year Head
Mrs J Miller
S1 and S4 Year Head

4. PRINCIPAL TEACHERS OF PUPIL SUPPORT
(Guidance Team)
Mr E McElroy
1S1
Vacant Post
1S3
Mr G Blyth
1S2 and 1S4
Mr P McKeesick
1S5

5. S1 Registration Teachers
1S1 Ms Macdonald
1S2 Mr Byrne
1S3 Ms Pearce
1S4 Ms Thompson
1S5 Ms Charton

6. Personal and Social Education in S1
Successful learners
Settling in
Personal organisation
Types of learners
Homework and study
Self-evaluation
Confident individuals
Getting to know one another
Respecting and valuing the uniqueness of each individual
Personal safety
Dealing with bullying
Responsible citizens
Charitable appeals and fundraising
Learning to play a part in the school and its community
Global communities
Making informed choices
Effective Contributors
Class discussions
Contributing to the school through house membership – having a say
Working with others in groups

7. Register Teachers Parents Outside Agencies Learning Support PTPS
POINT OF CONTACT
Pupils
Pupil Support Base
For you as parents the PTPS will usually be your first point of contact within the school. They are the people to go to with any concerns about your child’s progress or welfare or if there is any matter you feel the school should know about.
They make links and will refer things on to the relevant person
Subject Teachers
SMT

8. The Guidance Teacher (PTPS)
Pastoral Care
Pupils remain with the same Guidance teacher (Principal Teacher of Pupil Support), from S1–S5.
The Guidance Teacher (PTPS)
Keeps track of your child’s progress.
Deals with any problems or issues which arise.
Liaises with the Learning Support team if there are concerns about learning.
Keeps teaching staff informed of any special requirements your child may have.

9. Additional Support Needs at Thurso High
Each primary 7 class has an ASN link teacher.  They will have worked with some pupils during their Primary 7 year.  A number of P7 pupils have been involved in an enhanced transition process involving staff across the school during the summer term on Wednesdays.
They team teach in classes and offer support to pupils and class groups.
Offer consultation and advice to subject teachers on a range of learning needs.
Have an Enhanced Provision base for pupils with severe and complex needs.  Run a volunteer programme for S6 pupils who wish to offer their help in this area of the school.

10. The S1 Experience!
Rory Taylor 2S3
Kirsty Henderson 2S1

11. S1 Teaching Classes – full sets
Computing
Business
English
French
Social Subjects PE RE
PSE
Mixed ability classes up to 33 pupils all in the same register class

12. S1 Teaching Classes – practical sets
Science
Art
Music
Technology
Mixed ability practical classes, up to 20 pupils in the class

13. S1 Teaching Classes “S” Classes “Pr” Classes 1S1 1S2 1Pr1 - 5 1S3 AB
S classes up to 33
Pr sets up to 20

14. S1 Sample Timetable

15. Rooms C1.6 – English block B3.4 – Social Subjects B2.2 – Maths
Rooms are labelled according to Block/floor/room number

16. The Curriculum
S1 to S3 Pupils experience a broad, general curriculum (BGE).
Pupils’ experiences strike a balance between equipping them to pass exams and the skills needed for life and work.

17. Achievement for all Voluntary work National awards Charity Hobbies
Recognising and celebrating the achievements of all children and young people
Voluntary work
National awards
Charity
Hobbies
Sports
All children should feel positive about themselves and their achievements. It is about recognising the wide range of talents and contributions that young people can offer.
Children achieve in all sorts of way and we recognise that this takes place during the time children are at school.
Careers
Work experience

18. THURSO HIGH: Day & Week Timings
Tutor Time/Registration
8:40 – 8:50
Mon - Fri
10 Minutes
Registration every day.
A “Hurry Bell” will ring at 8:35.
Period 1
8:50 – 9:40
50 Minutes
Period 2
9:40 – 10:30
Interval
10:30 – 10:45
15 Minutes
Canteen and Milk Bar open five days per week.
Period 3
10:45 – 11:35
Period 4
11:35 – 12:25
School finishes at on Friday.
Period 5
12:25 – 1:15
Mon -Thurs
Lunch Break
1:15 – 1:55
40 Minutes
Canteen and Milk Bar open four days per week. “Grab and Go” only on Friday.
Period 6
1:55 – 2:45
A warning bell will ring at 1.50.
Period 7
2:45 – 3:35
School finishes at 3.35 Monday to Thursday.

19. Break – 10.45
The structure of the school day means that lunch is late so we would like to emphasise the importance of a good breakfast and possibly suitable snacks for break.
The Milk Bar and the Canteen are also open at break.

20. Lunchtime choices in school
School Canteen
Milkbar
Packed Lunch
Grab’n’go

21. Cashless Catering

22. Chromebook Roll Out Information

23. Chromebooks for Highland pupils
Every pupil in Highland Council will receive access to a Chromebook for the duration of their time in school.
Secondary school pupil will all have a device on an individual basis which will be used within school but will also be taken home at the end of each day.
The device will be allocated to the pupil for the time they remain in Thurso High School and returned if or when the pupil leaves the school roll.

24. Chromebook Agreement
In order for the roll out of Chromebooks to happen successfully and smoothly all parties involved (pupils, parents/carers and Thurso High School) must agree with all of the terms and conditions outlined in the Chromebook agreement given.
Chromebook agreements must be signed by pupils and parents/ carers and returned to registration teachers by pupils or the Chromebook allocated to that pupil will not be distributed.

25. Parent/ Carer Chromebook Agreement

26. Acceptable Use Policy- All users must:
Agree to the Highland Council Acceptable Use Policy which can be found here:

27. Thurso High School Chromebook Roll Out
Chromebooks are to be rolled out to new S1 pupils in September. Dates, times and rooms for each class will appear in the daily announcements.
Each Chromebook will have a label on the lid of the device with the pupil’s name which must not be removed. Each Chromebook is recorded on a central spreadsheet as having been allocated to a particular pupil and should not be accessed by any other pupil.
Pupils must have an appropriate school bag to transport their Chromebook in.
Cases will be given to each pupil and these must be used at all times when the Chromebook is being transported.

28. Thurso High school procedures and rules
Classroom and whole school

29. Classroom
No jackets, hoods, scarves, hats, gloves to be worn in class. Mobile phones should be switched off and out of sight. Phones may be confiscated if this is not adhered to. Pupils are expected to bring appropriate equipment to each lesson. Chromebooks must be charged and ready to use every day. They must be kept in their cases and must be carried in a schoolbag. They should only be brought out to use in a lesson when the teacher says so and only used for the purpose of the lesson.
Highlight phones and Chromebooks

30. Classroom
No eating or chewing in class. Water may be drunk – no juice. Pupils are not allowed to leave a class to buy water from the vending machine. “Please”, “thank you” and normal courteous forms of address to be used in classrooms to everyone. Mutual respect must be shown to all teachers and to all pupils.

31. How parents can best support their children in Thurso High School?
Children only spend half their waking hours in school during the academic year.

32. Have high expectations!
First and foremost be sure that your child knows that you value education and that you have high expectations of their efforts in school as well as in other parts of their lives.
Be involved in your children’s school life – this is highly motivating for children. Praise EFFORT rather than ATTAINMENT.
Make Time to Talk About School.
Car trips – meal times – dog walking – have a knowledge of what they are doing in their different subjects as well as what they do at break and lunch times.

33. Get involved
Children do better in school when parents are involved in their academic lives. Attending Parents’ Evenings and Parents’ Information Evenings is a very good way to know what your children are doing in class. Make time to talk with your child every day so he or she knows that what goes on at school is important to you. When children know parents are interested in their academic lives, they'll take school seriously as well.
The evenings are a chance to start or continue conversations with your child's teacher, and discuss strategies to help your child do his or her best in class. Meeting with the teacher also lets your child know that what goes on in school will be shared at home.
Parents can also get involved by:
Joining the Fundraising Committee
Attending Parent Council meetings
Volunteering as a minibus driver (license requirements).
Attending school events such as ‘Battle of the Bands’.
Attend Nurturing Parents group
Helping with Rock Challenge

34. Send Your Child to School Ready to Learn
A good breakfast fuels up everyone and gets them ready for the day. Children also need the right amount of sleep to be alert and ready to learn all day. Limit the screen time!
In general, kids who eat breakfast have more energy and do better in school.
You can help boost your child's attention span, concentration, and memory by providing breakfast foods that are rich in whole grains, fibre, and protein, as well as low in added sugar. If your child is running late some mornings, send along fresh fruit, nuts, yogurt, or half a peanut butter and banana sandwich.
Most school-age children need 10 to 12 hours of sleep a night.
Lack of sleep can cause irritable or hyperactive behaviour and might make it hard for children to pay attention in class.

35. Support us with Dress Code
Help your child to adhere to our dress code.
Black or white tops and black trousers with a school logo on at least one item of clothing, or a school tie.

36. Dress Code

37. Support with homework and revision
Make sure your child knows that you see homework as a priority over all their other activities. Help by creating an appropriate study environment. While your child does homework, be available to offer support. Assessment is also part of school life and we aim to prepare pupils to do their best in school tests.
Homework reinforces and extends classroom learning and helps kids practice important study skills. It also helps pupils develop a sense of responsibility and a work ethic that will benefit them beyond the classroom.
But resist the urge to provide the correct answers or complete the assignments yourself. Learning from mistakes is part of the process and you don't want to take this away from your child.

38. Teach organisational skills
No one is born with great organisational skills — they need to be learned and practised.
For example:
Remember to pack my bag the night before
Check if I need PE kit for tomorrow.
Check I have pens/pencils/ruler, etc.
Remember to charge my Chromebook
at night.
Bring a note if I have been absent.
Help your child check that they have the equipment required for their lessons the next day.
Check your child's school bag, check Google Classroom, ask your child about homework or assessments.
Encourage your child to have a timetable pinned to the fridge and lists of extra curricular activities or to have a weekly planner or calendar they keep up to date.
It's also helpful to teach your child how to make a to-do list to help prioritise and get things done.

39. Know the disciplinary policies
It's important for your child to know what's expected of them at school and that you'll support the school's consequences when expectations aren't met. Pupils whose conduct is over and above the expected, whether for behaviour or a piece of work, can earn merits. These are awarded for our values: Teamwork, Respect, Attainment, Commitment and Kindness.
Detention, class transfer

40. Make sure your child is eating well at lunch and break time
Encourage awareness of the effects of diet – a well balanced lunch vs. a kilo of Haribo washed down by Red Bull? Lunchtime is 1.15pm so it is a very good idea to encourage a snack at break. Children who are hungry or have low blood sugar cannot concentrate or learn effectively. (Energy drinks are NOT allowed in school!)
One thing about starting High School is that you lose some control over your child’s diet – going down the street is a new idea for some of you and your children
Ask any teacher about the post lunch ‘spike’ followed by ‘slump’
Any child who has consumed half a cwt of Haribo washed down by a litre of Monster Energy drink is not best placed to concentrate post lunchtime
More and more children are becoming aware of their diet through sport and aware not only of the dangers of being overweight but also of diabetes and tooth decay heart
After smoking, Scottish eating habits are the second most important cause of the nation's poor health. The average Scottish diet is low in cereals, vegetables and fruit but high in confectionery, fatty meat products, sweet and salty snacks, cakes, and excessive amounts of sugary drinks and alcohol.
Poor diet contributes 'to a range of serious illnesses, which include coronary heart disease, certain cancers, strokes, osteoporosis and diabetes

41. Take school attendance seriously
If you have a 90% attendance record, it means that you are absent from lessons for the equivalent of a half-day every week. If your attendance rate is at 90% from S1 to S5 you will have missed the equivalent of approximately one half of a school year.
90% of young people with absence rates below 85% fail to achieve five or more good grades at National 5 level and around one third achieve no National 5 awards at all.

42. 80% attendance would mean a pupil has missed approximately one day per school week.
Therefore if attendance is 80% from S1 to S5, a pupil will have missed over one full year of education.

43. If your child is ill please inform the school by 8
If your child is ill please inform the school by 8.30am or you will receive a text message. If a child fails to return to school after lunch you will also get a text message. Following an absence your child must bring a note to their Registration teacher (or you can ). Punctuality is also very important – three ‘lates’ to Registration or class will mean a detention. If a pupil leaves the school at any point during the school day they MUST sign out at Reception and then back in again upon return.

44. Thurso high school house system
Built upon our vision, values and aims

45. Thurso High School’s Values
Teamwork
Respect
Achievement
Commitment
Kindness
‘Stay on TRACK’

46. Houses
Pentland
Olrig
Forss
Dirlot
Brims

47. Houses 1S1 Forss Falcons 1S2 Dirlot Dragons 1S3 Brims Bears
1S4 Olrig Orcas
1S5 Pentland Panthers

48. Merits
Teamwork
Making a positive contribution to a team or group activity (in class and extra-curricular).
Encouraging and supporting others.
Pupils can gain house points by collecting individual merits.

49. Merits
Respect
Being particularly helpful and responsible in looking after the school, equipment and materials.
Showing courtesy beyond what is expected to everybody in the school and the wider community.

50. Merits Achievement Exceeding personal subject targets.
Achieving awards in and out of school.
Producing outstanding pieces of work/ performance/ homework.

51. Merits
Commitment
Taking responsibility for own learning (goes above and beyond what has been expected).
Regularly participating in extra-curricular groups in school.
Perseverance through challenges.

52. Kindness Merits Making an extra effort to include or help others.
Volunteering to help the wider community.

53. Prefects Why have prefects?
Prefects make a valuable contribution to the wider school community, taking on important leadership roles, assisting and supporting both staff and pupils, liaising with parents and other visitors and acting as excellent role models for their peers and younger pupils.

54. THIS YEAR’S TEAM THIS YEAR’S TEAM
Ebonnie Bremner
Ross Dunbar
Chloe Foubister
Jack Gunn
HEAD BOY AND GIRL
FORSS
HOUSE CAPTAINS
DIRLOT
OLRIG
BRIMS
PENTLAND
THIS YEAR’S TEAM
Alix Cumming
Mackensie Jackson
Erin Calder
Mary-Ann Chesters
Ellie Mackay
Laura Bain
Lucy Wares
Kaila Johnston
Samantha Norquay
Eva Stewart
Ebonnie Bremner
Ross Dunbar
Chloe Foubister
Jack Gunn
HEAD BOY AND GIRL
FORSS
HOUSE CAPTAINS
DIRLOT
OLRIG
BRIMS
PENTLAND
THIS YEAR’S TEAM
Alix Cumming
Mackensie Jackson
Erin Calder
Mary-Ann Chesters
Ellie Mackay
Laura Bain
Lucy Wares
Kaila Johnston
Samantha Norquay
Eva Stewart

56. June 2019 David Hymers-Mackintosh
Parent Council
June 2019
David Hymers-Mackintosh

57. Role of Parent Council
provide a voice for parents, in schools and in their local authority, on issues that are important to them and their children
help the school to understand how to most effectively involve parents in their children’s learning and in the life of the school
support the school and head teacher in developing strong home/school partnerships
support the school in its development and improvement, and in understanding and making links with the wider community
capture the unique and varied skills, interests, knowledge and experience that parents can offer.

58. Parent Council Chair – Parent Member Five Parent Members
Senior Management Team
Teacher rep
Pupil rep
Funding Committee (PTA)
Local Councillors
Caithness Chamber of Commerce
Thurso College

59. Parent Council Meetings - Agenda (Meet eight times a year)
Update from Head Teacher and SMT
Staffing
Maintenance
School News
Issues raised by Pupils
Update from Funding Committee (PTA)
Update from Councillors
Specific Items for discussion
School Access Issues
etc
AOB

60. Parent Fundraising Committee
John Robinson

61. Communications Parent Council Meetings
Website –
Contacts
Meeting minutes and Actions
School report
Highland Parent Council Partnership –
Contact Parent Council -

62. S1 dates to remember S1/2 Parents’ Info Evening – Tues 5 November 2019
S1 Tracking – issued Thursday 19 December 2019
S1 Parents’ Evening – Thursday 30 January 2020
S1 School report – issued Thursday 21 May 2020
Dates may be subject to change

63. Keeping You Informed Parent Handbook Email THS Facebook page
School Website
Letters home
News Letter
Local Press
Mention “pupil post”
Tell parents they should have received information today
Mention new website
Parents handbook
Info on smart cards
Info on uniform

64. Points to add: don’t (or do?) bring Chromebook;
Come in Primary uniform; FSM; financial support for uniforms; Nurture slides