Pupils coming to Wick High School will be assigned to a class group of a particular Guidance Teacher and will normally remain within this class group throughout school.

The class groups and Guidance Teachers are as follows.

1F (Fergus) - Mr G Ramsay
1M (Morven) - Mrs S Henderson
1N (Noss) - Mrs E Johnston
1R (Rumster) - Mr G Mackenzie
1S (Scaraben) - Mr P O’Hare
1Y (Yarrows) - Mrs J Grant

The Guidance Teacher will get to know the pupils better as time progresses and will be involved in many aspects of the pupils’ school life including:

• settling in at school
• monitoring progress
• encouraging good relationships
• checking/tracking of medical conditions
• liasing with outside agencies where necessary
• course/subject choice at key points in S2, S4 & S5.

Guidance Teachers also teach Personal and Social Education.

Parents are encouraged to contact the Guidance Teacher, in the first instance, on any matter concerning their son/daughter. The Rector and Depute are also available if required.

 .

To all Parents

Pupils are issued with a homework planner to record their set homework.  You should check this from time to time.  It is important that a regular pattern of study is encouraged.

Some departments will issue homework on a regular basis and others less frequently because of the differing nature of the subjects.  Broadly, pupils will have work at home at least once every two weeks, in most subjects.

Homework

Most homework issued by teachers will be a consolidation of work already covered in school, such as tackling further examples of problems already studied in class or applying new skills learned during the day.  If difficulties occur a pupil should look over the notes or examples already done in class and if the pupil is still uncertain he/she should ask the teacher to explain.

Study

Just as important as set homework is private study.  Pupils should establish a daily pattern of study and take increasing responsibility for their own learning.  They will be given regular advice on how to establish such a pattern throughout their time at Wick High School.

As a parent you can play your part by

• showing your interest through discussion of the work set and the offer of help and advice
• encouraging your son/daughter to adopt a responsible attitude to homework and private study

Obviously the time spent working at home will increase as pupils progress through school.  It is not possible, or desirable, to set prescribed limits.  Much depends on the progress of the individual.  A rough guide to what, on average, is expected in S1/2 is 1 hour per night, 5 nights a week.

To All Pupils

Your attitude to working at home is very important.  At all stages in the secondary school you will be given set homework.  As far as possible, you will be given plenty of notice when homework is to be completed and you should use your homework planner sensibly to record all homework issued.  

You will also be given help and advice, while at school, on learning to study and taking responsibility for your own learning.  When no homework has been set it is expected that you will take this responsibility by

1. reading over work covered in the class
2. improving and tidying written notes
3. completing work missed during absence or not completed in class
4. doing further research on a topic covered in class e.g. using books at home or the school/local library
5. following a programme of revision as you approach class tests

 As far as possible Guidance Teachers also take their own classes for Personal & Social Education (PSE) where we aim to help youngsters cope with the demands of a complex and ever-changing world.  All pupils are timetabled for P.S.E. throughout their secondary education.

Topics covered in S1/S2 PSE include the following.

• Settling in at High School.
• Group forming.
• Study/homework skills.
• Taking responsibility/developing self-confidence.
• Relationships/caring for each other.
• Safety.
• Environmental Issues.
• Health & Sex Education.
• Decision making/subject choice.

Other topical subjects are often discussed as the need arises within these classes and pupils often use them as a forum to express their ideas or views of current events.