Dear colleagues,

A number of staff have approached me in person or via email to raise concerns about how they best support young people who are keen to change names and pronouns. A number of unintended consequences are beginning to arise and staff are looking for some help in dealing with it.

The LGBT+ working group and pupil support PTs are meeting on Monday period 2 to discuss this agenda:

• consider and address staff worries

• reflect on how we can all best support young people

• reflect and agree how we best support staff

• provide clear guidelines for staff based on legislation and GIRFEC principles.

We will feed back to you in due course.

Thanks to the positive behaviour group for their work in reviewing and updating our policy. Working with them, we have identified some priority areas that we can address immediately:

1. Uniform

2. Mobile phones

3. Vaping

I will update S1-3 in assemblies this week and update parents and carers through this policies for parents communication. Please take a look - feedback welcome as always.

Looking to 2022-23, the SNC meet on Wednesday to discuss and begin to put together the calendar. Joining me on the SNC are Gordon MacKay, Elaine Johnstone, Matt Campbell and Amanda Short.

Another busy but exciting week as we interview for permanent ASN and Maths posts. It will cause a wee bit of disruption as we manage pupil panels, lessons and formal panels, so your support and help with that is very much appreciated.

Have a great week.

Elaine