When you arrive at school you should wait in the entrance foyer. New S1 pupils joining the school in August will then go into the hall. There you will be put into your registration groups and taken by your register teacher to your registration room. Here you will be given out your timetable. Sixth year students will then guide you to your first class. 

If you are joining the school at another time of the year, you will be met in the foyer by your Guidance teacher who will take you to your registration room where you will get your timetable and be introduced to other pupils (back to top).

What is Registration? 

In High School you go to your Registration teacher's room each morning at 9.00 a.m. This allows him or her to check your attendance, receive absence notes and read out the daily announcements. Subject teachers will also check your attendance throughout the day (back to top).

Which class will I be in?

You will be in different groupings for different subjects:

1. Registration/Guidance: You will meet in this grouping every morning for Registration. You will also go to Guidance/PSD in this grouping.
    

2. Practical Sets: Practical sets have up to 20 pupils. You are in these groups for subjects such as Science and Home Economics.
    

3. Other Classes: These may have up to 30 pupils. In S1 this group will be the same as your registration class. You go in this group for subjects such as English, French and P.E (back to top). 

What does a normal day consist of?

You must report to your registration room by 9.00 a.m. Registration lasts 10 minutes, then at 9:10 a.m. period 1 begins. You then have two periods (all periods last 40 minutes) taking you up to morning break at 10:30 a.m.

Break lasts 15 minutes, and then you have three more periods before lunch at 12:40 p.m. Afternoon classes start at 1:30pm. The afternoon consists of three periods, finishing at 3:30 p.m.

Most of your subjects will be taught for a double period, that is two periods joined together. Period times are given below:

(back to top)

Which class will I be in?

You will be in different groupings for different subjects:

1. Registration/Guidance: You will meet in this grouping every morning for Registration. You will also go to Guidance/PSD in this grouping.
    

2. Practical Sets: Practical sets have up to 20 pupils. You are in these groups for subjects such as Science , ICT, Home Economics.
    

3. Other Classes: These may have up to 30 pupils. In S1 this group will be the same as your registration class. You go in this group for subjects such as English, French and P.E (back to top).

What do guidance teachers do?

You will be allocated a guidance teacher according to your house group  who will stay with you as long as you are at the school. Your guidance teacher will watch your progress, give advice about schoolwork, subject choices and future careers and can help you with personal difficulties or problems. You parents can also contact your guidance teacher if they have any questions about your progress or the school. You can talk to your guidance teacher at any time. Your Guidance Teacher will also see you once a week for PSD (Personal and Social Development) (back to top).

The guidance teachers are:

Where should I go at break and lunchtime?

At interval you must stay in the school grounds. There in an area for First and Second Year pupils in B block where there is a tuck shop. Older pupils use C block or areas near to their next class.

At lunchtime you can go to the canteen.

Snack lunches are also available are available in block B (S1/2) and block C (S3/5) tuck shop. You can, of course bring a packed lunch or go home for lunch (back to top).

What can I buy to eat?

The school canteen is open before school, at break and at lunchtime. Before school starts the canteen serves breakfasts. At break, snacks are available. You can choose from a good variety of cheap hot meals at lunchtime, and there is also a salad/sandwich bar where you can have sandwiches made up with your own choice of filling. The serving points in B and C blocks serve snacks at both break and lunchtime.

If you wish you can get a "Smart Card" which you can pay money into and then use to buy food. This makes service quicker and means you don't have to carry cash around. You can get an application form for a Smart Card from the people on the tills in the canteen (back to top).

How will I find my way around?

You will very quickly get used to the buildings, stairs and corridors of the school. If you are joining us from Primary 7, you will be shown to all your classes by sixth year guides in the first week. You'll be surprised how quickly you learn your way around. However, if you are in doubt, don't panic. Just ask any teacher to help you or go back to reception (back to top). 

What is the homework like? 

It is important from the start of secondary school that you adopt a regular routine for doing homework. You might have to finish off tasks started in school, go over the day's work, revise for assessments, prepare for lessons, carry out research or complete homework assignments. To help you remember everything and organise your work you will be given a Personal Organiser to make notes of the work you have to do. Make sure you use it. Your parents can help by suggesting a quiet place to work and, if you set aside around one hour each evening homework will soon become a habit. You should also use this time to organise your schoolbag for the next day .

You are much more likely to be successful at school if you complete homework assignments and hand them in on time. Keeping your personal organiser up to date is vital for this (back to top).

What if you're late?

If you arrive after 9:00am but before 9:10am (i.e. during registration) you will be marked down as late by your registration teacher and given a late slip. If you arrive at school after registration you must collect a late slip form reception. A late slip is a form you must get signed by all of your teachers that day; you then take it home for your parents to sign. The late slip should be returned to your Registration teachers the next day. The late slip is used to prove you have been in school for the rest of the day.

If you have a valid reason for being late (e.g. a dentist's appointment) it will not be counted as a "late". If you are late several times in the one term without a good reason you will automatically be given a detention. For each time you are late again that term you will get another detention (back to top).

What do you do with your bike?

If  you cycle to school, there is a cycle shed for you to leave your bike in. The receptionists can arrange for you to get a permit giving you permission to use the cycle shed. The cycle-shed door operates using a keypad into which you have to enter a pin number to get the door to open. You should still lock your bike inside the shed as some pupils forget to close the door behind them (back to top).

What do you do if you're ill?

If you feel ill during the school day you should ask to be excused from your class, then go to see the receptionist. She will contact your parents to arrange for you to be taken home (back to top).

What is the dress code?

Pupils have to follow the school dress code. Details can be found here (back to top).

What if you're absent?

If you don't attend school for any reason you must bring an absence note on your first day back at school. If you know you will be absent you should try to hand in a note in advance. If you are to be absent for more than a week your parents should telephone for work to be sent to your home (back to top).

What if you need to leave school for part of the day?

If you need to leave school for part of the day (e.g. for a medical appointment) you must report to reception to 'Sign Out'. If returning the same day, you must again report to Reception to 'Sign In'. To save time, advance permission should be obtained before 9.00 a.m (back to top).

What are the rules?

There are six basic classroom rules:

Arrive on time, with necessary books and equipment. Enter the classroom quietly and prepare to start work. Follow all instructions given. Raise your hand before speaking. Treat others, their work and equipment with respect. Use appropriate language at all times.

Outwith the classroom you are expected to behave in a responsible and considerate manner. This includes being polite in the corridors and staying out of areas marked out of bounds. You must not damage any school property in any way (back to top).

What happens if you get a detention?

During detention you will be given extra schoolwork. Detention is from 12:40 - 1:20 p.m. You will be given 24 hours written notice of a detention. This will be in the form of a slip that your parents must sign (back to top).

Is bullying a problem?

In Thurso High School we take a very strong line on bullying. We see it as totally unacceptable, and have a strict policy to deal with it.

Bullying is when someone hurts you physically or mentally.

In Thurso High School we hold the following views on bullying

Bullying is unacceptable. No one has to tolerate being bullied. If you have been bullied you will be taken seriously and helped. Action will be taken. All pupils have an important part to play in creating a happy and pleasant workplace. You have a duty to both yourself and to your fellow pupils to bring this about. You should not be afraid to tell a responsible person (back to top).

What should you do if you get bullied?

In the unlikely event that you do get bullied, you should tell someone immediately. All the staff know what to do; they will treat your claims in confidence and notify your Guidance Teacher {link to what guidance teachers do} and the Senior Management team. It is very important to tell someone straight away to prevent the problem from getting worse (back to top).