Clock Tower demolished

This was the view that awaited us as we arrived in school this morning.

The clock tower - a landmark and meeting point for many years- had been completely demolished over the weekend. We now look forward to the debris being removed from the site so that  our eagerly awaited new school can rise from the rubble.

Youth and Philanthropy Initiative (YPI) success

Well done to all those in our S5 who entered this year's YPI.  (Each year thousands of secondary school students participate in YPI, the signature program of the Toskan Casale Foundation. Since rocketing on the scene in 2002 at Royal St. George's College in Toronto, YPI has engaged hundreds of schools worldwide, across Canada, United States, England, Scotland, and Northern Ireland).

 

Warmest congratulation to the team who chose SANDS as their charity to support. As a result of our pupils' endeavours SANDS were awarded a chequew for £3,000. 

Their team consisted of: Clare Sneddon, Sophie Clowes, Martha Tait and Constanza Ceccetti.

The other charities represented on the day and team members were:

1.            Muirfield Riding Therapy - Robyn Forsyth,  Holly Robertson and Lottie Cuthbert
2.            Health in Mind- Finlay Cunniffe,  Murdo Ross,  Simon MacDonald Calum Bober
3.            DEBRA- Rowan Mitchell, Georgia Young and Rachel Gracie
4.            SANDS- Clare Sneddon, Sophie Clowes, Martha Tait and Constanza Ceccetti
5.            Canongate Youth Project - Iain Cross, Robert Wright, Kai Stuart, Kai de Groome, Mikolaj Melnicki
6.            Edinburgh Women's Aid - Carolyn Irvine, Rayanna Mohammed, Hana Duheric

7.            The Nancy Ovens Trust - Rory Barraclough, Brandon Shek,  Amrou Motawa
8.            CLIC Sargent -Kirsty Harper, Romy Hudson, Innes Hutchison, Francesca Faichney
9.            Nomad Survival Trust-Saul Kendrick, Katy South Jones, Lucy Gogoliuk , Melissa Brayford

Well done to everyone involved - you did us proud!

John Byrne Award success

We’ve had ‘John Byrne Award’ success again this year! Two commendations (£1000 per team for personal development.) - Struan Wilson who composed a piece of music called ‘Freedom’ and Adam Cheong-MacLeod and Ali O’Connell with their piece of music called ‘A Portrayal Of His Journey’. They did a fantastic job and represented the school brilliantly. They also provided the entertainment for the ceremony before and after the presentations. Please give the boys a big congratulations when you next see them.

John Byrne Award

The final of the 2013 John Byrne Award takes place this Thursday, November 20. This competition for S6 pupils takes place annually and challenges students to investigate their own values and ethics via a creative response to the competition stimulus. This year the sculpture Capture Site, by Marco Cianfanelli. Entries were accepted in any medium. Good luck to all the youngsters taking part but especially to the two finalists from Gillespie's.

Cat MacDonald (Last year's co-winner with Leanne Bell from Gillespie's) is on this year's judging panel.

More details can be found on the John Byrne award website.

The 'G' factor

I attended a Christmas Fair at the majestic Newbattle Abbey this morning with my Family. In addition to lots of craft stalls, singers from Bun Sgoil Taobh na Pairce and James Gillespie's HS also took part. A highlight was this stunningly beautiful Gaelic duet by our pupils, siblings Mikaela and Duncan Carmichael. 
This link takes you their award winning performance at this year's national mod in Paisley.

Laurie Donaldson - member of British Youth Parliament

Yesterday morning, Laurie Donaldson, a most likeable and impressive senior pupil at James Gillespie's HS represented Scotland as an elected member of the UK youth parliament at the annual Youth Parliament debate in the House of Commons. We are so proud to see this young man follow in the footsteps of so many great Scottish Politicians through the years. Laurie's closing words are captured in this video clip from 1:41:10.

Even a stopped clock is right twice a day.

At dusk this evening a crew atop a cherry-picker were removing the clock face, a sight all the eerier against a chill, high November moon.

Throughout the past few days, pupils and staff have looked on in awe as large mechanical diggers eat away at the 'old school buildings'. Large metal ribs are ripped from the carcasses of buildings, chewed into smaller lumps and piled ready for removal. This process is scheduled to continue until well into the new year.

Easy fundraising

Do you shop online? The JGHS Parent Council has just registered with Easyfundraising so that every time you shop online you can raise funds for the school AT NO COST TO YOU.  

You can access over 2,700 well known retailers, including Amazon, John Lewis, eBay, Boden, Sainsbury's  and loads of insurance, travel and service companies through Easyfundraising, and they will donate a small percentage of what you spend to JGHS Parent Council to say thank you for shopping with them. 

It's a really simple process, all you have to do is:  
 
Go to www.easyfundraising.org.uk/causes/jghsparentcouncil
Register as a supporter
Get shopping - it couldn't be easier!

Easyfundraising now has a comparison page and a "find and remind" facility to ensure you never miss the chance to give money to the school.  

Please bookmark the site, and in the run up to Christmas especially, remember to click through and make a donation to improve the educational experience of all our children.