Summer hols are here

'We've made it' are words I've heard from so many pupils, staff and parents over the past two days. It has been a long and challenging year so I very much agree with the sentiments contained within the words. Whilst we're away for the next 7 weeks, the building of the remaining two buildings and the continued refurbishment of Bruntsfield House will continue apace. Our senior pupils will be getting their exam results on 4 August and, fingers and toes crossed, they will achieve all they need to take them to their next stages. As parents and teachers we work together in making our pupils' dreams come true.

We wish all of our families a wonderful summer. Relax, spend time together and recharge the batteries for session 15/16.

Exchange trip to Germany

During this last week of term, around 200 of our pupils chose to travel to many exotic places including the RHS at Ingliston, Skye, Munich (two groups) and New York.

Currently we have our first ever German exchange group of students at  Hallertau Gymnasium (Secondary School) which is in the beautiful town of Wolnzach in Bavaria. When they arrived there on Monday 20 June they were made very welcome. The flag was a lovely gesture!Well done to Mike Alexander (Subject Leader for German) for organising this venture and initiating what we hope will be a long and mutually rewarding partnership with our new friends.

'The ballot is stronger than the bullet' (Abraham Lincoln)

At Gillespie's we are proud to have a very engaged and well informed pupil voice. Our Modern Studies department delivers a stimulating, engaging and often controversial curriculum to pupils throughout the school. Many of our pupils enjoy debating and getting involved in Politics. My own firmly held view is that this engagement is essential towards ensuring that the citizens of tomorrow exercise their right to become involved in discussing matters that affect them and expressing their views in confident and informed ways.

Here is what one of our parents relayed in an email to us yesterday:

'Here's further evidence of importance of Modern Studies in general, and your style of wonderfully-engaged teaching at JGHS in particular.

Hope you can keep those discussions going, in the classroom and at Assembly!'

http://www.ed.ac.uk/news/2015/politicalissuesintheclassroom

Cricket success

Warmest congratulations to three of our pupils who recently enjoyed Cricket success. Angus Beattie (capt), Ruairidh Main & Ben d’Ullise - were all key members of the Carlton Cricket Club U15 team that won the Scottish final of the ECB Cup today.  This makes them the champion club of Scotland and they will now go on to play against the champion side from Cumbria in the next round.

All these boys are part of the City of Edinburgh’s Cricket Academy run by Gordon Drummond, who supplied no fewer than 7 of the winning team. Fantastic return from the investment that the City of Edinburgh Council has made into these young cricketers.

Dress Code Survey

Currently, at JGHS, pupils, staff and parents are being asked to give us their views on whether we should continue with our current approach to dress code/uniform or change to a more 'conventional' approach. Our survey is scheduled to close on 13 August. 

The questions being asked are:

Option 1: No change to dress code         

Option 2: Uniform – polo shirt and sweatshirt

Option 3: Uniform – Blazer and tie

Option 4: No preference

 After this date, following discussion with both the parent and pupil councils a decision will be made.