Friday update 15 December 2017

1. Following the recent bike thefts from our campus I’m pleased to report progress on counter measures we will effect to minimise the likelihood of further bike thefts. Actions taken to date and others proposed include:
• Additional CCTV has been installed to cover the bike parking area
• Additional signage alerting intruders to the use of CCTV has been installed.
• During week beginning 15 January 2018, weather permitting, we will have a bike breakfast to encourage pupils and staff to cycle to school.
• On this morning we will offer complimentary marking (thanks to local police input) of bicycles to all pupils and staff. We have chosen early January to ensure that those receiving bikes as presents over the Christmas period are reassured and encouraged.
• We will issue details for a website provided to us by the Police where cycle owners can register their bike. Should the bike be stolen, this will make it much more difficult to resell the bike and will enable Police to more easily return recovered bikes to their owners.
• We will have staff from local cycling organisations in attendance to show cyclists how best to secure unattended bikes. Advice will also be offered to
• We will offer advice on the most secure bike locks and offer a discounted price on best locks to all in attendance. We have managed to obtain sponsorship to further discount retail prices on the best locks.
• At the point of contacting you, it appears that ’D’ locks are being recommended as the most difficult to breach.
• Pupils in receipt of free school meals will receive a bike lock for free.

Thanks to all who have offered advice and particularly to the family who offered a bike to one of the pupils whose bike was stolen. I am determined that bike thieves will not deter our pupils and staff from cycling to school.

2. JGHS has been awarded status as Cycle Friendly Secondary School by Cycling Scotland.
3. Well done to the JGHS singers who supported Mercy Corp’s Christmas collection by carolling in Princes Street Gardens on Thursday from 4.00pm.
4. Well done to the following who were successful in the recent Royal Hospital for Sick Children art competition:
• Scarlett Oswald
• Ruying Yang
• Tihomir Spadavecchia
• Matilda Ball-Torokoff
• Catherine Mole 
• Eva Tarsia 
• Mario Parra Bedon
5. Well done to Max Bloor (S6) who, on Friday 1 December, won the 10km Foxtrail Night Trail Event. Ms Dickinson (chemistry teacher) also did very well and was the 6th woman.

6.      I am delighted to share that James Beeston has been offered a place in the Senior Orchestra of the National Youth Orchestras of Scotland, playing Viola.

7.      A reminder that our Parent Council raises funds through the Easy Fundraising website. https://www.easyfundraising.org.uk/ If you are making online purchases please do so through Easyfundraising and, at no extra cost, contribute to school funds.

8. Today, around 100 of our Gaelic Medium education pupils joined 350 primary pupils at the annual (Gaelic) Christmas service at Greyfriars Tolbooth & Highland Kirk. Bha e math fhein!

9.      Many thanks to Mr Graeme Davies and Mr Charles Warlow (1:15:00 in video link) (both from our Parent Council) who, along with Adam Paton (S5) (1:19:12) , attended the Council Education committee on Tuesday to promote our request to the Council to provide ubiquitous Wifi access across the school campus for pupils. Their presentations were excellent and can be viewed at  https://edinburgh.public-i.tv/core/portal/webcast_interactive/293991

10. Our Christmas concert is on Tuesday 19 December- a handful of the 2000+ tickets remain for what will be the hottest ticket over the festive season!

11.  The Parent Council would like to ask if you can help boost our school funds by making a Christmas donation to JGHS.  If you are coming to the JGHS Christmas Concert at the Usher Hall this Tuesday our volunteers will be handing out envelopes, inviting you to fill in the information to allow the vat on your donation to be claimed back by the JGHS Trust.  If you are not coming to the Christmas Concert please consider donating to our fundraising drive via the school office.  Last year, with your generous donations, we were able to fund the nurture group supporting vulnerable young people at our school, fund the start of the breakfast club, pay for STEM club resources, and buy sports strips, strings for instruments and equipment for the photography course as well as many other things.   Your donations make a difference for our pupils and the Parent Council would like to thank you for your support.  

And finally, with just one week to go before term ends at midday on Friday 22 December, I wish all a not too busy and peaceful weekend.

Donald j Macdonald

Headteacher