Friday 29 March

1. Congratulations to:

                                                              i.      James Richardson S1

                                                            ii.      Ewan Briggs S2 

                                                          iii.      Abby Earnshaw S3, who were 2nd at the Edinburgh heat of the SAGT Geography World Wise Quiz on Thursday evening.

2. Five S5 and S6 students who, on Friday 22 March, went to the Náboj maths competition, a European maths competition founded in Eastern Europe. JGHS came third in Edinburgh, sixth in the UK and 220th in Europe.
3. Rabi Jha (S2) who was awarded a distinction in his Grade 4 ABRSM recorder exam.
4. Robert Davis S6 who will be travelling down to London today to represent Scotland Junior Men’s 8 rowing crew to race on Saturday at ‘The Head of The River’ competition in London.
1. Our RME department will be involved with the Youth Philanthropy Initiative with next session’s S4.  We are looking for parental input on any charities you could recommend who either do work in the local area or have projects/offices in the local area.  Parents can contact Mrs Bladon - Kathleen.Bladon@jamesgillespies.edin.sch.uk - directly.

3. On Thursday of this week all boys in S3 took part in workshops run by an organisation called ‘The Good Lad Initiative’. This is a non-profit organisation that aims to promote positive masculinity,  responsible behaviour in young men and engage males in gender equality. We will also be engaging with another organisation to promote positive and specific messages to S3 girls in the summer term.
4. Thanks to Mr Ebead who led a trip last weekend to the remote island of Lismore with an energetic and enthusiastic group of S1 pupils. They enjoyed the local flora and fauna and fitted in several hours of maths too!
5. Term ends at 1255 on Friday 5 April.
6. Clocks go forward this weekend – Saturday into Sunday.
7. Congratulations to Mrs Lindsey Charnley (Gaelic and Support for Learning) and Ms Rebecca Brearey (Psychology and RMPS) who were appointed to teaching posts this week, They will start with us in August 2019.
8. very best wishes to all 190 pupils and 20 staff heading for Lockerbie Manor Outdoor Activity Centre this weekend for our annual S1 residential. The weather forecast is Thanks to Ms Smith for leading on this project.

And finally, it was lovely to receive this email from a member of the public on Thursday. ‘I was waiting in a queue in Scotmid in Marchmont on Monday.. I volunteer in Save The Children and we needed some change. There were several pupils ( I imagine were from James Gillespie’s ) all of whom were polite and courteous. One boy had forgotten his lunch money and was asking his friends if he could borrow until the next day. Unfortunately no one had any to spare. I asked him if he wanted to borrow money for his lunch and at first he was reluctant but when I explained I worked close by in Save The Children he accepted. The next day the boy who I now know is called Aidan, not only returned the money but brought in a beautiful bunch of flowers. I would like to thank him and your school. Your polite and lovely pupils are an absolute credit to you.’

It gave me great pleasure to invite Aiden Devlin (S2) to my office this morning to thank him for what he had done.

I wish all a lovely weekend.

Donald j Macdonald

Headteacher

Friday 22 March

1. A week today around 200 of our S1 pupils accompanied by 20+ staff will take part in the S1 residential experience at Lockerbie Manor activity centre. Fingers crossed for some Spring weather!
2. Some parents have contacted us in relation to pupils attending further climate change protests.  As  school we will continue to encourage pupils to engage in ongoing discussions and debate on climate change. This can include attendance at peaceful protests. Without a further ruling from the Council we are unable to authorise attendance at further protests taking place during school hours.
3. The gardening club starts up again next week with Ms Aulich. The club will meet on Wednesdays straight after school, with planning done during Thursday lunchtimes. All pupils welcome.
4. On Tuesday of this week s presentation was delivered by Edinburgh University's Blood, Bone Marrow and Transplant (EUBBT) society in association with the Anthony Nolan Trust. This project is also run in partnership with NHS Blood and Transplant and aims to teach 16–18-year-olds about the importance of donating stem cells, blood and organs and empower young people to make an informed choice about whether to register as potentially life-saving donors.
5. Best wishes to the following pupils who, on Thursday 28th March, will attend a Tennis Ambassador training day as part of our commitment to the School of Tennis programme.
• Sean Gallacher S3
• William Belkebir S5
• John Dabos-Doukas S5
• Robbie Galloway S5
6. Congratulations to:
• Izzy Maclullich who has achieved a Distinction at Grade 8 in Drums

o    Our S2 netball team who were runners up in yesterday’s Scottish final on Thursday 21 March. The youngsters enjoyed the experience and were a credit to themselves, our school community and the East of Scotland.

Dates for the Diary

7. 'Spring Fling concert series over two nights, Tuesday 26th March and Wednesday 27th March. Both concerts will take place in the Muriel Spark Performing Arts theatre from 7.00 – 8.00pm.
• Tuesday evening’s concert will include String, Clarsach and Guitar ensembles, our ‘Trad’ group and the Junior Choir. We are also delighted to welcome students from Preston Street Primary School.
• On Wednesday the Wind and Pipe bands will perform alongside our Chamber Choir, Senior Choir and Rock ensembles.
• Tickets will be on sale from the door on the evening of the concert priced at £3 per evening, or £5 if you are attending both nights.
• We hope that you can come and support our young performers for what promises to be a great event.
8. Thanks to everyone who attended the Parent Council meeting on Tues 19th March. Minutes of meetings are available via http://jghscouncil.btck.co.uk/
9. All are invited to Parent Council social event this year at 7pm on Friday 26th April 2019 in the foyer at JGHS. 
• We will have wine-tasting with Vino wines, music, food, a pop-up prosecco bar and fruit punch. 
• Everyone is welcome – parents, carers and staff – please come and support your school.  
• Eventbrite ticketing information to follow.
10. The big pedal is fast approaching, 25th March till the 5th April, the aim of the two weeks is to encourage cycling to school.
• To launch this, we plan to hold a bike breakfast on Tuesday 26th March from 8.15am.
11. Tonight, our pupils are staging a play to raise funds for and to raise awareness of period poverty. ‘A Feminine Ending’ is a bittersweet comedy about a girl who knows what she wants, but not quite how to get it. ’Issue Now’, a Pupil led charity, is putting on this production to raise money for Lilypads, a charity helping those in period poverty. ‘The play’s message is so important and we thought that this would be a refreshing, challenging and exciting way in which we can raise money for a cause that really matters. So please, contribute to something good, and sit back, relax, and enjoy the show! We hope to see you on the 22^nd’ Lori Stott (S6)

All the very best to everyone for  a lovely weekend.

Donald j Macdonald

Headteacher

Friday 15 March

Warmest congratulations to:

1.       Callum Stark who won first prize in ‘ARTiculate’ on Wednesday evening. ARTiculate is a national public speaking competition for school age young people on a topic of Artistic interest.

2.       Kinli Kwok (S3) who won the  Tae Kwon Do Fighter of the year award whilst representing Scotland in her age category.

3.       Hanga Eory (S1), Calum Usher (S1), Rachel Allan (S2) and Chirag Shetty ( S2) who took part in the Junior UK Maths Team competition held at the University of Edinburgh on 8th March. The pupils were an absolute credit to the school and they secured 4th place out of 26 teams in this highly competitive event.

4.       The JGHS Pipe Band who competed in the Scottish Schools’ pipe band championships last weekend. There were clear signs that this young and developing band has a very promising future if they continue to practise and work together.

5.       Louis Mackintosh; Esther Silverton; Phoebe Burke and Anna Mantle who, accompanied by Mrs Sturm attended a gala dinner on Wednesday evening to celebrate the achievements of Social Bite, the social enterprise that was set up to tackle homelessness. The guest of honour was Malala Yousafzai after whom we names our main teaching block.

6.       Our S2 netball team who have made it through to the Scottish final on Thursday 21 March. I understand the final is likely to be a ‘West vs East’ affair!

Dates for the Diary

1.       We would like to have one last get together with those involved in the South Africa Exchange Project 2018/19. This would be with the current S6 who went to SA and their parents/carers. This will take place from 6pm-7pm on Tuesday 19 March in the Forum. The agenda will be to share the long awaited Vlog and evaluate the project.

2. This year, due to growing demand, we have decided to run a 'Spring Fling concert series over two nights, Tuesday 26th March and Wednesday 27th March. Both concerts will take place in the Muriel Spark Performing Arts theatre from 7.00 – 8.00pm. This is another wonderful opportunity for our young people to participate and perform in one of the many musical ensembles, choirs and instrumental groups the school offers.
• Tuesday evening’s concert will include String, Clarsach and Guitar ensembles, our ‘Trad’ group and the Junior Choir. We are also delighted to welcome students from Preston Street Primary School.
• On Wednesday the Wind and Pipe bands will perform alongside our Chamber Choir, Senior Choir and Rock ensembles.
• Tickets will be on sale from the door on the evening of the concert priced at £3 per evening, or £5 if you are attending both nights.
• We hope that you can come and support our young performers for what promises to be a great event.
3. On Tues 19th March @ 7pm in the Library in the Malala building the JGHS Parent Council would like to invite everyone from our school community to our next PC meeting.  Jeff Warden, DHT, will be updating on curriculum planning and we will have updates on Wifi and rising rolls. Everyone is very welcome. If you can't make the date our minutes are online at http://jghscouncil.btck.co.uk/
4. Please support our main Parent Council social event this year at 7pm on Friday 26th April 2019 in the foyer at JGHS. 
• We will have wine-tasting with Vino wines, music, food, a pop-up prosecco bar and fruit punch. 
• Everyone is welcome – parents, carers and staff – please come and support your school.  
• Eventbrite ticketing information to follow.
5. The big pedal is fast approaching, 25th March till the 5th April, the aim of the two weeks is to encourage cycling to school.
• To launch this, we plan to hold a bike breakfast on Tuesday 26th March from 8.15am (too many will forget if it’s the Monday!).
6. At 7 pm on Friday 22 March our pupils are staging a play to raise funds for and to raise awareness of period poverty. ‘A Feminine Ending’ is a bittersweet comedy about a girl who knows what she wants, but not quite how to get it. ’Issue Now’, a Pupil led charity, is putting on this production to raise money for Lilypads, a charity helping those in period poverty. ‘The play’s message is so important and we thought that this would be a refreshing, challenging and exciting way in which we can raise money for a cause that really matters. So please, contribute to something good, and sit back, relax, and enjoy the show! We hope to see you on the 22^nd’ Lori Stott (S6)

And finally, thanks to the 400+ parents who contacted us to authorise their child’s attendance at today ‘s climate change protest’ being staged at the Scottish Parliament. I find it very encouraging to see so many young people actively engaged in a matter of such pressing importance. Thanks also to our office staff who have processed all of these requests and continue to do so throughout this morning.

Donald j Macdonald

Headteacher