Friday 26 April

1.       Welcome back to everyone after what I hope was an enjoyable Easter holiday.

2.       Thanks to everyone for supporting our social event this evening - tickets are now sold out!  We are looking forward to a great evening with wine from Vino Wines, fruit punch, a pop-up bar provided by Barnomadics, music from our talented senior students and food provided by our local supporters including our main sponsor Victor Hugo, and from Scotmid, Sainsbury's, Aldi and our local greengrocers at Argyle Place.  Thanks to all of them and to all our parent helpers and to you for supporting it.

3.       The James Gillespie’s Trust was established to provide support and funding for educational and extra-mural activities within James Gillespie’s High School and its community. In addition, the Trust fosters strong links with past pupils.  More information about the Trust can be found here https://www.jamesgillespiestrust.com/ including details of eligibility for the Small Grant Scheme, and how to apply.  Trustees include past pupils, members of the School Senior Management team, local councillors, and members of the current Parent Council. There is currently a Trustee vacancy for a member of the current parent body, so if you are interested, please get in touch for an informal discussion about our work. Ann Henderson, Chair mail.jgtrust@gmail.com

4.       Best wishes to all who are involved in national exams in the coming weeks. I’m sure that the hard work and long hours will pay dividends when the results are released in August. Pupils are reminded that they are welcome to come to work in school during study leave. All are encouraged to arrange to meet with their teachers for any support needed.

5.       All the best to the JGHS U14’s football team who are playing Boroughmuir in the League Cup semi-final tomorrow morning. They are a great bunch of lads who are very committed and proud be to representing the school and I’m sure they would appreciate your support. The game is at Meggetland with a 9am kick-off if you are free and fancy going along.

6.       Well done to:

a.       Four S3 pupils (Heidi Miller, Lola Bradbury, Susannah Kernohan and Lucy Robertson), who, accompanied by Ms Walker (Mandarin and Spanish Teacher), attended an awards ceremony in Glasgow for the Scottish European Educational Trust's project "Our World". The project involved over 20 high schools and 280 pupils, who all wrote, recorded and edited films in a foreign language around the topic of sustainability, trade or movement. Our team from JGHS filmed theirs at Edinburgh Zoo in Mandarin and scooped the award for "Factual Content". This was a great project and a fantastic achievement! More info on the project: http://www.seet.org.uk/oureurope/index.php The film made by pupils: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j3LeMtIUGaE

b.       Reuben Stiven who is a 2019 Prize winner in the annual (international) Pushkin creative writing competition. Reuben’s prize will be to attend the Moniack Mhòr Writers’ Centre near Inverness where, joined by peer winners from Scotland and St Petersburg, they will work with two professional writers – Gerry Cambridge and Julie Bertagna – in an informally structured course which ends the following Friday, 28^th June.

c.       The JGHS Senior Boys Volleyball Team who were runners up in the final of the Scottish Schools’ Cup Competition on Friday 12 April.

7.       Congratulations to both Ms Kennedy (continues as Ms Kennedy) and Ms Smith (now Mrs Westwood) who got married to Allyn and Robert respectively over the Easter holidays.

And finally, I wish all a lovely and sun drenched weekend.

Donald j Macdonald

Headteacher

Friday 5 April

1. Please consider supporting our JGHS Parent Council’s main social event this year, Growing our School Community - Wine Tasting and Social Event. Friday 26th April 2019 from 7pm to 9.45pm at our school forum and garden. Tickets available @ https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/jghs-pc-wine-tasting-and-social-event-tickets-59272969046 (Please note there is a £1.25 Eventbrite ticket admin charge)
2. Pupils in S4, 5 and 6 will go on exam leave from Thursday 25 April. Wednesday 24 April Is therefore the last day in classes for pupils. All pupils will resume on Monday 3 June when we start the new timetable.
3. We wish Maike Goetting (German Language Assistant) every success in the future and a safe return home to Germany. Maike has been with us for the past 7 months at JGHS and we are grateful for all her assistance in various German classes.
4. Well done to:
1. Laura Penman (S5) who won the Junior Conservatoire Scottish Music Prize on Saturday 30th March. 
2. Anna Green (S3), Susannah Kernohan (S3), David Kernohan (S2), Ross Keir (S5), Robert Wright (S5) and Liam McLaughlin (S5) who swam very well at the Scottish National Age Group Championships in Glasgow last week. They came back with an impressive 10 medals:

                                                               i.      Anna Green one silver and one bronze,

                                                             ii.      David Kernohan one gold and one bronze,

                                                           iii.      Liam McLaughlin two gold, 3 silver and one bronze.

3. Kirsty Johnson, 3S1, came 2nd (female rider, all ages) in the Scottish Cycling National Track League at the Sir Chris Hoy Velodrome in Glasgow. She came 31st/125 (mainly male) riders overall.
4. Jamie Clyde (S1), who following competitive auditions, attended the NYCOS (National Youth Choir of Scotland) residential training this past week in Loretto.
4. A programme of Easter revision classes was emailed to parents of pupils in S4,5 and 6 earlier this week.

And finally, I take this opportunity of wishing all a relaxing and enjoyable Easter Holiday. We look forward to welcoming all back to school on Tuesday 23 April.

Donald j Macdonald

Headteacher