Friday 27 September

1. I would request that parents are as vigilant as you can possibly be in ensuring pupils never take a knife/replica gun with them into the local community and certainly not to school. We are aware of recent cases where some boys in different parts of Edinburgh have been charged for being possession of a weapon in a public place. Possession of a weapon in school will lead to an immediate 999 call and an exclusion from school.
2. Parents’ assistance in getting pupils to school on time each morning is much appreciated. When there is a genuine reason for lateness parents should provide a note of explanation. Next week, we will be writing to parents of pupils who have been late for a class on 5 or more occasions in the month of September. Please be reassured that it is a minority of pupils who are regularly disrupting classes in this way.
3. Dates:
1. There will be an S3 parents’ consultation on Tuesday 1 October.
2. The JGHS Parent Council would like to invite everyone from our school community to our next PC meeting, which will be our AGM, on Tues 8^th Oct @ 7pm in the Library in the Malala building.    Ian Porter, DHT, will be reviewing Key Adult Time and we will have updates on WiFi,  rising rolls and capacity .  Everyone is very welcome but if you can't make that date our minutes will be online at http://jghscouncil.btck.co.uk   
3. Over the next 2 weeks the 30 pupils studying Advanced Higher Physics will be at Heriot Watt University to hone their skills in a university environment.
4. A coachload of S4 pupils will attend a curriculum trip to Torness Nuclear Power Station on Monday, 30th September.
4. Warmest congratulations to:
1. Bryan McPhail (Pupil support leader) who received a ‘September Monthly Outstanding Achievement Awards; from Andrew Kerr, our Chief Executive. Mr McPhail’s ward was in acknowledgment of his support for both Blair and Fraser Purves in recent efforts to raise funds for MacMillan Cancer.
2. Bronwen, Lili and Katrina who, with their clarsachs, provided the background music at a dinner earlier this week for the delegation of the International Council of Education Advisors hosted by the Deputy First Minister. Reports confirm the girls played beautifully. We are fortunate to have such a rich pool of musician s (and teachers!) in our school.
3. Our pupil run KJ’s café who on Tuesday of this week raised around £200 in aid of MacMillan Cancer Support by organising a lunch for staff.
5. Best wishes to two of our S6 pupils (Ben McCluskey and Sophie Misslin) who will be representing JGHS as part of a Scottish delegation visiting Poland to learn more about the horrors of the holocaust. During the excursion they will visit Birkenau Memorial and Museum.
6. The following students will be at Lagganlia Outdoor Centre from Tuesday 1st October until Friday 4th October, carrying out Field work for their Advanced Higher Biology projects in glorious Autumnal weather:
1. James Baker
2. Lorna Brockbank
3. Andrew Chambers
4. Angus Crawford
5. Arif Faisal
6. Alexander Goodall
7. Struan MacDonald
8. Rebecca Sparks
9. Robert Wright
7. It is always lovely to hear from former pupils and especially so when they offer to help current pupils. In the past week, Jamie Clarkson, who left Gillespie’s in 2017 and about to enter his third year studying engineering at Cambridge, contacted us to offer assistance to our current S6 with their applications to Cambridge and Oxford. Well done and thanks to Jamie and I extend a warm invitation to others who may have particular skillsets to contact us so that current pupils have the best possible support in realising their aspirations.
8. A very warm welcome to Salomon Thielen, our new German Assistant who started with us this week from the university of Mainz.

The HT’s ‘Friday Update’ is a roundup of key events and news. Please contact the school if you have something you’d like to share.

My quote for the week: Don’t judge each day by the harvest you reap but by the seeds that you plant.” Robert Louis Stevenson

Finally, best wishes to all for a lovely weekend.

Donald j Macdonald

Headteacher

Friday 20 September

1. Thanks to all who gave us good notice of their child’s involvement in today’s ‘Climate Protest’ event in Edinburgh.
2. The latest information on JGHS ‘’Parents’ Social and Fundraising" can be found here.   We're also planning to include pupil-led fundraising, clubs, and events on the Facebook page, to help with building the sense of community. 
3. We are holding an settling in/social event for parents of our S1 on Thursday 26 September. The details are as follows and also message below -
1. Date: Thursday 26 September 2019
2. Time:  7- 9pm
3. Venue:      Forum (Malala Building)
4. Dress Code:    Casual
5. RSVP:        Friday 20 September by 12pm.
6. EMAIL:       admin@jamesgillespies.edin.sch.uk if you wish to attend so we can plan for the numbers. All welcome!
4. Following the redevelopment of our School website, our maths resources have moved. Please note that these are now available to pupils via Office 365.
5. Good luck to all those who are involved in next week’s (Gold)  Duke of Edinburgh expedition.
6. The Police attended on Wednesday morning and security marked 24 bikes. Pupils are asked to be vigilant in ensuring bikes are secured with a high quality lock.
7. It is recommended that pupil’s garments are marked with the individual’s name to allow us to return ‘lost items’ to the rightful owners. Lost property is located in the Welfare office.
8. Thanks for everyone’s support in ensuring that pupils arrive in good time for classes that start each day at 0840.All pupils should be on campus no later than 830.
9. Staff have raised concerns about some senior pupils’ attendance. We know from past experience that lateness to classes and/or poor attendance has a significant adverse impact on attainment. This will be followed up in the next week or two so that pupils causing concern are supported and clear in relation to expectations of all.

I wish all a lovely weekend and hope the sunshine prevails into next week.

Donald j Macdonald

Headteacher

Friday 13 September

1. Thanks to everyone who has supported our fundraiser for Macmillan Cancer Support. With the excellent support of the Edinburgh Evening News and Kathleen Mackintosh (Mackintosh Barbers in Marchmont) the total raised is currently rising towards £9,000. The JustGiving page will stay open for a few more days.
2. The latest information on JGHS Parents’ Social and Fundraising can be found here.   We're also planning to include pupil-led fundraising, clubs, and events on the Facebook page, to help with building the sense of community. 
3. We are holding an settling in/social event for parents of our S1 on Thursday 26 September. The details are as follows:
1. Date: Thursday 26 September 2019
2. Time:  7- 9pm
3. Venue:      Forum (Malala Building)
4. Dress Code:    Casual
5. RSVP:        Friday 20 September by 12pm.
6. EMAIL:       admin@jamesgillespies.edin.sch.uk if you wish to attend so we can plan for the numbers. All welcome!
4. S4 Music Trip, Tuesday 17th September: A reminder to our S4 Music classes that they are to meet in the canteen at 11:30am on Tuesday to attend the SCO Masterworks concert.
5. Musical Instrument Collection: A few instruments that were left in the Music department over the summer holiday have still to be collected. Please could you remind students to collect their instruments. We currently have a number of guitars as well as a few strings and woodwind instruments. These will be available to collect from the welfare office from Tuesday. If not claimed by the end of the month they will be redistributed for new S1 students.
6. On Tuesday September 17 at 6 p.m., a meeting will be held in the JGHS forum for all parents/carers of S4-6 students who are interested in undertaking their Silver Duke of Edinburgh Award over the upcoming year. This meeting will be an opportunity for parents to meet our activity provider (for expeditions) MYAdventure, get information about the training schedule, costs and potential dates, as well as ask any questions they may have. We welcome anyone who is interested in the DofE, regardless if you have made a firm decision about participation or not.

And finally, please note that Monday 16 September is a holiday – best wishes to all for an enjoyable weekend.

Donald j Macdonald

Headteacher

“Do what makes you happy, be with who makes you smile, laugh as much as you breathe, and love as long as you live.” (Rachel Ann Nunes)

Friday 6 September

1. A warm welcome to both South African staff and the four pupils from our partner schools (Dloko HS and Zwelibanzi HS), who arrived this week. They are with us for the next few days to gain experience of JGHS and Scottish culture. Thanks  to all for being so kind and welcoming.
2. The Maths revision club run by S6 pupils is up and running on Tuesdays in room M2.15 after school.
3. On Wednesday of this week pupils in S4,5 and 6 attended an event run by the Edinburgh International Film Festival where they had opportunity to speak to industry professionals and hear about what goes on behind the scenes.
4. Earlier this week, as a result
   of the current unrest in Hong Kong, we took the decision to cancel the trip that was scheduled to depart in 2 weeks’ time. We will keep the situation under review and reschedule when it is safe to do so.
5. Classes will be taught in the new temporary accommodation from Monday 9 September. It is mainly staff from Modern Studies, RME and Psychology who will be relocating into the temporary classrooms.
6. A reminder that all pupils have been issued with a paper copy of the personal details (email addresses, emergency contact details etc.)  we have on record. Some of these are probably feeling ignored and lonely in schoolbags! It is essential that these forms are updated and returned to us asap. Returns with ‘no changes needed’ written clearly on the form will confirm that the form has reached you.

Dates:

7. On Monday 9 September, senior pupils from our AS and A Level classes out on Monday 9th September in the afternoon to visit the exhibition:- Cut and Paste: 400 Years of Collage is the first survey exhibition of collage ever to take place anywhere in the world. Collage is often described as a twentieth-century invention, but this show spans a period of more than 400 years and includes more than 250 works.
8. The JGHS Parent Council would like to invite everyone from our school community to the first PC meeting of the new school year.  We look forward to seeing parents and carers from across the year groups, and hope to meet some of our new S1 parents and carers too. Bob Shankland, DHT, will be giving a summary of SQA results and we will have updates on Wifi, capacity and rising rolls, social events and fundraising.  Everyone is very welcome to join us on Tues 10 September at 7pm in the Library in the Malala building.
9. Our annual P7 Open evening takes place on Thursday 12 September from 6 – 8 Pm.
10. On the 17 of September the RME department are hosting a charities fair in the theatre to allow for Youth Philanthropy Initiative (YPI) candidates to meet with charities representatives
11. We are arranging a Bike breakfast for the morning of Wednesday 18 September. Details to follow but this event will include bike marking to deter thieves. In the interim, high quality (discounted) D-locks locks are available for £10 rather than the retail price of £30/40. Please email Deborah.dickinson@jamesgillespies.edin.sch.uk if you wish to purchase a D-lock.
12. The next pupil protest related to Climate Change is scheduled to take place on Friday 20 September. Pupils taking part should have authorisation from a parent/carer by submitting an email/letter to the school. (Addressed to the school office - Admin@jamesgillespies.edin.sch.uk - preferably before midday on Wednesday 18 September).  
13. We will have a social gathering for our new S1 parents on Thursday 26 September between 7-9pm.  There will be some light entertainment, refreshments and a chance to mingle informally.

Well done to:

14. Kirsty Johnson (S4) who, last weekend, won gold at the Scottish Cycling National Youth Road Championship 2019 (U16 girls).
15. All S4 pupils have the exciting opportunity to take part in this year's German Exchange. The exchange is open to anyone who is interested in experiencing a new culture and making new friends - even if they don't study German at present! Pupils who are interested are to collect a letter from Miss Hand in the Languages Department. The deadline to express interest is Friday 13 September.
16. We are looking for donations of bulbs which our eager team of gardeners (led by Ms Aulich) will be planting in the next few weeks. This will ensure we have a good splash of colour and are more bee friendly around our campus in Spring. Please hand in to reception and mark clearly what type/colour they are.

My quote for the week: "The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago. The second best time is now." (Chinese proverb)

Wishing all a lovely weekend.

Donald j Macdonald

Headteacher