20 December

1.                Thanks to everyone who attended our wonderful Christmas concert at the Usher Hall on Tuesday evening. Thanks also to the teachers and the parents whose combined efforts ensured that our pupils’ talents go from strength to strength.

2.                   The money raised from the bucket shaking at the Christmas concert was £498.83. A huge thanks to all those who contributed. A gentle reminder we collect funds to:

1. Pay for our SA Educators and Learners to visit Edinburgh as part of the educational exchange
2. Raise funds for continuing projects such as creating libraries at our partner schools
3. Raise funds for musical and sporting equipment
4. Finally, we are gratefully accepting donations of books and pencil cases.

3.                   Congratulations to:  Evie Craig (S4) and Aaliyah El-Salahi (S5).  Both girls were part of a dance group (Oona Doherty: Hard to be Soft – A Belfast Prayer)  that was voted Number One show by the Guardian at the Edinburgh International festival in 2019. https://www.theguardian.com/stage/2019/dec/15/top-10-dance-shows-of-2019

4.                   Parents are requested to use Easyfundraising to help raise funds for JGHS. Those of you who run businesses can also use this system to raise precious school funds at no extra cost. https://www.easyfundraising.org.uk/causes/JGHSparentcouncil/

5.                   As a parent of 2 teenage daughters who are currently in the midst of their exams (one in S5 and the other in university) , I know all too well that this stage in the term can be very stressful for parents as we worry about our children’s study habits and apparent lack of application and preparedness for January prelims. Be reassured that It all comes good in the end and prelims do help! Please remind all S4,5 and 6 pupils to also have some days off during the holidays so that they can also recharge their batteries.

6.                   Please note that pupils in S1,2 and 3 are not set any homework during holidays. We much prefer that our younger pupils read for pleasure and spend time pursuing leisure pursuits with friends and family.  

7.                   School resumes for pupils at 0830 on Thursday 9 January 2020.

My quote for the week:  "To be kind is more important than to be right. Many times, what people need is not a brilliant mind that speaks but a special heart that listens." - F. Scott Fitzgerald

And finally, may I wish all a peaceful Christmas and a prosperous and healthy New Year.

Donald j Macdonald

Headteacher

Friday 13 December

1. Thanks to the 500 + families who attended our coursing evenings on Tuesday of this week. I was pleased to have the opportunity to demonstrate that school exam performance continues to improve despite recent press coverage to the contrary.
2. As a result of unforeseen circumstances, the S4 practical cookery prelims will be postponed until January 2020
3. We look forward to a packed house at the annual Christmas Concert at the Usher Hall on 17th December.
4. This year, as in previous years, the art department have chosen six S1 pupils Christmas designs, and created packs of Christmas cards. These are currently on sale on parent pay to all parents of S1 and S6 parents, priced at £4.50 a pack, with all profits going to help with the South Africa fundraising. There is only 50 packs of cards available, so get in quick before they sell out!
5. Huge thanks to all who supported this year’s Wee Sleep Out on Friday 29 November. I’m delighted to share that the total raised currently stands at £14,984.33.  If you would like to contribute further please go to https://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/jamesgillespies. All proceeds  go to Social Bite – a social enterprise that aims to eradicate homelessness in Scotland. This link will be active until Friday 20 December.
6. Earlier this week we launched a new school app that makes accessing key information and communicating with the school more straightforward. We will also be using this App to target communications to parents/carers of specific year groups. School App for Parents – although this is directed at parents, anyone can download this app. It provides the user with easy access to the school website, ParentPay, school bulletin, calendar and much more. Parents and carers, grandparents, aunts & uncles, brothers & sisters, everybody… please download School App for Parents!

1. Apple link - https://apps.apple.com/…/school-app-for-parents/id1309721219
2. Android link - https://play.google.com/store/apps/details…
3. You then find James Gillespie's in the drop down menus and use this App to more easily communicate with us.
6. A reminder to all that we don’t issue homework to pupils in S1,2 and 3 during holidays. Teachers also avoid carrying out assessments requiring revision preparation in the first week back. We believe it is much more productive and better for younger pupils to use holiday time to:
1. Read for pleasure and
2. Spend time with family/friends pursuing leisure interests
7. We are collecting supermarket vouchers on behalf of Children First. All such vouchers to Mrs Fallon or to the school office.
8. Chess Club will once more be up and running up in the new year.  Anyone wishing to join should make their interest known to Mr MacLaughland in room 2.29.   This session the Chess Club will be running an in school competition with prizes being awarded to the three highest ranked players! We are also looking to enter a school chess team into Lothians Allegro on Sunday 12 January.  Pupils wishing to represent the school team in this prestigious tournament then please do get in touch with Mr MacLaughland.

Dates

10. Bakes sales took place in school today to raise funds for Amnesty International and our South Africa project.
11. Recently taken S6 photograph proofs will be issued to pupils in their PSE classes next week.
12. The next Edinburgh Maths Circle will take place on Saturday 14th December, from 13:00 until 16:00, in the James Clerk Maxwell Building (room 3217 and the Level 3 Café Area).  The building is located in the University of Edinburgh King's Building campus. As you may know, the Edinburgh Maths Circle, organised by the Maths Outreach Team, is a free drop-in session where children aged 5 to 16 and their families can join in with exciting mathematical activities, games and puzzles. Further details and travel information can be found at: https://www.maths.ed.ac.uk/school-of-mathematics/outreach/maths-circle
13. Over 200 pupils from JGHS will take part in the filming of a Netflix Blockbuster movie (Princess Switch – the sequel) on Saturday 21 December. Those involved in filming for the Princess Switch movie will be required to arrive at a central Edinburgh location at 8:45am on Saturday 21st December and should be finished by about 1:00pm. Exact details about the arrangements will be emailed directly to parents before the end of term.
14. Final rehearsals for the Usher Hall concert take place on Monday in the Performing Arts Theatre and Tuesday at the Usher Hall. Pupils are reminded to check the boards in the music department times for each ensemble. Pupils are asked to arrive 15 minutes prior to their rehearsal time to ensure that each rehearsal beings promptly.
15. Term ends next week at midday on Friday 20 December.
16. Pupils resume on Thursday 9 January.

Congratulations to

17. All pupils who represented JGHS at the Lord Provost’s Fanfare concert on the evening of Friday 29 November
18. All pupils who took part in last Friday’s marvellous senior Drama production.
19. Lucia Garland, S5, who sat her Grade 8 Scottish Traditional Fiddle exam last week and passed with merit.
20. Caleb McWalter, S3, who achieved a merit in his Grade 3 Trinity (Piano) exam last week
21. Kirsty Johnson, 4S1, who (and her team mate from Airdrie) won the Scottish National Madison Championship, U16 girls, in Glasgow, last weekend going one better than the silver they got this time last year.
22. Dylan Daunt (S1) came third in the East District Cross Country League U13 race in Dundee last Saturday, and so he qualifies for the Inter-District Cross-Country Final for U13s on 11th Jan in Stirling.

 My quote for the week:

"When you get, give. When you learn, teach’’. (Dr Maya Angelou)

Wishing all a great weekend.

Donald j Macdonald

Headteacher

Friday 6 December

1. Recent newspaper reports suggest that our Examination Performance at JGHS has declined in the past 12 months. Please be reassured that this is not the case. In fact, our attainment continues to rise. What has changed Is how the data is aggregated and presented. I will be sharing more about this at next week’s coursing evenings for S2 and S4/5. I will also be saying more on this topic at the next Parent Council meeting on the evening of Tuesday 21 January 2020 for other parents who wish to find our more.
2. Due to high demand we have been able to release additional tickets for the annual Christmas Concert at the Usher Hall on 17th December. The final remaining tickets will be available from 10am on Saturday 7th December. http://www.usherhall.co.uk/whats-on/james-gillespies-high-school-christmas-concert-1
3. This year, as in previous years, the art department have chosen six S1 pupils Christmas designs, and created packs of Christmas cards. These are currently on sale on parent pay to all parents of S1 and S6 parents, priced at £4.50 a pack, with all profits going to help with the South Africa fundraising. There is only 50 packs of cards available, so get in quick before they sell out!
4. Huge thanks to all who supported this year’s Wee Sleep Out on Friday 29 November. I’m delighted to share that the total raised currently stands at £14, 486.63.  If you would like to contribute further please go to https://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/jamesgillespies. All proceeds  go to Social Bite – a social enterprise that aims to eradicate homelessness in Scotland. This link will be active until Friday 20 December.
5. Thanks to the following local businesses for supporting our Sleep Out.
1. CAS Ltd.
2. Be Inspired Fibres
3. The Zoom Club
4. Sheila’s Fish Shop
5. Marchmont Dental Care
6. New Leaf Co-Op
7. Doodles
8. Nordic Living
9. Waitrose
10. Marchmont Gallery
11. Meadowlark Yoga
12. The Edinburgh Bookshop
6. Earlier this week we launched a new school app that makes accessing key information and communicating with the school more straightforward. We will also be using this App to target communications to parents/carers of specific yeargroups. School App for Parents – although this is directed at parents, anyone can download this app. It provides the user with easy access to the school website, ParentPay, school bulletin, calendar and much more. Parents and carers, grandparents, aunts & uncles, brothers & sisters, everybody… please download School App for Parents!
1. Apple link - https://apps.apple.com/…/school-app-for-parents/id1309721219
2. Android link - https://play.google.com/store/apps/details…
3. You then find James Gillespie's in the drop down menus and use this App to more easily communicate with us.

 Dates

7. Our Senior Drama production is on 6 December - matinee and evening performances. Tickets at the door
1. Matinee Performance 1:45pm all tickets £1
2. Evening Performance 7pm Adults £6, Concessions £4
3. Tickets sold on the door at the Muriel Spark Building.
4. Synopsis: This comedy farce is set in London 1927.  Things are not going well for Sir Hector Benbow.  His secret liaison with a shop girl is scuppered by his wife’s early arrival home.  What’s more, there are reports that Thark, the old family home, is haunted.  Sir Hector and the rest of the family set out to the house to prove the rumours wrong.
5. This year’s production involves students from S3-S6.
8. Princess Switch Rehearsal Times - Monday 9th December
1. P1 & P2 - All choirs.
2. P3 - Wind band only.
3. P4 - Strings only.
4. P5 - All choirs, wind band and strings
5. P6 - All pupils performing in the orchestra for Loch Lomond (including Pipers/Snare drums/Clarsach)
9. Coursing information meetings will take place on the evening of Tuesday 10 December.
10. Our dining room will be offering traditional Christmas lunches on Wednesday 11 December.
11. The next Edinburgh Maths Circle will take place on Saturday 14th December, from 13:00 until 16:00, in the James Clerk Maxwell Building (room 3217 and the Level 3 Café Area).  The building is located in the University of Edinburgh King's Building campus. As you may know, the Edinburgh Maths Circle, organised by the Maths Outreach Team, is a free drop-in session where children aged 5 to 16 and their families can join in with exciting mathematical activities, games and puzzles. Further details and travel information can be found at: https://www.maths.ed.ac.uk/school-of-mathematics/outreach/maths-circle

 Congratulations to:

12. Mrs Edwards (Languages faculty) on the safe arrival of baby Ivy Sinclair Edwards. All are reported to be doing well!
13. Dr Wallace (Sciences) on the birth of baby Nola. All doing well!
14. James Plant who is one of the runners up in the Sunday Times Short Story competition for his entry ‘My sister’.
15. Lennox Walker for amassing the most points in the Gaelnovember competition.
16. The following boys who have been selected to represent Edinburgh Schools in the U15 National Trophy football game against Dundee.
1. Daniel Hart S4
2. Moray Bean S3
17. All who took part in the Edinburgh & Midlothian Schools Swimming Championships! In particular, it was excellent to see the Boys open freestyle team coming second in a very tight race with Stewart's Melville and George Watson's College! The boys in this team were Liam McLaughlin, Ross Kerr, Robert Wright and Lorne Wight.
18. Liam McLaughlin, Anna Green and Finlay Penman have been nominated to compete at the Scottish School's Championships in January, we will find out later in the month whether their entry has been successful.
19. Boys 11/under 50 Free
1. 9th Kevin Chen 36.75
20. Boys 11/under 50 Breast
1. 4th Kevin Chen 47.93
21. Girls 12/13 100 Freestyle
1. 17th Emily Buchanan 1:13.98
2. 18th Eilidh C Stewart 1:14.15
22. Girls 16-18 100 Freestyle
1. 4th Susannah Kernohan 1:10.01
23. Boys 12/13 100 Freestyle
1. 4th Finlay Penman 1:07.03
2. 9th Eric Balic 1:15.73
24. Boys 14/15 100 Freestyle
1. 9th Felix Walker 1:03.53
2. 10th Josh Tough 1:07.93
3. 11th Cai McEwan 1:15.69
4. 12th Andrew Wright 1:16.06
5. Boys 16/18 100 Freestyle
25. 11th Daniel Keerie 1:13.34
26. Girls 16/18 200 Butterfly
1. 5th Susannah Kernohan 2:49.07
27. Girls 12/13 100 Backstroke
1. 3rd Anna Green 1:05.76
28. Boys Open 400 Freestyle
1. 1st Liam McLaughlin 4:08.78
2. 2nd Lorne Wight 4:44.45
29. Boys 12/13 200 Individual Medley
1. 6th Finlay Penman 3:00.28
30. Boys 14/15 200 Individual Medley
1. 6th Felix Walker 2:39.36
31. Boys Open 4x50 Freestyle Relay
1. 2nd Liam McLaughlin, Lorne Wight, Ross Kerr, Robert Wright 1:42.08
32. Boys 14/15 200 Freestyle
1. 7th Josh Tough 2:31.57
33. Boys 16/18 200 Freestyle
1. 1st Liam McLaughlin 1:59.08
34. Girls 16/18 100 Breaststroke
1. 2nd Evie Tynan 1:26.34
35. Boys 16/18 100 Breaststroke
1. 4th Lorne Wight 1:15.19
36. Girls 12/13 200 Backstroke
1. 9th Eilidh C Stewart 3:06.96

My quote for the week: " Education is about inviting every single person who enters a school to realise his or her relatively boundless potential in all areas of worthwhile human endeavour. It is concerned with more than grades, attendance, and academic achievement. It is concerned with the process of becoming a decent and productive human being’’. (William Watson Purkey)

Wishing all a fantastic weekend.

Donald j Macdonald

Headteacher