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