Friday 24 January

1. A very Happy Chinese New Year to all of our families. This coming year of the metal rat has special significance for those born in 1960, 1972, 1984, 1996, 2008, …
2. All families are reminded to ensure that that we have up to date personal details (medical, contact numbers, emergency contacts etc. ). We acknowledge and understand that keeping us up to date may easily fall of the radar when families are changing domestic arrangements.
3. In recent months we have been talking about using ‘therapets’ in school so I’m delighted to share that we have a therapet (dog)  coming in to school on 29 January to work with pupils in Support for Learning.
4. On Wednesday an assembly was held for S2 pupils to explain the course request sheet and coursing procedures for moving into S3. Pupils have until the 28th of February to hand in their request sheet to their Pupil Support Leaders. A copy of this sheet along with last year’s course information booklet is currently available on the school website at https://www.jamesgillespies.co.uk/course-choices/
5. At this week’s Parent Council we discussed how the school should respond to requests from the armed forces to engage with pupils. A variety of views were expressed so I would encourage you to keep up to date with what was said on this and other topical issues by accessing minutes of meetings on the PC website. http://jghscouncil.btck.co.uk/
6. In order to support our South Africa project please donate either books or pencil cases. There are crates in the reception of James Gillespie’s’ High School.
7. All parents and pupils are encouraged to download the school communications app at https://www.jamesgillespies.co.uk/school-mobile-app/  As a school we will be increasingly directing more of our communications via this App in the coming weeks.
8. In response to demand, I’m delighted to share that we will shortly be launching ‘Show my homework’ – an App designed to allow parents to view homework that has been issued and to access learning materials to support their children’s learning. Details to follow.
9. At a very well attended meeting for all with an interest in Gaelic Medium Education on Wednesday night, the Council shared that the Liberton Campus will be its preferred location for the new Secondary Gaelic School which is scheduled to open in August 2024. As a school we will work hard to ensure that we are ready to embrace the opportunities tha this new facility will present.
10. S6 pictures are now available for collection from reception.

Dates

11. Following prelim leave, Senior pupils return to classes on Wednesday 29 January.
12. At break time today, Mrs Sturm, with the help of the ‘Wee Sleep Out’ pupils/elves, operated the third of 3 bake sales to raise money to assist the various charities that are helping in the wake of the catastrophic bush fires in Australia. Funds raised will be channelled to help out the wildlife and people affected. We raised a further £262.77 in last Friday’s bake sale.
13. S2 Parents' Evenings take place on 28 (Non practical) and 30 January (Practical) 2020. Appointments can be booked online now, an email was sent out to all S2 parents/carers on Tuesday.
14. We are calling a special assembly for S1 pupils to share important information regarding this year's Residential. This will take place on Friday 31 January for the whole of Period 4. Parents are reminded to return necessary medical forms and to pay any outstanding balance.
15. Parents are organising a fun packed fund raising quiz night for Friday 28 February. Keep a look out for further details.
16. Well done to our traditional musicians who performed so beautifully at JGPS earlier this week. Feedback included:
1. ‘I absolutely loved it, I’ve never seen bagpipes in real life and I want to see them again now!’
2. ‘I just loved it’
3. ‘I have a guitar and they had a guitar’
4. ‘It was too good I just thought all of it was brilliant’
5. ‘It was awesome’
6. ‘I liked the bagpipes because they were loud’
7. ‘It was great’
8. ‘The bagpipes were loud but I liked it’
17. Well done to the following S2 pupils who were declared as regional winners in a very competitive and well attended maths competition. Our pupils enjoyed meeting (and out performing!)  peers from many schools including  beating Merchiston, Fettes and Mary Erskine's.  We are now awaiting word on an invite to the national final in the Natural History Museum, London and should hear imminently.
1. Hanga Eory
2. Willow Yuan
3. Matthew Wright
4. Paul Marcos

And finally this week I leave you with some of Robert Burns best known words from Auld Lang Syne:

‘Should auld acquaintance be forgot,

and never brought to mind?

Should auld acquaintance be forgot,

and auld lang syne’.

Happy Burns day to all.

Donald j Macdonald

Headteacher