Friday 29 May

Dear Parents, Carers, Pupils, Partners and Colleagues,

I hope this finds you all happy and well.

SQA grades

I am delighted to share that school (estimate) grades for all pupils in S4, 5 and 6 were submitted by Friday’s deadline. A total of 2,620 exam grades were entered. Sincere thanks to DHT Bob Shankland, supported by Sharon Kerr (senior admin) and all staff in the school who contributed to generating our estimates over the past few weeks. This was a mammoth task that has taken countless hours of discussions and deliberations. Thanks also to the many parents who contacted us to ensure we had any additional information that might apply.  At this stage we do not know what the examination arrangements will be for 2021.

The SQA are aiming to share details of final awards with all pupils on 4 August. Until then, we hope that pupils, parents and staff can relax and focus on future studies whilst relaxing over the summer.

Schools returning in August.

The Scottish Government and City of Edinburgh Council have shared some initial guidance with us on schools reopening from 11 August. We will work closely with parents through our Parent Council to ensure that we manage this process and painlessly as possible.

Our approach (at JGHS) to getting staff and pupils back to work will be focused on 4 key areas. 

1. Safety. Staff and pupils will need to feel safe. 
2. Support and Dignity. We will seek to recognise that we all are at different stages on our journey to recovering and catching up. Support for all will be unconditional and positive. 
3. Sense of belonging. We all benefit from being part of a connected and supportive community. It will take time and effort to reform the JGHS community. 
4. Space to share (Reflections etc.) It will be important to allow pupils and staff to talk about and reflect on their experiences during recent months. We should avoid falling in to the trap of assuming that everyone is ready to start  where they left off. A bit of time at the beginning spent talking about what happened will pay dividends the long run. 

Parent Council

Thanks to our Parent Council for arranging for an online meeting to take place online on Tuesday 26 May. The meeting gave members of my senior team and me the opportunity to talk about some of our current practices and to explore some of our initial thinking around pupils and staff returning in August. The following link takes you to a recording of the online meeting. https://youtu.be/DJ4a41mna-I A copy of questions asked with responses will follow and will appear on the Parent Council section of the school website.

Arrangements for children of Key Workers

The HUB facility is there to allow the key workers to attend their work and should only be used if there are no alternative child-care arrangements to placing the children in the HUB. Booking is now open for week commencing 1 June. It was be extremely helpful if you could book by Tuesday 26 May. Direct link to JGHS Booking Form 

University applications - for parents of S5 (going into S6 pupils)

The new S6 pupils will start to focus on researching university and college applications in PSE next week and will continue with this in PSE for the rest of June. 

We also have an excellent JGHS UCAS parents’ guide written by one of our parents Jacqui Stark (to whom we are eternally grateful) and the updated version will be on the school website from early next week. 

From today, if they haven't done so, pupils are strongly encouraged to sign up for the UCAS hub which is a really helpful tool to research courses and options.  https://www.ucas.com/what-are-my-options/create-your-ucas-hub-today

The S6 PSE Teams page will include a range of materials including instructions and support on how to start a UCAS application - this is separate from the UCAS Hub. These resources will also be online next week. 

MySQA is an online service for learners where they can view their qualification information, check their personal details and sign-up to receive their exam results by text message or e-mail (in addition to their paper certificate).

To register for this service, learners should must have:

• Scottish Candidate Number (which is also their school computer login number)
• An e-mail address

Register for MySQA

We would encourage all candidates to register with MySQA and ensure that their qualification and personal information is recorded correctly.

Any discrepancies should be highlighted to the school as soon as possible by emailing:  admin@jamesgillespies.edin.sch.uk

2020 Leavers’ Form

A reminder that Mr McPhail sent out a communication for the attention of all potential schools leavers, stating the requirement for them to complete our online Leavers’ Form.  It is essential that all students planning on not returning to JGHS for academic session 2020-21, complete this form.  Otherwise, they cannot be removed from the school roll.  104 of our 172 have completed thus far. Your help in ensuring that these forms are completed would be greatly appreciated. 

The 2020 Leavers’ Form can be accessed by using the following link:  https://forms.office.com/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=af6sSGo3tUKfacnke7-5xNXkpAnUVFdLr9EwY6VuiGlUQlJGWEg0QkI3MlRHMlROSjBJUlUyR0VKWS4u

Miscellaneous

1. Edinburgh Mòd goes digital Join one of Edinburgh's largest Gaelic cultural events online.
2. Year heads for S1-6 will continue with current year head responsibilities until the end of June. A year group specific message from year heads will follow I the next few days. This will cover what would ordinarily be said at year group assemblies.

School Trip Refunds

We are in the process of calculating refunds to all parents and carers for contributions made to the many trips and events James Gillespie's High school organises. The school's administration team is working hard to collate the income, expenditure and charges for each of these events and, of course, discussing with suppliers refunds for cancelled trips and events. You will be aware from Press reports that some companies are very reluctant to give cash refunds. In line with government advice, we are asking all of our suppliers for full cash refunds. We are aiming to refund all monies paid by the end of June and would hope to complete this process by the end of July.

 Contacting us

1. Our admin email will be checked each day and we will continue to respond to requests.
2. Please note that though the school is physically open for the HUB, the school campus remains off limits to everyone else. Some limited access will be made available to staff in the coming days to access resources.

My quote for the week: “Optimism is the most important human trait, because it allows us to evolve our ideas, to improve our situation, and to hope for a better tomorrow.” (S Godin)

I’d like to wish everyone a lovely week ahead.

 Donald j Macdonald (Headteacher)

Friday 22 May

Dear Parents, Carers, Pupils, Partners and Colleagues,

I hope this finds you all happy and well. 

Schools returning in August.
You will likely be aware that the Scottish Government released an overview yesterday of how schools will reopen from 11 August. Over the coming weeks I will, supported by the City of Edinburgh Council, be working closely with all members of the JGHS community to plan how this will work out in practice.

Parent Council

We would like to invite you to the next Parent Council meeting which will take place online on Tues 26^th May at 7pm via this link Join Parent Council Meeting.  If you join via the link on the web, and then select join anonymously the link will take you straight to the event without having to sign in to Microsoft or download the Teams App.

This will be an opportunity for us to hear about the challenges facing the school, its staff, pupils and parents, and how these are being dealt with in this difficult period. 

·         Donald j Macdonald, Head Teacher – overview

·         Deirdre O’Brien, Deputy Head Teacher – online teaching

·         Ian Porter, Deputy Head Teacher – pupil support and wellbeing

·         Laura Stewart, Deputy Head Teacher – IT & Equity

·         Questions & Answers via Teams Q&A typed chat facility

You will appreciate that there are some technical challenges in trying to set up a meeting of this kind, and we ask for your patience should things go wrong e.g. with individual access, or Wifi failures on the night.  We are also aware that not all parents will be available on the date of the meeting and we are planning to record the presentations so that they can be viewed later.  If you would like to raise any issues or ask any questions ahead of the meeting please let us know via the Parent Council email: jghscouncilcomms@gmail.com by 2pm Monday 25^th and where possible these will be included in the presentations or we will aim to cover with them at our next online PC meeting on Tues 23^rd June. Thanks - JGHS Parent Council

Arrangements for children of Key Workers (JGHS coordinator - Mr David Anderson)
Booking is now open for week commencing 1 June. It was be extremely helpful if you could book by Tuesday 26 May. Direct link to JGHS Booking Form 

MySQA is an online service for learners where they can view their qualification information, check their personal details and sign-up to receive their exam results by text message or e-mail (in addition to their paper certificate).

To register for this service, learners should must have:

• Scottish Candidate Number (which is also their school computer login number)
• An e-mail address

Register for MySQA

We would encourage all candidates to register with MySQA and ensure that their qualification and personal information is recorded correctly.

Any discrepancies should be highlighted to the school as soon as possible by emailing:  admin@jamesgillespies.edin.sch.uk

2020 Leavers’ Form

A reminder that Mr McPhail sent out a communication for the attention of all potential schools leavers, stating the requirement for them to complete our online Leavers’ Form.  It is essential that all students planning on not returning to JGHS for academic session 2020-21, complete this form.  Otherwise, they cannot be removed from the school roll. 

Your help in ensuring that these forms are completed would be greatly appreciated. 

The 2020 Leavers’ Form can be accessed by using the following link:  https://forms.office.com/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=af6sSGo3tUKfacnke7-5xNXkpAnUVFdLr9EwY6VuiGlUQlJGWEg0QkI3MlRHMlROSjBJUlUyR0VKWS4u

Edinburgh Young Carers

1. Edinburgh Young Carers (EYC) are still open during this time to offer families help. A link to Edinburgh Young Carers website: https://www.youngcarers.org.uk.
2. All JGHS Young Carers are invited to a 'Teams' group to keep in touch with each other.
3. There is an opportunity for all Young Carers to acquire a card to provide greater access to pharmacies and supermarkets.

We encourage our parents/carers to get in touch with Mr Sievwright (PE Department) if their child is a young carer. A definition of a Young Carer is as follows: "A young carer is somebody who cares for or is affected by someone else at home – usually a parent or sibling – who suffers from physical or mental ill health, or who has substance misuse issues. Edinburgh Young Carers works with young people aged 5 to 25 years old."
School magazine

The JGHS school magazine, The Spark, is currently being updated weekly with new articles, creative writing, photography, reviews and more. I would like to encourage as many of the JGHS pupil community to get involved with writing for The Spark, so if any are interested in being part of this magazine please get in touch with Ms Kirkwood (Fiorenza.Kirkwood@jamesgillespies.edin.sch.uk) to find out more. 

We are also currently conducting a survey which one of our writers will use to inform her next article so we would really appreciate it if you could visit  https://jghsthespark.wordpress.com/2020/05/22/impact-of-covid-19-survey/  in order to answer 3 short questions. 

 Online Learning (Mrs Deirdre O’Brien and Mr Jeff Warden) 

1.       If any pupil is finding it difficult to access or complete tasks, they must let their class teacher and/or PSL know.

2.       Mr Meechan has created a comprehensive training video for pupils in the use of Microsoft 365 and with Teams in particular. There is a contents list along with time stamps in the video description so pupils can navigate to specific parts. Pupils will be issued with this link by their Key Adult next week, and we request that all pupils view this, and especially for new S4 and S5 who may not have much experience with Teams. The video is now embedded on the Digital Learning page of the school website and can also be accessed here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ur-zRIMWjGg

3.       S2 pupils will engage with their next stage in learning from this week.  Pupils will remain in their current S2 class Team until Monday 1 June but are only expected to complete tasks for the subjects they have chosen to study in S3.

4.       We have been working on a policy to support all pupils in engaging with their schoolwork. This policy is based on a clear rationale and evidence and feedback from staff, pupils and families.

5.       The timetable will be officially changing on Monday 1 June. Pupils always get excited when they move up a year, so please celebrate this next important milestone in their lives with them!

6.       From 1 June, S3, S5 and S6 classes will be placed into new ‘Teams’ and allocated their teachers for next session.

7.       New S2 and S4 classes will remain in the same class Team but may have a different  teacher assigned.

Miscellaneous

1. Researchers at the University of Edinburgh have launched a TeenCovidLife survey designed for 12-17 year olds. If you'd like to share it with your children, please share the link below: www.teencovidlife.scot The young volunteers will be asked about topics including loneliness, sleeping patterns, family relationships, how they are spending their days, and how lockdown is affecting their physical and mental health.  A key aim is to ensure that young people’s voices will be heard by policy makers on how to best deal with the areas that directly affect them and how society should return to normal.
2. Best wishes to Lolly Deazley (S6), James Baker (S6) and Dougal Deazley (S5) whose art work has been entered into the Annual (2020) Paolozzi competition. The award winners will be announced on Wednesday 3 June. Special thanks to members of our Art departments who have supported and inspired our pupils.
3. Yesterday afternoon I ‘met’ with Mr Porter, Ms Peters and the (outgoing) S6 prom committee to look at alternative arrangements for the prom that was to have taken place in June. We are all determined to find a date that suits some time in 2021.

 Contacting us

1. Our admin email will be checked each day and we will continue to respond to requests.
2. Please note that though the school is physically open for the HUB, the school campus remains off limits to everyone else. Some limited access will be made available to staff in the coming days to access resources.

My quote for the week: ‘The best portion of a good man's life is his little, nameless, unremembered acts of kindness and of love’. (William Wordsworth

I’d like to wish everyone a lovely weekend.

 Donald j Macdonald (Headteacher)

Friday 15 May

Dear Parents, Carers, Pupils, Partners and Colleagues,

I trust this finds you all happy and well.

Thank you to all for your continuing unfailing support over the past 2 months whilst we have all have tried to adjust to our new and changing circumstances. We know that this period of time has been very challenging for all in our community.  I’d like to particularly acknowledge the efforts of our parents who are doing their best to ‘deliver school work’ at home. We now know that this is an almost impossible ask of parents.  Parents are juggling too many responsibilities at present and so must not worry about pupils falling behind. The priority for all is to be healthy and happy. Do not worry if your child is only able to complete some of the work that teachers have assigned.  Please be reassured that when pupils return to school, teachers will make time to support all pupils in covering all the coursework that is to completed. No one (parent, pupil or teacher) should be getting stressed about not keeping up with schoolwork for any reason. Your health and wellbeing is what matters most.

In the coming days I’m really keen to get parents involved in shaping how our schools gets back to normal by engaging with our Parent Council.  

Parent Council
We would like to invite you to the next Parent Council meeting which will take place online on Tuesday 26th May at 7pm.  We hope this will be an opportunity for us to hear about the challenges facing the school, its staff, pupils and parents, and how these are being dealt with in this difficult period.  The meeting will be led by our Head Teacher, Donald Macdonald, and with members of the JGHS Senior Management Team, who will set out the current position in the following areas:

1. Exams and SQA guidance;
2. Online/distance learning, including use of and access to technology;
3. Planning for the end of the summer term and the return to school after the summer;
4. Pupil well-being;
5. Staffing and
6. A brief summary of the issues facing individual year groups.

We hope that the meeting will be organised through Microsoft Teams, which is the system being used by Edinburgh schools, but this is being tested at the moment and further details about access will be sent out nearer the time.  You will appreciate that there are some technical challenges in trying to set up a meeting of this kind, and we ask for your patience should things go wrong e.g. with individual access, or Wifi failures on the night.  We are also aware that not all parents will be available on the date of the meeting.  We are therefore planning to record the presentations so that they can be viewed later.  If you would like to raise any issues which are not mentioned above, please let us know via the Parent Council email: jghscouncilcomms@gmail.com and where possible these will be included in the presentations at the meeting or we will aim to cover with them at a future PC meeting. Thanks - JGHS Parent Council

Arrangements for children of Key Workers (JGHS coordinator - Mr David Anderson)

1. Key workers, whose children are unable to be at home during working hours (0800 – 1800), can check their eligibility and apply for a place at any of the City of Edinburgh Council HUBs by completing the booking form accessed here. https://www.edinburgh.gov.uk/schools/emergency-school-closures/1
2. This provision will continue over the summer term and will be open on public holidays.
3. Marie Lyon, from the Council central team, is the person to contact if you have any general HUB related queries. Marie.Lyon@edinburgh.gov.uk

 Online Learning (Mrs Deirdre O’Brien and Mr Jeff Warden) 

1.       If any pupil is finding it difficult to access or complete tasks, they must let their class teacher and/or PSL know.

2.       Mr Meechan has created a comprehensive training video for pupils in the use of Microsoft 365 and with Teams in particular. There is a contents list along with time stamps in the video description so pupils can navigate to specific parts. Pupils will be issued with this link by their Key Adult next week, and we request that all pupils view this, and especially for new S4 and S5 who may not have much experience with Teams. The video is now embedded on the Digital Learning page of the school website and can also be accessed here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ur-zRIMWjGg

3.       S2 pupils will engage with their next stage in learning from this week.  Pupils will remain in their current S2 class Team until Monday 1 June, but are only expected to complete tasks for  the subjects they have chosen to study in S3.

4.       We have been working on a  policy to support all pupils in engaging with their schoolwork. This policy is based on a clear rationale and evidence and feedback from staff, pupils and families. We are finalising some details and will issue this to all families the week beginning 25 May.

5.       The timetable will be officially changing on Monday 1 June. Pupils always get excited when they move up a year, so please celebrate this next important milestone in their lives with them!

6.       From 1 June, S3, S5 and S6 classes will be placed into new ‘Teams’ and allocated their teachers for next session.

7.       New S2 and S4 classes will remain in the same class Team but may have a different  teacher assigned.

Key Adults

1. Since the beginning of this term Key Adults have started to reach out to all pupils to offer another layer of support. Key Adults will be asking general questions via Teams and/or email about health and wellbeing and if any further support is needed. Please encourage your child to engage with their Key Adult.

School Leavers
Mr McPhail has sent a communication for the attention of all potential schools leavers, stating the requirement for them to complete our online Leavers’ Form.  It is essential that all students planning on not returning to JGHS for academic session 2020-21, complete this form.  Otherwise, they cannot be removed from the school roll. 
Your help in ensuring that these forms are completed would be greatly appreciated. 
The 2020 Leavers’ Form can be accessed by using the following link:  https://forms.office.com/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=af6sSGo3tUKfacnke7-5xNXkpAnUVFdLr9EwY6VuiGlUQlJGWEg0QkI3MlRHMlROSjBJUlUyR0VKWS4u

 Contacting us

1. Our admin email will be checked each day and we will continue to respond to requests.
2. Please note that though the school is physically open for the HUB, the school campus remains off limits to everyone else. Some limited access will be made available to staff in the coming days to access resources.

Finally, I’d like to share an excerpt from a very uplifting email I received from Isaac Murdoch in S2. Thanks to Isaac for sharing this and a huge well done for being so resourceful and creative during these past few weeks.

Dear Mr Macdonald,

Recently I have been taking part in a range of scouting activities as part the 85th Braid troop. Every week, since the lockdown, we meet in a Zoom call and tell each other about what we have done over the past week and what badges we have worked towards. Most weeks we play on a special  Minecraft Scout server that we have, and build lots of fun and interesting things, which means we still do teamwork even though we are online.

Because of the lockdown, we are sadly not able to go on any camps.

As our exercise we have been going on a walk every day around the Hermitage and Blackford Hill, where we see a variety of wildlife like robins, mallards and tadpoles. Another activity organised by the Scouts was a ‘Hike To The Moon’. It consists of walking a mile a day over a week, which collectively across the UK means that everyone taking part walked the equivalent to a hike to the moon. With sponsorship that went to children in need and comic relief it means we can still help others even if we are staying at home.

I hope that you have enjoyed reading about all the activities that I have been taking part in and trust  that you are doing well in these troubled times.

Yours sincerely,

Isaac Murdoch, 2W3

My quote for the week: ‘If we winter this one out, we can summer anywhere’. (Seamus Heaney – in 1972 referring to the ‘Troubles’ in Norther Ireland)

 Donald j Macdonald (Headteacher)