Wednesday 5 August

 

5 August 2020

Dear Parent/Carer/Student

Re-opening of James Gillespie’s High School

Further to the communication sent by Alastair Gaw (Executive Director for Communities and Families) earlier today, I am pleased to be able to share the plans for re-opening James Gillespie’s High School.

Over the summer, extensive planning has taken place to ensure we have a safe and supportive return to school.  The First Minister outlined in her statement to Parliament on Thursday 30 July, that there is flexibility to phase students back to school. It has been agreed that Edinburgh Secondary Schools will have a phased return to school, over the course of the 12, 13 and 14 August. All students will be back in school full time from Monday 17 August.

The decision has been made to have a phased return in secondary schools for 2 main reasons:

1.         Ensuring the health and safety of all students and staff – re-opening a large secondary school will require lots of new routines and protocols for staff and students.  A phased return will allow each year group to have an induction which will explain new systems to students and ensure they feel confident, secure and safe with the return to school.

2.         Supporting the wellbeing of all students and staff – nurture principles are central in our re-opening plans.  We believe that a phased return with an induction will offer us the opportunity to re-connect with our students in a supportive and smaller scale setting.   It is also important that our new S1 students have the opportunity to have a Transition experience.

Therefore, the plans for re-opening James Gillespie’s High School are as appended.

I will write to you all again later this week with more detailed information around our re-opening plans, including details on the health and safety precautions we will be taking.  If you have any questions after I’ve shared further details with you then please do not hesitate to contact us by email – Admin@jamesgillespies.edin.sch.uk

I am grateful for your continued support and patience and we are very much looking forward to re-opening and warmly welcoming all of our students back.

 

Week 1 10 August	Monday 10	Tuesday 11	Wednesday 12	Thursday 13	Friday 14
IN-SCHOOL SCHOOL START & FINISH TIMES APPLY	In-Service STAFF ONLY	In-Service STAFF ONLY	S1 & S2 PUPILS ONLY (S6 Buddies will be invited to also attend)	S3 & S4 PUPILS ONLY	S5 & S6 PUPILS ONLY
AT HOME			S3-S6 PUPILS	S1, S2, S5 & S6 PUPILS	S1-S4 PUPILS
Week 2 17 August	Monday	Tuesday	Wednesday	Thursday	Friday
IN-SCHOOL SCHOOL START & FINISH TIMES APPLY	ALL PUPILS RESUME	ALL PUPILS RESUME	ALL PUPILS RESUME	ALL PUPILS RESUME	ALL PUPILS RESUME

 Yours sincerely,

Donald j Macdonald

Headteacher