Friday 27 November

In the past few days we have been dealing with an increased number of bullying incidents which have caused considerable distress to pupils and families. In ‘normal’ times we would talk about such matters at assemblies and reinforce expectations of all. Currently, as a result of Covid-19 restrictions, we are unable to hold assemblies. We would encourage all of our families to talk about what bullying is and the importance of us all never accepting bullying behaviour. At the very least, bullying should be called out and reported to any member of our school staff. The 9 protected characteristics included in the Equality Act may offer a good framework and starter for discussion with your son/daughter. These 9 protected characteristics are:

1. Age
2. Disability
3. Gender reassignment
4. Marriage and civil partnership
5. Pregnancy and maternity
6. Race
7. Religion or belief
8. Sex
9. Sexual orientation

 

Every member of our school community has a right to go about their daily business without fear of discrimination or harassment. Please be reassured that as a school community we will not tolerate any form of bullying.

 

1. We have received more details this week from the SQA in relation to proposals for how we are going to award grades to S4 pupils taking National 5 courses. On the evening of Tuesday 15 the Parent Council will be hosting an information meeting for parents where we will update you on our proposed approaches in relation to prelims, assessment windows, etc.
2. Please remember that whilst you are waiting for the result of a COVID test, all members of your household should self-isolate until the result is known. 
3. The Parent Council is leading a festive fundraising appeal to support its Small Sums Fund.  The Fund is distributed to assist projects run by staff in the school, and to buy extra equipment that improves the educational experience for all pupils.  This money is particularly vital to support the Pupil Equity Fund, nurture groups, and therapy resources. This year, we have not been able to raise income through our usual events and fundraising activities, but many of our pupils have an even greater need of the extra services our funding can support.  We know this is not an easy time for many families, but if you feel in a position to do so, please consider making a donation to the Parent Council this festive season.  You can donate to the Small Sums Fund through the Parent Council Fundraising button on ParentPay.  Your support will be greatly appreciated!  
4. Teenage booster immunisation packs will be issued for all S3 pupils on Wednesday 25 November 2020 during Key Adult class. These will also be issued to some S4-S6 pupils who haven’t had the immunisation in S3. Please return the completed form by Wednesday 2nd December to your Key Adult or to the school Reception before that date.
5. JGHS is keen to gather information on the Key Adult meetings that take place between each pupil and their Key Adult teacher.  This survey will be used inform us on the current process and any future development.  We would be very grateful if each pupil could complete the survey before Monday 30th November. Key Adult Survey Link The survey link has also been posted to the Key Adult class teams.
6. We are looking for volunteers to join our parental consultation group for Anti-bullying. The first step for this group will be to have an initial discussion on Wednesday 25th November from 5:30pm – 6:30pm. In advance of this you would receive some council documentation to review. The second step would be to help review the draft policy in Mid-December Please email ben.lewis@jamesgillespies.edin.sch.uk by Sunday 22nd November if you would like to participate.
7. Parents are invited to complete the pre-consultation document (https://consultationhub.edinburgh.gov.uk/ce/gme-edinburgh/) on Gaelic Medium Education (GME) secondary provision.  GME has been part of JGHS for the past 30 years and, pleasingly, it has grown in numbers to such an extent that the Council has decided to develop an autonomous secondary GME school. The Council is holding two virtual public meetings to discuss the options further:

• Wednesday 25 November 2020, 7.00pm – 9.00pm (This meeting was well attended)
• Monday 30 November 2020, 7.00pm – 9.00pm

If you would like to attend either of the public meetings, please contact Committee.Services@edinburgh.gov.uk to confirm which date you would prefer. The meetings will also be webcast live here. If you have any comments or questions that you would like to be addressed, please contact us ahead of the meetings, or by 11th December to be included in the outcome report.

9.       You may be aware of media speculation around term finish dates and when we resume in January. We will keep you posted as soon as we get confirmation of any changes to the current arrangements.

10.   We will be operating classes as ‘normal’ right up till and including the last day. Staff will be asked to maintain seating plans and continue to ensure that registers are accurately recorded. Additionally, I will be asking pupils and staff to not exchange 'real' Christmas cards this year. 

11.   Please continue to share stories of pupils’ achievements with me so I can share with our wider school community.

 My quote for the week: ‘No one can make you feel inferior without your consent’. (Attributed to Eleanor Roosevelt)

 Wishing all a happy and peaceful weekend.

 

Donald j Macdonald

Headteacher

Friday 20 November

1. Please remember that whilst you are waiting for the result of a COVID test, all members of your household should self-isolate until the result is known.
2. Teenage booster immunisation packs will be issued for all S3 pupils on Wednesday 25 November 2020 during Key Adult class. These will also be issued to some S4-S6 pupils who haven’t had the immunisation in S3. Please return the completed form by Wednesday 2nd December to your Key Adult or to the school Reception before that date.
3. Earlier this week we were delighted to welcome Ana Puljic, our school counsellor to James Gillespie’s! This is part of a Scottish Government initiative to have counsellors available to every school. Ana is with us from Monday to Thursday. Information on access arrangements will appear on our school website shortly.
4. We are looking for volunteers to join our parental consultation group for Anti-bullying. The first step for this group will be to have an initial discussion on Wednesday 25th November from 5:30pm – 6:30pm. In advance of this you would receive some council documentation to review. The second step would be to help review the draft policy in Mid-December Please email ben.lewis@jamesgillespies.edin.sch.uk by Sunday 22nd November if you would like to participate.
5. Thanks to all who contributed to the staging of our first online Parents’ consultation on Tuesday evening. Parents who took part are requested to complete the following survey so that we can learn and make suitable changes for the next such event. S3 Online Parents' Evening - Parent Feedback
6. Thanks to all who were able to attend Wednesday evening’s Parent Council meeting. Presentations on accommodation arrangements for JGHS from August 2021 and our evolving anti-bullying policy were followed by a Q and A session. Copies of the Q and A will shortly be available on the Parent Council section of the School website.
7. Parents are invited to complete the pre-consultation document (https://consultationhub.edinburgh.gov.uk/ce/gme-edinburgh/) on Gaelic Medium Education (GME) secondary provision.  GME has been part of JGHS for the past 30 years and, pleasingly, it has grown in numbers to such an extent that the Council has decided to develop an autonomous secondary GME school. The Council is holding two virtual public meetings to discuss the options further:

• Wednesday 25 November 2020, 7.00pm – 9.00pm
• Monday 30 November 2020, 7.00pm – 9.00pm

If you would like to attend either of the public meetings, please contact Committee.Services@edinburgh.gov.uk to confirm which date you would prefer. The meetings will also be webcast live here. If you have any comments or questions that you would like to be addressed, please contact us ahead of the meetings, or by 11th December to be included in the outcome report.

8. Around this time last year some will remember the buzz of excitement across our school community when we were asked to provide a school choir to perform in the sequel to Princess Switch -a Netflix blockbuster Christmas movie. We are delighted to announce that the Princess Switch 2 was released on Netflix on 19 November. At a time when we cannot come together to perform in person, it is great to be able to celebrate the talents of our combined choirs and orchestra who will feature in a few scenes from this film. Congratulations to all who were involved, we are incredibly proud of you!

9.       Earlier this week I learned of the efforts of Catherine Rednall in S3. During lockdown, Catherine really progressed her art and then, over the summer, developed floral images into cards and stationery to sell. She has set up her own Etsy shop and is also in the Art and Craft Collective in Causewayside. Catherine may well be Edinburgh youngest collectivist - quite an achievement! Alongside her floral art, Catherine is currently selling Christmas cards with £1 from each card going to a Christmas Charity for refugees. Well done and thanks to Catherine for her outstanding efforts.

10.   Congratulations to Ms Donna M MacIver (History and Gaelic Teacher) who takes over the Curriculum Leader role when Mr Seonaidh Charity leaves us to return North on Thursday 26 November.

11.   Please continue to share stories of pupils’ achievements with me so I can share with our wider school community.

My quote for the week: ‘Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn’t do than by the ones you did do, so throw off the bowlines, sail away from safe harbor, catch the trade winds in your sails.  Explore, Dream, Discover’. (Mark Twain)

 

Wishing all a great weekend.

 

Donald j Macdonald

Headteacher

Friday 13 November

1. It was uplifting to learn about progress with vaccines earlier this week.  This gives us all much hope of a return to some ‘normality’ in 2021.
2. Please remember that whilst you are waiting for the result of a COVID test, all members of your household should self-isolate until the result is known.
3. The next Parent Council meeting will be held online using Teams on Wednesday 18^th November at 7pm. We will send out the link on Tuesday via the school email.  We will hear from: Donald Macdonald (HT) – Overview; Laura Stewart (DHT) – Darroch refurbishment delay contingency plans; Anti-Bullying Policy – Ben Lewis (DHT) and Cait Pearce (Pupil Support). There will be the opportunity to ask questions via the Q&A typed chat facility, but if you have any questions ahead of the meeting please email us at jghscouncilcomms@gmail.com by 2pm on Tuesday 17^th November and where possible these will be included in the updates. If you would like to catch up on what was covered at our last meeting and AGM on Wednesday 14^th October, it’s available to watch at: https://youtu.be/utGwuDatRmE. We hope to hold a further PC meeting before the Christmas break: date to be confirmed.  
4. Reminder – we still have some S6 school photograph proofs which need to be collected from the Classroom Assistants’ office in Bruntsfield House. The photographs can be viewed online at www.tempest-orders.co.uk - enter your reference number and web access code which you will find on the photo proof. To limit the handling of papers just now, we would ask that orders are placed online.  However, you can return the completed order form to the school in the sealed Tempest Photography envelope. The deadline for orders has been extended, if returned by Friday 20th November, you will avoid extra p&p costs. The photos will be sent directly to the school for your child to bring home.
5. The University of Edinburgh’s next Virtual Maths Circle will take place on Saturday 14th November from 10:00 to 12:30. To facilitate interaction and better tailor the activities, this Maths Circle will be split into two slots: 11:30- 12:30- for age 11-14. The event is free to attend but booking is required. For further details about the event and to book a ticket (free of charge), please click on the links below: 11-14 years old (lower secondary school) https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/virtual-maths-circle-november-2020-second-slot-age-11-14-tickets-127285029951 Please note that all minors will need to be supervised by a parent/guardian for all the duration of the online event.

6.       Edinburgh’s Children’s Partnership is really eager to hear the views of Parents and Carers across Edinburgh. If you are a Parent or Carer and live in Edinburgh we would like to hear how you coped during the initial COVID-19 lockdown period and how we can best respond to any new and existing needs that you may have. By completing this survey you will be help to shape future Family Support Services across the city.  We would be very grateful if you could complete the survey before Friday the 20^th of November.

7. Around this time last year you may remember the buzz of excitement across our school community when we were asked to provide a school choir to perform in the sequel to Princess Switch -a Netflix blockbuster Christmas movie. We are delighted to announce that the Princess Switch 2 will be released on Netflix on 19 November. At a time when we cannot come together to perform in person, it is great to be able to celebrate the talents of our combined choirs and orchestra who will feature in a few scenes from this film. Congratulations to all who were involved, we are incredibly proud of you!

8.       The Judy Murray Foundation are running tennis sessions tonight (13th November) from 7 - 9pm at the Meadows Tennis Courts to raise money for Children in Need. To register please email Alex@judymurrayfoundation.com. This event is for over 12's (including adults). Suggested donation : £5

9.       On Wednesday of this week we marked remembrance day by a minute’s silence to remember victims of all conflicts followed by a reading of ‘The Dug out’ by Siegfried Sassoon over the school’s Public Address system by Hana Mackinlay (5L3).

10.   Congratulations to Izzy MacLullich (S4) who passed her grade 3 piano with distinction.

11.   Please continue to share stories of pupils’ achievements with me so I can share with our school community.  

My quote for the week: ““Optimism is the one quality more associated with success and happiness than any other.” (Brian Tracy) 

Wishing all a lovely weekend.

 Donald j Macdonald

Headteacher

Friday 6 November

1. 1. In recent weeks, school practices have evolved in response to changing circumstances.  I am pleased to report that lessons are progressing ‘normally’ but, for example, in areas where there would ordinarily be pupils moving around and interacting we have had to change how we do things. A good example of this has been in PE where lessons have been outdoors. We are fortunate to be located in one of the most beautiful areas in Edinburgh affording us access to some wonderful green spaces close to the school. Earlier today I shared with parents that, in line with the latest Government advice, PE lessons will be indoors from Monday 9 November. It is likely that COVID-19 is going to be with us for some time and so we will have to continue to adapt to live with it. Well ventilated classrooms, hand washing, surface disinfection, the wearing of face coverings and social distancing continue to be effective in suppressing virus transmission and keeping everyone safe.   
   2. During this past week, we were made aware of two further pupils (one in S1 and one in S6)  who tested positive for COVID-19. The two cases are unrelated. All those who were deemed to be ‘close-contacts’ have been traced and are now self-isolating as per NHS guidelines. I take this opportunity of thanking everyone in our school community for your support and efforts in making our schools as safe as it can be.
   3. Please remember that whilst you are waiting for the result of a COVID test, all members of your household should self-isolate until the result is known.
   4. We are now starting to receive more detailed information on assessment arrangements for  National 5, Higher and Advanced Higher for certification in 2021. We will keep you informed of arrangements for prelims etc when we know  a bit more for all subjects.
   5. The next Parent Council meeting will be held on Wednesday 18th November at 7pm (please note the change in date).  As for previous meetings it will be held online on Teams, and a link to join the meeting will be circulated in advance via the school email. 
   6. Reminder – we still have some S6 school photograph proofs which need to be collected from the Classroom Assistants’ office in Bruntsfield House. The photographs can be viewed online at www.tempest-orders.co.uk - enter your reference number and web access code which you will find on the photo proof. To limit the handling of papers just now, we would ask that orders are placed online.  However, you can return the completed order form to the school in the sealed Tempest Photography envelope. The deadline for orders has been extended, if returned by Friday 20th November, you will avoid extra p&p costs. The photos will be sent directly to the school for your child to bring home.
   7. The University of Edinburgh’s next Virtual Maths Circle will take place on Saturday 14th November from 10:00 to 12:30. To facilitate interaction and better tailor the activities, this Maths Circle will be split into two slots: 11:30- 12:30- for age 11-14. The event is free to attend but booking is required. For further details about the event and to book a ticket (free of charge), please click on the links below: 11-14 years old (lower secondary school) https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/virtual-maths-circle-november-2020-second-slot-age-11-14-tickets-127285029951 Please note that all minors will need to be supervised by a parent/guardian for all the duration of the online event.
   8. The entries for the first round of the Scottish Maths Challenge have now been posted. A huge well done to all who entered from across every year group. We will let you know when the results are out and of course the next round!
   9. Senior UKMT Competition. Well done to all the S5 and S6 pupils who took part in the challenging 90min paper on Tuesday evening. Ms Dolan will be in touch via teams when the results are available.
   10. S4 Study Support Session for National 5 Maths We have been so impressed with the numbers of pupils joining the teams meetings after school on Tuesday and Wednesday with Ms Dolan and Mr Hoyland. This is a great first step towards improving pupils’ understanding and gaining confidence. Next week’s session in on Statistics at 4.30pm. If pupils have not already signed up to one of the previous sessions then please speak to your maths teacher for more information or see the recent parent email for the code. We plan to have further meetings on Linear and Quadratic Algebra the following week.

   11.   Good luck to the 10 senior pupils who were invited to take part in online assessments for Oxford and Cambridge universities this week.

   12.   Edinburgh’s Children’s Partnership is really eager to hear the views of Parents and Carers across Edinburgh. If you are a Parent or Carer and live in Edinburgh we would like to hear how you coped during the initial COVID-19 lockdown period and how we can best respond to any new and existing needs that you may have. By completing this survey you will be help to shape future Family Support Services across the city.  We would be very grateful if you could complete the survey before Friday the 20^th of November.

   13. Thanks to all who contributed and Mrs Oatman (Support for Learning Department) who coordinated the efforts of others to raise £255 for YoungMinds. With an estimated 3 children in every classroom with a mental health problem, YoungMinds is leading the fight for a future where all young minds are supported and empowered, whatever the challenges.
   14. Dates for reports and parents’ evening for this session are as follows:

    

   Year Group	Report Distribution	Parents’ Evenings
   S1	Wed. 2 Dec. 2020	Tues. 18 May 2021 (Practical) Thur. 20 May 2021 (Non Practical)
   S2	Wed. 26 May 2021	Tues. 26 Jan. 2021 (Non Practical) Thurs. 28 Jan. 2021 (Practical)
   S3	Wed. 5 May 2021	Tues. 17 Nov. 2020
   S4	Wed. 9 Dec. 2020	Mon. 8 Mar. 2021
   S5/6	Wed. 16 Dec. 2020	Wed. 17 Mar. 2021

    

   My quote for the week: “There's always a new challenge to keep you motivated. (Sir Sean Connery)

    Wishing all a lovely weekend.

    

   Donald j Macdonald

   Headteacher