Friday 4 December

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. Please remind pupils to bring their own face coverings to school. We have a small supply of spares for those who genuinely forget or lose theirs.
3. The next Parent Council meeting will focus on exams and assessments and will be held online on Tuesday 15^th December at 7pm. Any questions ahead of the meeting can be sent to the PC at jghscouncilcomms@gmail.com and where possible these will be included in the updates. If you would like to catch up on the last PC meeting on 18^th November, it’s available to watch at: https://youtu.be/YICdgNAxPTk. The Q&A from the meeting can be found on the PC website at: http://jghscouncil.btck.co.uk/Minutesandfiles.
4. We will be doing a virtual music concert this year – more details to follow.
5. We would like to make parents/carers aware of the new school counselling service that opened in November. Our counsellor, Ana, works Monday to Thursday and is able to offer pupils between 6 and 12 sessions. We want you to know that the support Ana provides is here to help young people who are struggling and feel they would benefit from speaking to someone about this. If you think that your child may benefit from this service, we’d encourage you to talk to them about it and get in touch with their Pupil Support Leader (PSL) to find out more. Pupils can self-refer through the school website  here or through their Pupil Support Leader
6. Horticulture Club news Huge thanks to Amanda Killen (Pupil Support), Joel Hather (S1), Charlie Henderson (s1) and Kirsty Johnson (S5) for helping (last Friday) with the greenhouse clean-up and the clearing of the raised beds in preparation for planting in 2021.
7. 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!
8. We are pleased to announce that two-way video lessons for SQA candidates can now take place with IMS instructors who are unable to be in school due to COVID-19 restrictions.  If your pupil is in S3-6, taking Music as a subject, and has tuition with Ms Melrose (double bass/bass guitar), Mr Anderson (piano) or Mrs Collins (clarsach) then we require you to complete the following form.  Pupils must complete a pupil version which their instructor has issued on Microsoft Teams. Please read all information in the attached document carefully before completing and submit as soon as possible.  Lessons can take place from Tuesday and permission must be given before any two-way video can take place. https://forms.office.com/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=af6sSGo3tUKfacnke7-5xNAzN55ZVE1Lkn_57qKoJ8BUQk4zQVFOSlRUNlFKTzBDRlAwRE1DMFNYRS4u
9.  Orders for S1 & S6 photographs from Tempest Photography have been delivered to the school.  Please ask students to collect from the Classroom Assistants’ Office in Bruntsfield House.

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.   Well done to Daisy Adams (S3) who started making some jewellery a few years ago to help fund a school trip she was hoping to go on. Daisy is now advertising online and Is keen to hear from anyone who would like to discuss potential Christmas presents! https://www.etsy.com/uk/shop/divinebydaisya?ref=shop_sugg

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

13.   This term will finish at midday on Tuesday 22 December.

 

My quote for the week: “Whether you think you can or think you can’t, you’re right.”(Henry Ford)

 

Wishing all a happy and peaceful weekend.

 

Donald j Macdonald

Headteacher