This week marks the end of Ramadan for many in our School
community. I take this opportunity of saying Eid Mubarak to all.
I’m pleased to say that the exams which started on Monday of
this week are running smoothly. Huge thanks to everyone for your support with
this and especially to Mr Bob Shankland for his meticulous and thorough
planning. These exams/assessments will continue over the coming weeks and will
provide us with the necessary evidence to award (provisional) grades to pupils.
As widely reported in the press, schools across Scotland have taken different
approaches to generating the evidence required to meet the SQA criteria. I
recognise and acknowledge the extraordinary pressure that these ‘assessment’
arrangements have placed on our students, staff and families. Please be
reassured that we continue to be committed to do our best to ensure the best
possible outcomes for all students.
During the coming weeks, whilst assessments are taking
place, pupils will have restricted access throughout the day to various parts
of our building. Other than in extreme weather, we will be asking all pupils to
be outside during social breaks. All pupils have been reminded to wear
warm clothing to best prepare for the uncertainties of our Summer weather.
After all the assessments are marked, teachers will allocate
grades based on the advice received from the SQA and the City of Edinburgh
Council. This is a significant undertaking and will require much time and
coordinated effort in the coming weeks. Please bear with us in the interim, if
we take longer than normal to respond to routine enquiries.
The SQA provided an update to schools early this week
regarding this year’s Alternative Certification Model. Please use
the following link to access the Parent/Carer version of this update: https://blogs.sqa.org.uk/2021/national-qualifications-2021-group-disruption-to-learning-parent-carer-message/
There is also a learner specific update for all students,
that can be accessed here.
- Earlier this week I wrote to all S1 parents to explain
why it is neither possible nor required to parents to make appointments to
se of their child’s teachers on the evenings of Tuesday 18 May and
Thursday 20 May. We are aware that not all parents have managed to make
the number of bookings they would wish. Please be reassured that we will
already have been in contact with parents if concerns about settling in to
S1 or making progress have been raised by staff.
- We strongly encourage pupils and staff to walk,
cycle, run, etc. to school. Cyclists are reminded to use a more secure
‘D’ lock (or similar) to deter thieves.
- If your child feels unwell during the school day,
they must report to Welfare. We will then contact you if they need to go
home. It is essential that this procedure is followed.
- Please ensure that you ‘phone or email the school if
your child is absent from school. When absences are planned,
please give us as much notice and detail as possible so that we can
maintain accurate records. The school will be supportive and understanding
of the additional pressures being faced by families during this time.
- A reminder that COVID-19 test kits are available
for collection from Reception. All pupils and staff are strongly
encouraged to test twice weekly at home. Pupils aged 16 are over do not
need signed parental consent but it is expected that those taking part
discuss the matter with parents.
- Parents are reminded to not enter the school car
parking areas unless it is absolutely necessary.
- Thanks you to all who joined the online Parent
Council meeting on Wednesday 12 May at 7pm. Access to a
recording of this meeting and fuller responses to the questions that were
raised will follow shortly.
- The S2 STEAM (Sciences, Technologies, Engineering,
Arts and Mathematics) project linking JGHS with A school in Oulu,
Finland is underway with some face to face sessions now able to take
place with our resident artist Brittonie. Photography,
chemistry/biology/physics and technology are all driving the project
forward with a focus on images created by soil components. Students
are encouraged to keep blogs to track their progress and a final
installation at the end of term will be created.
- In the coming weeks there will be an increasing focus
on more quickly following up unexplained pupil absences. Please ensure
that planned absences are communicated to the school as son as possible.
Email is best.
- Please note that as Monday 24 May is a holiday for
some, the Gaelic Medium Education report will now go to a special
Education, Children and Families Committee on Friday 28 May.
- All S6 students must be available for assessment
related activities up to and including Friday 18 June. They are not
expected to attend their timetabled classes after their final assessment.
If your child is not sure if they have completed all their assessment
activities for a particular subject, please remind them to contact their
class teacher. We will be arranging activities in June to mark the end of
formal school based education for our wonderful S6s. We are also exploring
options for a graduation ceremony and ‘Prom’ for all S6 students and
families towards the end of August. More information will follow
presently.
- Following positive feedback from our teambuilding
session in December with our S2 students, the Army have offered to run
two more teambuilding exercises for our S1 and S4 students. These sessions
will take place over a double period within the school grounds on Tuesday
1 June 2021. The students will take part in teambuilding exercises and
games, with the aim of developing their leadership skills, critical
thinking, confidence and of course having fun! If pupils are interested
they collect a form from school reception. These need to be completed as
soon as possible and returned to reception by Wednesday 26th May
latest. Places may have to be limited and please return the forms as
quickly as possible to allow us to best plan groups.
- At its March meeting, the Education, Children and
Families Committee agreed to change the scheduled Christmas holiday
dates from Friday 24 December 2021 - Monday 10 January 2022 to Monday
20 December 2021 - Tuesday 4 January 2022.
- Last Friday 7th May, S6 had the opportunity to hear a
live presentation from the Student Awards Agency of Scotland (SAAS)
about applying for funding for HNC,HND and degree courses starting after
summer. Students have received information and advice on the S6 Teams page
and there is a link below to a video presentation with audio commentary.
The deadline for applications is 30th June 2021. Students can speak to
their Pupil Support Leader if they have any questions about this. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EXFSOf0e-ac
- Congratulations to Hannah Treagus and Viviane Bachmann who appeared in the
Evening News following their success in the school's YPI final. Hannah and
Vivienne worked really hard and, in winning the final, raised £3000 for
Ravelrig Riding for the Disabled. The article can be found here.
YPI have also featured the school as a successful case story on their
website. Well done to all S4s who took part in this worthwhile enterprise
through their core RME classes.
My quote for this week - ‘Education is what
remains after one has forgotten what one has learned at school.” (Albert
Einstein)
Very best wishes and good luck to all pupils taking
assessments in the coming weeks.
Wishing all a lovely weekend.
Donald j Macdonald (Headteacher)
No comments:
Post a Comment