I’d like to begin by welcoming everyone back to the new
session after what I hope was a rejuvenating and most enjoyable summer holiday.
For those who are new to JGHS, I like to email parents/carers/staff every
Friday afternoon to share what is happening and news of progress across a broad
range of matters. I include key messages from our Parent Council and details of various
meetings and events associated with the school. I also like to include pupils
successes so please let me know if your child has achieved something outwith
school that you’re happy for me to share with our wider school community. My
weekly emails are available to view on my Headteacher
Blog.
- It was lovely to see all
pupils returning on Wednesday 18 August. A particular warm welcome to all
who have joined in S1 or are new to the school.
- For the foreseeable
future, pupils and staff are all expected to wear face coverings whilst
indoors (including classrooms) and follow the other school procedures to
minimise the risks for virus transmission.
- If you would like your
child to be exempt from wearing a face covering, please email the school
office Admin@jamesgillespies.edin.sch.uk
stating your child's name and reason for exemption. We will update our
medical records accordingly and issue those who are exempt with a
sunflower lanyard or an exemption card. This card will have your child's
name and class on it and will support your child demonstrate their
exemption without having to go into any details.
- Please encourage your
son/daughter to dress appropriately for the unpredictable Scottish
weather. Classroom windows will be opened to allow air circulation
and, other than in really wet weather, pupils should be outdoors at breaks
and lunchtimes.
- I’d recommend that
pupils’ jackets etc. have their name discreetly marked on the wash label
so tha we can return any lost items to the rightful owners.
- At this time of year we
would expect common colds to become more widespread.
- Please continue to
access the NHS Guidance so that you will know when you should get tested for
Covid19.
- Remember to tell us the
results of the Covid19 test and any advice you have received in regard to
attendance at school.
- As always, email or
phone the school if your child Is absent and do tell us if your family is
waiting to be tested for Covid19. This is recorded differently in the
school’s attendance register.
- As we settle into a new
school year we are aware you may be clearing out old revision books,
success guides, textbooks etc. If you would like to donate any
of these items then we have set up a tray in the entrance foyer where your
child could drop them off. Due to our current situation, these
resources cannot be shared as easily between students. Therefore,
any donations would be much appreciated by our Support for Learning
Department and Equity and Attainment Hub.
- Look out for emails from
our Parent Council. We have
a very strong and active Parent Council and I would encourage you to get
involved and engaged. Details of the first meeting will be shared in the
next few days.
- On Thursday 19 August we
issued ParentPay Activation letters and Pin codes for use in the school
canteen to S1 students.
- We would like to say a
huge thank you to 21 of our S5 and S6 pupils who gave up two days
of their holidays to complete the Mentors in Violence Prevention
training. They are now qualified to deliver sessions to S1 and S2
pupils on challenging gender based violence and being an active bystander.
We also would like to thank Gael Cochrane and PC Amy Fowler for giving up
their time to deliver the training along with Tania Peters (Pupil Support
Leader).
- A reminder to all parents of students
eligible to receive free school meals that the application form is
now available online for session 2021/22. This needs to be completed
annually, although can sometimes be awarded automatically with housing
benefits. The automatic awards were confirmed by post in July 2021. Even
if your child does not intend to use the school canteen it can be worth
completing an application form if eligible to receive associated
reductions in other costs such as materials for some classes. The
application can be found online at: https://www.edinburgh.gov.uk/xfp/form/261 If
you are unable to apply online or require any further assistance please
contact Elaine Oram or Laura Stewart in our Pupil Equity department using
the email addresses: Elaine.Oram@jamesgillespies.edin.sch.uk or
Laura.Stewart@jamesgillespies.edin.sch.uk
- SQA Appeals 2021
- Thanks to all
candidates and families that notified the SQA of their wish to appeal
their course awards from last academic year. The deadline for
candidate initiated appeals (through the SQA website) was Thursday 12
August. Appeal requests can still be submitted to the SQA by
notifying the school of this wish, prior to the following deadlines:
- Priority Appeals
(appeals which may affect a conditional offer from
university/college/employment): Tuesday 24 August 2021
- Standard Appeals : Friday
27 August 2021
- Please be aware that
these dates are an ultimate deadline and in some cases, are also the
deadline for the digital submission of evidence (priority appeals and
appeals for some practical subjects). Therefore, if you wish to
request an appeal, you must notify us as a matter of urgency, so that we
have the time available to gather the necessary evidence and have this
transmitted to the SQA, before the deadline date.
- All information
regarding appeals, including the grounds by which you can request an
appeal can be found here: Appeals 2021
- If you have contacted
the school/Mr Shankland during the summer holidays or this week regarding
appeals, please be aware that Mr Shankland is working through these and will
be in touch imminently.
- SQA Courses 2021-22
- The SQA notified schools on Wednesday 18 August
regarding their broad intentions for the assessment of National
Qualifications in 2021-22. The full statement can be accessed here.
- Some notable information from the statement:
- An SQA exam diet is planned to be running from 26 April
to 1 June 2022.
- From
Thursday 19 August, SQA will start to publish ‘modification summary
documents’ that provide more detail on the 2021-22 course modifications
and explain the assessment requirements for this year.
- If
there is further significant disruption to learning and teaching this
session, beyond that experienced in 2020-21, appropriate additional
support measures for learners will be put in place to ensure that exams
can still go ahead. For some courses this could include, for example,
advance notice of some topics which will feature in exams.
- If
changes to public health advice mean that large gatherings of people are
no longer permitted in April to June, and exams are cancelled, SQA will
ask teachers and lecturers to use their professional judgement of
assessment evidence to determine learners’ grades. Importantly, this will
be judgement based on evidence already gathered and schools will not be
required to complete additional assessments, as they did last academic
year.
- Warmest congratulations
to:
- Erin Sheehan, 4W1, has was selected
to take part in the Scotland Women’s' Under 17's Football Squad Training
Camp over the summer.
- Kirsty
Johnson, S6, and Sarah Johnson, S4, who continue to make
excellent progress in competitive cycling. Sarah Johnson (S4), is a
regular visitor to the podium across different events and Sarah (S6) has
been selected to represent Scotland in Track and Road Cycling at the
School Games in Loughborough in September.
- Kintai Kwok (2S4), on signing for
Hibernian FC Academy last week.
My quote for the week: ‘“On the other side of a storm is
the strength that comes from having navigated through it. Raise your sail and
begin.” (Gregory S. Williams)
Best wishes to all for a highly productive and enjoyable
session.
Donald j Macdonald
Headteacher
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