Friday 1 October

Today, Friday 1 October marks the beginning of Black History Month in the UK, an event that has been celebrated nationwide for more than 30 years. The month was founded to recognise the contributions that people of African and Caribbean backgrounds have made to the UK over many generations. During October, all members of our community - students, staff and parents – are invited to reflect on how we can all be more kind, more aware, and, crucially, more anti-racist. We are a culturally diverse school and we benefit enormously from the enrichment that cultural diversity brings to our school. My thanks to all who contribute to our evolving understanding of how best to educate our pupils and address historical injustices in an increasingly connected and better informed world.

During this past week, I was pleased to see a number of school initiatives focusing on Climate Change educational activities. COP26 is the most important meeting about climate change ever and it starts in Glasgow on October 31st. The City of Edinburgh Council has organised a Countdown to COP to help young people to engage with COP without getting overwhelmed. The countdown lasts for 5 weeks, each with a different theme. You may find it useful and informative to visit the site each week and discuss it with your own children. The first theme is Nature – click here to find out more. If you would like to know more about COP26 from the point of view of young people, you may find this video informative.

 The number of Covid cases in our school community during the past 7 days is 5. This is half the number we had in the previous week. Thanks to all for your support in minimising opportunities for virus transmission.

 

1. The next Parent Council meeting is our AGM on Wednesday 13th October. As we are still unable to meet in person, please email us at jghscouncilcomms@gmail.com ahead of the AGM if you would like to join the Parent Council or would like to find out more about what the PC does.  Membership is open to all parents and carers within the JGHS community and our role is to represent parents’ views and to work with the school to create a school which is welcoming for all parents.  Please also email us with any questions you have for the updates at the meeting.  The reports of the chair and treasurer, and the 2020/21 accounts, are now available on the PC website https://jghsparentcouncil.org/ and if you would like to catch up on the last PC meeting on 7 September the recording and the completed Q&A can also be found there.
2. Covid-19: we should all continue to be vigilant towards minimising opportunities for transmission.
1. The number of positive cases in our school community in the past week was: 5. (compared with 10 last week)
2. Please continue to access the NHS Guidance so that you will know when you should get tested for Covid19.
3. Details of how to access Covid vaccination clinics for all aged 12 or over can be found here.
4. Remember to tell us the results of the Covid19 test and any advice you have received in regard to attendance at school.
5. 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.
3. 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.
4. Let us know with as much advance notice as possible of any days and periods when your child will not be attending with a reason. Information provided should include the name of the young person, class, and reason for absence with number of periods or days involved.
1. Email: admin@jamesgillespies.edin.such.uk 
2. Phone: 0131 447 1900
3. Write: Hand letters into reception
5. Text: Respond to the text alert when child is missing from class
6. The Warrender Water Polo club, with which we have a long established link, is now welcoming new members from age 8.
7. YoungMinds is a charity that  helps young people with mental health issues. The aim of our challenge is to compete the equivalent of 10K in two weeks. This can be achieved by any activity ranging  from walking, cycling, jogging, or simply exercising in your own home. It’s your choice, you can either do it in one go or spread out over the two weeks. Those interested in taking part should see Mrs Oatman in B6, in Bruntsfield House. The challenge starts on the 8th October.  YoungMinds also celebrate Mental Health Day with HelloYellow Day, a chance to show off your brightest yellow attire! If you would like to donate please follow this link.
8. At JGHS, as part of the ‘We Care Award’, we are raising awareness of what it is to be a young carer. Between now and Christmas we will be focusing on bringing this to the attention of the school community, with the aim of identifying hidden young carers in our school and increasing the support of those we know.  On Wednesday Jenny Lewis, schools project manager, from Edinburgh Young Carers, gave a live talk on what it is to be a young carer, during key adult time. Jenny will have further involvement in JGHS bringing in resources and speaking to classes. If you would like more information, please do contact either myself (Mrs Oatman), Mr Sievwright or Mr Caruthers.
9. Thank you to all who signed up to audition for instrumental lessons in school. Audition times have now been assigned for all who applied and are displayed in the Muriel Spark building. They can be found on the noticeboard on the ground floor outside the theatre and in all music classrooms. All pupils who have signed up to audition for an instrument, must go to the Spark building to check their audition time as soon as possible.
10. We are currently arranging for some of our S6 pupils to be part of a paired reading scheme with some of our S1 pupils.
11. Best wishes to the S6  pupils who went out on their Gold Duke of Edinburgh DofE practice expedition last week Wed – Fri  and are going to be heading out on their Gold assessed expedition next week Sun 3rd to Wed 6th Oct .
12. Dates:
1. 5 October S3 Parents evening (Details of how to book appointments were emailed earlier this week)
2. 8 October Wear Yellow day and donate to YoungMinds.
3. 15 October Mid-term break

 

Warmest congratulations to:

 

1. S1 and S2 pupils who took part in competitive workshops on Monday linked to COP26 to design the most efficient Lego vehicle powered by a hydrogen fuel cell. Some great teamwork, problem-solving and ingenuity was displayed. The three winning teams from James Gillespie’s will compete in the Edinburgh final next Friday, with the winners from that event going on to the national final which takes place in Glasgow during COP26 itself.
2. Last year at the regional finals our teams performed incredibly. Iconic Racing won three star quality awards, they were the Judges Choice team and won the Pit Display and Research& Development awards. Fibonacci won the star quality presentation award, and went on to win the Regional Final overall! They are now competing in the National Finals, taking place virtually on Friday 8th October. Well done to all the students involved; Chris Rae, Pere Tenesa Navarro, Robert Newman, Emil Griffin, Robbie James, Abby Earnshaw, Manu Silverton, and particularly Sam Mackintosh and Matt Ball-Torokoff who manage the teams.  Look out for more news as our teams for 21-22 begin their competition preparation, and good luck to all involved.
3. Laurence Ward (S3) who won the British Junior inter regional orienteering championship last weekend, helping Scotland to victory in the team competition.
4. Carla Brunelli Bonet, Surya Schneiders and Trudy Patrick who  represented JGHS at the Scottish Schools Slalom champs this weekend in Alva. Great achievement in their first slalom race, Trudy won silver U14!

 

My quote for the week: “Smart people learn from everything and everyone, average people from their experiences, stupid people already have all the answers.” – (Socrates)

 

Best wishes to all for a delightful weekend.

 

Donald