Friday 26 November

Wintry weather Is coming our way this weekend. Please dress accordingly and allow extra time for travel to and from school. 

The number of Covid cases in our school community during the past 7 days was 4. This is one more than last week.  Please continue to support efforts to minimise opportunities for COVID transmission.

 

1. Teenage booster immunisation packs have been issued for all S3 pupils and some S4-6 on Wednesday during Key Adult class. Please return the completed form by Wednesday 1st December to the school Reception. It is important that we get these back on time as a team from the NHS will come to triage the forms. Any S3 students who have not received a pack, please contact the Welfare Office.
2. We are seeking your views on what improvements we should make to the services provided via our school office and welfare facility. Please take a few minutes to respond to this Parent Survey A separate survey link has been sent to students and staff.
3. There is now a designated recycling bin at reception to gather all used inhalers. Thanks to Mr Bracewell, Euan Hickman [S5] and the JGHS Sustainability team. 
4. Teenage booster immunisation packs will be issued for all S3 pupils on Wednesday 24 November 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 1st December to the school Reception. Any S3 students who don’t receive a pack, please contact the Welfare Office.  
5. All are reminded to ensure that unattended bicycles are securely locked. A high quality ‘D’ lock is recommended.
6. Update from the Pupil Equity Department: We have updated our school website to include a page with information on support available for families. This direct link takes you there. There is information here to help families sign up for Free School Meals, apply for funding for winter coats and shoes, clothing grants and support with debt management and benefit applications etc.  We hope this may be useful to some of our school community especially as we head into winter months. We can also help provide students with educational resources such as support materials and stationary e.g. revision books, calculators, pencil cases etc. Please contact us if you would like more information via the school office email Admin@jamesgillespies.edin.sch.uk or by phone 0131 447 1900. (Laura Stewart and Elaine Oram)
7. Please remember that the next Parent Council meeting will be on Tuesday 30 November at 7pm. We will send the link out next week via the school email. At the meeting we will hear from:

1. Donald Macdonald (HT) – overview and parents’ questions
2. Bob Shankland (DHT) – review of SQA assessments in 2020/21 and look forward to 2021/22
3. Ian Porter (DHT) – supporting children’s mental health
4. Eliot Ambrose (Active Schools Co-ordinator) – update on the Active School programme.
5. Questions can be asked on the night via the Q&A typed chat facility, but if you want to raise an issue in advance please send it to the PC email jghscouncilcomms@gmail.com by Monday at 2pm and we will try to include it in the updates.  You can also find the recording and Q&A from the last PC meeting at: https://jghsparentcouncil.org/.

8. Covid-19: information.  
1. Please continue to access the NHS Guidance so that you will know when you should get tested for Covid19.
2. Anyone testing positive for a Lateral Flow Test (Home Test) should immediately self-isolate and arrange for a free PCR test
3. Remember to tell us the results of the Covid19 test and any advice you have received in regard to attendance at school.
4. 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.
9. Covid-19 Vaccination arrangements for students:
1. All people 12+ are eligible for at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine
2. You don’t have to have any other medical conditions or particular vulnerabilities
3. You don’t need to wait until you are contacted
4. You don’t need an appointment
5. You can just go (with a parent) to a drop-in vaccine clinic (see https://www.nhsinform.scot/covid-19-vaccine/invitations-and-appointments/vaccinating-children-and-young-people-aged-12-to-17-years/)
6. There are several of these in and around Edinburgh: https://www.nhslothian.scot/Coronavirus/Vaccine/Pages/Drop-in-Clinics.aspx
10. Dates:
1. 30 November Parent Council meeting
2. 1 December Deadline for return of teenage booster immunisation forms
3. 3 December School Office surveys due date
4. 14 December Course choices (S2 into S3; S4 into S5 and S5 into S6) information event (online)
5. 17 December Term ends at midday.

 

Please continue to share stories of Students’ wider achievements with me.

 

My quote for the week: “Silence the angry man with love. Silence the ill-natured man with kindness. Silence the miser with generosity. Silence the liar with truth.” (Gautama Buddha)

 

Best wishes to all for a great weekend.

 

 

Donald j Macdonald (Headteacher)