Friday 28 January

 One of the many positives that I have really missed over the past 2 years is our pupil led fundraising.  Bake sales, bucket shakes, South Africa fundraising and various sponsored events are just some of the activities that have not been allowed because of COVID restrictions. How pleasing it was to hear earlier this week of Rosa Connolly’s (S1) efforts to raise money to support children with cancer. In Rosa’s words: ‘I’m Rosa aged 12 from S1 and this week on Wednesday (the 26^th of January) I will be cutting my hair and donating it to the Little Princess Trust. The Little Princess Trust are a charity that help children who are recovering from/have cancer and have lost their hair from treatment.  How donating hair helps is that they turn it into wigs for the children and that can give them lots more confidence to do things like go back to school etc. If you can/would like to donate or learn more, please click the link below. Jacqueline Ritchie is fundraising for Little Princess Trust (justgiving.com)  Well done Rosa and sincere thanks to all who have already donated to this worthy cause.

 

The number of pupils testing positive for Covid over the past 7 days was 12. (This is 5 more than last week)

 

The 3 week programme of prelims comes to an end today. I’m sure our S4,5 and 6 and parents will be mightily relieved that they are complete. Over the next few weeks Teachers will mark and grade the exam scripts and give students feedback so that they can all learn and improve in readiness for the final exams in May. Grades will also be shared with Parents.

 

1. Earlier this week, on Monday 24 January, the City of Edinburgh Council decided to delay a final decision on the start date for a Statutory Consultation to gather views on the future of Gaelic Medium Education (GME) in Edinburgh.
2. The Intermediate UKMT (Maths competition for S3/4 pupils)  will take place on Wednesday 2 February online at 5pm. If you have not already signed up please email Ms Dolan on ashling.dolan@jamesgillespies.edin.sch.uk
3. Pupils are reminded to hand in their solutions for the second round of the Scottish Maths Challenge to their Maths Teacher or Ms Dolan by Friday 4^th February. The problems can be found here http://www.wpr3.co.uk/MC/probs.html Pupils should contact their maths teacher if they have not received their result from round 1.
4. The Parent Council will be holding an online meeting on Thursday 10^th February for parents interested in getting involved in an Events and Fundraising Group.  If you would be interested in taking part, or finding out more, let us know through the PC email: jghscouncilcomms@gmail.com
5. The recording of the Parent Council meeting this week is now available on the PC website https://jghsparentcouncil.org/. The meeting included updates and questions on Covid rules, social and extra-curricular activities, parent consultations and other issues. For your diary, the next PC meeting will be on Tuesday 22 March and will include a presentation by Faculty Head, Ashling Dolan, on the Maths curriculum.
6. The deadline for the online completion of the Edinburgh Slavery and Colonialism Legacy Review – has been extended to 11 February 2022
7. National charity Family Fund is urging low-income families in Scotland, with disabled or seriously ill children or young people aged 0-17, to apply for grants to help them through the remaining winter months and challenging ongoing impact of the pandemic. The charity provides grants for essential items such as kitchen appliances, clothing, warm bedding, sensory toys and equipment, computers and tablets, much-needed family breaks and more.
8. Edinburgh Council is holding open meetings for parents in January and February to discuss the impacts of Covid on school communities and parental engagement. Next meeting is on Tuesday 22 February (from 6.15-7.15pm) and parents are welcome to join through this link: Click here to join the meeting. This is an opportunity to let the Council hear from parents about how changes, such as parents not being in schools for school events, are affecting school communities, and the Parent Council encourages parents to attend to raise any issues. For more information contact: Parental.Engagement@edinburgh.gov.uk
9. Covid-19: information.  
1. Please ‘phone or email the school to tell if your child tests positive for COVID. Include test date and whether it was a LFD (Home test) or PCR.
2. Anyone testing positive for a Lateral Flow Test (Home Test) should immediately self-isolate in line with current Government Guidelines.
3. Taking regular lateral flow tests and getting vaccinated are among our best mitigations to limit the spread of Covid. You can find out where to get lateral flow and PCR tests on the NHS website. The vaccination booster programme has expanded, so you may now be eligible to book yours. But, again, the NHS website has the information you’ll need.
4. Please continue to access the NHS Guidance so that you will know when you should get tested for Covid19.
5. If/when, there are changes to COVID mitigations affecting schools I will write to all members of our school community and give you as much notice as possible.  
10. Teenage booster (Diphtheria/Tetanus & Polio and Meningitis ACWY) – this will be on Wednesday 2 March 2022. This is for all S3s and any S4-6s who didn’t receive the booster in S3. Please return any outstanding forms to us as soon as possible. If your child in S4-6 did not receive a form, this means they already received the booster in S3.
11. HPV vaccine – HPV immunisation packs have been issued in key adult this week. Please return these forms to reception by Wednesday 9 February. NHS Lothian will be offering HPV vaccination to all S1 – S3  pupils, as well as catch up for girls in S4 to S6. In accordance with Chief Medical Officer Policy, there is no catch up programme for boys who were not in S1 before the national programme commenced in 2020. If a pupil has already received one dose of HPV vaccination, then they will not be issued with another consent form for further doses
12. Dates:
1. 2 February - closing date for S2 choices
2. 2 February Online maths competition for S3/4 (see note 3 above)
3. 9 February Deadline to return completed HPV forms to reception
4. 9 February live webinar for S4/5 pupils and parents with our careers' advisor
5. 10 February Parent Council online meeting on Fundraising
6. 11 February All break for Mid-term holiday
7. 21 February All resume
8. 21 February S4/5 course choice submission deadline
9. 2 March  Teenage booster (Diphtheria/Tetanus & Polio and Meningitis ACWY)
10. 22 March Parent Council meeting
11. 6-7 April HPV vaccine
12. 8 April Term ends

 

My quote for the week: “Now’s the day and now’s the hour.” Robert Burns

 

Best wishes to all for a lovely weekend.

Donald

Friday 21 January

 In recent weeks we have had several teachers joining us on a temporary basis to cover classes for absent teachers. I always make a point of speaking to those staff to ensure they feel welcomed and supported as part of our school community. Invariably, I get glowing feedback about how well supported they feel and how wonderful our pupils are. Thank you to all for making JGHS such a positive and welcoming place to learn.

 The number of pupils testing positive for Covid over the past 7 days was 7. (This is 5 fewer than last week) 

1. On Monday 24 January, the City of Edinburgh Council will decide on the start date of a Statutory Consultation to gather views on the future of Gaelic Medium Education (GME) in Edinburgh. The relevant papers can be found via this link.
2. Given the increasing popularity of travel in Korea, Korean culture, K-Pop, TV series and films etc. allied with our continuing interest in expanding and diversifying experiences for all pupils, we are currently looking at augmenting our Languages/cultural provision by offering some extra curricular Korean. More details will follow in the coming days.
3. Last week we sent information to all families on how to apply for concessionary bus travel cards which will enable all aged from 5-21 to access free bus travel in Scotland from 31 January. In addition to applying online, applications can also be made via City of Edinburgh Council libraries. It is advised to book an appointment via the following link.
4. Please remember that the next Parent Council meeting will be on Wednesday 26 January at 7pm. We will send out the link before the meeting via the school email.  The meeting will include an update on Parent Council activities and there will be the usual Headteacher’s report.  Please email the PC on jghscouncilcomms@gmail.com by 12 noon on Tuesday with any questions or issues you would like included in the HT’s update. It will also be possible to ask questions on the night via the Q&A typed chat facility.  If you would like to catch up on the last meeting in November, the recording is on the PC website at: https://jghsparentcouncil.org/ 
5. The Parent Council will be holding an online meeting on Tuesday 10^th February for parents interested in getting involved in an Events and Fundraising Group.  If you would be interested in being involved let us know through the PC email: jghscouncilcomms@gmail.com
6. Edinburgh Council is holding open meetings for parents in January and February to discuss the impacts of Covid on school communities and parental engagement. Further meetings are on Tuesday 25 January, and Tuesday 22 February (all from 6.15-7.15pm) and parents are welcome to join any of them through this link: Click here to join the meeting. This is an opportunity to let the Council hear from parents about how changes, such as parents not being in schools for school events, are affecting school communities, and the Parent Council encourages parents to attend to raise any issues. For more information contact: Parental.Engagement@edinburgh.gov.uk
7. Covid-19: information.  
1. Please ‘phone or email the school to tell if your child tests positive for COVID. Include test date and whether it was a LFD (Home test) or PCR.
2. Anyone testing positive for a Lateral Flow Test (Home Test) should immediately self-isolate in line with current Government Guidelines.
3. Taking regular lateral flow tests and getting vaccinated are among our best mitigations to limit the spread of Covid. You can find out where to get lateral flow and PCR tests on the NHS website. The vaccination booster programme has expanded, so you may now be eligible to book yours. But, again, the NHS website has the information you’ll need.
4. Please continue to access the NHS Guidance so that you will know when you should get tested for Covid19.
5. If/when, there are changes to COVID mitigations affecting schools I will write to all members of our school community and give you as much notice as possible.  
8. Teenage booster (Diphtheria/Tetanus & Polio and Meningitis ACWY) – this will be on Wednesday 2 March 2022. This is for all S3s and any S4-6s who didn’t receive the booster in S3. Please return any outstanding forms to us as soon as possible. If your child in S4-6 did not receive a form, this means they already received the booster in S3.
9. HPV vaccine – this will be on Wednesday and Thursday 6-7 April 2022. Forms will be distributed shortly.
10. Dates:
1. 21 January S2 pupils will be emailed their username and pin-code to access Tools, where they will make their choices
2. 24 January City of Edinburgh Council will decide on the dates for a Statutory Consultation on the future of Gaelic Medium Education in Edinburgh.
3. 25 and 27 January S2 Parents’ evenings (Online)
4. 2 February - closing date for S2 choices
5. 2 March  Teenage booster (Diphtheria/Tetanus & Polio and Meningitis ACWY)
6. 6-7 April HPV vaccine
11. Congratulations to:
1. Ali Shippey (S4) who was selected to play in the Inter Regionals U16s Boys UK water polo tournament in December. Ali represented the Scotland Saltires in Division 2 where they won all of their games, including an intense final match against Wales where they came from behind to win 8-7. Ali has, deservedly, been invited to trial for GB water polo on the 22nd of January.
2. The following pupils who, during the month of October/November as part of our celebrations for Black History Month, the Modern Studies Dept ran a competition were students in S2 were invited to submit a creative project in the style of their own choosing, created in their own time, to explore the contribution made to UK and Scottish society by famous Black Britons. Over 40 students in S2 submitted projects and the standard was exceptionally high! The winners have now been selected. Well-done to everyone who entered. The entries are displayed in the temporary units 🙂The following students have won book tokens as their prize:

1. Jess Lockwood - Holmes - Video on Walter Tull footballer and army officer
2. Uma Treaslove - Poster presentation on filmmaker Steve McQueen

                                Runners up:

1. Bethan Kitchin - Poster/ portrait of Lilian Bader - One of the first Black women in the RAF
2. Hanna Habilczek - Portrait of the author Zadie Smith
3. Storme McCall/ Surya Schneiders - Created a Black British History Instagram Page - to celebrate different figures every day

 

12. Very best wishes to all students who are involved in taking prelim exams over this next and final week of prelims.

 

My quote for the week: “Dreams they come and go, but thoughts like love will always grow’. (Meatloaf)

 

Best wishes to all for a lovely weekend.

Donald

Friday 14 January

With fewer seniors attending classes this past week, school corridors and social spaces have been much quieter. The prelims are running smoothly and, over the coming days, exam scripts will be marked and graded so that students can learn and do even better in their finals in May. Over the past week, it has been pleasing to see so many senior pupils coming in to school to access additional support from staff.  

 The number of pupils testing positive for Covid over the past 7 days was 12.

 

1. Earlier this week we sent information to all families on how to apply for concessionary bus travel cards which will enable all aged from 5-21 to access free bus travel in Scotland from 31 January. In addition to applying online, applications can also be made via City of Edinburgh Council libraries. It is advised to book an appointment via the following link.
2. In an effort to promote the benefits of cycling, Students in our Eco and sustainability group would like to invite you to sign their online petition which aims to persuade the City of Edinburgh Council to improve cycling lanes to our school.  The Link to the petition is here:    https://chng.it/RtVtcRgy
3. A reminder that the public consultation phase of the Edinburgh Slavery and Colonialism Legacy Review  is still live and is open till 19 January 2022. As James Gillespie (whose bequest led to the founding of our School)  was a merchant who made his fortune from the sale of tobacco products, this consultation has added significance for our school community. The online survey can be found here: www.edinburgh.gov.uk/slaverycolonialism  Background information to the Review is being hosted on the Council’s website here: www.edinburgh.gov.uk/edinburghslaverycolonialism
4. Several of our Gaelic pupils are entering short films in this year’s annual prestigious FilmG competition. Please have a look and vote for the JGHS entries!
1. S1 Pupils https://www.filmg.co.uk/filmichean/caite-bheil-tescos/?lang=en
2. Sadie Drye (S6)  https://www.filmg.co.uk/filmichean/a-coiseachd-tron-choille/?lang=en
3. Tony Gallagher (S6) and friends https://www.filmg.co.uk/filmichean/meirlich-an-fainne-aisling/?lang=en
5. The next Parent Council meeting will be held online on Wednesday 26 January at 7pm. Further details will be circulated next week.  There will be the opportunity on the night to ask questions 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 and we will try to include it in the updates.  You can find the recording of the last PC meeting at: https://jghsparentcouncil.org/.
6. Edinburgh Council is holding open meetings for parents in January and February to discuss the impacts of Covid on school communities and parental engagement. The meetings are on Tuesday 11 January, Tuesday 25 January, and Tuesday 22 February (all from 6.15-7.15pm) and parents are welcome to join any of them through this link: Click here to join the meeting. This is an opportunity to let the Council hear from parents about how changes, such as parents not being in schools for school events, are affecting school communities, and the Parent Council encourages parents to attend to raise any issues. For more information contact: Parental.Engagement@edinburgh.gov.uk
7. Covid-19: information.  
1. Please ‘phone or email the school to tell if your child tests positive for COVID. Include test date and whether it was a LFD (Home test) or PCR.
2. Anyone testing positive for a Lateral Flow Test (Home Test) should immediately self-isolate in line with current Government Guidelines.
3. Taking regular lateral flow tests and getting vaccinated are among our best mitigations to limit the spread of Covid. You can find out where to get lateral flow and PCR tests on the NHS website. The vaccination booster programme has expanded, so you may now be eligible to book yours. But, again, the NHS website has the information you’ll need.
4. Please continue to access the NHS Guidance so that you will know when you should get tested for Covid19.
8. Teenage booster (Diphtheria/Tetanus & Polio and Meningitis ACWY) – this will be on Wednesday 2 March 2022. This is for all S3s and any S4-6s who didn’t receive the booster in S3. Please return any outstanding forms to us as soon as possible. If your child in S4-6 did not receive a form, this means they already received the booster in S3.
9. HPV vaccine – this will be on Wednesday and Thursday 6-7 April 2022. Forms will be distributed shortly.
10. Dates:
1. 13 January Student Awards Agency of Scotland (SAAS) - online presentation at 6pm
2. 17 Jan to Fri 21 January - S2 pupils will be given career path and course choice info on during PSE classes
3. 21 January S2 pupils will be emailed their username and pin-code to access Tools, where they will make their choices
4. 25 and 27 January S2 Parents’ evenings (Online)
5. 2 February - closing date for S2 choices
6. 2 March  Teenage booster (Diphtheria/Tetanus & Polio and Meningitis ACWY)
7. 6-7 April HPV vaccine
11. Congratulations to:
1. Nikolas Katsantonis (1L2) who recently passed his grade 4 piano.
2. Nora Trew-Rae (S5) who sang with the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland Junior choir on The BBC programme 'Reflections at the Quay' on Christmas day. https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/m0012z3y/reflections-at-the-quay-christmas-special
3. Cathryn Gardiner (S2) and Orla Holt (S2) who have been selected to take part in an event hosted by Strathclyde University to promote engineering for S2 girls. They gained 2 out of 150 places available across Scotland on the back of personal statements they wrote outlining the personal qualities and personal ambition they have for an engineering career.
12. And finally, very best wishes to all students who are involved in taking prelim exams over the next 3 weeks. We recognise and acknowledge that taking any exams is stressful. Please do your best to reassure all that the prelims are a rehearsal for the final exams in May and will provide an excellent opportunity to reflect, to learn and to do even better for the final exams.

 

My quote for the week: “Do not train children to learning by force and harshness, but direct them to it by what amuses their minds, so that you may be better able to discover with accuracy the peculiar bent of the genius of each.“ (Plato)

 Best wishes to all for a lovely weekend.

Donald

Donald j Macdonald (Headteacher)

Friday 7 January

 It was lovely to welcome everyone back to school yesterday. The periods of lockdown and various restrictions over the past 22 months have highlighted how much we all benefit from getting back into familiar routines and the opportunity to interact with others. Looking ahead, we have so much to look forward to in 2022 as the days continue to lengthen and Spring plants emerge from their wintry domains.  

 All pupils and staff are remined to wear warm clothing to school as windows will be opened to aid ventilation throughout the school.

 At the end of next week, I will return to sharing the numbers of weekly COVID infections in the school community. Please ’phone or email the school if your child tests positive for COVID and let us know:

• The date of the test and
• whether it was a Home (lateral Flow) or a PCR test. 

1. We will be contacting S2 parents in the next few days to share boking details for the online Parent meetings on 25 and 27 January.
2. The school does not have insurance for pupils’ personal belongings. Those that take expensive items such as mobile phones to school should ensure that they have insurance in place to cover breakage, loss etc.
3. Please do all that you can to reinforce the message that no person should ever carry a bladed object with them in a public place. Pupils taking such objects to school will face immediate exclusion and be charged by the Police. I will include this strong message when I make my weekly announcements to the school community on Monday morning.
4. Cycling and traveling to schools in more environmentally friendly ways are strongly encouraged. Cyclists should ensure that a high quality lock is used to secure cycles in our designated cycle park.  
5. Following COP26, the National Poet for Scotland, Kathleen Jamie, has written a poem that you may find thought-provoking and evocative: What the Clyde said, after COP26.What the Clyde said, after COP26 by Kathleen Jamie - Scottish Poetry Library
6. Early next week we will send information to all families on how to apply for bus travel cards which will enable all under the age of 22 to access free bus travel in Scotland.
7. Active Schools are organising Bikeability Scotland Instructor (BSI) training courses in the New Year, which are FREE to staff and parent volunteers. There is also funding to provide cover staff to release teachers to attend the course. Please contact Eliot.Ambrose@ea.edin.sch.uk if you are interested.
8. A reminder that the public consultation phase of the Edinburgh Slavery and Colonialism Legacy Review  is still live and is open till 19 January 2022. As James Gillespie (whose bequest led to the founding of our School)  was a merchant who made his fortune from the sale of tobacco products, this consultation has added significance for our school community. The online survey can be found here: www.edinburgh.gov.uk/slaverycolonialism  Background information to the Review is being hosted on the Council’s website here: www.edinburgh.gov.uk/edinburghslaverycolonialism
9. In the next 10 days, staff at JGHS will be using council produced learning materials with pupils in S1-3 to encourage reflection on Scotland’s links with slavery and what our next steps could be to address historic racial injustice and stem modern day discrimination in its various forms.
10. Edinburgh Council is holding open meetings for parents in January and February to discuss the impacts of Covid on school communities and parental engagement. The meetings are on Tuesday 11 January, Tuesday 25 January, and Tuesday 22 February (all from 6.15-7.15pm) and parents are welcome to join any of them through this link: Click here to join the meeting. This is an opportunity to let the Council hear from parents about how changes, such as parents not being in schools for school events, are affecting school communities, and the Parent Council encourages parents to attend to raise any issues. For more information contact: Parental.Engagement@edinburgh.gov.uk
11. Covid-19: information.  
1. Please email the school to tell if your child tests positive for COVID. Include test date and whether it was a LFD (Home test) or PCR.
2. Anyone testing positive for a Lateral Flow Test (Home Test) should immediately self-isolate in line with current Government Guidelines.
3. Taking regular lateral flow tests and getting vaccinated are among our best mitigations to limit the spread of Covid. You can find out where to get lateral flow and PCR tests on the NHS website. The vaccination booster programme has expanded, so you may now be eligible to book yours. But, again, the NHS website has the information you’ll need.
4. Please continue to access the NHS Guidance so that you will know when you should get tested for Covid19.
12. Dates:
1. 10 January Prelim exams for S4,5 and 6
2. 13 January Student Awards Agency of Scotland (SAAS) - online presentation at 6pm
3. 25 and 27 January S2 Parents’ evenings (Online)

 

13. And finally, very best wishes to all students who are involved in taking prelim exams over the next 3 weeks. We recognise and acknowledge that taking any exams is stressful. Please do your best to reassure all that the prelims are a rehearsal for the final exams in May and will provide an excellent opportunity to reflect, to learn and to do even better for the final exams.

 

My quote for the week: “"Aim for success, not perfection. Never give up your right to be wrong, because then you will lose the ability to learn new things and move forward with your life. Remember that fear always lurks behind perfectionism.“ David M. Burns)

  

Best wishes to all for a lovely weekend.

 

 

Donald j Macdonald (Headteacher)