Friday, 4 February 2022

Friday 4 February

 I’ve been really impressed during the past week to hear of the many successes across the school in team sports. In particular, I’ve heard of strong performances and sporting behaviour for both Football and Netball.  My sincere thanks to all pupils, staff, parents, coaches etc. who go the extra mile to provide these opportunities.

 Thanks to everyone for doing your bit to ensure that Covid has minimal chance to spread in our school community. Regular testing and getting fully vaccinated are strongly encouraged.

The number of pupils testing positive for Covid over the past 7 days was 27. (This is 15 more than last week)

  

  1. Pupils who feel unwell during the school day should report to Welfare. Pupils should not go home directly without checking in first. Our Welfare assistant will contact home to alert you if they cannot continue in school.
  2. On Thursday 10 February prelim results and presentation recommendations will be emailed to all pupils and parents/carers in S4-6. This email will come from the address ben.lewis@jamesgillespies.edin.sch.uk so please look in your spam/junk folder if it does not arrive. If you still have not received it by the morning of Fri 11 Feb, please email the above address to ask for a copy.
  3. A reminder that our Parent Council will be holding an online meeting on Thursday 10 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
  4. The deadline for the online completion of the Edinburgh Slavery and Colonialism Legacy Review – has been extended to 11 February 2022
  5. 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.
  6. Edinburgh Council has been holding open meetings for parents to discuss the impacts of Covid on school communities and parental engagement. The final 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. There is more information about the issues and comments that have been raised by parents in earlier meetings on the PC website https://jghsparentcouncil.org/. The Parent Council encourages parents to take this opportunity to let the Council hear about your experience of being part of the school community during Covid. If you can’t attend the meeting but have comments to contribute, these can be sent to: 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 – 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
  10. Dates:
    1. 9 February Deadline to return completed HPV forms to reception
    2. 9 February live webinar for S4/5 pupils and parents with our careers' advisor
    3. 10 February Parent Council online meeting on Fundraising
    4. 10 February Prelim results
    5. 11 February All break for Mid-term holiday
    6. 21 February All resume
    7. 21 February S4/5 course choice submission deadline
    8. 2 March  Teenage booster (Diphtheria/Tetanus & Polio and Meningitis ACWY)
    9. 7 March S4 Parents’ evening
    10. 16 March S5/6 Parents’ night
    11. 22 March Parent Council meeting
    12. 6-7 April HPV vaccine
    13. 8 April Term ends

 

  1. Thanks to Euan Hickman (S5) who, on behalf of our school’s sustainability team, has developed this SWAY presentation on the environmental impact of disposable face masks.

 

My quote for the week: ““There is nothing in a caterpillar that tells you it’s going to be a butterfly.“ (B Fuller)

 

Best wishes to all for a lovely weekend.

Donald

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