Friday 4 March

A particular highlight this week was hearing that JGHS pupils not only enjoyed themselves at this past week’s Cross Country running competitions but also were strongly represented amongst the prize-winners. Warmest congratulations to all who represented JGHS and huge well done to the quartet of boys who took team gold in the U14 category. (See appended). 

The number of pupils testing positive for Covid over the past 7 days was 26 (This is 2 more than for last week) 

1. In the lead up to national exams all involved will now be focused on reflecting on prelim performances and planning for May. An email with a list of additional support for pupils (including Easter revision) has been sent to families by  Mr Lewis.
2. The next Parent Council will be held on Tuesday 22 March at 7pm.  and will include a presentation by Faculty Head, Ashling Dolan, on the Maths curriculum.  We will send out the link before the meeting via the school email.  Please email the PC at jghscouncilcomms@gmail.com if you have any questions or issues you would like included in the Head Teacher’s update. If you would like to catch up on the last meeting in January, the recording and Q&A are on the PC website: https://jghsparentcouncil.org/
3. Curriculum for Excellence research: JGHS is taking part in a research project being led by Stirling University on the impact of Curriculum for Excellence on attainment, subject choice and student experience.  As part of the research, the investigators would like to speak with a group of 4-6 parents with a child/children in S4-S6 to learn about their experience of supporting their child to make subject choices.  There will be an online meeting with the group on Monday 14 March at 7pm (about an hour). If you would be interested in participating, please contact the Parent Council on jghscouncilcomms@gmail.com. Further information is available on the project website https://curriculumproject.stir.ac.uk/ and on Twitter https://twitter.com/CAPDStirling
4. We are extremely grateful to award winning Screenwriter Paul Laverty for taking precious time out of his busy schedule to come into school and talk to the department (and other Modern Studies educators across the city via TEAMS) about his work, the type of research undertaken for his screenplays and best practice for teachers in using feature films in a classroom environment.
5. Covid-19 Update: Thanks to all members of the JGHS community who have responded so positively and sensibly during the past week as, in line with National Guidelines, we begin to phase out some COVID mitigations. We are still in the midst of a pandemic so we must not become complacent.
6. Covid protocols 
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.
7. Dates:
1. 7 March S4 Parents’ evening
2. 16 March S5/6 Parents’ night
3. 22 March Parent Council meeting
4. 6-7 April HPV vaccine
5. 8 April Term ends

 

8. Congratulations to:
1. Dylan Daunt, Kieran Glass, Fraser Lupton and Laurence Ward (all S3) who won team gold in the Scottish Schools’ Cross Country championships  (Boys 14-15 category) and brought home the cup! This is a first for Gillespie’s and a fantastic achievement.  It should be noted that each category has up to 250 of the best young runners from around Scotland.

Other impressive individual results included:

2. Josh Daunt – 3rd
3. Jess Taylor – 4^th
4. Freya Mowbray – 6th
5. Josh Daunt – 14^th
6. Fraser Lupton – 14^th
7. Anna Cruden – 18^th
8. Thursday’s successes follow other cross country successes last weekend at Callender Park, Falkirk, where the following pupils participated successfully:
1. Josh Daunt (S1), Jess Taylor, Freya Mowbray, Anna Cruden, Bethan Kitchin, Dylan Daunt, Fraser Lupton, Laurence Ward.
9. Congratulations to Liam McConnell (6R4) who captained Edinburgh Rugby U18 team to win the prestigious Junior 1872 Cup. Liam is considered to be an outstanding player at his age group and with continued dedication has the potential to have a bright future in the sport.

 My quote for the week: “Success consists of getting up just one more time than you fall’’ (Oliver Goldsmith)

 

Best wishes to all for a lovely weekend.

Donald