Friday 20 May

Throughout next week, we look forward to welcoming around 310  P7s from our associated Primary Schools. The visits will give our P7s opportunity to sample High School life ahead of them joining us in August. Regrettably, our usual 3 day visit for all P7s cannot go ahead in June this year as the eagerly awaited additional accommodation at Darroch will not be completed until later this summer.

 

1. Our staff are actively raising the profile of our commitment to supporting the mental health of our young people and each other.  Mental health Lanyards are being allocated to staff who have completed training in mental health so that they can be easily identified by our students as staff who are willing to be approached by any young person in distress. As more staff are trained, we hope more will wear these lanyards.  Key adults will chat to students about this soon to raise awareness.
2. Following concerns from members of the public,  our local Police Officers will have an increased presence in the vicinity of the school at peak times to address the issue of cars being dangerously parked near the school.  Those choosing to drop off or collect students are requested to park further from the school to avoid congestion and increased risk to others.
3. All members of the JGHS community are invited to attend the online launch of the findings of the pioneering research project on the impact of Covid-19 on children of colour in Scotland. This will be a very important research project and tool informing research, policy and practice in Scotland. Well done to Ashaanka Sarma (2R1) who was on the advisory board. Details of how to join are here.
4. Parents are invited to go online on Wednesday 1^st June 2022 (630 – 730 Pm) to attend an Anti-Bullying Information Session for Parents & Carers in Edinburgh : The event is Free. Join us to find out more about what you can do to support children and young people affected by bullying. Organised by Edinburgh City Council in partnership with ‘Respectme’, Scotland’s anti-bulling organisation. This session for parents and carers will help you to understand more about bullying and how to respond effectively whether it's happening online or offline.
1. How to register: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/339885114527 - this link takes you to the registration page.
5. The following supports are being arranged in an attempt to deal with the misuse of social media - particularly with S1 pupils. 
6. As part of our continuing efforts to support students to make better decisions on how they use social media to interact safely and respectfully with others the following are being organised:
1. There will be a presentation for S1 parents on how to support their children to use social media safely and responsibly. This will be delivered by a specialist police officer later this term. Dates and details as yet to be confirmed.
2. Parents will be emailed a leaflet on supporting their children to use social media safely. This will be sent with the invitation to the talk.
3. PC Mackenzie will deliver an in-depth assembly to S1 about cyber-crime and social media Friday 20th May.
4. We are hoping this assembly will also be delivered to S2 and S3 pupils at a later date.
5. PC Mackenzie will start running a “police surgery” at break and straight after school starting this Friday. Pupils could come and discuss their concerns/report issues directly to her.
7. During this warmer weather all students are reminded to drink fresh water regularly throughout the day. All are requested to bring their own water bottles and to refill these at breaks or between classes. High energy drinks are not allowed in school.
8. Now that home testing for COVID is no longer recommended we have a number of unused testing kits. The NHS has advised that we can offer these for free to staff / students / parents who might have vulnerable family members who still require tests. Please contact the school office if you wish to arrange to collect these from us.
9. The recording of this week’s Parent Council meeting this week is now available on the PC website https://jghsparentcouncil.org/ together with the presentation by the school’s new Mental Health Coordinator, Nikki Graham. Nikki is looking for parents to collaborate in her work on supporting mental health in the school and discusses her plans in the presentation. If you would be interested, contact the PC on jghscouncilcomms@gmail.com or get in touch direct with the school.
10. Updated Covid protocols. In line with Government Guidelines, Students, staff and visitors are encouraged to wear face coverings in communal spaces indoors but this is at each individual’s discretion. Given the increased roll and potential congestion  in our school, we are planning to retain our ‘one-way’ travel system at peak movement times.
1. As you may be aware, Public Health Advice on COVID continues to evolve with the next significant changes taking effect from this Sunday (1 May). Fuller details can be found here.  In summary, the Stay at Home Guidance for people will be:

1. Children and young people with mild symptoms such as a runny nose, sore throat, or slight  cough, who are otherwise well, can continue to attend their education setting.
2. Children and young people who are unwell and have a high temperature should stay at home and avoid contact with other people, where they can. They can go back to school, college or childcare, and resume normal activities when they no longer have a high temperature and they are well enough to attend.
3. Adults who have symptoms of COVID-19 and who have a fever or are too unwell to carry out normal activities will be asked to ‘stay at home’ whilst they are unwell or have a fever.  They will no longer be advised to take a PCR test.
4. In other words, from Sunday 1 May public health advice will change to a ‘stay at home’ message replacing self-isolation for people who have symptoms or have tested positive.

2. You should also be aware that as set out in https://www.gov.scot/news/end-of-the-highest-risk-list/ the Highest Risk List will cease on 31 May. These changes will be incorporated in a further update at the end of May. 
10. Well done to:
1. Fraser Lupton (2R2) who competed in the 800m East Districts Championships at the weekend and finished a close second with a time of 2:02:67.
2. Clara Dick (S1) and Abby Harbisher (S2) who were selected to play for the Scotland Girls U14's basketball team and competed in the Four Nations tournament in Dundee last weekend.
3. Marcus Herbert (S1) who, on finding a bus pass belonging to a member of the public, made great efforts to contact the owner so it could be returned. 
11. Dates:
1. 2 and 3 June Holidays
2. 10 June Charity Guitar Gig at Usher Hall https://www.usherhall.co.uk/whats-on

 

My quote for the week: "The things you really need are few and easy to come by; but the things you can imagine you need are infinite, and you will never be satisfied’’ (Epicurus – ancient Greek Philosopher)

 

Wishing all a lovely weekend.

Donald