Friday 6 May

 The SQA exams are running smoothly – continuing best wishes and good luck to all who are involved.

 

1. We are currently experiencing an increase in the numbers of younger pupils who are misusing online media to post inappropriate content about others. Edinburgh secondary school pupils are being targeted as part of a vile TikTok cyberbullying trend. The anonymous social media accounts, set up during the school Easter holidays, pick on pupils by leaving nasty comments – including those of a sexual nature. Accompanying the slurs are clues as to a pupil’s identity and even partial images of faces as peers are encouraged to guess their identity. Parents are requested to discuss this trend with their children and contact the school if you have any concerns so that appropriate action is taken to educate and support all involved.
2. The next Parent Council will be held on Tuesday 17 May at 7pm.  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 previous meetings, they are on PC website at: https://jghsparentcouncil.org/ We will send out the link to join the meeting via the school email nearer the time. 
3. All pupils in S1-S3 to take part in a survey about their health and wellbeing. The findings will help our local authority to understand the needs, strengths and possible concerns of children and young people, which will help plan future improvements to local services. Please look out for a letter which you should receive that will provide you with more detailed information about the Census, and provides you with the opportunity to let us know if you don’t wish your child to take part.
4. On Monday 9 and Monday 16 Modern Languages will welcome P6 students (approx 150 per day) from our associated primary schools for a day of language learning at JGHS.
5. 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. 
5. Congratulations to:
1. Sam Macnamara who achieved Grade 1 Saxophone with merit
2. Daniel Chowings who achieved Grade 3 Piano with merit
3. William Wardlow (classical guitar) and Carla Brunelli Bonnet (cello) who have been accepted into the Junior Conservatoire at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland.
4. Several talented guitarists who took part in a concert last Friday in Duddingston Kirk and in doing raised the magnificent sum of £305 which will help a Ukrainian family settle in the Portobello area. The Kirk minister has already sourced free accommodation for the family for the next two years and the money we raised will help them buy groceries upon their arrival. The pupils who took part  were Alexandre Sabino Hunt, William Warlow, Elizabeth Mole, Chloe Stirling, Flora Mitchell, Dylan Daunt, Ula Brooke’s, Flynn Conroy and former pupil Oliver Coombs. Our pupils performed in ensemble and Flora, William, Alexandre and Oliver played solos to an appreciative audience.
6. Dates:
1. 10 and 12 May S1 Parents’ evenings
2. 17 and 19 May S2 Parents’ evenings
3. 17 May Parent Council meeting

 

My quote for the week: “Democracy cannot succeed unless those who express their choice are prepared to choose wisely. The real safeguard of democracy, therefore, is education.“ (Franklin D. Roosevelt)

 

 

Wishing all a lovely weekend.

 

Donald