Friday 17 June

 I’m still buzzing after attending two special events last week and sharing such a wonderful evening with colleagues and students. On Tuesday evening, the 80^th birthday celebration for Aonghas ‘Dubh’ MacNeacail in the Queen’s Hall and, on Friday, Mike McGeary’s Charity concert in the Usher Hall both provided memories that will endure. I couldn’t be prouder of all our students - present and past -  who graced the stages.

 

1. After a week’s delay, I was relieved and delighted that we changed timetable for session 22/23 on Monday of this week. Over the next few days we will continue to work on resolving any anomalies that have arisen. I’d like to express my thanks to our timetabling team and all of my colleagues for their efforts in getting things ready and resolving any lingering issues. Very best wishes to all of our pupils as they embark on their next year of study with us at JGHS.
2. Locker key return – students are requested to please return your locker key to the Welfare Office by Friday 24 June. Lockers should be emptied of all contents prior to handing in the key.
3. Following message from Eoghann Dover of Blaze Basketball:
1. We will be running Basketball camps for the whole summer from 9am-1pm Monday to Friday.
2. We will also be running S1&2 Camp from 1-3pm each day
3. On Wednesdays High School Girls camp from 3-5pm
4. On Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday 3-5pm U16&18 mixed camp
5. You can access all by following this link https://the-crags-centre.class4kids.co.uk/camps.  If there are children who need financial help to attend please contact the organisers and they will share discount codes
4. I was thrilled to hear of the large number of parents who have volunteered their expertise and services to students by coming in to school to share their industry knowledge. Thanks to Danielle Hart Adams, our school ‘Developing the Young Workforce’ (DYW) coordinator for her lead on this initiative. If you have not already made contact please contact Danielle Danielle.HartAdams@jamesgillespies.edin.sch.uk directly to offer your skills, expertise and services. Our aim is to ensure that every school leaver achieves a positive and sustained post-school destination.
5. On receiving a pupil ‘absence alert’ from the school parents are advised to not text that number as it is an automated number. If you wish to contact the school, please email us or phone 01314471900.
6. Parents are invited to remind all of our S6 leavers to return all borrowed books (including library books) and apparatus to the school asap. No entry to the leavers’ breakfast and Prom if these are not returned beforehand.
7. 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, 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.

8. Well done to:
1. Everyone who performed at the Queen's Hall on Tuesday of last week to mark the 80th Birthday of Gaelic poet Aonghas ‘Dubh’ MacNeacail. I was bursting with pride watching our amazing young people perform alongside some of the biggest names in the Gaelic and traditional music world.
2. Everyone who was involved in Mike McGeary's Charity Concert at the Usher Hall on Friday last week. It was an amazing evening raising money for some fantastic charities. We were delighted that our youngsters got the opportunity to perform and are incredibly proud of all involved!
3. Nora Trew-Rae (S5) who finished as one of two runners-up in the Edinburgh finals for Scottish Young Musician of the Year. Alexander Davidson (Head of Instrumental Music in Moray) who judged the competition was blown away with the quality of all the entries!
4. Andrew Wright, 5L5, who, whilst participating in the Scottish rowing Championships from 3rd to the 5th of June at Strathclyde Park, achieved the following:
1. Silver for pairs for under 18s (OJ18 2-)
2. Gold for coxed 4 under 18s (OJ18 4+)
3. Gold for coxless 4 under 18s (OJ18 4-).'
5. All athletes who represented JGHS at the SSAA Track and Field Championships at Grangemouth Stadium last week. Special congratulations to the following pupils who achieved the following results;
1. Fraser Lupton (new S3) who came 2nd in the under 15 boys 800m with a time of 2:04:21 mins 
2. Jessica Taylor (new S4) who came 5th in the under 15 girls 1500m with a time of 5:05:58 mins
3. Bethan Kitchin (new S3) who came 5th in the under 15 girls 800m with a time of 2:25:02 mins.
9. Dates:
1. 27 June Alcohol education assemblies for S3
2. 28 June S6 leavers’ ceremony and Prom
3. 1 July Term ends at midday
4. 17 August Students resume

 

My quote for the week: “Music can lift us out of depression or move us to tears – it is a remedy, a tonic, orange juice for the ear. But for many of my neurological patients, music is even more – it can provide access, even when no medication can, to movement, to speech, to life. For them, music is not a luxury, but a necessity.” (Oliver Sacks, best-selling author and professor of neurology at NYU School Of Medicine)

 

 

Wishing all a fantastic weekend.

 

 

Donald j Macdonald