Meadows Fun Run

Thanks to all who helped with our fun run today. It was a tremendous success despite the late downpour!! Special thanks to Mr Carstairs who organised the event.

The winners were…..

Fastest Boy :                      Jack Pickup – 12 min 29 secs

Fastest Girl :                       Lucia Montgomery – 12 min 53 secs

Fastest Adult :                   Dr Paul Smith – 11 min 54 secs (better luck next year Mr O'Connor!!)

Best Fancy Dress :            Aurora Brannigan, Emily Milligan and Alejandro Tamariz (came dressed as a rainbow and a leprechaun with a pot of gold)

Please encourage all pupils who participated to hand in their sponsor money next week.

Tomorrow’s main activity is the S1 Sports Day. All S1 pupils are to go to the Forum AFTER registration. They will then be out of normal classes until the end of the school day.

An inspiring short film on dyslexia

'Every now and then you come across something so inspiring that you can’t help but share it. This was certainly the case with this wonderful idea from 12-year-old Isley, who has severe dyslexia.'

This short video, created by a12 year old, is quite inspirational and I hope will reassure all who have some barrier to learning that every individual is special.

Creative writing is fun!

The American author Nora Chassler is currently working with all of our cluster primary schools, as part of an innovative creative writing Transition project set in place by our Faculty Head of English, Allan Crosbie, and his colleagues at James Gillespie's High School. Nora has already provided a stimulating workshop for all P7 staff, as part of a morning of inservice from Allan and our staff on Thursday 7th May.

I am delighted we are working closely with our cluster P7 colleagues on this exciting scheme which also involves visits from JGHS English teachers to meet and work with the pupils. The English Department look forward to reading their finished stories which will be on display during their Three Day 'induction' visit to JGHS 16-18 June.

Pupil Power

I'm delighted to share with you that Sarah Garland (3M4) has been elected to the Scottish Youth Parliament for South Edinburgh.

This will involve group meetings with the other MSYPs, and will be a brilliant opportunity for young people from JGHS and other schools in the area to have their voices heard and listened to on local and national issues that directly affect young people. After Sarah completes her induction day on the 16th May, she will be able to confirm surgery times and contact addresses.

It’s so encouraging to see young people energised and enthusiastic about Politics!

Wise words

The dream of every family is to be able to live together happily in a quiet and peaceful home where parents will have the opportunity of bringing up the children in the best possible way, or guiding and helping them in choosing careers and of giving them the love and care which will develop in them a feeling of security
and self-confidence." ~ Nelson Mandela from a letter to Zindzi & Zenani Mandela, written on Robben Island, 1 June 1970

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We're in new building ...

Dear Parent/Guardian

I am delighted to share with you that our move into the newly completed ‘Malala’ building has been smooth and, apart from some relatively minor teething issues which are being addressed, we are hugely impressed with our new building. The enhanced perception of light and space has been remarked on by all vistors.   

We will be organising an opportunity for all parents to visit on the morning of Saturday 6 June 2015. Details will follow shortly but do reserve this date in your diaries.

On Friday morning of this week, pupils will be collecting towards supporting families affected by the earthquakes in Nepal. Pupils are requested to wear an item of red clothing on Friday in recognition of the red Nepalese flag and to bring some money (up to £1) to donate. All the money raised will be passed to Mercy Corps,  Edinburgh’s international charity, which has been working in Nepal since 2006

I take this further opportunity of reminding you that Monday 4 May is a holiday and all pupils and staff should resume as normal on Tuesday 5 May. Thursday 7 May is a further holiday for pupils as this is a staff training day.

Yours sincerely,

Donald j Macdonald

Headteacher

New 'Malala' teaching building opened today

Earlier today we took ownership of a brand new shiny building. Exciting stuff! 

Gillespie's tops Edinburgh schools again

Everyone knows that schools are about much more than examination results but examination results matter enormously. It was very pleasing to be the top school in Edinburgh in terms of exams results for last session's school leavers, despite all the challenges we have had to overcome whilst working across three main sites. Great qualifications are key to getting off to a good start in life.

I am very proud of everyone associated with our school community. 

 

I Wandered Lonely as a Cloud

By William Wordsworth

I wandered lonely as a cloud

That floats on high o'er vales and hills,

When all at once I saw a crowd,

A host, of golden daffodils;

Beside the lake, beneath the trees,

Fluttering and dancing in the breeze.

Continuous as the stars that shine

And twinkle on the milky way,

They stretched in never-ending line

Along the margin of a bay:

Ten thousand saw I at a glance,

Tossing their heads in sprightly dance.

The waves beside them danced; but they

Out-did the sparkling waves in glee:

A poet could not but be gay,

In such a jocund company:

I gazed—and gazed—but little thought

What wealth the show to me had brought:

For oft, when on my couch I lie

In vacant or in pensive mood,

They flash upon that inward eye

Which is the bliss of solitude;

And then my heart with pleasure fills,

And dances with the daffodils

Green Gillespie’s EcoGroup

Our fledgling EcoGroup is proud and excited to announce that James Gillespie’s High School has gained an EcoSchools Scotland Bronze Award. The award is given to those schools which are striving to achieve a sustainable lifestyle.

Exam results and new building

Parents/Students/Staff

You may be aware that the Scottish Government published exam results last Friday (27 March) for all Scottish schools.  These results are now in the public domain and will likely be used by the media to ‘comment’ on Schools’ performances in the coming weeks.

The information can be accessed at http://www.educationscotland.gov.uk/parentzone/.  They are not in the form of a league table but it is, nevertheless, possible to compare results.  Each school is measured against the results expected from a “virtual school” composed of pupils from comparable socio-economic catchment areas (created by the use of postcodes) across a number of criteria.  Gillespie's does particularly well across a range of measures.  

You simply enter the name of the school in the box at the top of the page, select it from the list which then appears (although, of course, there is only one James Gillespie’s HS!) and then go to the “View Current Data” section. You can then see how the school performs against its virtual comparator in the form of bar charts.  You can carry out the exercise for every local authority school in Scotland.  The private schools are not included.  In the categories I have looked at, JGHS consistently outperforms or matches its comparator except in Numeracy, which is being worked on across the school as it is now the responsibility of all.

I am especially pleased to see that, compared with our virtual comparator, our less affluent children do particularly well. This area of our school was identified as a concern when HMIe visited in 2010 but I'm pleased to see that sustained efforts across the entire school have borne fruit. Enormous credit is due to all staff, parents and pupils as they have worked hard at ensuring that we meet all learners' needs at Gillespie's. The James Gillespie’s Trust has also helped us in meeting the needs of our less affluent pupils.

After Easter we move into a wonderful new teaching block.  I have no doubt that our school will continue to go from strength to strength as we take advantage of the enhanced opportunities that this new world class building will offer. By keeping to our School values, viz.

• 1.      High Expectations
• 2.      Respect
• 3.      Equality
• 4.      Honesty and
• 5.      Inclusion

 and valuing the diversity that exists with our entire School Community we will continue to ensure that all of our students aspire to be the best that they can be. Remember, we are all dream makers.

Have a wonderful Easter break.

Donald j Macdonald (Headteacher)

James Gillespie’s High School

( Phone:  0131 447 1900