Friday update

1.       We look forward to welcoming 240 P7s into the school next week for their 3 day induction visit,

2.       Our school has picked up another architectural award. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-40277112

3.       We are looking forward to Diverscity 2017 on Friday 16 (tonight) and Saturday 17. Tickets available at the door from 630 pm. We are delighted to have 2 teachers and 4 students with us this week from our partner schools in South Africa

4.       Our school will be specially featured in the Edinburgh Evening News on 23 June.

5.       Thanks to everyone for helping us smash our Sainsbury's Active Kids Voucher target this year - you collected 15,457!  We wanted to get more vouchers than last year - to have collected more than four times last year's total is a fantastic effort. We will let you know what equipment is ordered shortly.  Thank you. (Parent Council)

6.       We are delighted at the success of our athletes who participated in the Scottish Secondary Schools Athletics Championships last weekend at Grangemouth Stadium.

a.       Phoebe Friend – 8th in 800m Under 14s Girls Final with a PB (2.30.35mins)

b.       Rose Newman – 8th in 1500m Under 14s Girls Final with a PB (5.11.79mins)

c.       Anna Swan – 8th in Long Jump Final Under 15s Girls Final with a PB (4.90m)

d.       Callum Newby – 6th in Shot Putt Final Under 17s Boys (10.25m)

e.       Cerys Scott-Hobbs – 3rd in Pole Vault Final Under 15s Girls with a PB (2.20m)

f.        Fabian Despinoy – 3rd in 1500m Final Under 15s Boys with a PB (4.26.36mins)

g.       Paul Ireland – 3rd in 800m Final Over 17s Boys with a PB (1.55.80mins)

7.       Congratulations to Millie Stobie Platts who has been selected to represent GB&NI at the 2017 World Transplant Games taking place in June 2017 in Malaga,

8.       We hope that our Gold Duke of Edinburgh Group are enjoying their experiences in the Knoydart area this past week.

a.       Megan Newby

b.       Lucy Sydserff

c.       Alice Potter

d.       Eloise Fritsch

e.       Tabitha Gibb

f.        Flora Brown

g.       Sarah Garland

h.       Caitlin Beagan

i.         Clara Potter

j.         Kristian Thornton

k.       Alan O’Neill

l.         Steven Chen

m.     Hamish Montgomery

n.       Monthir Khalifa

o.       Aidan Macleod

p.       Laura Johnson

q.       Robert Sizer

r.        Angus Beattie

s.        Eilidh Whyte

t.        Max Bloor

Thanks to the equally intrepid staff members who are with this group. They are: Ms Grant, Mrs Briggs and Mrs Campbell.

I take this opportunity of wishing all a super weekend.

Donald j Macdonald

Friday Update

1.       Warmest congratulations to 3 of our pupils who received the following honours in the annual Paolozzi Awards:

a.       Jamie Carlyle – Winner of ‘Spirit of  Paolozzi’

b.       Naomi McGuire – Winner of ‘Talent and Creativity’

c.       Flora Mealyou – Highly commended for ‘New Directions’

Thanks and congratulations to the Art department who all attended on the evening and continue to support and inspire our pupils.

2.       Well done to all who helped in constructing and building our portable garden at last weekend’s Gardening Scotland event at Ingliston. We won third prize for our innovative use of space!

3.       Well done to the Duke of Edinburgh team and special thanks to Mrs Ann Campbell who oversees our DoE programme. Gold expedition next week involving number of S6. Best wishes to all involved.

4.       SQA exams now finished - huge thanks to Mr Jeff Warden (DHT) for coordinating the entire programme and to everyone involved for their support.

5.       New timetable settling down well. We are timetabling for 240 intake for the new S1.

6.       Accommodation is extremely tight and even more so from August onwards. From August 2018 we will have to look at adapting and/or extending the current accommodation.

7.       Wi-Fi access - Parent Council has written to local councillors as youngsters don't have access to Wi-Fi in school. This is required in order to ensure that all of our pupils can access appropriate learning materials.

8.       All Parents/carers are requested to hand in any revision books, study notes etc. that can benefit other pupils in the coming years. These will be relayed to departments to distribute to pupils who might not otherwise afford such resources. Please hand in to the school reception.

9.       JGHS Trust meeting took place this. The Trust have received some major bequests and they are inviting applications from staff and our Pupil Voice to bid for money. £20,000 will be distributed to support various projects. Criteria will be set for this and shared in due course. In the spirit of the Trust, equity and equality will be a key focus.

10.   An ’A’ level Art exhibition will take place in the Malala building from 5 – 8 pm on Tuesday 13 June. All welcome.

11.   We will welcome 2 staff and 4 students from our Partner schools in South Africa to JGHS from Sunday 11 June to Sunday 18 June. They will feature in our annual Diverscity show that takes place on the evenings of Friday 16 and Saturday 17 June. Tickets available from reception.

12.   Tickets are now available from reception for the S6 leavers’ ceremony that takes place on Thursday 29 June.

13.   Future planning:

·         Over the next few months the school will be consulting on and considering how we might offer the International Baccalaureate (IB) diploma to supplement the current curricular provision for senior students.

·         In the next few months we will consult and plan further on how we will manage a school roll that is forecast to rise in the coming years.

I hope all have a lovely weekend.

Donald j Macdonald

Headteacher