Friday 24 November

1. We continue to collect the following items for Children 1^st. Items should be dropped off at reception.
1. Winter woollies for children aged 0-5 such as scarves, gloves, mitts and hats  - NEW
2. Toys for young children and toddlers aged 0-3years - NEW
3. Christmas treats such as selection boxes
2. For our South Africa project we are aiming to collect full pencil cases that also contain a letter for each recipient. Additionally, children’s fiction books will be given to some primary schools in South Africa.
3. The annual photographs for S6 will be taken on the morning of Thursday 30 November. There will be individual and whole group photos.  S6 must be here to be in it!
4. On the afternoon of Tuesday 28 November I look forward to welcoming Ms Lorna Sweeney to JGHS. Ms Sweeney was recently appointed to the post of Senior Education Manager in the Children and Families department.
5. Staff are currently making preparations for prelim exams which are scheduled to take place from mid-January. Details will be shared as soon as arrangements are finalised.
6. Earlier this week, staff from our Curriculum review group received training on the Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework. http://scqf.org.uk  This will help us in our efforts to continually review and develop curriculum opportunities on offer to pupils.
7. Staff, parents and senior students are currently very busy preparing personal statements and  references for university entry in the Autumn of 2018. In this year’s S6 cohort we have around 160 who are applying for a university. Pleasingly, early applicants to Medicine Veterinary and Oxbridge are getting very positive responses.
8. On Wednesday of next week a group of 12 senior Educationalists from Holland will be joining us to share practices in relation to how we support diverse needs and inclusion within our school community.
9. Preparations are well underway for the S3 Trenches Trip next year.  Please find a link to important information regarding the trip: http://jamesgillespies.co.uk/history-trenches-trip-2018
10. Dates for the diary:
1. The senior Drama production takes place on Friday 8 December. Tickets on sale from Monday 4 December.
2. There will be a coursing information briefing for parents/carers (S2, 4 and 5) on the evening of Tuesday 12 December. Details to follow.
3. School Christmas concert takes place on evening of Tuesday 19 December in the Usher Hall. Tickets are available now from the Usher Hall box office. http://www.usherhall.co.uk/whats-on?page=2
4. A reminder that the Edinburgh Maths Circle will take place this Saturday (25th November) from 13:00 until 16:00. Please do drop in if you are free, and take part in an afternoon of maths puzzles, games and activities!  Information can be found at http://tinyurl.com/edmathscircle.
11. Well done to our Junior girls volleyball team who, earlier this week, beat Belmont House School, narrowly losing the first set and winning the second and final set. They are now through to the semi-finals!
12. Well done to Kudla (S1) who took 2nd place in the British Youth Go Championship in the under 12 category, last Saturday in Birmingham. The results table can be found here:https://www.britgo.org/results/2017/youth. Pupils interested in joining the new JGHS Go club should talk to Mr Maclaughland when he comes back from leave. Go is a strategy board game that originated over 3,000 years ago in China and is very much a part of oriental culture. Go gathered a lot of media attention earlier this year when an artificial intelligence program called AlphaGo beat world champions Lee Sedol and Ke Jie for the first time in history.

And finally, I wish all a super weekend.

Donald j Macdonald

Headteacher

Friday 17 November

1. Well done to all who took part in today’s activities towards raising £620.84 for Children in Need.
2. Well done to all the pupils who are involved in making steady progress at the various stages in the Scottish Schools’ volleyball
3. I draw to your attention that we will be involved with a number of charitable causes in the coming weeks.
4. As part of our South Africa project we will be  collecting filled pencil cases and books. The pencil cases can contain pencils, pens, rubbers and rulers etc. and can include an optional note to the recipient.
5. Books can be educational or a young children’s book. All donations should be in by 19th January, and can be dropped off at reception.
6. We will also be collecting to support Children First and a local food bank. Details to follow.
7. Well done to Robert Davies who is competing for JGHS in the Scottish Indoor Schools Rowing Championships today at Ravenscraig Sports Facility in Motherwell.
8. I was very pleased to hear how well senior pupils studying towards Advanced Higher Physics had engaged in their experience at the University of Edinburgh last week.  Feedback from university staff included: ‘we just wanted to
   mention how extremely impressed we were with your pupils. They had mature and professional attitudes, and showed some real flair for experimental work. I would be delighted to have any and all of them in our first year
   class next year.’

Friday 10 November

1. We have run several assemblies this week in anticipation of National anti-bullying week from 13 – 17 November.
2. Good luck to the 4 senior pupils who are taking part in the maths challenge on 16 November
3. In response to requests raised by parents at our Parent Council Forum, Mrs Westerman has compiled a guide to when assessments take place in the senior school. http://jamesgillespies.co.uk/key-assessment-information-senior-school/
4. Thanks to all who have contributed to the continuing success of our cycling club.
5. Welcome to Mr Michael Bracewell who started in the Science department this week.
6. During #iwill Week 2017 (which runs from 20th-24th November) those who want to know more about the benefits of volunteering can do so by linking at: http://www.volunteeredinburgh.org.uk/home
7. Well done to Rose Shanks in S1 who has captained Hutchison Vale FC under 13 Blacks to winning the Hayley Lauder South East of Scotland under 13 girls football league!
8. A reminder to all parents who are making online purchases (personal or business) to please make purchases through Easyfundraising which, at no cost to purchasers, makes contributions to JGHS Parent Council funds. https://www.easyfundraising.org.uk/
9. Please see attached information about fundraising for the S6 South Africa 2018 trip.
10. During the past week, red, white and purple poppies as worn by many, has prompted interesting discussions. The traditional red poppy has for generations been a sign of respect for people lost in military conflicts, the white poppy is a symbol of pacifism and the purple poppy is worn to remember the millions of animals killed in human wars.

I take this opportunity of wishing all a lovely weekend.

Donald j Macdonald

Headteacher