Friday 13 November 2020

Friday 13 November

  1. It was uplifting to learn about progress with vaccines earlier this week.  This gives us all much hope of a return to some ‘normality’ in 2021.
  2. Please remember that whilst you are waiting for the result of a COVID test, all members of your household should self-isolate until the result is known.
  3. The next Parent Council meeting will be held online using Teams on Wednesday 18th November at 7pm. We will send out the link on Tuesday via the school email.  We will hear from: Donald Macdonald (HT) – Overview; Laura Stewart (DHT) – Darroch refurbishment delay contingency plans; Anti-Bullying Policy – Ben Lewis (DHT) and Cait Pearce (Pupil Support). There will be the opportunity to ask questions via the Q&A typed chat facility, but if you have any questions ahead of the meeting please email us at jghscouncilcomms@gmail.com by 2pm on Tuesday 17th November and where possible these will be included in the updates. If you would like to catch up on what was covered at our last meeting and AGM on Wednesday 14th October, it’s available to watch at: https://youtu.be/utGwuDatRmE. We hope to hold a further PC meeting before the Christmas break: date to be confirmed.  
  4. Reminder – we still have some S6 school photograph proofs which need to be collected from the Classroom Assistants’ office in Bruntsfield House. The photographs can be viewed online at www.tempest-orders.co.uk - enter your reference number and web access code which you will find on the photo proof. To limit the handling of papers just now, we would ask that orders are placed online.  However, you can return the completed order form to the school in the sealed Tempest Photography envelope. The deadline for orders has been extended, if returned by Friday 20th November, you will avoid extra p&p costs. The photos will be sent directly to the school for your child to bring home.
  5. The University of Edinburgh’s next Virtual Maths Circle will take place on Saturday 14th November from 10:00 to 12:30. To facilitate interaction and better tailor the activities, this Maths Circle will be split into two slots: 11:30- 12:30- for age 11-14. The event is free to attend but booking is required. For further details about the event and to book a ticket (free of charge), please click on the links below: 11-14 years old (lower secondary school) https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/virtual-maths-circle-november-2020-second-slot-age-11-14-tickets-127285029951 Please note that all minors will need to be supervised by a parent/guardian for all the duration of the online event.

6.       Edinburgh’s Children’s Partnership is really eager to hear the views of Parents and Carers across Edinburgh. If you are a Parent or Carer and live in Edinburgh we would like to hear how you coped during the initial COVID-19 lockdown period and how we can best respond to any new and existing needs that you may have. By completing this survey you will be help to shape future Family Support Services across the city.  We would be very grateful if you could complete the survey before Friday the 20th of November.

  1. Around this time last year you may remember the buzz of excitement across our school community when we were asked to provide a school choir to perform in the sequel to Princess Switch -a Netflix blockbuster Christmas movie. We are delighted to announce that the Princess Switch 2 will be released on Netflix on 19 November. At a time when we cannot come together to perform in person, it is great to be able to celebrate the talents of our combined choirs and orchestra who will feature in a few scenes from this film. Congratulations to all who were involved, we are incredibly proud of you!

8.       The Judy Murray Foundation are running tennis sessions tonight (13th November) from 7 - 9pm at the Meadows Tennis Courts to raise money for Children in Need. To register please email Alex@judymurrayfoundation.com. This event is for over 12's (including adults). Suggested donation : £5

9.       On Wednesday of this week we marked remembrance day by a minute’s silence to remember victims of all conflicts followed by a reading of ‘The Dug out’ by Siegfried Sassoon over the school’s Public Address system by Hana Mackinlay (5L3).

10.   Congratulations to Izzy MacLullich (S4) who passed her grade 3 piano with distinction.

11.   Please continue to share stories of pupils’ achievements with me so I can share with our school community.  

My quote for the week: ““Optimism is the one quality more associated with success and happiness than any other.” (Brian Tracy) 

Wishing all a lovely weekend.

 Donald j Macdonald

Headteacher

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