Friday 28 January 2022

Friday 28 January

 One of the many positives that I have really missed over the past 2 years is our pupil led fundraising.  Bake sales, bucket shakes, South Africa fundraising and various sponsored events are just some of the activities that have not been allowed because of COVID restrictions. How pleasing it was to hear earlier this week of Rosa Connolly’s (S1) efforts to raise money to support children with cancer. In Rosa’s words: ‘I’m Rosa aged 12 from S1 and this week on Wednesday (the 26th of January) I will be cutting my hair and donating it to the Little Princess Trust. The Little Princess Trust are a charity that help children who are recovering from/have cancer and have lost their hair from treatment.  How donating hair helps is that they turn it into wigs for the children and that can give them lots more confidence to do things like go back to school etc. If you can/would like to donate or learn more, please click the link below. Jacqueline Ritchie is fundraising for Little Princess Trust (justgiving.com)  Well done Rosa and sincere thanks to all who have already donated to this worthy cause.

 

The number of pupils testing positive for Covid over the past 7 days was 12. (This is 5 more than last week)

 

The 3 week programme of prelims comes to an end today. I’m sure our S4,5 and 6 and parents will be mightily relieved that they are complete. Over the next few weeks Teachers will mark and grade the exam scripts and give students feedback so that they can all learn and improve in readiness for the final exams in May. Grades will also be shared with Parents.

 

  1. Earlier this week, on Monday 24 January, the City of Edinburgh Council decided to delay a final decision on the start date for a Statutory Consultation to gather views on the future of Gaelic Medium Education (GME) in Edinburgh.
  2. The Intermediate UKMT (Maths competition for S3/4 pupils)  will take place on Wednesday 2 February online at 5pm. If you have not already signed up please email Ms Dolan on ashling.dolan@jamesgillespies.edin.sch.uk
  3. Pupils are reminded to hand in their solutions for the second round of the Scottish Maths Challenge to their Maths Teacher or Ms Dolan by Friday 4th February. The problems can be found here http://www.wpr3.co.uk/MC/probs.html Pupils should contact their maths teacher if they have not received their result from round 1.
  4. The Parent Council will be holding an online meeting on Thursday 10th February for parents interested in getting involved in an Events and Fundraising Group.  If you would be interested in taking part, or finding out more, let us know through the PC email: jghscouncilcomms@gmail.com
  5. The recording of the Parent Council meeting this week is now available on the PC website https://jghsparentcouncil.org/. The meeting included updates and questions on Covid rules, social and extra-curricular activities, parent consultations and other issues. For your diary, the next PC meeting will be on Tuesday 22 March and will include a presentation by Faculty Head, Ashling Dolan, on the Maths curriculum.
  6. The deadline for the online completion of the Edinburgh Slavery and Colonialism Legacy Review – has been extended to 11 February 2022
  7. National charity Family Fund is urging low-income families in Scotland, with disabled or seriously ill children or young people aged 0-17, to apply for grants to help them through the remaining winter months and challenging ongoing impact of the pandemic. The charity provides grants for essential items such as kitchen appliances, clothing, warm bedding, sensory toys and equipment, computers and tablets, much-needed family breaks and more.
  8. Edinburgh Council is holding open meetings for parents in January and February to discuss the impacts of Covid on school communities and parental engagement. Next meeting is on Tuesday 22 February (from 6.15-7.15pm) and parents are welcome to join through this link: Click here to join the meeting. This is an opportunity to let the Council hear from parents about how changes, such as parents not being in schools for school events, are affecting school communities, and the Parent Council encourages parents to attend to raise any issues. For more information contact: Parental.Engagement@edinburgh.gov.uk
  9. Covid-19: information.  
    1. Please ‘phone or email the school to tell if your child tests positive for COVID. Include test date and whether it was a LFD (Home test) or PCR.
    2. Anyone testing positive for a Lateral Flow Test (Home Test) should immediately self-isolate in line with current Government Guidelines.
    3. Taking regular lateral flow tests and getting vaccinated are among our best mitigations to limit the spread of Covid. You can find out where to get lateral flow and PCR tests on the NHS website. The vaccination booster programme has expanded, so you may now be eligible to book yours. But, again, the NHS website has the information you’ll need.
    4. Please continue to access the NHS Guidance so that you will know when you should get tested for Covid19.
    5. If/when, there are changes to COVID mitigations affecting schools I will write to all members of our school community and give you as much notice as possible.  
  10. Teenage booster (Diphtheria/Tetanus & Polio and Meningitis ACWY) – this will be on Wednesday 2 March 2022. This is for all S3s and any S4-6s who didn’t receive the booster in S3. Please return any outstanding forms to us as soon as possible. If your child in S4-6 did not receive a form, this means they already received the booster in S3.
  11. HPV vaccine – HPV immunisation packs have been issued in key adult this week. Please return these forms to reception by Wednesday 9 February. NHS Lothian will be offering HPV vaccination to all S1 – S3  pupils, as well as catch up for girls in S4 to S6. In accordance with Chief Medical Officer Policy, there is no catch up programme for boys who were not in S1 before the national programme commenced in 2020. If a pupil has already received one dose of HPV vaccination, then they will not be issued with another consent form for further doses
  12. Dates:
    1. 2 February - closing date for S2 choices
    2. 2 February Online maths competition for S3/4 (see note 3 above)
    3. 9 February Deadline to return completed HPV forms to reception
    4. 9 February live webinar for S4/5 pupils and parents with our careers' advisor
    5. 10 February Parent Council online meeting on Fundraising
    6. 11 February All break for Mid-term holiday
    7. 21 February All resume
    8. 21 February S4/5 course choice submission deadline
    9. 2 March  Teenage booster (Diphtheria/Tetanus & Polio and Meningitis ACWY)
    10. 22 March Parent Council meeting
    11. 6-7 April HPV vaccine
    12. 8 April Term ends

 

My quote for the week: “Now’s the day and now’s the hour.” Robert Burns

 

Best wishes to all for a lovely weekend.

Donald

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