Friday 10 June 2022

Friday 10 June

 On Monday of this week, we were delighted to welcome back our S4 and S5 pupils after exam leave. On behalf of Mr Shankland, our SQA Coordinator, thanks to everyone who contributed to and helped with the smooth running of our SQA final exam diet over the last six weeks.  In early August, students will receive their exam results and, for that, I wish them every success.

 

Once again, I apologise for the delay in launching our new timetable for session 22/23. The arrangements for distributing the new timetables to all students on the morning of Monday 13 June will be issued by email to all parents and Students by email.

 

  1. I was thrilled to hear of the large number of parents who have volunteered their expertise and services to students by coming in to school to share their industry knowledge. Thanks to Danielle Hart Adams, our school ‘Developing the Young Workforce’ (DYW) coordinator for her lead on this initiative. If you have not already made contact please contact Danielle Danielle.HartAdams@jamesgillespies.edin.sch.uk directly to offer your skills, expertise and services. Our aim is to ensure that every school leaver achieves a positive and sustained post-school destination.
  2. This week is ‘Carers’ Week’ and the theme this year is making carers feel visible, valued and supported. The young carer group in JGHS is working hard behind the scenes with many more young carers being identified and referred to young carers’ organisations. Meetings with support workers have been taking place within school and the young people are getting the support they so desperately need. During this term Jenny Lewis, schools project manager from Edinburgh Young Carers, came into school to deliver awareness sessions to all S1 and S2 students during PSE. JGHS also have a mention on EYC Twitter page @EYCP.  If you would like further information, please contact either Fiona Oatman or Richard Sievwright who are both staff at the school.
  3. On receiving a pupil ‘absence alert’ from the school parents are advised to not text that number as it is an automated number. If you wish to contact the school, please email us or phone 01314471900.
  4. A lost property stall will be held in Bruntsfield house on Friday 17th June during morning break. If your child has lost any items, please ask them to come and check. Everything left after this date will be donated to charity.
  5. Parents are invited to remind all of our S6 leavers to return all borrowed books (including library books) and apparatus to the school asap. No entry to the leavers’ breakfast and Prom if these are not returned beforehand.
  6. On Monday of this week, Mrs Nikki Graham started in her new role as Mental Health Coordinator.  Mrs Sarah Britton will take on the PSL role for Lauder ((L4, 5 and 6) for the duration of Mrs Graham’s secondment.
  7. Headteacher recruitment update: A separate email will be despatched to parents/carers today to share plans from August 2022.
  8. During this warmer weather all students are reminded to drink fresh water regularly throughout the day. All are requested to bring their own water bottles and to refill these at breaks or between classes. High energy drinks are not allowed in school.
  9. Now that home testing for COVID is no longer recommended we have a number of unused testing kits. The NHS has advised that we can offer these for free to staff / students / parents who might have vulnerable family members who still require tests. Please contact the school office if you wish to arrange to collect these from us.
  10. Updated Covid protocols. In line with Government Guidelines, Students, staff and visitors are encouraged to wear face coverings in communal spaces indoors but this is at each individual’s discretion. Given the increased roll and potential congestion  in our school, we are planning to retain our ‘one-way’ travel system at peak movement times.
    1. As you may be aware, Public Health Advice on COVID continues to evolve, Fuller details can be found here.  In summary, the Stay at Home Guidance for people will be:
      1. Children and young people with mild symptoms such as a runny nose, sore throat, or slight  cough, who are otherwise well, can continue to attend their education setting.
      2. Children and young people who are unwell and have a high temperature should stay at home and avoid contact with other people, where they can. They can go back to school, college or childcare, and resume normal activities when they no longer have a high temperature and they are well enough to attend.
  1. Well done to:
    1. Jessica Taylor (S3) competing at Bellahouston Park in Glasgow last week, became the Scottish National Youth (U16) Triathlon Champion.
    2. Lily Moss (2L2) who became Scottish Lead Climbing Champion for her age group last weekend. This adds to the Scottish Bouldering Title she won at the Scottish Youth Bouldering Championships in May.
    3. Cole Turnbull (S5) who, among other employment related achievements in recent weeks, competed in ‘Scottish Volleyball Finals Weekend’  playing for Scotland U23s team, won U18s cup final as part of NUVOC Team and was voted ‘U18 Most Valuable Player’ in Scotland.
    4. Lucy Robertson (6S1) who was awarded this year's Hopper Award for Excellent in Computing Science. This award was given to the school by a Scottish charity named dressCode. dressCode was founded with the aim of closing the gender gap in Computing Science within Scottish schools. This award is to be given to one female presenting pupil each year who has proven themselves to be an excellent Computing Scientist. The name of the award was chosen to honour a renowned computing scientist named Grace Hopper.  Hopper was a pioneering programmer who developed some of the earliest programming languages and developed the first compiler which led to modern programmers being able to write code with human-like language rather than 1's and 0's. The Computing Science department aim to continue this award in future years to provide a specific opportunity to showcase female pupils in any year group who achieve success in Computing Science.
    5. Josh Daunt who won the Edinburgh Marathon Festival (EMF) 2k Junior Race 1 males event with a time of 7mins 4secs and to his older brother Dylan Daunt who came 3rd in the EMF Jnr 5k males event with a time of 17mins 18secs.
    6. The follow pupils for their achievements in the recent Scottish Schools Orienteering festival.
      1. Lucy Ward who won S1 girls class; Freya Mowbray was 3rd on S2 girls with Bethan Kitchin 8th. 
      2. In the boys’ competitions, Ben Ross was 3rd in S2, and Laurence Ward was 3rd in the S3 race.
      3. In the S4 boys category,  Sam Kitchin, Sam Bartlett and Thomas Ross were 3rd team and the
      4. S2 boys (Ben Ross, Reuben Murdoch and Eddie Melvin) were 1st team, so a really successful day all around.
  2. Dates:
    1. 10 June Charity Guitar Gig at Usher Hall https://www.usherhall.co.uk/whats-on
    2. 13 June New Timetable begins (Details in a separate email)
    3. 13 June P7 Welcome and Open Night (P7 parents emailed separately)
    4. 17 June Lost Property stall in Bruntsfield House

 

My quote for the week: “Do not judge me by my successes, judge me by how many times I fell down and got back up again.” (Nelson Mandela)

 

Wishing all a lovely weekend.

Donald

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