John Byrne Award success

We’ve had ‘John Byrne Award’ success again this year! Two commendations (£1000 per team for personal development.) - Struan Wilson who composed a piece of music called ‘Freedom’ and Adam Cheong-MacLeod and Ali O’Connell with their piece of music called ‘A Portrayal Of His Journey’. They did a fantastic job and represented the school brilliantly. They also provided the entertainment for the ceremony before and after the presentations. Please give the boys a big congratulations when you next see them.

John Byrne Award

The final of the 2013 John Byrne Award takes place this Thursday, November 20. This competition for S6 pupils takes place annually and challenges students to investigate their own values and ethics via a creative response to the competition stimulus. This year the sculpture Capture Site, by Marco Cianfanelli. Entries were accepted in any medium. Good luck to all the youngsters taking part but especially to the two finalists from Gillespie's.

Cat MacDonald (Last year's co-winner with Leanne Bell from Gillespie's) is on this year's judging panel.

More details can be found on the John Byrne award website.

The 'G' factor

I attended a Christmas Fair at the majestic Newbattle Abbey this morning with my Family. In addition to lots of craft stalls, singers from Bun Sgoil Taobh na Pairce and James Gillespie's HS also took part. A highlight was this stunningly beautiful Gaelic duet by our pupils, siblings Mikaela and Duncan Carmichael. 
This link takes you their award winning performance at this year's national mod in Paisley.

Laurie Donaldson - member of British Youth Parliament

Yesterday morning, Laurie Donaldson, a most likeable and impressive senior pupil at James Gillespie's HS represented Scotland as an elected member of the UK youth parliament at the annual Youth Parliament debate in the House of Commons. We are so proud to see this young man follow in the footsteps of so many great Scottish Politicians through the years. Laurie's closing words are captured in this video clip from 1:41:10.

Even a stopped clock is right twice a day.

At dusk this evening a crew atop a cherry-picker were removing the clock face, a sight all the eerier against a chill, high November moon.

Throughout the past few days, pupils and staff have looked on in awe as large mechanical diggers eat away at the 'old school buildings'. Large metal ribs are ripped from the carcasses of buildings, chewed into smaller lumps and piled ready for removal. This process is scheduled to continue until well into the new year.

Easy fundraising

Do you shop online? The JGHS Parent Council has just registered with Easyfundraising so that every time you shop online you can raise funds for the school AT NO COST TO YOU.  

You can access over 2,700 well known retailers, including Amazon, John Lewis, eBay, Boden, Sainsbury's  and loads of insurance, travel and service companies through Easyfundraising, and they will donate a small percentage of what you spend to JGHS Parent Council to say thank you for shopping with them. 

It's a really simple process, all you have to do is:  
 
Go to www.easyfundraising.org.uk/causes/jghsparentcouncil
Register as a supporter
Get shopping - it couldn't be easier!

Easyfundraising now has a comparison page and a "find and remind" facility to ensure you never miss the chance to give money to the school.  

Please bookmark the site, and in the run up to Christmas especially, remember to click through and make a donation to improve the educational experience of all our children.

Building works begins ...

When we arrived in school this morning the first tangible signs of the building works progressing were evident. Over the weekend the covered walkways adjacent to Warrender had all been removed. The majority of the youngsters I spoke to throughout the day commented on the brightness of the newly opened spaces. Over the coming weekend the Clock Tower will be demolished from 0830 on Saturday. Anyone wishing to view this event can do so safely from Lauderdale Street.

Mind your language

Following a recent survey we found that Gillespie's has 43 'official' languages spoken by our pupils. We are proud of this fact and we encourage our pupils to speak their languages in and out of school. Gillespie's, over the years, has always supported and valued the diversity of its pupils. We believe that speaking more than one language assists in learning in its widest sense.   Increasingly we find that neuroscience and other studies into cognitive development support this view.

In stark contrast, when I grew up in the Western Isles in the 60s and 70s many families were persuaded to raise their children as monoglot English speakers. Fortunately for our family, our parents and grandparents before them, insisted that Gaelic was to be the language spoken in our home.

This recent article in the Economist makes interesting reading and draws on an increasing body of evidence to support multilingualism as a an effective means of assisting learners' cognitive development.

Winning duet

At last week's Royal National Mod in Paisley our school was well represented and we enjoyed many successes in a range of competitions.

This video clip shows Mikaela and Duncan Carmichael performing their winning duet at the prize winners' concert. Nach math a rinn iad!

Referendum 2014

Various versions of this particular graphic wil be appearing across the country over the months ahead. I hope that all eligible to vote will vote.

Homework

During most evenings I have a quick look at the websites of our local newspapers. This article on the benefits (or not!) of giving children homework caught my eye.
Homework
Speaking as a parent, I see quite a negative impact on very young children if the homework is unstructured and poorly planned. In both my daughters' cases the homework was carefully planned and helps prepare them for secondary school. Our girls have had to learn to plan their week's activities and prioritise their time accordingly.

Holiday plans

A friend recently posted this on his facebook wall. 

My inconclusive travel plans for the Term holidays.

I have been in many places, but I've never been in Cahoots.  Apparently, you can't go alone. You have to be in Cahoots with someone.

I've also never been in Cognito. I hear no one recognizes you there.

I have, however, been in Sane. They don't have an airport; you have to  be driven there. I have made several trips there, thanks to my friends, family and work.I would like to go to Conclusions, but you  have to jump, and I'm not too much on physical activity anymore.

I have also been in Doubt. That is a sad place to go, and I try not to  visit there too often.

I've been in Flexible, but only when it was very important to stand firm.

Sometimes I'm in Capable, and I go there more often as I'm getting older.

One of my favorite places to be is in Suspense! It really gets the  adrenalin flowing and pumps up the old heart! At my age I need all the
stimuli I can get!


Happy holidays to everyone!

Top Pupil

We learned the other day that Amy Taylor is to be awarded the prize as the top performing pupil in Scotland for Advanced Higher Biology. Warmest congratulations to Amy and to Ms Gray her teacher!

National Mod - Paisley

Good luck to everyone who is participating in the National Mod in Paisley over the next 8 days. A sizeable number of our pupils are taking part in this annual celebration of Gaelic music, dance, drama, arts and literature.

Gur math a theid leibh!

Commonwealth games Glasgow 2014

I was delighted to receive a letter today informing me that our school has been selected to be part of next year's baton relay. Over the next few weeks our pupil council will decide on who is to represent our school for this historic event.

Staff training

On Fridays, classes finish at lunchtime thus allowing pupils and staff to pursue a wide range of 'extra curricular' activities. Today, for example, our senior boys' football team headed for Linlithgow to pit their talents against their peers on what I'm certain was a heavy and soggy pitch.

Meanwhile, scores of other pupils pursued varied sporting and musical interests at various venues in the locality.

For staff who weren't involved in those clubs we had an hour together to recap on some of the key issues of the day.


In my presentation I covered:

1. Thanking staff for their efforts over the past half term
2. Update on rebuild programme
3. Sharing classroom experiences (programme where all teaching staff are expected to observe at least three other colleagues throughout the session) our focus this session will be on how we use feedback to enrich and enhance learning and teaching at Gillespie's. 
4. School examination results this year - Higher results in S5 are the best ever.x
5. Curriculum for excellence update - planning for session 14/15
6. Calendar deadlines - staff reminded to ensure that agreed deadlines should be met

Following my presentation, Mrs Westerman, ably supported by Messrs Alexander and Stewart shared an update our our (Tapestry) learning and teaching communities. These are groups of practising teachers who work collaboratively to improve each other's classroom practices through peer observation and discussion. 

Mr McCallum then updated us on appeals made to the Sqa and progress being made on resolving internet access speed at Darroch. I am delighted to report that excellent progress is, at last, being made in this latter area.

With one week to go until the mid term holiday I feel that we're now settled into a good routine and that staff and pupils are working really well together. The period from October through to Easter is, I always think, the most serious and busiest part of the year.

Twenty things a mum should tell her son

A friend recently posted this on her Facebook wall. I wonder how many would apply to a father daughter relationship?

TWENTY THINGS A MOM SHOULD TELL HER SON 1. Play a sport. It will teach you how to win honorably, lose gracefully, respect authority, work with others, manage your time and stay out of trouble. And maybe even throw or catch. 2. You will set the tone for the sexual relationship, so don't take something away from her that you can't give back. 3. Use careful aim when you pee. Somebody's got to clean that up, you know. 4. Save money when you're young because you're going to need it someday. 5. Allow me to introduce you to the dishwasher, oven, washing machine, iron, vacuum, mop and broom. Now please go use them. 6. Pray and be a spiritual leader. 7. Don't ever be a bully and don't ever start a fight, but if some idiot clocks you, please defend yourself. 8. Your knowledge and education is something that nobody can take away from you. 9. Treat women kindly. Forever is a long time to live alone and it's even longer to live with somebody who hates your guts. 10. Take pride in your appearance. 11. Be strong and tender at the same time. 12. A woman can do everything that you can do. This includes her having a successful career and you changing diapers at 3 A.M. Mutual respect is the key to a good relationship. 13. "Yes ma'am" and "yes sir" still go a long way. 14. The reason that they're called "private parts" is because they're "private". Please do not scratch them in public. 15. Peer pressure is a scary thing. Be a good leader and others will follow. 16. Bringing her flowers for no reason is always a good idea. 17. It is better to be kind than to be right. 18. A sense of humor goes a long way in the healing process. 19. Please choose your spouse wisely. My daughter-in-law will be the gatekeeper for me spending time with you and my grandchildren. 20. Remember to call your mother because I might be missing you. Don't forget to share!