'The ballot is stronger than the bullet' (Abraham Lincoln)

At Gillespie's we are proud to have a very engaged and well informed pupil voice. Our Modern Studies department delivers a stimulating, engaging and often controversial curriculum to pupils throughout the school. Many of our pupils enjoy debating and getting involved in Politics. My own firmly held view is that this engagement is essential towards ensuring that the citizens of tomorrow exercise their right to become involved in discussing matters that affect them and expressing their views in confident and informed ways.

Here is what one of our parents relayed in an email to us yesterday:

'Here's further evidence of importance of Modern Studies in general, and your style of wonderfully-engaged teaching at JGHS in particular.

Hope you can keep those discussions going, in the classroom and at Assembly!'

http://www.ed.ac.uk/news/2015/politicalissuesintheclassroom

Cricket success

Warmest congratulations to three of our pupils who recently enjoyed Cricket success. Angus Beattie (capt), Ruairidh Main & Ben d’Ullise - were all key members of the Carlton Cricket Club U15 team that won the Scottish final of the ECB Cup today.  This makes them the champion club of Scotland and they will now go on to play against the champion side from Cumbria in the next round.

All these boys are part of the City of Edinburgh’s Cricket Academy run by Gordon Drummond, who supplied no fewer than 7 of the winning team. Fantastic return from the investment that the City of Edinburgh Council has made into these young cricketers.

Dress Code Survey

Currently, at JGHS, pupils, staff and parents are being asked to give us their views on whether we should continue with our current approach to dress code/uniform or change to a more 'conventional' approach. Our survey is scheduled to close on 13 August. 

The questions being asked are:

Option 1: No change to dress code         

Option 2: Uniform – polo shirt and sweatshirt

Option 3: Uniform – Blazer and tie

Option 4: No preference

 After this date, following discussion with both the parent and pupil councils a decision will be made.