Embedded Files
HEAD TEACHER'S NEWSLETTER
Friday 29 August 2025
Friday 29 August 2025
House assemblies this week focused on achievement and earning House points for demonstrating our values.
Mrs McElhaney runs a weekly Friday quiz which pupils join in at registration and can win House points for this too. Only 2 weeks in and Moray is top of the leaderboard with House points- well done Moray!
Have a lovely weekend everyone.
Jodie Hannan
Key Dates
Prize Giving - Wednesday 10th September 6.30pm
S6 Dalguise trip Friday 5th September - Sunday
S1 Parents Evening Tuesday 16th September 5pm - 7pm
P7 Parents Visit Wednesday 1st October
Remember you can find all events on our school calendar, and you can add the calendar to your own too.
STAFFING
Farewell to Ms Duncan, Teacher of Home Economics, who leaves us after 6 years for a new post in Edinburgh: we wish her all the best.
And welcome back to Mr Plenderleith, Teacher of PE, who returns to the Health & Wellbeing Faculty.
Welcome also to Ms Martindale, who joins the Support for Learning Team as a Learning Assistant.
Congratulations to Dr Brown and Mrs Duff who have been appointed to the acting CL Science role on a job share basis when Mrs Kivlichan, CL Science, steps into Mrs Watson’s DHT role on an interim basis on 9 September.
Monthly Attendance Updates
From September, a monthly update will now go out to all families with the aim of improving the effectiveness of our communication regarding school attendance.
We currently report on attendance twice a year, within pupil’s tracking report.
We recognise that regular communication may be more helpful to pupils, parents and carers.
This update will include:
Your child's overall and monthly attendance percentages
As well as overall and monthly unexplained absences
We understand that there are times when young people do require time off school and please remember that the school is always here to help.
Should you be signed up for free school meals?
Some families may be eligible to register their child for Free School Meals, but we know that a number of young people/families are not signed up at Musselburgh Grammar School because their child doesn’t make use of the meals in school. As we are at the beginning of a new school year, I wanted to take this opportunity to outline the full lists of supports that come to those registered for Free School Meals, whether or not a lunch is taken:
· A free clothing grant each year of £160 per child at secondary school and £130 per child at primary school. This could be a huge support for families.
· Discounted and free access to Active Schools activities throughout the year, including holiday activities.
· Access to any of East Lothian’s leisure facilities at a discounted rate with an Access to Leisure card (gives entry to gyms, swimming pools, golf, creches, fitness classes and children’s sport programmes)
· Reduced school trip costs (up to 50% discount) on all school trips at MGS. Now that we have started running our trips abroad and other trips (including Italy in June 25, Alton Towers May 25, S3 residential in May 2026) we know that subsidised trip costs are a huge support for families and allows some young people to attend these trips that possibly wouldn’t be able to attend without this support.
· A Free School Meal entitlement can be used at break or lunch time to receive a range of hot and cold food, drinks and snacks from the school canteen.
· Senior pupils applying through UCAS for further education will have the UCAS fee waived
· Depending on uptake of Free School Meals, schools may be entitled to additional funding. This funding would be used to support our young people in school and you would be supporting us by signing up.
If you would like to find out more about whether your family are eligible for Free School Meals and the wider support that comes along with this, you can do so at the following link.
or you can email freeschoolmeals@eastlothian.gov.uk
If you would like any support or advice with accessing any of the supports set out above, please do get in touch with admin@musselburghgrammar.elcschool.org.uk, where we can direct you to the appropriate person to support you.
Remember for those of you who are not eligible for this support, we have the newly established Honest Thread Clothing bank here at MGS. Below is the link if you would like to put in a referral.
Parent Council Meeting Dates
These are the dates for this session’s Parent Council meetings:
Tuesday 4 November AGM 6.30-8.30pm in school.
Thursday 11 December 7-8pm online https://meet.google.com/idi-dhis-hjo?authuser=0&hs=122
Tuesday 3 February 7-8pm online https://meet.google.com/csy-mvmg-mtu?authuser=0&hs=122
Wednesday 1 April 7-8pm online https://meet.google.com/csy-mvmg-mtu?authuser=0&hs=122
Thursday 4 June 6.30-8.30pm in school
NEW ACTIVE SCHOOLS CLUBS
We are pleased to announce the following new activities starting next week:
Senior Girls Netball
(S4-S6)
Mondays 3.30-4.30pm
MGS Gym 2
Girls Fitness
(S1-S6)
Tuesday 3.35-4.15pm
MGS Gym 2
S1 Social Football
Wednesday 4-5pm
Pinkie 3G
Tennis in partnership with Musselburgh Tennis Club (S1-S6)
Thursday 6-7pm
Musselburgh Tennis Club, Lewisvale Park
For more information or to sign up- please email Maria Lyle: mlyle@elcschool.org.uk
SENIOR STUDENTS: FOOTBALL REFEREES
We're looking for senior students to volunteer as referees for S1 and S2 EMSFA League home football games. It's a great way to give back to the school community, develop leadership skills, and earn volunteer hours. Plus, it's a fun way to stay involved in football and set a positive example for the younger players.
To register your interest, please contact Maria Lyle by one of the following:
Email: mlyle@elcschool.org.uk
Visit: A45 Active Schools Office
MGS Football Teams enter the 2025/26 season!
We’re excited to kick off the 2025/26 football season with three MGS teams competing in the EMSFA league. Our U14 and U18 teams will begin their campaign next week, with our new U13 team kicking off the following week.
You can follow the progress of all three teams using the links below:
U13 League Table
U14 League Table
U18 League Table
MGS Girls Football- Players needed!
We are in the process of entering an U15 (S1-S3) girls team to compete in the EMSFA Girls League. Due to coach sickness, Miss Lyle asks that all keen students should come to her office on Wednesday 3rd September at lunchtime to register your interest.
Last year our girls team were very successful in the East Lothian Secondary Schools 7’s league, so we hope to continue on from the progress made.
ENTRIES OPEN: Scottish Schools Mountain Bike Championships
Morrison’s Academy , Comrie Croft and Scottish Cycling will be hosting the third edition of the Scottish Schools' Mountain Bike Championships. Students are invited to the fully affiliated Scottish Cycling Event.
This event will be held on the 23rd September at Cromrie Croft, Perthshire, PH7, 4JZ.
The entire fee of £18 is not covered by the school. Transport is the responsibility of parents and carers. Registration closes on the 5th September.
Please contact Maria Lyle, Active Schools Coordinator to register.
Wider Achievement
Well done to Gemma Erskine on being presented with the Ken Muir award for the Powering Futures Challenge Programme. Gemma was one of only 86 recipients from across Scotland to receive this award.
Well Done Gemma!
Link to the article below:
https://www.eastlothiancourier.com/news/25278113.two-east-lothian-pupils-recognised-ken-muir-award/
STEM engineering programme
Leonardo is part of a UK wide company with recognition for being one of the best places to work in the UK, has opened its early careers talent development STEM engineering programme. Leonardo has expressed an interest in receiving applications from S4-S6 female pupils in select target schools including Musselburgh Grammar.
Full details are included in this link and in the poster attached. This programme for schools is a partnership between Leonardo and the regional DYW group in Edinburgh.
Come along to the Fisherrow Centre for a day of free fun, food and community spirit! A chance to find out what is happening in Musselburgh. Fun for all the family! Saturday 4th October 11am - 3pm
Head Team
It’s been another busy week for the Head Team! Grace has been involved in the interviews for our new deputy head teachers, helping ensure the right candidate is chosen for our school community. Holly attended the Parent Council meeting on our behalf, as Libby and Grace couldn't be there, sharing our goals and aims for the year. Alongside this, the whole team has been hard at work organising, interviewing and appointing our new Prefects, an exciting step as we continue building our strong leadership team across the school.
Libby, Holly, Grace
Medical
Thank you to all parents/carers who have returned the flu vaccine forms. There are still some outstanding, can these be returned to
Ms Harvey a.s.a.p. please.
The vaccinations will take place on Wednesday 17th & Thursday 18th December 2025.
Lost Property
Two black water bottles and a red one have been handed in. There was also a black jumper left in playing field at lunch time yesterday.
Please see Ms Harvey if any of these items belong to you.
School Toilets
Our pupil toilets are checked on a regular basis to ensure everyone’s comfort and safety. These checks may be done by male or female staff
members, and signage is in toilets to make pupils aware of this.
MGS website and School Handbook for parents
Our website can be accessed here MGS (google.com), and it also contains our School Handbook.
School Policies
All of our policies can be viewed on our website
Page updated
Report abuse