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HEAD TEACHER'S NEWSLETTER
Friday 3rd May 2024
Friday 3rd May 2024
Despite only having S1-S3 in school full time, school is incredibly busy.
SQA exams continue smoothly, timetabling for the new session is well underway, and we are evaluating last year’s work and planning our improvement work for 2024-25. With these last points in mind, I would be grateful for parents and carers' views- details are further on in the newsletter.
With best wishes for a lovely long weekend.
Jodie Hannan
Key Dates
Monday 6 May: Bank holiday school is closed.
Tuesday 7 May: all pupils and staff return to school.
Monday 20 May: Inset Day for staff only, and S1 reports sent home this is Modern Studies with Geography week.
Tuesday 21 May: all pupils return to school, and Parent Council meeting 7-9pm in school.
Thursday 30 May: Parents’ Information session for new S5, S5 and S6, 6-7pm in school
Monday 3 June: new timetable for S2-S6 begins.
Wednesday 5 June: P7 (new S1) Parents’ Information session 6-7pm in school.
Thursday 13 June: Summer dance for new S2 and S3 pupils 6-8pm.
Friday 14 June: S6 Prom.
Friday 14, Monday 17 & Tuesday 18 June: P7 Transition Days.
Wednesday 19 June: Sports Award ceremony 7-9 pm.
Thursday 27 June: Sports’ Day 9am-1pm.
Friday 28 June: term ends for summer holidays.
Staffing
Welcome to Ms Young who joined the office team on Monday.
School Improvement Planning for Session 2024-25
We like to hear the views of as many parents and carers as possible and I’m asking for your support in helping us identify the aspects we are doing well at Musselburgh Grammar School, as well as asking for the areas you think we can do better in/ need to focus on in the next session.
Our school Vision of ‘striving for excellence, caring for all’ underpins all that we do, and includes listening to families’ views. It is really important to us at Musselburgh Grammar School that we don’t only collate your views but also use the opportunity to reflect on and take your opinion into consideration when planning our school improvement priorities.
We have already identified improving attendance as one of our priorities as lack of attendance in school seriously affects the progress young people can make.
As part of this self evaluation and planning process we are also keen to have some Parent focus groups to discuss the results and possible solutions to any key areas we need to address.
If S1-S3 Parents/Carers could complete this survey https://forms.gle/hzcxRmNER39xKzLw9
If S4-S6 Parents/Carers could complete this survey https://forms.gle/xPpPtrWgMaMcZe8P9
complete by midnight on Monday 13 May we would be very grateful. Your views are very much valued.
School Leavers
If your young person is intending to leave school at the end of this term, please remind them they must come to the office to collect a leaver's form. They can do this any time from now on, and the form needs to be returned by May 31st.
EMPLOYABILITY PATHWAY 2024
Please note, if no parental consent has been returned, unfortunately due to H&S, pupils will not be permitted to take part when there are scheduled events out with the school. Pupils are currently not timetabled for any classes during May and will be sent home.
Unfortunately, we had an external agency cancel yesterday, they were booked in every Tuesday and Thursday afternoon so at present there will only be activities in the morning. I will try my best to try and fill some of these spaces.
We will publish a weekly timetable of events every Thursday due to last minute changes.
- All of the above events are in school, pupils must enter by the rear door due to examinations
- Please appreciate pupils are sitting exams, keep the noise to a minimum
- All Pupils to meet in the rear social area to be registered
Senior Phase Parents’ Information evening Thursday 30 May.
Ms Craigie, DHT, and I will be holding an information session for all parents and carers of new S4, S5 and S6 parents on Thursday 30 May 6-7pm in school in advance of the new timetable commencing on Monday 3 June. Pupils are very welcome to attend with their parents and carers.
P7 Parents’ Information evening Wednesday 5 June.
Mr Scott, DHT Pupil Support, and I will be holding an information session for all parents and carers of our new S1 pupils on Wednesday 5 June 6-7pm in advance of the primary transition days on Friday 14th, Monday 17th and Tuesday 18th June. Pupils are very welcome to attend with their parents and carers.
Immersion May Timetable
Don't forget we are running the Immersion May program please attend where possible, pupils in previous years have found them invaluable for the exams. Subjects, dates and times can be found here.
Exam Stress
Feeling Stressed about Exams?
Have a wee look at the Mental Health Youth Work’s site on Exam Stress here :Mental Health & Wellbeing - Exam Stress (google.com)
Or listen to their podcast on stress here: Mental Health & Wellbeing - Podcasts (google.com)
LEAPS - parents and carers of S5 students
For parents and carers of S5 LEAPS-eligible students who are aiming for Higher Education at college or university. For eligibility, please go to: https://leapsonline.org/about/our-eligibility-criteria
Please find the session at: www.leapsonline.org/s5-parents-carers-information-session
(The resource is available online and can be accessed at any time.)
The resource covers;
An overview of LEAPS and the support LEAPS offers to LEAPS-eligible students who are considering Higher Education at college or university. Musselburgh is a group 2 school.
An overview of the application process for Higher Education at college or university
An overview of SAAS and student funding for Higher Education courses
Contact details for Scottish universities, local colleges and SAAS
The Student View of Higher Education study
Generations Working Together
Last week, MGS hosted a training day provided by Generations Working Together. The aim of this training was to provide insight on the planning and running of Intergenerational programs. This year the Wider Achievement program has done excellent work in the community with the Musselburgh Meeting Centre for people living with Dementia. Thanks to this training we will be even better equipped for the continuation of this course in the new academic year! Two of our senior pupils Dayle Stewart and Kerra Stewart participated in the course and did a fantastic job providing insight from a pupil’s perspective. GWT is a nationally recognised centre that promotes and supports the integration of intergenerational work across Scotland. https://generationsworkingtogether.org/
Wellbeing
For all young people.
If you’re in need of a bit of support for general health and wellbeing. Our NHS school nurse will be in our wellbeing room on Wednesdays from 9-12. For more information come to your Pupil Support Leader.
Medical
MMR Vaccine will be given to pupils on Monday 10th June 2024. You will only be vaccinated if you received a form. This will take place in the training room, see me if you have any questions. Thank you C Harvey.
Senior Boys Football
We are proud to let you all know that on Thursday 1st May, our senior boys football team were crowned Lothian Plate champions. The team beat Boroughmuir High School 4-1 to lift the title, having qualified from a group stage over the course of the year.
Mr Michie would like to thank the parents of all the players for their support from the side of the pitch, providing lifts to games and helping with referee fees. We have a special community at Musselburgh Grammar School which is down to all the incredible support shown by families.
NHS Lothian Apprenticeship Information Session
NHS Lothian would like to invite young people/parents/service providers to an Apprenticeship Information Session, to find out about all the great apprenticeship opportunities NHS Lothian have to offer.
NHS Lothian - Apprenticeship Information Session (15th May 2024 - 5.30pm) (office.com)
MGS Website
We're currently working on our new school website and will be communicating with parents about this very soon. Some areas are still 'under construction', but if you want a sneak peek, you can access it via this link for now.
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