MUSSELBURGH GRAMMAR SCHOOL

HEAD TEACHER'S NEWSLETTER

Friday 8th March 2024

Term is running away from us again with Easter not far away at all, so I thought it would be worthwhile to note the key school dates from March-June 2024 to help plan diaries. More details on specific events will be available closer to the time.

It was a pleasure to meet the Eco Club this week, with Holly, Ella, Ursula and Maya leading the discussions on how sustainable our classrooms and school currently are and could be; where we source our energy from; how to improve the recycling of food waste, cans and crisp packets across school; opening up gardening opportunities for more pupils; cleaning the fish pond, and improving our garden space. The Club is already composting food waste from Home Economics and putting up insect hotels, and keen to do so much more.

Thanks to Dr Brown, Biology, Mr Dewar, Physics, and Ms Gillies, Home Economics, for supporting these enthusiastic and committed young people.

I also met the Head Pupil Team to talk through ideas for their last official day in school, Thursday 28 March: this will follow once plans are agreed.

All S6 pupils are expected in school 16-19 April where the focus will solidly be upon preparing for SQA exams which begin the following week including Immersion classes for the first exams in the week beginning 22 April.

The full Immersion timetable will be published shortly.

With best wishes for an enjoyable and sunny weekend.

Jodie Hannan

holiday

Key Dates

Friday 15 March: Red Nose Day, including dress down fundraising for Comic Relief. This event is being organised by Eva Hills, Head Pupil, and Madame Dreon- Goold’s senior Personal Development Award class.

Wednesday 27th March: Spring Concert 6-8pm.

Thursday 28 March: term ends for Easter holidays, and is the last official day for S6.

Tuesday 16 April: all pupils and staff return to school, and Parent Council online briefing 7-8pm http://meet.google.com/krt-acan-qqj

Monday 22 April: Study leave for all S4-S6 pupils sitting N5, Higher and AH exams begins.

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.

Monday 3 June: new timetable for S2-S6 begins.

Thursday 13 June: Summer dance for new S2 and S3 pupils 6-8pm.

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

Staff

We are currently recruiting for a permanent full time post in Modern Studies with Geography, as well as Business Studies.

Interviews for the Modern Studies and Geography post are on Monday 11 March.

House assemblies

House assemblies this week were led by Charlie Devine, Head Pupil, speaking to all pupils about neurodiversity as it is neurodiversity week next week. Charlie wanted to raise awareness and this is the information he shared with his peers this week

House Points

Grange are in the lead and there is still all to play for the last few months of the session, but huge congratulations to Mr Fox’s 1M2 registration class who are the highest collectors of House points across all classes in all houses!

The focus for House points in March is 'Perseverance through Punctuality' to remind pupils of the importance of being on time to all classes so that no learning time is lost.

Even being 5 minutes late to class each day has a significant impact upon learning, and our concern about punctuality and attendance is not just for those pupils in Senior Phase with exams looming, but from the beginning of high school in S1.

I would really appreciate parents and carers’ support in discussing with their child/ren the importance of attending every class every day and being on time. Attendance will be a key focus in school over the next few months and new school year as it is a key barrier to learning, attainment and achievement.

Attendance

A reminder that all pupils need to sign in with Miss Harvey or the School Office if arriving after 08:40 am.

Medical

If you are unwell during the school day please go and see Ms Harvey she will sign you out of school. Do not leave the school without permission. Thank you C Harvey

Thursday 21st March 2024

All S1 Boys and Girls and catch ups

HPV Vaccination

Only pupils who received a form are to go to the hall

1C1 9:00am S2 11:50am

1C2 9:35am S3 11:55am

1G1 10:00am S4 12:20pm

1G2 10:30am S5 12:20pm

1M1 11:30am S6 12:30pm

1M2 11:45am

Safety Reminder

There have been some reports of near misses in the carpark at drop-off/pick-up times. Can we please ask drivers to be mindful, and remind pupils to walk safely in the carpark at these busy times.

Exam Support

Exam season is almost upon us again this year - please see below for Easter study support.

Here's the link to MGS Easter Revision Easter Revision 2023-2024

Here's the link to our Assessment Calendar 2023 -2024

Registration for e-Sgoil Easter Study Support 2024 is now OPEN.

Easter Study Support is for Senior Phase learners who are working towards National Qualifications. This year there are seventy-four different webinar Teams, covering a wide range of subjects and levels. Each group will meet for three webinar sessions during the holidays.

On this page: Easter Study Support | e-Sgoil you’ll find the timetable for the full Easter Study Support programme, as well as supporting materials, and information on how to register. Easter webinars will run between April 2nd and April 11th.

To register for Easter Study Support, you need to do three things.

Log in to your Glow account (If you don’t know how to do this, your school will help you)
Check the Easter Study Support timetable to see which webinars you want to attend, avoiding any clashes.
Click on the link to the registration Form: select your webinars, complete the Form, and submit!

(Please note - if you already attend Evening Webinars, you need to register separately for Easter Study Support.)

This is an additional Easter Revision Programme to the one offered at MGS (details were published in last week’s newsletter). Pupils are encouraged to attend both if possible. E-sgoil is a remote offering i.e. online based.

If you are interested in finding out more about E-sgoil, the following link will take you to a podcast from Education Scotland: Education Scotland podcast | Education Scotland (podbean.com)

RED NOSE DAY MGS FUNDRAISER 17/03/2024

Eva Hills, our Head Girl, has registered the school with Comic Relief to raise funds on Friday 15th March. Mme Dreon-Goold in SFL and her Personal Development class have been making friendship bracelets and other items of jewellery to sell.

Pupils in SFL will be baking next week for the bake sale.

Kitchen staff have also offered to participate in the Bake sale. Next Friday will also be a dress down day for Comic Relief

Cost of the school day - What are we doing now at MGS?

This year, the equity group at Musselburgh Grammar School have been collating what we do as a school to reduce the impact of the cost of the school day for young people, parents and carers. Below is an example of some of the things we are doing now to support young people and families.

Health and Wellbeing

There is no cost for young people to cook.

Maths

All stationary and resources (e.g. calculators) are provided and available in every classroom.

Modern Languages

There are no costs for pupils in any of the courses.
All stationary is provided and available at the front of every classroom.

Science

All stationary and resources (e.g. calculators) are provided and available in every classroom.

Humanities

Geography

All materials provided at no cost.
Wherever possible geography fieldwork is completed in the local area to keep costs down and any additional equipment (e.g. wellies, waterproofs etc) can be borrowed from Outdoor Ed. Where there is a cost (e.g. Dynamic Earth trip) pupils unable to contribute are provided for by the school equity fund/hardship fund.
Breakfast bars available (teachers own contribution) during registration for any pupil that has missed breakfast and/or breakfast club

DofE

All equipment can be borrowed if needed from school and/or Outdoor Ed so no requirement to buy any kit.
Costs are kept to minimum (registration and camping costs approx £30/40 for the whole year). There is a hardship fund available for DofE Scotland where we can apply for funds on a pupil by pupil basis.
No staffing costs as staffed by MGS teachers who are fully qualified.

Expressive Arts

Art & Design

No cost for any materials used.
Stationary at the front of the rooms free for all to use.
Materials required for seniors to complete folio work are free/provided depending on students' needs.
Return of coursework is currently paid for by the department to ensure equity.

English and Communication

Materials: books, jotters, paper, pens, pencils, rulers, rubbers, highlighters etc. all provided.
Pupils can access the school library for personal reading books and most of us have a classroom library for even further choice.
Seniors can frequently access a free ring binder from us in the department so there is little or no cost entailed in any course in our faculty.

STEM Technologies

There is no cost for young people making products in CDT.
Retail group are working on how to deliver clothing that all young people have access to through the nearly new stall and working on how we incorporate school uniform into this.

Active Schools

East Lothian kit stop – a sports recycling programme where young people can access equipment/clothing they need to take part in sport and PA free of charge. We also operate as a swap shop, pupils can drop off items that no longer fit and collect the next size they need.
All extra-curricular activities are free of charge to attend.
Reducing Barriers to Sport and PA Access Fund – This can be applied to by teachers, social work, Guidance teachers on behalf of a young person to cover any costs that are preventing a young person to take part in Sport and PA i.e. membership, equipment costs. Each application is considered on a case by case basis.

Other Supports

All classrooms have stationery available freely for all young people at the front of classes and they do not need to ask for it.
Breakfast club available for all young people to access from 8am-8:20am.
Dress down days are now asking for a voluntary donation so that all young people can take part.
We have an equity/hardship fund for young people who need support.
Sanitary products are available for free and easily accessible in school.

We are continuing to work on our school trip policy and hope to share this with families in June. Hopefully this will clarify our position on school trips and what we are doing to minimise the costs for families. It is worth noting that those who are eligible and have registered for Free School Meals will be offered a discount on all school trips so if you haven’t applied yet, now would be a good time.

We are always looking at improving things at Musselburgh Grammar School and we invite all parents and carers to give their views on what we can do to support your family with the cost of the school day. You can give your views by emailing Carrie McLean, Curriculum Leader Inclusion and Nurture on cmclean@edubuzz.org.

RED NOSE DAY MGS FUNDRAISER 17/03/2024

Eva Hills, our Head Girl, has registered the school with Comic Relief to raise funds on Friday 15th March. Mme Dreon-Goold in SFL and her Personal Development class have been making friendship bracelets and other items of jewellery to sell.

Pupils in SFL will be baking next week for the bake sale.

Kitchen staff have also offered to participate in the Bake sale. Next Friday will also be a dress down day for Comic Relief

‘The Wrap Up', with Charlie & Eva

Welcome to another edition of ‘The Wrap Up', with Charlie & Eva, we hope everyone has had a good week and is ready for the weekend!

This week's assemblies have been focussing on neurodiversity awareness and celebration. Official neurodiversity celebration week is taking place this year between the 18th-24th March, and there are lots of free to attend, online events you can attend during this time to find out more about neurodiversity and how it can impact people in 2024. Visit the link Neurodiversity Celebration Week (neurodiversityweek.com) to find out more about what events are taking place this year if you’re interested.

For all senior pupils, it’s coming to the end of the year. It’s only a matter of week until study leave for exams will start so whether these are your first exams here at MGS or your last, remember study support for your subjects is likely on after school so if you want to get some more studying in feel free to contact your teachers in person or via email for more information.

The MGS medical society had a great start last week during Monday lunchtime. It will be on every other week, including next week, and will be taking place in Dr Brown's room. It’s for anyone thinking about or who wants to apply for a medical degree at university or wants to work in medicine in future to help prepare for everything coming your way, (i.e. Personal statement prep, UCAT practice, Mock Interview questions etc), and to connect with others who may have similar interests and plans to you.

British Science Week is coming up! The school assemblies next week will be about british science week, an annual event that schools take part in across britain that aims to get young people and students excited to learn about science and encourages them to explore their science based interests. This year the week has a theme of ‘time’, and how time can relate and link back to different forms of science. There will also be events held across the week, between the 8th-17th March, so if you’re interested in science or you’re curious about what British Science Week has to offer, take a look at the website linked here: Homepage - British Science Week.

Next Friday the 15th of March, there will be a bake & craft sale in the assembly hall at break time in aid of Comic Relief. This day will also be a dress down day, so make sure to wear your best clothes! This is being organised by Madame Dreon-Goold’s personal development class! It will be a great day, so make sure to bring in some money!

Thank you for reading this week’s ‘The Wrap Up with Charlie and Eva’. We hope you’ve had a great week and you enjoy your weekend!

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