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HEAD TEACHER'S NEWSLETTER
Friday 27th September 2024
Friday 27th September 2024
As summer most definitely turns to autumn, it has been a particularly busy week at the Grammar with a wide range of events taking place.
We welcomed S1 parents and carers to school on Tuesday for their Parents' Evening which was full of good news about how well the youngest members of our school are settling in.
We hosted the Head Teacher and Depute Head teacher conferences on Wednesday, as well as the HMIE Thematic Inspection of East Lothian.
Pupil Voice assemblies took place on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, while the review of the Technologies Faculty also happened over these three days.
All in all, we’re ready for the weekend!
Jodie Hannan
Key Dates
Wednesday 2 October: P7 Parents’ Evening 6-8:45pm
Monday 7 October: Parent Council AGM 7-9pm in school
Wednesday 9 October: Curriculum Evening 6-7pm
Monday 14- Friday 18 October: October Holidays
Monday 21 October: Inservice Day for staff only
Tuesday 22 October: All pupils return to school
Remember you can find all events on our school calendar, and you can add the calendar to your own too.
Parents’ Evenings dates
All Parents’ Evenings are in person 5-7pm.
Wednesday 23 October: Senior Phase (combined S4-S6)
Tuesday 29 October: Senior Phase (combined S4-S6)
Wednesday 11 December: S3
Tuesday 21 January: S2
Staffing
Welcome to Ms Marcos who has joined us in Modern Languages as a temporary teacher of Spanish covering Mrs Deary’s maternity leave.
Welcome also to Ms Yollova who is with us on work placement in the school office, and Ms Lindsay who has joined the Inclusion & Nurture team.
Uniform
Thank you to all pupils, parents and carers for such a high standard of uniform this term and I am grateful to you for supporting our high expectations of dress code. S4s who wish to wear a blazer are welcome to do so.
A reminder that pupils should not arrive at school in PE kit, and should change back into uniform at the end of PE.
Year group attendance
Improving attendance to improve attainment is one of our school improvement priorities this year and we expect pupils’ attendance to be at least 90%. We are tracking pupils’ attendance carefully throughout the session and more information about our attendance strategy will follow. I hope parents and carers find this weekly update on each year group's attendance useful.
S1: 92%
S2: 88%
S3: 87%
S4: 89%
S5: 92%
S6: 90%
Curriculum Evening
MGS are holding a Curriculum Evening on Wednesday 9th October from 6 - 7pm, open to all parents. Using the link below, please take the opportunity to ask a question about our curriculum, in advance of the evening. We are looking for general questions that may apply to all.
If you have a question specific to you and your child, you will be able to ask this during refreshments, in the evening. We will endeavour to compile a FAQ of all questions raised.
You may complete this form multiple times if you have more than one question.
Link to submit questions: https://forms.gle/Aecd5vxcjSSZEHTh8
Parent Council dates
Monday 7 Oct: MGS PC AGM – in person, in school 7-9pm. There will be a focus upon curriculum and course choice led by Mrs Watson, DHT Curriculum, 7.10-7.40pm, followed by AGM business.
Thursday 21 Nov: MGS PC Online briefing 7-8pm meet.google.com/oxc-fwdh-pmz
Thursday 23 Jan: MGS PC Online briefing 7-8pm meet.google.com/vnh-jkwe-kkd
Thursday 13 Mar: MGS PC full meeting – in person, in school 7-9pm
Tuesday 20 May: MGS PC Online briefing 7-8pm meet.google.com/tkd-rakc-dor
Monday 16 June: MGS PC full meeting – in person, in school 7-8pm
Curriculum Evening
MGS are holding a Curriculum Evening on Wednesday 9th October from 6 - 7pm, open to all parents. Using the QR code below, please take the opportunity to ask a question about our curriculum, in advance of the evening. We are looking for general questions that may apply to all.
If you have a question specific to you and your child, you will be able to ask this during refreshments, in the evening. We will endeavour to compile a FAQ of all questions raised.
You may complete this form multiple times if you have more than one question.
Link to submit questions: https://forms.gle/Aecd5vxcjSSZEHTh8
Evaluating our work
Self evaluating what we do is a key part of improving our school to ensure we offer all of our young people the best possible experience- what do we do well? How do we know? What can we do better? How will we know it is better?
To support our self evaluation, we have a programme of reviewing all of our faculties across the next two years. This involves a team of teachers visiting and observing classes across S1 to S6, talking to BGE and Senior Phase pupils and talking to faculty colleagues to identify areas of strength and development. This week the Technologies Faculty was reviewed by a team including me, Mrs Watson, DHT, Mr MacDonald, CL Health & Wellbeing at MGS, Mr Natta, Teacher of Biology at MGS Mrs Webster, PT Technologies at Preston Lodge and Mr Clark, Education Officer in Computing Science at Education Scotland.
It was a pleasure to visit over 40 classes and see how strong and positive the relationships between Technology staff and pupils are, as well as how committed teachers are to providing the best education for the young people in their care.
Blythswood Shoebox Appeal
The Bronze Duke of Edinburgh group are coordinating the shoebox appeal this year. The shoeboxes are collected and taken to people in countries such as Ukraine, Bulgaria, Serbia and Albania. To support the appeal, you can either fill a shoebox with all of the items needed (see link below or collect a leaflet from D7/ the library) or donate items to be added to boxes in school. The boxes and items need to be delivered to school by Tuesday 22nd October.
Items needed to fill boxes include: tooth brushes, toothpaste, toiletries, hat/ scarf/ gloves, small toys, stationary, socks, bars of soap/ shower gel. All items must be new. Examples of donations so far shown below
Pupil Voice
Ella and Eleanor, two of our Pupil Voice team leaders, spoke at house assemblies this week with Mrs Hamilton-Wylie. They discussed why, and how to get involved in pupil voice this year. The class rep voting process will take place in registration classes next week. Registration teachers will give pupils further information on this.
The new Pupil Voice notice board is ready to go!
Pupil Voice member: Pupil voice was a major part of my development throughout my teenage years. When I started high school I was shy, quite unsure of who I was, and often found it difficult to articulate myself. Pupil voice taught me to communicate and put myself out there. I attribute the growth in my confidence throughout high school mostly to pupil voice.
Pupil Voice member: I have only been a member of pupil voice for a year, however this year has been enough to see the impact that it can have on people's confidence and sense of community. Pupil voice has allowed me to feel comfortable speaking up about issues within the school, which will provide me with a better skill set for the future. I have felt listened to and supported within this community.
Head Team Blog
Hey everyone!
This week we enjoyed meeting and chatting with a number of S1 parents at parents evening. We had lots of positive feedback about the evening and are looking forward to more events like this in the future.
On Wednesday this week we had visitors from Education Scotland and other schools across East Lothian. It was lovely to be able to talk with the visitors and learn about all of their careers.
We look forward to welcoming the P7s from the local primary schools to our school for an information evening next week. They will be touring the school and getting an opportunity to meet teachers and ask questions.
Talk to you all next week!
Katie, Ailsa and Summer
Extra Curricular clubs and Study Support Sessions
We have added links to our website with information on all lunchtime/after school clubs, and also our Study Support sessions. You can find it all in the ‘Student’ section of our school website.
SQA Exam Diet 2025
Please follow this link to see the SQA Exam timetable for Spring 2025: Exam timetable and learner apps - SQA
Skills Development Scotland
How to access career services in school
Skills Development Scotland (SDS) is the national career service, and they have careers advisers in every state secondary school in Scotland.
The SDS career service helps people develop their career management skills, and make confident decisions for their future.
Pupils can speak to their SDS careers adviser throughout the school year and will also be supported by them at key times such as starting S1, making option choices, and preparing for moving on from school. This service will be delivered through drop-ins, one-to-one appointments, and group learning sessions.
There is lots of useful career information and advice available at any time through Scotland’s career website My World of Work. There is also a dedicated area for parents and carers with information to help you have career conversations at home.
If you or your young person would like to make an appointment with your school careers adviser, please contact the school office for details.
Beyond school, SDS advisers are also available at one of SDS’s network of centres or community venues across the country or via our helpline. To get support or arrange an appointment call the SDS freephone helpline on 0800 917 8000 (Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm).
More information about SDS and their career service in schools is available at sds.co.uk
Medical
The Flu vaccination will take place on 12th and 13th December 2024. If you did not receive a form please go and see Ms Harvey in the Medical room. All forms must be returned to school as soon as possible.
All pupils who have Asthma please have your inhaler with you in your school bag at all times
C Harvey
School Medical Assistant
MGS website and School Handbook for parents
Here is the link to our website, and it also contains our School Handbook.
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