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HEAD TEACHER'S NEWSLETTER
It’s been another busy and successful week of recruitment, with excellent contributions from PE classes for those interviews on Monday.
SQA preparation and completing courses is the key focus just now, with assemblies were held this morning to ensure that all S4-S6 pupils know of exam rules and regulations, and a reminder to sign up for Easter Revision classes.
We’re looking forward to the last week of term with a book launch on Monday evening, a Musselburgh Learns event for parents and carers on Wednesday evening, then rounding it off with the S6 Leavers’ ceremony on Friday morning.
Enjoy your weekend.
Jodie Hannan
Key Dates
Monday 27 March: SuperPower Agency & MGS book launch 5-7pm.
Wednesday 29 March: Musselburgh Learns: family learning study support skills 6-7 in the Social Space.
Friday 31 March: S6 leaving ceremony & end of term.
Monday 17 April: All staff and pupils return to school.
S6 Leaving Ceremony
We celebrate the end of our fabulous S6’s school career on Friday 31 March and S6 parents/ carers are warmly invited to join us.
The Head Team at Musselburgh Grammar School invites all Parents and Carers of S6 pupils to our Leaver's Ceremony 2023 in the Assembly Hall from 10.00am - 11.15am approx. Arrive at the Social Space at 9.45am for tea and coffee.
Staffing Update
I have now appointed a permanent full time PE teacher and a full time temporary PSL (Pupil Support Leader), both of whom will start with us in August.
Ms Woodhead, Biology, leaves us today for a post at Hawick High School- we thank her for all her work with our young people and wish her every success. Ms Woodhead’s classes will be covered by the department, until Mrs Duff returns from maternity leave on Monday 17 April.
Guidance Staffing:
Parents and carers are likely to be aware that Mr Valentine left his role as Principal Teacher of Guidance (Caird House) to take up the role of Depute Head Teacher at the new Rosehill High School. Unfortunately this has coincided with a period of absence for Mr Gray, one of our Principal Teachers of Guidance in Moray house.
In order to support pupils we have reallocated pupils on Mr Valentine and Mr Gray’s caseload across our remaining Principal Teachers of Guidance. Pupils have been informed of this during registration this week.
Where possible we have tried to ensure that pupils’ new Guidance teacher is in the same House, however this has not been possible in all cases.
Whilst any member of Guidance or the wider pupil support team will support any pupil at the school, it is important that pupils and parents/carers know who their main point of contact is.
Pupils whose Guidance teacher was Mr Ferrie, Mrs Jardine, Mr Nisbet or Ms Ramsey will not be affected.
If any parent / carer would like to contact any member of the Guidance team the most effective way is to email pupilsupport@musselburghgrammar.elcschool.org.uk where Mrs Doherty, our pupil support worker, will direct to the most appropriate person.
An overview of classes who will have a new Guidance teacher until the end of term can be found below:
S2 Tracking Reports
S2 pupils will be issued with copies of their latest tracking report on Monday 27.03.23 in Registration.
S456 Tracking and Estimate Report
S456 will receive their final tracking report on Thursday before lunch.
Any pupil sitting National 2, 3 or 4 may see a 1 (to indicate a pass or likely to pass the level) or a 9 (to indicate a fail or likely to fail a level) for their working grade and final target grade.
Those sitting National 5, Higher or Advanced Higher will have the same working grade and target grade. This is the estimate grade which is sent to the SQA. Please see the letter accompanying the report for more information.
As a reminder:
Band 1 and 2 = Grade A
Band 3 and 4 = Grade B
Band 5 and 6 = Grade C
Band 7 = Grade D
Bands 8 and 9 = No Award
SQA Coursework Deadlines
The next school deadline for final SQA coursework is 30th March. This is for:
N5 Care, Fashion, PE, Practical Cookery
All Higher subjects except Art, and Photography.
All AH subjects except Art, English, Geography and Music Technology
Learners should ensure they have handed all coursework to their teachers/ complete assignments in these subjects by that date, or an earlier date if determined by class teachers.
Miss Chisholm
SQA Exams
S4/5/6 learners doing N5, Higher and AH examinations received a draft copy of their SQA exam timetable via their registration teachers this week. They are encouraged to check this thoroughly and to see Miss Chisholm immediately if they notice any discrepancies. Today, assemblies were held to go through the expectations of learners during the exam diet and to communicate key information about their exams. Learners also received their “Your Exams'' booklet from SQA and were asked to read it fully as well as sharing with parents/ carers.
Any questions about the exam diet should be directed to Miss Chisholm.
Family Learning Session - 'How to Support Your Child With Revision'
All parents, carers and students are invited to a family learning session aimed at helping parents/carers support their child with revision. The session will focus on Senior Phase (S4-6) preparation for exams, but parents of S1-3 students are also welcome as many of the revision methods are useful for all year groups. It will include:
Practical examples of revision methods
Help with the creation of revision timetables
The opportunity to discuss different revision strategies with teaching staff
Strategies to reduce exam stress and anxiety
This will take place in the Social Space on Wednesday 29th March from 6-7pm.
If you plan on attending, we would appreciate it if you could fill in the short form below.
https://forms.gle/CrzE6KXoXk7mZUMPA
Mr Jordan and Ms McCrorie
Ramadan 2023
Ramadan is the ninth month in the Islamic calendar. It is an especially holy period of prayer, fasting, charity-giving and self-accountability for Muslims around the world. Ramadan is predicted to begin in the UK on the evening of 22nd March and is predicted to end on the evening of 21st April, though the actual date depends on the sighting of the moon. Many Muslims in the United Kingdom fast during the daylight hours in the month of Ramadan. It is usual to have a meal known as the suhoor just before sunrise and an evening meal – iftar - after sunset. People of Islamic faith are also encouraged to read the Qur’an and attend their mosque every night of the month.
During the month of Ramadan many Muslims donate to charities and participate in voluntary activities.
To support our Muslim young people through the month of Ramadan we have put the following into place:
• A quiet space to rest and pray is available at break and lunch in the Caird House meeting room.
• Young people wishing to pray can bring their prayer mats, topis and prayer TT and leave them in the Caird meeting room or the guidance office in B19.
• Those young people on free school meals can pre-order their food which can be taken away to eat after sunset.
• Young people who are fasting can participate in PE, but may need to reduce their level of activity. PE staff will be aware of this, but if a young person feels they need to rest, they should let their PE teacher know.
• If a young person is taking an SQA assessment and they feel dehydrated, have a headache or feel drowsy, they should let the teacher know as soon as possible. If need be we can also contact home to discuss how best we can support you.
Ramadan ends around the 1 May depending on the sighting of the new crescent moon (Shawwal). Eid or Eid al-Fitr marks the end of Ramadan and kick-starts the month of Shawwal, which begins with a feast to end the period of fasting. Young people or their families can contact the school if they want to discuss or share anything regarding their children fasting - please contact your Guidance teacher if this is something which we can help with.
Rory and Kayla's Weekly Rundown
Hi everyone, welcome back to another week of Rory and Kayla's weekly rundown. We hope everyone has had a great week as we edge closer to the easter holidays, we hope the junior pupils will enjoy their well deserved break and the seniors will be getting stuck into their revision for the exams which are just around the corner.
BIG REMINDER TO COME SUPPORT THE S6 BOYS IN THEIR GAME AGAINST THE TEACHERS ON MONDAY AT 4:15 DOWN AT PINKIE.
Health and Wellbeing Week
Last week was MGS Health and Wellbeing Week. Pupils were invited to take part in a variety of activities at lunch time and after school that would see them find ways to develop and look after their mental, emotional, social and physical wellbeing.
Classes also engaged in some tasks during Registration such as a ‘Chatty Tuesday’ would you rather? On Friday, the HWB Wider Achievement group held a bake sale with the Barista team serving free smoothies.
Thank you to all staff and pupils who helped out and attended any of the activities this week. It was great to see so many of our young people getting involved.
SuperPower Book Launch
We are looking forward to Monday’s SuperPower event to celebrate our S2 and S3 authors and reveal their books! Watch this space in next week’s newsletter…
Easter Revision 2023
S4/5/6 pupils will be offered an Easter Study Programme during the two weeks of Easter Holidays from Monday 3rd April to Friday 14th April.
Sessions will be organised and taught by MGS teachers in person in the school building. A variety of subjects and levels are offering sessions. The timetable for these sessions can be accessed here: MGS Student Hub.
These sessions are designed to help support our learners in the lead up to SQA exams and qualifications.
From Monday 6th March pupils who are interested in attending any of the sessions should sign up with their relevant subject teachers.
Any questions please see Miss Chisholm
Modern Apprenticeships
If you are looking for a Modern Apprenticeship, please look at Jobs | East Lothian Council | myjobscotland there are lots of Modern Apprenticeships advertised this week.
If you would like to apply and want help to complete the application, please see Ms Hoffman Rm B16.
Baillie Gifford Apprenticeships
Baillie Gifford, the global investment management business based in Edinburgh, is looking to increase the sign up for their apprenticeships webinar on 29th March. Apprenticeships available starting at £20k in the following areas:
· Information systems
· Travel
· Building and Workplace services
· Reception
· Client Administration – more details in the link below:
Early Careers - Baillie Gifford (Apprenticeships microsite)
Webinar Registration - Zoom (webinar registration)
Army
The Army would like to come into the school to chat to females who would like to learn more about careers within the Army. There are a large variety of roles just waiting for enthusiastic, hard working and driven females in the army
They will also be discussing:
Pay, Benefits and rewards
Support
Education and training
Adventurous training
Sport and opportunities
Annual leave
Accommodation
The application process
If you are interested, please see Ms Hoffman Rm B16
Sports Achievement
This weekend Jack Dewar, Ben Liddle, Kerr Steel, Denim Walker and Thomas Douglas will be competing in the semi final of the SYFA Scottish Cup with Musselburgh Windsor U15s Boys football team. What an incredible achievement it is to have made it to this stage!
We wish the boys and their team the best of luck - we are all rooting for you! For anyone who would like to go along and support the boys, all fixture details can be found below.
French Pupils Visit to MGS
The Modern Languages Department is running an event in the small dining hall on Wednesday the 29th of March. S3 pupils who have been selected must go to the small dining hall at 9:15am. The event will run until break time (11:10 am).
Medical
If you are unwell, please do not leave school on your own. All pupils must sign out with Ms Harvey in the Medical Room. We have a duty for all pupils in the school.
Lost Property
Please come and have a look at lost property, there are lots of jackets and jumpers. Any property that has not been claimed before the Easter Holidays will be recycled.
Newsletter Archive
There's an archive section on the newsletter site with all of the previous newsletters organised by date. It can be viewed by clicking on 'Archive' in the menu or using this link: https://bit.ly/ht-newsletter-archive.
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