Embedded Files
HEAD TEACHER'S NEWSLETTER
Friday 29th March 2024
Friday 29th March 2024
Tell me, what is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life? Mary Oliver, The Summer Day
Our S6 Leavers’ Celebration this morning was a lovely way to celebrate their time at the Grammar with a Hall packed full of parents and families keen to be part of their farewell to school.
We had speeches from Ms Craigie, DHT Caird, Mr Scott, DHT Grange and Mrs Watson, DHT Moray, as well as Ms Ramsey, PSL for Caird, Mrs Jardine, PSL Grange, Mr Nisbet, PSL Moray, and Ms Holmes, PSL across the Houses. Eva Hills and Charlie Devine, Head Pupils, also spoke to their peers about their reflections on such a milestone.
The running theme across all speeches was the importance of who we are, not what we are; of remembering who has shaped and influenced us; of learning from the mistakes we make; not to give up; to be brave and kind.
Teaching is an extraordinary job, and I and all my colleagues at the Grammar hope that we have helped to give our leavers the courage, confidence and determination to make the most of their one wild and precious lives, and we look forward to hearing all about their adventures in the years to come.
Go well and be happy.
Have a lovely Easter holiday everyone.
Key Dates
Thursday 28 March: term ends for Easter holidays.
Tuesday 16 April: all pupils and staff return to school, and Parent Council online briefing 7-8pm http://meet.google.com/krt-acan-qqj
Wednesday 17 April: S4-6 SQA Assemblies P5 in the main hall.
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 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.
Attendance
Please note that all S4-S6 pupils are expected to return to school from Tuesday 16-Friday 19 April inclusive to complete coursework, be supported with revision and attend Immersion classes in preparation for exams which commence Monday 22 April.
Music Spring Concert
A huge well done to the Music Department and our Music Instructors, and especially Mr Anderson, for another wonderful sell out concert. The range of talent across all year groups, bands, soloists, ensembles and orchestras was incredible, and a very loud shout out to Holly Dickson and Isla Dowdeswell for their outstanding hosting of the event.
It was bittersweet for the S6 musicians as this is their last MGS concert. The music department wish the best of luck to Tom Ferguson, Isla Ritchie, Laurie McNaughton, Abigail Briggs, Emelia Duffy, Charlie Devine, Charlie Barber, Jacob Harknett, David Ryan, Kieran Leask, Kyle Stewart, Maciej Kurylo, Daniel Craig, Ben Naumann and Isaah Majid. Thank you all for your dedication to the ensembles and the music department over the years!
Climate Wellbeing Teacher training
On Friday, staff were given the opportunity to attend a training session as part of the grant awarded by the Rowanbank Foundation (following the pupil workshop last week). We talked about climate change, biodiversity loss, and mental health and how attitudes towards climate change are changing with the generations, and that mental health and climate anxiety are growing problems. We looked at ways to change the mindset and nurture an ethos of caretaking of the planet and the environment. Hopefully, staff will be able to weave this into aspects of the curriculum rather than just linked to specific climate change units in science or citizenship.
Powering Futures
Schools from around the Lothians came together at Musselburgh Grammar to present their challenge solutions to a panel of judges. As part of the Powering Futures programme, students develop their meta skills (e.g. problem solving, team work, communication) and learn about different aspects of business such as customer persona, adopting solutions and circular economy. The groups then chose a problem presented to them by industry to find a real world solution to. Companies supporting the programme included Urban Fox who were seeking a more environmentally friendly transport solution for Edinburgh and British Gas who were looking for ways to make football and rugby clubs net zero. We were really impressed with the creativity, teamwork and confidence displayed by all teams and are proud of the Musselburgh Grammar team who presented on how to make schools net zero. We look forward to welcoming a new S5/6 group in June to take part in the 2024/25 challenge. Check out the video below to find out more about Powering Futures.
Employability Programme 2024
If your son/daughter is part of the Employability Programme during the month of May they will need their consent form returned in order to take part. Paper copies can be obtained from the reception if required.
Pupil Voice
On Wednesday we had our second Pupil Voice meeting of the term. Ms Craigie joined the Pupil Voice representatives to discuss the thoughts and ideas they raised about learning and teaching at our previous meeting and there were lots of positive and insightful discussions. The group also discussed their ideas for some events to help create more of a feeling of togetherness among students and they are looking forward to getting the ball rolling with these.
Our assemblies this week were also led by some Pupil Voice leaders who shared an update with students about the groups targets for the year, and action that has been taken since the last meeting. Big thank you and well done to Ella, John, Mitchell and Summer for speaking in the assemblies! This term Pupil Voice are aiming to: Have collaborative discussions with staff about student suggestions for learning and teaching; collaborate with other staff and student groups to improve students’ overall school experience; and help to create a more positive school culture/climate for all students. We are already making headway on all of our targets so it will be another busy and exciting period for the group after the Easter holidays!
SQA
The SQA exam diet begins on Monday 22 April 2024 and will run until Wednesday 29 May 2024. Study leave will begin on Monday 22 April 2024.
Exam Timetables
Candidates will receive their individual exam timetables w/c 15 April 2024. They should check this thoroughly and raise any issues, errors or omissions immediately to Mrs Watson (DHT). The examination timetable and study tools are available on the SQA website, students should be using this resource to make sure that they are already planning for their exam days; it is the candidates responsibility to be at the correct exam, at the correct date/time.
Alternative Arrangement Candidates
Candidates with alternative exam arrangements will receive a supplementary timetable attached to their SQA timetable. This supplementary information will note; alternative start and finish times for examinations and the alternative rooming arrangements, as appropriate. Candidates must arrive at their examination room at least 10 minutes before the start of the exam.
Your Exams - A publication issued by SQA is available using the following link to the SQA website. Pupils will be given a hardcopy of this during SQA assemblies which will be held on Wednesday 17 April during P5 (further details will be issued to pupils during registration, after the Easter break). This document tells students about the examination room, Examination Exceptional Circumstances Consideration Service, the Appeals Service and registering for MYSQA which allows young people to access their results by text or email.
https://www.sqa.org.uk/sqa/100863.html
A full Easter revision programme has been published in previous HT newsletters and pupils are strongly encouraged to use this additional support.
Exam Stress Sessions
As part of the Easter Revision Timetable Ailsa and Emma our school counsellor and Mental Health Youth worker are running 2 lunchtime sessions on Managing Exam Stress on Tuesday 9th and Thursday 11th of April in the Nurture Room 12pm - 1pm. Feel free to bring your lunch with you.
Exam Support
Exam Support
Exam season is almost upon us again this year - please see below for Easter study support.
Exam season is almost upon us again this year - please see below for Easter study support.
Here's the link to e-Sgoil Study Support e-Sgoil Study Support
Medical
MMR VACCINE S1 to S3 will take place on Monday 10th June 2024 in the training room. Only if you receive a form you will be vaccinated. This is not a whole school vaccination programme, it's only if you receive a form . Thank you C Harvey
Maths Personal Finance Course 2024/25
Next academic year the Maths Department is running the Personal Finance course again, this time as a timetabled class for 4 periods instead of the Wider Achievement timetabled block of 2 periods.
We have lots of classroom content but I am looking for expertise in the community for workplace experience to add that real life aspect to a very real life course.
Topics of study include;
Ethics of money
Income and Expenditure
Different ways of storing and accessing money
The benefit system
Taxation both through PAYE and Self Employed
Insurance
Pensions
Investments (tracker funds, ISA etc)
Credit Cards
Inflation
Crimes including fraud
If anyone wants to contact me to either come into school to speak to our students or to offer an experience out of school then please email me on sharpham@edubuzz.org
Thanks,
Mr Harpham
‘The Wrap Up, with Charlie & Eva’
‘The Wrap Up, with Charlie & Eva’
Welcome to the second last edition of ‘The Wrap Up, with Charlie & Eva’, there have been lots of exciting things happening this week.
Last week the head team went to the Musselburgh Election Night where we did an Eightsome Reel. It was a fabby night with lots of dancing!
On Wednesday night the music department held the Spring Concert. There were lots of fabulous musicians and performers. It was a great night, and was also the last ever concert for our S6s. We all had lots of fun, so to everyone who took part as well as the teachers that helped to organise it!
On Thursday the S6s had their Leaving assembly. It was truly great to see everyone there as well as their parents. It had certainly been a blast throughout our whole 6 years of being here. It was definitely an emotional event for all. At the end of our assembly, we all went on a bouncy castle and had a go at being Sumo Wrestlers. All I can say is that people are looking particularly colourful from all the sharpies after the shirt signing and will have a great time trying to wash it off themselves.
Exams are coming up very soon after Easter and so there will be lots of study classes to go to. Make sure you know when they are on as they can be very helpful!
The week we come back will be our last week, which we are very sad about, however it has certainly been a blast.
We hope you have a lovely Easter, and we will see you back after the holidays!!!
Eva & Charlie
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.
Page updated
Report abuse