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HEAD TEACHER'S NEWSLETTER
Friday 31st January 2025
Friday 31st January 2025
Apologies for the delay with the newsletter due to an IT glitch. I hope you enjoy reading our news this week and had a lovely weekend.
Jodie Hannan
Key Dates
Wednesday 5th & Thursday 6th February: Coursing Days for S4 & S5
Monday 10-Friday 14 February: February Break
Monday 17 February: Inset day for staff only
Tuesday 18 February: All pupils return to school
Remember you can find all events on our school calendar, and you can add this calendar to your own too.
School security
Following the recent Safeguarding Review, we’re looking at improving various procedures we have in place in school, including auditing our medical forms, updating our Health & Safety procedures (including fire safety and building security), and tracking attendance. Parents and visitors to the school will notice some new posters at the main entrance reminding everyone to sign in at reception. We politely request that visitors do not enter the school building without a member of staff accompanying them, unless they have been directed to do so. This is to ensure the safety of everyone in the building, and we thank you for your co-operation with this.
Staffing
Interviews for Mrs Tudor’s Maths maternity leave post will be held on Monday 3 February.
Parent Council Meeting dates
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
East Lothian Review of MGS
MGS will be reviewed by East Lothian Council 3-5 March 2025. Our last Review was October 2022.
These Reviews are valuable opportunities to evaluate our work and ensure we keep improving our young peoples’ experience in school. The main questions for our self evaluation are:
How are we doing?
How do we know?
What will we do next?
The Review team will observe a number of lessons across S1-S6 over the three days and speak to a number of pupils, staff and parents in focus groups.
In preparation for the Review and for the team to gather your views, I will be sending surveys to all pupils and parents/ carers in the week beginning 3 February with a closing date of Wednesday 19 February. I would be grateful if you could take the time to complete these.
Please can you also indicate at the end of the survey if you would be happy to participate in a parent/ carer focus group held as part of the review.
Pupils will also have the opportunity to complete their surveys in PSE classes that week too. I will share further details of the Review over February and March’s newsletters.
All S3 Pupils
Pupils who have selected Foundation Apprenticeship, an East Lothian Works or College course as a subject choice, please come to the Library P2 and P3 on Tuesday the 4th February.
Pupil Voice
On Monday, eight of our pupil voice leaders, alongside Mrs Hamilton-Wylie and Mrs Donnelly attended and participated in a pupil voice meeting at the Royal High School in Edinburgh. Our pupils left with a heightened sense of pride and confidence that at MGS we have a firm strategic approach to pupil voice in place this year. The trip was an excellent chance to collaborate with another school who also have a strong pupil voice structure in place. It was an excellent fit for us to merge our pupils with other young leaders.
After the February break, all four of our pupil voice team leaders will individually present at assemblies what they have been doing this session. Jasmin Notarangelo, leader of the Equalities team and Eleanor Green leader of the Learning and Teaching team will present the week beginning 17th February. Ella Main, leader of School Improvement, and Keira McLennan, leader of House will present on week beginning 24th February.
We look forward to welcoming the Royal High Pupil Voice Leaders to one of our meetings in spring to continue our collaboration.
Senior Expectations
Ms Craigie and I held assemblies for S4, S5 and S6 last week to reiterate expectations of attendance, punctuality and commitment to courses.
The school’s mission is for all young people to excel at school and leave with the highest grade and number of qualifications possible to give them options and opportunities for life after school.
Every hour in school counts! As from today there are:
1 week until the February Holiday.
7 weeks until the Easter Holiday
8 weeks until SQA exams commence.
We all know how stressful these last few months and the exam period are, but it is critical to start preparing as early as possible and avoid panic cramming the night before an exam.
I spoke about the importance of focusing on the one or two things that will make the biggest difference to exam success in a few short months, and that this focus will be different for everyone.
Everyone in school is committed to our pupils’ success and will support and challenge them to do and be their best, but we cannot do it for them.
Study Support resources
There are a variety of resources available via MGS Revision Resource Poster on the school website > students > study resources.
You can also use the QR code to access the poster which has clickable icons. The Easter Holiday revision class programme will be published closer to the time.
eSgoil is a very valuable online resource which requires a Glow password which have been emailed to all pupils’ edubuzz accounts.
It may take a few minutes to access the resource and browse all the online revision classes and webinars but is worth it https://www.e-sgoil.com/senior-phase/study-support/
MGS Revision Resource Poster.pdf
SQA Assessment and Assignment calendar
Almost all N5, Higher and Advanced Higher courses require pupils to complete an Assignment, Dissertation, practical performance or other assessment before the SQA exam diet.
These assessments must be completed and deadlines cannot be missed.
To help pupils and parents/ carers see what is required over the next few months and plan out study time accordingly, we have collated these in a spreadsheet for all parents and pupils. This can be found on our website under 'Students', also in 'Musselburgh Learns/SQA' and will be posted in the S4, S5 and S6 Google classrooms - so you can't miss it 😀.
Maths Outreach Programme
Four students from Edinburgh University have been in school this week and last week working with Miss Berrick’s S2 Maths class. Group activities designed by the university students were completed by Miss Berrick class and prizes were given out to the winning groups and the group with the best team work. Well done to all involved.
Active Schools
Active Schools’ update- see Maria Lyle in A45 if interested.
1.SSAA Secondary Schools’ Cross Country: open to anyone interested in competing in the Scottish Schools’ Secondary Cross Country.
2. S1/S2 Girls Hockey Tournament. The school has an opportunity to compete against the other secondary schools in the area in a S1/2 hockey Tournament. Open to S1 and S2 girls.
3. Fit For Girls. East Lothian are going to be putting on a Fit For Girls programme with the aim of increasing girls participation in sport/physical activity. This will involve attending workshops and initiatives. We need 2 S3 girls to be representatives for the school.
4. Football. Football sessions will be starting up soon as part of active schools. Training will be provided by Technical Edge.
The initial sessions offered will be: Girls Football, S1 Boys, S2 Boys and S3 Boys. Bookings will be open on Booking Live soon. Maria will send a message out when it is up and running.
SCP 2025/26 College courses link
Schools College Partnership (SCP) offers a wide range of part-time college courses for S4-S6 pupils and provides greater choice in a variety of subjects which may not be available at school. SCP courses count as one of your column choices which can be added into your existing timetable. Pupils study their college course on two afternoons per week; Tuesday and Thursday afternoons.
Edinburgh College have started to publish their School College Partnership (SCP) and Full Time Courses for the next academic year, starting in August 25.
This is a link to the SCP courses, where you would attend college normally on a Tuesday/Thursday afternoon.
https://www.edinburghcollege.ac.uk/courses/for-school-pupils
The Edinburgh College website will also publish their Full Time Courses for any school leavers.
Please be mindful that whilst college are updating their website some courses from 24 are still sitting on the system, please ensure you are looking for August 25 starts!
If you require help in applying for any of the above courses, please call into B16 to make an
appointment with A Hoffman or S Dalton.
Prom 2025
Prom 2025 is currently being organised and we are looking to support our S6 students as much as we can with their prom attire; prom outfits are normally only worn once and can be costly.
We are looking for any dresses, suits, shirts, ties, shoes, bags, and jewellery. The Honest Thread will set up a pop up shop prior to prom for pupils.
If you have any pre-loved items you are able to donate please donate to the main reception FAO Ms Ritchie.
Thank you for your support.
School Trips and Activities 2024-25
School Trips and Activities 2024-25
We wrote to S1-3 parents back in November to let everyone know that we were planning activities in May, while the senior pupils are on study leave. The dates for these activities will be Tuesday 20th May, and Friday 30th May. The Tuesday trips will be to Alton Towers, Blair Drummond, or Go Ape (Tuesday 20th May), and on the Friday there will be a range of activities closer to home (MGS). On both days there will be in-school activities for those pupils who prefer to do this. Pupils in receipt of free school meals or who are care-experienced will receive funding towards their choice of trip. More information will be coming out about these very soon.
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: 89%
S3: 89%
S4: 90%
S5: 92%
S6: 90 %
SQA Exam Diet 2025
Please follow this link to see the SQA Exam timetable for Spring 2025: Exam timetable and learner apps - SQA
School Medical Records
We are updating our school medical records to ensure that we hold the most up to date and accurate information for all our pupils.
If contacted, please return paperwork as soon as possible. In some cases this is vital to ensure access to school medical equipment in the case of an emergency.
If your child has a medical need that the school does not yet know about please contact our admin office mailbox.
Medical
Polio/Dip vaccinations
All S3 Boys and Girls and also some catch ups will have received a polio/dip/meningitis form.
Please return this to school asap.
The vaccines will take place on Thursday and Friday 20th/21st March 2025.
HPV VACCINE
All S1 and also some catch ups will take place on Tuesday 3rd June 2025. Please return your
form back to school asap.
MMR VACCINE - Catch ups (only if you received a blue form) will be vaccinated on Tuesday
3rd June 2025
Reminders to parents:
Asthma: emails have been sent out regarding returning Asthma consent forms. Please return these if you have not yet done so. If your child requires an inhaler, this must be carried with them at all times.
Infection Control - if your child has had vomiting/diarrhoea, they should not return to school before 48h after the last episode. This helps limit the spread of any bugs - thank you for your co-operation.
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