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HEAD TEACHER'S NEWSLETTER
It has been another very busy, enjoyable and productive week at the Grammar. Students and teachers are all working hard to complete courses, assignments and portfolios as we enter the last few weeks of teaching before the Easter Holidays and then embarking upon study leave.
Thank you all for your ongoing support and patience with year groups working from home this week.
For us it is business and life as usual, but my thoughts this week are on the terrible events in Ukraine where life has been turned upside down for millions of families. Please read on to hear what Anna Russell in S2 has planned to support Ukrainian families caught up in war, and support her campaign if you can.
Wishing you a peaceful weekend,
Jodie Hannan
Key Dates
Monday 7 March: S5&6 Parents’ Evening online
Staffing Update
We say farewell to Brian Cunningham, Science Technician who leaves us today after an incredible 35 years’ service to the school. Mr Cunningham is embarking upon a new career as a Digital Systems Assistant with ELC and we wish him every success in his new post.
We are currently interviewing for permanent Mathematics, Home Economics, CDT and RMPS teachers to commence in August. We are also recruiting two Science Lab assistants to take up post as soon as possible.
We welcome Mr Dias, Teacher of English, to MGS on Monday 7 March where he will be covering Mrs Kinninmont’s maternity leave until February 2023.
We have very regrettably not been able to fill any of the vacancies in Mathematics despite several recruitment campaigns. Mr MacKay, PT Mathematics outlines the plans in place for all Maths classes later on in this newsletter.
Senior Phase Study Skills
Senior Phase study skills We have distributed study packs to all S4, 5 & 6 pupils this week. Thanks to Ms Chisholm, PT Geography and History, for the printed resources, and to Mr Brown’s team of students who filled over 450 envelopes with stationery.
Guidance colleagues will also be taking pupils through how to study in a PSE lesson next week, based upon these resources, and Ms McCrorie hosted an online family learning session last night to help parents to support their child, again based on the study pack resources. This has been recorded and will be posted on the website.
The Tree of Knowledge sessions for S1 on Monday and Tuesday went very well, with positive feedback from both staff and pupils. Staff noticed that pupils responded particularly well to having a zest for learning so parents may find it useful to reinforce this at home.
Maths Department Information
At Musselburgh Grammar School we pride ourselves on recruiting the best staff to support our young people. Unfortunately, we have struggled to recruit within the Mathematics Faculty. This picture is mirrored across Scotland. Rest assured we are working with East Lothian Council to promote and advertise Maths positions regularly.
We are delighted to announce that we have been able to recruit a Maths teacher this week to commence in August. However, we are still to recruit two other full time teachers and our efforts continue.
The Mathematics Faculty have been working very hard to ensure that all classes are being taught with a subject specialist for the majority of the week. I hope you will understand that, at this crucial stage of learning, senior phase classes are being prioritised. Nevertheless, all S1-S3 classes continue to have a subject specialist for some lessons.
N5 Applications are being taught three periods a week by Mr. Chan and Mr. Mather (they have already finished the course)
4X2 are being taught three periods a week by Mrs. Lyall (they have already finished the course)
3X3 are being taught one period a week by Mr. MacKay
3Y4 are being taught one period a week by Mr. MacKay
2X1 are being taught one period a week by Mr. MacKay
2Y5 are being taught one period a week by Mr. MacKay
Mrs Hill is now working from home due to current COVID guidelines relating to pregnancy. Her tasks include:
Preparing work for her classes to attempt in the periods where they are not being taught by a Maths specialist.
Preparing work for students to attempt on google classroom. Both Mrs. Hill and I provide feedback on work that is submitted.
As with the two permanent vacancies, all of her classes will be seen by a Maths teacher for part of the week. For her Senior Phase sets,
N5 Applications of Mathematics (S5/6) will be taught by a Maths teacher for three periods a week (they have already finished the course)
N5 Maths (S4) will be taught by a Maths teacher for three periods a week (they have also finished the course)
We are aware that pupils may be having to work more independently as a result of the above. I would like to remind all pupils that the Mathematics faculty have an open door policy and are always available to help pupils in their learning. We hold study support on the following days:
Mrs Lyall: N5 – Monday after school & Higher – Tuesday after school
Mr Harpham: N5/Personal Finance/Higher – Mondays and Wednesdays after school
Mr MacKay: N5 – Tuesday after school
Mr Chan: N5 Maths and N5 Applications – Monday after school
Mr. Mather: N5 Maths and Advanced Higher – Tuesday after school
I also recommend the following online resources:
Please get in touch with me at the following email address if you have any concerns. dmackay@edubuzz.org
Kind regards,
Dave MacKay
Principal Teacher of Mathematics
Determination Fortnight
As part of our ongoing work on our MGS values of Honesty, Determination and Respect, we have planned to highlight Determination for our next focus fortnight.
Determination fortnight will run from Mon 7th March- Fri 18th March.
Determination is an important character trait for being a successful learner at MGS. You may have heard of some other words used to describe determination such as resilience, optimism or zest. All of these are key learning and employability skills we want our young people to develop from S1-S6.
Our entire school community is being asked to aim for the following targets below during this fortnight and beyond.
We will introduce the above targets with our young people via Registration classes next week.
Determination will also be highlighted in PSE lessons too.
It would be fantastic if further discussion and actions surrounding Determination could also be continued at home.
We Stand with Ukraine
Hi, my name is Anna Russell. I’m in S2. I saw what was happening on the news and I wanted to help.
I opened up my laptop and I sent Miss Trestrail an email fairly late at night. I emailed her because I knew that she would want to help. We chatted over email and we quickly got down the basic plan.
Running alongside me was another person that wanted to help. Ms Ferguson in the office saw what was happening on the news and sent an email to staff as she knew they would want to help as well.
Suddenly we had lots of people who wanted to help. My Dad offered his van to transport donations. Mrs Lock offered another van. Miss Trestrail and Miss Watson designed a poster to spread the word. Mrs Douglas’ resilience group volunteered to put up the posters around the school and Mrs Scott offered the library as a space for collections. The basic plan had evolved massively.
The donations started to pour in from staff and pupils. Miss Trestrail then emailed Luca’s and asked them to share the poster and then on the second day of donations they showed up with a van filled with donations!
Ms Hannan asked me to write this on Wednesday and I would not have been able to write this much if it wasn't for the amazing people helping out in any way they can.
This story started with a simple idea and now the idea has exploded!
If you would like to donate please keep giving your donations to the school library.
Family Learning Update
On Thursday evening Alison Chisholm (Principal Teacher of Geography and History) and Joy Burton (Mental Health Youth Worker for the Musselburgh Cluster) delivered an informative session on 'Study Skills and Exam Stress'. To parents and carers who attended, thank you for your positive feedback. For those who were unable to attend, you can also access the slides from both the 'Study Skills' and 'Exam Stress' on the MGS Family Learning Site. Additionally, a recorded version of the family learning event will be uploaded to the MGS Family Learning Site next week.
Parent and Carer Consultation on Prelim Timings
Previously, focus groups were held with a number of S4, 5 & 6 pupils regarding the timings of prelims. As a result of feedback, this session the school moved the Prelim examinations to before the Christmas break. In this short consultation, we would like to hear your views on the timing of this year's prelims. This form is linked below and will close on the 16th March 2022.
Google form: forms.gle/W4GLx8Gv5wxikeKm8
Transport Scotland
From this week, existing Young Scot and National Entitlement Card holders, aged 16-21, can now use Transport Scotland’s new mobile app to add #FreeBusTravel to their card without having to send away for a new one.
📲 Watch their video on how to use the app at:
https://www.transport.gov.scot/concessionary-travel/young-persons-free-bus-travel-scheme/#70015
Read more ➡️ bit.ly/35vLfAu
Royal Mail Apprenticeship Programme
Find out more here: jobs.royalmailgroup.com/go/Apprenticeships/698801/
Duty of Care
If pupils are feeling unwell, it is imperative that they all attend the Medical Room with Ms Harvey, who will contact parents/carers. Pupils should not text parents from their classroom and should not leave school without first attending the Medical Room, or the School Office if Ms Harvey is not available. This is to ensure pupils’ safety and wellbeing.
Thank you, Ms Harvey
Study Support Timetable
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