Dear colleagues,

It certainly feels like the term is well underway now. Thanks for your input in setting a positive and productive tone. The pace at school is super fast, so just a wee reminder that e-learning (below) should be completed along with the confirmation by 12th September.

The BBC will be in school on Friday filming the Forth Environment Link (FEL) Roadshow.  There is a special interest in our Bike Maintenance Course.

Learning, Teaching & Assessment

Our first working group of the session is on Wednesday.  Please could staff attend a brief meeting in Strathendrick at 3.45pm for a quick up date on AA from Andy Murphy.  We will break into groups from there.  

As per Michelle's email, I'm keen to support anyone who is interested in attending the ResearchEd event in Edinburgh on Saturday 1 November.  There is a link in the Pedagogy section below for you to sign up.

Raising Attainment & Achievement

Thanks to S5 and S6 FCLS who have been checking that pupils are aware of possible appeals.  The deadline for pupils to register an appeal is Tuesday at 5pm.  Here is the link to the pupils who are on grade boundaries.

Here is a link to the first draft of the School Improvement Plan for this session.  Attainment meetings will be scheduled for PTs starting 1st September. Findings from analysis should be included in Team Improvement Plans. 

Phil collated and shared an overview of subjects and areas that S6 have stated that they would be keen to support in during non-contact periods.  Please can staff follow-up directly with young people and agree suitable times and tasks.

We have agreed that senior pupils should be working in home areas during study periods.  Please can all staff join us in moving pupils away from the atrium and remind them of the expectation.

I will be letting parents and pupils know that there will be an S2 (they will be S3) London school trip on the last week of the summer term.  This is to provide a less expensive, more local alternative to the popular French Outdoor Adventure trip. If you have an interest in being part of that, please let me know.

Funding from the Parent Council

I met with Lynn Armstrong (Chair) and Annabel Gaywood (Vice Chair) on Friday. The PC wants to support us financially and plan to outline to the parent body what they are fundraising for this session.  With that in mind, staff (and pupils) are invited to make a bid for funding.  Here is a link to the funding request form. The first PC meeting is Tuesday 9th September.  Requests will be shared at this meeting. We are looking for two staff to join the Parent Council as teacher reps. Please let me know if you would be willing to do this. The commitment is to attend meetings as follows:

1. Tuesday 9th September

2. Tuesday 18 November

3. Tuesday 20 January (online)

4. Tuesday 17 March

5. Tuesday 12 May

Thank you for your hard work and professionalism. Have a great week.

Elaine