14 September 2023: Connect supports parent groups and others to work with schools and educators. The latest edition of their newsletter is out now.
In September’s eNews, you’ll find lots of information and useful links, including:
Author: hilarysnaith
Small Sums Funds support for sports and classroom activities
9 September 2023: The Small Funds Fund of the JGHS Parent Council provides small grants to support and enhance the experience of youngsters in the school and in extra-curricular activities.
At the start of term we heard from some of the teachers who were awarded funds last year, just how much difference the extra support has meant:
Allocations for this year
Earlier in the summer, new applications were received from across the school – PE, Modern Studies, Science, English, Modern Languages, Art, Geography, Gaelic Medium Education and Support for Learning. A group of parents met at the end of August to assess the applications and funds have now been allocated.
This year we are delighted to be able to support a wide range of activities that will benefit many pupils across the school. For example, sports strips and gym leotards, resources for a photography club, subscriptions to newspapers and magazines, digital maps, language online textbooks and playground sports equipment.
More details are available below:
Applications Received for 2023/24 (opens as pdf)
Small Sums Fund Allocations 2023/24 (opens as pdf)
Small Sums Fund Summary 2015-2023 (opens as pdf)
Please consider donating
Please consider if you would be able to donate as little as £5 to the Small Sums Fund, or more if you can, to help the Paret Council to continue supporting these activites for all our pupils. If you would like to help, please login to ParentPay via the link below, and contribute directly through the ‘Parent Council Fundraising’ option.
Thank you!
Recording of PC meeting 5 September now available
7 September 2023: Many thanks to everyone who was able to attend the meeting of the JGHS Parent Council on Tuesday 5 September.
The recording of the meeting is now available on YouTube:
JGHS Parent Council 5 September 2023 – listen again
You can also download a brief note of the meeting, a copy of the presentation on SQA results given by Mr Nigel Cotter, DHT, the Headteacher’s report and details of the School Improvement Plan for 2023-24.
Note of JGHS PC meeting 5 September 2023
SQA results, tracking and reporting
JGHS Parent Council meeting on 5 September 2023
25 August 2023: This year’s first Parent Council meeting will be on Tuesday 5 September at 7pm.
This will be an online meeting and will be an opportunity to find out about the work of the PC and what is happening at the school in the new term. The joining link will be shared by the school before the meeting.
We would like to extend a warm welcome to all parents and carers, especially those who are new to the School. We have prepared a brief note about PC with more information about our responsibilities and activites:
About the JGHS PC, August 2023
Meeting agenda
- Update on Parent Council activities, Parent Council Chair Sarah Scott
- Head teacher update, HT Neil McCallum
- Update on SQA results, DHT Nigel Cotter
- Q&A
Questions for the meeting can be raised in advance by email and we will try to include them in the updates:
There will also be the opportunity to raise questions via the Q&A typed chat facility on the night.
Finance report
Details of the bank account activity since the previous Parent Council meeting on 31 May 2023 is available:
Finance report for 5 September 2023
Meetings for 2023/24
This year’s PC meetings will once again be mixture of online and in-person meetings:
- Tuesday 5 September 2023 (online)
- Wednesday 11 October 2023 – AGM (in person)
- Tuesday 28 November 2023 (online)
- Wednesday 31 January 2024 (in person)
- Tuesday 19 March 2024 (online)
- Wednesday 29 May or 5 June 2024 (in person) – to be confirmed
JGHS girls’ sport supported by the Small Sums Fund
28 August 2023: The Parent Council heard from two of the recipients of last year’s Small Sum Fund (SSF) about the imapct the funds have had.
Girls gymnastics
Kerry Jones in the PE department received an award last year to purchase a set of matching team leotards for the about girls gymnastics team.
The team was able to attend a competition last year due to the small sums award, and the gymnasts loved their new smart leotards.
Kerry Jones, PE Department
Girls football
The award to the girls’ football teams was used to buy strips for a range of teams as the number of girls involved in JGHS continued to grow. The 2022-23 year was the school’s busiest and most successful year yet, with around 92 girls across JGHS involved in football.
The teams had the following notable achievements:
- Champions of S1-3 football festival at Broughton (for beginners)
- S1/2 local involvement in SPAR Cup and SSFA sevens competitions
- S3/4 runners up in National SPAR Cup finals (having proceeded through local and regional rounds first)
- Senior girls were Scottish Cup semi-finalists – a huge achievement and the furthest any Gillespie’s team has ever gone.
Our proudest achievements were in both our U15 and Senior sides being crowned Edinburgh league champions for their respective leagues this year. This is the first year these leagues have been introduced – having our name be the first engraved on both trophies is historic, and hopefully the beginning of something that will build and be sustained over the years.
In this respect, Gillespies are leading the way for girls’ football in Edinburgh which is testament to the passion, enthusiasm and togetherness of our students.
Frank Carstairs, PE Department
New Connect newsletter just out!
23 August 2023: Connect, the organisation providing support, advice and resources for parent councils and PTAs, has just published its first newsletter of the new session.
Read the Connect newsletter here
The August edition has links to a range of information including:
- SQA Results Day and Advice
- Celebrating Parental Engagement and 75 Years of Connect
- Connect’s Parent/Carer Survey Report: Minimum Number of Learning Hours
- COVID-19 Inquiry
- Education News
Sign up for the newsletter
If you would like to receive your own copy of the newsletter please sign up on the registration page:
Children 1st Parentline Helpline Volunteers
23 August 2023: The Helpline Volunteers at Children 1st Parentline support families across Scotland every day of the yearby phone, webchat and email.
Volunteer for Parentline
Children 1st Parentline are looking for new Helpline Volunteers at their main office on Whitehouse Loan, Edinburgh, and the next training course starts on Saturday 23 September.
The initial training course ensures that volunteers have the skills and knowledge they need to feel confident in the role and Children 1st provide ongoing support and opportunities to develop in the role.
How to apply
If this is something you’d like to be part of, please see the Helpline Volunteer – Children 1st Parentline website for more information about the role and how to apply.
Children 1st Parentline Helpline Volunteers
Alternatively, please contact Ali Boyes, the Helpline Supervisor:
Welcome back to school!
16 August 2023: It’s hard to believe that nearly 7 weeks of holidays are over already. We hope that you were able to find time to rest, relax and recover over the summer, despite the rather soggy conditions that prevailed for much of the time, and that you are ready for all the new school year will bring. Welcome back!
First meeting of the year
The Parent Council will be hosting meetings both online and in-person over the 2023/24 session.
The first meeting will be held online on Tuesday 5 September at 7 pm. All parents and carers are very warmly invited to join with us; the link to join the meeting will be sent by the school.
If you have any questions or points that you would like to raise, please get in touch by email. And if you are interested in getting more involved, and would like to join the Parent Council, we’d also be delighted to hear from you.
Future meetings
The dates of the meetings for the rest of the year are below:
- Wednesday 11 October 2023 – AGM (in person at the school)
- Tuesday 28 November 2023 (online)
- Wednesday 31 January 2024 (in person at the school)
- Tuesday 19 March 2024 (online)
- Wednesday 29 May or 5 June 2024 (in person at the school) – to be confirmed
Skills Development Scotland helpline
3 August 2023: With results day just around the corner, the SQA has provided details about the help and advice available from Skills Development Scotland:
This year’s Results Helpline on 0808 100 8000 will be open:
- Tuesday 8 and Wednesday 9 August – 8am to 8pm
- Thursday 10 and Friday 11 August – 9am to 5pm
There will be more than 30 expert volunteers to take calls from 8am on Tuesday, 8 August until Friday 11 August.
They will provide all callers with bespoke information, advice and support tailored to meet their individual needs.
More information is available on their website:
Skills Development Scotland Helpline
Access to Skills Development Scotland is available all year round through local career centres, the My World of Work website, and through in-school careers advisers. The number to call when the Results Helpline closes is 0800 917 8000.
Appeals 2023 – a guide for parents and carers
27 July 2023: The SQA has published a guide for parents and carers with information to consider if children decide to submit an appeal.
Appeals 2023 – a guide for parents and carers
Overview of Appeals 2023
Learners will receive their results certificate, delivered to their home address by first class post, on Tuesday 8 August. Those who have signed-up for and activated their MySQA account will also receive their results by text and/or email the same morning from 8 am.
Appeals 2023 will open on Tuesday 8 August at 9 am. The service provides learners with the opportunity to request a marking review if they have concerns about their certificated grade.
The appeals service is free and will be open for learners to appeal either directly to SQA, or through their school.
Further information is available on the blog.
A downloadable booklet is also available:
Appeals 2023 – What you need to know: Nat 5, Higher and Adv Higher
JGHS Parent Council 