4th December 2020: The next meeting of the James Gillespie’s High School Parent Council meeting will take place on Tuesday 15 December at 7pm, and will focus on exams and assessments.
The meeting will be held on MS Teams, and we will send out the link via the school email.
If you have any questions in advance of the meeting, please send them to the Parent Council email and we will try to include them in the update.
18 November 2020
The Edinburgh City Council NE/SE Parental Engagement Locality Group met on 3 November 2020.
The Teaching, Learning and Assessment presentation delivered to the meeting, and the minutes are which took place via Microsoft Teams on 3rd November is now available
Teaching, Learning and Assessment presentation
NE/SE Parental Engagement Locality Group meeting minutes
Edinburgh City Council is seeking parents’ views in two consultations.
One is a formal consultation on the Council’s budget (closing date 10th Dec) and is available here. and the other is an informal consultation on Gaelic-medium secondary education (closing date 11th Dec) and is available here.
Posted 8 October 2020
The National Parent Forum held its AGM on Saturday19 September 2020 and hosted a Q&A meeting with Depute First Minister John Swinney.
A report of the meeting is available on the Forum website
Read the latest newsletter from the National Parent Forum
The October 2020 programme of free sessions for parents and parent groups from Connect (formerly the Scottish Parent Teacher Council) is now available.
The calendar has full details of sessions and booking links. Places are free but booking is essential.
Sessions include:
Connect has also conducted a survey asking about children’s experiences back at school. What’s changed? Are communications going well? Have blended learning plans been shared?
Read more news from Connect on their website.
8 October 2020: We would like to invite you to the next Parent Council meeting which will be our AGM and will take place online on Wednesday 14 October at 7pm.
The MS Teams link will be sent on Tuesday 13 October by the JGHS Admin team.
The proposed agenda is below.
We very much hope you will be able to join us.
17 September 2020: Below is a brief summary from the South East Locality Meeting about Digital Learning and Assessment on Thurs 10th Sept. Edinburgh Council officials update: contingency learning plans in place; developing training for teachers re blended learning and are also looking at videos for parents to help them support children with blended learning should it be needed. Schools have been asked to appoint Digital Leaders and develop a Digital Learning Strategy.
Edinburgh Council has written a Responsible User Protocol which, once signed will enable live video lessons should the need arise.
A number of digital learning resources were named:
17 September 2021: We would like to invite you to the next Parent Council meeting which will take place online on Tuesday 22 September at 7 pm. We will email out the MS Teams link on Monday 21 September from JGHS Admin team.
We will hear from:
Questions & Answers via the Q&A typed chat facility in Teams. If you would like to raise any issues or ask any questions ahead of the meeting please email us by 2 pm Monday 21 September and where possible these will be included in the presentations.
Email the Parent Council at jghscouncilcomms@gmail.com
Posted 25 August 2020
The latest newsletter from the National Parent Forum of Scotland is available.
National Parent of Scotland newsletter
There is an NPFS hosted Q&A Session with the Deputy First Minister, John Swinney, on 10 September and information on the event and the link to email questions is in the attached newsletter.
Edinburgh Council is running regular locality meetings (bringing secondary and primary school Parent Council reps from their cluster areas together with Council officials and Headteachers).
The first meeting was held on 4 August, and focussed on Health & Safety and Health & Wellbeing.
Back to school resilience – City of Edinburgh Council
The second meeting on 18 August focussed on Equalities, Equity and Inclusion and the minutes are now available.
Minutes of meeting 18 August 2020
The third meeting will focus on Teaching, Learning (including Digital) & Assessment and will take place on 9 September and the slides and links will be uploaded once available.
13 August 2020: A very warm welcome back to school after so long away, and a special welcome to new families joining us this year.
Please find some information from our HeadTeacher, Donald Macdonald
All pupils on free school lunches will be provided with a lunch in the dining room.Pupils must all bring face coverings (or masks) with them to school.
March-June: Please check out the links to our recordings of our online Parent Council meetings and Q&A information in our Minutes and Files section on our website. For up-to-date information from JGHS during the coronavirus pandemic please check out the school communications app and school emails. Please email us if you have any questions you would like the Parent Council to ask the school on your behalf.
1st March 2020: In February Edinburgh Council passed a budget for 2020/21 which includes the following:
1st March 2020: LEAPS S5 Parents’ & Carers’ Information Evening at Heriot-Watt University’s Edinburgh Campus (Riccarton) on Wednesday 25 March 2020 7-9pm. LEAPS is a widening participation programme which aims to encourage students who are traditionally underrepresented in higher education. If you are a parent or carer of an S5 LEAPS-eligible pupil, who is thinking about college or university, this event is for you.
14th Feb 2020: The Social and Fundraising Events group are raising funds to develop the school’s outdoor spaces and support pupils’ mental wellbeing. They are holding a fun quiz night compered by RIchard Melvin on Fri 28th Feb at the JGHS food hall. Doors open 7pm and the quiz starts at 7.30pm. Over 18s only. BYOB and glasses; bottle bar and snacks available’ raffle. £5 minimum donation per person. Book via ParentPay.
14th Feb 2020: JGHS is directing more of their communications via the school app and all parents and pupils are encouraged to download the school communications app here
29th Jan 2020: All secondary pupils at JGHS are invited to ENGAGE with alternative routes into career paths. Engage events are organised to help young people think creatively about the world of work, and are run for pupils from Boroughmuir and James Gillespie’s High schools. The next event is on 25th February 2020 at the Braid Hills Hotel 6.30-8pm. More information here.
21st Jan 2020: The Edinburgh Poverty Commission wants to find out what people living and working in Edinburgh know and think about poverty in their city. This survey is part of a larger project, which aims prioritise futureaction. The survey can be accessed here
5th Jan 2020: The Edinburgh Children’s Partnership Services Plan is hoping to gather the views of parents and carers on their priorities for children in the city. Edinburgh Children’s Partnership includes all the organisations which work with children and young people in the city: schools, social work, the police, health services, youth work and the voluntary sector.
Every three years, the partnership has to write a plan showing how the organisations will work together to make a difference for children and young people. This survey asks parents and carers to decide what is most important to them. The consultation is open until late January 2020 – it takes 5 mins to complete and can be accessed at https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/ecsppc.
20th Dec 2019: The next Edinburgh Council Recruitment and Selection training session for Parent Council members will be held in Liberton High School on Tuesday 14 January 2020 from 6pm until 8.30pm. If you would like to be involved in helping the school to recruit their principal, depute head and head teacher please email us.
12th Dec 2019: Spòrs Gàidhlig is offering young people and schools the opportunity to take part in a varied programme through the medium of Gaelic. Activities include gorge scrambling, climbing, nature walks, team challenges, stand-up paddle boarding, overnight expeditions as well as cultural visits. Also on offer: Ski lessons and camps through winter 2020; school residentials near Aviemore and events and programmes delivered locally in your area. These unique programmes are designed for schools offering Gaelic medium education and can additionally be offered to mixed groups where education is offered in both English and Gaelic.
18th Nov 2019: The JGHS Parent Council would like to invite everyone from our school community to our next PC meeting. We will be discussing JGHS policy and approach to addressing inappropriate behaviours, including sexual harassment of peers, online behaviours and how parents can support the school and pupils to build a respectful school community. Everyone is very welcome on Tues 26th Nov @ 7pm in the Library in the Malala building.
If you have any topics you would like raised at future PC meetings please email us 30th Oct 2019: Edinburgh Council is now consulting on the development of Darroch which is to be used as an annexe for JGHS from August 2021 to help with rising rolls and capacity. The aim is for much of Gaelic Medium Education (GME) to be relocated there, with the goal of a dedicated Gaelic Secondary School for August 2024 (location as yet to be decided). The Edinburgh Council consultation is open until 22nd November and the links are here.
27th Sept 2019: The Scottish Government is consulting on its draft framework for Out of School Care in Scotland and wants to understand what children, parents and carers, professionals and experts think about the ways in which Out of School Care can give children opportunities to play and access life-enhancing experiences and support parents to work, train or study. The consultation runs until Friday 6 December.
3rd Sept 2019: Calling all S2-S6 Pupils to ENGAGE with the Future! What do you want to study, do, be? Get expert advice from the professionals to help you decide. Engage events are organised to help young people think creatively about the world of work, and are run for pupils from Boroughmuir and James Gillespie’s High Schools and the next event is on 24 September 2019, at the Braid Hills Hotel, 6:30 to 8 p.m.
13th August 2019: Save-the-Date! Calling all parents and carers – please join us for our first meeting to set up a fundraising/social events group at JGHS on Mon 2nd September 2019 @ 7pm in the Malala Building, JGHS Library. Please help us build up our school community.
10th July 2019: Edinburgh Council’s Transport and Environment Committee is consulting on the re-procurement of two summer events during August from 2020 onwards in The Meadows and Inverleith Park. The consultation runs until 16th August and can be accessed here for The Meadows and here for Inverleith Park.
25th June 2019: Edinburgh Council’s City Centre Transformation consultation closes on Fri 28th June.
25th June 2019: Thank you to everyone for supporting our social event on Fri 26th April – tickets were sold out and it was a great evening. We would like to thank our local supporters including: Vino Wines and Barney’s Beers; Victor Hugo; Barnomadics; Scotmid; Sainsbury’s; Aldi and our local greengrocers at Argyle Place. Thanks to all of them, to our parent volunteers and to you for supporting our evening.Our main aim was to host a social event but we also raised £287.63 for school funds.
17th May 2019: James Gillespie’s Primary School has a bike bus organised for the Blackford area, going through the Astley Ainslie. They are open to JGHS students joining them. Full details here.
15th May 2019: Calling all S2 to S6 Pupils to ENGAGE with what top female professionals have to say about leadership, career choice, and how they got where they are. Engage events are organised to help young people think creatively about the world of work, and are run for pupils from Boroughmuir and James Gillespie’s High Schools and the next event is on 11 June 2019. Braid Hills Hotel, 6:30 to 8 p.m. More information here.
8th May 2019: Edinburgh Council is setting up neighbourhood networks across the city to bring together community groups, voluntary sector organisations and local councillors to identify what matters to their neighbourhood. The first meeting of the Southside Newington Neighrbourhood Network is on Monday 20th May @ 6pm at the South Side Community Centre, 117 Nicolson Street, EH8 9ER.
2nd May 2019: Please see attached about the free Connect session to be hosted by Longstone Primary at 6.30pm on 28 May. Places are free, registration is essential.
26th April 2019: Save-the-Date – social event at JGHS on 26th April @ 7pm.
21st March 2019: Information about the current WiFi Pilot project is available here
10th March 2019: Information from Edinburgh Council – the Council’s Travel Allocation Panel now oversees all home to school assisted travel for the new school session 2019-20 – application deadline is 30th April 2019.
14th Feb 2019: Connect (formerly Scottish Parent Teacher Council) February e-newsletter available here. Connect also offer free sessions for Parent Councils/PTAs. Places are free, but limited.
14th Feb 2019: The EIS is opposed to proposals from Edinburgh Council to remove nursery teachers from nursery classes, and nursery headteachers from nursery schools and would like to make sure parents are informed about this proposal. You can find out more about this issue here.
18th Jan 2019: Edinburgh Council is leading a consultation on the development of a new Physical Activity and Sport Strategy for the city and is encouraging everyone to respond to an online consultation (open until 1st Feb 2019). Consultation available here
14th Jan 2019: At our next PC meeting on Tues 22nd Jan, Ian Porter, JGHS DHT will be reviewing the Key Adult Time system and we will have updates on fundraising, capacity and WiFi. If you are not able to come along you can catch up on the latest discussions and PC news from the minutes.
8th Jan 2019: Welcome back, good luck to everyone sitting exams and remember to SAVE THE DATE for the JGHS community wine-tasting and social event on Friday 26th April 2019.
8th Jan 2019: Edinburgh Council is holding an additional meeting of the Consultative Committee with Parents for Parent Council representatives on Thursday 17 January 2019, to look at the city’s proposed budget plans. JGHS PC will be represented at that meeting and will provide a brief summary of the event at the next JGHS PC meeting on Tuesday 22nd January 2019 at the school. Please email us with any budget issues or suggestions.
19th Nov 2018: The next meeting of Edinburgh Council’s Education, Children and Families Committee on Tuesday 11th December will consider a full report on rising rolls and school roll projections and will outline options for dealing with rising rolls, including a section on JGHS and GME (Gaelic Medium Education). The papers for this meeting will be available online at the Council’s website from Tuesday 4th December.
18th Nov 2018: All are welcome to our next Parent Council meeting on Tues 26th Nov @ 7pm in the JGHS library. Our guest, Frank Carstairs, will be giving a digital learning update.
1st Nov 2018: The next South East Locality Group meeting (with cluster school PC representatives) is on 8th Nov. Edinburgh Council budget plans will be on the agenda – please email us with any comments/thoughts/questions you would like raised.
1st Nov 2018: Marchmont & Sciennes Community Council is looking for volunteers to help out at the lighting of the Community Christmas tree on Sat 24th Nov.. There will be carol singing at 4pm and music after the ceremony at the German-Speaking Church at Chalmers Crescent. If you can help please contact Alison Service here.
30th Oct 2018: SAVE THE DATE! We hope to hold a JGHS community wine-tasting and social event on Friday 26th April 2019
8th Oct 2018: Edinburgh City Council needs to make at least £106 million savings over the next four years. The challenges the Council faces will require further change to the way services operate and the Council is looking for everyone to have a say in that process. The consultation on the budget for 2019-2023 is open now until Fri 7th December. JGHS PC urges all our school community to engage with the consultation which is available here.
3rd Oct 2018: Papers were published Wed 3rd Oct for the City of Edinburgh Council’s Education, Children and Families Committee meeting on Tues 9th Oct available here. Item 7.6 includes a Strategic Report on Gaelic Medium Education (GME) which offers an overview of GME from ages 0-18 setting out possible future options.
28th Sept 2018: Our PC AGM will be on Tues 9th Oct at 7pm in the JGHS Library (Malala building). All are welcome and our invited speaker will be Frank Carstairs, who will give a digital learning update.
30th August 2018. The next Engage event on Choices is on 25th September 2018, Braid Hills Hotel, 6.30-8pm. More information here. Speakers include:
28th August 2018: Dates for your diary. The next series of ENGAGE events organised to help young people think creatively about the world of work, and run for pupils from Boroughmuir and James Gillespie’s High Schools are are follows:
• Engage: Choices. 25 September 2018, Braid Hills Hotel, 6.30 to 8 p.m.
• Engage: Alternatives. 26 February 2019, Braid Hills Hotel, 6:30 to 8 p.m.
• Engage: Female Leadership. 11 June 2019. Braid Hills Hotel, 6:30 to 8 p.m.
19th August 2018: Our next JGHS Parent Council meeting is on Tuesday 11th September at 7pm in the library in the Malala Building at JGHS. Everyone is very welcome.
15th August 2018: Welcome back to school and a special welcome to new families joining us this year. To join our mailing list, please email us.
JGHS Parent Council 