18 November 2014

Year	Content                                                         Date 18.11.2014
S1	**Update** - Christmas Shoebox Appeal We are now working with Children 1st for our shoe box appeal.  There are many advantages to this.  The pupils at Gillespie’s will not need to pay to cover the cost of overseas shipping, we have a longer period of time to collect the boxes and we can support a local charity. The appeal itself continues as normal.  Children 1st are delighted to receive shoe boxes of presents for the families that they work with.  The only changes are you no longer need to include £3 and they can also accept boxes for children aged 13-16yrs so we have an extra age category to cater for.    Suggested Items:  Hygiene items such as wrapped soap, toothpaste, toothbrush, facecloth, comb, hairbrush.  Stationary items such as pens, pencils, ruler, rubber, notepad, colouring book.  Small toys such as yo-yo, toy car, dolls, skipping rope, ball, small puzzles.  Other items such as hat, gloves, sunglasses, jewellery, wrapped sweets.   Do not include: war related items such as toy guns, chocolate, liquids, lotions, anything of a political, racial or religious nature, marbles, sharp objects, glass or fragile items or clothing other than hats, cap, gloves or scarf.   Let me know when your box is completed and I will come and collect it or hand it in to me in SFL. Remember to label your box with either boy/girl and the age.     Mrs Fallon
S2	**Update** - Christmas Shoebox Appeal We are now working with Children 1st for our shoe box appeal.  There are many advantages to this.  The pupils at Gillespie’s will not need to pay to cover the cost of overseas shipping, we have a longer period of time to collect the boxes and we can support a local charity. The appeal itself continues as normal.  Children 1st are delighted to receive shoe boxes of presents for the families that they work with.  The only changes are you no longer need to include £3 and they can also accept boxes for children aged 13-16yrs so we have an extra age category to cater for.    Suggested Items:  Hygiene items such as wrapped soap, toothpaste, toothbrush, facecloth, comb, hairbrush.  Stationary items such as pens, pencils, ruler, rubber, notepad, colouring book.  Small toys such as yo-yo, toy car, dolls, skipping rope, ball, small puzzles.  Other items such as hat, gloves, sunglasses, jewellery, wrapped sweets.   Do not include: war related items such as toy guns, chocolate, liquids, lotions, anything of a political, racial or religious nature, marbles, sharp objects, glass or fragile items or clothing other than hats, cap, gloves or scarf.   Let me know when your box is completed and I will come and collect it or hand it in to me in SFL. Remember to label your box with either boy/girl and the age. Mrs Fallon
S3	**Update** - Christmas Shoebox Appeal We are now working with Children 1st for our shoe box appeal.  There are many advantages to this.  The pupils at Gillespie’s will not need to pay to cover the cost of overseas shipping, we have a longer period of time to collect the boxes and we can support a local charity. The appeal itself continues as normal.  Children 1st are delighted to receive shoe boxes of presents for the families that they work with.  The only changes are you no longer need to include £3 and they can also accept boxes for children aged 13-16yrs so we have an extra age category to cater for.    Suggested Items:  Hygiene items such as wrapped soap, toothpaste, toothbrush, facecloth, comb, hairbrush.  Stationary items such as pens, pencils, ruler, rubber, notepad, colouring book.  Small toys such as yo-yo, toy car, dolls, skipping rope, ball, small puzzles.  Other items such as hat, gloves, sunglasses, jewellery, wrapped sweets.   Do not include: war related items such as toy guns, chocolate, liquids, lotions, anything of a political, racial or religious nature, marbles, sharp objects, glass or fragile items or clothing other than hats, cap, gloves or scarf. Let me know when your box is completed and I will come and collect it or hand it in to me in SFL. Remember to label your box with either boy/girl and the age.     Mrs Fallon
S4
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S6
All years	**NEW ITEM** The Spark – school magazine   S1-S3: We are still looking for enthusiastic journalists to join our magazine club ‘The Spark’. Please come along to W6 Thursday lunchtime for more information.   We are looking for anyone interested in: ·         opinion articles, ·         current affairs, ·         sports reports, ·         reviews ·         artists ·         or anyone who has any interesting suggestions for features to include!   Miss McKenzie     ** NEW ITEM**     CHRISTMAS CONCERT - 4 WEEKS TO GO   There are now only 4 weeks of rehearsals left until the JGHS Christmas Concert at the Usher Hall. Attendance therefore at every rehearsal is essential in the lead-up to the concert.   CHOIR REHEARSALS: S1 choir                 every Monday lunchtime in B1                                                                               S2/3 choir             every Wednesday lunchtime in B1    *S2/3 CHOIR WILL REHEARSE AS NORMAL THIS WED. 19TH NOV                                                                                                Senior choir          every Wednesday after school in B1 Chamber choir      every Thursday after school in B3   INSTRUMENTAL GROUPS: Junior Wind Band                   every Monday lunchtime in B3 Senior Wind Band                  every Monday after school in B3 Training String Orchestra      every Tuesday after school in B3 Senior String Orchestra         every Tuesday after school in B1 Clarsach Ensemble                 every Tuesday lunchtime in B13 Percussion Ensemble             every Wednesday lunchtime in B16  Chanters/Pipe Band               every Thursday after school in B1   CHRISTMAS CONCERT​ - TICKETS NOW ON SALE!   ​Tickets are now on sale directly from the Usher Hall box office or website, priced from £6 - £10. Pupils not performing in the concert should come along and support a wonderful school event, one week before Christmas!     Word of the Week Congratulations to 2K2 for coming up with this week’s word! Use this word in an appropriate context throughout the week.   A is for annihilate!   Definition: Annihilate (verb) – to destroy completely.   Context: Anti-grammarians are attempting to annihilate the apostrophe.     Start thinking of words beginning with “B” for next week.   M Roskilly Debating and Public Speaking Debating and public speaking has moved to every Wednesday, instead of Monday, after school in W7.  New participants are always welcome and no previous debating experience is necessary.   Forthcoming events:   Monday 1st December – we have been invited to participate in an all-day debating competition to be held at the Scottish Parliament. One debater from JGHS will work in a team with a university student. If you would like to be considered, or be in the audience, come to debating club or if you cannot manage today then give your name to Mr Roskilly or Mr McPhail. Be quick as places are limited.   Thursday 4th December—JGHS will be hosting and participating in a debate on the relationship between the E.U. and the U.K. Other schools involved are: Craigmount High School; George Watson’s; St Mary’s Music School. Come along and support your school and fellow pupils!     M Roskilly                                                                          EDINBURGH Fiddle Festival 2014 Learn to play, listen or dance with the wonderful music from the Fiddle Festival 21st-23rd November EDINBURGH The Queen's Hall & Summer Hall                                             www.scotsfiddlefestival.com   ALL PUPILS All pupils that have an instrumental lesson at 8.50am MUST report to the office at the bottom of Bruntsfield House to register they are present.  Absence calls will go home to parents if pupils do not register.