25 November 2014

Year	Content                                                         Date 25.11.2014
S1	**Update** - Christmas Shoebox Appeal (S1-S3) 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   See above
S3	**Update** - Christmas Shoebox Appeal   See above
S4
S5	South Africa Trip 2016   Reminder – Information Evening Thursday 27th November At 7pm in the Resource Centre, Darroch For the parents & pupil who are interested in attending the trip in February 2016
S6
All years	**NEW ITEM** Lost property Reclaim   Friday 28th November – break time in the foyer   Mrs Summers     St. Andrew’s Day Celebrations 28th November, Break Time, Lauderdale/Darroch   DARROCH 1. 2 Pipers (Adam) piping in Darroch as the bell goes, leaving the Darroch campus after around 2 minutes (alt. covered by umbrellas if it rains) 2. Pipers accompanied by enthusiastic S6s with placards and Dominic from Pupil Voice. 3. Arrive at Lauderdale 11.05am. LAUDERDALE 1. Piping on grass outside of Spylaw (alt. covered walkway into Spylaw if it rains) 2. Roise (fiddle) and Finlay (clarsach) playing for S6 highland dancing in Quad (alt. in canteen if it rains) 3. Bake sale (S6-run) and face-painting (events committee) Scottish flags in canteen (alt. in Warrender hallway if it rains) MARKETING 1. Assembly presentation by S6 Pupil Voice - who St. Andrew was / significance 2. Posters in school 3. Word of mouth (via Pupil Voice representatives) Note; Students travelling from Darroch>Lauderdale>Darroch may be late getting back to class for third period. Set up; Molly, Dominic, Adam, David, Miriam, Carolyn and certain members of the events committee have agreed to help with setting up at Lauderdale during period 2.   Blatant self-promotion (with a little helpful fund-raising)   A few years ago, I was lucky enough to have a small publishing company called The Rialto accept my collection of poems, ‘Outswimming The Eruption’, for publication.  Poetry does not sell well in the commercial market, and the company have recently sold the final 90 copies to me at cost, because they think I am more likely to have some luck promoting the book myself than they are now.  The ‘cost’ price is £5; the cover price is £8.50.   If any parent, pupil or staff colleague is interested in buying a copy (perhaps for a Christmas present?), please come and see me with cash or cheque.  Feel free to pay the cost price, but if you pay the cover price, then I will donate my £3.50 ‘profit’ to the Parents’ Events Group Fund to be used to purchase resources for the pupils.  The only benefit to me will be a few more readers!   Allan Crosbie     LONDON DANCE TRIP 2015 A reminder that the next payment of £50 is due on FRIDAY 28TH NOVEMBER.  There will also be a short meeting at break time on that same Friday in the Library.  Attendance is essential!   Miss Falconer   Word of the Week There were some fantastic entries for Word of the Week: especially bourgeois (2M4), biodegradable (1K2) and banter (5K3 and 4) but the winner is…   Word of the week from 1K1 Besmirch (verb) Definition: to soil, dirty. Context: The politician used rumours to besmirch his rival’s reputation.   This week’s word should begin with C.   M Roskilly.   Pupil  Council meeting Period 2 on Tuesday 25 November   Can all class reps for the Junior school report to The library period 2 Can all class reps for the senior school attend the Meeting room at Darroch, period 2   (Any rep unable to attend please let one of the S6 leaders know ) Thank you S6 Leaders   NB. Can teachers please release S6 leaders URGENT NOTICE FOR ALL PUPILS INVOLVED IN THE CHRISTMAS CONCERT All pupils must ensure they have been issued a letter at rehearsals which details vital concert information. If not, please come to the music dept. to pick one up. The names of every pupil in the concert will appear in the programme. Lists of these pupils’ names will be posted outside the classroom assistants' office in Warrender for one week only, from Monday 24th to Friday 28th November. Pupils MUST check that their name is on the correct list and spelt correctly. Please place a tick against your name once you've checked this.   Mrs O’Brien CHRISTMAS CONCERT - 3 WEEKS TO GO   There are now only 3 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                                                                                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!   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 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.