To all Parents and Carers
Head Teacher Update – August 2015
Welcome to
my first blog of the new term. I hope to keep you updated with key issues
regarding school life and I welcome any feedback regarding the content of the
blog or any other school matter. This year each blog will contain a values
focus and I will attempt to highlight why we have chosen each of our school
values and how important they are in playing a part in supporting our young
people to become safe, happy, healthy and active citizens in our community.
We are
delighted that our new academic session is underway and we have welcomed all
our pupils back to school.
Year Group Assemblies
The
academic session began with year group assemblies when we discussed our new
vision and values and what this means for our community. As Head Teacher of
Gracemount I am determined that we become a values based school and that all
members of our community know and understand what we stand for. Whilst this may
take some time to embed I believe we have made an excellent start and will
continue to make this a real focus as we strive to continuously improve in all
aspects.
I also
revisited the new behaviour policy for this session. Students had been informed
of changes in June, however I felt it was important to reiterate these again
for all pupils. An information leaflet is attached to explain the new behaviour
procedures. As we continue to move towards achieving our Rights Respecting
School status, we maintain our commitment to embedding restorative practice.
Putting the needs of our young people first is central to who we are as a
school community as is maintaining our high standards and expectations. Should you have any questions about changes
to the behaviour policy, please contact your child’s guidance teacher or any
member of the school leadership team.
A dress
code leaflet is also attached for information and I am delighted that the
standard of dress at the start of term has been excellent. I wish to
acknowledge your contribution as parents and carers for ensuring your young
person adheres to our expectations regarding dress for school. Our challenge is
to maintain the standards set at the start of term and your support in this is
vital.
School Summer Works
A
programme of summer works has taken place and a number of areas across the
school have been refreshed. The school looks great and I hope, when you visit,
you will notice changes to the feel and look of the school. One significant
change has been the introduction of our vision and values boards. These are immediately
evident when you enter the school and certainly give any visitor an immediate
sense of what we stand for. I look forward to you visiting the school shortly
and hearing your thoughts.
SQA Results
We are
currently in the midst of extensively analysing the SQA performance of our
young people in the senior phase and I will be producing, in due course, an
attainment report which I will discuss with Local Authority colleagues and with
members of the Parent Council. I will of course ensure that the key findings of
this report are made available to you.
Initial
impressions are positive with many of our young people performing very well and
there have been some outstanding individual performances. It is important to recognise
your contribution. A supportive home background has a significant impact on
each individual’s attainment and we know that where school and parents/carers
work collaboratively and collectively, improved results can be achieved.
We will be
working hard across all areas and setting some very ambitious attainment
targets for the years ahead to ensure that we continue to improve as a school.
Nevertheless, whilst performance in SQA exams is vitally important, it is not
the only measure of how young people learn and develop at Gracemount High
School. I believe it is equally important to ensure young people are given wider
opportunities and are encouraged to develop their character as well as achieving
their full potential academically. Being a good person, being happy, and
developing the skills required to make a positive contribution to their own and
other lives is a very important part of who we are and we will continue to give
this parity of esteem with performance in SQA examinations.
Core Priorities
Our
improvement plans have been written and our Vision 2020 sets out 5 key
priorities:
1. Learning and Teaching – Deliver the highest
quality learning and teaching experience for all our learners.
2.
Ethos -
Work and learn in a safe, happy, inclusive, nurturing and respectful
environment
3.
Student
Support - Provide the highest level of personal support by knowing our students
and supporting their needs.
4.
Curriculum
- Develop our curriculum and ensure all our learners are on a pathway to a
positive and sustainable destination.
5.
Self-Evaluation
- Demonstrate a relentless commitment to self-evaluation and continuous
improvement.
We will be releasing
a parent information video in due course highlighting key aspects of our
improvement plan. We will notify all parents and carers when this is available.
Staffing
We have
been delighted to welcome back Mr Macdonald after an extensive period of
absence. Although he is on a phased return, he will be absent again for a short
period to undergo a planned medical procedure. In the meantime supply cover is
in place to cover his absence and support his phased return to work.
An
appointment will be made shortly for a full time teacher of Biology. In the
meantime Mrs Kane is covering all Biology classes.
An
appointment will be made shortly for a full time Curriculum Leader for Health
and Well-Being. In the meantime Mr Gregor is currently acting up in this role
and Miss Greig has been appointed as cover in PE.
Many
parents will be aware that Mrs Lowe has retired. Miss Livingston from Modern
Studies has been appointed on an acting basis until a full time appointment is
made.
An
appointment will be made shortly for a full time Support for Learning Leader.
Key Dates
S1 Reporting and Parent Consultation
Evening
- 30 September Settling in Parent Information Evening
- 1 Dec 1st Report with elective subject choices for confirmation
- 9 May 2nd S1 tracking Report issued
- 18 May Parent Consultation Evening
S2
into S3 – Reporting, Parent Consultation Evening and Option Process – Key dates
·
30
October – 1st
S2 Tracking report issued
·
11
January - Option
booklet available via school website
·
19
January - Options
evening
·
8
February - 2nd
S2 Tracking report issued
·
11 February - S2 option form issued
·
3
March - S2
Parent Consultation Evening
·
7
March -
S2 Option form return deadline
·
18
March - S2
interviews complete and options finalised
S3
into S4 – Reporting, Parent Consultation Evening and Option Process – Key dates
- 16 November - 1st S3 Tracking Report issued
- 11 January - Option booklet available via school website
- 18 January - Option form issued to S2 students
- 19 January - Options Evening
- 28 January - 2nd S3 tracking report issued
- 28 January - S3 Parent Consultation Evening
- 5 February - Options forms deadline for return
- 29 February - S2 interviews to be completed and options finalised
S4/S5/6 - Reporting, Parent Consultation
Evening and Option Process – Key dates
- 5 October - 1st Tracking report issued
- 11 January - Full reports completed and checked
- 11 January - Option booklet available via school website
- 18 January - Full reports issued
- 18 January - Option form issued for S3-5 students
- 19 January - Options Evening
- 4 February - Parent Consultation Evening
- 22 February - Options form deadline for return
- 11 March - S3-55 student interviews completed and options finalised
- 21 March - 2nd Tracking report issued
S4-6 Formal Assessment– Key Dates
- 23 November – Formal Assessment Week 1
- 30 November – Formal Assessment Week 2
- 24 February – Formal Assessment Week 3 (Optional)
S4 -6 – Study Leave
There will be no formal study leave for
formal assessments in weeks 1, 2 and 3.
From week beginning 2 May students will be
involved in a two week catch up/revision timetable. All students will remain
timetabled in school until Friday 13 May.
Where a student has an external
examination, they will be given three days off timetable prior to the exam in
order to revise at home. Classes will run as normal and they will be permitted
to attend the relevant class both to revise and seek advice from the class
teacher. This will however be optional.
From 16 to 27 May students who have more
than 3 external examinations will be permitted study leave but will also have
the option of opting in to Meaningful May activities. Those without external
examinations will participate in a Meaningful May Project.
From Monday 30 May the new timetable will
begin and all students will start their new classes.
Time for Reflection Programme
The time for reflection programme is
designed to develop every learner as an individual. This means helping them to
grow and develop their own sense of self, to be confident in expressing their
own beliefs and values and to develop and understand empathy towards others.
They will use this time for reflection to celebrate the shared values of the
school community and recognise the wide range of social and cultural beliefs
which exist in our community. Please refer to our school website for further
details regarding the time for reflection programme.
Values Focus - Instilling Resilience
All our
new S1 students are involved in our Instilling Resilience Programme. This will
be ongoing throughout the session, led by Mrs Sinclair and other key staff
across the school. We look forward to telling you more about the programme and
of course instilling resilience in all our learners.
Resilience is about ‘bouncing back’ from what life
throws at us. It is about being internally strong and able to adapt well to
changes and challenges. It is about flourishing in life, despite circumstances.
If children
are resilient they will be able to cope better with problems, they will enjoy
good health and they will be happier and more fulfilled. They will also be less
likely to develop emotional problems like depression or anxiety.
But
resilience is not just something you have or do not have. The good news is that
all children can become more resilient. We cannot protect children from
all the things which may cause them distress but we can help children
become more resilient so that they are more able to cope with life’s uncertainties
and problems. All children, no matter what their background, will have to face
problems and challenges in their lives. So support in school is really
important in helping them to develop a resilient spirit.
Research has
shown that resilient children:
- Have good relationships because they are caring, flexible, can understand others’ feelings and can laugh at themselves and situations.
- Are independent, active and confident that they can get things done.
- Have a sense of purpose and hope for the future.
- Feel that they are worthwhile and can make a difference.
- Have support from their families and communities.
- Are expected to do well by their families and communities.
For information on how to help
your child become more resilient please visit the website here.
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Kind regards
Ross Hunter
Head Teacher
