Sorry for missing a few weeks. It is a busy time and the blog slipped to the side of the desk. So here is a brief snapshot of the last few weeks. 22-26 May: Our promoted staff all had briefings on school performance data. It made us think fairly deeply about how we continue to […]
Category Archives: Weekly blog
21st-25th August: Welcome back and well done
My first task is to welcome everyone back to session 2017/18 and to wish those seniors who have moved on from all the best in the future. Our new S1 intake have settled in very well and this is in no small part down to the work we did all last session to help them […]
15th – 19th May: Transitions/Expectations
I finished my last blog by mentioning a personal challenge to join my son and daughter on the Baker Hughes 10K. We had set two modest targets; to complete the 10K and to raise more than £500 for Alzheimer Scotland. I am delighted to say that we exceeded our expectations on both fronts. Not only […]
8th-12th May: Stress and pressure
As this week was mental health week I wanted to reflect a little on stress and pressure. As you will know the SQA exams are now well underway and this can be a time of considerable stress for pupils and their families. Indeed the press were reporting a rise in calls to childline about […]
24th – 28th April 2017: Transitions and change
This has very much been a week where we are involved in transitions. On Thursday our P7s were through to Harlaw for a social subjects morning and on Friday Miss Douglas and I went round the 4 local Primaries meeting the P7s in their schools. As this was going on our senior pupils were completing their last […]
27th-31st March: End of term
It has been a very busy term and I know the teachers and pupils will be looking forward to a well deserved Easter break. Please remember we will not be back on Easter Monday and we return on Tuesday 18th April. Many of our non-teaching staff will be working over the Easter break getting things […]
20th-24th March: Study and revision
This week our seniors will be completing elements of coursework for sending off to SQA. After that they really need to be getting themselves organised for some intensive study and revision. I am sure any parent reading this will have their ideas about study/revision. In my senior school years I was great at making up […]
13th – 17th March: Risk taking behaviours and child protection
A few weeks back we held a set of assemblies linked with anti-weapons and knife crime. These assemblies were part of a city wide initiative aimed at keeping children safe. At the assemblies I made reference to the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child and to article 6 – the right to life. […]
6th-10th May: “Best work, first time, on time, every time”
A big focus for teachers and pupils at present is getting work complete for internal SQA deadlines. It is difficult to underestimate the importance of this work as the coursework can represent a big part of the overall course award. In addition, many pupils are trying to finish off unit assessments and re-assessments without which […]
20-24th February – Choices and changes
Choices (Course choice): There is a lot of work going on at present to ensure pupils can make informed choices. Our S2 pupils have the chance to choose a broad ‘pathway to follow in S3 giving them some specialisation but ensuring that they are not locked into life changing decisions from a very young age. […]