Easter Newsletter 2016 - Currie High Schoolcurriehighschool.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/Easter... · 2016-03-23 · Friday, 8 & Saturday, 9 April 2016 Bronze DofE Qualifying

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Easter Newsletter

March 2016

Currie Community High School

The news at a glance: • Introduction • Our Vision Statement • Dates for your Diary • Easter Study Programme • Celebration of Wider

Achievement Event • SQA National

Examinations 2016 • CCHS’s 50th Birthday

Celebrations • Late Detentions • Norovirus/Sickness/

Diarrhoea Rules • Senior Citizens’ Concert • Careers in Theatre • Mentors in Violence

Prevention • World Book Day • Support for Pupils—

Twitter • S5 Students—LEAPS • College Applications • Girls in STEM Edinburgh

Event • CCHS GSA News • Fair Trade Fortnight • Chogoria News • Prince’s Trust S3 xl • Top Marks for German

Assessments • Go4SET 2016 • Growth Mindset

Workshop for Parents • S3 Prefects Facilitate

Transition Day at

Phone: 0131 449 2165Phone: 0131 449 2165Phone: 0131 449 2165Phone: 0131 449 2165

Website: Website: Website: Website: www.currie.edin.sch.ukwww.currie.edin.sch.ukwww.currie.edin.sch.ukwww.currie.edin.sch.uk

Admin EAdmin EAdmin EAdmin E----mail Address:mail Address:mail Address:mail Address:

[email protected]@[email protected]@currie.edin.sch.uk

Leadership Team: Senior Leadership Team: Head Teacher - Doreen MacKinnon (Year Head S6) Depute Head Teacher - Percy Farren (Tuesday-Thursday) (Year Head S1—K2, L1 & L2 & S5) Depute Head Teacher - Clive Walton (Monday—Wednesday) (Year Head S1—H1, H2 & K1 & S4) Depute Head Teacher - Alan McKinney (Year Head S2 and S3) Business Manager - Phill Pache Pupil Support Leaders: Hermiston - Duncan McBride Kinleith - Hazel Moar Lennox - Louise Paterson (Mon-Wed) - Kerry Ellis (Acting) (Thurs & Fri) Support for Learning Leader: Amanda Wilson Curriculum Leaders: Lesley Muir - English, Media Studies and Literacy Claire Mulvey - Expressive Arts Rob Greenaway - Health and Wellbeing Kirsti Dower - Maths and Numeracy Catherine Mackenzie - Modern Languages Ian Manderson—Science David Toal - Social Subjects John Schmidt - Technologies School Chaplains: Jim Dewar, Minister, Juniper Green Parish Church Easter Smart, Minister, Currie Kirk

Keep up to date with news through our Daily Bulletin which can be accessed on

the website by clicking on “Information” then “Bulletin”.

Introduction

Welcome to our Easter Newsletter.

We are rapidly approaching the end of one

of the busiest terms in the school calendar.

Our staff and our senior students have been

focused on completing Unit Assessments,

folios and preparing for the SQA diet of

examinations which begin early in May.

Please see details of SQA study leave on

Page 5. I am confident that our senior

students are on track to achieve good results

and maintain the high standards which we

all expect of Currie students. Inside you will

also find details of our Easter Study School.

Please do encourage your child to take

advantage of these extra classes during the

Easter holiday.

You will be aware that the school was

inspected by HM Inspectors in February this

year. The letter to Parents and Carers and

the quality indicators will be published on

the Education Scotland website at

www.educationscotland.gov.uk and on the

school website at www.currie.edin.sch.uk on

29 March 2016. I will provide full details,

after the publication date, of our plans to

take the school forward on the next stage in

our journey towards excellence building on

the strengths and the areas for

development highlighted in the inspection

letter.

Thank you for your continued support of the

school and for ensuring that your child

upholds the values of the school on a daily

basis.

I wish you a lovely Easter holiday.

Doreen MacKinnon

Head Teacher

Currie Community High School Newsletter

March 2016

Our Vision Statement:

‘DON’T LIMIT YOUR CHALLENGES, CHALLENGE YOUR LIMITS’.

The aims of the school and the key principles underpinning the school’s ethos, its visions and values and, indeed, all aspects of the life and work of the school are:

• To create an environment within which all young people at Currie Community High School are challenged and supported to: attain qualifications at the highest level possible; to achieve their full potential through a range of opportunities for personal development; to develop skills for learning, life and work and become successful learners, confident individuals, effective contributors and responsible citizens; and move into positive and sustained destinations

• To promote equality and inclusion; celebrate diversity; and remove barriers to learning

• To promote Learning for Sustainability (outdoor learning, global citizenship, education for sustainable development) and Social Justice.

• To journey towards excellence for all and in all areas of the school’s life and work including learning and teaching and the curriculum

Our Values:

Confidence

• To perform to the best of your ability

• To seize every important opportunity

• To try something new

• To accept others and yourself

• To be enthusiastic and motivated to learn

Unity

• Supportive to others

• Unified commitment to improvement

• Appreciating achievements of all kinds

Respect

• Those around you

• Differences

• Yourself

• The Environment

Responsible

• For freedom of expression

• Being safe and making good choices

• Your own actions

• For participating in the life and work of our community

Initiative

• Mistakes are okay as long as you learn from them

• Achieve your own goals through developing skills for life, learning and work

• Show determination, resilience and ambition

Equality

• Accept all aspects of social and cultural life regardless of personal belief while developing your own beliefs and values

• Treat others as you would wish to be treated

• Show care towards those who may need help

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March 2016

Dates for your diary Thursday, 24 March 2016 TERM ENDS Friday, 25 March—Friday, 8 April 2016 EASTER HOLIDAY Friday, 25 & Saturday, 26 March 2016 Bronze DofE Practice Expedition Friday, 1 & Saturday, 2 April 2016 Bronze DofE Practice Expedition Friday, 8 & Saturday, 9 April 2016 Bronze DofE Qualifying Expedition Monday, 11 April 2016 ALL RESUME Wednesday, 13 April 2016 Higher History Extended Essay (p 3 & 4) Friday, 15 & Saturday, 16 April 2016 Bronze DofE Qualifying Expedition Monday, 18 April 2016 SPRING HOLIDAY—SCHOOL CLOSED Tuesday, 26 April 2016 Celebration of Achievement (7.00 pm) Monday, 2 May 2016 MAY DAY HOLIDAY—SCHOOL CLOSED Tuesday, 3 May 2016 ALL RESUME Thursday, 5 May 2016 In-Service Day Friday, 6 May 2016 ALL RESUME Friday, 13 May 2016 S3 Full Reports & S3 Profiles issued S4 Silver Group Duke of Edinburgh Training Day 10.45 am—3.30 pm (Pentlands) Monday, 23—Friday, 27 May 2016 S3 Work Experience Week Friday, 27 May 2016 Big Voice Competition—S1/S2 (P 1-3) S2 Tracking Reports Issued Monday, 30 May 2016 Change of timetable Thursday, 2 June 2016 Parents in Partnership AGM (7.00 pm) Friday, 3 June 2016 S1 Full Reports Issued S6 Leavers’ Lunch (12.30 pm) Tuesday, 7 June 2016 Area Strings Concert Wednesday, 8 June 2016 P7 Parents’ Meeting (7.00-9.00 pm) S4 Silver Group Duke of Edinburgh Training Day 8.30 am—3.30 pm (Pentlands) Thursday, 9—Sunday, 12 June 2016 Modern Languages Paris Trip Friday, 10 June 2016 S4 Silver Group Duke of Edinburgh Training Day 8.30 am —3.30 pm (Pentlands) Wednesday, 15 June 2016 Awards Ceremony (7.00 pm) Thursday, 16 June—Saturday, 18 June 2016 S4 Silver Group Duke of Edinburgh Training Day—Practice Expedition (the Ochils tbc) Friday, 17 June 2016 S6 Prom, Balmoral Hotel Tuesday, 21 – Thursday, 23 June 2016 P7 3 day visit Thursday, 30 June 2016 TERM ENDS

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March 2016

Easter Study Programme (Tuesday, 29th & Wednesday, 30th March and

Monday, 4th – Friday, 8th April)

Our traditional Easter Study Programme is running again this year for pupils in the Senior Phase (S4-6) and students have been busy signing up for classes ranging from Nat 5 to Advanced Higher. A covering letter and the timetable have been sent home to parents and carers and copies are also available on the school website. Classes have been structured around the availability of teachers over the holiday period and will run depending on the numbers of pupils who sign up. An update on the classes that are running or not running will be posted on the school website on Thursday, 24th March. For more information contact Mr McKinney, Depute Head Teacher.

Alan McKinney

Celebration of Wider Achievement Event – Tuesday 26th April, 7.00 pm

Following on from our very successful event held in September of last year, plans are currently underway for our next Celebration of Wider Achievement Event taking place on 26th April at 7.00 pm in the school Assembly Hall. This particular ceremony will recognise students’ achievements in the Senior Phase and complements the Academic Ceremony which will take place towards the end of year. We will be recognising a number of students for an eclectic mix of achievements both in and out of school as well as showcasing some of the talent and skills of our S4-S6 students. Invitations to those students being recognised will be sent out towards the end of the Easter holidays but if you have any nominations for awards, please contact Mr McKinney to discuss.

Alan McKinney

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Scottish Qualifications Authority National Examinations 2016

As you are no doubt aware our S4, S5 and S6 will soon be embarking on the 2016 diet of the national SQA examinations. There follows some initial information.

Exam Study Leave arrangements

Cont /


March 2016

Scottish Qualifications Authority National Examinations 2016 cont

S4

Study Leave is determined by how many National 5 exams a candidate is sitting. Please note Nat 5 PE and Administration are excluded from this formula as they have no exam.

Those students sitting eight, seven, six, five, four or three National 5 exams will have full study leave from

between Wed. 4th May and Friday 3rd June inclusive. Start of the new timetable for new S5 will be Monday 6th June.

Those students sitting one or two National 5 exams will have study leave on the day of their exams plus the two

preceding days (= 3 days for each National 5 exam). The students this involves will be given an individual time-table. Outside of these leave days they will follow an alternative programme (details to follow). Start of the new timetable for new S5 will be Monday 6th June.

Students with no National 5 exams will have no study leave but will remain in school (or at a pre-arranged work experience placement venue) to follow an alternative programme (details to follow). Start of the new timetable for new S5 will be Monday 6th June.

S5 and S6

For all of S5 and S6, full study leave from between Wed. 4th May and Friday 3rd June inclusive. Start of the new timetable for the new S6 will be Fri. 3rd June for S6 Induction.

Exam information and advice

All candidates should have already received the SQA booklet Your Exams 2016, which has a SCN card at the back for the students to take into the exams as well as exam dates.

Candidates may register on-line with the SQA to receive their results electronically. For this and other exam tools see the SQA website https://www.mysqa.org.uk. (Please note that the school Office will not be permitted to report exam results over the phone unless it is to the candidate personally and once security checks have been made.)

After the Easter break candidates will receive individual exam timetables which show their exam entries, accommodation and allocated seating numbers. It is essential that each candidate checks that their entries and home address are correct. Any queries should be brought to me immediately.

Additional Arrangements (AAs). Candidates qualifying for additional arrangements will be issued AA timetables separately by the Support for Learning Leader, Ms. Wilson. These will include separate accommodation provision, where applicable.

Coincident Exams. If you are aware of any clashing exams please let us know and we can make arrangements, though the SQA usually notifies us in advance.

Name or Address Change

If any student changes their name and/or address it is important that parents ensure the school has been made aware of the new details in writing before the summer break. Changes to names or address cannot be made during the summer holiday. If you do move during the holidays, please ensure you have in place arrangements for the SQA certificate to be forwarded to your new address.

Emergencies during the exam diet: Exceptional Circumstances

From April 22nd (but not before then), if there is a medical or similar genuine emergency which would seriously impede a candidate’s capacity to attend or perform in an exam please call the school immediately to let us know. If the parent can provide a medical letter/certificate from their doctor within a few days of the incident, we will endeavour to invoke ‘Exceptional Circumstances’ provided we have appropriate qualifying evidence and a matching estimate for the candidate’s previous performance in that subject. The conditions which allow us to use Exceptional Circumstances are strictly regulated and audited and do not include mild common ailments or ‘exam nerves’. Appropriately serious conditions which started before April 22nd but continue after April 22nd can also be considered, but conditions which effected the weeks or months leading up to the exams are not within the scope of this facility.

If you have any questions or require further assistance please contact me here at school.

The whole learning community of Currie Community High wishes our students all the very best for their exams!

Clive Walton

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March 2016

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Currie Community High School’s 50th Birthday Celebrations

Teachers, pupils and staff, past and present, gathered on Sunday, 28 February to mark

the school’s 50th Anniversary on its current site.

The school building was opened in 1966 before undergoing extensive refurbishment

between 1996 and 1998.

Over 300 people attended the celebration where they met old friends and enjoyed

looking through old class photos and archive material.

The event was a great success with people travelling from far and wide to join in the

celebrations.

Doreen MacKinnon

Lesley Helm, Health & Food Technology

with her Health & Food Technology

Teacher—Ms Rodgers

Lesley baked the celebratory cake to

mark the occasion

Quotes from visitors on the day:

“Just a quick note to say thanks for yesterday – it was great to return to CHS and I was really impressed with the positive atmosphere in and around the school. Thanks for the personal tour which brought back many (mostly good) memories and it was also really good to catch up with you.”

“I was at the 50th Anniversary day. It was wonderful being able to step back in time remembering being at Currie High. A big thanks to all the people who organised the event.” “I am writing to say a formal thank you to everyone who made Sunday such a great day.

Although I attended the previous high school and only for one year, coming back to Currie was something I had wanted to do for a long time - a nostalgia trip to an area I lived in from 1953 to 1958. And I have such fond memories of the best year of all my school years. It would appear that great tradition lives on in the 'new' high school, I was so impressed.”


March 2016

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Late Detentions This year we have trialled a couple of different sanctions for late coming. Our punctuality is now the best it has been for many years. We have recently reinstated our weekly detentions for the small number of students who are persistently late in the mornings. If students are late to registration or miss registration twice in one week they will be issued a 15 minute detention and if students are late 3 or more times in a week they will be issued a 30 minute detention. These detentions will take place on a Wednesday after school at 3.30 pm. If students do not complete their detention without a valid reason, they will be given an automatic hour long detention with Mrs MacKinnon the following week. Letters will be sent home to inform parents therefore the detentions will take place the week or two after the lates have occurred. If you wish to discuss this further or if your son/daughter has a commitment before school that may cause them to be late frequently, please contact your son/daughter's Pupil Support Leader. Hermiston House - Mr McBride Kinleith House - Miss Moar Lennox House - Mrs Paterson (Mon- Wed)/Miss Ellis (Thurs-Fri) Louise Paterson

Reminder to Parent/Carers – Norovirus/Sickness/Diarrhoea

To prevent the spread of the norovirus/sickness/diarrhoea you must keep any pupil at

home for 48 hours after the last time a pupil has been sick or had diarrhoea.

This is important to stop the spread of the norovirus and other similar viruses to

vulnerable people such as young children or the elderly.

If you would like more information on this please see www.nhsinform.co.uk/

norovirus


March 2016

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Senior Citizens’ Concert

Monday, 25th January saw our annual concert for the senior citizens of Currie at Gibson Craig Hall. Twenty pupils came with us to perform a piece they have been working on in lessons and, as always, gave a terrific performance. The programme was varied - classical to rock and everything in between! And of course some music by Robert Burns to celebrate Burns’ day! These pupils were a credit to their school, community and, of course, themselves. Well done to everyone who took part!

Ms McMaster and Mrs Storrar

Music Dept


March 2016

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Careers in Theatre

Earlier in February, a group of National 5 and Higher students went to

a Careers in Theatre event to give young people the chance to explore

and discover new career opportunities in the performing arts (not just

acting!)

The event took place on the 25th of February and over the course of the

day we visited three different destinations: the Kings Theatre, the

Lyceum and Dance Base Edinburgh to explore a variety of different

careers in the performing arts.

To begin our day, we walked up to Dance Base Scotland and were

given a short tour of the space including various dance studios and even

got to have a look into some of the classes! We visited Dance Base to

learn that dance can be a very important component to other

performing arts that isn’t just dance, it can help improve emotion and

expression through movement.

We then moved on to the Kings Theatre where we explored under and

backstage looking at what you would usually never see from being in

the audience. We then worked on a marketing workshop, to get a

perspective of all the different methods of how theatres promote their

shows throughout Edinburgh and then were given a small task to try

and promote the Kings’ newest upcoming show ‘The Perfect Murder’.

Finally, to complete our day, we were taken round the Lyceum theatre

especially backstage and got to get a look at the set of their most recent

show, ‘The Crucible’. After having a look at props and set we got to

have a Q and A session with four of the actors starring in the production

to ask them any questions that we may have on the acting industry,

their acting experience or any other link to the performing arts.

It was a jam packed day with lots of fun, informing us that the

performing arts isn't just about acting. There is so much more out there

just waiting to be explored.

Rebecca Drever, S4


March 2016

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Mentors in Violence Prevention Ellie Alexander, Emma Diamond, Olivia McBride, Connor Parsons and Ruth Waring travelled to Tynecastle High last term to hear Jackson Katz, founder of Mentors in Violence Prevention (MVP), discuss gender-based violence. The event was introduced by Cabinet Secretary for Justice Michael Matheson. He thanked Jackson Katz for the MVP programme in helping “make Scotland the best place to grow up in”. Across Scotland the MVP programme has helped to prevent gender-based violence and is now being rolled out into secondary schools across the country. An extra £450,000 over the next three years will be given to fund the MVP programme in Scotland. Donna Jordan


March 2016

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World Book Day Competiton at Currie High School on Thursday, March 3rd in the

Learning Resource Centre

159 pupils and nine classes took part in the World Book Day competition which was “Guess

the name of the celebrity reading a book”. There was one outright winner Alisha in S6 who

guessed every name correctly. Congratulations to Alisha! Of the staff taking part there

were three staff members who guessed every name bar one: Mrs Stuart, Mr Murray and Mrs

Anderson . Thank you for being good sports and taking part! Two questions proved tricky –

the correct answer to No. 2 was LL Cool J and the answer to the bonus question was Michael

Fassbender and not Hugh Jackman . Well done to the winners and to everyone who took

part so enthusiastically! Hope you all had fun on World Book Day and keep on reading!

Gill Marriott


March 2016

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Support for Pupils - Twitter

The Integrated Support Team (Pupil Support & Support for Learning) have set up a twitter account to share information with students and parents about inter-house events as well as information evenings and college/University/employment opportunities. Please follow us @curriechs_SfP to keep up to date

with our news.

Louise Paterson

S5 Students - LEAPS

LEAPS aims to promote social inclusion and equality of opportunity by facilitating increased participation and success in higher education of young people whose ability to choose higher education as a post-school option and/or to demonstrate or realise their potential may have been inhibited by economic, social or cultural factors.

They support any S6 student who has the potential to achieve a minimum of three Highers over two sittings and who matches one or more of the following eligibility criteria:

• student who is first generation in family to apply to higher education or whose parents do not already have a degree

• student from a low income background (for instance, where a student is entitled to EMA, free meals in school, or where the family is on income support)

• student who has spent time in care or being looked after

• student who is a young carer

If you would like more information on this, please visit http://www.leapsonline.org

There is a specific section for S5 students as well as a section for parents for further information.

A LEAPS representative will come in to speak to all S5 students towards the end of S5/beginning of S6 during PSE time.

Louise Paterson

College Applications

All students hoping to apply to college (full time) starting August 2016 should apply ASAP and preferably before the Easter holidays. Students have been given the opportunity to attend College Application Workshops with Ruth Addo (Skills Dev. Scotland) and Mrs Paterson (Pupil Support Leader) and can also speak to Ruth or their own Pupil Support Leader if they require any further support.

Louise Paterson


March 2016

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Girls in STEM Edinburgh event

26 S1 to S3 girls took part in an exciting event, held at the National Museum of Scotland on 28th January. This event was one of five events taking place across the UK and Ireland to bring together girls to showcase the opportunity and breadth of Science, Engineering, Technology and Maths. To kick off the day, the girls heard from four inspirational women speakers working in STEM careers. Four of our girls

were then chosen to meet The Cabinet Secretary for Education and Lifelong Learning, Angela Constance MSP. The girls were then led through a tutorial to teach basic Java programming skills using the warrior based game – Hakitzu.

After getting the grips of programming, the groups entered into a strategic combat game battle together. Two of our girls, Rose Nicol and Roksana Goworek fought off all of their

opponents, from girls in Currie and across the City, to program their way to victory! The girls received a fantastic prize from Accenture, both receiving a tablet computer. Well done again to both girls. The school also received a tablet computer which we will give away at a prize giving later in the term. Watch this space for our STEM competition. The girls thoroughly enjoyed their day and it was a great chance to raise the profile of STEM careers, allow the girls to consider the variety of STEM careers and hear from some fabulous women making a real impact in STEM.

Clare Braisby


March 2016

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CCHS GSA

NEWS

On Friday, 5th

February we

hosted the

quarterly LGBT

Inclusion Alliance meeting for the city of Edinburgh. Our role as hosts was

to help organise the event in tandem with LGBT Youth Scotland and

present what we have done and plan to do within the school to improve

the experiences of LGBT students.

We welcomed representatives from Leith Academy, Boroughmuir, Royal

High, Balerno and Broughton. It was a great opportunity to form links

and friendships with other GSAs. We were able to discuss ideas with GSAs

from all over the city. We spoke about how to go about setting up a

GSA, problems with pronouns on SEEMIS and plans for Purple Friday and

Pride, among other topics.

These plans were then put into action on the last Friday of February to

celebrate the end of LGBT History Month with Purple Friday. We held a

dress down day and handed out hundreds of purple ribbons at a stall in

the foyer at break. We raised a fantastic £475 for the Time for Inclusive

Education campaign and LGBT Youth Scotland. Thank you for all your

support!

This is how the Scottish Parliament celebrated Purple Friday

The Currie GSA


March 2016

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Fair Trade Fortnight

On Monday, 29 February, Currie High welcomed two special guests in order to celebrate the beginning of Fair Trade Fortnight. Andy Ashcroft and Miss Pamela kindly gave two assemblies to the S1s and S2s about Kool Skools and Fairtrade uniform. Andy, being a co-owner of Kool Skools, told us all about his company and the amazing work they do. Kool Skools is a non-profit company which supplies school uniform made from Fairtrade cotton to schools throughout the UK. They ensure that everyone involved in the production of their uniforms is paid fairly and respected as an employee. Pamela works in a Tradecraft Factory in Mauritius and during the assemblies she explained how Tradecraft has had a positive impact on her life. Before working for Tradecraft, Pamela worked horribly long hours in unsafe conditions and got paid very little. Because of this she suffered ill health and could spend very little time with her family. Working in a Tradecraft factory has changed her life for the better. Later on that day, six members of the Fairtrade group travelled to Nicholson Square to attend a Fairtrade schools event. Here we met with other Fairtrade schools and got to hear about the work they have been doing to promote Fairtrade uniform. Currie Community High School was also given an award for getting involved with Fairtrade uniform. Continuing our celebration of Fair Trade Fortnight, pupils at the Breakfast Club enjoyed bananas and orange juice while they talked about Fair Trade with Mr McBryde and bananas figured prominently in cooking and baking in HFT! The Fairtrade group organised a banana event on Thursday lunchtime. For this we baked banana muffins, loaves and cakes with bananas that had kindly been donated to us by Scotmid. We sold our baking as well as bananas for a small donation and encouraged people to make a Fairtrade choice with a colourful banana display. All donations will be sent to ‘Sight Savers’, the charity that the Fair Trade group is supporting this year. Katie Brown


March 2016

Fair Trade photos

/ Cont

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March 2016

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Chogoria News

Every year Currie High School sponsors a new pupil to attend Chogoria Girls’ High School, our partner school in

Kenya, for the four years of her secondary schooling. Pupils in Kenya sit external exams at the end of Primary

schooling and our sponsored pupil is chosen by the staff at Chogoria Complex Primary based both on her

academic achievement and her family circumstances.

Grace Mumbi was very excited to be chosen for sponsorship this year and has written a letter to Mrs MacKinnon

thanking her. We thought you would like to read about Grace who has now started in Form 1 at Chogoria HS .

Thank you to everyone who has helped with the fund raising for the sponsorship programme.


March 2016

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Prince’s Trust S3 xl

This term our main topic in xl has been ‘Enterprise’. All the activities we have been doing are leading up to an enterprise project called ‘Citrus Saturday’, when we will be producing our own homemade lemonade, which we will then be selling to the public. We had a Citrus Saturday workshop afternoon and invited the xl group from Woodlands to come along. That group are also taking part in Citrus Saturday. The afternoon started with Bill Rodgers the owner of Zumo, the juice bar at the Gyle. Mr Rodgers did a presentation about running a business: - doing market research, branding, pricing, paying overheads, choosing the correct products to sell – in fact, everything to help us make our enterprise project a success. He also made some smoothies, along with help from us, which we were able to try. They were delicious! The rest of the afternoon was spent on different activities. These included the logo game (where we had to work out what logo belonged to which company) and designing a logo for your own smoothie/juice bar. We also did some activities on kitchen hygiene and safety and lastly, the most difficult activity, was a costing one. Here we had to work the out the cost of making a particular type of smoothie and what we would sell it at. The afternoon was good fun. We met other pupils from an xl club, we met someone who ran their own business, we learnt about kitchen hygiene, pricing and branding your product. All of these will help us to be successful in our Citrus Saturday enterprise. We also tried delicious smoothies and got some great prizes!

Prince’s Trust S3xl


March 2016

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Top Marks for German Assessments Frau MacKinnon came along to Class 1C German to present certificates to pupils who had top marks in recent S1 German assessments. Well done!

Mhairi Ferguson


March 2016

Go4SET 2016

On Thursday, 10th March six of our S2 pupils: Ruairidh Aitken, Imogen Bassett, Samuel Seymour, Ellen Wilkinson, Lucas Grubb and Anna Purves took part in the annual Go4SET challenge at Heriot Watt. The project started ten weeks earlier when the pupils were teamed up with their mentor, Angus Reid from Heineken. Over the ten weeks the group worked on the design of a sustainable, future proof train station. Working in the Design Technology department they developed skills and knowledge in architectural design, physical and computer aided model and sustainable design. The group also attended an industrial visit to Edinburgh's Caledonian Brewery which is part of the Heineken group. This gave the group first hand experience of how an international company operate whilst minimising their Carbon footprint.

The group were assessed on the quality of their written report as well as their model and group presentation which was delivered to two industry professionals. The group received fantastic feedback and were tipped as one to watch before the decision was made. Unfortunately they just missed out on the top prize. They did however each receive a silver level crest award which is recognised by employers and Universities as being extremely desirable. The crest award assessor stated after talking with the group that there are some projects that just make you smile.

The group were a pleasure to work with and I am sure we will see exciting STEM work from them in the coming years. Well done!

Mr Watson, Design Technology

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March 2016

Parent/Carer

Invitation

Parents of children and young people atParents of children and young people atParents of children and young people atParents of children and young people at

Juniper Green, Currie, Nether Currie, Redhall Primary Schools, Juniper Green, Currie, Nether Currie, Redhall Primary Schools, Juniper Green, Currie, Nether Currie, Redhall Primary Schools, Juniper Green, Currie, Nether Currie, Redhall Primary Schools,

Woodlands and Currie High SchoolWoodlands and Currie High SchoolWoodlands and Currie High SchoolWoodlands and Currie High School

are invited to aare invited to aare invited to aare invited to a

Growth Mindset Workshop for ParentsGrowth Mindset Workshop for ParentsGrowth Mindset Workshop for ParentsGrowth Mindset Workshop for Parents

onononon

Thursday, 21Thursday, 21Thursday, 21Thursday, 21stststst April 7.00April 7.00April 7.00April 7.00----8.30 at Currie Community High School Hall8.30 at Currie Community High School Hall8.30 at Currie Community High School Hall8.30 at Currie Community High School Hall

Come along and find out how you can encourage a growth mindset in Come along and find out how you can encourage a growth mindset in Come along and find out how you can encourage a growth mindset in Come along and find out how you can encourage a growth mindset in

your childyour childyour childyour child

Help them to be more confident and positive about themselves!Help them to be more confident and positive about themselves!Help them to be more confident and positive about themselves!Help them to be more confident and positive about themselves!

Refreshments available from 6.45Refreshments available from 6.45Refreshments available from 6.45Refreshments available from 6.45

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March 2016

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S3 Prefects Facilitate Transition Day at Juniper Green Primary SchoolS3 Prefects Facilitate Transition Day at Juniper Green Primary SchoolS3 Prefects Facilitate Transition Day at Juniper Green Primary SchoolS3 Prefects Facilitate Transition Day at Juniper Green Primary School

On Thursday, 17th March, Juniper Green Primary School held a Transition Event for P7s from our cluster

primaries. Eager and nervous P7 pupils arrived at 8.45 to take part in a variety of activities designed to help

them integrate, socialise and also challenge themselves. A secondary aim was to address some of the

worries P7 pupils had about the realities of life at high school.

Our S3 Prefects had been asked by the Headteacher of Juniper Green Primary, Anthea Grierson, to act as

facilitators at this event. Each prefect was allocated to a group of 10 P7s and was responsible for co-

ordinating and supporting their team. They executed their duties to an excellent standard, and impressed all

members of staff with their confidence and highly developed communication skills. At the end of the

morning, our Prefects were asked to address the whole room, one at a time, microphone in hand. This would

perhaps have daunted many experienced public speakers, but our S3s remained cool, calm and collected

and rose to the challenge with poise and aplomb!

Here is their take on the event:

Currie High School’s S3 prefects were asked to help out at the P7’s transition day at Juniper Green Primary School. We really enjoyed this opportunity and appreciated the chance to see our old school and to see pupils and teachers we haven't seen in years. We enjoyed teaching them about Growth Mindset and teaching them to persevere through challenges. They were asked to do a number of ice breakers as a part of a mixed school group. This gave them the chance to mingle with people from other schools and hopefully build friendships with new people. Through the course of the day we led our groups through different tasks that required different skills in order to be achieved. It was really encouraging to see them make friends and socialise with others. At the end of the event, each P7 was asked to write down one thing that they were looking forward to and one thing they were worried about. The S3s were asked to discuss some of their concerns and talk about their experiences. Hopefully this made the P7s realise that High School isn't normally what movies make it out to be and that it's a really exciting transition.

Becky Anderson, Khadija Chohan, Grace Cochrane, Hanna Djenane and Anna FerryBecky Anderson, Khadija Chohan, Grace Cochrane, Hanna Djenane and Anna FerryBecky Anderson, Khadija Chohan, Grace Cochrane, Hanna Djenane and Anna FerryBecky Anderson, Khadija Chohan, Grace Cochrane, Hanna Djenane and Anna Ferry

I am so proud of all of our S3 Prefects and the leadership skills they demonstrated at Juniper Green. I am

looking forward to building on this experience and encouraging them to take on greater challenges as they

progress through their high school careers.

Donna Jordan, Chartered Teacher of Leadership and EqualityDonna Jordan, Chartered Teacher of Leadership and EqualityDonna Jordan, Chartered Teacher of Leadership and EqualityDonna Jordan, Chartered Teacher of Leadership and Equality

Documents

Easter Newsletter 2016 - Currie High Schoolcurriehighschool.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/Easter... · 2016-03-23 · Friday, 8 & Saturday, 9 April 2016 Bronze DofE Qualifying