October Bulletin

The next 50 Anniversary event will be a Ceilidh on Friday 28 November. Tickets costing £8 are available from Mrs Babbs, our school librarian. Please check the school website to find out what else is planned! (www.liberton.edin.sch.uk)


Parents’ evenings. I was very disappointed with the low turnout for our S5/6 parents evening on Wednesday 29 October. Only 39% of the parents from these year groups attended. Last year’s attendance for S5/6 was 38%. This is particularly disappointing as the vast majority of parents who responded to the summer survey on the timing of parents’ evenings, indicated that they preferred a 6–8 pm slot. I am really keen to hear from parents who were unable to attend so that we can make arrangements that allow us to engage more with parents. If you haven’t already done so, please call guidance staff to find out how your children are progressing. By working together in this way we can support pupils in achieving their potential.


Reading for Gold. All of S1 and S2 are taking part in a new reading programme. It is called Reading for Gold and it is fun, flexible and creative! It involves the pupils being given targets and reading five books. Once they have completed a book they will do a creative task on it. After the five books have been read and a task has been completed, the pupils will receive a RFG certificate signed by their class teacher and Mr Macdonald. They will then move on to the Silver and Gold projects. These tasks are a bit trickier but they are just as much fun and give something to aim for! So far, the project has been warmly received by the pupils and the certificates will be achieved in no time!


A whole school photograph to mark our 50 Anniversary was taken on the afternoon of Wednesday 27 August. Orders for these must be placed with us no later than Friday 7 November.


Improving pupil attendance in session 2008/09 is a priority for the school. Attendance across the school has improved this session. Thank you to all parents who took the time to respond to the questionnaire posted in the summer. However, a minority of pupils continue to cause concern because of their erratic and/or poor attendance. In early December I intend to notify all parents of their child’s current levels of attendance and the cut offs we will use to look at who should be repeating the year and who is not ready to sit exams.


Staffing update. I am sure you will wish to join me in wishing Mrs Coburn a speedy recovery following a recent knee operation. Mr Robertson is currently leading the PE department. Mrs Steele (English) and Mrs McKerrecher (French) are currently in acting PT positions in their departments.


Homework concerns: I take this opportunity of informing parents that you will now be sent a text if we have concerns about your child’s homework.


The L Factor on Thursday 16 October was a fantastic success and an unforgettable evening! Warmest congratulations to Kirsty Evans who won the contest. On returning from the October break we learned that Kirsty has been invited to perform with Sandi Thom at her Edinburgh concert in January 2009. Many thanks to all who supported us and particularly to Mr McCorquodale who oversaw the entire show.

The Home Economics department staged our annual Ready, Steady, Cook event on the afternoon of Wednesday 22 October. In an exciting contest, PC Thomson’s rabbit stew was judged to be tastier than Mr Macrae’s spam fritters!


This year’s National Antibullying Week takes place from 17-23 November. Among other activities happening in the school, pupils in S2 and S3 will be working on antibullying presentations in SE and a group of S6 plan to launch some of their own initiatives during the week.

Megan Bryant (S5) and Stuart Wilson (S6) participated in the “Lessons from Auschwitz Project”. This included a visit to the former Nazi extermination camp of Auschwitz-Birkenau in Poland. Megan and Stuart are planning a programme of activities to disseminate the lessons they have learned. These will be held in the run up to Holocaust Memorial Day in January 2009.
A further 20 pupils are being trained in Heartstart this term. The S3 Intermediate 1 Biology pupils have so far learned the skills involved in recognising a heart attack, providing CPR and knowing how to treat bleeding in relation to their coursework on The Heart. If any parents are interested in attending evening Heartstart sessions, led by Liberton High pupils themselves, please keep an eye on future bulletins for dates and times.


Parent’s association news. (Liberton High School Association LHSA)

LHSA held another successful Car Boot Sale on Sunday 5 Oct raising £260 for the school. Thanks to all who made this possible.

One of the objectives of the LHSA is to promote partnership between parents, pupils and the school, and the LHSA felt that funding the purchase of new, better maths books for all pupils studying higher maths this year was an investment that would directly benefit pupils and also assist the school in its aim to raise attainment.

This year alone LHSA has funded the purchase of new resources for the library, strips for the rugby team and a new saxophone for the music department. This has been made possible through a variety of fundraising events such as car boot sales, raffles, quizzes and the sale of tea, coffee & tuck at school events.

The main ongoing fundraiser however is the 100 Club and many parents, grandparents, staff and former pupils are already members, but we need more members to keep this going. You can download an application form from the school website.

If you feel you would like to help LHSA support Liberton High School in any way please email us at liberton_pta@yahoo.co.uk.



Dates for the Diary

Tuesday 18 November S1 Parents’ Evening (6-8 pm)
Wednesday 19 November S4 prelims begin (Standard grades only at this stage)
Friday 28 November 50 Anniversary Ceilidh (Tickets @£8 from Mrs Babbs)
Thursday 11 December S4 Parents’ Evening (6-8 pm)
Monday 15 December Carol Concert
Friday 19 December Term ends

Please share any news with me that you would like me to publicise or let me know if there is anything in particular that you would like to see included in future editions of this bulletin.
Many thanks.

Please check the school website for copies of all previous bulletins and other breaking news. (http://www.liberton.edin.sch.uk)
Donald J Macdonald (Headteacher)
3 November 2008