Liberton High School Bulletin (Bulletin No16. 24 September 2009)
I am delighted to report that this session has started very positively and we are all now settled into a working routine after the summer break. The numbers in our senior school continue to grow with many more students choosing to stay on at school and to apply for university this session. Every pupil starting at Liberton High is expected to work towards gaining qualifications that will allow them to go to university. I understand that not all pupils will choose to go to university, but gaining good qualifications provides this additional option, even if it is later on in life.
The new S1 have settled in well. Staff invariably describe our new charges as polite, well-mannered and sensible. Well done to our new S1! The Guidance Team will shortly be interviewing all of S1, individually, as a welcoming and getting-to-know-you exercise.
Car boot Sale. The LHSA has organised a Car Boot Sale for Sunday 4 October
9.30 am-12.30 pm. Cost is £7 per car. There is no need to book - just turn up on the day. We will be on the tennis courts at the back of the school.
It is that time again, folks, for renewing or joining the 100 Club. It runs from October to September and only costs £12 for the year. If you are interested in joining you can download an application form from the school website or if you need more information, please contact the school office and leave your name and contact number.
Exam Results. I am delighted to report that our exam results across the board have all improved again this session. Once again, pupils in S2 and S3 sat national exams much earlier than normal and were highly successful. I would like to take this opportunity of thanking all parents, staff and, of course, the pupils for their continued hard work. The challenge for all of us is to improve even more in the coming session.
Litter. We seek the support of everyone in tackling litter. Environmental wardens will be around at lunchtimes and have the power to issue fines to those who drop litter.
Dress Code. At assemblies last week we revisited dress code and what we expect of all our pupils. In particular, pupils/students have been asked not to wear bangles and bracelets to school. Following feedback from Parents etc we are now allowing dress shorts to be worn as long as they extend to or below the knees. In order to ensure consistency, a note of the revised dress code (minor changes made) will be posted in the news section of our Website.
Staffing Update. Welcome to Dr Fleming who joined us as a Depute Headteacher in August. Dr Fleming will be House Head for Clyde House.
Congratulations to Mr Russell on being appointed Senior Depute at Liberton High.
Mr Russell takes over from Mr Macrae, who retired in the summer. Mr Macrae has asked me to relay his gratitude and appreciation for the many messages of good luck he received from all associated with Liberton high School.
Thank you to Miss Arnold who has organised a trip for seniors on Friday 25 September to visit Samye Ling Monastery.
Teambuilding Weekend. Many thanks to Mr Russell and the nine other staff who spent a weekend in Dalguise with 28 S6 pupils. The purpose of the weekend was to develop teamwork and to foster relationships in our new S6. By all accounts this was a highly successful weekend!
Study Support and Extra Curricular. All pupils are encouraged to become involved in the wide range of study support and other activities available beyond the normal school day. These opportunities are great for helping with learning, getting to know other people and pursuing new interests. Most activities are free of charge. Parents – please encourage your child to become involved! An example of this is the start up of the Moonshine Band which involves staff and pupils playing a variety of folk-country instruments such as banjos, fiddles, mandolins etc. Please se Mr Walker for further information!
A flavour of the events pupils are or have been involved in is as follows:
• Mrs Kean is organising a S1 History trip to New Register House in Edinburgh.
• A group of S3 pupils known as the ‘Cooldown Crew’ have been working with the fire service during the past week. Well done to all the pupils who were prefect ambassadors for the school.
• On 28 August, Tim Barraclough (Head of UK Relations, Events and Protocol for the Scottish Government) visited Liberton to meet with S3 pupils studying Intermediate Modern Studies and S6 students studying Higher Modern Studies. Discussions centred on how the Scottish Government makes decisions affecting us and co-operation and conflict between the Scottish Government and the UK Government.
• Mrs Brown and Mrs Babbs accompanied 21 pupils to the Edinburgh Book Festival on Thursday 26 August
• S5 and S6 students attended a Business Dynamics conference at Edinburgh University on 8 and 9 September.
The ‘On Board’ rewards system is, once again, up and running. Pupils will gather points as they go around their classes for punctuality, good behaviour, effort and homework. Last year we had several very enjoyable reward trips for those scoring the most points. Please note that pupils arriving after 8.30 am will be marked as late and encourage your children to do their best in all categories to enable them to be part of the reward trips this year.
Warmest congratulations to Edinburgh foster carer, Mike Perry, who won the Evening News Carer of the Year award this year. Mike was the carer of one of our former pupils.
Well done to Jack Robertson who won the talent contest, hosted by Steve McKenna from Real Radio on Thursday 3 September.
Congratulations to Mr Skelly (Physics department) on having now completed eight modules of the Chartered Teacher Programme.
Congratulations to Anne Traill, who was once again selected to play with the Edinburgh Secondary Schools Orchestra at the final gala concert on the evening of Saturday,
5 September in Central Hall, Tollcross.
Health Week at Liberton High School will take place week beginning 12 October. Health week is for all pupils/students, parents and staff from S1-S6. There will be many activities on offer during and after school and the objective is for all pupils/students, parents and staff to become more actively involved in promoting good health within and out with the curriculum. There will be a number of activities on offer including yoga, aerobics and mental health workshops. We look forward to inviting you into school that week to experience some of the activities and to see some of the work being done by our pupils/students. Keep your diaries free!
Activities Week. We would like your opinions on what we should be offering to your children and when activities week should take place. There has been a suggestion that we move it from the last week of term for S1-S6 to the last week before the change of timetable for S1-S3 only. We would like to hear your views. Please follow the weblink below and answer the three questions provided. This should take less than two minutes. We would like all responses by 2 October please so we can start organising trips. Many thanks.
http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=SAHesv0G5ifMHpqKqSkFSw_3d_3d
Parent Council Update. The Parent Council is looking at the impact the plans to close some schools in Edinburgh would have on Liberton High School and we would like to know what you think. You can contact us in a number of ways:
• Write a note and send it into the school office either by post or ask your child to give it to their tutor teacher
• E-mail them at LHS.parentcouncil@googlemail.com
Dates for the Diary
Wednesday 30 September Open evening for P7 pupils
Friday 25 September Target letters to pupils in S3–S6.
12–16 October Book/Health week
Friday 16 October Term ends (normal dress day)
Monday 26 October Pupil/student holiday (staff training day)
Tuesday 27 October Pupils/Students resume
Please let me know if there is anything in particular that you would like to see included in future editions of this bulletin.
Donald J Macdonald (Headteacher)
