Four of our 6th-year students at Barrhead High have been lucky enough to be selected to go to Malawi, this October, as part of the Betty Cunningham International Trust.

In Malawi, they will be helping the young children of Kaponda region improve their eductaion, healthcare and confidence, in the hope that this will better their livelihood and future.

While they are thrilled and grateful for this incredible opportunity, it requires a huge amount of fundraising (approx £10,000 between them).  To support this, they have organised a Frehser’s Party!  This is a fantastic opportunity for our S1 students to bond and get to know each other, while supporting a worthwhile cause.

The freshers party will take place on Thursday, 20th Sept from 7pm to 9pm. The entry fee is £3, and students should also bring some change for a juice and crisps. All money raised goes towards the fund – all donations are welcomed.

Should you require any further information please do not hesitate to contact the school office, or visit the Betty Cunningham Website.

A DOFE parents’ information evening will take place on Thursday, 20th Sept from 7pm (Big Steps area).

I would encourage all S3 students who signed up for the Duke of Edinburgh award at the recent freshers’ fair, to attend with a parent or carer.

Important information wil be given out on the night, including registration forms.

I look forward to welcoming you on the evening.

Kind regards,

Mr Boag

The first panto workshop/rehearsals will take place on Mon 10^th & 17^th Sept. from 3:45pm-5pm in the Drama Box.

Please come prepared with trainers to do movement.

See Mrs Laverty, Miss Wallace or Mr Selbie with any questions.

Click the image above for me details.

Please find below a list of school clubs that are running this year. All S1-S3 students will be able to sign-up for these clubc at this week’s Freshers Fayre (more details to follow).

The following statement appears on the data-check form we send home every session for checking, completion and return. It explains what we do with the information you supply to us through the data-check forms or by other means. It is vital to the smooth running of the school that we have accurate, up-to-date information so please notify us as soon as possible with any changes.

The information you supply on this form will be used by East Renfrewshire Council as pupil administrative information. We will use your information to verify your identity where required, contact you by post, email or telephone and to maintain our records. The council will use this information because we need to do so to perform a task carried out in the public interest. The information will be shared with SEEMiS, CRB, ParentPay, the Diocese of Paisley (in Roman Catholic schools), Scottish Government including their Analytical Services, Education Scotland, Glow (Scotland’s national education network), SQA, 2Cqr, BAM FM (Carlibar Primary, Barrhead, Mearns Castle, Williamwood, Woodfarm High Schools), Bellrock FM (Mearns Primary and St Ninian’s High), Skills Development Scotland, Scholar (Heriot Watt University) and East Renfrewshire Culture and Leisure Trust to provide this service and to protect public funds by preventing fraud. If you do not provide us with the information we have asked for then we will not be able to provide this service to you. We also need to process more sensitive personal information about you for reasons of substantial public interest as set out in the Data Protection Act 2018. It is necessary for us to process it to carry out key functions as outlined in law. If you do not have access to a computer and wish a paper copy please let us know by contacting your child’s school. If you have provided anyone else’s details on this form, please make sure that you have told them that you have given their information to East Renfrewshire Council.  We will only use this information in the event of an emergency. If you or they want any more information on how we will be using and handling this information, visit our web site at www.eastrenfrewshire.gov.uk/privacy.

Downloads:

1. ERC Education Privacy Notice.pdf

Parentzone Scotland is a unique website for parents and carers in Scotland, from early years to beyond school.  The website provides up-to-date information about learning in Scotland, and practical advice and ideas to support children’s learning at home in literacy, numeracy, health and wellbeing and science.  Information is also available on Parentzone Scotland regarding additional support needs, how parents can get involved in their child’s school and education.  Furthermore, the website has details about schools including performance data for school leavers from S4-S6; and links to the national, and local authority and school level data on the achievement of Curriculum for Excellence levels.  

Parentzone Scotland can be accessed at: https://education.gov.scot/parentzone.

Pupils from Barrhead High and Mearns Castle High schools visited the Edinburgh Book Festival to hear Sarah Crossan and Clementine Beauvais talk about their new books. Before listening to these two fabulous authors we had the chance to browse in the book shop and eat lunch in the warm, sunny gardens. The day was rounded off by having books signed.

Here are some of the views of our pupils:

“Loved it. A great first time being there!”

“It was great. I would definitely come again.”

“An absolutely amazing experience. Loved it just as much as last year… Overall my favourite part was getting to meet the authors.”

We are delighted to announce Head Boy and Girl for session 2018-19:

Head Boy:           Matthew weir

Head Girl:            Eve McDermott

Deputes

We would also like to congratulate the following pupils on being appointed as Deputes for the new session:

Rhys Adair

Erin Brown

Hollie Campbell

Lewis Connor

Abby Johnston

Euan Lithgow

A reminder to all S4 DOFE students that their assessed expedition is on Thursday and Friday, 13th & 14th September.

Kit Collection

Students should collect their kit on Tuesday, 11th Sept from the Fairweather hall, Newton Mearns, G77 6BB at 5pm.  Students should bring a £50 deposit, either in cash or a cheque made payable to East Renfrewshire Council. The cash or cheque should be placed in an envelope with the students name and school written on the front.  The deposit will be returned when all DOFE kit has been returned.

Emergency contact number for parents

In the unlikely event that we have an emergency whilst out on expedition, parents should call the mobile number 07858 464020. Miss McFarlane will liaise with Mr Boag and parents to ensure all parties are kept fully informed.

Thursday, 13th Sept- Meeting Arrangements

Students should meet at the school for 8.45am, where they will then walk to the Barrhead train station. Alternatively, for students living close to the train station, they may meet Mr Boag there at 8.55am. Mr Boag needs to know who will meet at the school and who will meet at the train station.

Students will take the train (accompanied by staff) from Barrhead train station to Glasgow Central, and then on to Drumfrochar.  Students should bring approximately £10 to purchase a return ticket.

Students returning home – Friday, 14th September

Students are expected to arrive back at Barrhead train station from 2.30pm onwards on Friday, 14th Sept.  Students will be dismissed from the train station.

Expedition costs

Students are required to pay £10, prior to the 13th Sept, for the cost of the expedition. This should be done through ParentPay. The payment covers the cost of hiring a transit van, diesel, gas for the stoves, DOFE Assessor costs  and any sundry expenses.

Returning Kit

Students are responsible for the DOFE kit they borrow. On completion of the expedition, each group of three students (tent groups) should decide who is taking responsibility for the tent and the trangia stove. Students should split the responsibilities fairly.

Tents must be dried out before being returned. This means hanging the tent over a garden fence, in a garage or over an internal door. Once the tent is fully dry, students should pack the tent away ready for return.

Trangia stoves should be scrubbed clean using a brillo pad. Students should not return a stove with burnt or ingrained food remaining on it.

If students have borrowed a sleeping bag, then this should be washed and dried prior to return.

Mr Boag will issue students with a return date and time, when all kit should be taken back to the Fairweather hall and your deposit collected.