S2 pupils and their parents attended a very busy S3 Options evening on Thursday 30 January. The evening began with a short presentation from Mr Inglis and S2 depute headteacher Mrs Raeburn. Parents and pupils were then able to visit the different departments of the school and hear first hand from the teachers what the new National 4/National 5 courses entail. This was a very successful evening which was appreciated by both parents and pupils.  The presentation from the evening is in the information area under S3 options.

Happy Chinese New Year

This week S1 pupils had the chance to find out how New Year is celebrated in China.  Our Mandarin teacher, Mrs Tina Qin, gave the pupils a colourful presentation on Chinese New Year celebrations, which begin on Friday 31^st January for the year of the horse. The pupils worked in groups to make traditional paper lanterns that are used to decorate Chinese homes and then had the opportunity to try “the chop stick challenge”, where they had to try and pick up a fortune cookie. Great fun all round!  This is part of our programme of global languages experiences for pupils in S1-S3.  Later in the session S1 pupils will have a further opportunity to learn Mandarin with Mrs Qin. <further information>

Eastwood Rotary Club held its annual Young Musician and Young Singer of the Year competition last week in Williamwood High School. Pupils from secondary schools in East Renfrewshire were invited to take part in the final. The 10 finalists all performed to an exceptionally high standard and there was a huge of amount of talent on display. Winners of both sections, vocal and instrumental, were from Williamwood High School. The winner of the vocal section was Matthew from (S4). Matthew performed a song from the hit musical ‘Les Miserables’ and ‘Fly Me To The Moon’ by Bart Howard. The winner of the instrumental section was Richard Scholfield (S6), who stole the show with his unbeatable performances of ‘Modere’ and ‘Fantasie sur un Theme Originale’. Well done to both competitors. They were fantastic and will now go on to compete in the regional finals later this year.

Please <click> here to find the minute of the ERC Equalities Forum which took place on 16 January 2014 in Woodfarm High School.

As you know, on 5 December 2013 we held an information evening for parents of S2 pupils to explain the new National 4 and National 5 courses our pupils will take when they enter S3 in August 2014. For ease of reference, I have posted a copy of the presentation from that evening in the Information area of the school website; <click> to access the presentation.  I would like to remind you that we intend to hold an options information evening for parents of S2 pupils from 7.00pm until 9.00pm on Thursday 30 January 2014. This second information evening will help parents to support their children through an important transition in their school careers; <click> for letter to parents.

The attached presentation is designed to give an overview of the proposed schedule for our trip to Malawi in June 2014. Details are subject to change and are dependent on travel arrangements and the request of our hosts. <Click> to access the presentation.

Would you like the chance to meet up with other parents in East Renfrewshire doing the same?  Then come along and Get Connected!  The Orchard Park Hotel, Giffnock.  Thursday 20th February 2014  –  6.30-8.30pm <click> further information

A secondment opportunity to the Department’s Directorate became available recently and I have asked Mr Fitzpatrick to join the Department as a Head of Service. Having agreed to the secondment, Mr Fitzpatrick will take up his new post as Acting Head of Service from Monday 3 February 2014 and will continue at least until 31 December 2014. <click> further information

Parents and pupils are welcome to an open meeting Tuesday 4th February 2014. 7.15-8.15pm. Mearns Castle High School.  <click> further information

You may be aware that a group of S5 pupils and staff will travel to Ewkendeni, Malawi, in June 2014. As part of our fundraising we would like to invite you to come along to a Burns Supper on Friday 24th January 2014 in The Street from 7pm until 10pm. Your ticket price entitles you to a 3-course meal, including a main course of ‘haggis, neeps and tatties’. <click> further information.

Students in S5 are about to embark on the S6 options programme. I should like to take this opportunity to remind you that we intend to hold an information evening for parents, on 7.00pm on Thursday, 16 January 2014 . The purpose of the evening is to introduce you to the options process <click> for further information.

From the school calendar you will know that our prelim examinations begin on Thursday 30 January and finish on Friday 14 February, in total a period of nine school days. These examinations will be held under conditions which approximate closely to those of the SQA examination diet of May/June. Teachers will take account of pupils’ performances in these examinations when submitting estimate grades to the SQA in April 2014. Please note that from 2014 there is no longer an examination appeals service, but if a candidate is absent for a very serious reason, we can submit evidence on his/her behalf.  click further information.

The preliminary examination timetable for 2014-2015 has now been issued to all S4 pupils and will be issued to all S5/S6 pupils next week.  A version can also be found on the school website in the ‘Pupils’ section as well as here.