Head Teacher Blog
Dear Parent/Carer
I hope you are well.
The final full week for all our Senior Pupils has suddenly come and gone. Not only that but a large amount of the SQA Coursework has now been submitted. As such, for half the school we are very much into our approach run into the exams which start almost immediately after the Easter Holidays. It genuinely feels that only a short time ago I was standing in front of pupils welcoming them back from their summer holidays.
As always, if you have any questions in relation to the information contained within this blog or any other school matter please do not hesitate to be in touch with the school. Moreover, I’m always delighted to share good news of pupil achievements outside of school as many pupils are participating at an exceptionally high level in a range of activities. If your son/daughter is involved in something, please do share this with me.
Goodbye Mrs Brynes
On Wednesday of this week, we said goodbye to a much loved and respected member of staff when Linda Brynes retired. Linda has worked within Greenfaulds for over 20 years as one of our invaluable Additional Support Needs Assistants. The love and kindness that Linda has shown to literally thousands of young people over her time in the school was evident on Wednesday when she was flooded with gifts and cards from staff and pupils. Linda has left behind very happy memories, and we wish her all the very best as she moves into the next exciting chapter of her life.
SQA Timetables
S4 pupils should have received their personalised timetables at a special SQA Assembly yesterday (Thursday). We have asked all pupils to double check the details on their forms including their contact details to ensure that all courses, levels etc are accurate. Pupils in S5/6 will receive their timetables on Monday. If a student does not have any exams they should see Mr Adler, to see if they can arrange a work placement, otherwise they will be in school completing coursework and then a course will be built for them.
Advanced Higher Modern Studies
As much as I’m always delighted to share achievements outside of the classroom, it is also lovely to be reminded of the exceptional hard work which goes on day to day in classes across the school. This week, Miss Wilson in the Modern Studies Team proudly shared with me the image below of 20 of the 22 candidates who have submitted their Modern Studies Disertations today which were all fully researched independently and demonstrated a huge amount of effort and hard work. Amazing stuff team!
Cross Country International
Congratulations to Kaelin McCabe (S2) who was part of the Scotland Team taking part in the SIAB Cross Country event in Wales last weekend. In an incredibly strong field of top class athletes, Kaelin and the Scotland Team came home with a Bronze Team Medal! A fantastic first international experience for Kaelin, and plenty of fuel to motivate his future journey in the sport!
Film Crew
On Friday of last week, your young person may have returned home with news of a film crew in the school. We were delighted to host a team from North Lanarkshire to film an advert around mental wellbeing and the importance of talking about issues. The team were keen to film in our lovely building and took advantage of the pupil social area for their filming. One of the producers this week was in touch to thank the school for supporting the production. “…please extend our thanks to your incredibly supportive staff, and to the pupils who were both naturally curious and respectful.” We look forward to seeing our school on screen and online soon.
Access to the school
As part of a review on building security, we have now moved to the main doors at the front and rear of the building being locked during class time. This is to ensure that only people can access our school via the visitor entrance and sign in at reception. If your young person is running late for any reason can you remind them of this and that they need to come in through the guest entrance. Thank you.
S6 Update
Mrs McNaughton and the Senior Committees are working away on a range of events to mark the end of S6’s time at school. Below are a helpful note of the key events, dates and times.
Graduation
Wednesday the 1st of April at 6pm will be our Graduation ceremony for our pupils and families.
Hoodies & Yearbooks
We are hoping to receive these at the end of next week and will give these out to pupils on the 1st of April. They will sign their leavers form that day too and will no doubt be having their shirts signed by pupils and staff. If pupils would like to get ahead of the leavers form, they can start the process by completing this form: GHS Leavers form Summer 2026 – Fill in form
Leavers Day
As usual, we will have a leavers day celebration on Thursday the 2nd of April. Pupils will be asked to come in for 9:30am and we will then gather them in the hall, have breakfast, a quiz and some fun activities. We will then pipe them out of school at approximately 12pm.
Parent Council Reminder
The Parent Council is a hugely helpful and informative body for me as Head Teacher and for the wider school. If you would like to attend any or all of the sessions this year the dates are as follows:
Monday 30th of March
Monday 27th of April
Monday 25th of May (in person and always a bring a dish night for a catch up and some lovely food).
If you would like to find out more, please contact me at the school.
Evening Study Support 2025-26
Registration for this year’s evening webinars is now live. Study Support | e-Sgoil
Study support is for Senior Phase learners (S4-S6) who are working towards National Qualifications.
This year’s programme offers 55 weekly webinars covering 29 subjects across N4 to Advanced Higher levels.
PLEASE NOTE THAT YOU WILL NEED TO BE LOGGED INTO GLOW TO ACCESS THE REGISTRATION FORM.
If you do not know your Glow username and password, please speak to a member of staff who will be able to provide you with these.
Support for pupils with ASN
As a parent with a child who has an additional support need, I know that information can be particularly helpful to ensure you are supporting your young person in the best possible way. The Support for Learning department work closely with Speech and Language therapy, Occupational Therapy, Hope for Autism and the Neurodevelopmental Team. If your child is on a waiting list to see any of the services, or have been given an identification of an Additional Support need, the following Facebook pages may be useful to you. They share hints and tips, have rolling programmes of local workshops for parents and children on common themes such as Sleep, Anxiety, language processing, sensory difficulties.
NHS Lanarkshire Children and young people, Occupational Therapy
https://www.facebook.com/share/19hopRtsiN/
Speech and language therapy NHS Lanarkshire
https://www.facebook.com/share/1BevUC39FW/
Neurodevelopmental service-CYS NHS
Hope for Autism
https://www.hopeforautism.org.uk
Young Scot Cards
Increasingly, the use of Young Scot Cards for our pupils are very important, both in and out of school. As such, if your son/daughter loses their card it can be problematic. We are able to apply for a replacement card on their behalf. However, we would ask that if you would like the school to do this, that parents/carers need to email Mr Adler with the students full name, date of birth, a photo, their address to send the card to and give permission to apply for a card.
Child Protection and Safeguarding
If you have concerns of a child protection or safeguarding nature, we would encourage you to use the following information.
Free School Meals
A reminder to all families, if your family normally receives Free School Meals please remember to reapply for continuation of this service as it does not automatically continue each year. Families need to apply annually. There have been a few incidences since we returned of pupils not having money on their cards. We did of course ensure that they received lunch but please do ensure that you have reapplied for Free School Meals. Please apply here: Free School Meals and Clothing Grant Application | North Lanarkshire Council
EMA 2025-26 session
The new EMA form is now live on the NLC website for the new session 2025/2026 starting in August. Any students who got EMA last years has to reapply this year.
To apply you must meet the following criteria
| Gross Taxable income | No. of dependent children in household | Award |
| Up to £24,421 | 1 | £30 |
| Up to £26,884 | 2+ | £30 |
Please note – dependent children are all those up to the age of 16 and those over the age of 16 and up to age 25 if they are in full time Further or Higher Education (proof required).
Once students have their form completed and a letter confirming they are getting EMA they should bring their EMA contract to Mr Adler who will then discuss attendance requirements with the
students, but to get EMA students must have excellent attendance and be on time to school.
Please note: January Start EMA applicants should apply before 28th February 2026 for it to be backdated to the start of January. Any received after this date will only be paid from the date of receipt.
August applicants can still apply but they will be paid from date of receipt as the deadline for backdated money was 30th September 2025.
Deadline for all EMA applications is 31st March 2026 and deadline to submit documents is 5th April 2026 there after applications will be cancelled.
Community Consultation
On Friday 20th March, North Lanarkshire Council and partners launched the Community Priorities Consultation, giving residents across the authority the opportunity to identify the issues that matter most to them. The feedback gathered will help us develop a clearer understanding of the challenges affecting our communities and inform future activity to improve health and wellbeing, create safer neighbourhoods, and tackle poverty.
To give your opinion on your and your families priorities could you please complete this Community Priorities Survey?
The survey is now live for all residents and will remain open until 1st October 2026. As noted in Friday’s bulletin, all young people from S1 to S6 will also take part in the consultation from August 2026.
Community News
I am always happy to share community news within the HT Blog, and this week have a few information posters to share with you. If you would like to engage with the following relevant bodies, their contact details should be noted on the information posters.
Dates for your diary
Thursday 2nd April: S6 Leavers Day (pupils to be piped out at 12pm)
End of term – school closes at 2.30pm
I hope you have a lovely weekend.
Moran Taing
Jamie
Jamie Vaughn-Sharp
Head Teacher
