Head Teacher Blog
Dear Parent/Carer,
It is encouraging to see the decline in Covid cases over the past week or so, with only 6 cases in total for the period 28 September – 8 October affecting our school. Despite these low numbers, we are mindful of the worry for families who continue to be affected by this. As a school community we will continue to adopt safe practices by restricting movement during the school day and rotating Week A/B timetable delivery; sanitising hands on entry to the building; maintaining separate entrances for year groups; and highlighting the need to wear masks (unless exempt).
As we reach the end of term 1 in our school calendar, I am delighted to be able to share the plans which our parliamentary committees already have in place. We are seeking sponsorship this year for each of the committees, with all sponsor money going to supporting the students’ work to make a difference in their role as global citizens. The Rights and Equalities committee has been sponsored by Day to Day Store (Westray Court) and we are absolutely delighted with this kind gesture. If any other local business/organisation wishes to become involved, please contact Mr Scoular for more information – email nlscoularc@northlan.org.uk.
In addition there are letters attached from Public Health Scotland and North Lanarkshire Council (Parents Portal) providing information about current developments. The success of the parents’ portal is entirely dependent on the accuracy of the information we hold in school, and as such the office staff have been working hard to ensure that data check information matches pupil records exactly. If you have previously encountered difficulties in registering, please attempt again now that data checks have been returned to school. If you continue to experience difficulties, then please contact the school office which is staffed during the October break.
Click Here: Parent Portal Letter
Click Here: Public Health Scotland
Whether staying at home or venturing further afield, I wish you and your family a safe and restful break. I look forward to welcoming pupils back on Monday 18 October at 8.55 am, where our timetable will be WEEK A.
Best wishes
Linda Park
Head Teacher
MACMILLAN FUNDRAISER
Following the excellent day of activities organised by our S3 Achieve class, I am delighted to report that the sum of £460.35 was raised for this great cause – despite being unable to host a coffee morning! Well done to all involved in the organisation and to staff, pupils and parents who contributed to the event.
INFORMATION SHARED WITH PARENT COUNCILS NATIONWIDE: EDUCATION REFORM – CONSULTATION ON BEHALF OF PROFESSOR KEN MUIR
On behalf of the Parent Council, the information below is shared with the wider parent forum:
‘I am writing to inform you that the consultation from Professor Ken Muir, University of West of Scotland, is now live. Professor Muir is acting as an independent adviser to the Scottish Government on the replacement the Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA) and reform Education Scotland (ES).
This consultation was launched online at 1000 on Thursday 30 September 2021. The consultation will last eight weeks and will close on Friday 26th November. The link for the consultation is as follows:
https://www.gov.scot/isbn/9781802014327
You are encouraged to complete the consultation via Citizen Space, which can be accessed directly here:
https://consult.gov.scot/learning-directorate/independent-education-reform-review/
For further information relating to this work, including how to attend the series of twilight webinars which Professor Muir is hosting, please visit the following webpage:
https://www.gov.scot/policies/schools/education-reform/
The finalised Terms of Reference for Professor Muir’s Expert Panel and Practitioner and Stakeholder Advisory Group can also be accessed via this webpage.’
ROYAL NAVY WORKSHOPS – AN UPDATE FROM MR PROCTOR, PT DYW
Firstly, I would like to offer a big thank you to parents and guardians for making sure their child remembered which days to take part in the Royal Navy workshops. And, secondly, a big thank you to the students for taking part in all of the activities.
It was a fun week in which the S1 and S2 students developed their leadership and team building skills. The Captain’s Cabinet also took part in the workshops and because they were having so much fun, they didn’t take many pictures! The students faced different challenges (photographs below) such as building and racing a wheelbarrow, moving a ‘dangerous device’ and the Tower of Hanoi.
Tower of Hanoi Challenge
About to walk the plank
One of the winning teams!
Will they move the ‘dangerous item’ safely?
Did they get it on the blue barrel?
One team member is very happy!
The tallest tower!
A winning team – future designers and engineers!
Determination!
Teamwork in action!
Mastered the Tower of Hanoi challenge!
Leading the way!
Out in Front!
PUPIL PARLIAMENTARY GROUPS
Each of our committees has provided a snapshot of their plans for the coming session. We could not be any prouder of the community spirit in the school or in the willingness of our young people, supported by staff, to make a difference for lasting change. Please follow the work of our pupil parliament on Twitter @pupilparly
LGBT+ COMMITTEE
The LGBT Committee have a very ambitious year planned between striving for LGBT chartered status, organising fundraisers for the committee and charities, and building and maintaining a safe and inclusive space for LGBT pupils within the school.
In addition to these goals, the committee have expressed a keen interest for LGBT issues, history, policy, and stories to be included within our school curriculum. The Scottish government have very recently passed a bill which now makes the inclusion of these topics mandatory, making now an opportune time to provide some support and guidance in how these topics can be included in our lessons.
Our awareness raising begins with a ‘Wear your Colours with Pride’ day on Friday 8 October where staff and pupils are encouraged to wear a colour from the rainbow alongside their school uniform. Donations can be made for doing so, and in addition raffles will be held during the day.
ECO COMMITTEE
As COP26 approaches, our Eco Committee will mark the event with our Climate Action Week here at Greenfaulds. The event is a great opportunity for us to raise awareness of climate change – its causes, effects and the actions we can take for change.
The committee would love to start raising the profile of the Action Week as well as the initiatives and competitions that will be going on around that time during the first week back after the holidays.
As a result, committee members are putting a PowerPoint together to explain the purpose of the week and showcase what is planned to take place.
During the week itself, there will be a series of short starter lessons for each day so that all pupils are benefitting from educational input of the Climate Week. Departments across the school have already signed up for ideas and activities for thematic learning. Watch this space!
SOCIAL JUSTICE COMMITTEE
Part of the work the social justice committee will focus on this year is a continuation of the work we are doing with Homeless Project Scotland. Over the past year we have established a really good connection with the charity. Last year we raised over £3000 whilst giving up hundreds of hours to help feed those living on Glasgow’s streets. Every Friday evening staff and pupils volunteer their time to help run the soup kitchen underneath Central Station.
This year thanks to the Home Economics department and the pupils in the committee we are intensifying the support we give to the charity and are now providing some homemade treats for our Friday night customers.
GHS GENERATIONS COMMITTEE
To see the work of and plans for our group, click on link below:
RIGHTS AND EQUALITIES COMMITTEE
In addition to aiming to secure our school the Gold charter mark as a Rights Respecting School, this year our campaign focus is ‘Silence of the Girls’ where we will be highlighting the abuse of article 28 (a right to education) for girls in Afghanistan. We are asking as many students as possible in high school to fall silent for the day to raise awareness. We want as many schools as possible to join us and have already attracted lots of attention via our Twitter campaign. In addition we have written to Jamie Hepburn MSP and Stuart McDonald MP to highlight the campaign and look forward to Thursday 28 October where we are asking girls (and boys if the wish ) to remain silent at school for a day to raise awareness of this issue.
DIGITAL AND MEDIA COMMITTEE
Our aim this year is to build on the digital skills developed during lockdown and use these within our community to help the school achieve a Digital Schools Award. We share information for staff and pupils on our media communications screens in our social area and also want to highlight the work of, and successes in, the school through a variety of social and digital media platforms.
The group are also busy producing Greenfaulds first ever podcast which is due to launch in mid November. Each episode will have a focus on an issue the students feel strongly about as well as some regular features. All the research, presenting and production will be carried out by the students.
***WEEK BEGINNING 18 OCTOBER IS WEEK A ON THE TIMETABLE***
