Head Teacher Blog
Dear Parent/Carer
I hope you have had a good week.
Well in the life of a school, there are some weeks which are busier than others. I can safely say that this week has been quite the week. Primary 7s (or as they are now known, S1) have made a brilliant impression over their 3 days this week and the school show has been quite simply breathtaking in the range of talent and collaboration which has been on show on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday of this week.
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.
School Show
As mentioned briefly in my summary, this week the school show (Little Shop of Horrors) has performed to sell out audiences on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. Over the 3 nights the audiences have been genuinely wowed by the performances on stage, not just from our amazing principles but also from the wealth of talented in all the roles. To put on a full scale musical is no easy task and the pupils have not only risen to the challenge but indeed soared above it. Now, as much as you’d expect a Head Teacher to wax lyrically about their pupils, when members of the public are passing comment about the fact that they have paid to see professional shows which were not as good as the school performance it goes some way to explain how amazing the staff and pupils have been this week.
Not only that but the community involvement in the show requires a special mention. If they say it takes a village to raise a child, it takes a whole school community to put on something as special as Little Shop of Horrors. From our local business sponsors, our ex-pupils supporting the sound and lighting, families supporting in the audience, running lines and creating the amazing Audrey II to the music tutors and indeed my predecessor’s husband playing in the live band, the school show is at testament not just to the staff and pupils of the school but our whole school community. Every night this week I have driven home feeling exceptionally lucky to the be the Head Teacher of a school and a school community which can produce such a wonderful show.
Traffic Issues
Many of you may be aware that a P7 pupil was unfortunately involved in a car accident on Tuesday after school. Whilst he has been hurt in the incident, we are delighted that thanks to the actions of the driver of the car that the injuries were not as bad as they could have been. However, it does bring into sharp focus the message that I know we all reiterate to our young people about the need to be extremely vigilant when crossing roads and busy car parks. As such, could you please reiterate to your child of the need for vigilance and that where appropriate we should all use the correct crossing points/bridges/tunnels to avoid accidents.
I would also like to take this opportunity to remind all families who are collecting their child at the end of the day to use the appropriate car parking bays. The P7 Induction Days and early August are always a busy time in the school car park with traffic moving along with pupils crossing the car park. As we consistently remind families, there is no need for your child to be collected right on the bell and the car park is always much quieter 5 minutes after the end of the day. They are more than welcome to sit and wait for a short period of time before being collected to ease the congestion and, at times, frustration of waiting in long queues.
P7 Induction Days
We were delighted this week to welcome the newest members of our school community for their three day visit. We made the decision this year to increase the Induction Days by an extra day and to move the event to June so that all our new S1s could follow their actual timetables as well as spend a little more time in their new school. Staff were delighted at their willingness to engage in the range of lessons that were on offer and the whole year group were a real credit to themselves, their Primary Schools and their families. We hope that they ended the three day visit, excited about their next step in learning as well as feeling more reassured about the move to High School.
We look forward to seeing them all in August.
Senior Phase Information Session
Families in the new S5/6 will be aware that I reached out last week with an offer of a Senior Phase Information Session. Unfortunately, due to low take up we will not be hosting this, this year and as such will endeavour to share ways in which you can support your child in their chosen subjects in a different way over the course of August and September.
S6 Prom
Last Friday night, our outgoing S6 had their final school event, their Prom. Due to the fire near the Central Station Hotel, we were hosted by the Crowne Plaza on the Night. All of our now ex-pupils looked spectacular in their suits and dresses and had a wonderful night of fun and dancing.
Timetable Update
For those pupils who have requested a subject change, for a reason other than an oversubscription or low numbers we will look to speak to these pupils next Tuesday. However, I would stress that changes will only be actioned if the course they are wanting to move out of and into is:
- Based on exam/course performance
- Based on a requirement for ensuring that they meet entry requirements for an apprenticeship/college or university course.
Even more Art success
This week, we were contacted by the Glasgow Museums Art Competition staff to nofiy us that two of our pupils have been selected for awards by our judges:
Bronze Medal: James Haggerty
Commended certificates: Olivia Calvet and Brooke Wylie
A massive well done to all 3 pupils!
Geography Trip
Our new S4 Geography class kicked off the new timetable with an exciting field trip to the Ayrshire coast. Students first visited the Heads of Ayr Farm Park to see real-world examples of farm diversification, bringing their classroom learning to life. Next, they explored Dunure beach and castle, where they investigated coastal features like cliffs, eroded headlands and wave-cut platforms. The day balanced education with fun, featuring some friendly but intense competition in football and stone skimming beside the castle ruins. It was a fantastic start to the term for our enthusiastic young geographers!
Make-Up Award
We are delighted to celebrate the success of our young people who have successfully achieved an SQA Level 4 qualification in Make-Up Artistry. Throughout the course, pupils worked exceptionally hard to learn about various aspects of the industry while developing their skills in beauty and hairdressing. This qualification has already created wonderful pathways, allowing one student to progress onto a Hair and Beauty course at college. Huge congratulations to everyone involved for their dedication and hard work!
Litter
As you know, I consistently stress to all pupils that their behaviour in the community is just as important as it is in the school. Greenfaulds is and should be very much part of our local community. As such, it does make me very disappointed that the actions of a minority reflects upon all of us. This week I have had contact from local residents regarding pupils dropping rubbish at lunchtime. As well as a visual mess it does create a hazard for animals as well as encouraging rodents in the area. Could I ask that you raise this issue with your son/daughter and ensure that they are not dropping litter in our lovely area.
Gaelic Family Learning Week
I was contacted this week by the Community Learning and Development Team about the following opportunity for families with pupils studying Gaelic:
We’re pleased to announce that Seachdain nan Teaghlach (Family Learning Week) will be returning to Sabhal Mòr Ostaig in the Isle of Skye 6–10 July 2026.
This is a week-long event which offers families with children in Gaelic-medium education the opportunity to develop their language skills together in an all-Gaelic environment and to mix with families from a similar background from different parts of the country. Parents will have the opportunity to attend Sabhal Mòr Ostaig’s language courses throughout the week, while their children take part in a wide range of Gaelic-medium activities, bringing families together in the evenings for a mix of family-friendly Gaelic-medium social events. The link for more information is here:
https://www.smo.uhi.ac.uk/family-week-2026/?lang=en
Gaelic Job Opportunity
A bheil Gàidhlig agaibh? A bheil thu ag ionnsachadh Gàidhlig no fileanta? A bheil ùidh agaibh ann an cànan agus cultar Gàidhlig?
Working within the Community Learning & Development team you will be responsible for supporting the delivery of CLD services as part of the Community Learning and Development Service, with a focus on community-based Gaelic services.
Your role will be to support the delivery of Gaelic language classes for adult learners in line with the North Lanarkshire Gaelic language plan, and CLD funding agreement.
North Lanarkshire Mod
The North Lanarkshire Mòd will take place on 18th and 19th September at Greenfaulds High School.
A Mòd is a traditional Scottish festival that celebrates Gaelic language, culture, and music. It brings people together to take part in a wide variety of competitions and performances, helping to promote and preserve Gaelic heritage while also welcoming those with no prior experience of the language.
The event includes a range of competitions in singing and recitation for both Gaelic and non-Gaelic
speakers, making it accessible and inclusive for all learners. There are also opportunities to participate in duets, piping, and choir competitions, allowing individuals and groups to showcase their talents in a supportive and celebratory environment.
Please see the link below for the full syllabus and entry form.
Mòd Ionadail Siorrachd Lannraig a Tuath Syllabus- 2026 – Google Docs
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.
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 nladlerp@northlan.org.uk 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.
Dates for your diary
A note to all families that school is open on Monday. I appreciate that Scotland play Haiti at 2am on Sunday morning and whilst we wish the team all the very best of luck, the school will be open to all staff and pupils as normal on Monday.
I hope you have a lovely weekend, and fingers crossed for a good Scotland result. I’m still scarred by Costa Rica in Italia ‘90!
I hope you have a lovely weekend.
Moran Taing
Jamie
Jamie Vaughn-Sharp
Head Teacher
