Please find below the ebook created by the young people of SJHS secondary department.  Each page has been created by a different student and holds their thoughts on how best to nurture health and wellbeing during these challenging times. There are loads of wonderful ideas and they are testament to the thoughtfulness and resilience of our young people: stronger together, reaching high!

How to Stay Healthy and Happy During Lockdown

Monday 04 May 2020: AHS Learning Packs for new S5/6

Teachers at AHS are writing an S5/6 Home Learning Pack for you at the moment. This will be posted to all pupils moving into S5 and S6, junior high and AHS, by Monday 04 May. The pack will have some tasks to try each week in May, to help your child think about the five courses they will be studying in June.

How will your child be supported in May 2020?

The Home Learning Packs will have email addresses for AHS teachers, if you need any advice during May. You and your child can also contact myself on marnieharpe@shetland.gov.uk or gw09harpemargaret1@glow.sch.uk and I will help in any way I can such as getting in touch with AHS teachers on your child’s behalf. If you need any materials for your child’s home learning in May, please let me know and I can arrange for you to get what you need locally.

What will happen in June 2020?

By the time Monday 01 June comes, the staff at AHS will know your AHS timetable, classes and subject teachers. They will then be able to set up Microsoft Teams for each class and begin learning and teaching more formally.

Change of plans?

If your child has changed their mind about moving to AHS for S5, please speak with myself, Mrs Harpe, and I will let AHS know as soon as possible. Alternatively you can all AHS direct on 01595 808008. If your child was never intending to go to AHS in S5 you don’t have to do anything here.

The opportunity to apply for a Foundation Apprenticeship has been extended to the end of June due to the disruption caused by the Covid 19 crisis. Programmes will start in August in line with the new Academic Year. Applications are available online through this link: https://www.shetland.uhi.ac.uk/schools/

What are Foundation Apprenticeships?

Foundation Apprenticeships are a work-based learning opportunity for senior-phase secondary school pupils.

Lasting one or two years, pupils begin their Foundation Apprenticeship in S5 or S6. Young people spend time out of school at college or with a local employer, and complete the Foundation Apprenticeship alongside their other subjects like National 5s and Highers. This means these opportunities are only available to students going on the AHS.

Completion leads to a qualification at the same level of learning as a Higher and can lead to progression on to a job, such as a Modern or Graduate Apprenticeship.

Foundation Apprenticeships are recognised as entry qualifications by all Scottish colleges and universities.

Why might my child benefit from taking a Foundation Apprenticeship?

Unemployment rates in Scotland are significantly higher for young people compared with adults. To change this, we want to support pupils to build the skills they’ll need to be successful when they leave school. Foundation Apprenticeships were developed to help young people gain valuable, real-world work experience and access work-based learning while they’re still at school. By giving young people earlier exposure to the world of work, we’re helping them develop the skills, experience and knowledge they’ll need when they leave school.

For young people, it’s the chance to get a head start on their careers by gaining an industry-recognised qualification, work on real projects and broaden their career options when they leave school. And for employers, it’s the chance to attract highly motivated and committed young people who are willing to learn, identify young people who are right for their business and ensure their organisation has people with the skills they need.

How can I find out more about Foundation Apprenticeships on Shetland?

UHI will be hosting a weeklong virtual open event starting Monday 11^th of May, with opportunity to book appoints with their subject specialist for discussions about courses. There are a number of both FE and HE opportunities on offer throughout their curriculum areas. Please have a look at their course list on the website: https://www.shetland.uhi.ac.uk/courses/

UHI would like to be as supportive as possible and are still available to discuss and/or answer any questions that you have, please see contact details below:

• College Management: Acting Principal – Susan Berry – susan.berry@uhi.ac.uk
• General Enquiries: Website – https://www.shetland.uhi.ac.uk/contact-us/
• Student Support: Guidance Coordinator – Michele Kerry – michele.kerry@uhi.ac.uk
• Health & Care: Senior Lecturer – Susan Menary – susan.menary@uhi.ac.uk
• Creative & Cultural Industries: Senior Lecturer – Simon Clarke – simon.clarke@uhi.ac.uk
• Community Learning (CoreSkills/NewDirections/ProjectSearch): Senior Lecturer – Andrew Anderson – Andrew.anderson@uhi.ac.uk
• Business & Hospitality: Senior Lecturer – Emily Garrick – emily.garrick@uhi.ac.uk
• Computing: Senior Lecturer – Euan Robertson – euan.robertson@uhi.ac.uk
• Construction: Senior Lecturer – Anthony McLeod – Anthony.mcleod@uhi.ac.uk

We had an exciting “visitor” in school this week: Penny MacDonell, a senior interpreter at the United Nations in New York. She spoke to our S3 about the role of an interpreter and the value of learning languages. She offered to share her email with any students who wished to find out more about any of the things she discussed in her talk and she also offered to give a tour of the UN to any student and their family visiting New York!

Happily, Ms MacDonell is more than willing to do the same again next year so SJHS students will benefit from her knowledge and experience again in the future.

This event was made possible through E-sgoil, the Scottish Government’s remote learning programme, with Ms MacDonell being beamed by live video link from her home in New York right into our PSHE classroom in Sandwick JHS. It is an amazing way to ensure our students gain access to speakers and expertise from all round the world and we are the first school in Shetland to utilise the remote learning programme in this way.

This forms part of our school commitment to Developing the Young Workforce and ensuring that students are empowered to make informed choices about both subjects and careers.