Currie Community High School Newsletter - October 2017
‘DON’T LIMIT YOUR CHALLENGES, CHALLENGE YOUR LIMITS’
The News at a glance: Head Teachers Message Head Teachers Message Our Vision Statement Welcome to the October Newsletter. If I ruled Scotland …... PiP NEED YOU! Our mid-term Newsletter is a celebration of the life and work of the school over SCHOOL OF ROCK the last few weeks. CHRISTMAS FAYRE THE GRAND RAFFLE Currie is an ambitious, thriving and inspiring school where all members of the Groupcall Xpressions App school community have embraced our vision statement: we all challenge our- Parent Pay selves and each other to achieve our full potential at all times. S1 Chemistry Competition German Language Ambassador Please see our Standards and Quality Report for 2016/17 for full details of our S6 MVPs—Ttansport Charter successes last session, and our plans and areas for development this session and S3 Creative Learning Festival beyond. It can be found on the school Website. Adopt an Artist History Trip to Belgium There have been some staff changes since the start of term. Mrs Laura Trewartha Silver DofE Expedition DOE Awards News has left the Modern Languages Department and she will be replaced by Mrs Leila BAE Systems STEM Roadshow Okaila who will start on the 23rd October. Mrs Okaila is a highly experienced Advanced Higher Business Trip teacher and is currently a principal teacher of Modern Languages at another Local Mathematics Summer School Authority. I am delighted to announce that Ms Donna Jordan has been appointed Food 4 Life as Pupil Support Leader for Kinleith House. Ms Jennie Gardner has been appointed REMINDER—pupils with medication as an English teacher to replace Ms Jordan. Ms Gardner is also a very experienced NOROVIRUS—KEEP IT TO YOURSELF! teacher who is joining us from another Local Authority and will start on the 6th School Dress Code November. Ms Joanne Barlow is leaving Currie at the end of the half-term and her School Information job has been advertised. Ms Juliet Lewis will replace Ms Barlow as a Geography Dates for your Diary teacher until a permanent replacement is appointed. Dr Alison Nind is retiring from Currie. Dr Nind has been the driving force behind our work on Fair Trade and Eco-schools and has sustained our partnership work with Chogoria High School. She is an inspirational champion for these aspects of Learning for Sustainability which are key to our schools ethos. I wish Dr Nind, Ms Trewartha and Ms Barlow well in the future. I am very pleased to announce that Mrs Lorraine McFarlane has returned to Currie as a Pupil Support Assistant.
I hope you have a relaxing mid term break and I look forward to welcoming all our pupils back on Tuesday 24th October. Doreen MacKinnon EASYFUNDRAISING Did you know that whenever you buy anything online - from your weekly shop to your annual holiday - you could be collecting free donations for Currie Community High School? There are over 3,000 shops and sites on board ready to make a donation, including Amazon, John Lewis, Aviva, thetrainline and Sainsbury's – it doesn't cost you a penny extra! It's as easy as 1, 2, 3... 1. Head to https://www.easyfundraising.org.uk/causes/curriecommunityhs/ and join for free. 2. Every time you shop online, go to easyfundraising first to find the site you want and start shopping. 3. After you’ve checked out, that retailer will make a donation to your good cause for no extra cost whatsoev- er! There are no catches or hidden charges and Currie Community High School will be really grateful for your do- nations. Thank you for your support.
Currie Community High School Newsletter October 2017 1
Currie Community High School Newsletter
Our Vision Statement:
‘DON’T LIMIT YOUR CHALLENGES, CHALLENGE YOUR LIMITS’.
The aims of the school and the key principles underpinning the school’s ethos, its visions and values and, indeed, all aspects of the life and work of the school are:
To create an environment within which all young people at Currie Community High School are challenged and supported to: attain qualifications at the highest level possible; to achieve their full potential through a range of opportunities for personal development; to develop skills for learning, life and work and become successful learners, confident individuals, effective contributors and responsible citizens; and move into positive and sus- tained destinations
To promote equality and inclusion; celebrate diversity; and remove barriers to learning
To promote Learning for Sustainability (outdoor learning, global citizenship, education for sustainable develop- ment) and Social Justice.
To journey towards excellence for all and in all areas of the school’s life and work including learning and teach- ing and the curriculum Our Values: Confidence To perform to the best of your ability To seize every important opportunity To try something new To accept others and yourself To be enthusiastic and motivated to learn Unity Supportive to others Unified commitment to improvement Appreciating achievements of all kinds Respect Those around you Differences Yourself The Environment Responsible For freedom of expression Being safe and making good choices Your own actions For participating in the life and work of our community Initiative Mistakes are okay as long as you learn from them Achieve your own goals through developing skills for life, learning and work Show determination, resilience and ambition Equality Accept all aspects of social and cultural life regardless of personal belief while developing your own beliefs and values Treat others as you would wish to be treated Show care towards those who may need help Currie Community High School Newsletter— October 2017 2
Currie Community High School Newsletter
If I ruled Scotland …... On May 26th 2017 the former US President, Barack Obama, visited Scotland. To cele- brate and mark the occasion the Hunter Foundation invited pupils in secondary schools across Scotland to submit an essay outlining their priorities if they had the op- portunity to rule Scotland. These entries have now been published in an e-book. Congratulations to Amy Russell, Abbi Goulding and Shaun Conway who all had their submissions published. Amy's essay also caught the eye of the na- tional press and was published in The Guardian newspaper. A fantastic achievement for all pupils, congratulations!
You can read Amy , Abbi and Shaun's contributions at the following link http://www.thehunterfoundation.co.uk/if-i-ruled-scotland/ PiP NEED YOU!
Parents in Partnership (PiP for short) allows the parents to have the opportuni- ty to be more involved with the educa- tion of their child, to find out about what is going on in the school, and meet other parents. It’s also an opportunity for par- ents to bring their skills and time to the school/educational environment.
Our next meeting is on Monday 30th Oct.
We will be judging the S1 Poster competi- tion, and discussing the status of proper- ty maintenance within the school, to name a few of the subjects covered..
We are always looking for new members and urgently looking for volunteers to help with our Annual Fundraiser the Christmas Fayre on Sat. 2nd December. If you can spare 90 minutes to join in the fun it would be really appreciated.
Please contact Susan Tait via school on 0131 449 2165 or email [email protected]
Currie Community High School Newsletter— October 2017 3
Currie Community High School Newsletter
There are over 30 craft stalls, musical showcase san- tas grotto, face painting, and a Christmas cafe
Fabulous prizes including
from Porteous Funeral Directors
from Sainsburys
from Cala And many other prizes Tickets £1 from PiP Members and the School Office All proceeds go to PiP
Currie Community High School Newsletter— October 2017 4
Currie Community High School Newsletter
A new way to keep in touch with what is happening at Currie High School. This is a FREE App that can easily added to your smart phone. It connects directly with the school so when any communication is sent out you automatically receive a notifica- tion. We would like as many parents* as possible to sign up to the Xpressions App. *at the moment only the main parent contact can sign up to the App. Free messages sent by school delivered directly to the app—updates on whats happening at school, for example the publication of the School Newsletter. Absence notifications School Calandar access If the school is closed for any reason the app will be used to communicate this and you will receive the notification. Able to message the school admin account STEP 1—Download the app from the app store—its free! STEP 2—Log in. All you require is your email address and mobile number that you use in contact with the school. A third security check must be completed, and you will be asked to set up a password to log in , then you are done. More information can be found via http://parents.groupcall.com/faqs/ Please Note—we are phasing in each function gradually over next term so all functions may not be immediately available. Parent Pay A quick reminder that in August you received a letter outlining how to activate your Parent Pay account. Thank you to all of you that have activated your Parent Pay ac- count. Unfortunately some accounts have not yet been activated and if this is the case, we ask that you activate the account as soon as possible. Once you are registered, it would allow you to receive notifications about paying for lunches, school trips and de- partment contributions (e.g. Design Technology & HFT). From November the school will no longer be accepting cash or cheques for items that can be paid via Parent Pay. If you have any problems activating your account or have lost the letter please get in contact with the school office via telephone (0131 449 2165) or email http:// parents.groupcall.com/faqs/
Currie Community High School Newsletter— October 2017 5
Currie Community High School Newsletter
S1 Salters’ Festival of Chemistry Competition
On Wednesday 31st May, four S1 students were selected to compete in the Salters’ Festival of Chemistry at Heriot Watt University. Mary Kong, Charlotte Hislop, Neeha Dasari and Lottie Brown along with Mr Varney, stood out with their bright orange lab coats. There was no teacher help allowed so we had to ensure that the group was well organised and carried out all of the practical work safely and accurately. In the morning murder mystery activity, we came an amazing second place out of 16 schools! In the afternoon, we had to decide on the correct mix of chemicals to get a tempera- ture rise of exactly 10.5oC. Through careful measurements we managed to get this exact temperature rise twice, unfortunately just not when the judges were watching. The final activ- ity was a presentation on temperature. Did you know that the highest temperature possible is about 100 million million million million million degrees. (Plancks Temperature). Don’t wor- ry, we didn’t either.
German Language Ambassador At the start of term some senior modern languages classes were visited by Boris, a German Language Ambassador. Boris showed us photos of his trips abroad and talked enthusiastically about his experience of learning several languages. He is a Bulgarian student at Edinburgh Uni- versity and is about to go to Freiburg in Germany for a year at the university. He plans to keep in touch with us through a blog and we look forward to hearing all about his adventures. The tips he gave us about language learning - Speaking other languages helps you get student part-time jobs and brings wider career op- portunities - Learning languages allows you to travel and experience other cultures - Languages help you to develop your memory and communication skills for the future - Not everyone speaks English - languages are useful for travel and employability - Languages and another subject are common combinations at university and college S3 Mod Langs Class
Currie Community High School Newsletter— October 2017 6
Currie Community High School Newsletter
S6 MVPs ATTEND TRANSPORT CHARTER MEDIA LAUNCH
On Tuesday 27th June, nine S6 Mentors in Violence Prevention were invited to a Media Launch of Edinburgh Council’s new Transport Charter at Haymarket Station. The Charter aims to en- courage members of the public to report any incidents of Hate Crime on public transport, and adopt a “Don’t Be a Bystander” approach. This is very much at the heart of MVP and why the Council was so keen for our students to be involved, as Currie High School is currently at the forefront of a pilot which aims to tackle all forms of prejudice. Attending the event were Min- ister for Transport Humza Yousuf and Councillor Lesley McInnes, along with a variety of mem- bers of the press. Both the Minister for Transport and Councillor McInnes spoke with our students at length, and reported how impressed they were with their ability to articulate the message of the MVP programme and how important they feel education is in the fight against prejudice. Our students were then interviewed by Capital Radio and the Evening News. Reports later ap- peared on the Edinburgh Reporter, Edinburgh Trams and Evening News websites, featuring a range of photographs of our excellent MVPs. A full article was then published in the Evening News on Wednesday. Currie Community Council Chairman, Allister McKillop, felt that the students: “could not have made a better showing” and “did Currie and the school proud.” Wendy Henderson, who heads the Council’s Hate Crime focus, commented that: “Currie High School’s contribution was ex- tremely welcomed and well received.” I certainly felt privileged to be accompanying such open -minded and socially responsible young people. For further information, here is the link to the website article in the Evening News: http://www.edinburghnews.scotsman.com/our-region/edinburgh/new-charter-to-tackle-hate -crime-on-edinburgh-public-transport-1-4488166 Donna Jordan, Chartered Teacher for Leadership and Equality
Currie Community High School Newsletter— October 2017 7
Currie Community High School Newsletter
S3 CREATIVE LEARNING FESTIVAL MAY 2017
For the past few years, S3 at Currie have been given the chance to participate in the Creative Learning Interdisciplinary Project, part- nered with the Lyceum Theatre. However, this time around we were presented with 3 productions from the Edinburgh International Children’s Festival, allowing us to broaden our cultural experience.
The play “Falling Dreams” allowed pupils to take a step into the life of a teenage girl who, using live music and projections, shares her daily thoughts with the audience. Similarly, the film “Girl Asleep” introduced us to Greta, a 15-year-old Australian girl who begins to find that teenagehood isn’t as great as it seems. The monologue “Evil”, on the other hand, focused on Erik who struggles with bully- ing as the new boy at boarding school.
I had never set foot in any sort of theatre or film festival, ever. So when our bus pulled up outside the Edinburgh Filmhouse for the screening of “Girl Asleep”, I didn’t know what to expect. Comedy? Action? Romance? What I wasn’t expecting was all of those and more. The film highlighted all the important aspects of a teenager’s life and allowed the metaphorical forest that we were often shown to be interpreted by the audience – a feature not common in main- stream movies – and allowed anyone to relate to Greta and the forest in different ways. Whether it was the three mean girls who were presented as wolves to represent the threat and danger in Greta’s life, or the forest itself, we could all relate to some part of it.
Only having roughly 6 hours to come up with some sort of presenta- tion as a creative response – with the help of Mrs Helm, thankfully – was what threw me off. A poster would have worked, but with 5 of us buzzing with excitement and ambition, we decided on a model of Greta’s house and the forest (which took numerous attempts and multiple bursts of anger at glue that wouldn’t stick!) The final result was great, and we were happy. Perhaps getting to work with our friends and people we’d never worked with before allowed us to come together as not only a group of 5 or even 30 but as a whole year group.
Not only did we come away at the end of that Friday with a sense of achievement, but new skills and attributes, including teamwork, patience, communication and organisation. What a brilliant way to end S3! Abbie Malone S4
PS The director of the Children’s International Festival, Noel Jordan, visited the school to see the pupils’ crea- tive responses to the works they’d seen. He was incredibly impressed with the imagination and diversity shown by what they’d produced in such a short time and was delighted to have the opportunity to discuss with pupils their positive experiences of the project. Donna Jordan, Chartered Teacher of Leadership and Equality
Currie Community High School Newsletter— October 2017 8
Currie Community High School Newsletter
Adopt an Artist in the Art Department
On Tuesday 22nd August Senior pupils welcomed a vis- iting Illustration student from Gray’s School of Art into the Art & Design department! Catherine Parks who is a former pupil from Currie CHS provided an excellent presentation and workshop for our stu- dents. She provided pupils the opportunity to discuss career paths in Art and Design and to investigate what life is like as an artist/student at Aberdeen. Topics includ- ed: the broad range of options and careers in Art and Design after school and the importance of creative ideas and experimentation. Catherine presented a range of exciting folio work from her illustration and graphic communication course which explained how varied the options /pathways were at this level. This included a very exciting graphic design logo she had made for a local restaurant in Aberdeen (which we are now going to keep an eye out for when visiting!). Catherine also highlighted how skills developed at Advanced Higher and Higher Art could lead to specific courses and path- ways at university. Pupils also enjoyed a workshop demonstrating some new materials/ techniques which they could use for their current courses and portfolio ap- plications. Talented Catherine demonstrated the uses of texture paint and how this technique can be used to create interesting surfaces. Students then had the chance to experiment and have fun with this technique!
Some pupil reaction:
‘I thoroughly enjoyed the experience; it was very helpful. I would love more ex-Currie students to visit to talk about their personal experiences at uni.’ Murray
‘It was good to see her work and I could see what I needed to improve with my own drawing. I liked the idea of putting different materials into little books and I had been thinking of doing this myself.’ Erin
‘It was interesting and fun to listen and see this presentation, it made me more open to different types of art!’ Justyna
Currie Community High School Newsletter— October 2017 9
Currie Community High School Newsletter
History Trip to Belgium – June 2017
In June, the History department (and our friends in Modern Languages, Modern Studies and English!) took a group of 42 S3/4 pupils to Belgium to visit First World War battlefields. Be- low is their account of the trip, told by a different pupil each day.
Battlefield Experience – Day 1 By The Last Post ceremony at The Menin Gate, Ypres Lewis MacDougall
The Pool of Peace—Today we saw the Pool of Peace which is a mine crater which has filled with rain water. I was very moved and shocked by the story of its creation, I was also intrigued by the story of the Germans playing cards. I see why it is called the Pool of Peace as it is a very tranquil and indeed peaceful place where you can gather your thoughts. Messines—The church at Messines was a stunning building and I was surprised to hear it was only made after WWI. The crypt was the part which was most interesting to me, to think of all the things that have happened in that room. From it being used as a dressing room and also from Hitler visiting it. I was shocked to think I’ve stood in the same room as that man. Sanctuary Wood—When I was walking through the trench I was firstly surprised by how well it had been maintained. When we closed our eyes, that moment really allowed me to visualise and imagine what the soldiers would have felt when they went over the top. We also went through a tunnel and there was a little bit of water in it and that was on a dry day. I couldn’t imagine what it was like on a cold wet day. Overall today has been really interesting and in parts shocking just to think about who stood in those places 100 years ago. Today has really made me look forward to the days ahead. Battlefield Experience – Day 2 By Anja Caesar
Newfoundland Park—It was interesting to see how far away the British and the Germans were from each other. To see how few men got to the German barbed wire was shocking. Everything was breath-taking and it made me think about how tragic the war was even more and how many soldiers died serving their country.
Thiepval—There were so many people from the war missing it was unbelievable and it would have taken a long time to read all the names. To know that those names were only a small frac- tion of all the soldiers that died in the First World War was unbelievable.
Dartmoor Cemetary—The stories told at that cemetery and the people buried there was amaz- ing and fascinating but also sad and brave the way they did what they did.
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Currie Community High School Newsletter
History Trip to Belgium – June 2017 cont.
Lochnagar Crater—It was extraordinary to see what kind of damage was done in the war. It was breath-taking when I saw it at first.
Vimy Ridge—To think the figures were built on site was amazing. Even from a far distance you can see it as it shines so bright in the sun. It was beautifully made.
Overall everything was breath-taking and it made me think about how tragic the war was even more and how many soldiers died serving their country. Battlefield Experience – Day 3 by Ben McLellan
Essex Farm Cemetery—We learned about Valentine Joe Strudwick who became the youngest person to die aged 15. I thought it was shocking he was allowed to sign up. We also learned about John McCrae who was a doctor and wrote the poem ‘In Flanders Fields’. We also learned about the advanced dressing station. Poelkapelle Cemetery—This was a cemetery which had 7,400 graves, 6,200 of which were unknown. We then laid down a poppy and had a minute’s silence. We learned about another two soldiers also. Tyne Cot Cemetery—This had 11,000 names and 34,000 on the wall. This is the biggest British graveyard. There were even two German graves. I was taken aback by the amount of graves there were. Langemark Cemetery—This cemetery was darker because of the oak trees. The graves were marked with a stone flat on the ground. There was a mass grave with 24,000 soldiers in it. I was astonished by the amount of people buried there. Overall today was very interesting and unbelievable as to the amount of graves we saw. Last Post Ceremony
Buglers played the last post, a poem was read, wreaths were laid and to finish off there was a minute’s silence. The buglers played Reveille. Our Own Ceremony
We went to the Divisional Collecting Post Cemetery and Amogh, Ben, Ellen and Mac laid down a wreath, read a poem and lit a candle. We held our own minute’s silence. Overall Experience
This has been a very different and eye-opening experience. Every day was long and hard but it was worth it to see all the memorials and cemeteries. It was also great watching videos and singing First World War songs on the bus. Martin Harley
Currie Community High School Newsletter— October 2017 11
Currie Community High School Newsletter
Silver Duke of Edinburgh Expedition 1st – 3rd September By Becky Anderson, Kirsten Sanders, Anna Ferry, Hannah Gillies Photos by Joseph Walker Day 1: It was an early start with the alarm set for 6am. We all slept on the drive up so had a very quiet journey. After a meeting with the assessor and Mrs Godfree, we set our course and headed into the stunning hills, compass and map in hand. Once we had set off, it initially felt quite daunting as we had the whole weekend of walking ahead of us. After about half an hour, however, we got into it and were working well as a group. We made good progress and the scenery was incredibly picturesque. We even spotted a herd of deer on a neighbouring hillside. We walked about 18km on day 1. To brighten the group spirit, we decided to have an ABBA sing along! We arrived at our camp site around 4pm, but hadn’t realized the camping area would be so popular and busy … there were thousands there before us … of midges that is!! Cooking was a challenge as midges clouded all around us. They enjoyed feasting on our Scottish blood but I think we must have swallowed quite a number of them, too. We applied a good dose of midge repellent to try to deter them but they were stubborn wee beasties! We were ready for an early night but when we were inside our tent, the midges sounded like rain hitting the tent, pitter-pattering endlessly. Day 2 The outside of our tent was covered in a thin layer of ice and frozen midg- es. The view from our tent was of a beautiful, purple, heather-covered hill and the air was lovely and fresh. We passed a beautiful bridge and then had to cross a stream which in- volved balancing on stepping stones which is easier said than done when carrying heavy rucksacks. The rest of Day 2 had a lot of climb and our feet were starting to really hurt, so when we arrived at our campsite, it was a very good feeling to be there, knowing that this time tomorrow we would have completed the expedition. The evening was spent playing cards and chatting but we had quite an early night as were all tired. We enjoyed not having so many midges around! Day 3 Knowing this was our final stage of the walk we had some fresh enthusi- asm despite the growing numbers of blisters we all had. We left earlier than scheduled – I think we were all keen to return to civilisation! As we made our way up the hills it wasn’t too much of a struggle, because we all kept talking with each other and time flew by quicker. We walked fast and were 2 hours ahead of schedule! It was the best feeling arriving at the carpark, knowing we had finished and completed the expedition. Overall it was very rewarding, and we felt a sense of achievement. The highlights were arriving at each campsite at the end of a long day, and seeing the scenery and walking where we never would have walked otherwise. We arrived home with a fresh appreciation of a clean toilet, running water … and a very comfy bed.
Currie Community High School Newsletter— October 2017 12
Currie Community High School Newsletter Duke of Edinburgh Award News Please could pupils who are currently working on Bronze and Silver awards write up their pro- gress on edofe, and aim to finish their current level in the next few weeks. The new groups for starting a level will be starting soon after the October break: S3 - Bronze S4 - Silver S5 - Gold Look out for announcements in the bulletin. If you are in S5 and haven't done Silver or even Bronze, but would like to do Gold, please see Mrs Godfree as soon as possible for a Direct Gold application form unless you have already done so. Congratulations to the following pupils who have achieved their Bronze Award: Imogen Bassett, Kathryn Bell, Shannon Blackwood, Niamh Buchan, Martha Johnston, Maria Kheloufi, Jemma Littlejohn, Mac Lunn, Kieran McCallum, Rose Nicol, Kara Pack- wood, Jack Perriss, Anna Purves, Ellie Rutherford, Lucy Scyner, Lauren Young. Well done! Your badges and certificates will be presented at the next Awards Ceremony.
BAE Systems STEM Roadshow Thanks to BAE and their partners, the RAF and the Royal Navy for their excellent September roadshow to all S1 and S2 pupils. As well as a practical demonstration with a drone, students learned about the dangers of hacking and the work of computer scientists and programmers. The second part of the show focused on how computers work and the students were en- gaged in some practical activities to help them understand how the bina- ry system works and also how com- puters spot errors. The final part of the performance featured a 70cm high android robot that showed just how advanced robotics can be. This talking, dancing , sensing, ‘thinking' robot was a big hit with the pupils. Irene Somerville
Currie Community High School Newsletter— October 2017 13
Currie Community High School Newsletter
Advanced Higher Business Trip
Recently a group of S6 Business students attended a business simulation event at a new company called Rocket, who have developed a product for businesses called Games Without Frontiers. Games Without Frontiers is a computer based game which simulates the weekly run- ning of a sweet manufacturing company. It aims to help employees better under- stand how their role in a business im- pacts its success.
We were allocated specific roles to fol- low within the game and I was given the role of Managing Director. As Manag- ing Director, I had to make decisions about the overall running of the busi- ness, including who we would sell to and also which orders the company would take on. We played the game twice which simulated 2 six-month trading pe- riods. Initially we failed to make a profit but before beginning the second round we had a team meeting and collectively used our knowledge and experience from the failure of the first round to make changes in the final round. Some of the changes that were implemented were to only accept orders with short lead times and take orders of the same product all at once. We were delighted when these changes worked well and as a result we managed to keep a positive cash flow and were successful in making a profit. Overall, we all found the experience very enjoyable and worthwhile. It gave me real insight into the opera- tion of a business and the interactions between all the functional areas which are need- ed in order for the business to be successful. It increased my awareness of some of the different challenges a new business can face and has developed my appreciation of what it takes to run a business. Lauren Flint 6K2
Currie Community High School Newsletter— October 2017 14
Currie Community High School Newsletter
Mathematics Summer School
Clark Gray attended The Debate Chamber Maths Summer School, a week long pro- gramme hosted by the University of London, for students all across the UK going into their final year of high school. From the moment I applied in January to walking through the bustling streets of London, I had no idea what kind of extraordinary people I would meet, no idea what incredible topics we would cover, and I had not the slightest clue that I would become a more thoughtful and well-rounded person after this experience. I found out that all twenty of my classmates were coming from all over the UK: Leeds, York, Birmingham, Glasgow… and this diversity of backgrounds and personalities was emphasised throughout the week. Of course, it was difficult to connect immediately with strangers; yet I suppose an enthusiasm for Maths and a willingness to learn was an area everyone had in common. An important theme to note is that Undergraduate Maths isn’t what people call “useless Maths”. Our professors emphasised—countlessly—that what we’re learning has very real and very true uses. I didn’t know after hours of learning about Vectors and Matrices, that I was dealing with internet networks, population distributions, or trading links. These problems—these concepts—have very real and very true implications for how we describe and control the world. Thinking back to when Mrs Dower read out that some University in London was inviting students to come and learn Undergraduate Maths, I remember words fly across the class shouting “TOO EXPENSIVE, TOO FAR AWAY, TOO UNCERTAIN”. But I went anyway! I’m so grateful that the cost of trip was dramatically lowered: when I applied for a bursa- ry through the university, Currie’s Maths department funded a portion of the costs, and Mrs Mackinnon also helped me out with the finances—all of which I am overwhelmed by the generosity and kindness I’ve received. Most of all, I’ve learned that opportunities come wherever and whoever you are; regardless of your gender, your ethnicity, your sexuality, your abilities, or your social background.
By Clark Gray (S6)
Currie Community High School Newsletter— October 2017 15
Currie Community High School Newsletter
Food 4 Life
After being the first main- land Scottish high school to achieve its Bronze Award in 2012, Currie Community High School has achieved its Silver Food For Life Served Here Award. Cur- rie’s Dolphin Café has seen huge improvements to its atmosphere and its ser- vice. Whether that be new healthy fizzy drinks or a variety of pasta dishes, Currie’s caterers have worked tremendously hard to source more local, seasonal and organic ingredients. Head of the operations, Julie Young has driven the catering team to provide a friendly and high quality service for the pupils of Currie. Julie and her amazing team have ensured that the food served is freshly prepared and made with all the care any custom- er deserves. Julie has also ensured that cooks and chefs work in a friendly and suitable environ- ment—an environment you won’t walk away from without a smile. In association with teachers, support staff and pupils, the Dolphin Café is a welcoming place that values the needs of the pu- pils, its staff and its atmosphere. By serving Currie students healthy snacks and meals to get through the day, we hope to see huge increase in their health and wellbeing. Though Silver is a high target to reach, Currie’s enthusiasm and close collaborations—I’m sure—is a pathfinder for all other schools across Scotland. Clark Gray
Currie Community High School Newsletter— October 2017 16
Currie Community High School Newsletter
REMINDER for parents whose pupils have a medical conditions - Please ensure that if your pupil has a medical condition requiring emergency medication this is provided to the school ASAP. We are still awaiting some medication and forms from some par- ents. Asthma —a spare in date Inhaler that has the prescription sticker on it and spacer Allergies - two in date epi-pens (if required) with the prescription sticker and piriton or equivalent. Any other condition requiring medication that is taken or the school administers in school day. Please be aware medical forms can be found on the school website under Information—Welfare room. Susan Tait—Welfare PSA NOROVIRUS—KEEP IT TO YOURSELF!
The Norovirus is the most common stomach bug in the UK, affecting people of all ages. Symptoms include vomiting, diarrhoea, a mild fever, headaches, stomach cramps and aching limbs. We want avoid the spread of this illness as much as possible so we ask that you ‘Keep it to yourself’ -
If you suspect a pupil has the norovirus please inform the school ASAP as protocol dictates that the school is required to report it to the NHS Lothian's Health Protec- tion Team .
Someone can be infectious for 48 hours after your symptoms stop so DO NOT send a pupil back to school before this time period.
Keep your hands clean, don’t share towels, flannels or toothbrushes.
Keep household surfaces clean
To feel better make sure you drink plenty of fluids, preferably water and eat foods easy to digest such as soup, rice, pasta and bread. Get plenty of rest and if neces- sary take Paracetamol for the fever, aches and pains. You can find information on Norovirus in the website addresses below, or contact your GP for advice. http://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/Norovirus/Pages/Introduction.aspx
Currie Community High School Newsletter— October 2017 17
Currie Community High School Newsletter
THE SCHOOL DRESS CODE
The school badge should be visible at all times
School polo shirt in white with embroidered badge OR collared shirt or blouse in white with a school tie School sweatshirt in black with embroidered badge (can be worn on its own or over school polo shirt) OR plain black v-necked pullover or plain black v-necked cardi- gan (to be work over shirt/blouse & tie) OR school hoodie in black with embroidered badge which must be worn over school polo shirt or shirt/blouse & school tie Black footwear Black trousers or skirt School blazer for S6 (compulsory), S5 (optional) and all Prefects (compulsory).
NB All outdoor clothing, including hats and scarves, must be removed indoors.
Items which are not part of our dress code include:
Any items of clothing which are so tight, short or revealing that they may cause offence Shorts Fashion, patterned, illustrated or hooded tops of any style Tops in different colours to school colours (this includes grey) Tracksuit or jogging tops Denim jeans of any colour Combat, tracksuit, jogging trousers Football strips, scarves or football related clothing Caps and hats Clothing bearing prominent manufacturers’ logo, words or pictures which contra- venes our policy on equality and fairness or which advertises alcohol, tobacco or other drugs Clothing or jewellery which contravenes health and safety regulations. For exam- ple, dangling ear-rings, long necklaces, scarves, garments which are easily flammable due to material and/or design Any items which are clearly fashion accessories eg coloured or decorated fashion belts Excessive or inappropriate make up Coloured or part-coloured footwear
Currie Community High School Newsletter— October 2017 18
Currie Community High School Newsletter
Leadership Team Contact Us Phone: 0131 449 2165 Senior Leadership Team:
Email: [email protected] Head Teacher - Doreen MacKinnon (Year Head S6) Website: www.curriehighschool.co.uk Senior Depute Head Teacher - Percy Farren (Tuesday-Thursday) (Year Head S3)
Please keep the school up to date Depute Head Teacher - Alan McKinney with all your contact details — (Year Head S4 & S5)
Remember, effective school Depute Head Teacher - Lesley Muir communication relies on this. (Year Head S2)
Depute Head Teacher (Acting) - Keep up to date with Rob Greenaway (Year Head S1) CCHS News Business Manager - Phill Pache VIA our Daily Bulletin This can be accessed on our Pupil Support Leaders: Hermiston - Duncan McBride website by clicking on Kinleith - Donna Jordan “Information” then “Bulletin” Lennox - Louise Paterson (Mon to Thurs) - Kerry Ellis (Acting) (Fri)
SAVE THE DATE—XMAS FAYRE Support for Learning Leader: SATURDAY 2ND DECEMBER Amanda Wilson
Parents in Partnership Curriculum Leaders: Lesley Muir / Kristy Dale - English, Media As well as organising the Christmas Studies and Literacy Fayre (yes it is that time again!), PIP Claire Mulvey - Expressive Arts has created a sub group to look at Rob Greenaway - Health and Wellbeing Kirsti Dower - Maths and Numeracy property maintenance throughout Catherine Mackenzie - Modern Languages the school. Both will be discussed at Ian Manderson— Science our next meeting. David Toal - Social Subjects John Schmidt - Technologies The next PiP meeting takes School Chaplains: place on Jim Dewar, Minister JuniperGreen Parish Church Easter Smart, Minister, Currie Kirk Monday 30th October
Currie Community High School Newsletter— October 2017 19
Currie Community High School Newsletter
Dates for your diary 2017/2018 Monday 23rd October Staff Resume Tuesday 24th October 2017 P upils Resume Wednesday, 25th October 2017 S1 Group Tutors meeting & S6 Yearbook Photographs Monday 30th October 2017 PiP Meeting 7pm Wednesday 8th November 2017 S4 Parents’ consultation Tuesday 14th—Thursday 16th November 2017 School of Rock shows Thursday, 30th November 2017 S3 Parents’ consultation Saturday 2nd December 2017 CCHS Christmas Fayre 12 to 3pm Tuesday, 12th December 2017 S1 Parents’ consultation Thursday, 14th December 2017 Christmas Music Concert Friday 22nd December 2017 Term Ends Monday 25th December to Friday 5th January 2018 Xmas and New Year Holiday Monday 8th January Staff Resume Tuesday 9th January 2018 Pupils Resume Wednesday 17th January 2018 PiP Meeting 7pm Thursday 18th Januray 2018 S2 Parents’ Information Evening Friday 9th February 2018 S6 and Team Photos & Term ends Monday 12th February—Friday 16th Februay 2018 Mid Term Break Monday 19th February 2018 All Resume Tuesday 20th February 2018 S5/S6 Parents’ consultation Friday 16th March 2018 Teenage Booster & Meningitis Immunisation Tuesday 20th March 2018 Music Concert 7pm Monday 26th March 2018 PiP meeting 7pm Thursday 29th March 2018 Term ends Friday 30th March—Monday 16th April 2018 Easter Holiday Tuesday 17th April 2018 All Resume Monday 7th May 2018 Mayday holiday—school closed Tuesday 8th May 2018 In Service day—school closed Wednesday 9th May 2018 Pupils return to school Monday 21st May 2018 Victoria Day—school closed Tuesday 22nd May 2018 Pupils return to school Thursday 31st May 2018 PiP AGM 7pm Tuesday 5th June 2018 HPV Immunisations S1 and S2 & P7 Parents meeting Wednesday 13th June 2018 Awards Ceremony 7pm Friday 15th June 2018 Prom at the Balmoral Hotel Tuesday 19th June to Thursday 21st June 2018 P7 Transition visit Thursday 28th June 2018 School closes at 2.35pm Friday 29th June 2018 Term ends
Currie Community High School Newsletter— October 2017 20