Boroughmuir High School Head Teacher S Report

BOROUGHMUIR HIGH SCHOOL PARENT COUNCIL MEETING HEAD TEACHER’S REPORT WEDNESDAY 6 JUNE 2012

Welcome to the last newsletter of session 2011/12.

As always it has been an incredibly busy year but especially so with the issues of Curriculum for Excellence, School Management restructuring and the ‘New’ Boroughmuir High School project all running concurrently.

However, there has been an enormous amount of work from our staff and support from our parent council in moving these areas forward and I thank them all for all their input.

Our new timetable starts on 6 June with our new S5 and S6 involved in a senior school induction programme prior to this. I will be meeting with all our new S5 and S6 during these days and making clear our expectations of them and what their expectations should be of themselves.

Staffing

There are several retirements from the staff:

Mr David Borthwick - (Teacher of Maths) retires 29 June after 17 years service to the school. Mrs Olive Thompson - (Office Admin staff) retired 25 May after 18 years service to the school. Ms Lin Murison - (Librarian) retires 29 June after 14 years service to the school. Mrs Sylvia Gardiner - (Staffroom Assistant) retires 29 June after 40 years service to the school. I thank all our retirees for all their years of service to the school and wish them a long and happy retirement. All our retirees will be replaced.

Also:- Mr Sean Campbell - (Teacher of English) career break August 2012 – August 2013 Mrs Cathie Scott - (Acting Administrative Officer) – leaves 29 June Mr Ian Baillie - (Temporary Teacher of Chemistry) – leaves 29 June Ms Hollie Gibson - (Temporary Teacher of Biology) – leaves 29 June Mr Caleb Marwick - (Probationer Teacher of Modern Studies) – leaves 29 June Ms Pauline McGinley - (Probationer Teacher of Home Economics) leaves 29 June Ms E Marley - (Probationer Teacher of English) – leaves 29 June

Four probationer Teachers are joining the staff for session 2012/13 Mr Christopher Mann - Biology Miss Helena Edmondson Chemistry Miss Jade Bellamy - English Miss Ismat Ahmad - Maths

School Security As intimated in previous newsletters, we have installed an electronic entry system to the school. This system will go live on 11 June. All pupils will be informed of this, along with details of the system at assemblies and a letter will be sent home for pupils and parents.

Activity Week 2012 Activity Week is a hugely successful part of Boroughmuir and contributes hugely to the positive ethos of the school in having staff and pupils work across departments and year groups. Activity Week is a school week and all pupils should be involved. Absence during this week will be recorded as unauthorised absence.

Shirley Robertson – Double Olympic Gold Medallist Shirley Robertson visited the school on 31 May and presented to all our S3 pupils. Her presentation was really inspirational and a great insight for all into the demands of competing successfully at Olympic level. Shirley remained at Boroughmuir after her presentation and had lunch with myself and six S3 pupils who were chosen by their guidance teachers to represent the school. Please see our website for further details. Can I once again extend our sincere thanks to Shirley and her team for presenting to our S3 pupils.

Former Pupils Visit to Boroughmuir On 18 May I was delighted to meet with a group of about 25 former pupils who had been at Boroughmuir between 1962 and 1968. Many had travelled from all over the UK for this reunion and it was a real pleasure to meet with such Boroughmuir enthusiasts. Only 1 or 2 admitted to having been in the Head Teacher’s Office before! I’m not so sure this was the case! That said, they all now seem extremely well behaved and were thrilled to be back in the old ‘Muir’.

Mr Danny Swan, ex-Boroughmuir Maths Teacher and now an invigilator with us was guest of honour at their Dinner Reception that evening. Danny has 50 years service with Boroughmuir as Teacher and Invigilator and we will be recognising this achievement later this month.

We are always delighted to hear from former pupils and will always do our very best to accommodate any requests. Neil Anderson our Senior Support Officer and web master is also our historical expert. Contact him for any assistance in the first instance.

P7 3 Day Visit A reminder that the P7, shortly to become our new S1, have their 3 day transition experience 19 – 21 June. On Tuesday 19 June pupils meet at Meggetland at 8.45am for a sports transition event. On Wednesday 20 June and Thursday 21 June pupils report to Boroughmuir High Scholl at 8.32am. A letter with full details will be issued shortly.

Annual Awards Ceremony Our annual Awards Ceremony takes place in St Oswald’s Hall on Thursday 14 June at 7pm. All award winners will by now have been notified by letter. My congratulations to all our academic award winners. Mrs Marilyne McLaren (ex City of Edinburgh Councillor and Convenor of Children and Families Education Committee) is our guest of honour this year. Marilyne has over the years been a great supporter of Boroughmuir and it is a great pleasure to have her attend the evening. We do of course have another Awards Ceremony in September for sporting and other non academic achievements.

‘ New’ School Update The tendering process to procure 2 architect companies - one for new build option - one for refurbishment option is currently underway. This means that on 28 June when the City of Edinburgh Council decides on the option to proceed a company of architects will be in place ready to start work immediately. The Council decision will be made public immediately after the meeting on 28 June.

Recent Events

 Book Return Day Monday 4 June  Jubilee Holiday Tuesday 5 June  Start of New Timetable Wednesday 6 June

Future Events  S6 Prom Balmoral Hotel- Friday 8 June  S3 Progress Reports - issued by Friday 15 June  Awards Ceremony - St Oswald’s Hall Thursday 14 June 7pm  P7 Visit - Tuesday 19 June – Thursday 21 June  P7 Information Evening - Wednesday 20 June 7.00pm – 8.00pm  S5 Course Structure - Tuesday 28 August 7.00pm – 7.45pm  Parent Council meeting - Wednesday 29 August  S4 Course Structure - Thursday 30 August 7.30pm – 8.15pm  S3 Course Structure - Thursday 30 August 6.30pm – 7.15pm  Term ends Friday 29 June at 12.00 noon.

NB. Please check our website for details on pupil achievements and

 Dress Code  School Rules  PE Dress Code  Blazers  All letters sent home

David Dempster Head Teacher (Acting) June 2012