Tynecastle High School - Newsletter Spring 2014

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Page 3 Head Teacher’s page Page 4 Whole School News Page 10 S1/2/3 Round-up Page 12 S 4/5/6 Round-up Page 17 Extra-Curricular Page 28 Faculty news Page 40 Active Schools & Primary Transition Page 46 Information for Parents/Carers ! ! !

! ! Dear Parent / Carer ! 2 !

As always, it has been good to meet many of you at the Sport Awards Ceremony and the recent curricular information evenings. Our main focus this term has been to ensure all students are on track for their National Qualifications, and in preparing for introducing our new Senior Phase in May. I am pleased to say that thanks to the commitment and expertise of staff we are in the final stages of assessment, and that the delivery of the new courses has gone well. Our prelims also went smoothly and students should now be acting on targeted advice from staff in preparation for the exams. Please encourage your son/daughter to take part in our rich supported study and Easter School programme. Our use of IT to support learning has also really taken off this term with the appointment of specialist staff to lead innovation. You can read more about developments in this edition. Please follow us on Tw i t t e r ! Other term highlights for me include our on-going development of languages. All students during S1-2 now benefit from opportunities in Spanish and Mandarin, as well as French. In partnership with Historic Scotland our S1 Gaelic students have been performing a play for various organisations and in the final week of term will tour in the north of Scotland. Earlier this term our good practice in languages was recognised in a Ministerial Visit centred around our S1 Mandarin classes celebrating the Year of the Horse. I plan to develop further links with China when I visit the Beijing area during the Easter holidays as part of a British Council initiative. Our students have been busy writing greeting cards and making small gifts for Chinese students. Happy Easter! Mr T Rae Head Teacher ! Ministerial Visit Thursday th Whole School News 30 January 2014 !

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Tynecastle High School Technology for learning in welcomed Alasdair Allan, MSP Tynecastle is going from today. The Minister visited one strength to strength. All of our of our S1 Mandarin taster S3 and S4 students have iPads classes and chatted to the and we are soon to roll this students about their progress. out to the new S3 & S2. They are all very positive Students having access to about their experiences and their own device means that have made great progress in a we can provide learning short time thanks to the experiences where use of expert teaching of our technology is integrated and Chinese language Assistant, accessible to all. Students and Meiling. We are really staff are creating content and delighted to benefit from this sharing good practice much excellent partnership with the more easily and readily than British Council. All students in before, enhancing the S1-3 will be able to access the learning experience for all. Mandarin tasters this session. The visit coincided with ! Chinese New Year so the Across the school our staff students found out about the and students are making use customs and culture related of online learning platforms to this. They all now know we such as Edmodo. These are in the Year of the Horse, a systems help students connect prosperous year according to and engage with teachers and Chinese tradition. Follow up resources in a safe and secure work by the class also took environment. There is also an place in our House Assemblies Edmodo login for parents so the following day as part of you can see what your child is our Global Citizenship working on. Please get in awareness programme. touch if you do not already Mr T Rae, Head have a login. Teacher ! ! In February, all staff accounts in Tynecastle were moved Information Technology over to the new Council-wide 4 !

Microsoft Office 365 system. student work, share resources Our students will be moved and introduce our students to over shortly. This system a global audience. provides cloud-based email, calendars, storage and the ! familiar Office suite of Apps We have also featured on the such as Word and PowerPoint. Council’s Bright Futures blog Office 365 integrates with the at iPad and so the traditional edinburghbrightfutures.com. desktop environment is now This has brought to a wider accessible on our devices, audience the work of our allowing for more innovative dancers, Chinese language use of this technology. ! classes and World Book Day ! Social Media activities. ! ! Over the last few months we have been looking at social Social media complements our media and the various ways in more traditional channels of which Tynecastle can engage communication and we are with the wider school currently redeveloping our community and share all of school website to provide a the great things that happen more engaging and dynamic here. To help with this, and to place for students, staff, model good practice with parents and visitors. social media to our students, Digital Footprints we now have a school Twitter account - @TynecastleHigh. With social media playing a Twitter allows us to easily significant role in many of our share news and updates about lives, including those of our school life. A number of students, we are mindful that faculties and subjects are also everyone at Tynecastle thinks using Twitter to showcase carefully before they publish 5 ! information online. We have If you have any questions or been speaking to our young concerns please do not people about their ‘Digital hesitate to get in touch with Footprint’ - the tracks that us. are left when comments, photos and videos are Support of Learning through published online, in any social Innovative ICT use network. As well as friends I w a s d e l i g h t e d t o b e and family, employers and appointed as a teacher at places of further and higher Tynecastle in February this education are looking to see year. My role is to support what information we have students, staff and the wider online and we want every community with the student at Tynecastle to have integration of technology into a digital footprint they are learning and teaching and proud of and would be happy promote innovative use. With for anyone to look at. access to what seems like unlimited amounts of information from around the world and the ability to connect with a global audience, it is my goal to ensure that all of our students are able to make the most of this amazing technology to help reach their full potential. The online world can often be daunting and confusing, and Mrs J so the Council has put Robertson together digital safety resources for parents which ! you can find on the Digital Learning Team’s website at: Provision for Highly Able Students http://tinyurl.com/ digitalinformation It is the ethos of the school that every student attains their full potential. The more 6 ! traditional focus of Support and outside of the classroom. for Learning is working with These include: students to bring their Literacy and Numeracy skills • Mentoring up to National standards, but • Subject specific we do also have an overview provision including and co-ordinating role for differentiation and students who are Highly Able. the delivery of Such students are identified courses to Advanced mainly via: Higher Level ✓ Teachers being aware • S e t t i n g i n m a n y of school policy and subjects. asked to identify students • Visiting speakers

✓ DHT/SfP House • Opportunities to meetings/discussions engage with Universities for both ✓ Transition information academic interests from Primaries and entrance. We ✓ Standardised subscribe each year Assessment results to the Lothian Equal Access Programme for ✓ National Assessments/ Schools (LEAPs) and SQA examination support students results through the UCAS system, including ✓ Parent/pupil/peer Oxbridge where referral relevant. ✓ Subject specific • Wider achievement target setting and opportunities t r a c k i n g a n d monitoring • Visits to specialist institutions To challenge our Highly Able Students we use a wide variety of strategies both in 7 !

• Engagement with World Maths Day at Scottish Network for Able Pupils (SNAP) You can follow the wider • External achievements of all our competitions/ students on Twitter projects/prizes @TynecastleHigh. Students have many ! opportunities to engage in activities outside of school Mrs V Cheung which allows them to liaise Support for Learning Leader and compete with their peers. Some recent examples ! include: ! S3 Science and Engineering day at S6 Captains’ Round-up Heriot-Watt university Every year the school hosts a Scottish Poetry Burns Supper that features a Library Twitter two course meal, singing, Competition Highland dancing, speeches, raffles and of course, a Scottish Football ceilidh. This year Burns Night Trials at Toryglen was attended by teachers, students, ex-students and Construction and Built family and friends from as far Environment around the world as China, Challenge at Napier making it a great social and University cultural event. Halloween Haiku (Poetry) Competition ! World Challenge Heriot-Watt University Design It’s now fewer than 90 days Smash Challenge until the World Challenge team leaves for our month long expedition in Bolivia 8 ! which seems mad considering anticipation for this year’s that there were over 600 days Christmas pantomime. until departure when we first signed up. Our itinerary has ! been finalised and squeezes in Ex-Tynecastle student new a w e e k l o n g t r e k u p British Boxing Champion Apolobamba, a week building homes for poverty stricken We are proud to note that Lee families in Cochabamba, a 3 McGregor, who left at the end day visit to the unique Uyuni of Salt Flats, acclimatization in the Santa Cruz jungle and S4 to take up a Modern national park and a visit to Apprenticeship under the Lake Titicaca. We still need to Guarantee scheme, finish getting vaccinated, recently won the title of buying our equipment and British Youth boxing champion paying off the final costs but in the under 49Kg category at we’re all very excited. Meadowbank. Panto Seventeen-year-old Lee McGregor exceeded even his Following the success of last own expectations on Saturday year’s Panto, Snow White, was after being crowned British this year’s Pirates of the youth 49kg boxing champion Panto which was loosely based at Meadowbank. Lee defeated on the familiar film, Pirates a much more experienced of the Caribbean. This year’s opponent to add the British cast demonstrated even more title to his Scottish one. student involvement, and lived up to the high expectations of those who performed last year. There were two sold out evening performances and an afternoon performance for the cluster primary schools. There is already great

9 ! ! ! As the new British champion. This has been a particularly Lee will travel to Sofia in important term for our S2 Bulgaria for the World students as we prepare them Championships in four weeks’ for the third year of their time. Broad General Education within Curriculum for Congratulations from Excellence. This is different everyone at Tynecastle to Lee because the traditional McGregor, recent school 'choice' of subjects in S2 for leaver. S3-4 no longer takes place. S2 S1/2/3 round up students may now opt to focus on a particular subject within ! a curricular area, but they This has been another busy will however continue with term for our S1/2/3 students. many aspects of all subjects. All our S1 students are To support our students and completing their Junior Award you through this process, we Scheme Scotland Gold level held our S2 into S3 programme this term. JASS is Information Evening for run through our RME parents on 27 February, which department and you may was well-attended. We then recall from our December issued Learner Review packs newsletter that we are to all S2 students during an running 6 projects this year as assembly on 28 February and part of the ‘Me and My World’ the S2 Parents / Carers element of the award. The S1 Evening took place on 3 students are all now fully February. The final part of the engaged with their chosen process is a Learner Review, project. In term 3, there will which is an interview between be an Award Ceremony to your son / daughter and a celebrate our students’ member of the student achievements and also an support team. These have opportunity for students to now all taken place with most reflect on what they have students able to have all of learned from this experience. their first choice of subjects. 10 !

We hope that the information to record their successes from we provided in the pack and both in and out of school and during our Information encourages them to reflect on Evening has enabled you to their achievements and the support your son / daughter in skills they have developed as their move into S3. a result of their experiences. This term, students have been Similarly in S3 this term, learning more about how to there has been much put up regular 'posts' about preparation for the move into their successes and their next S4 - the Senior Phase. steps as part of Tutor Group In addition to the S3 Parents / activities. You can access your Carers Evening on 27 son / daughter's own e- February, I also briefed all S3 portfolio from home by asking students on how they should them to log onto their GLOW select the 6 subjects they account. There is a space for wish to continue with in S4. I parents / carers to respond to then held 1:1 interviews with the post or to add a new post. each S3 student to ensure that Please feel free to make a their choices maximised their contribution. potential for success in S4 S4/5/6 National exams. The S3 Learner Review process is now Exam Leave complete with most students able to have their first choice In line with City of Edinburgh of subjects. We hope that you Council’s policy on exam feel that the Learner Review leave, students from S4 to S6 process has supported your will all be issued with son / daughter and you individual exam leave through this transition. timetables. Please note that students are entitled to S1-3 E-portfolios varying amounts of study leave depending on the All our S1-3 students number and the level of have continued to develop examinations being taken. their own e-portfolio. The e- The SQA examinations run portfolio aims to provide our students with the opportunity 11 ! from Tuesday 29th April until report which, along with the Monday 2nd June. log book, provides any necessary verification. ! Students generally really Work Experience enjoy their foray into the world of work, and employers’ On 13 January over a hundred reports are full of praise for S4 students set out on their the youngsters’ efforts and work experience week. This enthusiasm. was the culmination of planning over a number of Successful students are weeks where students had awarded a pass at either selected their Intermediate 1 Work placement from a database or Experience. had researched and arranged their own placement. ! Students spent a week on Prelim Exams their employer’s premises carrying out appropriate S4 and S5/6 completed their tasks. prelim exams just before and just after the February Break. Placements were very varied, Students’ attendance and including a number of punctuality during these nurseries and hairdressers, exams were exceptionally the City of Edinburgh’s good, and invigilators were Environmental Services delighted with our very Department, and The Sands settled, mature and polite Hotel, Blackpool! Other students. This sound interesting ‘billets’ were preparation ‘for the real KwikFit, 3D Cakes and The thing’ can be complemented Lighthouse Board. by attending supported study classes at lunchtimes and Students complete a log book after school, and our Easter during the week, and in a School Revision Programme is final review receive feedback included at the end of this from their employer on their newsletter. We continue to performance. Once back in feel very proud of our staff school, students complete a who are so willing to give 12 ! freely of their time in these The SQA exams are just round ways; do please encourage the corner, with Modern your son/daughter to make Studies and English taking the most of these excellent place as soon as the 29th and opportunities. 30th April respectively. ! Individualised exam timetables will be issued after Senior Phase Transitions the Easter holidays but in the Learner Reviews have taken meantime students can access place for S3 moving to S4, and this information from the SQA at time of typing are website: www.sqa.org.uk . underway for S4 and S5 moving to S5 and S6. ! It is crucial to students’ As explained in various letters success that they have an and at our Information effective study plan in place. Evening on 4 March for Tynecastle has developed an parents of S4 and S5, innovative online study Curriculum for Excellence planning tool for which Senior Phase developments faculties have contributed mean that next session some materials. All S4/5/6 students classes will potentially be have been shown how to made up of a combination of access this resource through S4, S5 and S6 students. The Edmodo and the school most important principle is website; ask your son or that ‘the right student is daughter to show you what’s studying for the right level of there. qualification at the right time’; teaching Senior Phase ! students together will allow us to broaden the curriculum In addition to Intermediate 1 (i.e. number of subjects and and 2, Higher and Advanced levels) on offer. Higher exams, this summer sees the first presentations SQA Exams for the new National Qualifications. Our S4 and ! their teachers have been 13 ! working very hard to prepare o Provide drinks and for ‘Nat 4s and Nat 5s’, and snacks, including we await with interest and bottles of water for anticipation the outcomes of the exams a very good year of learning themselves and teaching. o Be there to listen ! o Offer to help, for example to ask Surviving Exam Season questions, test word definitions, or ‘be taught’ by your How youngster can o Praise efforts to study o Try to ‘cut some slack’ if anxieties at parents and carers best times spill over into support the young people in family life… their households? Here are o If possible, plan to some ideas: enjoy together some o Help provide a place ‘time off studying’ without distractions for studying ! Finally, let us know if we can o Help out with pens, help in any way, and pencils, highlighters – it’s good to feel all best wishes for a happy, organised successful exam season. o Gently advise that, ! for some people, music while studying ! is unhelpful My World of Work o Support your youngster in getting ! enough sleep 14 !

My World of Work suggesting good answers. www.myworldofwork.co.uk is There is also a section on a web service produced by applying to university which Skills Development Scotland offers helpful tips on (the Careers Service) which completing UCAS applications, encourages young people and i n c l u d i n g p e r s o n a l adults to plan their future statements. careers. The website is full of features and advice designed Students are expected to to help identify strengths and register for the web service to match these to the types of which they can do either in learning and activities best school or at home, and it suited to them. My World of would be helpful if parents Work provides information on and carers encouraged their different areas of work, how young people to log in. to search for jobs, how to One to one interviews are also apply and be successful. still available in school and, There are also job-related once a student has left videos and interview tips, and school, in the SDS Centre at the opportunity to write and 79 Shandwick Place. store CVs. Students can register online ! for My World of Work, and Skills Development Scotland the more they use the service – Lyn Sutherland the more it customises itself to their interests, for example Our Careers Adviser supports displaying suitable job the school in a number of vacancies each time the ways including advice on student then logs in. Other completing application forms features such as My Strengths and writing CVs, registering provide great ideas for with online Careers websites subject/course choices and and course choice while at related job types. My school and beyond. While PSE Interviews usefully takes programmes in school support students through the whole students in thinking about process, with interviewers what they would like to do asking real questions and and where they would like to 15 ! go, Lyn takes this a step in the city to encourage them further, through offering to create appropriate jobs, individual appointments at training and college which the plan is put into placements for our young action. people. Other exciting possible positive destinations Tynecastle helps students include internship and Modern move on to a variety of Apprenticeships. positive destinations including Employment, Volunteering, Check out: Skills for Work programmes, www.edinburghguarantee.org Modern Apprenticeships, College courses and University ! degrees. Through the Extra-Curricular Highlights Edinburgh Guarantee there are many opportunities available to school leavers in Edinburgh, and every reason for our young people to feel motivated and optimistic. ! ! Edinburgh Guarantee (A positive destination for all) ! The Edinburgh Guarantee Engineering Education exists to make sure that every Scheme school leaver in Edinburgh At the start of term our crack moves on to a positive team of young engineers went destination, be this a job, for a two day residential to further education or training Strathclyde University and opportunity, or volunteering. spent the time researching The Edinburgh Guarantee and modelling a radar team works with employers, transport system for Selex ES. colleges and training providers

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The team was made up of: metres final, which is a Alastair Nicholson, Pratyush fantastic achievement where Vankadara, Craig Mckay and she finished 7th with a time of Sanish Maharjan and they 8.29secs. The winning time demonstrated impressive was 7.79s. team work, research and presentation skills and even ! managed to be skilled at Mr building models using balsa M Connell wood! They now have to write an engineering report to Newcastle FC Trip present to a panel after the th Easter holidays. On the 12 of February we took 34 of Tynecastle’s finest Mr C Harrison footballers, from S1 to S3, on an exciting trip to Newcastle Athletics FC. We set off straight after period 3 and enjoyed a full stadium tour of St James’ Park, played in a 5 a-side football competition and enjoyed watching Newcastle vs Tottenham Hotspur (unfortunately our new favourite team, Newcastle, were absolutely demolished by Spurs 4-0!) However, this didn’t distract from a fantastic day which everyone enjoyed. Special mention should go to each pupil who represented Rhona Lloyd, S6, competed in Tynecastle High School on this the Scottish Schools Indoor trip as they were totally Track & Field Championships brilliant. From the end of in February. Rhona made it period 3 till 1am in the into the Over 16 Girls 60 morning, the pupils were exceptional, prompting praise 17 ! from everyone they met cycle to school for this years including, the bus drivers, our ‘Big pedal’. Students who tour representative Connor cycle are entered into a prize and the tour guides at St draw and Sustrans the James’ Park. They were National cycling charity will polite, respectful and be picking the winners from enthusiastic for the whole our school and the region at journey and even cleaned the the end of March. whole bus before departing for a well-earned rest in the early hours. This was a brilliant trip and one which we’ll remember for a long time!

! Mr Rahimian, Mr Nisbet, Mr Miller, Ms Moultray and Ms Ms Welsh MacGill ! ! Smoothie Bike Health and Wellbeing We saw the return of the Spring Cycles famous ‘Smoothie Bike’ in February to kick start the ‘Big We have been encouraging Pedal’ event running from 3rd - both staff and students to 14th March. Students blitzed 18 ! up fruity flavours using pedal School. This was a hard fought power. This month’s Friday game against a much larger cycle took us along the canal and dominant team and we to the outdoor gym where narrowly lost 42 - 56. Next up students pumped some iron in was an away game against preparation for the big pedal. Earlston High School. After a bleak, dark and sleety journey we again narrowly lost, this time the final score was 50 - 38. Towards the end of November we had our last cup game, away against Liberton, which we won by 40 points with the final score 10 - 50. We finished third in our group

Ms Welsh ! Senior Boys Basketball

This year the senior boys’ which meant we did not basketball team have had the progress through to the next opportunity to play numerous stage. Since then Tom Griffin friendlies as well at taking (who has returned this year to part in the Scottish Schools coach the team) has been Cup - Open Boys division run working very hard with them by Basketball Scotland. We on a variety of techniques and started the season with a plays but also their friendly against WHEC which communication skills with one we won 53 - 17. Our next another on the court and it is three games were all cup slowly but surely paying off. games: first up, at home, we Tom has also been working played Castle with the newer, less confident 19 ! members of the team to back in contention. The riders integrate them and build their eventually won 72 – 69. confidence. ! ! During the Easter break some Since the Christmas break we of the team are off to see the have played a few friendlies, Harlem Globetrotters when at home. First up was against they visit The Hydro in which we Glasgow. This should be a fun- comfortably won 86 - 13. Next filled evening. we played Holyrood High, which we won 71 - 26. The ! senior boys played a very th challenging game on the 13 Ms Moyes March against George Watson’s. After a hard fought ! 40 minutes we were victorious, winning 65 – 57. DanceQuest Project That’s now four games in a row that the boys have won. Students from Dalry Primary ! School and Tynecastle High In between all the training School have been taking part and games, some members of in the nationwide DanceQuest the team along with some of project. DanceQuest aims to the senior girls team squeezed get children more involved in in a trip to Birmingham to see arts in their community. The the British Basketball League pupils took part in workshops Cup Final, where Leicester led by dancers from Scottish Riders retained their trophy. Ballet. These workshops Opponents Esh Group Eagles produced a piece that they Newcastle were winning 67 – performed in January at the 56, then in the final four Festival Theatre to a packed minutes Drew Sullivan, the audience. Great British Captain, scored 11 points to bring the Riders

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The project was enjoyed by This is a really good example staff and pupils alike. Read on o f d e v e l o p i n g w i d e r for their reports. achievement as part of the curriculum. Given the student feedback on this, we I was so proud that nearly forty of our students made the most of this wonderful opportunity to become involved in Dance Quest. Our S3 National Qualification Dance class performed a set in Act one, and a mix of S1-2 dance club students performed in Act 2. All of them showed such poise and confidence in front of over one thousand people, alongside some very accomplished dance schools. definitely want to be involved again next year. A proud moment indeed. The polished performance is a tribute to all the preparation and hard work the students What our dancers thought: put in, but is also a measure of the expertise, enthusiasm and commitment from Ms Beth Williamson 1D2 Clarke and Ms McPhee in our Performance Faculty, who were supporting this event. It The whole experience was was also great to see so many very good fun – learning the parents there in support. I dances, seeing the shows and look forward to seeing the best of all performing on the comments and reflections in massive stage. the student e-portfolios over the coming weeks. 21 !

I really enjoyed it and I was Being part of DanceQuest was very proud of our school. We a good experience and getting were very privileged to be to perform of the Festival chosen and I’m glad I did it. Theatre stage was amazing. Our performance went really well. I’d love to do it all over Naima Zaman 3B2 again.

Before the day approached I Danielle Morrison 3T2 never felt that nervous until we were outside the building. We went in and sat I thought being a part of the and watched while everyone DanceQuest programme was a rehearsed. I got really bad very good experience. I loved butterflies just before we dancing in the Festival rehearsed, but once we did it, Theatre. It was fun getting it got me excited to actually to be in the spotlight and perform. When we went on show people what I can do. I to perform it felt good and would love to be a part of the nerve wracking to see the project next year if crowd in front of us. Tynecastle gets invited.

Once we did it, it felt Sarah Gallacher 3B1 AMAZING. I felt like we achieved a milestone. The performance gave us all a DanceQuest was amazing. boost to perform again as the Being on the massive Festival crowd gave us a really loud Theatre stage was a great cheer. experience. It would be really good to do it again. I was so nervous at first. We Lauryn Mutch 3B1 met lots of new dancers too.

Lauren Livingstone 3T2 22 !

I really enjoyed being part of and have certainly played all the DanceQuest experience, it their games in the correct was really fun. I was worried spirit. The boys have managed about doing it at first but to raise some funds to buy after the dress rehearsal I new strips by getting was just excited. sponsorship from “The Grain Store Restaurant” in Victoria Street. We want to thank About DanceQuest Steven Dick and the owners of the restaurant on this matter. The boys will be at our DanceQuest is one of the achievement night to receive many ‘quests’ set up by the awards for participation. Princes Foundation for Children and the Arts. It aims ! to introduce children to the arts and take them on a ! cultural journey that will Congratulations to Rhona encourage and inspire. For Lloyd who played rugby for more information visit the Scotland U20s on Saturday 15 DanceQuest website. March at Peffermill against a full Belgium team.

Senior Football ! Congratulations too to ! goalkeeper Sean Brennan The senior boys have come to who has been called up the end of an busy season several times recently to the with a defeat to Currie HS. U18 Scotland Football Squad, However, the boys have shown including a 1-1 draw in great resilience and Kirkcaldy versus Northern commitment to each other Ireland. Keeping with the and the school throughout this football theme, former season. They have come on students Paul Hanlon and leaps and bounds as Jason Cummings continue to individuals and have play regularly for Hibernian, developed a great team ethos with Paul already in his 23 ! seventh season with the city Coincidentally, I went club, and Jason in his first. to the same school as ! Mr Aitchison. Where and what did you Mr M study? Connell Studied Astrophysics ! at Herriot Watt. ! What is your favourite topic ! to teach? Interview with Mr Call Pythagoras, because it so important and how often is shows up! ! Three items you would take to a desert island? Friends, Bagpipes, the book “Nineteen Eighty-Four” by George Orwell. ! Greatest achievement so ! for? ! Recently became an Where are you from? official at a roller disco. The borders in Galashiels. ! 24 !

Guilty pleasure song? Would you rather fight a horse sized duck or a 100 Block Party – Internet duck sized horses? Friends ! ! A horse sized duck. ! You can simply run in to a tight alley and it will get stuck. Favourite superhero and why? ! Superman - For most What would be your theme superheroes their song and why? disguise is their Ramones - Sheena is a superhero costume, Punk Rocker but for him, his disguise is his human ! identity. Interview with Ms Mariani ! ! Where do you see yourself in ten years? Still teaching, but teaching in foreign countries. ! What made you get into education? Always wanted to be a Where are you from? teacher. Half Italian/ Half ! Scottish 25 !

! Bonnie Tyler – Total Eclipse Of The Heart Where and what did you study? ! Studied European law Role model? & L a n g u a g e a t Edinburgh. Also Jessica Ennis because studied Environmental she is focused and Science with teaching motivated at Stirling ! ! Favourite superhero and Who are your favourite why? band? Batman, simply U2. Others include the because of Christian Verve Bail ! ! Three items you would take Where do you see yourself in to a desert island? ten years? The three f’s: food, Still teaching! And family and friends. hopefully will have visited more countries ! being a geography teacher Greatest achievement so for? ! R u n n i n g a h a l f marathon and getting What made you get into degrees education? Guilty pleasure song? Always loved school. Loved going to school and being in school. 26 !

Also, had a lot of good have recently enjoyed a teachers. victory over James Gillespie’s whilst the s1 team beat ! Balerno 6-5 with a goal from their top goal scorer, Chris Would you rather fight a Finnie, who also plays for horse sized duck or a 100 Tynecastle Club team. duck sized horses? Although both the boys and girls open basketball teams A n d W e a p o n o f failed to qualify to the next choice? stage of the cup, the games were very close and some One horse sized duck success has still been seen in with my sense of friendlies. Lindsay Ferry in s6 humour. who plays football for Hibs has What would be your theme been offered a scholarship in song and why? America, whilst Rhona Lloyd who participates in athletics Make a new song! Be and rugby was placed 5th in original. the Scottish Schools national final and played for Scotland ! U20 against Belgium Women. Faculty news Modern Languages ! Performance Mandarin ! On Thursday 30th of January Dr Alasdair Allan, the Sport in Tynecastle so far this year has seen great individual Minister for Learning, Science and team success. Both the s1 & Scotland's Languages, Kate and s2 football teams Walker, Head of Education in (coached by Mr Miller and Mr British Council Scotland and Nisbet respectively) are the BBC News Scotland visited performing well in their the Modern Languages relative leagues. The S2 team department to experience a Mandarin lesson with class 27 !

IBD2 and Michael, Kurt, Courtney and Nathan delivered by our assistant, Competition winner Meiling. ! xīn nián ! hǎo Pupils were asked about their opinions of learning Chinese ! and if they though it was a good idea. The response was ! positive. As Chinese New Year ! was the following day, the lesson focused on that. Pupils Congratulations to Tobasum looked at the traditions Miah in S1 who has won an behind celebrating the New iPad Mini after participating in Year and learned about a competition organised by decorating windows and doors the British Council. The with couplets. Pupils learned competition involved writing a to pronounce new words in short piece on learning Mandarin such as ‘happiness’, Chinese. Tobasum’s writing ‘lantern’ and ‘firecracker’. Dr piece will shortly be available Allan joined in the speaking to read on the British practice and experiences first Council’s Website. hand and praised the Spanish excellent pronunciation skills of the pupils. S2 and S3 students enjoyed their annual Spanish unit ! between the start of January and the February break. S2

! students learned about the A massive thank you to Meiling 新年好 for creating such a wonderful and exciting lesson. Also, a well done to all the pupils different diet and routines of involved. the Spanish speaking world. 28 !

Some classes even looked at families during the Highland recipes for cooking a Tortilla Clearances. One family was Espanola. In S3, students forced to move out towards the coast and the other family was forced to move to Stanley Mills in Perthshire. This was a fantastic experience for all involved. The pupils will be taking this performance to Perthshire and the Isle of Skye in April, where they will perform for schools and community groups. were looking to the future and in particular learning about the opportunities open to ! them to study in different S1 pupils are: Leah Notman, countries when they leave Christopher Todd, Rebecca school. Mears, Heather Ramsey, Alexander Dennis, Subhan ! Amir, Kyle Ng, Deanna Gaelic Cochrane and Danielle Wilson Our S1 Gaelic Learners ! performed their Play “Our S2 and S3 students enjoyed History: The Clearances” or their annual Spanish unit “Fundaichean nan Gàldheal” between the start of January at the School of Scottish and the February break. S2 Studies, Edinburgh University students learned about the on Wednesday 18th March. different diet and routines of Pupils have been working the Spanish speaking world. closely with Mrs Forrest, our Some classes even looked at Gaelic teacher and Mrs recipes for cooking a Tortilla Paterson the Gaelic Learning Espanola. In S3, students Officer at Historic Scotland. were looking to the future and The play tells the story of two in particular learning about 29 ! the opportunities open to have learnt to their final them to study in different pieces. countries when they leave school. Award winning Animals Mrs D The Art and design McGinley department are delighted to

! Painting by Tiina Lilja Art and Design announce that 3 of our S1 ! students were awarded a S3 Working Artist Visit ‘Highly commended’ in the SRUC ‘Animals in Art To broaden S3 understanding Competition’. The winning of art practice and Industry work including our 3 students we had a visiting artist from will be displayed at the highly who prestigious Andrew Grant spoke to students about her Gallery at Edinburgh College own work as a painter. The of artist Tiina Lilja showed th nd images from her studio and Art from 20 March to 2 exhibitions and brought April. Congratulations to Vilte sketchbooks for the students Verbickaite, Jessica Lloyd and to see her working processes Leigh Maquinad for their and inspirations. excellent achievement and we would encourage everyone to She talked about her style and go and see the work. Ms background and shared her Welsh journey from school to working in the art industry. She spent time with students discussing their work and answered questions. The students were inspired by this enriching learning experience and are applying what they

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! media print based on the local e n v i r o n m e n t u s i n g a RSA Schools Arts Award combination of pen and ink, mono and press print. Phatcharee’s work was shown at the Friends of the RSA gallery room on Princes Street from the 14th February to the 12th March, Mon –Fri, 10-4pm. ! Physical Education ! A select group of S1 students competed at the WHEC in the 2014 Giant Heptathlon. Overall, we finished 6th out of 8 schools but were the only school to ONLY select S1 students to compete – the rest of the schools had either a mix of S1 and S2’s or in 2 or 3 We are delighted to announce cases a full S2 team. that the outstanding work by Phatcharee ! Charoennamthongkham was Each event (8 in total) was selected for the ‘highly ranked 1st-8th place, with commended category’ in the points awarded and an overall RSA schools Arts Award. This score being created at the prestigious national end of the Heptathlon. competition received entries from hundreds of schools both ! public and private making this an amazing achievement for our S3 student. Phatcharee produced a stunning mixed 31 !

• In the 30m sprint – We The students were absolutely finished an overall 2nd fantastic. Their effort and out of all the schools support for each really blew which was really me away, during each race impressive! they shouted and cheered ! until they were blue in the • In the Speed Hurdles – face and thye pushed and we finished 4th pushed and pushed to achieve • In the endurance the best they could. They challenge (our 2nd last represented the school in such event when the a positive way and we should tiredness had kicked all be incredibly proud of in) we finished 6th them. • 3 Spring jumps – we finished 5th ! • Standing long jump – We finished 1ST Boys • Overhead shot put – We finished 8th Harvey Lyne, Ramsay McCall, • Step Up Challenge Kye Hutchison, Jack Gordon, (Thanks to Mr. Abhai Ponner, Alex Prentice, Simpson for the Chris Finnie training) – we finished 3rd • Team Relays – we ! ! finished joint 7th Girls Jessica Lloyd , Claire Delworth, Tina O’Hara, Lauren Finlay, Ellie Green, Lucy Meechan !

Mr C Nisbet ! 32 !

English ! World Book Day Author Visit ! World Book Day 2014 fell on 6th March this year and to celebrate, fifty S1 and S2 students from Tynecastle High ! School welcomed the author, Cathy MacPhail, into our Cathy school. With everyone sat in MacPhail the library, surrounded by books and faced by a display ! showing many of Cathy’s When the time came to ask works, the students were questions, the students treated to a whirlwind tour of plucked up the courage to ask Cathy’s characters and novels, some really impressive including “Out of the Depths”. questions that gave everyone This title, the first in Cathy’s even more of an insight into Tyler Lawless series, came what it is like to write your about from a previous visit in own novels. From the rapt 2007, when Cathy provided expressions on the students’ the school with the first line faces and the buzz as they of a novel for a school writing left the room, hopefully a competition and promptly creative seed was sown today liked it so much, she decided at Tynecastle: indeed, Cathy to turn it into a novel herself. even left us with another opening line for a novel – “I ! heard the knocking at the door and I knew they had come for me” – to set the school’s imaginations on fire. Thanks must go to Tynecastle’s librarian, Mrs 33 !

Kerr, for hosting and Scottish Children’s Book organising such an inspiring Awards 2014 event and, of course, Cathy herself for coming. It was ! clear to see the enjoyment and fun had by all the This year, students from students who are all looking across the school were forward to reading more of involved in voting on the Cathy’s works and going to see shortlist for the Scottish the upcoming film of one of Children’s Book Awards 2014. her books, “Another Me”, The students read all the which is coming to cinema titles on the fiction for 8-11 near you soon. and 12-16 year old’s shortlist before their votes were put into a national ballot online. Mr Durie They decided that they wanted to vote for Ferryman, ! by Claire McFall for the older category and The Black Tide, ! by Caroline Clough for the younger category.

! ! Arya Jadhav from S2 wrote of Ferryman, that it “is a book about an idea of the afterlife and love. What I enjoyed most about this book is that it showed both point-of-views of the characters. I also enjoyed the way the idea of the afterlife was put in.” 34 !

Sravya Vankadara wrote of however, choosing instead The The Black Tide, that it “was Accidental Time Traveller, by really interesting as it told Janie Mackay, a book that our you about the adventure of a judges thought was excellent, boy who tries to save his but not quite as good as their family. favourite.

The best thing about it was that it described things in a Mr Durie way which you understood, even though if you hadn’t ! read the first book of this Science ! GO4SET Competition Four students from S2 were chosen to represent Tynecastle High School in a competition organised by a group called EDT. To win this competition we had to think of new ideas to save water at our school and present our views by making a model, writing a report and presenting our work on a stall later. We are trying our best to find new invention ideas to preserve and conserve water and we have done a lot of series. research about the water at Happily, the rest of Scotland our school which has caused agreed with our judges about our attitude to change Ferryman, as it won the 12-16 towards water and also let us year old’s category. They explore new problems and disagreed on The Black Tide, 35 ! find a solution to it which will year olds – so well done to be really helpful in future. Stravya, Jane, Sravya S2 Rachel and Ellie 2T1 & 2D1

Ms K Davis SCI-FUN This year the S2 and S1 were invited to a big workshop in the atrium. This workshop let us explore the wonders of Science. We were divided into small groups and were allowed to go around and look Although the four students did at every counter which not win the competition they consisted of many different were the top team from their types of activities. It was a panel of assessors. really nice experience as we were able to learn new things The students are a real credit a very fun way. The best thing to the school! As well as was that they were all achieving personal GO4SET interactive activities and also certificates , they have been the S6 were helping us to do awarded silver CREST awards. and understand things.

Parent Council ! Many thanks to everyone who supported our Burns Supper at the end of January. We had a fun night with great food and great entertainment (provided by The Roundhouse Ceilidh Silver CREST awards are Band). We would especially typically completed by 14-16 36 ! like to thank staff and are summery flowers such as students who participated, in French Marigolds, Cosmos, particular speechmakers, Sunflowers or herbs such as singers, dancers, waitresses, parsley or chives. Nearer the Struan the piper and James date we will be looking for for Ode to the Haggis. We volunteers to help with stalls would also like to thank the and, of course, homebaking. girls who washed glasses, the Proceeds from the Fair are Friday afternoon helpers and used to fund our many everyone who provided extracurricular clubs and baking. Without the help and activities next session, so support of Mrs Bell, Mrs please get involved and help Cochrane and our excellent us raise some money for the in-house bartender, Mr Rae, school. If you have any we might not have made it! fundraising ideas or queries, We raised approx. £150. don’t hesitate to get in touch ([email protected]) Our main fundraising event for . Thank you! the year is our Summer Fair which is being held on Our next meeting is on Saturday 14 June from 12 to Monday 28th April at 7pm in 3pm. This year we are very the school. All welcome! excited to be part of the Dalry Gala Day Mary celebrations. You can help by Brownlee collecting books/CDs/DVDs, Tynecastle Parent bric-a-brac and second-hand Council jewellery for our stalls. Please don’t throw anything out! We are also asking for help to Sow Some Seeds for Active Schools and Transition The Great Tynie Sowing Bee! The idea is to grow something from seed now so we have plants to sell at the Plant Stall There is still time to sign up in June. Ask Grandparents or to any activity within the Neighbours if they would like school – give it a go, they’re to help. Some suggestions FREE! Meet in the PE 37 ! department before the start the Scottish basketball games. of the club to join. A huge thank you to Miss Moyes and Miss Gardner for New Club in Term 3 their support with the teams. A new and exciting fitness/ boxercise club will be starting ! in term 3 with Mrs West. Transition Details will be confirmed after Easter. ! P5-7 West Primary Basketball ! League Hockey Festivals The primary basketball league Well done to the Girls’ hockey has been growing from team for taking part in the strength to strength. We now City wide high school hockey have 10 primary schools from festival. We competed against across the West taking part. six schools in the City and was Craiglockhart and Dalry a great chance to put their primary schools have skills into practice! improved in confidence and skill over the past year and ! are Hockey Club – boys can come too! ! P6-7 Dalry Football Hockey club will be changing to a Monday in Term 3. The Dalry Primary School use the club will run from 4.30 – high school’s amel pitch for 5.30pm on the amel pitch. their team training every Please see Pam Brown if you’d Thursday after school. We like to join. currently have 36 pupils attending (boys and girls). It’s ! a great opportunity for the Scottish Basketball League pupils to get used to their future PE turf! Well done to the boys and girls in their participation in ! 38 !

Clubs – Update of Timetable ! The timetable of clubs will be ! updated after Easter. Please check notice boards and Volunteers bulletin to see your club’s details. ! If you’d like to help out with ! any of the clubs we have How do I join? running please let me know – the more staff that help, the Meet at PE department in PE less you have to volunteer! kit for the start time of your club. ! A big thank you to all staff ! and pupils who help out at Is there a cost? lunch time and after school clubs. No - All clubs are free! ! ! If you have any questions, Where can I see what’s on? please come and see me – you • Notice board can find me in the music department. • Pam’s office door in music Pam Brown • PE Department Active Schools Co-ordinator • Ask a member of Tynecastle HS and Cluster staff! Primaries ! [email protected] Still unsure? Why not give a ! new activity a try – you might enjoy it! ! ! ! 39 !

! • Fitness in the Fitness Suite Wednesday Lunchtime Clubs ! • Football ! • French ! • French Trip Planning Come along, join in and have • Global Citizen fun – it’s free! ! • Homework • Internet • Art • Library • Badminton • Mechanics • Basketball • Music • Board Games • Nail Art • Computer Games • Photography • Craft and Jewellery • Running/Jogging • Creative Writing • School Radio Station • Dance • Science • Dodgeball • Small Animal Caring • Duke of Edinburgh • Small Animal • Eco Group Management • Fairtrade ! • Fencing Wednesday Lunchtime Clubs • Film 40 !

S3 – 1 – Fitne S6 Mr ! 1.45 ss Fitn Revolta pm Gym ! ess

! Wednesday Lunchtime Clubs

! Da Activ Wher Con Time Degu y ity e tact S1 – Mo 3.30 – Asse Miss S3 Acti Tim Wher nd 4.30p mbly Clar Danc Contact ay m Hall ke vity e e e

Sea S1/ S1 1 – Asse 3.30 – n S2 Miss Boys Astro 1.45 mbly 4.30p and Dan Clarke Footb Pitch m Davi pm Hall all ce d

S1 Miss 1 – Adrice Girls 3.30 – Dod Small Astro Mou 1.45 and Footb 4.45p geb Gym Pitch ltra pm Steven all m all y S1 – S1 – Ian S6 3.30 – S6 1 – Sean, Astro Cha Astro Girls 4.45p Foo Pitch pma 1.45 Kerr and Hock m Pitch n tbal pm David ey l S1 – Miss 3.30 – Small S6 Mou S1 – 4.30p Game Steven, Gymn ltra S6 1 – Large m s Hall Lewis astics y Bad 1.45 Game and min pm s Hall Frankie ton

41 !

S1 – Th Stua Tu 3.30 – Large Tom S1 – 3.30 – S3 urs Astro rt esd 4.45p Game Grif S3 4.45p Baske da Pitch Den ay m s Hall fin Rugby m tball y nis

Elid S3 - S1 – Miss 3.30 – Asse h S6 3.30 – Small S2 Gar 4.30p mbly Cam Girls 4.45p Game Danc dne m Hall pbel Baske m s Hall e r l tball

S1 – S3 – 3.30 – Large Mr S6 S6 3.30 – Large Miss 4.30p Game Spra Badm Boys 5.45p Game Moy m s Hall tt inton Baske m s Hall es tball S2 Mr 3.30 – Boys Astro Rahi S3 – 4.30p 3.30 – Fitne Footb Pitch mia S6 CSL m 4.30p ss all n Fitne A m Gym ss S3 S1- Mis Techn 3.30 – Small Miss 3.30 – Asse S3 s ique 4.30p Game Clar 4.30p mbly Danc Cla Danc m s Hall ke m Hall e e rke

We S1 Communication 3.45 – Small Mr dn Table 4.45p Game Rev esd Tenni m s Hall olta ! ay s Effective communication is S1 – Rho vital to the successful running 3.45 – Large S2 na 4.45p Game of a school. Tynecastle High Netb Lloy m s Hall School prides itself on being all d open and approachable to all parents, students and visitors.

42 !

The school regularly provides Year Group Depute feedback to parents and Head carers on the progress of their Teacher child and their achievements and successes, not just when S1-S3 Mrs Ramsay there are concerns. Parents should feel confident in S4-S6 Mrs Bell contacting the school with any concerns they may have. The ! first point of contact is always Updating Information your child’s Support for Pupils Teacher. However, please do ! not hesitate to ask for your child’s Year Head, or the Head It is vital that the school holds Teacher. up-to-date contact information for all students ! and their parents/carers. Please notify the school if The Support for Pupils Team emergency contact details ! change, if there is a change of address, or a change of phone House Support for number. Group Pupils Please notify the school of Teacher your email address if you are Braemar Ms Moultray happy to be contacted in this way. Dunvegan Mr Simpson The school will send text Tantallon Mr Cook message alerts to parents/ carers prior to important ! events, such as Parent Consultation Evenings. Depute Heads for 2013-2014 Information can also be found ! on our website. Please contact the Absence Line on 0131 337 0336 to

43 ! notify or update the school of Welcome to: any student absences. Mrs F Borth (Mathematics)

Mrs D McGinley (Modern Tynecastle High School Languages) 2 McLeod Street Mrs J Robertson (IT Innovation) Edinburgh Mrs P Sharp (Depute Head) ND EH11 2 who is with us on a temporary Telephone: 0131 337 3488 basis Email: ! [email protected] k ! ! ! Website: www.tynecastle.edin.sch.uk Email: Absence line: 0131 337 0336 ! Staff changes ! We said farewell to: Mr D Glazier (Mathematics) Ms R McGarvey (Student Support Assistant) ! 44 ! ! !

45 !

Supported Study Timetable Week 1

Day Department Group Time Teacher

Monday Geography Int 2/Higher 9.30-12.00 Ms Mariani

7th English Advanced 10.00-3.00 Miss Davie Higher

English N5 10.00-12.00 Miss Barnett

English Higher 1.00-3.00 Miss Barnett

Tuesday Music Higher-Adv 10.00-12.00/1.00 Miss Wallace Higher Tech -3.00 8th Physical Higher 10.00-1.00 Mr Connell Education

Modern Int 2/Higher 10.00-12.00/1.00 Mr Rahimian Studies -3.00

Maths Int 1/2 10.00-12.00/1.00 Mr Call -3.00

Wednesday French National 5 and 9.00-11.00 Mrs K West 9th Int 2

Mathematics Higher 10.00-12.00/1.00 Mrs Steadman -3.00

Music Higher-Adv 10.00-12.00/1.00 Miss Wallace Higher Tech -3.00

English Nat 5 10.00-12.00/1.00 Ms Falconer -3.00

Thursday French Higher 9.00-11.00 Mrs K West 10th Spanish S5/6 10.00-12.00 Ms McGinley ! !

Music Higher-Adv 10.00-12.00 Miss Wallace Higher Tech

Music N5 1.00-3.00 Miss Wallace understanding music

Friday

11th

Week 2

! !

Day Department Group Time Teacher

Monday 14 April

Tuesday 15 Health + Food Nat 5/Higher 10.00-12.00 Mrs Rodgers April Technology/Cake Decorating

Wednesday History Nat 5 10.00-12.00/1 Miss Howie/ 16th .00-3.00 Mrs Brown

Chemistry Nat 5/Int 2 9.00-11.00 Miss Moyes

Chemistry H/Adv 12.00-3.00 Miss Moyes Higher

Lifestyle Higher 10.00-12.00/1 Mrs Rodgers .00-3.00

Thursday History Higher 10.00-12.00/1 Miss Howie 17th .00-3.00

Maths Nat 5 10.00-12.00/1 Ms Gardner .00-3.00

Physics Int 2 10.00-12.00 Mr Miller

Graphic Adv. Higher 10.00-12.00/1 Ms Campbell Communication .00-3.00

Friday

18th ! Significant Dates

Tu e s d a y 1 Gaelic trip leaves ! !

Friday 4 Gaelic trip returns

Friday 4 Term ends

Tu e s d a y 2 2 All resume

Wednesday 23 Duke of Edinburgh trip leaves

Friday 25 Duke of Edinburgh trip returns

Monday 28th April Parent Council meeting

Tu e s d a y 2 9 SQA exam diet begins

Friday 25 Last day in school before exams S4-6

Thursday 1 New timetable begins

Monday 5 May Day – school closed

Monday 12 Health and Wellbeing week begins

Monday 19 Victoria Day – school closed

Thursday 22 In-service day – staff only

Monday 26 Paris trip leaves

Thursday 29 Paris trip returns

Monday 2 New S5 induction

Tu e s d a y 3 New S6 induction

Monday 9th / Tuesday 10th S6 Conference June

Saturday 14 World Challenge to Bolivia leaves

Monday 16 P7/S1 Transition Fun Day

Tu e s d a y 1 7 P7/S1 Transition visit June ! !

Wednesday 18 Information Evening for new S1 parents

Monday 23 Awards Ceremony

Friday 27 End of term assemblies

Friday 27 Term ends

Monday 14 World Challenge to Bolivia returns ! ! ! ! ! ! !

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