AUTUMN 1966 2016 NEWSLETTER GET IN TOUCH WELCOME FROM 01505 322173 MRS HOLLYWOOD WWW.JOHNSTONEHIGH.CO.UK of new staff to the school (who will be introduced to you in this Inside this newsletter) along with our new S1 students and I am particulaly issue: pleased to welcome back large numbers of seniors who made the Ardentinny choice to return to Johnstone High School for another year. Whether it is a first or a sixth year pupil, please be assured that everything possible is done to ensure all children not only enjoy the school and achieve as much as possible in their time at Johnstone High School, but also are safe, well and happy. The start of the school session Paired 2016/17 went very smoothly. Staff began with a two-day in-service programme that focused on our Reading I am delighted to take this whole school priority areas, SQA opportunity to share school news results and our new with Johnstone High School parents, approach to self-evaluation. pupils, staff and friends through our The theme of the second day was new look school newsletter. Should around relationships and inclusion, you have any comments to make on with inserts on our new behaviour management policy, our mentors in the contents of the newsletter or any violence prevention initiative, and issues you wish to raise concerning nurturing approaches. your child please do not hesitate to contact the school either directly via The new pupil session began the School Office / Guidance with assemblies for all year groups teacher or by e-mail to: setting out head teacher SQA expectations (attendance, [email protected] timekeeping, effort, conduct, Results As we approach the October school uniform, effort etc) and information holiday we are nine weeks into the on school performance in the SQA exams, which will also feature in this new school session and everyone newsletter. seems well settled after the summer break. We have welcomed a number I was also delighted to unveil our AUTUMN 1966 2016 A plea for Welcome from parental Mrs Hollywood assistance As you know, partnership with new school values to the pupils and notice boards for pupil information. A parents and carers is a top staff at the start of the session and dux board will be the next purchase priority for Johnstone High you may have noticed them on your for this area. School. Therefore I would new calendar poster that went home like to take this opportunity to in the data packet in August. As The management suite is also voted on by all members of our request for health and safety undergoing a makeover. After the reasons that parents who school community, the values of October break the Guidance team collect their children from Johnstone High School are will move into a new shared base in school by car pick them up determination, friendship, honesty, the area previously used by the office respect, responsibility and trust. Our (opposite the DHT offices, creating from the waiting area at the aims and vision will come after pupil a ‘one stop shop’ for pupils and their bottom of the hill. The only and staff focus groups (there was families) and the waiting area has pick-ups allowed at the top of a parent focus group in June) and the hill are Renfrewshire together, along with our new values, been decorated with new carpet and furniture ordered. Similarly, the Council contract taxis for pupils these will form the core foundations who require them. At the of Johnstone High School’s ethos, meeting/conference room for guests has also been refreshed moment there is a lot of car work and practice. traffic right outside the school The beginning of term also saw a Finally, you may have seen a gate, and with 939 young very successful programme of S6 positive article in the Paisley people exiting the building over befriending of the new S1, Tempest Gazette around school examination a 5 minute period there is a lot Photographs have been taken for results. Moreover, there has also of congestion. Your cooperation all pupils in S1 and S3, after a been coverage on two of our with this is greatly appreciated. competitive round of interviews we appointed our new pupil leadership talented youngsters in the Evening Similarly, I would request that team from S5/6, and a range of staff Times and Glasgow Herald around parents discuss with their child have volunteered to take on sporting and media based success. the problems associated with responsibilities, clubs and trips that We also have our regular monthly bringing expensive clothes, all enhance and enrich school life – article published in the Gryffe trainers, bags, devices etc to more of that later in this newsletter. Advertiser. Please check our school. The school is not in a website for regular updates on In other school news, the pupil position to reimburse parents toilets were completely refurbished school life on www.johnstonehigh. for loss or damage – therefore during the summer holidays. This co.uk or our twitter page pupils should not be bringing was a significant expenditure and @JohnstoneHighSc. expensive items to school. involved teams of tradesmen for 6 weeks, often working evenings and Thank you again for your weekends to get the toilets ready understanding and support. for the pupils return in August. The pupils were consulted on the colour schemes for each facility with magenta and navy proving to be the winners. In the front foyer furniture for a parent waiting has been created and our trophies are now polished and residing in two new display cabinets. Mr Johnstone in Technical has also created three new bespoke AUTUMN 1966 2016 Extra Curricular Activities Johnstone High School staff of dances and events and the There are 4 sections certainly go the extra mile for our prom is already booked for 7th pupils, as reflected in the range of June 2017 in the Grand Central to the Saltire Awards: extra curricular activities that take Station. However, we are keen place in the school. There are a 1. Challenge to offer more opportunities to a one-off event number of clubs, activities, trips, younger year groups and we will residential and events throughout work with staff, senior pupils and 2. Approach the entre course of the year. the parent and pupil councils on award for In August I asked staff to give extending what we offer pupils in 10 and 25 hours me an overview of the activities S1-4. of volunteering they were planning to run; this is outlined below: Pupils were informed 3. Ascent about informed this year’s new award for 50,100, 200 One of our school values is S3 Bronze Duke of Edinburgh and 500 hours of friendship and I would encourage programme via assembly and volunteering students to get involved in the the pupil bulletin. This means extra-curricular club programme. we have 2 Bronze and 2 Silver 4. Summit In addition to this we have trips groups running; sadly no Gold award for outstanding and residentials. Already this at this time. This year’s DofE contribution to volunteering session we have seen around 40 programme will be run by Sharon and is signed by the First Min- S2 pupils go to Ardentinny, I have McMillan, DofE Development ister. Pupils must have com- approved a request for two senior Officer and will be supported pleted 200 hours Ascent and pupils to represent our school by community volunteers and have exceeded on a trip to Auschwitz, approved volunteer teaching staff including expectations. another football trip (this time to Mr McKenzie. Man City for their game against Chelsea later in the year), and Finally, many S6 pupils are Mr Munro hopes to run a senior undertaking a Saltire Award school team building residential this session to acknowledge trip to Aberfoyle before Christmas. the amount of volunteering and We also have the Berlin trip in citizenship activity that takes June, World Challenge trip to place both in and out of school in Tanzania in June, and we plan sixth year. The Saltire Award is a to review our activities days national programme designed to programme in the last week of recognise the achievements of term. This is of course alongside young people aged between 12 a whole host of smaller scale and 25 years who take part educational excursions and in volunteering. field trips. Mr Munro works with the We are very aware that there seniors on activity towards is a great deal of social activity Saltire and reminds them to planned for the S5/6 year groups record their hours. as they are able to, in the main, run their own events. Again this session there will be a range AUTUMN 1966 2016 EXTRA CURRICULAR ACTIVITIES Gardening Club – Mrs Barry Green Power – Mr Fulton & Mr Trampolining & Thursday Lunchtime, Home Marshall Gymnastics – Miss Dornan Economics Room 4 Vegetable Monday After School, Monday After schoool, Garden, S1-S3 Classroom, S2-S5 Small Gym S1- S3 Sewing Club – Mrs Carlin S2 Football – Mr Palombo & Mr Netball – Miss Dornan Wednesday and/or Friday Miller Miss Wilson Lunchtime, Textile Room, S1-S6 Days Dependent on Games, Thursday Lunch & Football Pitch S2 After School – Schedule not set Senior Choir – Mrs Leslie yet. Games Hall S1-S6 Monday Lunchtime, Basketball – Mr Peters Classroom, S4-S6 Wednesday After School, Duke of Edinburgh Games Hall S3-S6 Mr McKenzie and other Science Club – Mr Fulton & volunteers (including CLD) Miss Leggat Football – Mr Brown Tuesday after school, Thursday Monday Lunchtime, Any Day after School, PE Lunchtime. Science Lab 1 S3-S6 Classroom, S1 changing rooms and Astro Grass, Any year group Science Club – Miss Leggat & Robot Club – Mr Fulton & Mr Miss Wilson McGurk Volleyball-