October 2012 Dear Parent/Carer I hope the term has gone well thus far and your son/daughter has settled into a good routine of study and that the October break brings some respite. Arrangements for October Holiday Please note that the school will close for students at 12.15 pm on Friday 12 October 2012 and will restart for students at 8.30 am on Tuesday 23 October 2012. SQA Results 2012 The SQA results again reflect the hard work students and staff are putting in to their work with some improvement. The number of S5 students achieving 5 Highers is at a 10 year high of 12%. Achievements Senior Prize Giving took place on Monday 10 September 2012. It was both a happy and sad occasion being the last in the old school before the move in June 2013. Our guest speaker this year was former student and rugby international Peter Wright. Peter won 21 caps for Scotland and represented the British Lions on a tour of New Zealand. He is a well respected rugby coach and commentator for BBC Scotland. It was great to welcome Peter back to the school and the large audience of prize-winners, parents and teachers were well entertained with his memories of Lasswade. The S4 Dux and Winner of the Young Prize was Maeve Dale. Ryan Brown was Dux of the school and was presented with the Marshall Memorial Medal. New School Update Construction continues with most of the external facia of the school part of the building complete. The coloured panels which are a feature of the building have received very mixed reviews. The roof is almost complete and this will confirm that the building is wind and water proof. Internal work will then progress very quickly. The swimming pool is progressing well and is currently undergoing tests for water retention. We are now at the stage of choosing internal fixtures and furniture. We have recently received a sample student desk and chair so that staff and students can see for themselves the style and quality of the furniture. Plans are underway to mark the closure of the old school and the opening of the new Lasswade High School Centre.
Photography in School We make use of photography in school for special events, display work, school activities and to add interest to curricular topics. These photographs can be used in displays, publications and promotion of students’ work. Would you please print off, complete and return the attached permission slip as soon as possible. If you do not return the permission slip, it will be assumed you have no objection to your child being photographed. Entitlements I would draw to your attention various entitlements for which you may be eligible. These include the following grants. Free School Meals and School Clothing Grants These are available for all students whose parents/carers are in receipt of Income Support (with Child Tax Credit), Income-based Job Seeker’s Allowance, Employment and Support Allowance, Child Tax Credit only (with annual income less than £15,860) (Incapacity Benefit or Employment and Support Allowance included), support under Part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999 or child Tax Credit and Working Tax Credit (with an annual income less than £6,420). Parents/carers making such a claim will need to provide TC602 for the current year as evidence. Educational Maintenance Allowance (EMA) EMA is a weekly payment worth £30 to students who are aged 16 and planning to continue in post-compulsory education. Students applying and who qualify for EMA for the first time in 2012/2013 will be awarded a weekly payment depending on the total taxable household income and sibling(s) in full time education. Students born between 1 March 1993 and 28 February 1997 are eligible for an EMA. Also, students of 16 years of age and over before 30 September 2012 may be eligible for an EMA from the beginning of the school term. If a student’s 16th birthday falls between 1 October 2012 and 28 February 2013, then they may be eligible for an EMA from January 2012. Further information on EMA income thresholds can be obtained by visiting the EMA website at www.emascotland.com or by contacting the school on 0131 663 7171.
School Dress Code – ‘a gentle reminder’ The response to our recent drive to improve school dress has been a huge success. At Lasswade High School Centre we strive to achieve inclusion, achievement, ambition and progress for all in everything that we do. ‘School Uniform and Dress Code’ is an important way of reinforcing this drive for excellence. Lasswade High School Centre expects and strongly encourages all students have as high a standard uniform as possible. Sports Dress The Physical Education department would ask for parents/carers continued support and assistance in ensuring all students bring appropriate dress for physical education classes. Students are asked to dress appropriately for sporting activities and sometimes strenuous activity. There has been an increase in students wearing unsuitable clothing and footwear recently. Students are asked to follow the dress code for health and safety reasons and not follow fashionable trends. Students are asked to bring:• • •
Shorts – sports style shorts (no denim or flowery Bermuda style holiday shorts). T-shirt – crew neck or polo T-shirt (with sleeves). Trainers or football boots when appropriate (no leisure shoes such as canvas or plimsoles).
All students are required to have a change of footwear with them and students with long hair should have it tied back and all jewellery should be removed. All S1 and S2 students are now required to wear a plain white T-shirt and black shorts or black tracksuit bottoms during their physical education lesson. As the uniform is proving to be a success, the Physical Education department will continue the kit for future S1 students until all S1-S4 students are wearing the uniform. Should any S3/S4 students wish to wear tracksuit bottoms to physical education lessons, they must adhere to the department’s uniform policy and wear black tracksuit bottoms and a white T-shirt. Physical education kit will no longer be available for purchase from the Sports Centre reception.
Message from Police Inspector Neil Simpson Over recent years, during the Halloween period, there has been a rapid increase in the number of incidents that have involved local youths throwing eggs at houses, shops and pedestrians. This type of behaviour is viewed by the school and Lothian and Borders Policy as totally unacceptable and can cause a great deal of mess, inconvenience and annoyance to the recipients of such attacks. As in previous years, Lothian and Borders Police will deal robustly with those individuals who choose to take part in such activities. Working together to ensure that this does not happen will make our community a safer and better place in which to live and work.
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Parent Council Our well established Parent Council would like to warmly welcome you to our meetings held throughout the session at Lasswade High School Centre. All meetings will be on a Tuesday (unless otherwise announced) at 7.00 pm in the Community Lounge. The Minute of our Meetings is updated on the school website. We look forward to welcoming you. AGM 13 November 2012 Meeting 29 January 2013 Meeting 12 March 2013 Meeting 21 May 2013 World Cup Football Scotland’s World Cup qualifying got under way in September and some Lasswade High School Centre students and staff were there to cheer them on. Although the team did not get the results we wanted, our group enjoyed themselves at both matches. A big thank you to Mrs Mitchell who drove the bus! With two away matches in October 2012, the next home match will be against Wales at Hampden on Friday 22 March 2013. Watch the plasma screen for details!
Skye Trip Twenty-one students took part in the school’s fifth annual trip last June to Sabhal Mòr Ostaig. After Gaelic lessons every morning from TV comedian Cailean Collier, students were honoured to receive visits from BBC Alba weather presenter Sarah Cruickshank, as well as Mod winner Arthur Cormack, internationally renowned singer Christine Primrose and Dr Dekker Forrest, an American citizen who is a world authority on the highland bagpipe. A visit to a croft in Kintail allowed students to feed various farmyard animals and some brave students even tried their hand at shearing sheep, while a seal trip from Plockton offered students the chance to steer the boat. On Wednesday evening, students watched a play called “From These Parts” about alien encounters. As usual, the Thursday night cèilidh was one of the highlights of the week. A landslide closed the railway line on the last day, but Scotrail very kindly provided a coach solely for the Lasswade group and got everybody home one and a half hours earlier than expected.
Network – a resource used to inform scientists, the public and government about current data relating to Britain’s biodiversity. As well as learning scientific survey and identification techniques and contributing to this nationally important marine survey, the students were able to see (and feel!) first hand many of the concepts and terms they learn as part of the Advanced Higher Biology course, which they are able to understand much better when seeing them in a real-life context. In addition, students were able to work with a professional marine biologist, Georgia Connolly, from the nearby St Abbs & Eyemouth Marine Reserve. Students found Georgia’s enthusiasm and depth of knowledge really inspiring and they enjoyed working with someone other than their usual teachers! Additional help was gratefully received from former biology teachers, Mr Hay and Mrs Hawke and not only did the students enjoy working with their former teachers, they were able to see them, and their current teacher, “in the field” – a far cry from how they are in the classroom! Students rounded off their survey work later in the week, once they had dried off, by uploading their survey data into the national website. RMPS Trip - Samye Ling Tibetan Buddhist Centre
Advanced Higher Biology Fieldtrip – The Shore Thing!
Students busily identifying and recording the marine life they found
The Advanced Higher Biology class recently went on a field trip to Yellowcraigs in East Lothian to study and survey the organisms living on the rocky shore there. The survey was carried out in conjunction with the Marine Life Information Network as part of their “Shore Thing” survey project which is used to populate the National Biodiversity
The annual RMPS trip to the Samye Ling Tibetan Buddhist Centre in Eskdalemuir took place at the end of September. This supports the study of Buddhism at Intermediate 2 and Higher. The centre is set in beautiful countryside. It began in an old country house, as a means of preserving Tibetan culture, which is under threat. It has developed over the years into a complex of buildings built in the Tibetan style, including a temple and shrine, refectory, café, accommodation blocks, retreat houses, and will, in time, include a library. Situated in its rural Scottish setting, the Tibetan architecture makes an impact as it comes into view, and the students were suitably impressed. Upon arrival, we were met by the Buddhist nun who was to be our guide round the centre. We were taken to the shrine room. This is an impressive area, about the size of a school gym. It is dominated by a large gold Buddha at one end, and decorated with Buddhist imagery, which is believed to ‘transmit’ benevolent spiritual power to the world. We were given the opportunity to try some breathing exercises that are used in meditation and to ask questions. After lunch in the refectory or café, we were taken around the remainder of the complex and the significance of various aspects of the site
was explained to us. The ashes of a number of people and animals are stored in glass cases in one area, which caused some comment. The people may or may not have been Buddhists but they had a wish to have their ashes interred at the centre. We finished off with another visit to the shrine to experience Buddhist worship. After a short time there, it was time to leave. Overall, a very interesting and stimulating visit, as it always is.
School Excursions 2012 China – October
October Holiday Sports Programme 2012 Tuesday 16 October – Thursday 18 October 2012 Looking for something to do during the October holiday week? Here at Lasswade High School Centre we have the following on offer:Sports Sessions each morning Tuesday 16 October – Thursday 18 October, 10.00 am – 12.00 pm, age group 5 years and over must be attending school. Participants can attend one, two or for three mornings. Try Trampoline each afternoon Tuesday 16 – Thursday 18 October, one hour session, 1.00 pm - 2.00 pm. Age group 5 years and over must be attending school. Participants can attend for one, two or three afternoons. Mini Kickers Football Coaching for 3/4 year old boys and girls, Tuesday 16 – Thursday 18 October. Course of three 45 minute sessions, 2.30 pm - 3.15 pm each afternoon. Participants must attend the course for three afternoons. Kiddie Kartwheels Pre School Gymnastics for 3-5 year old boys and girls, Tuesday 16 October – Thursday 18 October. One class 10.00 am - 11.00 am for three mornings. Participants must attend the course for three mornings. Gymnastics - Beginners/Improvers, 11.00 am - 12.00 pm. One class for three mornings, Tuesday 16 October – Thursday 18 October. Participants must attend the course for three mornings. Freestyle Gymnastics - 12.00 pm - 1.00 pm. One class for three afternoons, Tuesday 16 October - Thursday 18 October. Participants must attend the course for three afternoons. For further details on costs, sibling discount and booking information, please contact the Sports Centre on 0131 660 1933 or email lasswade.sports@community.mgfl.net. Leaflets will be available from primary schools, libraries, community learning centres and here at the Sports Centre week beginning Monday 1 October 2012.
Forthcoming Events 12 October Beijing/Shanghai trip departs 15 October Mid Term Break 22 October Beijing/Shanghai trip returns 22 October Staff resume after Mid Term Break 23 October Students resume after Mid Term Break 8 November S4 Parents’ Evening 5.00 pm – 7.00 pm 12 November Work Experience Week 19 November P7 Open Evening for Parents 26 November S4 Prelims commence 7 December S4 Prelims end 11 December S5 Parents’ Evening 5.00 pm – 7.00 pm 13 December School Christmas Concert 7.00 pm – 9.30 pm 21 December Term ends 12.15 pm
2013 New York – February Italy - February Skye – June China visitors to Lasswade High School Centre
I hope you and your family have an enjoyable and relaxing mid term break. Yours faithfully
A Jaster Head Teacher