PLus Friday 19 May 2023

Dear PLer,

The Pipe Band outdoor season is now underway, and well done to all our pipers and drummers, who represented our school so well at last week’s Dunbar Highland Games. We look forward to hearing all about how our bands get on in their many local, national and international competitions this summer.

We really enjoyed welcoming back former PL student Professor Alan Jamieson this week— online from Western Australia! It was so inspiring to hear about a PLer’s journey from our school community through to becoming an internationally acknowledged marine biologist, and you can read more on page 6. Good luck to our S2 Boys Football team, who compete in the East–Mid Cup Final this afternoon. It’s been a great season, and you all make us #proudtobePL!

Gavin Clark, Headteacher

Preston Lodge is a community of learning. We value achievement, happiness and respect. 19 May 2023

Preston Lodge is a community of learning. We value achievement, happiness and respect. 19 May 2023

Pipe Band Kick Start Outdoor Season in Style

The Pipe Band competed at the EDF Pipe Band Championships in Dunbar on Saturday 13 May. In the first outdoor competition of the season we had a good number of pipers and drummers make their debut in our Novice B band. They finished in 5th place but will have gained valuable experience which will help them learn and improve.

The Juvenile band scored straight firsts from all four judges to win the Juvenile Grade. They also played up in the Adult Grade 2 competition, finishing in 4th place.

The band will be performing at the Cockenzie and Port Seton Gala day this Saturday and the next competition is Saturday 6 June in Innerleithen.

Novice B Grade Results

Juvenile Grade Results

Grade 2 Results

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Preston Lodge is a community of learning. We value achievement, happiness and respect. 19 May 2023

S3 Biologists meet a marine biologist

This week the third year Biology pupils were invited to a Google Meet with Professor Alan Jamieson, Professor at The Oceans Institute and the School of Biological Sciences at the University of Western Australia in Perth. Professor Jamieson answered questions from the pupils and told us about the creatures he has discovered and observed at depths of up to 11km, at the bottom of the oceans!

As a former pupil of PL in the 1990s, the pupils were also keen to find out about his favourite subjects and his memories (his favourite was CDT!). Jay also got to find out his favourite football team!

This term, third years have been learning about the environment, photosynthesis and the adaptations of plants and animals that allow them to survive in different environments. Professor Jamieson talked about his team's recent discovery of a species of snailfish that was found at record depths of 8336m in the Izu-Ogasawara Trench, off the coast of Japan. This distance is almost the same as the height of Mount Everest but downwards! He described the feeling of going down in a submersible to these depths, which takes an incredible 4 hours! The pupils also asked questions about how the species were identified, and how trenches form.

The pupils really enjoyed the experience, and took away lots of interesting facts and information. Notably, the impact of litter and plastics in the ocean - the Professor saw a plastic bag several thousands of metres below the ocean surface and described the impact of microplastics sinking and building up on the ocean floors.

As far as learning goes, when asked what advice he would give the pupils, Professor Jamieson was keen to highlight the importance of English and Maths, but that the pupils should follow subjects they like, and with hard work dream jobs and goals can be reached!

The pictures below show the location of the trench, the snailfish that was discovered and the amazing Biologists of S3 … well done everyone! We would also like to thank Professor Jamieson for taking the time to talk to us to share his knowledge and expertise, and to all the amazing PL staff who made this happen.

The S3 Biologists and staff team.

From Professor Jamieson:

Preston Lodge High School played a significant role in my life and work all those years ago. I still look back on my time there with great fondness and I still have many great friends from that time to this day. It was a real honour to be asked to come and share with you some stories and some insight into how the school shaped my career trajectory. It was wonderful seeing so many keen faces and getting a wee glimpse into what the school looks like Next time I am back in the UK I will be sure to drop in by and meet some of you in person. Thank you very

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Preston Lodge is a community of learning. We value achievement, happiness and respect. 19 May 2023

We are delighted that Prof Alan Jamieson has signed up to become a Friend of Preston Lodge.

If you would like to become a member, more information and sign up here Friends of Preston Lodge Membership

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Preston Lodge is a community of learning. We value achievement, happiness and respect. 19 May 2023

S3 Biology

This week in biology, our third years began their dissection topic. Over the next few weeks, we will be looking at hearts, wings, kidneys, and livers, but this week, S3B began by looking at the brain.

We began by identifying different part of the brain, including the cerebrum, cerebellum and medulla, and discussing their functions before we tested the power of our cerebrums with some memory games. We attempted to memorise objects in a tray, and then tried to see how many numbers we could remember in a sequence (congrats Zara who won, remembering a nine digit number).

We rounded off the lesson by dissecting a bovine brain. Students were keen to get involved, identifying and holding different parts of the brain, and discussing why they look so ‘wrinkly’ (increasing their surface area for neurons, and to fit inside our skulls). Overall, the students had a great time and we look forward to investigating more physiology next week!

Adam Crawford, Biology

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Preston Lodge is a community of learning. We value achievement, happiness and respect. 19 May 2023

Marvellous May

We asked students at assemblies to consider what we can each do to help us have positive relationships in school. Students were asked to think about this question: How does our school help you feel you belong?

Here’s a snapshot of some responses

Activities and clubs

People

Community

They care

Nice people

Helpful staff

Make people happy

Girls rugby

Talking to people

Kind and helpful

Clubs/sports

After school club

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Marvellous May continues!!!!

Thank you to Ms Clark in Business Education for this fantastic display she made for our Social Space

Great words!!!

PL Running Club

This week was a soggy one for the PL runners. Nonetheless, we made it to Meadowmill and did some sprint work on the track, gentle jogs round the rugby pitch and just managed to run up the hill to the flagpole, when the heavens opened! It was a great lesson in resilience and the 'not being made of sugar' saying came to mind!

The rain did not dampen our spirits and staff and pupils had a lovely run.

We are going to keep going until the end of term, so new members of any age and ability are very welcome.

Please meet at PE with comfy trainers and water on Tuesdays from 3.30 - 4.30pm. Hope to see you there!

Best wishes

The PL Running Club.

Preston Lodge is a community of learning. We value achievement, happiness and respect. 19 May 2023

Preston Lodge is a community of learning. We value achievement, happiness and respect. 19 May 2023

Football Update

Good Luck to our S2 Boys Team who will travel to Easthouses

On Tuesday 9th May the S3 History class took a trip around Edinburgh to learn about Black History. The tour included a visit to the Royal Bank of Scotland in St Andrews Square where our tour guide Lisa Williams told us about the connections between the building and the Slave Trade. We learnt about different people such as Sir Lawrence Dundas who built the bank building which was originally used as a house. We learnt about how people benefited or were affected by the Slave Trade.

We really enjoyed the trip and it was great to do some learning outside of the classroom. Everyone who went on the trip learnt a lot about the different places in Edinburgh involved with the slave trade.

Kirsten G & Olivia A

Preston Lodge is a community of learning. We value achievement, happiness and respect. 19 May 2023

School Lottery

Congratulations to our local weekly Preston Lodge High School lottery winners; Ms W, on Saturday 29th April 2023, Ms A on Saturday 6th May 2023 and Mx B on Saturday 13th May 2023

If you would like to help us raise essential school funds during 2023 and haven't signed up yet, you can visit our lottery here: https://www.yourschoollottery.co.uk/lottery/school/preston-lodge-high-school

There is a guaranteed cash prize every week, lots of other prizes and the chance to win up to £25,000!

Thank you for your support.

Julie Lowe Head of Development, Preston Lodge Learning Foundation

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Preston Lodge is a community of learning. We value achievement, happiness and respect. 19 May 2023

Financial Support Available to Families

Clothing Grants

Some families are eligible for a Clothing Grant. If this may apply to you, please visit the Free School Meals and Clothing Grants area of the East Lothian Council website for further information. If you would like some help completing these forms, support is available on the East Lothian Council website, or email admin@prestonlodge.elcschool.org.uk. We will be happy to help you.

Community Fund

A combination of corporate funding secured by the Preston Lodge Learning Foundation, and money from our Pupil Equity Fund means that we are able to offer immediate support to all families who need it, breaking down financial barriers to learning. This year we have also been delighted to receive generous support for school uniform costs for specific students from the Preston Seton Gosford Area Partnership.

This Community Fund is available to all families, and we very much encourage families to apply for a confidential, quick grant if they need support. Grants are expected to be in the region of £10 to £50, but all applications are considered on an individual basis. Applications can be made by students, families, staff, and members of the wider community.

An application form is available on school’s website here and please email admin@prestonlodge.elcschool.org.uk or call 01875 811170if you have any questions.

Visit www.pllf.org.uk to find out more about the school’s charitable Trust, Preston Lodge Learning Foundation, Julie Lowe, Head of Development, Preston Lodge Learning Foundation