BGE PRIDE AWARDS

Dear Parent/Carer

In April we sent out a link to our first set of BGE Pride awards. This was an initiative to recognise the young people in S1-S3 who had continued to work hard and who were committed to learning despite the difficulty of the pandemic as well as on their return to school. By being an award based on displaying one of our different values PRIDE values – Participation, Respect, Inclusion, Determination and Excellence; we were able recognise a large number of pupils not just those who are more academic.

Over this session we have introduced a number of initiatives to recognise young people across the school who have performed well, either through Letters of Commendation or Praise post cards which are also based on our values and are emailed home.

The decision to add the PRIDE awards was to formalise a fixed point where we considered the range of performance of young people across the year. In addition to single nominations in subjects for good performance across different values we also looked at students who had received multiple nominations and organised these into three different tiered awards at Bronze, Silver and Gold.

We will be putting up a presentation of further PRIDE Award winner at Gold, Silver and Bronze on our website and via the link at the bottom of this message which covers a small number of students up to the end of May. We did realise after the April Awards were announced on a Google site that not all of the Praise post card information had been taken account of in determining the winners. As a result parent/carers were asked to contact us about anomalies and this information has been captured in this catch up announcement of further awards.

Looking forward, we will be engaging with the new senior student leadership team that is currently being selected by their peers to help us formulate a merit system that further develops the three strands in place. An award system will be maintained with an emphasis on regular celebration of achievement in and out of school as well as an overarching award in June. As the issues with Covid recede these awards will be in person rather than remote.

Very soon, I will be writing again to announce the Senior Prizegivig Award virtual presentation for last session (2019-20) has been posted online. These awards were never held in person and we want to ensure that the young people who worked hard during that’s session are recognised- including our S6 leavers. The plan at present, is to hold this year’s Senior Prizegving in person, in September 2021.

Craig Biddick

Head teacher

Award winning Short Story by Penicuik High School Student

Chloe Aitken, an S3 pupil at Penicuik High School has won a creative competition after submitting a touching tribute to her young brother.

Aspiring author Chloe Aitken penned the story called ‘My Brother the Superhero’ and entered it into a writing competition held by Scottish company Crieff Hydro Hotels. Her story is about her brother Charlie who has autism and lives life to the fullest.

Author and Judge Helen Grant added: “This story absolutely stood out as being full of heart. “Chloe talks about her brother Charlie, and all the positive things he brings to life. “I like the fact that this story begins and ends with the concept of Charlie as a superhero.

As a prize, the 14-year-old’s story will feature in a limited edition bedtime storybook, available at all eight hotels in the Crieff Hydro Family.

It will be illustrated by author Jon Bishop, known as The Grey Earl, who said: “I used to draw superheroes a lot when I started out as an illustrator, so I can’t wait to revisit those ideas and it will be a real privilege to bring life to Chloe’s words and illustrate Charlie as a superhero.”

Chloe’s story was one of 300 entries from across the UK, and independent judges, authors John Bray, Helen Grant and Susy McPhee picked 30 to go into the bedtime story book.
Only three of the stories will have theirs illustrated, and Chloe was one of these three.

Nic Oldham, Head of Customer and Commercial at Crieff Hydro Family of Hotels, said: “We were so impressed with the creativity and imagination of the children who entered our competition which visitors will be able to see for themselves in the storybook when it arrives at our hotels.

Work will begin shortly to create the book for summer and if restrictions allow, shortlisted entries will be welcomed to a Mini Book Festival at Crieff Hydro Hotel in July.

Congratulations – Chloe from everyone at Penicuik High School

PHS School Blazers

Our School Uniform plays an important part in promoting our PRIDE values and school ethos. We are delighted to now have a new blazer that our current S5 and S6 prefects have been wearing since our re-opening in March. We believe having high expectations in relation to uniform sets the correct tone with our students, it is evidence of equity in our school community and portrays a positive image of the school to our local community and visitors alike. For session 2021-22 all students will have the opportunity to wear a blazer, including our new S1 students. Information for ordering blazers for next session will be released in due course.

Asda Gifted IT Equipment

ASDA have more than 380 dedicated Community Champions based in their stores across the UK who work with local charities and groups to deliver services in our community. From outreach programs to grant giving, the Community Champions are there to improve the lives of those living within the local community.

We were delighted to be gifted 10 Dell laptops as part of ASDA Straiton’s Community Champion programme. We were nominated as a school and were delighted to be gifted such valuable IT equipment. 10 of our senior students are now the proud owners of new laptops which will assist them as they finish their school education and will hopefully continue to be a valuable piece of equipment as they embark on their chosen career path.

BGE PRIDE Awards

It has been a very difficult year for our school community but despite the challenges and difficulties the pandemic presents most of our young people have genuinely tried to commit to their own learning and engage in the remote learning programmes. We will continue to strive to support all learners no matter what the circumstance as we hopefully move out of restrictions on education.

The newly developed BGE PRIDE Awards are an innovation that will be further developed next session with our student body as a way of recognising attainment and achievement across S1-3.I would like to thanks Miss Blake, Mrs Murphy and Mrs Davidson in the office for supporting the development of the Awards.

We are pleased to recognise nearly 400 individual PRIDE value nominations from staff for students in S1-3 and in particular the Bronze, Silver and Gold Award winners who receive multiple nominations. While we are restricted to maintaining virtual Award ceremonies we will deliver the individual Certificates in school to the deserved nominees.

Finally, I would like to acknowledge the outstanding work of many parent/ carers who have strived to maintain a positive working environment and support their child during the two lockdown periods. Without you the continuity of education would not have been possible and the Awards here are also a celebration of your commitment and resilience in the face of a major disruption to the education process for your child.

Click on this link to see the awards page sites.google.com/mc.glow.scot/phsbgeawards/home

Craig Biddick

Head Teacher

Penicuik High School Music Incredibox

The Music department has created the video below as a P7 Transition Learning Activity.

 

Congratulations To Our New Senior Prefects

We are thrilled to announce our new Senior Prefects who were chosen after a rigorous selection process. Our new Senior Prefects will take on an integral role in the running of the school. They will be responsible for organising events, supervising key areas during break and lunch, and helping to mentor our younger students. We are all really proud of their initial impact on the school. Please join us in congratulating them all.

 

Congratulations to our newly elected senior leaders!

Congratulations to our newly elected senior leaders!

At Penicuik High School, we want senior leaders who are mature in their outlook, independent in their thinking, driven by positive values and fully committed to the life and ethos of the school. As session 2020/21 is unusual as a result of Covid-19, the established recruitment procedures and role responsibilities of the Senior Leadership Team have been revised to reflect our ‘new and evolving normal’.

All S6’s who believed they possess the values and characteristics outlined completed an application form in August. All S6 applications were considered by teachers from across the school and the candidates put together a short video presentation which was shared with staff and students remotely. A whole school vote was then carried out to appoint our new Senior Leadership Team!

S6 Student Leaders

Roy Meehan: My name is Roy and I am Student Leader this year. My main priority this year will be to help improve student voice in the school.

Yoana Yordanova: Hello everyone, my name is Yoana and I am one of your Student Leaders this year. One of my main priorities is to hopefully bring Wifi into the school and I look forward to working together!

S6 Depute Student Leaders

Daniel Anderson: Hello. My name is Daniel and I am one of your Deputy Student Leaders. This year I want to encourage more physical activities and sport in the school.

Fraser Hall: Hi, my name is Fraser and I’m Deputy Student Leader. My goal is for the school to have more sports teams.

Micheal Hood: My name is Michael and I am one of the Deputy Student Leaders this year. I hope to establish better communication between the year groups at Penicuik High School.

Chloe Steel: Hi everyone, my name is Chloe and I am one of the Deputy Student Leaders. One of my priorities this year is to introduce a student Wifi so everyone can have access to the internet and classwork. I look forward to working with you all.

Parental Information Update

Re-Opening Penicuik High School Session 2020-21

This update outlines information on the new school day Timetable for all levels S1-3 and S4-6 as from Monday 17 August, 2020 when all students are expected to attend Penicuik High School full time. This adapted timetable will allow all students to experience their full curriculum entitlement as we reconnect and recover learning.

Key Points at a glance

• S1-3 students will start as normal at 8:30 am and MUST enter by the assigned entry door and sanitise hands before going to registration classes.
• S4-6 students will start at 8:40 am and will go straight to period 1 classes where they will be registered and school information via the normal school bulletin will be shared.
• The staggered start times will prevent bottlenecks and enable better social distancing.
• During the day the S1-3 will have a different break and lunchtime from senior students in S4-6. This will support supervision of the indoor lunch spaces assigned and enable social distancing. Please refer to the Timetable below.

Monday – Thursday S1-3		Monday – Thursday S4-6
Registration	8.30 – 8.40 am	Registration	None
Period 1	8.40 – 9.30 am	Period 1	8.40 – 9.30 am
Period 2	9.30 – 10.20 am	Period 2	9.30 – 10.20 am
Period 3	10.20 – 11.10 am	Interval	10.20 – 10.35 am
Interval	11.10 – 11.25 am	Period 3	10.35 – 11.25 am
Period 4	11.25 – 12.15 pm	Period 4	11.25 – 12.15 pm
Period 5	12.15 – 1.05 pm	Lunch	12.15 – 1.00 pm
Lunch	1.05 – 1.50 pm	Period 5	1.00 – 1.50 pm
Period 6	1.50 – 2.40pm	Period 6	1.50 – 2.40pm
Period 7	2.40 – 3.30 pm	Period 7	2.40 – 3.30 pm

 

Friday S1-3		Friday S4-6
Registration	8.30 – 8.40 am	Registration	None
Period 1	8.40 – 9.30 am	Period 1	8.40 – 9.30 am
Period 2	9.30 – 10.20 am	Period 2	9.30 – 10.20 am
Interval	10.20 – 10.35 am	Period 3	10.20 – 11.10 am
Period 3	10.35 – 11.25 pm	Interval	11.10 – 11.25 pm
Period 4	11.25 – 12.15 pm	Period 4	11.25 – 12.15 pm
School closes		School close

 
Health and Safety Update

The last parent communication on Tuesday 11 August laid out our health and safety protocols to enable safe opening of schools.

Some Reminders

• All students need to bring a packed lunch and a drink. No food service is available at the moment. Water is available in school.
• Students from S1-6 have clear supervised venues to go to for lunch and breaks when the weather is poor and students have been told this. If the weather is fine    then they will be encouraged to go outside where they will also be supervised.
• Students may go home for lunch. Please confirm this arrangement in writing to the school. There is clarification for parents in receipt of a free school meal allowance on our website, see HERE
• It is strongly suggested no student goes out to food shops at lunchtime. S1 MUST stay in school at lunchtime all session. No students are allowed to leave at break time. If they do enter a shop they must wear masks (unless they have a medical reason)  and not congregate in or around any premises.  Shops know our break times and will call the school if they have concerns. Police will be making safety checks.
• School bags are allowed. Suggested equipment to bring to school was outlined on Wednesday morning – please see website
• Students must observe social distancing in all interactions with staff. This includes all movements within corridors, around teacher’s desks and in using the one way    system and must not walk to classes in such a way that brings them into close contact with staff.
• We do encourage and support students wearing facemasks in school – particularly those in S5/6 as scientific evidence about the risk of them spreading infection is less  clear than for younger students
• Students MUST not run in corridors
• PE arrangements have been sent home to parents

We are aware that some rules that are in place will create inconvenience and you will not necessarily agree with all of them. Our safety protocols are in line with current health advice and the Scottish Governments Guidelines for reopening schools. The Penicuik High Schools current Risk Assessment document will be placed on our website early next week. This a dynamic document that will be updated in the face of new advice or analysis of issues arising in school.

 

If you have any queries please email the school office penicuik_hs@mgfl.net

 

Craig Biddick

Head Teacher (Acting)

Results and Appeals

Please see the following statement from SQA, re-issued on 13th August. Further information remains pending on an Appeals system and will be notified by SQA in due course.

 

Statement by the Chief Executive of the Scottish Qualifications Authority and Scotland’s Chief Examining Officer. 

Tuesday 11 August 2020

Everyone at SQA fully acknowledges the strength of feeling about last week’s results among individual learners, their parents and carers – and among wider colleagues in the education system.

As the Deputy First Minister has outlined in Parliament today, through a Ministerial direction SQA will change the previous approach to certification this year and instead award candidate results based solely on the estimates provided by schools and colleges. The results of those learners who were awarded a higher grade during the process will also be maintained.

Schools and colleges already have the estimate information that will form the basis of the amended results, but we will work to ensure that centres receive their confirmed results as soon as possible and no later than the end of next week. Any candidate who has a grade changed as a result of this, will receive a new certificate. Confirmed results will also be shared with UCAS.

We are considering in more detail, with the Scottish Government, any appeals process which should support this direction and will announce further details very shortly.

We will, of course, co-operate fully and positively with the review of the awarding process for National Qualifications 2020 and the OECD Review.

Our core aim is to support the efforts of learners throughout Scotland and everyone at the SQA will work hard to ensure we fully implement the steps outlined in the Deputy First Minister’s statement to the Scottish Parliament.

Fiona Robertson

SQA Chief Executive and Scotland’s Chief Examining Officer