This week we brought you
- news of Boroughmuir’s poetic pupil Rory’s representing Scotland in a Young Writers competition.
- the announcement of our foster care Facebook Q&A to launch Foster Care Fortnight
- details of the launch of the Tweet Your Street poetry project
- a report from a recent event about encouraging reading in schools.
- the announcement that term dates for 2016/17 and 2017/18 are now online.
- an invitation for staff and former pupils to visit the new James Gillespie’s High building
In other news…
WHEC supercharge S1 learning with Heriot-Watt
Wester Hailes Education Centre (WHEC) have been collaborating with Heriot-Watt University to develop an exciting outreach programme for their S1 pupils next term.
Stuart Heggie, acting head teacher at the school, tells us more.
Next session, S1 students at WHEC will get the opportunity to experience innovative and exciting workshops, which cover
- science
- technology
- engineering
- mathematics
- business.
Staff have worked closely with Heriot Watt University to develop an outreach programme for our students, which will offer students the chance to learn new skills and gain confidence in these subjects and to find out about student life at Heriot Watt’s Edinburgh campus.
By working with a team of university staff and students over the coming months, we hope our students will develop skills such as team working, communication and organisation, that will equip them for life after leaving school, and that it will be great experience for anyone thinking of going on to higher education and a future career in the covered fields.
Pupil athletes prepare for International Children’s Games
Mel Coutts, Principal Officer – Sports & Outdoor Education, brings us the exciting news of our team of pupil athletes preparing for an international competition.
Edinburgh has entered a team for the International Children’s Games, which takes place in Alkmaar, Holland from 25-28 June 2015.
Athletes from schools throughout the city will represent Edinburgh in athletics, beach volleyball and volleyball, with Active Schools Co-ordinator Heather Darling taking overall responsibility for the party as Head of Delegation.
Training began in earnest for all of the athletes prior to Christmas, however the beach volleyballers had to wait until the weather improved slightly! Portobello beach is their training venue and STV were keen to come down and film their training preparations.
We wish all 18 athletes the very best of luck at the tournament which should be an amazing experience for everyone.
Watch the volleyball team on the Fountainbridge show from around six minutes in. Please note that the video is only available until 11 June 2015.
Gearing up and going green at Castlebrae High
A group of S4 pupils from Castlebrae Community High School are building an electric race car to compete in a Greenpower race event in September.
The project has been developed in partnership with Edinburgh College and is aimed at engaging and inspiring the engineers of the future, by giving pupils the chance to see some of the world’s most advanced supercars while building their own electric car.
After initial sessions in the Edinburgh College workshops, an expert engineering instructor from the college now visits the school every week to work with the pupils on constructing their kit car.
Read more about Castlebrae’s electric car on our news blog.
Opportunity for schools: Growing Global Food Citizens
Following a successful bid to the Education Scotland Food for Thought Fund, Services for Communities are running the popular Growing Global Food Citizens (GGFC) project again from September 2015.
GGFC is the first project of its kind in the UK and has been running since 2013. Teachers have learned to develop exciting ways of exploring food education with pupils as part of the project.
Staff work together on a fully funded five day course to become global food citizens. Each receive £800 to develop practical projects in their schools with pupils. Each school that takes part will receive £150 per day to cover supply costs.
This year, there are 30 spaces available for staff, which we hope to fill with two participants each from 15 schools.
To find out more or to register your interest please contact Helen Stockham on helen.stockham@edinburgh.gov.uk or 0131 469 527
