Headteacher secondment

I am writing to let you know that I have accepted a 12 month secondment to be part of the Change Team, a group of five headteachers who will be working to transform Highland education.  The fact that I have been offered this secondment is a huge compliment to Grantown Grammar, our values, attainment and achievement.

I don’t have a start date for the secondment yet, but it is likely to begin in May and I should return to Grantown in August 2020.  An acting headteacher will be appointed in due course and I will let you know details when I have them.

This is a huge opportunity to make a difference to young people in Highland and I hope to have a very positive impact on Highland education, but please be aware that accepting the post was a hard decision and I will very much miss Grantown Grammar.  I will make sure that I visit frequently and stay aware of how the school is getting on while I am on secondment.

I’m sorry that I don’t have more details to share with you at the moment but felt that it was important that you heard about this secondment directly from me rather than from any rumours.

If you have any questions please do not hesitate to contact the school.

Yours faithfully
Claire McGonigal
Headteacher

Higher/National 5 Dance & Drama – Eden Court

Eden Court, in partnership with the Highland Council, offers the opportunity to study SQA qualifications in Drama and Dance at the theatre in Inverness. Below are descriptions taken from the Eden Court website

“Higher Dance encourages learners to be inspired and challenged whilst developing technical dance skills through performing, creating and appreciating dance. Students focus on two styles: Jazz and Contemporary, and final assessment includes practical performance of technique and choreography, as well as a written evaluation.”

“Higher Drama provides exciting opportunities to learn skills in creating and analysing dramatic texts; exploring voice, movement and characterisation; and developing skills in production, such as acting, directing, design, lighting, sound and costume. Set assignments will take the form of learning lines, scripting a scene, researching key topics, planning a rehearsal or writing a review.”

Applications are now open an the deadline for them is Monday 29^th April.

For more information see the website
https://eden-court.co.uk/get-involved/qualifications

SQA Brochure = https://drive.google.com/file/d/1FfgzSN-wY55z9e1VlIlDkRHWqxMaOlOI/view?usp=sharing

Eden Court Application = https://drive.google.com/file/d/1iL-e-MnphLQD-3hpZDmqFgFQ2MOzp1H3/view?usp=sharing

If you are interested please see your Guidance Teacher.

S6 Foundation Apprenticeship Opportunity – Social Services & Healthcare

There are a limited number of places for a 15 month Foundation Apprenticeship programme in Social Services & Healthcare starting in June 2019 just become available.

This is an opportunity for S6 pupils who will have time within their timetable to attend Inverness College UHI each Friday until the Easter break and in addition attend a work placement one day per week throughout the academic year.  

If you are an S6 pupil that is interested in this option please send an application by Friday 29th March. To do this please see your Guidance Teacher as soon as possible.

For more information see the link to the UHI website:

https://www.inverness.uhi.ac.uk/for-schools/foundation-apprenticeships/our-health-and-social-care-subjects/

Job Opportunity – Macleod & Maccallum – Office Assistant

This is an excellent opportunity for a school leaver to join a local Law Firm.  Please could I kindly ask if you could share this with all relevant pupils, teachers and on social media.

The closing date for this is the 5th of April and if anyone interested in the job with the necessary skill set could send their CV to alison.martin@macandmac.co.uk

https://drive.google.com/file/d/14fsZIAA0R3nHQ_G04lKJ1Z8eJT8Ga2q1/view?usp=sharing

Ski trip 2020

A reminder to all parents and guardians with pupils going on next year’s ski trip. The next payment is due by the end of this week, please can you arrange payment by BACS transfer or cheque, made payable to “Grantown Grammar School Fund”.

Attached is a copy of the proforma that you received with all the future payment dates on it.

ski trip 2020 payment proforma

Last game of season for GGS netballers!

The Grantown S2 and S3 netballers had their final netball games against Gordonstoun on Friday 22nd March. Against a strong S3/4 team the GGS S2/3s battled hard but the more experienced Gordonstoun girls were stronger and more accurate and Grantown struggled to get much of the ball. Despite some exceptional play from Molly [GD] and Isla [GK] who furiously chased their opposite numbers round the court, the honours went to Gordonstoun.

Final Score GGS: 13 Gordonstoun: 46

In the second game, it was more of an even affair, with a full S2 team playing against an equivalent team from Gordonstoun. It was a fantastic final game of the season, with 4 goals separating the 2 teams for most of the game. Iris [GD] had the game of her life and Siana [GA] shot brilliantly.

Score GGS: 24 Gordonstoun:19

S2 STEM and Coding

All of S2 are learning how to code in HTML, CSS and JavaScript with Mr McCrow and how to use block coding to control MicroBit devices with Mr Nias. Soon S2 will be able to pick Computing Science or STEM as S3 course choices and continue their coding and engineering journey.

Ski Training – update

What a winter! Sadly we are not going to be running the last two ski training sessions due to lack of snow and none in the forecast. Pupils will return to their timetabled Tuesday afternoon programme tomorrow and next week. All pupils will be refunded for any sessions that have been cancelled and already paid for.

Here’s to a better winter season next year.

Tune in to GGS’s finest – Duncan and James!!

2RK – Outdoor Learning – Tomorrow (Thursday)

2RK will be taking part in a whole day of River Study around the River Findhorn tomorrow (Thursday 21 March).

Can all pupils please bring warm clothes (NO JEANS) and waterproof jackets and trousers. They will need walking boots, gloves, a hat and a packed lunch.