P7 Newsletter - June 2013 - Royal High School

THE ROYAL HIGH SCHOOL
East Barnton Avenue
EDINBURGH
EH4 6JP
Tel: 0131-336 2261
Fax: 0131-312 8592
e.mail: admin@royalhigh.edin.sch.uk
website: www.royalhigh.edin.sch.uk
Newsletter June 13
Rector
Jane L. Frith
Dear Parents and Carers,
As the session draws to a conclusion, we can reflect upon the incredibly busy time it has been in The Royal High
School over the last few weeks.
To our new S1 pupils, who have spent the last few days with us, we hope you enjoyed your introduction to high
school and we are very much looking forward to welcoming you back to the school after the summer.
Activities Week was a wonderful success with over 600 pupils participating in a very wide variety of activities
and excursions. Lessons were suspended and pupils had the opportunity to try out new experiences, to
challenge themselves and to have fun. Some went travelling: 79 pupils ventured across the border to the bright
lights of London, exploring the corridors of power (- and enjoying a few West End shows!); 40 S3 pupils went
across the English Channel to visit the battlefields of France and Belgium; 16 pupils visited Rome and had the
chance to see many famous landmarks; and another 40 pupils went to southern Italy, exploring sites such as
Pompeii and Mount Vesuvius .
Meanwhile, other pupils engaged with a very wide programme of activities in Scotland. Most of our S1 pupils
spent the week at Dounans Outdoor Centre. The midges went into hiding this year and pupils had a wonderful
time climbing trees, swinging from zip wires and messing around on the water.
There were lots of activities in and around school for the S1 pupils who did not go to Dounans; they engaged in
a full programme of activities, including team challenges, fencing and a trip down the Royal Mile. A DVD was
created and given to every participant.
For S2 and S3 pupils, day trips to Go Ape, the watersport centre at Port Edgar, skiing and boarding at Hillend,
go-karting, canoeing, rock climbing and to the Edinburgh Dungeons, all took place. Hill walking and mountain
biking (including an overnight stay) were popular excursions, as indeed was the tour around the historic sites of
The Royal High School in Edinburgh.
There was jewellery making, music making, stage make-up, style council, ghost hunting and the “Crichton Cup
Challenge” involving lots of team games; some pupils opted for sock monkeys and others to make chocolate
cake (lots of chocolate cake!) or cup cakes! The list goes on. Please visit our website at
www.royalhigh.edin.sch.uk for more detail and photographs of some of the trips and activities.
There was something for everyone and we all had a great time. Huge thanks to staff for putting it all together.
Romania and Rwanda
Following a year-long fundraising campaign for Habitat for Humanity, a number of senior pupils accompanied
by two members of staff, Mr Robertson and Mr Tilston, spent a week recently working on a building site in
Romania to build sustainable housing for Romanian orphans. This was a lifechanging experience for all of them.
School Captain Joe Treanor writes: Whether it is shovelling sand for cement or relaxing with others from the
group, this experience has been truly incredible. I can safely speak for everyone when I say we have had the
most fun and have helped so many people along the way. It has been an experience that will undoubtedly stay
with us for the rest of our lives.

In a separate venture, two pupils, Grace Campbell and Lucy Park, undertook the trip of a lifetime to Rwanda in
central Africa last week. This is part of a youth exchange programme and Lucy and Grace have gone with
several other pupils from schools in the West Edinburgh Neighbourhood to take part in the project, which was
organised by Community Learning and Development.
Summer Fling
The Spring Fling became the Summer Fling this year because of the very early Easter break. This was a superb
event, showcasing the wealth of talent which exists in The Royal High School. Over 250 dancers participated
over three nights, including some very young dancers from our cluster primary schools, along with many other
performers who entertained us with their singing or musical talents (and sometimes both!). Many other pupils,
and some former pupils, helped backstage and with the technical aspects of the show, supported by a host of
staff who had also given up their time to be there. Huge thanks to everyone who supported, and in particular to
the dance teachers and to Mr Snedden and Mr Bacciarelli for co-ordinating the whole event.
Recognising achievement
In the run up to the end of term, we have our annual Wider Achievement Award Ceremony. This will take place
on the evening of Thursday 20 th June. Among the awards to be announced on the evening will be the much
coveted Art Picture of the Year Award and the RHS Sports Personality of the Year Award! This ceremony
recognises achievement in sport, music and art.
At the end of session, we also have the more formal and traditional Prize-giving Ceremony. This year, the guest
speaker is former pupil, The Honourable Lord Jones.
Staff
A number of staff leave us at the end of this session.
Mrs Trish Haggerty leaves us to take up a new position as Depute Head at a school in North Lanarkshire. We are
delighted for her and wish her well in her new position.
Miss Diane Santana leaves us after seven years and will take up a new position at the Edinburgh Academy next
term. Miss Santana has been a much valued member of staff and she will be missed, not only for her work in
Business Education but for all the other contributions she has made, not least to Activities Week and
Interdisciplinary learning.
And finally, Mrs Janette Shearer retires at the end of this session. Mrs Shearer has been involved with the life
and work of the school in many and varied ways over many years, not just as a teacher of mathematics, but as a
guidance teacher, a school show supporter (and participant), a prize giving organiser, a timetabler, a wonderful
person to have on trips…… the list goes on. We wish her a long and happy retirement.
A huge “Thank You” also to the large number of temporary staff who leave us at the end of this session. These
include: Mrs W Boyd, Miss N Bissett, Mr A Douglas, Dr H Peacock, Mrs S Quinn, Mr T Mazadza, Mr W Beveridge
and Mr P MacDonald. In particular, we send our best wishes to Miss K. O’Hara and Miss H. Fergusson who have
this year completed their probationary year in The Royal High School. We also say farewell to support staff Mr J
Youngs, Mr D Bathgate and Miss M O’Gorman
Uniform
We would ask for the support of all parents with uniform and I take this opportunity now as I know many of
you will be thinking about purchasing items of uniform in preparation for the new session. Full details of the
uniform are on our website, but in particular could I make a plea for blazers please? These are smart and
practical items of clothing that clearly identify young people as being a part of The Royal High School when they
are out in the community, going to and from school and when they represent the school at the many and
various events which take place over the school year. Following consultation with the Nation Councils and with
the Parent Council, pupils who arrive in school without a blazer will be asked to remove outdoor coloured
jackets/hoodies immediately; if they are wearing a black coat which is not a blazer, this must be removed by
the time they arrive in form and stay off for the duration of the school day. Crichton Cup points will be awarded
in spot checks to those pupils who wear a blazer.
It is also the case that a fashion has developed in recent months for girls to wear polo shirts instead of a formal
shirt or blouse. Polo shirts are not meant to be worn with a tie and so this undermines the effect of the
uniform. We would ask that pupils wear a shirt or a blouse, long or short sleeved, which has a collar and is

intended to be worn with a tie. Similarly, girls should not arrive to school in leggings; our uniform is skirt or
trousers.
Finally, shoes: another fashion is for young people to arrive wearing canvass shoes or trainers. Again these are
very casual and undermine the formal nature of the uniform. When a young person insists they have no other
shoes, however, it is difficult to challenge. Could parents please therefore, in purchasing new shoes for school,
please give consideration to this and buy black leather or leather-type shoes.
If anyone requires help with school clothing, assistance is available. Please contact your child’s Support for
Pupils Leader in the first instance. Thank you for your support. It is only with the support of parents that we can
make the uniform in The Royal High School work.
PE uniform
Pupils should bring a complete change for PE: trainers; black tracksuit trousers (not leggings) or black shorts;
white t-shirt. A jumper can be brought for outdoors. If injured or unwell, a note should be brought, but PE kit
should still be worn for the lesson.
Eco Club
The new Royal High School Eco Club has been hard at work this year! We have been collecting 2 litre plastic
bottles to build a greenhouse and we are now only 200 bottles away! We would like to say a big thank you to
all the parents and pupils who have brought in bottles, also a big thanks to members of staff who have got
involved. We have also received a fantastic amount of help from a local Brownie group and Davidson’s Mains
Tesco. Keep them coming in, we are so close!
Next year we are going for the Bronze Level Eco Schools award, we have been so pleased with the level of
support and enthusiasm from the school and local community this year and we hope it keeps up for our award
next year!
Immunisation
NHS Lothian is running a catch-up campaign for young people aged 10 to 17 years who have not received two
doses of MMR (Measles, Mumps and Rubella) vaccine. They will be writing to parents and guardians of these
children and encouraging them to contact their General Practice to arrange MMR vaccination for their child.
Some young people missed out on the MMR vaccination when they were younger. Two doses of the vaccine
are required to ensure protection.
Visit immunisationscotland.org.uk to find out more, or contact your GP to make an appointment.
School meals increase
The City of Edinburgh Council approved increased charges for school meals in the Revenue Budget for 2013/14.
The cost of a school meal will increase from £2.25 to £2.30 with effect from August 2013. This is the first
increase since 2008.
SQA Examinations
Many of our pupils have been taking SQA examinations and we all now eagerly await their results. We wish
them well with these and further information will come in a separate letter about arrangements for giving
advice in the light of these results.
Thank you to all parents and carers who have supported the school over the year. We wish you a happy and
peaceful summer.
Yours sincerely,
Jane L. Frith
Rector
Dates for your diary
School closes for the summer at 12.00 noon on Friday 28 th June.
School re-opens for pupils on Wednesday 14 th August 2013.