March 2010 Diary Dates
- S2 Parents' consultation
- 2010 No Smoking Day
- HPV vaccination dose 3
- Cross Country Championships
- S4 Parents' consultation
- S5/S6 Exam information assembly
- Swimming Gala
- Term ends
- Good Friday Holiday
- Easter Sunday
- Holiday Week 1
- 2010 Easter Holiday Programme
- Holiday Week 2
- 2010 Easter Holiday Programme
Diary Highlights
Headlines: Examinations
S3 Exam information assembly
The S3 Examination timetable runs from Mon 29 March - Fri 30 April 2010. To ensure that as little teaching time as possible is lost, almost all exams will be held during planned lesson time. This change was introduced in 2009.
SQA Examinations are getting closer and closer and closer ...
All S4, S5 and S6 pupils are about to sit very important examinations and study towards exam success should be given a high priority. While I acknowledge the difficulty of balancing school work, social life and possibly a part-time job, it is important that all pupils prepare as well as they can for these examinations. Research has shown for example that working in a part time job for more than 10 hours per week adversely affects study, and consequently will have a damaging effect on likely success in examinations. I am heartened by the number of pupils who attend our Easter School and the commitment they show.
Find out more about our school arrangements now... don't leave it until it is too late!
Below you will find details of what was said at the S4 SQA exam assembly.
George Laidlaw, Headteacher
S4 SQA Exam Assembly
- S4 Exam information assembly
- Easter School
- S4 SQA Exam timetable
- Exam preparation
- Exam regulations
- Don't Panic
SQA Website
Some useful links to the SQA website.
- SQA - 2010 Exam Timetable
- SQA Homepage
- SQA: Go to Services for Learners
- Why wait for your SQA results?
S5/S6 Exam information assembly
On Wed 24 March we gave advance warning to S5 and S6 at an assembly that they must start preparation for their exams over Easter... it is an important study time. They also have the opportunity to attend Easter School and to get extra opportunities for supported study. We will give more detailed information after the holidays but work should be underway NOW!
Education Department Surveys
Every two years the Education Department carries out a citywide survey to gather the opinions of parents/carers regarding the service they offer.
A copy of the letter to be sent out to every family in our school may be downloaded below. The letter is sent home with pupils. The date and arrangements for returning them are explained on the parent/carer letter.
Also attached is a copy of the parent/ carer survey.
The questionnaire has been set up so that it can be completed online and Dundee City Council are encouraging parents to use this facility rather than complete a paper copy.
However, you may prefer to complete the survey on paper. If this is the case, you may request a paper copy from the school office or download a copy.
The school will forward completed surveys to Tayside House as they come in rather than holding them until the final return date of Tuesday 18 May 2010.
Many thanks for your co-operation.
Additional In-service date: Tuesday 1 June 2010
Dear Parent/Carer
ADDITIONAL IN-SERVICE DATE - SESSION 2009/2010
Following the approval of the Education Committee and the Scottish Government, I am writing to give you advance notice of an additional in-service day on Tuesday 1 June 2010.
The additional in-service day will enable staff to take part in additional training relating to the development and implementation of the Curriculum for Excellence initiative. Having considered a number of dates, the Education Committee has decided this is the most
appropriate solution for a number of reasons, including the fact that it follows on from the existing holiday date of Monday 31 May 2010.
I trust that this advance notification will provide parents/carers with sufficient time to make any necessary care arrangements should this be required.
Yours sincerely
JIM COLLINS
Director of Education
Parent Focus Meeting
Today we had maths… using numeracy.
6.30-8.30p.m. Tue 9 March
Come and see Maths in action.
No experience needed!!
Have fun and see what and how our Maths is taught.
Learning together: Maths
Good practice in learning: teaching and promoting achievement
Basic skills Interactive White Board
Sample lessons Group work
Resources Maths across the school
Features of effective practice in improving Maths
Please join us… download a leaflet (given out in school), complete the Reply Slip and return it to the school.
Spring newsletter
Our Spring Newsletter will be go out after the holiday.2010 No Smoking Day
Cross Country Championships
The Dundee Schools Cross Country Championships is on Wed 17 at
Baxter Park from 1 pm. Presentation of Medals at 3.15.
Trials will be held during lunchtimes over during February.
Further details and information from M
Phin.
2010 Charity Talent Show
We’ve Got Talent!
Our annual Charity Talent Show is one of the highlights of the school year.
The Show is a great success from start to finish. Staff, pupils, and parents come together for a night of entertainment that also helped to raise money for charity too. You can see highlights of previous shows on the website... see links below.
Wednesday 31 March
7.00p.m.
Tickets £4
Soon on sale, in the middle social area.
"On Tuesday night, a wide range of talent showcased by pupils and staff was enjoyed by an enthusiastic audience. The acts included singers, dancers and bands, and every act was received well. The second night had some returning acts and some new ones. With at least one act from each year, Menzieshill proves to be consistent in a diverse range of talent throughout the whole school. "
Swimming Gala
Easter school
A cracking good way to prepare for the exams! Easter School runs from Tue 6 April -Fri 9 April. Information and programme issued (available on website).2010 Easter Holiday Programme
We have a very good Programme arranged by the Pupil Support Workers and Leisure and Communities staff.
Help us... help you
News via e-mail
Send an e-mail to
menzieshill@dundeecity.gov.uk
with your child’s name and class.
We will then email you school publications.
Menzieshill High School Homepage
Most of our news stories appear first on our website. Copy our website into your favourites and check it regularly :
http://menzieshill.ea.dundeecity.sch.uk/
Glow Report
We are encouraging all pupils to use their Glow account to access school information, homework and course revision materials.
Every pupil has a personal school email address which we will use.
Current Daily Bulletin
The Current Daily Bulletin for pupils is updated immediately on the website, is displayed in the middle social area and read out every morning in registration.
Every pupil has access to at least one of these sources.
School Events
March 2010 Newsletter
This has been the usual extremely busy term. S3, S4, S5 and S6 pupils are about to sit very important examinations and study towards exam success should be given a high priority. While I acknowledge the difficulty of balancing school work, social life and possibly a part-time job, it is important that all pupils prepare as well as they can for these examinations. Research has shown for example that working in a part time job for more than 10 hours per week adversely affects study, and consequently will have a damaging effect on likely success in examinations.
I am heartened by the number of pupils who have shown interest in our Easter School. In the past, the commitment they have shown has produced results. I wish all pupils success in the forthcoming examinations. These examinations bring formal recognition of achievement and it is important that pupils are well prepared, turn up in good time for each exam and perform to the best of their ability.
Our Spring Newsletter will be go out after the holiday. In the meantime I have issued a letter to pupils containing the following:
- S3 Exam information assembly
- S4, S5 & S6 Information assemblies
- Additional In-service date
- Easter school
- Study Leave
- SQA matters… My SQA
- Why wait for your SQA results?
- My SQA: Your Exams 2010
- 2010 Easter Holiday Programme
- Learning Resources Centre
- Leaving school?
- Bubbles in the community
- Illness – notes
- Medicines in school
- Diary Dates
- Easter Holiday Programme
George Laidlaw, Headteacher
Download a copy:
My SQA: Why wait for your SQA results?
Get your results... the day before!
This year, all National Qualifications candidates will receive their results (Standard Grade, Intermediate, Higher or Advanced Higher ) by post on Thu 5 August 2010.
Candidates registering for MySQA can receive their results the day before, on Wed 4 August by text or email.
Pick up a leaflet from the school office or read on...
My SQA: Your Exams 2010
- what you need to know,
- what you need to do,and
- what happens next.
It’s coming up to exam time again. This booklet tells you what to expect and what to do, and tells you how you will receive your results and your certificate.
If you’ve taken SQA exams before, you’ll know what to expect, but if this is your first time, don’t worry, stay calm, and do your best. The exams are held to find out how well you’ve learned the subjects you’ve been studying, and how well you can apply the knowledge and skills you’ve gathered.
Be as well prepared for each exam as you can be. If you do your best before and during the exams, no-one can ask more of you.
Good luck!
Copies of the booklet have been issued to all S4, S5 and S6 candidates. A limited number are still available from the school office. You can also download a copy here or visit SQA: Go to Services for Learners:
CHOICES AT 16+: Information for Pupils, Parents and Carers
Choosing courses at the end of fourth or fifth year can be just as difficult as the choice that was made at the end of second year. To help you choose we have prepareda tutorial to give you as much information as we can about the subjects and courses which will be available to you in Menzieshill High School next session. These courses are called National Qualifications.
Find out more:
Tesco vouchers 2010
Yes, it’s that time of year again – Tesco vouchers will be issued between 1st March and 9th May 2010 and the School is collecting.
Last year we collected a jaw-dropping 52,583 vouchers!
Let’s see if we can beat that total this year.
As usual, Miss Scott will maintain a count of vouchers collected by register classes, and there will be a prize for the register class which collects the most.
Collection boxes are also be in the LRC and the staffroom.
Change for change!
Your small change can make a very big change in the life of someone in Uganda.
Team Uganda are raising money to provide the rural community of Namutamba with a borehole.
About 4,000 people live there without access to clean water to drink – they have to fetch water from miles away from the same water hole that the animals use, and it is contaminated when they do get it.
Even the youngest pupils in the 400 pupil school have to take their turn at fetching water for the day.
Because the community live on a plateau, they need a deep borehole to reach the water.
We want to collect enough 1p and 2p coins to reach to the depth of the well.
This is being co-ordinated by Miss Scott in the LRC and pennies (and 2ps!) can be given to register teachers or dropped in the box in the LRC.
There will be prize for the register class which does best.
Lessen the weight in your pockets and give your small change to make a big change!
Modern Studies Events
Dundee West MP Jim McGovern was once again 'open to question' when he visited the Modern Studies Department at Menzieshill HS on Friday 19 February.
In conjunction with anti-racist charity 'Show Racism the Red Card' and the official Dundee United supporters organisation Arabtrust, Menzieshill Modern Studies Department was able to organise an anti-racist event for S2 pupils at Tannadice on 26 February.
Kirsty Smith , Menzieshill High School has been chosen as one of five national winners of the Modern Studies Association S3/S4 Modern Studies Powerpoint Competition 2010.
Rapid Prototyping at MHS (Rapman)
Hannah Rae a product design student from Strathclyde University visited Menzieshill High School to mentor S3 pupils working on the design and production of a 3D model using our own Autodesk Inventor software and then produce a rapid prototype on a machine called ‘Rapman’.
World Maths Day 2010
Menzieshill High School pupils will participate in the World Maths Day on Wednesday 3 March.
They will join together with more than 2 million students from over 200 countries in the annual quest to set a world record in answering over 450 million maths questions — a fun way to improve mental arithmetic skills.
This year features an exciting new format with multi-levels for all age groups.
Teachers, parents and media are invited to participate for the first time. Menzieshill have registered learners at the World Maths Day website throughout February, and then signed in to begin practicing their online problem-solving right away.
The actual World Maths Day contest takes place on March 3.
Language Works 2010!
Pupils at MHS took part in a Languages Work event designed to give them a better understanding of the need for foreign languages in the workplace. Story and pictures:
Bubbles in the community
Substance misuse and young people:
Bubbles in Tayside
As you may be aware there has been considerable media reporting in relation to an emerging drug trend known locally as Bubbles.
Bubbles first came on the scene in early 2009. The use has grown dramatically and the effects have been deadly. Such is my concern that I have placed information has been placed on our website and held special assemblies.
I hope you find this information useful.
George Laidlaw, Head Teacher
Sources of help and information
Up to date information and interactive guide on substance misuse and young people with Facts about Bubbles, links to further advice, Frequently Asked Questions, Advice, Sources of Information, school contacts which can be downloaded in leaflet form.
A leaflet produced in Dundee for sharing with staff, parents and pupils to keep you reliably and safely involved and informed. It has been customised to include information relevant to our local community.