Update 24 March 2023

Important Information Out this Week: 

S2 Personalisation Course Choices

Please see the letter sent to S2 parents/carers last week regarding S3 Personalisation Options.  This is for our S2 students as they move into S3 in the next academic year.  The link to the google form for students to make their personalisation options will be sent to their edubuzz account on Monday 20th March and has to be completed today Friday 24th March.

S2 into S3 – Parent Letter 2023

2023 S2 to S3 Personalisation Booklet

2023 S2 Curriculum Evening

S6 Residential PGL Dalguise Trip – August 2023
Please see the attached letter emailed to our current S5 parent/carers with details of the forthcoming PGL Dalguise trip from 18 – 20 August 2023

DGS PGL 23 – 220323

What to do if you are worried about a young person

If you have any safeguarding or child protection concerns about any young person please contact one of the Designated Members of Staff (DMS) for Child Protection.
DGS Child Protection Poster

Sustrans Big Walk and Wheel

The weeks of 20th- 31st March Dunbar Grammar pupils and staff will be participating in SUSTRANS Big Walk & Wheel to school week. We want to get as many people coming to school via walking, cycling or scootering so we can get DGS one of the top schools Nationally in this event.

Please can you encourage your child to participate in this event and also explain the benefits of traveling to school in the most environmentally friendly ways possible.

All pupils will be able to record their travel with their registration teachers and this will be recorded to SUSTRANS

Study Club/Extra Curricular Booklet Lunch & Extra Curricular Study Clubs

Grade Booster Sessions

Our grade booster sessions (study immersion days) will be running throughout the duration of the SQA examination diet.  The timetable for these study support days is being finalised and will be shared next week.

Assembly
Monday – S4 in Assembly Hall
Tuesday – Whole School Online
Wednesday – S5 in Assembly Hall
Thursday – S6 in Assembly Hall

Parental Engagement Strategy 
The Parental Engagement Strategy was launched in 2017 and aims to ensure that all Parents/Carers are encouraged and supported to engage as partners in their children’s learning, and to become involved in the life of the school.  The strategy also ensures that it can continue to build on good practice and create further opportunities for our parents and schools to work together.  There are 6 strands to the strategy and we are seeking responses to evaluate the impact of each of them.  The Full strategy document is available at Parental Engagement Strategy | Parental Involvement | East Lothian Council.

Parental Engagement Strategy – Questions for Parents:  Parents only need to complete one survey if they have multiple children at your school, but will need to complete more than one survey for children at different schools.  The survey results will be collated on a school basis which will be shared with the HT and Chair of the Parent Council to support any actions arising shortly after the closure of the surveys.

https://eastlothianconsultations.co.uk/education/parental-engagement

Staff

 

Caroline Dunn (PE)

Nominations said
‘She is always supportive when classmates are finding thing difficult.’
‘She is always really nice to my class and she is a fun teacher’
Caroline also received a really heartfelt nomination in the form of a letter!
Ms Dunn has an excellent ability to make everyone in the class feel included and want to participate.
Miss Dunn has inspired me the most out of all the PE teachers to pursue a career in the teaching department, especially in physical education. She gets along well with the staff here as well as all of her students.
She is the perfect PE Teacher. This is seen from being able to be taught by her and have chats with her. She is continually very supportive and encouraging of me to do well in my subjects.
She has helped me when I have struggled with my mental health and has made coming to school for me a lot better, she has faith in me to do better and I feel comfortable talking to her about things that I struggle with, she always helps me to overcome what I am having difficulties with.
Caroline– you are a DGS Star, thank you for all you do!

Students
Cara Maxwell and Catrin Smith  S6 (Effort)
Since S1 Cara and Catrin have been absolute model students. Every piece they submit is detailed, interesting and insightful and everything they are involved in has their full effort and capacity. They are continually curious, interested and really lifelong learners. They are perceptive, insightful and committed in the work they produce across really difficult classes in S6. I group them together because they have been an unstoppable combo in their time at DGS, and I think they might feel like their efforts are overlooked. They are exactly what we mean when we talk about students RISING to be their best. Well done Cara and Catrin!

 

Natasha Hilferty S6 (Support )
Natasha has been a fantastic help with an S1 class all year. She still attends weekly and is always willing to participate in lessons and support the younger students. She was initially the S6 buddy for the class and has maintained that supportive relationship with them since August. She is a star!

Your DGSA Need You!
The DGSA is the fundraising group of the Parent Council and needs your help more now than ever!  Our current Chair, Treasurer and other members are leaving after many years as their children will be moving on from school – so we desperately need new members to take the group forward!
As school budgets are stretched to the limit, we help by raising much needed funds to purchase equipment and create opportunities which support and enhance the educational experience of all our students at DGS.
Over the years we have raised thousands of pounds to support the school, funding school trips and equipment for art, science, sports, maths, music, tech, home economics, learning support, drama, Duke of Edinburgh and much more.
We couldn’t do this without our lovely group of parent and carer volunteers! We are all juggling busy lives with work and family but every little helps so even if you can only spare a couple of hours once a year it will make a huge difference and all our children will benefit!
If you can join us please email  admin@dunbargrammar.elcschool.org.uk and we will get in touch with you.
THANK YOU

DUNBAR GRAMMAR SCHOOL COUNCIL

The DGSC is a group comprising parents, the Headteacher, Deputy Head teacher and Teacher representatives, Pupil representatives, Local Councillors and Clerk. Meetings are open invitation and take place either in the school or online. See school emails for further information and consider attending to become involved with your school community. This is not a fundraising group. For further details e-mail: allison1314@gmail.com
Dunbar Grammar School Council 8th Feb 2023 meeting overview

The next meeting is Thursday 20th April and will be in person

S6 Leavers Ceremony
The confirmed date is 21 April 2023 in the morning. Further information to follow next week.

S6 Prom
The deadline for paying for the S6 Prom is Friday 31st March 2023 and this costs £60 and is payable through SchoolPay.  A suggested payment of £20 per month has been set up or the balance can be paid in full.

Lost Property
28 – 31 March please come to the office and ask for Mrs Smith if you would like to look through lost property. After this date it will be bagged and sent away.
All named items will be returned to students.

 

Cancer Research Concert Please see a forthcoming concert organised by one of our students.  Any students interested in performing should email Lauren below

 

Student Information Slides  – 23-03-21 Plasma Info Sheet

Opportunities/Careers

Other Information

How to apply or renew free school meals and school clothing grants

https://www.eastlothian.gov.uk/info/210557/schools_and_learning/11899/free_school_meals_and_clothing_grants/2

If you have any queries or having difficulty completing the form please email freeschoolmeals@eastlothian.gov.uk

If you would like information in your own language or format (e.g. Braille), please phone 01620 827199 or email publicinfo@eastlothian.gov.uk.

Education Maintenance Allowance (EMA) applications are now open.  Information and Guidance Notes are available on the website www.eastlothian.gov.uk/ema

Don’t miss out: Education Maintenance Allowance
Young people aged between 16 and 19 who are currently in full-time education or undertaking an Activity Agreement may be entitled to a £30 per week payment.
Education Maintenance Allowance (EMA) is a means-tested award providing financial support to eligible 16 to 19 year olds who want to continue learning. It also applies to those who are in Home Education.
Students who turned 16 on or after 1 October 2022 can now apply:

        • Apply before 28 February 2023 to have the payments backdated to the start of January term
        • Apply before 31 March 2023 to receive the allowance during the current academic year. Please note that any applications received between 1 March and 31 March will not be backdated; payments will be made from the date the application is received
        • Applications received after 31 March will not be processed and EMA will not be paid.

Find out more and apply online at www.eastlothian.gov.uk/ema

Senior Student Study Resources

Attendance
Please email with a return date, or email each day: attendance@dunbargrammar.elcschool.org.uk

Contacting teachers/Queries
Please email
admin@dunbargrammar.elcschool.org.uk or
pupilsupport@dunbargrammar.elcschool.org.uk.

Getting in touch
We are really keen to chat to our parents and carers.  If you would like to discuss anything with a member of the Senior Leadership Team, we are happy to chat over the phone, via Google Meet or in person.  Please just email admin@dunbargrammar.elcschool.org.uk and we will be in touch to arrange a meeting

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