Two Exciting Announcements from Dunbar Grammar!
- Congratulations to our new Head Girl and Head Boy!
Well done to Hannah Dickson and Ben James Dorin who were appointed Head Girl and Head Boy for the session 2018 to 2019.
It was a very thorough and intense process with a hustings, a group task, student and teacher vote and two rounds of interviews.
Thanks to Alistair Fell, Heather Cameron, Mr Raffaelli, Mr Offer and Mrs Hamilton for helping with the interview process.
Every single candidate impressed with their attitude and commitment to the school and made us incredibly proud of them.
Unsuccessful candidates are automatically entitled to go through to the Depute interview stage.
Well done to all concerned.
Mrs Slowther
2. House Prize 2017-2018
Congratulations to Lauderdale who edged ahead from their nearest rival at the last moment. As a prize, all staff and students from Lauderdale will have the opportunity of attending Jump In in Musselburgh on Wednesday 27th June.
Mock Court Team has done it again!
They are now the Transatlantic Moot Court Champions 2018. Our students competed against students who attend a school which specialises in preparing students for a career in law. This makes their success even more impressive. The students will be presented with an award next week from the Dunbar Community Council. We also want to thank the DGSA for their invaluable support with the costs of train fares to the tutorials and trials. This has ensured that all students can participate in this competition.
We are very proud of them. They are a credit to their parents, school and community.
Wider Achievement Prospectus for 2018 – 2019:
All of our S6 students are required to enhance their course by choosing a wider achievement experience. Please see attached this year’s prospectus offered to S6: Wider Achievement Prospectus 2018-2019
Link for Students
All of our new S4s were required to complete the new Standardised Testing for the Scottish Government. Please see a student link below for more information:
https://standardisedassessment.gov.scot/access-scottish-national-standardised-assessments/
Plans For The End of Term
As you will be aware we have a major expansion underway at the school and I would like to take this opportunity to thank you for your support and understanding. We have done everything in our power to protect teaching and learning during this period and can announce that the SQA examinations have been very successful with no interruption as a result of the building work. As we approach the end of term we have a major decanting exercise to hand over to the construction team those areas of the school yet to be finished. There is an enormous amount of work planned for the summer but we do need your help and support. As a number of classrooms, stores and bases (total 26) will have to have their contents packed up and relocated, these will not be available for classes to use. As a result, 22 teachers will need to be released from teaching to pack up these classrooms, bases and stores. In order to release staff to pack up and move, the number of classrooms available for teaching will reduce significantly. In order to address this situation, we have come up with the following plan:
All Advanced Higher, Higher and S5 National 5 long courses will have work posted on Show My Homework and Google Classroom for the last week of term (Monday 25th – Friday 29th June). This work will not involve any active teaching input, thus releasing staff to pack or cover displaced classes whose classrooms are being packed up. All of these students will be doing independent work, set by their subject teachers and supervised in the Assembly Hall and Social Space, enabling us to cope with the reduction of available classrooms and teachers. Students will have access to IT, including Chromebooks, during this period. This process worked very well during the ‘snow days’ with parents/carers reporting a huge amount of work covered. In addition to this, one fifth of the school will be on the House trip on the Wednesday and 100 of our S6 students will be involved in an ELC Emergency Planning event in Dunbar and Haddington on Tuesday, 26th June. Details of this event to follow.
This has been a very interesting period in the school which will result in a fantastic facility for future students. I hope I, and Mrs Slowther, can count on your continued support for this final phase.
Expansion Update
Our DGSC were invited to a tour of the extension area. They were very impressed with the area and excited for the students.
To view updated photographs of the extension, please click here: Expansion Page
New S1 Visit
We have had our new S1s visiting the school today. They were welcomed by Mr Raffaelli in the Games Hall before splitting into their C classes to meet with their new classmates and some Register and Guidance Teachers. We look forward to welcoming them back on Monday 18th and Tuesday 19th June when students will experience their new timetable. Students to arrive for 8.35am for registration in the Assembly Hall on Monday. Students will be dismissed at 3.50pm.
S3 Ceremony
Invitations went home with students last week inviting parents and carers to the S3 Ceremony on Wednesday 20th June at 2pm at Dunbar Parish Church. Please can reply slips be returned to the school office as soon as possible.
Loud & Proud
Dunbar Grammar School welcomed Edinburgh’s Loud & Proud Choir as part of an afternoon organised by the LGBT+ group within the school. The first part of the concert involved various students from the school and songs sung by the Loud & Proud Choir, interspersed with some personal reflections on their lives. The concert was attended by our new S3 students who responded very positively. Thanks to all involved who organised this.
Chinese Headteachers Visit
Dunbar Grammar School welcomed its second group of Head Teachers from China, here on a study visit to look at Curriculum for Excellence. The group from Zhejiang province were very impressed with Dunbar Grammar School and its students and will return to China with lots of new ideas.
Duke of Edinburgh Bronze Award
If you would like to sign up to this year’s group you must collect a letter from Miss Williams during registration or on your way to Maths. Spaces are limited to 42. Students must collect and return a slip which will then go into a hat after the summer.
The deadline for returns is 21st August.
School Uniform
Order forms can be collected from the school office. The deadline for orders is Thursday 21st June. Collection will be from 1.30pm on Monday 13th August 2018 from the school office. Please note that any students not wearing uniform should carry a note from their parent/carer.
PTA Afternoon Tea with Prosecco
- Sat 8th September 3pm-5pm
- Belhaven Parish Church Hall
- £10 ticket over 18s only
This very popular fun event is back. An enjoyable way to raise funds to enhance the learning experience of our children in the school while catching up with your friends after the long holidays. Please come and buy your tickets from the school office as soon as possible.
Lost Property
Our lost property will be recycled at the end of June. If you would like to check for lost items, please arrange through the school office before Friday 22nd June.
Opportunity and Local Events
- Lemac in Haddington are undergoing an expansion and are looking to recruit around 25 production operatives. No specific experience is required and the vacancies are suitable for people of all ages including school leavers. Having studied practical technical subjects is an advantage but not essential. Send CV to liz.smith@lemac.com
- Vacancy for a school leaver at Belhaven Smokehouse. No specific qualifications required. Need to be reliable, trustworthy, hard-working and able to work without supervision and as part of a team. If interested call Mr Dave Pate on 01368 864025
- East Lothian Council’s Arts Service has programmed a fun packed summer of creative activities for 5 – 18 year olds to fill the holidays. The programme includes: themed multi arts camps, youth theatre, musical theatre, streetdance, computer animation, outdoor theatre and more.We are really keen that young people and their adults here about these activities, so we have sent you, via ELC print unit, our Summer Arts Activities leaflets to distribute to your pupils. Please do look out for them.All activities are booked online at www.eastlothian.gov.uk/summeractivities and a pdf of the leaflet can also be downloaded from East Lothian Council’s website: https://www.eastlothian.gov.uk/info/210604/arts_and_entertainment/12102/arts_and_entertainment_services/10
Dates for Your Diary
| P7 Transition Day | Mon 18 June & Tues 19 June |
| S3 Ceremony | Wedn 20 June |
| California Trip | Thurs 21 June |
| Bronze D of E | Thurs 21 June |
| German Exchange trip | Mon 25 June |
| House Trip | Wed 27 June |
| Break for the summer | Fri 29 June |
Please also see Information Sheets for our most up-to-date Information Sheet including updates on lunchtime and after-school clubs and:
- House Points Update
- Awards Evening