Stage 3 2009-2012

Dear Parent/Guardian,

Welcome to a special edition of our school newsletter, which introduces our new school Aims and Values. We have spent a great deal of time this year reflecting on who we are and what we are trying to achieve at Preston Lodge High School. Many thanks to the parents, students, staff and community organisations who contributed to this process. Our new Aims and Values will be central to all of our work in the future and we have further plans for sharing them across the school community. In the second half of this special edition you will find a selection of photographs that were taken by three of our S6 students as part of a project based around ‘a day in the life of Preston Lodge High School’. We have selected just some of the photos that they shared with students at assemblies and we hope that you enjoy these. Preston Lodge High School is indeed a community of learning, and the value that we place in achievement, happiness and respect has never been stronger. I hope you enjoy reading this special edition. Yours faithfully Gavin Clark Head Teacher

Preston Lodge High School 4 November 2010

How did we decide on our Aims and Values?

2

What happens next? 7

New Aims and Values 8/9

‘A day in the life of Preston Lodge High School’

10

S1 Parents Evening 12

Adult Christmas Cookery 12

Calendar 14/15

Inside this issue:

Issue 2

Newsletter Special Edition

Issue 8

How did we decide on our Aims and Values?

To help us develop our new school Aims and Values we asked our staff some questions. These word clouds summarise what they said. The bigger a word, the more often it was mentioned in staff responses ...

What motivated you to become a teacher?

What are the key qualities you wish to encourage in your students?

Page 2

What are the main educational principles that guide the daily life of our school?

Page 3 Issue 8

Name one or more things that our school values highly in students?

Name one or more things that our school values highly in teachers?

Name the things which our school is most proud of and state the values implied in them

Issue 8 Page 4

What symbols and signs do you see in the school that represent important school values?

The values staff most wanted to see included in the new school Aims and Values

We also asked our Class Representatives what students thought of the school…

Page 5 Issue 8

What do you like best about Preston Lodge High School?

Choose one word that best describes what our school values most highly in students?

What do you think our school is most proud of?

And once we’d consulted our Parent Council and key community organisations we put together our draft Aims and Values….

Issue 8 Page 6

If you can, state one or two values that you think should be included in the Preston Lodge High School Aims and Values

We shared these draft aims and values with all staff, students, parents and those same community organisations. A number of changes were suggested, although over 90% of each separate group stated that they were very happy with the draft edition. The one key change was that, although people liked the idea of ‘examples’, it was difficult to pin these down. The finalised Aims and Values document does not exemplify each area directly, but we are go-ing to exemplify our Aims and Values in wall displays and on the school website once we have asked all our students for ideas. This will lead to a much fuller exemplification of the wide range of ways our students demonstrate our Aims and Values.

What happens next?

We are going to spend the rest of this year making sure that our Aims and Values are embedded in all of our work – from assemblies to departmental activities. We aim to have a set of Aims and Values that are just not a statement in a school handbook, but which are a very active part of our day-to-day work. Watch this space!

Now turn over to see our new Aims and Values!

Page 7 Issue 8

Page 8 Issue 8

Issue 8 Page 9

Page 10 Issue 8

A day in the Life of Preston Lodge High School Three of our S6 students (Vaila Cameron, Rachel Cunningham and Bethany Eeles) recently produced a slide show for use at assemblies which showed ‘a day in the life of Preston Lodge High School’. We thought that sharing some of those pictures with all families would be a great start to our planned process of exemplifying our aims and values at every opportunity. Many thanks to Vaila, Bethany and Rachel for their efforts…

Issue 8 Page 11

Page 12 Issue 8

Stop Press! S1 Parents’ Evening In our last newsletter’s calendar we omitted the S1 parents’ evening which takes place on Thursday 11th November. Apologies for this – the event has now been slotted into the calendar at the end of this newsletter.

Home Economics Adult Christmas Cookery Class Back by popular demand, the Home Economics department are running a 6-week Christmas cook class on a Monday from 4.00pm - 5.30pm for staff and parents. The first class took place on Monday 1st November (but it is not too late to join!) and the final class will take place on 13th December. There is no class on 29th November due to a parents’ evening. The cost is £20. This year, the classes will include turkey leftovers, canapés, desserts and a cocktail masterclass. No previous culinary experience necessary (however if you won the Home Economics prize at your school you might wish to come along to show off!). If you would like to know more, or would like to sign up for the class, please contact Mhairi Beattie, Wendy Waldie or Pamela Hogg at the school on 01875 811170.

Page 13 Issue 8

Dates for Your

Diary!

To see our online calendar go to the School Calendar tab on www.prestonlodge.net

Page 14 Issue 8

Monday 8 November HPV Vaccinations

S5/6 Early Warnings to Parents

Thursday 11 November S1 Parents Evening (4.30-6.30 pm) - added in

Monday 15 November S4 Prelims Start

Monday 29 November S5/6 Parents Evening (4.30-6.30 pm)

Friday 3 December S4 Prelims End

Tuesday 7 and Wednesday 8 December Christmas Concert

Wednesday 22 December Senior Dance

Thursday 23 December All break

Monday 10 January 2011 In-Service Day

Tuesday 11 January Students Resume

S3 Early Warning to Parents

Wednesday 12 January S3 Vaccinations

Tuesday 18 January S4 Reports sent to Parents

Thursday 20 January S3 Parents Evening (4.30-6.30 pm)

Tuesday 25 January S4 Parents Evening (4.30-6.30 pm)

Thursday 27 January Burns Supper

Monday 31 January S5/6 Prelims Start

Monday 7 February S4 Intermediate 2 Prelims Start

Tuesdsay 8 February S2 Options Meeting

Thursday 10 February S4 Intermediate 2 Prelims End, S5/6 Prelims End

Friday 11 February All break

Monday 21 February All Resume, S2 Exams Start

Monday 28 February S4/5 Options Meeting

Monday 7 March S2 Exams End

Monday 14 March HPV Vaccinations

Friday 18 March S5/6 Reports sent to Parents

Page 15 Issue 8

Friday 1 April S2 Reports sent to Parents

Monday 4 April S4/5/6 Prelims start

Wednesday 6 April S2 Parents Evening (4.30-6.30 pm)

Thursday 7 April S4/5/6 Prelims End

Friday 8 April All Break

Monday 26 April All Resume

Monday 2 May May Day Holiday

Tuesday 3 May S4 Exam leave starts

Tuesday 12 May S5/6 Exam leave starts

Monday 23 May Victoria Day Holiday

Tuesday 24 May In-Service day

Wednesday 25 May In-Service day

Thursday 26 May Students resume

Monday 30 May—Thursday 2 June S1-S3 Programme of Health Days, Whole School Project and Sports Days

Thursday 2 June S3 Reports sent to Parents

Friday 3 June 5K Walk, All Exam leave ends

Monday 6 June New timetable commences

Friday 17 June S1 Reports sent to Parents

Tuesday 21 June Prizegiving Ceremony

Wednesday 22 June—Friday 24 June P7 Visits

Monday 27 June -Friday 1 July Whole School programme of Activities Week trips

Friday 1 July All break