Pupils Resume Thursday 7th January 2016

We look forward to welcoming pupils back to school on Thursday 7th January.

Best wishes to all our families for a healthy and happy 2016.


TERM DATES
http://www.edinburgh.gov.uk/info/20074/schools/20/term_dates

Spring

Term starts Thursday 7 January 2016
Mid term break

• Monday 15 February - Friday 19 February 2016

Term ends Thursday 24 March 2016
Easter holidays
Friday 25 March - Friday 8 April 2016

Summer

Term starts Monday 11 April 2016
Mid term holidays

• Monday 18 April 2016 , Spring Holiday
• Monday 2 May 2016, May Day
• Thursday 5 May 2016, staff only day to coincide with Scottish Parliament election 
• Monday 23 May 2016, Victoria Day

Term ends Thursday 30 June 2016

Sciennes Winter Fair - YOU Made All the Difference!

Winter Fair – well done to all of us, we’re great!
You baked, you donated, you ate, you raffled, you tombola’d, well maybe not. Anyway, the point is, you were great and all in all you raised £5,000 pounds, so thank you!

In particular, we want to thank all parents, carers, staff and local businesses who donated their time and goods. And of course, we want to thank those pupils, present and past, who gave up their Saturday to make sure the whole thing ran smoothly.

Phew, that’s a lot of thanks. However, one final thanks, that’s right, wait for it, you’ve guessed it, to the big man with the red coat, big black shiny belt and white beard who took time out of his hectic schedule to be with us on the day.

Season’s Greetings to all from Sciennes Parent Council

RoSPA Post-Installation Inspection of Playground Report

Click on the link or on the document preview below to view the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA) Post-Installation Inspection Report on Sciennes' Playground, commissioned by City of Edinburgh Council:

RoSPA Post-Installation Inspection Report

 

Chief Medical Officer Launches 'Who's In Health?'

Sciennes was thrilled to host Scotland's Chief Medical Officer, Catherine Calderwood on Tuesday 1st December to launch the  'Who's In Health?' project in Scotland. Mrs Noble and our Science Specialist, Mr Mark McKenna, worked with the CMO's team to help deliver a programme of discussion and activities for P6C pupils, designed to encourage more young people into medical careers.

Report from Scottish Government:

Chief Medical Officer launches campaign to show children why literacy, maths and science matters.

Scotland’s Chief Medical Officer Dr Catherine Calderwood today visited Sciennes Primary School in Edinburgh to launch the Primary Futures ‘Who’s in Health?’ campaign; to help young children understand how people in the health sector use literacy, maths and science in their jobs.

Who’s in Health? is a free initiative for state primary schools run by the Education and Employers charity in partnership with the Medical Schools Council. It encourages volunteers from the healthcare sector to visit primary schools and chat informally to children about their jobs. This is to help the children (aged 7–11) see the relevance of what they are learning - especially in science, mathematics and English - and to broaden and raise their future aspirations. Volunteers may be hospital doctors, GPs, nurses, ambulance drivers, high street pharmacists, healthcare assistants, dieticians, surgeons, midwives, students and researchers to name just a few. Volunteers and schools connect via the free online service Primary Futures.

The schoolchildren were joined by medical student Callum Cruickshank who is in his fourth year at the University of Edinburgh and founded the “You can be a doctor" programme - an online resource to give young people the support and information they need to become a doctor.

Dr Calderwood told the children in the Schools Science Centre about her medical career and her role as Chief Medical Officer for Scotland. She said:

“Whether you are an obstetrician and gynaecologist like me, a GP, radiographer or psychologist, currently studying or a qualified professional, your talent and enthusiasm can be a fantastic motivator for children. I’d encourage as many of my colleagues in healthcare to get involved and connect with schools. I want to ensure we encourage as many young people as possible into hugely rewarding professions, like mine.”

Director of Employers and Education, Nick Chambers said:

“Many children see certain areas of health, such as medicine, as not an option for them, either because they don’t know anything about it or because they believe that such futures are for other, perhaps more privileged people. Who’s in health? inspires children and help them see the relevance of what they are learning – to careers in healthcare. The scheme is aimed at pupils aged 7-11. It is not necessary to have experience of outreach work with young people. Signing up only takes a few minutes and from there you will be put in contact with primary schools.”

The Who’s In Health initiative supports the Developing Young Workforce strategy, which encourages more employer engagement with education to support reducing youth unemployment by 40% by 2021. In addition, the new Career Education Standard (3-18) aims to better support all children and young people in making informed decisions, not only in terms of subject choice but future pathways and learning opportunities. The revised Work Placements Standard sets out expectations for the young person, employer, school, local authority and parent/carer before, during and after work placements.

Who’s in Health? is run jointly by charity Education and Employers, the National Association of Head Teachers, and the Medical Schools Council. The Medical Schools Council represents medical undergraduate and postgraduate education and training.

Primary Futures: 0207 566 4880 charlotte.lightman@educationandemployers.org
Medical Schools Council 0207 418 5427 Edward.knight@medschools.ac.uk

Thank you to Richard Lyall (Chief Medical Officer's Team, Scottish Government) for organising this very exciting opportunity for our children.