P7 Pupils Perform at Stunning Usher Hall JGHS Christmas Concert

What a stunning showcase of the terrific musical talents of the young people and staff of James Gillespie's High School at the Usher Hall Christmas Concert on Tuesday 19th December 2017! Cluster Primary Seven pupils from Sciennes, Tollcross, James Gillespie's Primary, Preston Street, Royal Mile and Taobh na Pairce Primary Schools rose to the occasion, sang beautifully and made everyone so proud. Thank you to JGHS Performing Arts Faculty Leader Mrs Deirdre O'Brien and her team for inviting the children to participate and organising the whole event.

Ninety of our own P7 pupils took to the stage and we commend their confidence and their 'can do' attitude, bolstered by lots of hard work and rehearsal with their Class Teachers. We are very grateful for the tremendous parental support in enabling so many of our pupils to participate this year.

Wonderful to see so many of our former pupils also shine on stage. A memorable, exciting way to end the year that also gives our pupils a flavour of the vast array of musical possibilities that await them at secondary school next year.

P5 Scottish Opera

The Tale o' Tam o' Shanter from Sciennes Primary School on Vimeo.

Thank you very much to parent Jimmy Chow for filming and editing this great video of P5's Scottish Opera performance.

Superb P5 Performance of Scottish Opera's "A Tale O' Tam O'Shanter"

Outstanding P5s in Scottish Opera's fabulous "A Tale O' Tam O'Shanter"

What a fabulous performance on Wednesday 14th June from Primary Five! They were word perfect and in fine voice for an outstanding production of 'The Tale O' Tam O'Shanter' with Scottish Opera. The team from Scottish Opera - Alan, Ryan, Kirsty and Neil - yet again wove their magic, as only they can, with high energy, focus and lots of fun to choreograph the entire show in a single day. We are also grateful to musical director Roger who spent a day with the pupils a few weeks ago. The children thoroughly enjoyed the whole experience and rose to the occasion superbly, inspired by the fantastic turnout. Tip top job by Mrs McVicker, Mrs Hogan, Ms French and Miss Thistlethwaite in preparing them so well and thank you to all the families who came along to shout "Bravo!" and "Encore!" Hannah's dad Jimmy Chow very kindly filmed the show and took photographs for us which we will share in due course. Here are a few photographs meanwhile:

The hour approaches, Tam maun ride. Superb singing from Ryan

In fine voice

Before him Doon pours all his floods

Hannah danced superbly weel as the De'il

"Weel done, Cutty Sarkl" and superb singing by Kirsty as Kate and Nanny

"The carlin claught her by the rump, And left poor Maggie scarce a stump"

Thank you to Alan and Neil (sound engineer) for bringing all the elements of the performance together so well. Another triumph for Scottish Opera!

Excellent preparation by the staff, giving the children extraordinary confidence and zest in performance

P5 Scottish Opera Performance Wed 14th June

P5 SCOTTISH OPERA PERFORMANCE TO FAMILIES

WEDNESDAY 14th JUNE  2.15pm

We are very grateful to families for helping pupils learn their lyrics.  Musical director, Roger Glass, who rehearsed pupils in an advance vocal workshop recently, was impressed!

Pupils should wear P.E. kit on the day and will rehearse in the morning.


1.20-2pm P4 and siblings invited to Dress Rehearsal


2.15pm-3.00pm Scottish Opera performance for families


Please note that due to limitations on space, only two people per child can attend the performance.



Pupils may be dismissed at the end of the performance with parents who are attending, if you wish. Younger siblings can be collected from the Number Zone with Ms Anstruther at the end of the performance. Older siblings will join you there once they have returned their costumes.

P6 Comedy Festival - Thank You Richard Melvin, Julia Sutherland and Al Lorraine!

What an extraordinary opportunity for our three P6 classes this week to work with accomplished comedy writer, comedian, producer and The Stand Comedy Club compere, Sciennes' dad, Richard Melvin and his friends from Dabstar Productions! Using the BBC RND Comedy Classroom resources, groups of P6 pupils scripted, rehearsed with help from Richard and fellow comedian Julia Sutherland on Monday, Tuesday and Thursday then performed their comedy sketches in the Hall on Friday 31st March, again encouraged and supported by compere Richard, Julia and also radio producer Al Lorraine.

As well as being a fun and engaging way to develop literacy skills, this project was a huge boost to confidence in performance and all our children benefited greatly from taking part. As Miss Stewardson, who successfully led the P6 project said, "The children had the best time!"

Very well done to all our P6 comedy stars and their hard working teachers Miss Stewardson, Miss Rogerson, Mr Hutchison and Mr Howie and a huge thank you to inspirational Richard, Julia and Al. Fabulous! A joyful way to end the term. Happy holidays, all!

Comedian Julia Sutherland helped the children prepare for their performances 'backstage'

Class Teachers Miss Stewardson, Miss Rogerson and Mr Hutchison

BBC RND Comedy Classroom resources an excellent framework for developing literacy skills

Accomplished comedian, The Stand Comedy Club compere and comedy writer and producer, Richard Melvin

Selfie!

Richard with daughter Molly

Hopscotch Theatre 'Nation of Innovation'

Many thanks to Ross, Hannah, Marianna and Brian from Hopscotch Theatre for bringing yet another high quality 'Theatre in Education' production to our school.  "Scotland - The Nation of Innovation" fitted perfectly with our whole school Scotland Week and was a fun and engaging exploration of Scottish Inventors and Innovators for our 655 P1-P7 pupils on Friday 3rd February. We particularly liked the Growth Mindset theme and song and we are looking forward to welcoming Hopscotch back soon to deliver Growth Mindset workshops to our P5 classes. 

Singing along to "I just can't do it YET!"

An INVENTION can be defined as the creation of a product or introduction of a process for the first time. INNOVATION on the other hand, occurs if someone improves on or makes a significant contribution to an existing product, process or service.

Key Learning Outcomes

• Helping pupils and teachers to develop a greater understanding of intrinsic motivation and resilience in pupils, encouraging a ‘Growth Mindset’ approach to learning
• Pupils will learn about Great Scottish Inventors and Innovators, cultural heritage and global legacy
• Pupils will have a great appreciation of Scots' influences in design and technology

P7 Perform at Extraordinary JGHS Concert at the Usher Hall

What a wonderful showcase of the terrific musical talents of the young people and staff of James Gillespie's High School at the Usher Hall Christmas Concert on Tuesday 20th December 2016! Cluster Primary Seven pupils from Sciennes, Tollcross, James Gillespie's Primary, Preston Street, Royal Mile and Taobh na Pairce Primary Schools really rose to the occasion, sang beautifully and made everyone so proud. Thank you to JGHS Performing Arts Faculty Leader Mrs Deirdre O'Brien and her team for inviting the children to participate and organising the whole event.

Eighty of our own P7 pupils took to the stage and we commend their confidence and their 'can do' attitude, bolstered by lots of hard work and rehearsal with their Class Teachers. We are very grateful for the tremendous parental support in enabling so many of our pupils to participate this year.

So lovely to see so many of our former pupils also shine on stage. A memorable, exciting way to end the year that also gives our pupils a flavour of all the musical possibilities that await them at secondary school next year.

P1-3 Show Time!

Huge congratulations to the P1-3 pupils and staff and to our Dance Division friends for their outstanding family performances this term:

P1 Nativity

P2 Winter Show

P3 Dance Show

Particular credit to magnificent Ms Carolyn Anstruther, DHT, who co-ordinates and produces all three shows so spectacularly. Bravo!

P2 Eve Stars in Morrisons' TV Ad!

P2 Eve stars in Morrison's TV ad!

P3 Dance Show Friday 18th November

Fri 18th November

P3 Dance Show 

Doors open 10.40 for 11.00

Costumes are ready and routines are reaching their final rehearsals this week. Families are in for a real treat watching P3 perform at their Dance Show on Friday 18th November. Well done to all our P3 pupils for all their hard work and to Ms Anstruther, Aimee from Dance Division, P3 Class Teachers and Pupil Support Assistants for preparing the children so well for this annual, wonderful event. Keeeep dancing!

Primary 3 Dance Show

The P3 pupils put on a marvellous performance for their parents / carers on Friday showcasing their excellent skills and enthusiasm for dance. The theme this year was ‘Dances from the Shows’ and ranged from dramatic, eerie Phantom of The Opera to downcast Annie to upbeat Fame. Thank you to Aimee from Dance Division and all of the P3 staff for making this a morning to remember. 

Ms Anstruther, DHT

P6 Ailsa is Virgin Money EIF Fireworks Poster Winner!

Ailsa with her winning poster entry for the Virgin Money Fireworks Concert 2016

Huge congratulations to P6 pupil Ailsa on being one of three winners in this year's Edinburgh International Festival Virgin Money Fireworks poster competition! What an exciting, fantastic achievement! Very well done, Ailsa! She was a finalist last year and decided to give it another go this year, so perseverance paid off! This year part of the prize is a behind the scenes tour of the fireworks a couple of days before the event so Ailsa  can see what is involved with the set up - and then tickets to the event itself. A superb prize!

Ailsa very kindly brought in her special celebratory cake to share with her classmates.

The Prize
As well as seeing their designs throughout the city, winners will enjoy an exclusive behind-the-scenes tour of the Fireworks set-up site at Edinburgh Castle and win four tickets to see the concert in Princes St Gardens on Monday 29 August 2016.
The winners and other shortlisted entries will also be celebrated with an event at the Virgin Money Lounge in St Andrew’s Square, Edinburgh, taking place on Tuesday 28 June at 6pm. This is a special event at the Lounge for the winners and their families, where they will be joined by our Forth 1 judges and invited guests, hosted by Virgin Money with the Edinburgh International Festival and Scottish Chamber Orchestra. 

The EIF Fireworks Concert featuring the Scottish Chamber Orchestra takes place on Monday 29 August at 9.30pm. All our P7 pupils, including Ailsa, have been invited to attend a special concert performance for schools at 11am at the Ross Bandstand on the same day, sponsored by Virgin Money.

Ailsa's prize winning Edinburgh International Festival Virgin Money Fireworks Concert poster

Monday 29 August 2016 9.30pm

Join the City of Edinburgh in a celebration of summer festivals, inspirational music and breathtaking fireworks as the Virgin Money Fireworks Concert brings the 2016 Edinburgh International Festival to a resplendent conclusion. Set against the iconic backdrop of Edinburgh’s historic Castle, this spectacular event brings together stirring orchestral music from the Scottish Chamber Orchestra and magnificent pyrotechnics, specially choreographed by international fireworks artists Pyrovision to enhance your musical experience. Around a quarter of a million people gather across the city and beyond to share in this annual grand festival season finale each year.

Ross Theatre and Princes St Gardens

At 11am on the same day, schoolchildren from across the city will come to the Ross Theatre for a very special Schools Concert, sponsored by Virgin Money, with music from Scottish Chamber Orchestra’s VIBE project, a fusion orchestra open to young musicians aged 11–18, in the run-up to the Fireworks Concert.