A round-up of news from Liberton High School.

 

On Board Rewards Trip A group of children set off to see The Wizard of Oz at The Lyceum in mid-December. This was the Christmas reward trip for the pupils who had gained most points for good behaviour and cooperation last term. You can still give us your views on the On Board system by completing the short survey in the Parent Zone on the school website ( www.liberton.edin.sch.uk). Passwords can be obtained from the school office. African Lunch Liberton High School is sponsoring four children from different parts of the globe. The S5 Intermediate 2 hospitality class organised and made an African lunch to raise money for Seidu from Ghana. The class made a meal based around spiced vegetable couscous which they served to staff, the occasion involved them decorating the room with African artefacts, some teachers wore African items and a number of S1 pupils presented a talk on Ghana.  The meal was delicious and the class look forward to preparing another meal from a different part of the world for the next student. Prelims The second week back in January sees the start of a four-week diet of preliminary examinations. There will be no study leave at this time, and pupils should be in classes continuing with their coursework when not in examinations. S4/5/6 pupils will have received a copy of the relevant exam timetables, but these can also be found on the school website along with prelim notes and revision tips. Social Subjects News Earlier this term the Social Subjects Department organised an excursion for S2 pupils to the Royal Mile, Edinburgh – a total of 72 pupils took part over two days. Activities included a tour of the Canongate and visits to Dynamic Earth and Edinburgh Dungeon. This gave pupils the opportunity to enhance their enjoyment of Geography and History and be introduced to both Modern Studies and Travel and Tourism, new subjects on offer in S3/4. This term also sees S4 Geography pupils visiting Castlemains Farm at Dirleton in East Lothian to learn more about the agricultural industry and S5/6 Geography pupils travelling to Gullane to study the sand dune environment. Sexual Health and Relationships A Sexual Health and Relationships Education (SHARE) parents' information evening was held at the end of November. We were delighted to welcome representatives from the Health Opportunities Team to support this event and provide information to parents and carers of S1-4 pupils.  The evening was enjoyed by all who attended and the school is currently looking into providing further supports of a similar nature to parents, including the possibility of setting up an internet forum on the school website to specifically allow parents to support each other. GARDEN CLEAN-UP During Enterprise week and the week following, Mrs Perriss' Intermediate 1 biology class decided to tidy up the school garden. This involved cutting down trees, digging out roots, emptying a very dirty pond and then replanting the area with shrubs, heathers and bulbs. This experience has helped to give hands-on experience of some of the topics covered in the plant unit. _________________________________ Dates for the Diary 7th January     Return to school 14th January    S. Grade prelims begin 28th January    Nat. Course prelims begin For more information on Liberton High School visit www.liberton.edin.sch.uk Head Teacher's Notes I would like to begin by wishing everyone a very happy 2008. New Year, of course, is when, traditionally, we all make resolutions for the year ahead.Invariably this means doing something different or better. In the case of Liberton High, our new year resolution will be to continue to build on the improvements we have made in recent years in order to make us Edinburgh's finest school. Our school's success will be based upon our pupils' successes. I have every confidence that our pupils, supported by staff and parents will go on to make 2008 an enjoyable and successful year for all! Donald Macdonald HEAD TEACHER'S NEWS • Dr Rice will be joining us in the chemistry department in the new year. • Well done to parents and pupils who recently raised over £1,700 towards 2008's trip to Italy. by holding a Race Night and a bag-packing session. • The working group aimed at making Liberton a Health Promoting School has now completed the process for achieving stage one status and we are awaiting confirmation of registration.  Stage two will begin in the new year. Watch this space! • A recent LHSA car boot sale was a great success and raised £290. Thank you to everyone who made this possible.