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World famous saxophonist records single
with Dumbryden Primary School
Welcome to the new Children and Families newsletter
This newsletter will be published every two
weeks and aims to reach out to the
entire Children and Families Department. You will be able to read about
all the good work happening in your department as well as learn about
your new colleagues.
This
newsletter will also be available online at the Edinburgh Grid for
Learning at http://egfl.net
We
want to hear about the work being done in your team so
please
call or send
us your stories, pictures, info on new staff, celebrations, special
events, news etc. You
can email us at gayle.st.croix@educ.edin.gov.uk
or give us a call on 0131 469 3429.
Win a Marks and Spencer Hamper
As you know, this newsletter covers both the work of our education and social work
teams. To celebrate this, we are running a competition to come
up with a name for this newsletter (yes, the one you are reading at the
moment).
It's got to be snappy,
easy to remember, and appropriate for the aims of the new Children and
Families Department.
Please send your
suggestions to myself by email to gayle.st.croix@educ.edin.gov.uk
or call me on 0131 469 3429.
In
the news
Foster Care Fortnight: 9-22 May 2005
Foster Care Fortnight 2005 is to be
launched today at the Carlton Hotel North Bridge Edinburgh by Kathleen
Marshall, Commissioner for Children and Young People in Scotland. Young
people working with The Fostering Network will show a video they have
helped to produce, highlighting their experience in foster care.
Foster Care fortnight is an annual campaign, co-ordinated
by the Fostering Network, which raises the profile of fostering and
highlights the need for more foster carers. Each year Foster Care
Fortnight helps raise the awareness of fostering, and in particular
encourages people to consider becoming foster carers. This year, why not
think about fostering, and get involved.
All types of people can become carers: single
people, married people, people with or without children. The main skill
that an adult interested in supporting a child needs is the ability to
look after children safely and well.
For information about the range of opportunities
in Edinburgh including Day or Respite Care, Share the Care, Specialist
Care and Permanent Care and details on what’s involved in looking
after children, as well as how you can apply to become a carer, why not
visit http://www.edinburgh.gov.uk/fostering/
?
Alternatively, to find out more about becoming a
carer call free on 0800 174833 or email foster.children@edinburgh.gov.uk
Dumbryden jazzes it up with Tommy Smith
World famous saxophonist Tommy Smith has recorded a single with
pupils at his old school, Dumbryden Primary. Scotland's foremost jazz
musician visited the school on Wednesday, 27 April 2005 to produce a
single, which will celebrate the life of the school.
Pupils originally came up with the idea
of recording a single as part of their enterprise scheme but when the
merger with Hailesland Primary school was announced they decided to
record it to celebrate their time at Dumbryden. David Anderson a teacher
at the school, who is extremely musical, was so inspired by the
student's enthusiasm he contacted Tommy.
As part of the ongoing celebrations,
the P7 class is gathering information from former pupils and staff and
are producing an exhibition which all parents ex-staff and ex-pupils are
invited to view on Wednesday 1 June from 7.00-8.30pm. If you are an ex-member of staff at the school or a former pupil and you wish to get
involved please contact the school.
There will also be a children's
celebration on Wednesday 29 June in the morning with a picnic and lots
of fun activities to mark the closure of the school.
Ratho Primary goes nuts about trees
To mark the launch of a new educational resource pack called 'Learn
About Trees', the children at Ratho Primary School have planted 340
native trees, including many hazelnut trees, in their school grounds.
This focus on trees has led to the launch of this information pack which
aims to encourage teachers to make use of the increasing number of trees
planted in school grounds. Two copies of the pack will be sent to all
Edinburgh schools and the pack will also be available online at www.edinburgh.gov.uk
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Upcoming
events
The Standard Life Edinburgh Achievement
Awards 2005
Are you involved in a project
or initiative that you’re proud of and would like to promote to
others?
The Standard Life Edinburgh Achievement
Awards 2005 celebrate success, best practice, and innovation in all
aspects of Children and Families work and we would like to hear from
you.
Categories for 2005 include:
Enterprising Spirit
Fit for Life
Innovation in Care
Innovation in Learning
Opportunities for All
Partnership in Practice
The Director’s Award for Outstanding Achievement
Further information will be sent
out to your place of work but if you have an questions or wish to apply
for an award, please call Gayle St. Croix on 0131 469 3429 or email gayle.st.croix@educ.edin.gov.uk
Application forms can also downloaded from egfl.net
Winning entries will contribute to a
booklet on best practice. They will also receive a trophy and £500.
Closing Date for Applications is Friday
15 July 2005.
These awards are open to projects
and initiatives involving staff and carers throughout the Children and
Families Department.
Enterprise Celebration Event
On 2 June 2005 Enterprise
Education in Edinburgh is taking over the Corn Exchange for a day of
enterprise.
This is a 'must do' event for all
enterprising schools, pupils,
staff, parents and carers, businesses and everyone involved in
Enterprise!
The event will feature:
- primary, secondary and special schools
showcasing their enterprise activities
- exhibition and demonstration of enterprise
resources
- science and enterprise workshops and 'drop
in' activities for pupils
- enterprising awards, rewards and fun
challenges for all
For more information, please contact
one of the following Enterprise Development Officers.
NW
Elaine.Duncan@educ.edin.gov.uk
0131 469 3469
SW Alastair.Steven@educ.edin.gov.uk
0131 469 3243
NE Vivienne.Goodall@educ.edin.gov.uk
0131 469 3496
SE Liz.Cargill@educ.edin.gov.uk
0131 469 3316
Everything you wanted to know about
children's books but were afraid to ask:
An
evening with Wendy Cooling - a free event for adults.
Wendy Cooling is an author, initiator of the Bookstart Scheme and a
children's book reviewer. She will be talking about the pleasures and
benefits of books and reading for children of all ages. Parents,
grandparents, early years workers, teachers - everybody is welcome.
Taking place on Tuesday 24 May at Central Library, Board Room from 7.00
- 8.00pm. Free tickets are available at the Central Library enquiry desk
and on application from all community libraries from 2 weeks before the
event.
Craigroyston celebrates lifelong
learning
Craigroyston Community High
School is hosting an exhibition at Ocean Terminal in the Forum to
coincide with Adult Learners Week which runs between Tuesday 24 May and
Friday 27 May.
The exhibition will be launched on
Tuesday 24 May between 5.00pm and 7.00pm and will feature work ranging
from paintings, pottery, to garden furniture and woodwork. This event
also celebrates the inclusive nature of 'lifelong learning' at
Craigroyston where the students range in age from 18 to 87! There will
also be a display of work produced by the Equal People Group of
students.
Primary Area String Orchestra
concerts
The following concerts feature in excess of 1000 string players from
P4-P7. Tickets can be purchased on the night at the venue, and prices
can vary for each (roughly £1.00-£2.00). Please come along and support
our young musicians.
Broughton Area
String Orchestra
Date: Wednesday 18 May 2005 at 7.15pm
Venue: Broughton Primary School
Trinity Area
String Orchestra
Date: Thursday 26 May 2005 at 7.15pm
Venue: Trinity Primary School
Gylemuir Area
String Orchestra
Date: Tuesday 31 May 2005 at 7.15pm
Venue: St Thomas Church, Glasgow Road, Edinburgh
Stenhouse Area String Orchestra
Date: Wednesday 1 June 2005 at 7.15pm
Venue: Carrick Knowe Primary School
Duddingston Area String Orchestra
Date: Wednesday 1 June 2005 at 7.30pm
Venue: Portobello Town Hall
Juniper Green Area
String Orchestra
Date: Tuesday 14 June 2005 at 7.15pm
Venue: Currie High School
South Queensferry Area
String Orchestra
Date: Monday 20 June 2005 at 7.15pm
Venue: Queensferry Primary School
Bruntsfield Area String Orchestra
Date: Monday 27 June 2005 at 7.15pm
Venue: St Oswald’s Hall, Edinburgh
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Competitions
HARD SPELL on BBC
HARD SPELL is coming back for a second series on BBC1. It's the
televised 'spelling bee' to find Britain's best young speller. The show is about making spelling fun and taking part so get in touch
now! The
competition is open to children aged 11-13 and we are trying to spread
the word to as many primary and secondary schools, parents, children and
head teachers as possible.
To get involved head teachers should complete a registration form and
return it by post and e-mail to the BBC by 27 May 2005. To
get a registration form and find out more information about Hard Spell
please contact hardspell@bbc.co.uk
or visit the website www.bbc.co.uk/hardspell.
To be eligible to participate in Hard Spell - students must have turned
11 years old by 1 September 2005 and must not be over 13 years old by 18
December 2005. PLEASE NOTE THAT THE 50 FINALISTS FROM LAST YEAR'S
COMPETITION ARE NOT ELIGIBLE TO REAPPLY - I.E. THOSE THAT APPEARED IN
THE TELEVISION STUDIO.
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Staff
development
Reclaiming childhood in residential
child care
This conference takes place on Tuesday 14 and Wednesday 15 June 2005
at the Moat House Hotel in Glasgow and is run by the Scottish Institute
for Residential Child Care (SIRCC).
Target participants include anyone working in or for residential child
care at any level, associated professionals whose work impacts on broad
aspects of residential child care including research, health, education,
fostering, housing and throughcare. International visitors to
Scotland who have relevant interests in residential child care are also
welcome.
For more information, please contact the
SIRCC on 0141 950 3683 or email sircc@strath.ac.uk
You can also visit the website www.sircc.strath.ac.uk/conferences
Faculty of Education
& Social Work Undergraduate CPD Programmes at University of Dundee
BA Professional
Development in Community Regeneration
BA Professional Development in Managing Integrated Services
For more information on
these programmes, please contact Pat Baxter on 01382 464 403 or email p.z.baxter@dundee.ac.uk
Are policies and
services working for young people with additional support needs? Opening
Doors to Learning Seminars
Taking place on 12 May in Edinburgh, this event is the first of a
series of four being run by Children in Scotland to investigate whether
current policies and services are working for young children who require
additional support for learning. The event will address how parents
access information about services for themselves and their children.
Delegates will have the chance to hear about new and innovative
practice, consider the current provision of information and whether it
is a barrier to children accessing services and education. Delegates will
also be able to recommend practical solutions to improving
information to parents and carers.
Events later in the year
will focus on other key issues relating to support for learning.
Please book early as
spaces are limited. For more information, please contact Catriona
Thomson on 0131 222 2445 or email cthomson@schildreninscotland.org.uk
How equal are fathers?
This one day conference takes place in association with Fathers Direct and
the Equal Opportunities Commission and will run on Friday 17 June 2005 at the
Apex International Hotel in Edinburgh.
This conference will examine ways to support the role of fathers in a changing
family and social landscape, providing an opportunity to:
-consider how agencies and employers can provide better support for fathers
and families
-explore how services can be better designed and delivered
-highlight and exchange good practice in working with fathers
Who should attend?
Comissioners of public services in health and local authorities, employers,
employees and their representatives, practitioners working with and supporting
fathers, children and families, and fathers.
To find out more, please contact
Kirsty Robb on 0131 222 2438/2442 or email krobb@childreninscotland.org.uk
What a difference a
pedagogy makes!
Taking place at University of Stirling from 24-26 June 2005, this
conference is hosted by the Centre for Research in Lifelong Learning.
The aim of this conference is to review issues which have emerged from
researching teaching and learning in different post-school context, an
issue which has grown in importance around the world in recent years,
with the concern both to widen participation and improve student
attainment.
For more information,
please contact Claire Scott on c.a.scott@gcal.ac.uk
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Success
stories
Tollcross Gaelic teacher coaches theatre group
Christine MacLeod is a
teacher at the Gaelic Unit in Tollcross Primary School, but recently
took quite an artistic turn in her work. She was invited by the local
amateur theatre group, Leitheatre to teach members of the cast of 'Whisky Galore' a thing or two about the Gaelic
language.
Many
of the characters in the play use some Gaelic words, and Christine, who
is also a member of the Edinburgh Gaelic Drama Group, kindly agreed to
coach them in the correct pronunciation.
Leitheatre
are performing the play at the Church Hill Theatre, Morningside Road
from Wednesday 4 May until Saturday 7 May at 7.30pm.
Dean Park Enterprising Projects
Dean Park recently hosted a whole school Art Exhibition on the 4 May.
Its success was due to the super efforts of the P1-P7 classes as well as
their nursery. The event ran from 1.15 - 3.15 in 4 galleries on both
school sites.
On another exciting note, Dean Park pupil Sarah McKay has won the Daily
Record 'Design a Logo' competition and has been featured in the Daily
Record. At 11, she is the youngest winner in the history of the competition.
Well done Sarah!
A galaxy of singing stars
There was a real feast of music when
P4 pupils from Hermitage Park, St Mary's Leith, Wardie and Granton primary
schools and P7 from Prospect Bank came together to rehearse and perform with
conductor Mark Hindley and accompanist Stuart Hope. Both Hope and Hindley are
with the Scottish Chamber Orchestra.
The classes and their teachers
prepared a five minute programme of songs which they presented to the
assembled company of children and invited guests. The whole choir then sang
the ensemble pieces, "Calypso" and "The Dreamer".
Mark and Stuart were full of praise for the
schools and their wide choice of music and above all for the exuberance,
beautiful singing and sheer talent of the children and the hard work done by
them with the help of their teachers. This was the first of several 'Singing
Stars' presentations to take place, the next being planned for South
Edinburgh.
‘Singing Stars’ is part of the
development of singing opportunities organised by Jane MacLeod, Development
Officer for Vocal and Choral Music, Arts and Learning Unit.
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For
your information
Children and Families
update - Matching and Recruitment to Tier 3 and 4 posts
A small number of staff in the
new Children and Families Department are subject to a matching process
as a result of the new department structure. The matching process for
tier 3 and 4 posts begins this week when letters will be delivered
directly to those members of staff eligible to apply for these posts, at
this time. The matching arrangements will be clearly described to staff
involved in the matching process. It is envisaged that the matching
process will be largely complete by the end of May, thereafter, any
remaining unfilled posts will be opened up for recruitment through the
usual channels.
Staff Benefits
If you visit
the Staff Benefits site you will find some excellent offers for City of
Edinburgh Council Staff.
If you do not have a Staff Benefits
card or booklet and would like one, please call 0131 469 3314.
For more information, please visit the following
link:
http://channel1.internal.egfl.net
Jobs
To search for jobs within the
City of Edinburgh Council, please clisk here www.edinburgh.gov.uk/CEC/Jobs/Jobs_List.jsp
For details of teaching vacancies in
Edinburgh please visit the following link: http://channel1.internal.egfl.net
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Recent
press releases
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