We had a busy end to the last term with a pupil talent show, a staff talent show, the Christmas Concert, the school Cross Country Championships and our Christmas service. All these events were a great success and helped to create an excellent atmos-phere in the school. Our musicians reached out to the community and took their music to local primary schools and nursing homes. Our pu-pils were great ambassadors for Cas-tlehead.
For our senior pupils this term means prelim exams and preparing for their National exams in May. All timetables for national exams can be found at www.SQA.org.uk With this website there is an opportunity to build a per-sonal timetable and there is also an app which will allow a personal time-table to be built on a mobile.
Our fourth year pupils have received their reports and were asked to reflect on how they had performed, how they had prepared and what targets they will aim for in May.
This information will be used by their staff mentors at their next interview.
A Learning Conference was organ-ised for fourth year for February 8 . This followed their work experience week and re- focussed them on the challenges that lie ahead.
Our fifth and sixth year pupils started their Prelim exams on January 31. A full report will now be issued to par-ents. A Learning conference has been arranged for Friday 4 March.
There are a wide range of Supported Study classes now on offer and I would urge you to encourage your child to attend.
Our third year pupils have now been following their new course for a num-ber of months and they can look for-ward to a set of exams in April. It is never too early to start preparing and developing the correct work ethic.
For our second years their thoughts will be turning towards their option choices for third year. They will shortly begin a programme of work
that will help them and you to make decisions about subjects of study in third year. There will be a Option Choice Information Evening on Mon-day 14 March for all S2 parents.
Our first year have settled very well into secondary life. A report will be issued and a Parent’s Evening will be held in May. Our first year will soon be thinking about Activities Week and what activities they will take part in . First year will also be involved in a project aimed at devel-oping them as responsible, independ-ent learners. More details on this will follow.
Following consultation and work-shops with parents, staff and pupils we have launched our new Learning and Teaching Policy. The aim of this policy is to make explicit what we in Castlehead believe to be excellent teaching and learning. This policy will be the standard that we measure our-selves against. A summary of the pol-icy can be found in this newsletter
.
Page 2 / 3 Teaching and Learning
Page 4/5 Sports report
Page 6 S2 options
Page 7 S2 Information evening
invite
S4/5 Information
evening invite
Page 8 Preparing for the Future
S6/6 Options
Page 9 Parent Council meeting
invite / Fundraising
Page 10 School Uniform
1 March Parent Council
7 March S4 Parent Info
Evening
14 March S2 Parent Info
Evening
17 March S3 Parent
Evening
4 April Easter Holiday
19 April Pupils return
22 April Easter weekend
26 April Pupils return
26 April S2 Parent
Evening
26 April S3 Exams start
Dates Contents
Teaching for Effective Learning
Learning Climate and Teaching Approaches
Lesson starts promptly
Lesson is well planned and structured
Introduction / starter captures attention of the pupils
Start of lesson links to pupil's prior learning
Lesson builds on previous learning, enabling progression
Relevant to real life experiences
Clear purpose to lesson shared with pupils
Activities and tasks clearly explained
Discussions with pupils - questions and answers, to reinforce
Written work is checked
Consolidation / plenary activities to recap what has been
learned
Review of learning through class work, homework, discussion
Links made to future learning
Activities are well matched to pupil needs/ aptitudes
Activities sustain pupils’ interest
Opportunities to work individually and cooperatively
Variety of activities which take account of varied learning styles
Where appropriate ICT is used effectively to support learning
Homework is planned and given a high profile
Teacher - Pupil Interaction including pupil engagement
Learning expectations are clear and pupils know what they
need to do to progress
There is meaningful dialogue with pupils
Pupils are able to discuss and present their ideas
Clear direction given to pupils about homework
Developing literacy
Ensure pupils understand subject specific vocabulary
Ensure pupils know how to take notes relevant to the task
Pupils are clear about the reason for the writing and its audi-
ence
Use of examples of texts to establish conventions
Modelling of text, structures as required
Expectations and Promoting Achievement
Staff Expectations and use of praise Pupils have confidence in their ability to achieve
High expectations for learners’ achievement are set and shared with
learners
Pupils valued praise
Use of praise is well judged
effort is praised
Learners’ expectations and sense of achievement
Pupils have high expectations of themselves
Pupils have opportunity to demonstrate responsibility for their own
learning
Pupil achievements are celebrated
Promoting and sustaining an ethos of achievement
Pupils demonstrate a positive attitudes to learning
Pupils have opportunities to demonstrate success in their learning
Staff-pupil relationships
Positive staff-learner relationships are evident
Pupils behave well and show consideration for others
Assessment for Learning Assessment Approaches A range of approaches are used to engage
pupils in the learning process & to evaluate their progress
Sharing of learning intentions
Standards expected are shared with pupils
Rich Questioning Techniques e.g.
No hands, waiting/thinking time / consultation time
Effective feedback & marking, both written & oral
Feedback focuses on learning objectives
Evaluative comments which indicate how to improve
Peer & Self Assessment
Opportunities for pupils to reflect
Pupil requested to read through/mark own work
Marking schemes/assessment criteria made explicit
Use of traffic tights to denote understanding
Sports Report
Netball – 5 teams are competing in the Scottish Cup, with notable successes from the S1 and S2 teams who are at present unbeaten. Two Senior teams played in the Renfrewshire Cup competition, unfortunately neither made the finals, but Castlehead ‘A’ were runners up in their section. The other teams will play in Renfrewshire tournaments after Christmas, and continue on in the knock out stages of the Scottish Cup. Training for all teams is on a Monday after school and any girl is welcome to join us.
Cross Country - 6 teams S1 to S3 competed in the Renfrewshire Road Races at Linwood in Novem-ber.
Results - Individual -S3 Boys 1st Callum Mathews 3
rd Cameron Swanson. Teams – S1 Girls – 3
rd, S2
Girls – 3rd
, S2 Boys – 3rd
, S3 Boys – 2nd
.
163 pupils competed in our own Cross Country House Championships and Sponsored Run in Novem-ber. To date over £800 has been raised towards Haiti and School Sport funds. The winners were: -
S1 Girls and Boys – Team - Camphill. Individual Champions – Shona Ross and Ewan Wilson.
S2 Girls – Tannahill Boys – Oakshaw. Champions – Ainsley McTaggatt and Craig Goldthorpe.
S3 Girls – Maxwellton Boys – Camphill. Champions – Anastacia Barr and Callum Matthews.
Senior Boys – Maxwellton. Champions – Amanda Moore and Craig Haxton
Scottish Road Relays - Alexander Climson, Nigel Muyaba, Craig Haxton and Callum Matthews took part in the Scotttish Boys Medley team race on 13
th November in Grangemouth where they came a
very creditable 10th out of 21 teams.
Badminton – 8 pupils represented Castlehead in an Under 15 Renfrewshire Badminton Tournament at the Lagoon in September. As result S3 players Scott Roberts, David Ramsay, Daniel Nicolson, Emma Brough, and Jenna Howie, will play in the finals at the Renfrewshire Games in June. Many players continue to enjoy improving their skills at the very well attended Badminton Club on Tuesdays after school
Volleyball - 2 Senior Volleyball teams have competed this term in Renfrewshire Tournaments at Ren-frew High School and at Castlehead. Both were highly successful coming first and second in the last tournament. Volleyball is a Standard Grade and Higher/Intermediate 2 performance activity at Castle-head, and the pupils enjoyed being able to put into practise the skills they have learned.
Rugby - Castlehead pupils have attended 2 Rugby Development days this term. S1 boys, S2 – S5 Girls have enjoyed learning the skills of the game and competing in tournaments. Amanda Moore won an award on the day for outstanding performance and several girls are now attending Ren-frewshire coaching at Ferguslie Park on a Friday. The school has arranged for coaching at Paisley Rugby Club for boys in order to develop Castlehead teams. Please ask your child to see Mrs. Scott if they are interested in playing.
Hockey – 3 Teams have been playing in the monthly Renfrewshire Junior Hockey League. The League is about to resume after the winter break; so all players should attend training on Wednes-days in preparation.
Basketball – The Basketball team has recently started their League games and require more play-ers. Practices are on Monday lunchtime and after school on a Thursday.
The Girls’ Club – Junior Girls have been enjoying a ‘Fit For Life’ club on Thursdays after school. They take part in a number of fun activities and would welcome more members from any year group. There is also a Girls Football session at this time and again more players are required. Last term they enjoyed competing in a Soccer Sevens Tournament.
Dance – A Dance Leaders Award is about to start at school, probably on a Wednesday after school. Any interested pupils aged 14 or over are welcome to join this group. We hope this will then lead to a Dance Club being established for all pupils.
Intermediate 2 Sport and Recreation - This group of S5 pupils are currently also engaged in the Sports Leaders Award, and as part of their course have achieved a number of other Coaching awards in Football, Rugby, Junior Play Sport and Golf. They have been using these skills at one of our feeder Primaries and will continue this work as volunteers. S4 pupils interested in a career in the Sport and Recreation industry should consider this option for S5 as it is excellent preparation for the world of work.
Football – Currently Castlehead’s Football teams are enjoying excellent success. The Under18’s are 5
th Under 16’s 1
st and Under 14’s also1
st in the Paisley and District Leagues.
In the St. Mirren Cup the U16s play Park Mains next in the 2nd
round, the U14’s play Gleniffer in the quarterfinals, and the U13’s play Paisley Grammar in The 1
st round.
In the Scottish Cup the U14’s beat Campbeltown in the 4th round and are now in the fifth round of
the Scottish cup– the furthest a Castlehead team has gone. In the Scottish Plate the U13’s are in the 3
rd round.
Under 13, 14 and 15 teams have also competed in Soccer Sevens Tournaments.
Our Ambition:
Inspiring our
young people
to be the very best
they can be.
Our S2 pupils have embarked on a programme that will help them to start thinking about the choices that they will make for third year. For them it is important that they choose subjects that that will allow them to follow their aspirations and ambitions and that they make choices based on their ability and interest. To help you support your child an information evening is to be held on March 14 , followed by the Parents’ Evening on April 22. The web site below is a very useful web site that you could visit.
www.careers-scotland.org.uk/HelpingYourChild/ParentsHelpChoose.asp
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From 6.30
For all Second
Year Parents
Castlehead
High School
Monday
14
March
Option
Choices
Find out
more
From 6.30
Castlehead
High School
For all
Fourth
and Fifth
Year
Parents
MONDAY
7 MARCH
LEARN HOW YOU
CAN MAKE A
DIFFERENCE TO
HOW WELL
YOUR CHILD
WILL DO
WHAT ARE YOUR
CHILD’S
OPTIONS FOR
FIFTH AND
For all pupils it is vital that they prepare themselves as well as possible for when they
move on from school. We only have to watch the news or read the newspapers to know
that we are living through very difficult times. It is a challenge facing all our pupils to en-
sure that they are moving on from school to worthwhile destinations.
What should our pupils do now ?
1. Prepare themselves as well as possible for the exams that they will face in May. This
means putting in the time, effort and thought that will put them in a position to succeed. A
phrase that we use to highlight the importance of being properly prepared is
Pupils should now have a revision plan and be spending time revising and learning. There
is now great competition between young people for courses, training places, apprentice-
ships and employment. Don’t wait for it to happen make it happen
2. Build upon the qualifications that they have gained in fourth and fifth year by returning
to school
3. Be pro active in investigating the opportunities and choices that they have. Talk to their
Guidance Teacher and the school’s career advisor.
4. Ensure that they work at building up a CV that reflects the skills and attitudes that
colleges, universities and employers are looking for.
An information evening for fourth and fifth year parents has been organised for Monday 7
March at which we will look at options for fifth and sixth year and the role you can play in
helping your child to be successful.
College Employed
Destinations from Castlehead
www.ltscotland.org.uk/nationalqualifications/exampreparation.asp
ALL WELCOME
Castlehead
Parent
Council
Next
Meeting
March
1
Curriculum
For
Excellence
What does it
mean for
your child in
first year?
What are the
new
exams ?
I would like to take this opportunity to thank you for your support in our drive to set and maintain
the very high standards that we wish to see in Castlehead High School. Can I ask for your contin-
ued co -operation in ensuring that the standard of dress remains as high as possible.
Can I remind you that pupils should not wear :
hooded tops, combat trousers, black jeans, leggings, tracksuit tops or striped jerseys.
.
Being the Best you can Be
RespectRespect
ConfidenceConfidence
LearningLearning
Skills For LifeSkills For Life
OpportunityOpportunity
OurOur
CoreCore
Values Values