Here is what’s been going on in a remarkable first term.

Anne Frank Trust project

20 pupils were trained to show at least 200 pupils around an exhibition designed to increase knowledge and understanding of Anne Frank, and the factors which led to the rise of the Nazis and the Holocaust. Hosting of the exhibition also provided an opportunity for our school to enhance our links with local primary schools, were specially invited to come, to work in an interdisciplinary manner, and to demonstrate a commitment to the four capacities of the Curriculum for Excellence. Pupil guides Guy Mathieson, Jamie Bingham, Gule Okan, and Eve McClelland have spoken highly of the experience, not only for what it taught about our history but for skills they learned in working with strangers and collaborators.

Peace Ball

Linking in with Jeremy Gilley’s ‘Peace One Day’ initiative – literally, by Skype — Katie Messer and her band of helpers put together a fabulous evening of entertainment from bands from local schools. They raised £1,289!

Children’s Hospice Association Scotland

Gemma Rutherford in S5 took an initiative, after completing YPI earlier this year. She organised a Guess the Weight of a Sweeties Jar! Dedicating her breaks adn lunchtimes, she raised £63!

Climate Change

Ella Phillips went exploring climate change and presented an informative and stimulating week of assemblies to the whole school on the threat of climate change. She then spoke about a poster competition open to S1-S3 pupils. The winner of that was Haiyang Hu, and the runners-up were Hannah Ferguson and Cara Conway.

John Muir Award

S5 pupils have been taking part in activities to try to complete the first level of the
John Muir Award. This is for pupils who take care of our outdoor environment.
One of our groups worked with Penny Radway, from the Green Team, on the ecology of our school pond area. Another group worked with the Pentland Rangers and Miss Thomson, exploring parts of the ecology there. They took part in a photograph competition as well. Our third group worked around the Water of Leith, with Miss Northcott and Charlotte Neary, from the Water of Leith Conservation Trust. They documented the river’s condition, and spent an afternoon tidying near St Bernard’s Well. All told, around 30 pupils took part in these 3 groups. The John Muir Award draws closer!

Youth Philanthropy Initiative – second time this year!

S6 took part in an excellent final on 14 November 2012, in front of representatives from YPI and panel members PC Greig Stephen, Penny Radway, from the Green Team, Harald Tobermann, from the Parent Council, Mrs Burgess, depute, Aimee Creamer, S5 pupil from March’s winning team, and Gareth Wood, from the Wood Charitable Trust. The represented charities were Richmond Hope, Maggie’s Centre, The Junction, the special care baby unit at the Royal Infirmary, CLASP, the Corstorphine Dementia Project, and FACE: Fighting Against Cancer in Edinburgh. The winning team was that representing FACE, consisting of Astrid Anderson, Rebecca Lamont, Jodie Wilson, Yasmin Serrano-Price, Kirsten Marshall-Thomson and Troy Quigley. They will present a cheque for £3,000.

Breaking News
Holocaust Memorial Day – Thursday 24 January 2013

Broughton High School will host the Holocaust Memorial Day event for Edinburgh. Guest speaker is Rwanda genocide survivor Jen Paul Samputu. He is an award-winning musician, and now an international peace and forgiveness activist. Astonishingly, his collaborator in activism is the man who killed his family. The two have reconciled!

It’s been quite a season for Social Subjects! Read about it in detail here.

We just got a lovely letter from young Massimo, a student who joined us from Germany for part of last session. We’re pleased to note that he really enjoyed his stay!

Here is what he says:

‘Hello Broughton High

First of all I want to thank you for being so nice to me, especially Patrick was great help. I was surprised, that I didn’t have to get up at 6.30 am to be in time for school because in Germany my school starts at 7.55 am. Beginning school at 8.30 am is for me a better way to start the day. I needed the time to knot my tie properly. However the lessons end at 4.00 pm, while in Germany school ends at 1.00 pm and we have to do a lot of homework. At Broughton High school every teacher has his own classroom with a touch screen board. At my school in Germany the pupils have their classroom and most of the time they stay there. In Scotland you have more subjects like drama and social education. I really like drama and football of course. I was impressed how many football fields you have. Greg was a good coach and I enjoyed the training very much.

I’d love to come to Scotland again and visit Broughton High. If somebody wants to come to Germany and stay there to visit my school, contact me. Of course the school football team is invited, to come to Germany and play against our school team.

Best regards from Würzburg, Germany

Massimo’

The Inverleith Neighbourhood Partnership organises an annual conference for people living, working and studying in the Inverleith ward of north Edinburgh. This year’s theme is local transport in all its forms and we hope that you will join us for an evening of lively discussion, community cohesion, information sharing and fun! Please tell your friends and neighbours about the event.

This year’s conference will take place on Thursday 15th Nov, 6-9pm at Broughton High School.

On the theme of local transport, there will be opportunities to discuss issues and ask questions on various aspects of getting around Inverleith in small table discussions –
•parking,
•public transport,
•road repairs,
•road safety,
•walking and cycling,
•winter weather.

We hope that you can join us in person or live on twitter on the night, by following #inverleithconf

A finger buffet and live entertainment will be provided, and transport related stalls and information will be available for browsing.

To register online, click here. If you prefer to register offline, or want more information, please contact Anne Brown on 332 6316, anne.brown@ea.edin.sch.uk or Elaine Lennon on 529 5270, elaine.lennon@edinburgh.gov.uk

We are currently looking to build on the existing partnerships that we have with individuals, parents, groups, organisations and businesses. Our relationship with the community, parents and businesses is essential in providing the best opportunities for pupils at Broughton high School as well as contributing to the school and wider community. We have a number of important partnerships at present such as links with the Inter Faith organisation, Christian and Muslim communities who share first hand experiences with pupils, Humanitarian and Charity links with organisations such as the Red Cross, Headway, Make a wish Foundation, Teenage cancer Trust, Alcoholics Anonymous and many more. Businesses such as Sodexo, Waitrose, Black Horse finance, Statestreet and Douglas Brotherston and Scottish Business in the Community. These organisations and individuals provide an invaluable link for BHS pupils to gain mentoring, advice, support and also work experience opportunities to better prepare them for the transition from school to further education or the workplace. If you would like to find out more, then please get in touch with Mr John Cudlipp, in the Religious, Moral, and Philosophical Studies Department, at john.cudlipp@broughton.edin.sch.uk.

We’re alerted to the existence of a National Parent Forum of Scotland, who appear to do much the same as we do on the Parent Council here at Broughton, only with a focus on large-scale curriculum and policy issues. They lodge within the very fine Education Scotland online resource page here.