Dyslexia Awareness Week 6th-10th November

Sciennes Dyslexia Awareness 3.11.17 from Sciennes Primary School

Sciennes is a Dyslexia Friendly school. On Friday 3rd November we featured Dyslexia Awareness in both P1-3 and P4-7 Assemblies, following Dyslexia Scotland's theme of 'Positive About Dyslexia'.

A slideshow showing famous scientists, inventors, business people, musicians, writers, artists and actors, who are said to have dyslexia, was shown as pupils were entering and leaving the Hall.

Famous Dyslexics from Sciennes Primary School

Ms Kennedy and Miss Thistlethwaite have been working with groups of dyslexic pupils who will deliver year group presentations to P4-P7 next week, in Dyslexia Awareness Week. A group of P7 pupils gave an excellent presentation at the P1-3 Assembly and P7 pupil Catherine is leading the distribution of blue ribbons next week. Video clips were shown to help explain dyslexia and develop positive attitudes towards having dyslexia and also towards dyslexic pupils who have to work hard to overcome associated challenges.

https://vimeo.com/57077317

Interested pupils were invited to speak to families about attending the launch of a new Dyslexia Scotland website 'Unwrapped' for dyslexic children to be held at Central Library on George IV Bridge Thursday 9th November 5.30pm-8pm.

http://www.dyslexiascotland.org.uk/events/dyslexia-unwrapped-launch-event

P7 pupils will be selling poppies next week and Mr Howie explained the significance of this.

All pupils were encouraged to have safe and happy celebrations on Bonfire Night.

Article 2

You have the right to protection against discrimination.

Article 28

You have the right to education.

The Right Click: P6/7 Internet Safety Matters Workshop Wednesday 31st August 6.30pm

http://www.unicef.org.uk/rights-respecting-schools/training-and-support/internet-safety/

The Right Click: Internet Safety Matters Workshop

Sciennes is hosting an upper school digital safety workshop, sponsored by Unicef and BT, on Wednesday 31^st August between 6.30pm and 7.30pm in the Hall. 

 
We consider ourselves extremely fortunate to receive this fully funded opportunity, part of a UK wide and very heavily subscribed Rights Respecting Schools initiative. We offered the workshop places to our P6 and P7 families via Wisepay on a first come basis and have been delighted with the response, with all 80 places quickly booked, though we are aware that some families unable to book a place have been disappointed. However, BT is also generously providing us with a 'Train the Trainer' session for a few members of staff to support the delivery of additional sessions ourselves in the future.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does the workshop cover?

The workshop brings together Unicef UK's child rights expertise with BT's technological know-how around internet safety. Two volunteers from BT will introduce activities to begin a discussion around online safety, which parents can continue with their child at home. 

Together parents and children will explore:

 the devices and apps they use to connect online

 likes and dislikes about the internet

 ways in which people can misuse the information shared online

 how e-safety and internet access matter for the promotion and protection of children's rights.

Which age groups are most suitable?

The workshops are designed for children age eight and upwards but the presentation does include a video produced by Child Exploitation and Online Protection (CEOP) which is designed for an audience of 8-11 year olds and may not be suitable for younger children.)

How many people can attend?

The organisers advised us that they aimed to be flexible with the number of people who could attend and kindly increased availability from 60 to 80 children and adults. For the workshop to run effectively, parents and their children will be able to sit together in groups of up to ten at a table.

Article 5

You have the right to be given guidance by your parents and family.

Article 17

You have the right to collect information from the media.

Article 19

You have the right to be protected from being hurt or badly treated.

Article 29

You have the right to education which develops your personality, respect for others’ rights and the environment.

Article 34

You have the right to be protected from abuse.

Pupil Council at Scottish Parliament

1 in 5 Raising Awareness of Child Poverty in Edinburgh – The Make A Difference Award 

Schools were invited to submit ideas on what they would do with £250 to help Make a Difference. Five members of Sciennes' Pupil Council have been invited to the Scottish Parliament to submit our best ideas to City of Edinburgh's '1 in 5' Make a Difference Award Ceremony on Wednesday 16th March. Ms Anstruther will accompany.


Article 26 The right to have help if you are poor or in need
Article 27 The right to have a good enough standard of living 

Sciennes South Africa Pencil Case Donations

To Sciennes parents and pupils, a huge thank you for all your pencil case donations. We were overwhelmed by your kindness and generosity. We have just returned from South Africa and it was fantastic to be able to give your gifts to the children fron Charles Memorial primary school where they were greatly appreciated. The children were so excited as you can see from the attached photos.

Thanks once again,

Jessica, Anna, Katie and Amy

James Gillespies High School

How Would You Make a Difference?

Sciennes 1 in 5 Make a Difference Award from SciennesPS
 

1 in 5 Raising Awareness of Child Poverty in Edinburgh – The Make A Difference Award 

What would you do with £250 to help Make a Difference? 

Sciennes' Pupil Council have planned a school wide launch of City of Edinburgh's 'Make a Difference Award'. Pupils are taking the lead in encouraging fellow pupils, classes, staff and parents to submit ideas of how they would use the award money to help make a difference to children and families living on or below the poverty line in our school community. 

Your ideas might involve:

• Raising awareness of the realities of living in poverty in the UK.
• Contribute towards reducing school costs e.g. uniform, trips, books and resources for those most in need.
• Support income/benefits advice and management for families.

Any other ideas you might have to Make a Difference? 

Schools will submit their top three ideas for judging by an independent panel. the winners from each school will then be invited to present their idea at the 1 in 5 Launch and Roll Out event on the 22nd March before receiving the £250 award money to take forward their idea in their school.

Who can enter?
Individual or groups of staff, parent councils, individual pupils or classes/tutor groups.

Submission dates for ideas?
FRIDAY 12th FEBRUARY 2016

How do I/ we enter?
Contact your school to receive a Make a Difference Award submission form. Pupil ideas will be collected in class.     

Article 26 The right to have help if you are poor or in need
Article 27 The right to have a good enough standard of living 
Article 28  The right to learn

JGHS Donate a Pencil Case Appeal

On Friday 22nd January we welcomed former pupils Jessica, Katie and Anna to speak to our pupils at Assembly. The girls are now in their Sixth Year at James Gillespie's High School and are about to embark on a visit to Zwelibanzi High School in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, as part of a longstanding twinning between the cluster schools. Pupils and families have been asked to support JGHS's annual 'Donate a Pencil Case' appeal. Donations will be gratefully received and can be handed to the School Office until 9th February. Jessica, Katie and Anna will collect them before they fly off on 11th February.

 

Article 28  The right to learn

 

1000 Pre-Loved Books Donated

Throughout December, our Pupil Council worked with our Librarian, Mrs Katherine Peace, to sort and categorise over 1000 quality, pre-loved books which were donated before Christmas to Foodbank and other local charities.

Grateful thanks to everyone who supported our Hungry for Books appeal with City of Edinburgh Council.

Article 26 The right to have help if you are poor or in need
Article 27 The right to have a good enough standard of living
Article 28  The right to learn