1. Mearns Castle High School
P7 Parents’ Evening
8 June 2017

2. Presentation Structure
• Welcome • Introductions • About Mearns Castle • Support for Pupils • Pupils’ Experience’
• Parental Support • Uniform
Pupil Support Pastoral Team

3. Induction Days New classes New teachers New friendships
Finding their way around the school
Building confidence
Meeting with House Groups
Year group Assembly
Transitions Film
Transitions Magazine

4. Our Vision
The Mearns Castle High School community will work together to sustain a safe, inclusive and high quality learning environment that enables us to develop fully our capacities as successful learners, confident individuals, responsible citizens and effective contributors to society

5. Our Values Respect Inclusion Integrity Responsibility Ambition
Achievement

7. About Us
We are a school that sets high standards and holds high expectations in:
Behaviour • In class, around the school, in local community
Work Ethic
• Try your best, work hard
Uniform • Be proud to be a Mearns Castle pupil
The School Community • Give some thing back to the school

8. Secondary Stages
Broad General Education S1-3
Senior Phase – S4-6
S1/S2 (most choose 8 subjects at end of S2)
S3/S4 (most choose 5 subjects at end of S4) S5 S6

9. Pupil Support What support do we offer? DHT / Year Group Head
Pupil Support – Pastoral
Pupil Support – Learning
Pupil Support – Personal Development
Class Teachers
S6 Academic Family
S6 Peer Buddies

10. Previous Model of Support
Previous 6 DHTs – one for each Year Group S1-S6 6 PTPS – one for each House DHT follows Year Group S1 to S6 PTPS remains constant S1 – S6

11. Current Model of Support
Current 5 DHTs but still 6 PTPS PTPS remains constant S1 – S6 DHT follows Year Group S2-S6 5DHTs + HT work with 6 PTPS to support caseload of S1 pupils

12. Mearns Castle Houses Surnames Head of House House
A, C, J, Mac Mr Cairney Caledonia
B, D, E, F Mrs Crilley Balmoral
G, H, I, K Mr Gooch Gleneagles
M, N, O, R Mr Donnelly Ramsay
Mc, S Miss Oram Sutherland
L, P, Q,T- Z Miss Cartledge Wallace

13. Pupil Support ‐ Learning
Ms Fiona McLachlan – Principal Teacher

14. Pupil Support ‐ Personal Development
Ms Wendy Crosby – Principal Teacher

15. S1 Classes Information from Primary Schools
Classes – gender / schools / ability
Different groupings for different subjects
Alpha class, 1A etc – French, Social Subjects
Point class, 1.1 etc – Practical Subjects
English and Maths classes – Alpha classes for Induction Days only - PT Maths and English
PSE, RMPS, Citizenship – House groups
PE – 4 classes together (boys and girls)

16. 1A2 Approx 20 pupils Approx 30 pupils Science Modern Languages
HOUSE GROUPS:
PSE
Citizenship
RMPS
Approx 20 pupils
Science
Tech / FHT
Art / Music
IT / Drama
Approx 30 pupils
Modern Languages
Social Subjects

17. S1 Classes
With someone else from primary school (primary class where possible)
Not with ‘best friend’
Opportunities to make new friends
It can take time to settle
Give it time – but get in touch if there are any major issues
Football Camp 7/8 & Volleyball Camp 9/10/11 Aug

18. Timetable 33 period week Mon, Tues, Thurs 8:45 am - 3:35 pm
Wed, Fri 8:45am - 2:45pm
50 Minute periods
Registration in all classes

19. Subjects in S1 English Maths French Art, Technical, IT
Drama, Music, FHT
Social Subjects (Mod Studies, Geography, History)
Science (Biology, Chemistry, Physics)
RE (1 period)
PE (3 periods)
Citizenship (1 period weekly–sometimes assembly)
Personal & Social Education (PSE) (1 period)

20. Lunchtime 12:25pm – 1:05pm S1/2 not allowed off campus
Except Basement Club (Wednesdays)
Can bring a packed lunch
Can buy lunch in Dining Hall/Open Area
PIN for Cashless Catering – from August

21. Getting To School By Bus – ERC Buses supervised in Car Park By Car
Organised by ERC
Waterfoot/Eaglesham
Buses supervised in Car Park
By Car
Drop off in laybys – not in school grounds please
Cycling? Walking?

22. What does UPBEAT stand for?
UPBEAT ‘on colour’ Incentive Scheme
What does UPBEAT stand for?
U = Uniform
P = Prepared for class - homework
B = Behaviour
E = Effort
A = Attitude
T = Time keeping

23. Wider Learning Clubs – Wide variety on offer for S1, including
Running, Table Tennis, Hockey, Netball, Dance, Football, Gymnastics, Cricket, Fitness Training, Girls Football, Debating, Rugby, Volleyball, Badminton, Dodgeball
Junior Concert Band, Chamber Group, Jazz Band, String Ensemble, Guitar Ensemble, Woodwind Ensemble, Junior Choir, School Show
Debating, Knit and Knatter, Amnesty International, Philosophy, Jewellery and Textiles, Chinese Club, Warhammer, Chess, Code-breaking Club

24. Colours
For many years we have taken great pride in recognising pupil achievements through the school’s Colours programme.
The fields we recognise are:
Sport
Expressive Arts
Citizenship
Enterprise
Application forms on the website

25. How we keep in touch Newsletters – one per term
Letters – as appropriate
S1 Reports
1 Tracking Report (November)
1 Full Report (May)
Parent Meetings
Curriculum Evening (September)
Parents’ Meeting (November)
Texting
Phone Calls
Website / twitter (check these regularly)

26. Log Book Pupils should take a record of - homework - timetable
- test results
Parent Partnership:
- Please sign the Log Book regularly and use the Logbook to communicate with teachers

27. Support from Parents Homework log books Attendance/late coming Uniform
Extra curricular activities

28. Our School Uniform The Way Forward
79% of Pupils, Parents and Staff say that: ‘The standard of our School Uniform could be improved’ May 2012
We are confident we now have now improved our school uniform
98.4% of parents agreed that “our school currently has a high standard of uniform” May 2014
Monitoring – checks before school and Period 1
Uniform store – including recycled blazers
Parents to be sent a text
UPBEAT Demerits  Off colour  losing privileges eg. Christmas Dances, Charities Week, School Trips

29. Our School Uniform
‘…Under no circumstances should young people be denied access to education or full curriculum or assessment opportunities because they do not comply with the school’s dress code…’
ERC Standard Circular 6: Dressing for Excellence
We are looking forward to working in partnership with you to maintain our high standard of school uniform from August 2017.

30. Our School Uniform Retailers
Mans World, Giffnock uniform offer:
Sunday 4th - Sunday 11th June 2017
Up to 25% discount on all items except blazers and skirts.
Academy Uniforms, East Kilbride:
Acceptable to purchase the correct items of uniform from any supplier
We will offer to support parents’ who are having difficulty providing items of school uniform

32. Any questions?

33. Principal Teachers of Pastoral Support
Mr Cairney Mrs Crilley Mr Gooch
Caledonia (A,C,J,Mac) Balmoral (B,D,E,F) Gleneagles (G,H,I,K)
Main Theatre Conference Room Contemplation Room
Mr Donnelly Miss Oram Miss Cartledge
Ramsay (M,N,O,R) Sutherland (S,Mc) Wallace (L,P,Q,T-Z)
Main Theatre Dining Hall Open Area