A very warm welcome to session 2021-22. Pupils have settled really well into school life this week. Can I thank you for your support with uniform, it is of a very high standard.

Our S1 pupils are settling in nicely. This week our S6 have been supporting them make their way about the building and next week we will encourage them to start to make their own way about. Staff and pupils are always on hand to help anyone who is lost!

Next week you will have pin numbers sent through the post, which pupils must remember as we start to make our way to completely cashless catering. It is hoped during the month of September we will make the move to ParentPay and to prepare for that, the old lunch cards are being replaced with pin numbers and keypads from Thursday. Information will be sent from HQ about the new system, however we will be on hand to help anyone who forgets their pin.

Bus passes were issued today for those already granted a space on school transport. A number of young people didn’t come for their pass and I would ask that they see me on Monday morning during interval in the social area. Anyone who wants to query eligibility should visit

https://www.renfrewshire.gov.uk/article/3486/Home-to-school-transport

This week we have been working our way through options and timetables. Pupils who have been allocated a college place as part of their timetable will start their courses next week and Mrs Prentice met with them today. Due to SQA results only coming out two days before our in-service, we didn’t have time to get pupils in to change subjects before the start of term. We are very grateful for your patience this week and I’m happy to report we are nearly there.

S6 pupils will take part in a Leadership Day at Lapwing Lodge on Thursday 26^th August. We are looking forward to getting them together as a year group to bond and develop their teamwork and leadership skills. I’m sure they will have a great day.

I’d like to welcome a number of new staff to the school in Maths, English, Art & Design, Modern Languages, Humanities, Business, Computing and Science. We will also have two new members joining our support team soon. The new staff seem to be enjoying the school and have had nothing but positive comments about our pupils.

We are developing our extra-curricular programme for the year and hope to soon be organising larger events for which Gleniffer is so well known.

Parent Council and PTA meetings are planned (online unfortunately) for Monday 30^th August. If you would like to join us, please complete the information in the new session pack which can be found here

https://www.glenifferhigh.renfrewshire.sch.uk/news/new-session-information/

or complete the forms found here

PTA

Could I please ask for your support with litter. Sadly, I have had two complaints this week already about mess being left after lunchtime. I will be starting up our litter picks again soon but this would be made so much easier if all pupils could support our community by using the bins staggered about. I want our community to be proud of our young people and these small gestures go a long way.

Finally, can I clarify the covid guidance for schools states that pupils should wear face coverings unless exempt. The wording in the letter I sent before we returned used the phrasing compulsory.

I’m sure you will have some exhausted children coming home from school today. Have a restful weekend.

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