NHS Lothian have seen a large number of respiratory outbreaks in nurseries and schools in the past few weeks. These have caused service disruption with staff shortages and many pupils being absent from school/nursery.

Parents can try to stop these respiratory viruses spreading at home – please read the following advice;

Key advice for parents and carers

In the home the risk of catching or spreading flu/cold like illness can be reduced by:

• Regular hand washing with liquid soap and running water
• Covering nose and mouth when coughing or sneezing
• Using a disposable paper tissue, disposed off immediately after use
• You can teach your child to sneeze into the ‘crook’ of their arm rather than their hands, if they don’t have a tissue. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mQINuSTP1jI
• Good general cleaning of surface that everyone touches often e.g. TV remote, light switches, door handles, toilet flushes and tap heads
• https://www.nhsinform.scot/illnesses-and-conditions/infections-and-poisoning/common-cold
• https://www.nhsinform.scot/illnesses-and-conditions/infections-and-poisoning/flu

Children should not return to school until completely well and 48 hours after symptoms have stopped.

Please click on the link below to access information and the latest career opportunities for our young people in Edinburgh. You can keep up to date with all the latest information regarding career opportunities in our Pupil Support Leaders section of the Web Site.

Edinburgh Guarantee Schools Bulletin

The URL for the new Edinburgh Guarantee Opportunities website is www.edinburghguarantee.org

Police Scotland – Edinburgh Division – Festive Period Security Advice

As we experience darker nights and approach the busy festive period it’s a good time of year to review the security of your home and outbuildings such as sheds and garages.

For crime prevention advice and further information that will help secure your homes and sheds from intruders please read the attached and visit our website using the links below.

Document – Home Security Guide

Document – Shed Security

Website – https://www.scotland.police.uk/keep-safe/home-and-personal-property/secure-your-home

Keep Safe This Christmas

Exams

Please click on the link below to access our S4-6 Prelim Timetable. All students will be issued with an individual copy for their records/planning. Students will be expected to attend school/classes as normal during the prelim exams. They will released from class to sit an exam and will return to class when an exam has ended. Good luck to all students!

Prelim TT 2020

Last night the debating club participated in the annual Donald Dewar Memorial debate at Mary Erskine. Dimitris Zarkali and William Petrie represented the school in the debate “this house believes the UK should introduce compulsory civic service for 15 and 16 year olds”. Althought they didn’t win, they were a credit to the school and put in a great deal of effort, in a really tough heat.

Six of our pupils joined them at the debate and participated in the floor debate. The judges commented that it was fantastic to see so many keen, interested young people participating in debating. Lachlan Mackay S5 won the floor debate prize for the best contribution. Well done everyone!