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- Packed Lunches
- Paired Reading
- Paracetamol
- Parents’ Council
- Parents’ Evenings
- Parents’ Forum
- Parent-Teacher Association
- Part-time Work
- Peanut Allergy
- Peer Support
- Personal Possessions
- Peer Support
- Phone calls - 1471
- Photographs
- Points Ahead
- Prefects
- Prize-giving
- Pupil Support
Packed Lunches
Pupils can bring a packed lunch and eat it in the Canteen or Stage Diner. If your child brings a packed lunch, please make sure it does not contain any peanuts or peanut-based products. This request is made for safety reasons.
Paired Reading
Paired Reading is a process by which senior pupils (S6) are linked with younger pupils to help them develop their reading skills. It is organised by the Learning Support and English departments and has proved to be of great benefit to those who take part and indeed to be very enjoyable as well as helpful.
Paracetamol
Paracetamol is the only proprietary medication we are allowed to give to pupils and we can only do so if we have a letter on file giving permission. Please send a letter to the school office if you wish to give permission for your child to have paracetamol for headaches etc. The letter needs to give the child’s name and class and state that you give permission for paracetamol to be given if necessary. You will be sent a note by us if paracetamol is given, telling you how much was given and when, so that you can continue the treatment appropriately.
Parents' Council
From August 2007 the new Parents’ Council replaces the former School Board. Any parent may attend meetings of the Council as an observer. Dates of Council meetings will be notified via the school newsletter and the website. It is hoped that the new body, along with the Parents’ Forum (see entry below) will encourage parents to take an greater interest in the life and work of the school and to become involved. The following are the members of the CGS Parents’ Council:
- Mrs A Card, 71 Crosshill Avenue, Campbeltown
- Mr C Good, 22 Knockscalbert Way, Campbeltown
- Mrs C Greenwood, 7 Millers Park, Saddell, by Campbeltown
- Mr J Hooper, Ugadale Cottage, by Campbeltown
- Mrs J Logan, The Heatherhouse, Glenramskill, by Campbeltown
- Mr N J MacPhail, 62 Longrow, Campbeltown
- Mrs H Shaw, 17 Castlepark, Campbeltown
As at July 2008 there is one vacancy for Parent Council membership
Parents' evenings
Parents have the opportunity to come to the school once a year to receive reports from staff about their child’s progress. In 2007-08 they take place as follows:
- S1 Tuesday 25 November 2008
- S2 Tuesday 3 March 2009
- S3 Tuesday 26 May 2009 (pupils in S4 at this date)
- S4 Tuesday 10 February 2009
- S5-6 Wednesday 25 March 2009
An appointments system gives parents a five minute interview with each teacher. Interviews are held in the Assembly Hall. Appointment forms are issued to pupils in good time before each parents’ evening.
Please also see the section headed Reports.
Parents’ Forum
All parents or guardians of pupils on the school roll are automatically members of the school’s Parents’ Forum. The Forum will give parents the opportunity to make their views known on matters of interest or concern. Details of Forum meetings will be published in the newsletter, on the website, by test message or by letters sent home with pupils.
Parent-Teacher Association
The school’s Parent-Teacher Association is now a sub-Committee of the Parent Council. This committee organises social events for the families of staff and pupils and raises funds to support school activities for pupils. We hope all parents will support any events run on their behalf. Details of events and meetings will be included in the newsletter, published on the school website and notified by letter and text message.
Part-time Work
If a pupil has a part-time job he/she must have a work permit. Application forms are available from Mrs Thomson, Attendance and Welfare Officer. The law now stipulates that a pupil under school-leaving age (16) is not allowed to work for more than 12 hours in any week or for more than 2 hours on any day except Saturday. On a Saturday, a pupil must not work for more than 5 hours if under 15, or 8 hours if over 15. Please see also the sections on Employment of Pupils and Work Permits .
Peanut Allergy
Certain pupils attend the school who have a known allergy to peanuts. This may in some cases result in a severe reaction if the pupil comes into the slightest contact with peanuts, peanut oil, etc. Even contact with those who have handled peanuts may be problematic. Please assist us by making sure your child does not bring peanuts to school and that you check the contents of packed lunches to make sure that no peanuts or peanut-based materials are included.
Peer Support
Peer Support is a system which links S6 pupils with new S1 pupils. The seniors provide help and support as the new pupils settle in to the school, giving them the benefit of their own knowledge and experience. They also help as part of the school's anti-bullying strategies. The system is organised by the Guidance staff.
Personal Possessions
Pupils are responsible for their own personal possessions at all times. Bags should be carried to classes and not left in cloakrooms between classes. The education authority does not have insurance cover for pupils’ personal possessions. In cases of loss or theft, claims will be met only where the education authority can be shown to have been negligent. Please see also the sections headed Lost Property and Valuables.
Phone calls - 1471
If you dial "1471" on coming home at any time and find there has been a call from the school, please don't phone back. The office staff have no way of knowing who, from over 50 staff and numerous extensions, has tried to call you. Whoever it was will try again!
Photographs
The school photographer comes to the school once a year and takes the individual photographs of pupils in S1 and S4 only. This provides a photograph of a pupil at the start and then near the end of his or her secondary schooling, but does not make excessive demands on parents. There is no obligation to buy school photographs. In 2008-09 the school photographer will be here on Thursday 28 August 2008.
Points Ahead
Points Ahead is the school’s formal praise system which aims to encourage all pupils to make a positive contribution to the life of their school and to generate group loyalty and positive peer pressure.
Points are awarded to pupils who are mentioned in the monthly class merit card by subject teachers as being the ‘highest achiever’, ‘best behaved’, ‘most helpful’ pupil, or the pupil who has made ‘greatest effort’. Each month a ‘Praise Postcard’ will be sent to the parents of pupils who are identified and those with frequent mentions will also get a ‘treat’ such as a pass to go to the head of the lunch queue, or a free cinema or school dance ticket.
Points are deducted from class totals each time an individual member of the class is late, or fails to wear the full school uniform, or forgets/loses their cashless catering card. The class with the most points at the end of the year will be treated to an excursion.
Prefects
Prefects are S6 pupils chosen after consultation with all staff to take on a senior role as representatives of the pupils as a whole. They have duties in relation to supervision of pupils and the organisation of social activities and may represent the school on official occasions. They are required to be of good character and to have shown commitment to the purposes and values of the school in their previous school career. From the prefects, two Captains and two Vice-Captains are selected after consultation with staff and senior pupils. There are normally not more than 30 prefects in a given year.
Prize-giving
The achievements of pupils are regularly recognised at Assemblies and within classes. In addition, at the end of each school year, we hold a Prize-giving Ceremony at which certificates and awards are distributed for academic achievement and diligent effort, for excellent attendance, for success on the sports field, for good citizenship and for outstanding contributions to the life and work of the school. Many of the prizes commemorate former pupils or members of staff, or noteworthy members of the community. The ceremony, which is held in the evening, also features the school bands and choirs. It is open to parents and to the general public.
Pupil Support
The former Guidance, Learning Support and Behaviour Support departments are now unified under the Pupil Support department. Pupil Support staff are involved with helping pupils to gain the maximum benefit from their education and in working with parents to develop the home/school partnership.
They provide pastoral support, which is concerned with pupils’ general progress and welfare, personal development and growth to adulthood. It includes helping them to make the right subject choices at the various stages that this takes place and giving information and advice, based on sound knowledge of each individual, to help them set good career goals. Many aspects of pastoral care are delivered through the Personal and Social Education courses which all pupils take.
Learning support is concerned with identifying and addressing any barriers to learning that might affect individual pupils, and with developing individual learning programmes which respond to their specific needs.
Behaviour support is aimed at helping pupils overcome difficulties caused by poor behaviour and attitudes so that pupils can take better advantage of the opportunity to learn and to improve their long-term prospects.
The Pupil Support department is co-ordinated by a Depute Rector (Miss Cameron) and is organised as follows:
Overall co-ordination
Miss Cameron, Depute Rector
Developing and implementing pupil support strategies and managing the team.
Pastoral care of pupils
Miss Brown, Principal Teacher – Pupil Support
Davaar House (1.1, 2.1, 3.1, 4.1, etc.)
Special responsibility for Child Protection.
Mr Farren, Principal Teacher – Pupil Support
Knockscalbert House (1.4, 2.4, 3.4, 4.4, etc)
Special responsibility for Primary/Secondary transition arrangements.
Mrs A Millar, Principal Teacher – Pupil Support
Kilbrannan House (1.3, 2.3, 3.3, 4.3, etc)
Special responsibility for Careers education and UCAS.
Mrs L Millar, Principal Teacher – Pupil Support
Bengullion House (1.2, 2.2, 3.2, 4.2, etc)
Special responsibility for the Child Assessment Team (CAT) and for Health education.
Support for Pupils’ Learning
Mrs M Walker, Principal Teacher – Pupil Support
Special responsibility for management of the Learning Centre and co-ordination of the extended Learning Support Team.
Support for Pupils– Behaviour
Mr P Murphy
Responsibility for the Behaviour Support base.
The Pupil Support department has strong links with a range of agencies outwith the school such as the Social Work department, Fusions, Befrienders, Health Service, the Police and the Children’s Reporter Administration. These links provide many benefits both for individual pupils and for the general strategies of the department and the school.