OTHER OPPORTUNITIES AT SPEYSIDE

							    OTHER OPPORTUNITIES AT SPEYSIDE




  The school is not just a place where you will learn about the subjects on your timetable.

Teachers and some parents at Speyside organise many EXTRA-CURRICULAR ACTIVITIES.
These are the things that teachers do not have to do, and do not get paid for doing, but do
because they enjoy them and believe that pupils will benefit from them.

Since the teachers and parents are taking these activities voluntarily, it is reasonable that they
should only offer the activities to pupils who appreciate the opportunities and respond accordingly.
Some activities take place away from Speyside so these will only be made available to pupils who
will give other people a good impression of our school.

You will be very welcome in extra-curricular activities if you keep these things in mind.

Here is a list of Extra-Curricular Activities that pupils have enjoyed at Speyside High School in the
recent past:



      Badminton                 Canoeing            Board Games              Drama Productions
      Basketball                Keep Fit            Chess                    Music Groups
      Table Tennis              Rugby               Computing                Musical Productions
      Five a side Football      Running             Writing Group            Orchestra
      Football                  Swimming            Science Club             Speyside Fiddlers
      Trampolining              Dance               Debating                 Guitar




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 Any help parents wish to offer in running extra-curricular activities will be warmly welcomed.
 Parents are already involved in organising such sports as Badminton and Football.

 Please ask your parents to get in touch with the school if they too wish to become involved.

 Try to get involved in an extra-curricular activity while at school - you may begin an interest that will
 last through your life.

 During your time at Speyside you will be given the opportunity to go out of school and meet
 people or you may meet adults and younger children who come into school. For example
 some pupils help in local playgroups, run creches in and out of school, visit mothers with
 young children, pay a call on old people or help their local community in some way. Other
 pupils have visited patients in a local hospital.

 Adults come into school each day to take part in some classes and activities. If some day
 you should find yourself sitting beside an adult in a class, take the opportunity to learn from
 their experience and in return you will be giving them a feeling of being welcome in your
 school.

 Speyside High School was built to serve the whole community in as many ways as possible -
 not just by looking after the community's young people for seven hours a day. Many clubs
 and organisations hold their activities and meetings in the school and make use of our
 excellent facilities which have cost a great deal of money to provide and should benefit as
 many people as possible.

 Another way in which the school has been able to serve the community has been in
 providing courses for adults. Speyside High School is OPEN FOR LEARNING to the whole
 community it serves.




The School Council
Did you know that you will have the chance to make suggestions about the running of the school
and the activities it offers? We have a School Council which is made up of representatives from
each year. This Council can discuss matters that concern all pupils and help to organise inter-
house activities. The Rector, or his Depute, attends every meeting of the School Council.




Did you know that …..

Speyside High School is one of the most attractive schools in Moray, and that it hardly has any
problem with vandalism?…..

In 1996 and 2002 Speyside High School won the Grampian BNOC Trophy for Secondary
Schools in the “Keep Grampian Beautiful” campaign. It was judged the best kept school in
Moray, Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire on the last occasion the trophy was awarded.

Aberlour has a high reputation as a litter-free village. You should try to keep it that way both in
school and the village!



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SCHOOL TRIPS
A school trip is a form of extra-curricular activity which takes places at a given time rather
than regularly throughout the year. School trips can range from a visit to the theatre in
Aberdeen to a one week pupil exchange visit to France or Germany.

In the past there have been a wide variety of such activities, including an exchange trip to
Germany, Theatre trips to Stratford and Pitlochry, Camping and Hillwalking trips, a visit to
France and Belgium and a Drama workshop/theatre visit to Dundee.

As these trips depend on the staff having time to arrange them, they cannot be guaranteed
to run at any time, and vary from year to year. When they are planned, however, they are
well publicised in the school, and pupils are given plenty time to consider them.

SVS RESIDENTIAL STAY
Every year the whole Third year, usually in two groups, takes part in a residential stay away
from school as a part of their course in Standard Grade Social and Vocational Skills. This is
part of the course, and all S3 pupils are expected to take part.

The pupils are involved in the planning for the stay and organise many of their own activities
as well as much of the catering.

In recent years, the stay has involved camping in the Glenmore area, and has involved some
low level walking and watersports.

ACTIVITIES DAY
Every year the school devotes a whole day to activities organised by the staff, aimed at
giving pupils a taste of new leisure activities, or of existing leisure pursuits at a higher level.

This is very much part of the normal school experience, and all pupils are expected to
take part as in a normal school day. It the unlikely event of a pupil being unable to take
part in one of the activities offered, alternative schoolwork will be arranged, in school, for that
pupil, for that day.

In some years Activities Day is scheduled during the SQA Exams in May and only S1-3
pupils take part, in other years most of the S4-6 pupils are also able to take part without
affecting their exam preparation.

Some of the Activities offered in recent years have included:

Abseiling                               Paintball Wargamming              Fly Fishing
Gliding                                 Golf                              Horse Riding
Outdoor Muiltisports                    Activities at the Lecht           Mountain Biking
Photography                             Ice Skating                       Sea Angling
Sub Aqua (in our Pool)                  Watersports                       Reflexology
Devise a Computer Game                  Thai Kickboxing                   Ready Steady Cook


Some of these activities can be expensive, but we try to keep the cost down by using our
school fund, so that they can be equally available to all pupils, and, indeed, there are always
several attractive activities that are completely free to pupils.




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             PARENTS GET INVOLVED?
     HOW CANHOW CAN PARENTS GET INVOLVED?




We hope that your parents (who will probably have read this far with you in this book) will be
interested in what goes on in Speyside High School. Your parents may be wondering how they
can become more closely involved with what we are doing.

The first way is through their natural interest in how you are getting on at Speyside. We will be
giving your parents a great deal of information about you in the next few years, so they will
certainly want to visit the school to talk to teachers at Parents' Meetings. There will be a meeting
for parents in April before you start at Speyside. You should make sure that your parents have
had a chance to read this book before the Parents' Meeting. They will probably have questions
about some of the information in it which teachers will be very happy to answer.

Parents' Meetings are also held at times before important decisions about your school life are
made, such as at the end of second year.

Parents are very welcome to contact the school at any time to speak either to one of your teachers
or to the Head Teacher.     They can telephone the school at Aberlour 871522 to make an
appointment which can be either within or outwith school hours.


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                              SCHOOL BOARD
It is possible for any parent to become involved in decisions about the school through the School
Board. The School Board currently comprises -
Mr Pierre Masson, Mrs Margaret Williams and Mr Paul Van Der Heiden with Mr Donald Paterson
representing the teaching staff. Fiona Dickson, a Sixth Year student, have been co-opted onto the
Board. Miss Fiona Main serves as Clerk.


REMEMBER......! tell your parents about what is happening in the school. Tell them all about it
when we are having a play, fashion show, concert, debate or some other event. Tell them when
school teams are playing at home and invite them to attend these events.

Make sure your parents know they are always welcome in Speyside High School and that their
interest makes educating you much easier.




                  COMMUNITY EDUCATION
As a Community School, evening and holiday use of the school is organised by
Mrs Pat Ettles, Community Education Centre Co-ordinator.




                                SCHOOL HOLIDAYS 2007-2008

       Term begins                             21 August 2007
       October Holiday                         15-26 October 2007 (both dates inclusive)
       Term ends                               21 December 2007
       Winter Term commences                   7 January 2008
       Mid Term Holiday                        18 February 2008
       Term ends                               28 March 2008
       Summer Term commences                   14 April 2008
       May Day                                 5 May 2008
       Term ends                               4 July 2008

       In addition to these dates, there are 2 other days, yet to be fixed, to fit in with the
       mid term holiday in February and the local holiday in June.

       Further dates are available from the following website:
       www.moray.gov.uk




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                      AND AFTER SPEYSIDE
As you come to the end of your time at Speyside you will have talked about what career you want
to take up with your own Guidance Teacher and possibly with Mr Innes (Careers Adviser).

What else will the Guidance staff do for you? That depends on whether you plan to leave school
and try to find a job right away, or whether you want to continue studying at a College or University,
or take up further training, e.g. using the Skillseekers scheme.

During your fourth year at school, normally in October, your Social and Vocational Skills tutor will
arrange for you to have one week of Work Experience which will be quite different from your
normal school timetable. This means that instead of attending school for one week you will go to
work for a local employer, perhaps a joiner, farmer, shop-keeper, banker, lawyer, hotel-owner or
one of many other possibilities. During this time you will not be paid but you will be learning a
great deal about what life is like outside the world of school. Then, when it is your time to leave,
you will have a better idea of what to expect.

As well as this one week of work experience, during your fourth year, as part of the Careers
Programme delivered through SVS, you will also attend several Careers Talks and take part in
simulated job interviews in both cases meeting employers representatives who have volunteered to
come in to school to help.

Your parents will receive much more information about all this as the time for your turn
approaches.

If you decide that you would like to go on and study after you leave Speyside, your Guidance
Teacher will give you help in choosing the best college or university for what you want to do.
Since going to a college or university is more complicated than joining a school, you will find that
your Guidance Teacher will be a great help in making sure that you fill in the right forms in time.
Your Guidance Teacher will also be the person who deals with any references that you will need
for your application.

Once again you will be told a great deal more about this as you go into your final years at school.




USEFUL TELEPHONE NUMBERS


Careers Scotland Office        Elgin 548884        - E-Mail info@careers-scotland@.org.uk

Moray Educational              Elgin 563397        - E-Mail fiona.mackayl@moray.gov.uk
Services Office




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LAST BUT NOT LEAST
In this booklet you have read a great deal about our pupils and their teachers. We think you
should know, however, that there is a very large number of other people whom you may not see
quite so often who are working very hard to make your life with us pleasant. We will introduce
them to you on this page.



THE SCHOOL OFFICE STAFF
The staff in the office are Miss Fiona Main, Mrs Liz Copland, and Mrs Nancy Keir. You will
meet them quite regularly, either when you are sent on a message or have an enquiry.
Remember they are usually very busy, so try to be polite and patient.



THE SCHOOL JANITORS
The school janitors have the job of making sure that the school is warm, comfortable and clean.
They are Mr Stanley Johnston and Mr Andrew Garrick. You will find that they take this job very
seriously and are very helpful and friendly to all pupils who take care of the building and furniture.
You will also find them supervising pupils when no teachers are present in the playground or
corridors, and you must obey their instructions politely and promptly.



THE SCHOOL CANTEEN STAFF
The school canteen staff have the difficult job of making, and serving lunches for 400 pupils in
three quarters of an hour. The Canteen Supervisor is Mrs Moira Taylor, and she is helped by
several ladies. You can make their job easier and pleasanter by queuing patiently, eating sensibly
and tidily, and clearing away the cutlery and plates you have used when you are finished.



THE SCHOOL TECHNICIANS
Mr John Kelly, Mrs Shirley Lamb, Mr David Iannetta, Mrs Pippa Campbell are the School
Technicians.   Their job is to look after the school's televisions, video recorders, cameras,
computers, cassette players and other equipment. They are also kept busy preparing Science,
Technical and Art materials as well as duplicating resources for many other subjects in the school.
Remember they have many requests on their time, so be patient and polite when seeking their
assistance.

Miss Kathleen Farquhar, General Assistant, helps to prepare teaching materials and assists
departments to organise resources.


THE SCHOOL CLEANERS
As you are leaving at 3.45pm, you will meet the ladies who clean the school coming in to start
work. Mrs Kath Chapman is the Cleaning Supervisor and co-ordinates the work of the cleaners.
When you return at nine next morning, they will have the classrooms and corridors fresh and clean
again. You can make their job easier by being clean and tidy during the day. Simple things like
taking the mud off your feet outside and using litter bins for your litter, show consideration for
others.


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YOUR PARENTS HAVE THE RIGHT TO
CHOOSE ANOTHER SCHOOL
Now you, and your parents, have read a great deal about Speyside High School and, of course, we
hope that it makes you look forward to joining us even more. It is possible, however, that you and
your parents would prefer to send you to another school. This part of the handbook explains how
to go about that. To make it easier to understand, this is explained by writing down the questions
your parents would want to ask and then answering them.

QUESTION      What do I do if I want my son or daughter to go to a school other than the one that
              normally serves my area?

ANSWER        You should contact the Head Teacher of the school you have chosen. Usually that
              is all that needs to be done.

QUESTION      When might my request for a place in a certain school be refused?

ANSWER        IF THE SCHOOL IS ALREADY FULL. The Council do not have to admit your child
              to the school of your choice if to do so they would have to:

              employ an additional teacher; or spend a lot of money, for example, on providing
              another classroom.

              if they have to employ an additional teacher or spend a lot of money, even if the
              school is not full. This could arise, for example where the Council would have to
              provide a lift for a child in a wheelchair.

              if a child's education would suffer from another change of school

              if education in the school you want would not be suitable to the age, ability or
              aptitude of your child. This might apply if a parent wants his child to be admitted to
              a stage of education for which he is not yet ready, or to a school which cannot meet
              his needs.

              if the Council think that a child can only be provided for in the school you want at the
              expense of the other pupils' education.

              if the school you want has been provided specially for handicapped children or for
              children with other special needs, and the Council think your child does not need the
              special equipment or specially trained staff they have provided in that school.

              if a child has been very troublesome at school. If he has been expelled from a
              school, the Council are not bound to readmit him. If a child has been in constant
              trouble, and his parent asks that he should move to another school, the Council can
              refuse a place if they think that the child would be likely to disturb the order and
              discipline in that school. They may indeed suggest another school better able to
              cope with him.




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QUESTION       If my request for a school other than the one which serves my area is granted, how
               will my son or daughter travel to this school?

ANSWER         It will be your responsibility to make your own transport arrangements.          The
               transport information set out earlier on page 5 will no longer apply, for the Council
               do not have to provide a school bus or pass, or any other help with transport.

               The Council may be willing to help although they need not. It may be worth asking
               if you would get help before you decide whether to ask for a place in the school you
               prefer.    However, if the Council decide not to help, you will have to consider
               carefully how your child is going to get to the school you prefer. You will have to
               see that he or she attends regularly.

QUESTION       How can I find out more about my right to choose a school and how to go about it?

ANSWER         A pamphlet is available from the Educational Services Department in Elgin.        It is
               called "Notes for Parents". This explains the situation in more detail.

If you go to one of the Primaries which normally sends its pupils to Speyside you will probably
decide to go to Speyside too. The map on page 3 shows our "catchment area". However, our
catchment area is so big that we cannot show the boundaries clearly on such a small scale map.
The notes on page 3 should help you decide if you would normally come to Speyside.




INSURANCE
No insurance cover is held by The Moray Council to provide automatic compensation to pupils in
the event of a personal accident or death. It is your responsibility as a parent to insure you child
for personal accident or death if you feel this is appropriate.

The Moray Council does hold third party liability insurance which indemnifies the Council for claims
from third parties (eg parents of pupils) who have suffered injury, illness, loss or damage arising
from the negligence of the Council or its employees. However, if there is no negligence, no claim
would be accepted by the Council.

This information is brought to your attention at this time in order that you may take whatever action
you feel appropriate. We are also particularly anxious to avoid the potentially distressing situation
of parents only becoming aware of the insurance position after an accident has occurred, however
remote this possibility.




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