Dear Parents

 

We are approaching the end of another busy term and everyone is looking forward to the Easter holiday.

 

A lot has happened this term and there have been major staff appointments: Mr Graham Hutton has been appointed Senior Depute Head Teacher replacing Mr Brown and Mrs Little has been appointed Depute Head Teacher.  Mr Graeme Kiddie is now permanent Principal Teacher of Guidance.

 

There have been some changes this year to the school: we now have a lovely, modern conference room for meetings, interviews etc.  I would like to thank the School Board for the funds to buy the new furniture and our Facilities Co-ordinators for doing the painting in their own time.  In addition many of you will know that the ugly 1970’s screens in the hall were removed during the half term holiday.  That has made a huge difference and visitors to the hall have said how different it looks but couldn’t see why!

 

During the Easter holidays we are expecting great changes: the area outside the Conference Room will be painted and the reception area is to be completely refurbished.  In the hall the sound and lighting systems will be installed together with the new partitions, the stage and new raised seating.  We hope it will all be ready in time for our summer concert which will celebrate the end of our 10th birthday.

 

So there is lots to look forward to and lots to see and we hope you will come and enjoy with us the exciting changes.

 

In the meantime our S4-6 pupils have examinations in the summer and I know parents will want to support them by ensuring that they do work in the holidays and arrive at the examinations well prepared.

 

But for everyone it will soon be the holidays and on behalf of the staff I wish you and your families a happy and restful Easter.

 

 

          Mrs B M Hadcroft

Head Teacher

 

 

 

 

 

LTiD

 

It’s all about learning!

 

No matter what we try to learn we will learn it best when:

v      we understand clearly what we are trying to do and what is expected of us

v      someone tells us how well we are doing and what we need to do to improve

v      we get time to make improvements and support if we need it

 

Why are we involved in this programme?

 

By making changes to how pupils are taught, by taking account of the latest research into how we learn, teacher and pupils understand how to learn and improve for the world of work.

 

How can I help my child?

 

Parents/carers are the most important educators of our young people.

Greater improvements in learning will take place when parents/carers:

v      know more about how learning takes place

v      discuss learning with their children regularly

v      share their understanding of how their children learn best with teachers

v      encourage and support home learning

v      enter into partnership with the school to support their children’s learning

 

What is happening in the school right now?

 

All teachers are trying to help pupils learn by clearly explaining what it is that they will be learning.  Learning intentions are used to do this.

The LEARNING INTENTION is what the teachers hope the pupils will:

v      Know

v      Understand

v      Be able to do

Teachers are also asking pupils to think about what they will need to do to be successful for that particular learning intention.  These are called success criteria.

 

Teachers are also trying to explain to pupils what they are doing well and how they need to improve in their learning so that each pupil has something to focus on for next time.  This should provide them with little steps to take that will lead to a big improvement over time.

 

 

 

EASTER SCHOOL

 

Supported study for S4 – S6 pupils

 

During the Easter holidays various classes have been organised to provide support for our young people who will be sitting their SQA examinations in May.  Staff will be available to provide individual support as well as class tutorials and revision. 

 

All S4 – S6 pupils have been issued a timetable and a parental consent form, indicating which classes/times they will be in school.

 

 

 

 

 

 

PARENT FORUM MEETING – Wednesday 25 April 2007

 

Parents of all our pupils are invited to attend an informal meeting in the school on Wednesday 25 April at 7.30pm.  The purpose of the evening is to give you, as parents, an opportunity to become more involved in your child’s education and other events that take place in the school.

 

Do come along and make a difference.  Refreshments available.

 

 

 

DUNDEE SCHOOLS BAGPIPE COMPETITION

 

Johnny MacNamara 1P2 and Lorna Ness 2P2 gained 2nd and 3rd place respectively at the Lochee Burns Club Federation on Saturday 10 March. They were required to play a medley on bagpipes, competing against other pupils form Dundee schools.  Congratulations to them both.

 

 

ROCK CHALLENGE 2007

 

Global Rock Challenge is a performing arts competition held in professional venues around the world, and schools and colleges are invited to enter teams of up to 135 young people in these events.  In the UK Rock Challenge there are around 25 secondary school/college events, and Braeview took part in the Aberdeen round.  The UK Rock Challenge promotes a drug free high and there is a strong anti-drug theme at the event.

 

The Braeview theme was called “Disaster at Sea” and was based on the Moray Firth fishing disaster.  During this Scottish historical event in August 1848, 800 fishing boats set out to sea.  By midnight the weather was deteriorating rapidly with strengthening winds and increasingly heavy seas.  During the course of the following storm, 124 boats were lost, and 100 fishermen lost their lives, leaving behind 47 widows and 161 children.

 

Pupils worked with Miss Rayner and Miss Randall to perform this event to music.  Teams were put together of - sea dancers, village women, the sailors and the distress siren.

 

The pupils involved rehearsed at lunchtimes and after school.  The day of the competition was long, but exciting.  Seeing other schools who regularly took part in this event really provided each participant with a real ambition for future years.  All members of the team worked extremely hard and although Braeview did not win overall four awards of Excellence were presented to the team.  These were for Drama Skills, Concept Interpretation, Lighting Design and Soundtrack.

 

The pupils who took part were:

 

Chloe Rice, Rebecca Anderson 1B2; Jodie Faulds, Jennifer Furey 1P1; Lindsay Lawson, Lauren Sandles, Chloe Irvine, Shannon Kennedy, Jordan Prophet 2C1; Kirsty Hogg, Natalie Price 2P2; Kerry Galloway, Ashley Gray, Dale Simpson, Kirsten Temple, Stacey Anderson 2C2; Ashley Gorman 4P2; Siobhann McCann 4B3; Chris Bannan 5B1/B3; Adam El Qmache 5B2; Steven Miller, Steven Livingston,   Ryan Livingston,  Stewart Heenan 5P2; Emma Stevens, Sean Crossan 5C1;  Scott Whitnall, and Gary Simpson 6C.

 

 

 

DUNDEE SCHOOLS CROSS COUNTRY

 

Siobhan McCann won a silver medal in the senior girls X-Country at the Dundee Schools X-Country on 15 March 2007.  She split two international runners who were 1st and 3rd.  A great achievement for Braeview Academy, well done Siobhan!  All other runners from Braeview performed really well and gave their best effort on a difficult course.  The pupils all represented the school with merit and their behaviour was excellent.

 

 

 

HIT HEALTHY HEIGHTS

 

This competition is running in school dining-halls throughout Dundee during the month of March.

Pupils will gain points for the school by choosing healthy options from the school lunch menu. At the end of the month the school with the highest number of points will win a prize for the dinner ladies and there will be a Prize Draw for pupils.

 

This is a rewarding way to encourage pupils to choose healthier food in the dining-hall.  We are sure Braeview pupils can do it!

 

 

 

PARKING IN DUNBAR PARK

 

We have received a letter from the Dunbar Park residents group, expressing concern about parents parking there when they are collecting pupils from school.

 

The residents are concerned that the road is very busy at these times and that they have difficulty getting in and out of Dunbar Park.  They are also worried about the possibility of accidents occurring.

 

If you collect your child from school by car, please try to avoid parking in the Dunbar Park area.  Thank you.

 

PUPILS IN NEWSDAY CHALLENGE

 

Thirty-two Braeview Academy pupils today took part in a national competition to create an entire newspaper in one day.  The challenge was set by the Times Educational Supplement (TES) and is open to schools from all over the UK.

 

The Braeview entry was co-ordinated by school librarian Kate Baigrie and English teacher Marcus Dailly and involved pupils selected from S1 to S6.  The team, led by Head Girl and Editor-in-Chief Chelsea Bertie (17), worked flat out for the entire 8-hour time limit to produce a 12-page paper containing local, national and international news.  The pupils also had to ensure that the paper contained a number of required elements, including a happiness survey and comic relief feature.  The final version was “put to bed” and posted to the TES at 5.00pm.

 

Highlights of the day included an interview with local football star Lee Wilkie and a pupil interview with Jim McGovern MP.  The news and features teams investigated and reported on the day’s news and were able to include appropriate photos with the kind permission of DC Thomson Ltd.

 

Head Teacher, Brenda Hadcroft, commented:

 

“I am proud and delighted that so many of our pupils worked so well together to produce such an excellent entry. The skills they have used are just one example of the many talents we see every day in our school community.”

 

The pupils will have to wait until next week to find out how well they have done but are already discussing ideas for next year’s entry.

 

 

Pupils with the final version of the school’s newspaper.

 

 

 

EXTRA CURRICULAR ACTIVITIES

 

Day

 

Time

Hall

Gym

Pool

Outside

School

Mon

Lunch

 

 

 

Swim Lessons

 

 

 

3.30

 

 

 

 

 

Model Club

Tue

Lunch

 

Unihoc

Dance

Staff

 

 

 

3.30

 

Rugby

 

Girls

Football

 

Golf

 

 

Wed

Lunch

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

3.30

 

Martial

Arts

 

 

 

Thurs

Lunch

 

 

Table

Tennis

 

 

 

 

3.30

 

 

 

 

Golf

 

 

Fri

Lunch

 

 

Water Polo

 

 

 

3.30

 

 

 

Street Football

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

---- Invitation ----

 

Dear Parent/Carer

 

Welcome to Braeview’s Parent Forum!

 

Our first get-together is on

Wednesday 25th April

at 7.00 p.m. in the school.

 

We look forward to seeing you then.

 

    Meet other parents

                                         Get involved

 

 

Make a difference

 

 

Find out what is happening in the school