This week the S5 and S6 pupils have been grappling with their Prelim Exams.  As ever, some pupils have left the Hall looking happier than others – but it was ever thus.  I look forward to finding out how they have done and rest assured: we will be working hard with all our senior pupils to ensure that they are well prepared come May.  Speaking of May, there are only eleven school weeks between now and the beginning of May – this strikes terror into my heart, so I don’t know about anyone else!  So S4 pupils only have 33 more hours of each of their subjects to go and S5/6 pupils only have about 55 hours of each subject.  Gulp!  Please can everyone encourage the youngsters to make good use of every minute of these eleven weeks?

Yesterday we welcomed five teachers from South Korea as they visited the school.  They spent most of their time in English and Modern Languages (given that they are here as English Teachers), but did branch out to other subjects e.g. Drama, Art and PE.  They had a great time and were very complimentary of our staff and the pupils.  As ever, our pupils were not fazed in the slightest – however one youngster did ask them what it was like having come to Scotland all the way from Kenya!

We also had the, now annual, Burns’ Supper last night.  Thanks to Mrs Ball, Mr Blair, the KASG team, Ms Hossack (and her merry band of helpers), and Mr Swinney for organising the whole event.  The food was plentiful and delicious.  The entertainment was top notch.    Ninian Wilberforce piped in the chef (Finlay Hay) and the haggis; following which, Mr Illingworth gave a rousing rendition of the “Address to the Haggis”, starting the evening off on the proper footing.  Mark Robertson (Head Boy) was witty and a little provocative (quite right!) in his “Address to the Lassies”.  Gemma Sandie (Head Girl) was more than a match for him in her response.  Music was provided by pipers Euan Naysmith, Ninian Wilberforce, Cian Woodsend and Grant Campbell; a select choir (Lucy Linton-Main, Leah Murray, Katie green, Emily Baxter, Kaelyn Honeycomb, and Roisin Kennelly;) and the Goats’ Toes (too numerous to mention individually).  Needless to say they were amazing.  We also had a recitation from Megan Brown and Highland Dancing from Brigid Hay.  Junior pupils have been studying Burns in their English classes and have been producing their own responses to poems.  An animation on the theme of Tam O’Shanter was shown last night as part of the entertainment and congratulations to the group who must have spent hours on it (Freddie Cunningham, Stuart McQuade, Fergus Syme, Finley Bruce and George Green).  A finer evening you could not have wished for, and, at the risk of becoming boring, I was one very proud Head Teacher.

Have a braw weekend.
S Ingham