I hope that you are all having a good St Andrew’s Day.  We have had numerous pupils turning up in tartan and younger pupils are also celebrating by having a Reading Hour in English (as good an excuse as any!).

We have continued to receive plaudits for the Business Question Time that was held last week – people are still congratulating the pupils on the interesting questions that they posed to a panel of local business people, and on the catering that was supplied by pupils from Home Economics afterwards.

We are now “three for three” for the Outdoor Education Challenge (we might have to start letting another school win soon…).  Congratulations go to the S1 Team, not only on winning but being more suitably dressed for the weather than the S3 were.  Mr McSwan and Mr Crawford were welcome support and cheered the youngsters to victory over the other five secondary schools.

Peter Macaldowie and Bethany Whitaker represented the school at Preston Lodge High School last week.  They went along to talk to 180 of their peers about their experiences at Tots ‘n Teens as, having witnessed the success of ours, Preston Lodge are launching their own version.  It’s never easy talking to large groups but Bethany and Peter managed it with aplomb.

Mr Young, Mr Flood, Mr Illingworth and I have been taking lunchtime constitutionals down the High Street over the last couple of weeks.  We have been looking specifically at how the pupils are behaving and whether they are leaving litter about.  I have to say that we have been very proud of the pupils who we have encountered, witnessing them putting rubbish in bins and comporting themselves well.  We are delighted and wish to thank the pupils for showing the school in such a good light.  Keep it up!  John McFern and Shannon Cullen have also been recognised this week for their work at the Haddington Christmas Fair, doing their bit for the community.  Well done to them and all the other pupils who give of their time to support local organisations.

It’s going to be a very busy week next week, what with the S5/6 Parents’ Night (4th), Talking to Teens coaching for parents (5th – places still available, so call the School Office) and the Winter Dance (6th – Sold Out).  I think some of us are going to really need our weekend next week!  Please have a look at the information on the “How? What? And Why?” of school dances that was placed on the website yesterday.  There will also be House Assemblies next week where I will be talking to the pupils about how they are doing and the personal goals that they might want to set.  I will also be talking to them about the Dress Code Consultation results.  I will put together a letter for parents about this soon after and will also put it on the website.

I have to confess that Christmas is coming up on me faster than I realised and whilst I am panicking about buying presents, there was something else that took me by surprise – it’s only five working weeks to the S5/6 Prelim Exams!  So whilst it’s a lovely time of year, with lots of exciting things going on, seniors need to keep the momentum going with their work and ensure that they are doing what they need to do to be able to make a success of these exams. 

Have a good (if slightly chilly) weekend.