The Chronicle 2020 School News 1 The Chronicle 2020 Welcome to The Chronicle 2020 CONTENTS From the Head ................................................................................................... 2 From the Staffroom ......................................................................................... 4 Retirements .......................................................................................................... 6 Nursery Report ................................................................................................... 8 Junior Report ..................................................................................................... 10 After School Care & Holiday Club ....................................................... 12 Senior Report .................................................................................................... 14 Charity Events .................................................................................................. 16 Careers & Work Experience ................................................................... 20 In The News ...................................................................................................... 22 The Music Department .............................................................................. 32 Sports Review .................................................................................................. 34 World Book Day ..............................................................................................3 8 Activities & Extra-curricular .................................................................... 40 Junior Art Gallery ........................................................................................... 54 Senior Art Gallery .......................................................................................... 60 Drama ................................................................................................................... 72 Senior Scientists ............................................................................................ 78 ‘Experience the World’ Day ..................................................................... 80 Learning & Teaching from Home ....................................................... 83 Silver Awards .................................................................................................. 104 Awards & Certificates ............................................................................... 106 Parent Teacher Association .................................................................. 107 Former Pupils’ Club .................................................................................... 108 Development Office .................................................................................... 110 FP Reply Slip ................................................................................................... 112 The Chronicle 2020 From the Head 2 From The Head I n August 2019, we began the year by celebrating another very impressive set of SQA examination results. Our sixth year leavers took up places at a wide range of universities to study subjects as diverse as medicine, veterinary medicine, economics, engineering and computer science, to name just a few. Two of our leavers headed off to the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland to pursue their musical passions while several talented artists began their studies in Manchester and at Central St Martin’s School of Art in London. Indeed the school’s academic and wider performance in recent years was recognised by The Sunday Times when in November 2019 we were named Scottish Independent School of the Year 2020. As you will read in this edition of the Chronicle, at all stages of the school pupils benefited from a wealth of extra-curricular opportunities and there were notable successes in all disciplines. Whether on stage, in the laboratory, the concert hall, on the sports field, the debating chamber, in the classroom, or the art studio, St Margaret’s girls excelled. The customary landmarks in the St Margaret’s year were enjoyed in the autumn Our end of session virtual celebration in June 2020 concluded with a wonderful rendition of Heather Small’s song ‘Proud’ . The choice of song could not have been more appropriate as we looked back at the challenges which were overcome by our school community throughout this particularly memorable school year! Session 2019-20 was very much a year of two halves: before and after the Covid-19 pandemic which continues to grip the world. term: Harvest at Rubislaw Church, the St Margaret’s Day Service in St Machar’s Cathedral, the Senior School Production at the Arts Centre and a particularly special Carol Service in the Beach Ballroom. Of course, school life took a different course in the spring term as the impact of COVID-19 was felt: initially in the form of restricted school activities and the cancellation of school events and then in the national closure of schools on Friday March 20th. From the moment the idea of school closures was mooted we began to mobilise so that from Monday March 23rd we moved our lessons and our school community online, using G Suite for Education as the platform for live delivery of lessons, including instrumental lessons. The unfailing commitment of my colleagues and their willingness to develop their skillset so quickly, the resilience of our pupils and the support of our families was extraordinary. I will not pretend that this was an easy experience for anyone, but as a school community we are exceptionally proud of what we learned and what was achieved during this time. In addition to the continuation of learning and The Chronicle 2020 From the Head 3 teaching and pastoral care for all age groups, it was important for us to maintain the sense of community and family which we hold dear at St Margaret’s. Virtual assemblies, surprise staff performances and a range of special virtual events, many of which are captured in this Chronicle, kept us together. The school motto, tenez ferme , took on a new meaning as children and adults alike coped with the uncertainty of the pandemic. Notwithstanding the difficulties, the experience of running a virtual school presented us with many opportunities, not least in terms of our digital skills. How pleased we were that the staff in-service in January had taken the form of Google training and little did we realise how beneficial that would be in the year ahead! Creativity abounded during this time: our sixth year girls benefited from a bespoke programme of virtual courses, some of which we devised and ran ourselves and others which we sourced from universities and other external providers; we were grateful to former pupils for their contributions to virtual careers days and we found alternative ways to mark the milestones in the school year. We were particularly sorry not to be able to host in-person events for our VIS leavers and remain committed to inviting them back to school for a special celebration when circumstances allow. As the summer term progressed and we grappled with the cancellation of exams and the implementation of an alternative certification model for SQA, we also worked with various editions of Scottish Government guidance on the re-opening of schools, and in the final weeks of term were delighted to secure a short-term lease on 3-5 Albyn Place, which quickly became known as the Annexe. Meeting remotely and regularly throughout the pandemic, we are indebted to the School Council, chaired by Professor Ross, for their stewardship of our school in these extraordinary times and for their support of staff. We are all aware that the vibrant school which emerges in the pages of this Chronicle owes a great debt to the dedication and loyalty of our wider community: our PTA, Parent Forum, Former Pupils’ Association and School Council all cherish the traditions of St Margaret’s but support us in the innovations which keep the school moving forward. We thank you all. Now do read on.... Additional annexe building at 3-5 Albyn Place The Chronicle 2020 From the Staffroom 4 A s is customary at the beginning of September we were pleased to bid a hearty “bienvenue” and “willkommen” to our two foreign language assistants, Julie Surre and Louis Flaig whose engaging work in the French and German classrooms respectively was hugely appreciated by girls learning those languages at all levels. In particular those of us in the modern languages department thank Julie and Louis for helping to provide an insight into the culture of their countries, whilst simultaneously improving the language skills and confidence of girls in the classes they taught. We were sorry that the sudden closure of the school building in mid-March meant that our two assistants had to return to their homelands ahead of time, but we wish them every success in their future studies and careers. Towards the end of September we were sorry to say goodbye to one of our nursery practitioners, Ms Ana Milne, and wish her every success in the future. In her place, we were pleased to appoint Miss Lisa Williams on a permanent basis to our busy nursery, an environment already familiar to Lisa who had already completed a placement at St Margaret’s during her training and was then later employed to cover a maternity leave position in the fairly recent past. In late October, Mrs Corrie Methven was a welcome addition to the After-School Care team and quickly settled into the routines of that facility. In December, we were delighted to appoint Mrs Anne Bonandrini, herself a St Margaret’s parent, as our Marketing Officer; her previous experience in a school setting meant that she adapted very readily to her role in the Marketing, Admissions and Development office. As we embarked on the new academic year, 2019-20, we were delighted to be able to extend a warm St Margaret’s welcome to a number of new colleagues who joined our staff. In the senior school, Miss Ashley Fulton took up a position as a teacher of modern studies; Miss Kirstie Maddison joined us as the teacher of 4 Junior; Mrs Janet Vavangas joined the nursery team; and Mrs Lynn Fogiel took up a part-time position in the PE department, her role spanning both junior and senior schools. It was encouraging to see how quickly all new colleagues settled into their roles and to life in the wider St Margaret’s community. In the spring term, Mrs Sarah Hendry, teacher of biology and physics, commenced her maternity leave in mid-February and we were thrilled to hear of the safe arrival of baby Tom in early March. We considered ourselves extremely fortunate to secure, once again, the services of Mrs Ruth Lawson to the biology department. Mrs Lawson, a highly experienced teacher, fulfilled a similar role in session 2017-18, and it was good to be able to welcome her back into the science department teaching staff for the duration of Mrs Hendry’s leave. We were also grateful for the flexibility of other colleagues across all three science subjects, who were prepared to adapt their teaching timetables and take on some additional lessons to ensure familiarity and continuity of experience for the girls being presented for SQA examinations in the summer term. When we resumed school life after the Christmas holiday, we could never have imagined how drastically our usual practices would have to change only weeks later. Shortly before the Easter break, school building closure was an inevitable consequence of the national lockdown and the camaraderie of the staffroom was – by necessity – conducted in an online forum. It was fortunate that Mrs Rachel Appleton, who had joined the modern languages department only two weeks previously to cover the maternity leave of Miss Sarah Forgie, was able to be in the actual school building for that short while, as opposed to having to experience her first term of teaching at St Margaret’s in a virtual classroom rather than a physical one! In Miss Forgie’s absence, we were delighted to appoint Miss Karen Williamson to the role of acting Head of Modern Languages. We were 2019-20 The Chronicle 2020 From the Staffroom 5 equally delighted to hear of the safe arrival of baby Oliver, first child to Sarah and her husband Stuart, in April. In April too, we were sorry to see Mrs Louise Dredge resign from her position as nursery teacher but understand her desire to be able to spend more time with her two young children and wish her and her family every happiness in the future. In her place, Mrs Laura Simpson, who had been appointed in the previous summer term to cover Mrs Dredge’s maternity leave, became our permanent nursery teacher. As we ended session 2019-20 we wished Mrs Stephanie Stirton all the very best as she prepared for the arrival of her first baby later in the summer holiday. We were also extremely sorry to have to say goodbye to Mrs Theresa Scott, who retired from her position as head of art and design. Mrs Scott, a very experienced practitioner in her field, had been a member of our teaching staff for only three years, having taken up the reins of that department in August 2017. However, her engaging, creative and inspiring lessons were greatly enjoyed by the girls she taught, and we thank her for all of her work, both in and out of the classroom, during the relatively short time she was with us. In those unusual circumstances we were sad not to be able to host a “proper” farewell celebration for Theresa as is customary when colleagues retire, but enjoyed raising a glass to her via our Google Staffroom Meet one fine summer evening and wishing her good health and every happiness together with her husband in their well-deserved retirement. It goes without saying that the one thing all of us missed during the summer term was the company of one another within the school building; however, despite operating under those very different circumstances, the team spirit demonstrated by all teaching and support staff throughout that period exemplified the #stmargaretstogether initiative and we looked forward to being able to make those more personal connections again at the start of the new session. Above all, we wish continued health, happiness and success to all colleagues and their families as we look ahead to the challenges of the next academic year. Susan Lynch The Chronicle 2020 Retirements 6 D uring her relatively short career at St Margaret’s Theresa proved herself to be a highly experienced and effective teacher, and a friendly and collaborative colleague. Having worked with the SQA as a marker and as a moderator for many years, she took the benefit of the knowledge gained from these roles into the art and design classrooms, and the results gained in the National qualifications by her pupils are testament to her expertise. Theresa was a staunch supporter of the ‘all girls’ ethos and developed a good working relationship with the pupils she taught, bringing out their talents and encouraging them to produce their best work possible. The stunning wall displays in the corridors outside the studio, and the pictures of the month that grace several of the public areas of school, were much admired by all; Theresa was rightly proud of all of their Theresa Scott, Head of Art and Design, made the decision to take early retirement at the end of session 2019-20. Theresa joined the teaching staff at St Margaret’s as a very experienced practitioner in her field; she is a fine arts graduate from Gray’s School of Art whose career has taken her to a number of schools in the local area. She served as Head of Faculty at Mearns Academy, then Hazlehead Academy and finally at Cults Academy before accepting the position of Head of Art and Design at St Margaret’s in August of 2017. Outwith the classroom, Theresa was also the co-ordinator for the Aberdeen Art & Design network and is very well known and highly regarded in this community. achievements, in particular those who gained sought-after places at prestigious Art colleges throughout the country. During her time at the school, Theresa was also keen to play her part in the extra-curricular life of St Margaret’s, and to this end, she introduced the Democracy poster competition which was promoted within the wider community. In addition, the department won several national and local competitions under her leadership. As Theresa embarks on a new routine at a more leisurely pace, with more time to spend with her family and friends, we wish her a long, happy and healthy retirement with her husband Jim, himself a retired art and design teacher – may they have many exciting travelling adventures in their motorhome in the years to come. Susan Lynch Retirement THERESA SCOTT STEVENSONS ARE PROUD TO SUPPORT ST. MARGARET’S SCHOOL enjoy Fine Dining at home with Entier’s Executive Chef Orry Shand Scottish Chef of the Year • Captain of the Scottish Culinary Team seasonal menus • minimal cooking• exceptional flavours • online video method order from www.entier-shop.com/dineathome also visit www.entier-services.com by entier dine @ home T he nursery children have reached the end of another busy year and although it has been a rather unusual summer term, the nursery children and their families have demonstrated the amazing ethos of St Margaret’s through the extraordinary times of COVID-19. New Term The autumn term started full of positivity for the year ahead welcoming our returning and new children into the nursery environment. Mrs Vavangas and Miss Williams joined the nursery team and Miss Milne departed to pursue childminding and family commitments. We were very lucky to take part in some early tennis skill sessions when the development officer from Tennis Scotland came to visit; the children were extremely enthusiastic and tried really hard to follow all the instructions they were given. We had a lot of fun with balloons developing our coordination and motor skills. Preparation soon followed for the Harvest celebration at Rubislaw church where the children enjoyed being part of the junior school experience. It is so wonderful seeing our children, especially when some have only been in for a matter of weeks, growing in confidence and taking part in such a special occasion and raising awareness of charity work by donating food items to the Cyrenians. A Nursery year like no other - filled with learning, challenge and new experiences. Specialist Visitors Visitors in nursery are always very welcome and this year has been no exception. We welcomed Ann from Childsmile on numerous occasions, not only to support us to clean our teeth properly but also to help us learn about different types of healthy and unhealthy foods, using puppets. We like to use the large toothbrushes to clean their teeth. The nurses from Albyn brought their special Glitterbug box to help us learn about germs and to support us with good hand washing routines (who knew how important this would be?) Sometimes this can be a little tricky and the lightbox shows up the areas of our hands that are harder to get clean. When the Teddy Bear hospital came to visit, we joined 1 Junior with our teddy bears to practise being doctors and learn about our bodies. We liked seeing the x-ray machine and listening to our heart beat. It wasn’t long before we started our paired reading sessions with 2 Junior which were a great success and thoroughly enjoyed by both groups of children. Wee Green Spaces It was the first time for many of our children to take part in our Wee Green Spaces outings. These outings support the children to develop their independence skills, problem-solving and curiosity and awareness of nature. However, this is by no The Chronicle 2020 Nursery Report 8 REPORT nursery The Chronicle 2020 Nursery Report 9 means limited to just these skills. We find that the children grow in confidence, resilience and creativity. We climb on walls, find secret paths, roll rocks and ourselves down hills, search for objects and build pretend campfires and real dens. We also love to jump and wade and splash in the huge muddy puddle that builds at the bottom of the hill if we are lucky enough to find it. During all of these activities the discussion and language used supports numeracy and literacy skills by working out who is higher on the wall or who has the longest stick or who has the smallest or biggest rock whilst developing teamwork and turn taking. Nativity and Christmas Celebrations During December, we asked for donations of toys and gifts from our families to support the Northsound 1 Appeal, which was well received. For our Christmas trip this year, we arranged a visit to see the Ice House at the Lemon Tree. We sat on cushions on the floor and watched Clip and Clop’s magical winter adventure with all the arctic animals. Our Christmas nativity soon followed, which of course is such a highlight. Despite some of the animals trying to keep baby Jesus awake, the angels shared their news, the camels led the kings, the shepherds watched their sheep, Joseph looked after Mary and the star shone brightly to show the way. All was well and baby Jesus was born whilst the children sang and performed beautifully. This was followed by a delicious Christmas lunch with crackers to pull and the term was brought to an end with snacks, fun and dancing at our Christmas party. St Margaret’s Spirit Shines Through Then 2020 arrived. It all started in quite the normal fashion with celebrations of Chinese New Year which included dragon dancing, lantern making and food tasting, Robert Burns Day with haggis, neeps and tatties followed by shortbread and reciting Scottish poems and learning Scottish words. These were followed by World Book Day and the children choosing their favourite character to dress up as and reading lots of wonderful stories and talking about the characters. Mrs Dredge decided not to return after her maternity leave and, therefore, Mrs Simpson took on the role of permanent nursery teacher. However, in mid-March things began to look very different and our nursery, as well as whole school learning, transformed into online learning and learning from home due to the pandemic. It would be very easy to focus on the difficulties and the exasperations of the situation. However, I could not be prouder of our St Margaret’s families and how they dealt with such bizarre and out of the ordinary circumstances. Every day the learning activities the children took part in brought a smile to our faces and the enthusiasm and engagement from parents and children was really outstanding. I could never have imagined the learning that would take place for children, parents and staff and how far we all came. The live Google meet stories and Mr Fox’s box kept us all interacting face to face and helping us all to keep some sort of routine and familiarity. So as the term came to a close and we were creeping towards the end of interacting through a computer, I was really overwhelmed by the support from parents and how resilient our children and families are. And, although this did not really surprise me, as I know how wonderful they are, it did make me think that really we can do anything we set our minds to and I could only hope that this resilience, perseverance and enthusiasm continues to blossom and grow as our children move on to new adventures and challenges and know that they really can achieve anything. Jennifer Minett Nursery Manager SCHOOL REPORT A ll went as planned for the first term and we were delighted to welcome everyone back to school. We extended a particularly warm welcome to Miss Maddison who joined us as our 4 Junior teacher and the year began in the usual way, with the first half term culminating in a wonderful harvest celebration at Rubislaw Church. During that term we all enjoyed taking part in a new whole junior school initiative called ‘Building Resilience’ . This was led by Mrs Smith and through a number of assemblies and class lessons we started to learn more about our own health and wellbeing and how to cope with the times when things didn’t always go as expected. This proved to be a timely approach as the year developed and we were faced with so much change. Girls also enjoyed the opportunities to take part in a number of outdoor learning experiences and visits to so many places of interest including the Gordon Highlanders museum, Blairs chapel and Victorian trails around the city centre streets. We also took part in Maths week and came together to share our learning and once again the girls enjoyed working with their buddies to create a range of wonderful arcade games as part of the cardboard box challenge. In the runup to Christmas the 4-7 Junior girls enjoyed an amazing trip to Dundee to visit a number of different venues and enjoy the theatrical experience of ‘Oor Wullie’ at Dundee Repertory theatre. The girls particularly enjoyed the audience participation which involved one of our teachers too. This term also saw a group of our 5-7 Junior girls under the guidance of There is a saying in the world of football that football is a game of two halves and I do feel that this is a phrase we can certainly borrow to describe the past school year. Who could have imagined when we started in August how the year would end? Mrs Gibb, Mrs Wyatt and Mrs Twigg take part for the first time in the Lego Mindstorm competition. The girls worked hard at their weekly club meetings to prepare for the competition and one Saturday in December saw them off to take part in the regional competition where they were rewarded with two trophies. It was a wonderful experience for them all which allowed the development of so many skills in team working and problem- solving. After Christmas the girls returned to an exciting term where the Engineering Week organised by Mrs Gibb and participation in the engineering competition was one of the highlights. It was wonderful to see and hear the excited buzz around school as the girls met with the engineers and learned more about the world of engineering. All of the girls went on to design an entry for the engineering competition and also to take part in World Book Day where the focus was on non fiction books. This proved an interesting challenge as girls were encouraged to look at the widest range of non fiction texts available and heated debates took place - including the question of whether sheet music is a form of non fiction. I’ll leave you to decide! If this were a football match, then I think now is the time to blow the whistle for half time. On 20th March along with all other schools around the country we closed our school building and 10 The Chronicle 2020 Junior Report 11 moved our school online. It was both an exciting and daunting task for us all but we were well prepared and the junior girls were sent home on that last Friday with packages of work. Google classrooms had been set up so we could communicate through them. I think initially we thought this might just be a two week break, taking us up to the Easter holidays but as we all know it went on for much longer and the second half of the year was conducted online. Initially there were a number of hiccups as we all became familiar with the setup and as some of us improved our Wifi connections at home to ensure better connectivity. We became used to having extra pupils in our classroom as dogs and cats made cameo visits and helped out during lessons. All of the teachers quickly became experts at video recording and holding Google meets to support learning and the St Margaret’s community came together as parents supported learning at home. It was very different but I am very proud of all we achieved together and look back with pride on the amazing support parents gave, the enthusiasm with which girls took part in the exciting lessons teachers delivered and on the marvellous whole school off timetable days in which the girls took part. One of these special events was a virtual theatre trip which Mrs Goodwin was able to organise for us and the 5 -7 Junior girls spent the afternoon watching a National Theatre production of Peter Pan. It was an amazing performance after which we discovered that one of our parents had been at school with Madeleine Worrall who played the part of Wendy and she was able to put us in touch with Madeleine who then ran a series of Q&A sessions for our girls, where they were able to ask questions about the production and also about theatrical life in general. Who would have known we would have been able to do that when we first started watching the show? I think this was a great example of the St Margaret’s community coming together to create such special learning opportunities for the girls. I always enjoy the Beach Clean in June and whilst I would still say the real thing is definitely the best, taking part in a virtual beach clean and sharing our activities online was so great. It felt good to be able to be St Margaret’s together even when we were not together physically. The whole school assemblies, concerts, celebrations and sunflower growing across the school are all such positive memories to take from this most unusual and unexpected year. So many things had to change but through it all the girls at St Margaret’s continued to learn and to grow, our parents continued to support the learning and all of the teachers continued to plan and deliver excellent learning opportunities in this new and unusual world. There is another saying from the world of football, one related to the World Cup success of England in 1966. It goes along the lines of ‘They think it is all over... it is now!’ . Come June we knew the term was over but I think we found ourselves in a situation where we were not yet quite able to utter the words ‘it is now!’ As Coronavirus continues to influence the way we live our lives we can look back on the experiences of this second half of the year and know that at St Margaret’s we will continue to rise to the challenges this virus sends us and that together we will be able to continue to deliver exciting learning across the junior school. As I finish this report I would like to say a huge thank you to everyone who contributed to the life of the junior school throughout this unusual year. To all of the staff, pupils and parents of the school, thank you for your support and dedication to learning. Together we make quite a team! Norma Murray Head of Junior School As I finish this report I would like to say a huge thank you to everyone who contributed to the life of the junior school throughout this unusual year. The Chronicle 2020 Junior Report 12 After School Care I n September we held our ASC Pupil Conference. Everyone from nursery to 7J participated. Some older girls took on roles such as Chair Person and Secretary. The children decided on most of the discussion points and gave their opinion by voting using thumbs up and thumbs down cards, and placing name tokens in the box of their choice. Topics discussed included ideas for charity events and ideas for foods to include on our snack menu. In December, we held a craft and home baking sale which was a huge success. We made £109. The baking didn’t last long! The chosen charity this year was Cancer Research UK. The most popular items for sale were the baking, 3D Christmas trees and salt-dough decorations. In ASC, a variety of activities are offered to the children using their ideas, such as playing outside, going to the ICT suite, taking part in craft projects, role play and board games. The In June 2019, we said goodbye to Miss H. Limanton who had been working with us during her gap year. She returned to France to continue her studies. We welcomed Miss V. Ellis and Mrs C. Methven to the team. Miss Ellis also works in Support for Learning, whilst Mrs Methven also supports the nursery children at lunch time. Holiday Club favourite activities indoors are crafts, role-play kitchen and dressing up. Outdoors, ‘loose parts’ are very popular and the children come up with wonderful ideas on how to use items that would otherwise be considered as junk. Leftover plastic piping has been used to make a horse jumping arena, and various dens have been built using tarpaulin and the tyres. In the darker months, the children enjoy playing outside with torches and light up batons. Sometimes we tidy up early inside so we can turn the dining room into a light show. The children who attend ASC receive a healthy snack which includes either fruit or vegetables every day. The favourite snacks at the moment are home-made popcorn and fruit kebabs. The school Holiday Clubs run in the October, Easter and summer holidays and the children have lots of fun. In the “the most popular activities were Nerf games and a foam party” Sandra Thomson The Chronicle 2020 After School Care & Holiday Club 13 summer of 2019, the most popular activities were Nerf games and a foam party. A large paddling pool was filled with foam like a giant bubble bath. Everyone enjoyed playing in it. Thankfully it was a hot day! The same company came to make slime with us and the children learned what chemical reactions happen to make it work. We went on coach trips to Stonehaven, Drum Castle and Den and the Glen. In October 2019, we had a visit from a hair stylist who treated us to a pamper day. We also had a construction day where we took part in Lego challenges. We even made Lego brick jelly! The weather was kind to us and we enjoyed trips to Hazlehead Park and Wynford Farm. Wynford had a wonderful event on and each child got to take a pumpkin home. We all look forward to planning the next club. Sandra Thomson The Chronicle 2020 After School Care & Holiday Club SCHOOL REPORT T he VI Senior year group of session 2019-20 began their final year of school life on a high note, with the annual Sixth Year Conference at the Marcliffe hotel setting the tone of aiming high, looking outwards, and being the best that you can be in every aspect of life, both at school and beyond. It is inevitable that these young women should approach the end of their school career with mixed emotions; their education at St Margaret’s has prepared and equipped them for their futures beyond the granite walls of 17 Albyn Place and they are ready to make that next step, but at the same time this year - one that is punctuated with “last” opportunities to experience the annual St Margaret’s routines - brings with it a certain sadness too. However, with much of the autumn term being focused on their applications to UCAS and their research of higher and further education courses, our VIS girls had plenty to distract them alongside the challenges presented by the rigour of Advanced Higher level study or new Higher courses. Just as a year group prepares to aim for the last milestone in their school journey, for another year group the route map that will lead them to that same end point six years later is being opened. Making the transition from primary to secondary education is a significant one, but it is one that appeared to be made very seamlessly by the girls who entered senior school for the first time this year, and they quickly became integrated in all aspects of school life. The route map ahead for them promises varied and interesting encounters along the way: new routines, new teachers, new friends, new learning opportunities, new experiences, all of which will be built on as the journey continues over the years. Of course, it is not just in I Senior that we are able to welcome new pupils to St Margaret’s and session 2019-20 was no exception, with girls in other year groups from II - VIS extending the hand of friendship to newcomers in their midst, the latter quickly settling into our close community network. As always, we aim to work in close partnership and cooperation with parents of girls at all ages and stages and really value the opportunities for our parent body to be able to share in the life of the school at some of our annual events, from parents’ evenings and curriculum information evenings, to the more formal, but joyful celebrations of school life, namely our annual With the long summer holiday having seemingly flown by, it was business as usual when members of the school community - pupils, teaching staff and support staff - once again came together for the start of yet another academic year. It is perhaps true to say that “absence makes the heart grow fonder”, as everyone was glad to be amongst friends, colleagues and teachers again as we set out on our journey through the coming session and the inevitable routines, new challenges and fresh experiences that this would entail. St Margaret’s Day service in November and carol service on the final day of the autumn term. The new academic challenges that are part and parcel of the process of moving up a school year are tempered with so many other ways of becoming involved in school life, and of developing or enhancing skills and attributes outwith the teaching classrooms. Our staff are exceptionally generous in giving of their time to provide all manner of activities to cater for a wide range of talents and interests across all senior age groups. Participation in such extra-curricular activities only serves to increase the feeling of close community within our school setting and as ever we remained committed to promoting clubs and societies, as well as educational visits, fieldwork and conferences that allow our pupils to benefit from as wide a range of experiences as possible at every stage of their school career. Teaching staff, too, took up opportunities for furthering their own professional development via subject- specific or more general pedagogical events, both externally and within staff discussion groups in school. As we entered the spring term of 2020, little could have prepared us for what lay ahead in the later half of that term. January, February and early March passed as normal, namely in a blur of prelims for girls in IV to VI Senior, and a formal diet of year group exams for those in IIS and IIIS. This is inevitably a very busy time in the school calendar. Several weeks were devoted to the afore-mentioned exams and all the inherent revision for girls and marking for teachers associated with those girls in II, IV and V Senior were making important decisions around their preferred subject choices for the following year and all girls in the SQA exam-focused years were fully occupied with The Chronicle 2020 Senior Report 14 senior IS Team Building The Chronicle 2020 Senior Report 15 the completion of various coursework projects, dissertations or folios. As the weeks of the term progressed, we were becoming increasingly aware of the global spread of Covid-19 and of the likelihood that closure of the school building could become a probability rather than a possibility; and so it transpired: from 23rd March St Margaret’s School for Girls ran from the homes of the staff and pupils within our school community, rather than from our premises at 17 Albyn Place. Those last two weeks of the spring term and the whole of the summer term were unusual and challenging for all concerned, but it was both inspiring and humbling to witness how staff and pupils rose to that challenge and allowed school life to continue with our usual structure and daily routines of assemblies and timetabled lessons. Never was the #stmargaretstogether spirit more in evidence than during those times: it cannot be denied that learning and teaching at two different sides of a computer screen was often punctuated by technical hitches or that it was physically more tiring than being in the classrooms and moving around the school building as normal. However, in adversity we found ways of continuing to bring our community together as one: through Wellbeing Days, house challenges, a virtual sports day, virtual concerts and our end-of-summer-term celebration delivered in a video format, which was, in its own way, jus