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CONTENTS From the Head .................................................................................... 2 From the Staffroom .......................................................................... 4 Retirements ............................................................................................ 6 In Memoriam ....................................................................................... 10 Reports Nursery .............................................................................. 12 Junior ................................................................................... 16 After School Care & Holiday Club ................. 18 Senior ................................................................................. 20 Charity Events ................................................................................... 22 Careers & Work Experience .................................................. 26 In The News ........................................................................................ 30 Whole School Events ................................................................... 44 The Music Department .............................................................. 56 Sports Review ................................................................................... 60 Activities & Extra-curricular Junior ................................................................................... 64 Senior .................................................................................. 76 Summer Activities .......................................................................... 84 Art Gallery Junior .................................................................................. 92 Senior ................................................................................. 96 Drama ..................................................................................................... 110 Silver Awards .................................................................................... 112 Awards & Certificates ................................................................ 114 Parent Teacher Association .................................................. 115 Former Pupils’ Club ..................................................................... 116 Development Office ..................................................................... 118 Former Pupils’ Reply Slip ....................................................... 120 Welcome to The Chronicle 2021 T here were, of course, changes to the way in which school could run, with the nursery, junior school and senior school operating entirely separately. Sanitising, desk wiping, mask wearing and one way systems were just some of the mitigations which quickly became commonplace. The temporary addition of 3-5 Albyn Place, fondly known as ‘the Annexe’, was well received by pupils and staff alike. Over the summer holiday the school wi-fi had been replaced and on the first day of term each pupil in the senior school was issued with her own Chromebook, which matched the devices issued to the staff just ahead of school closure in March 2020. New devices were also in place in the junior school for day to day use and in the event of further home learning. One of the hardest things for pupils was the limit put on social interaction beyond their immediate class. It was to the credit of girls of all ages that they willingly complied with the necessary rules and were clearly so pleased just to be able to attend school in person once more! Throughout the session, as Government guidance changed and procedures were updated, we were grateful to our parents, staff and pupils for their ongoing support and forbearance. The appointment of the first St Margaret’s school nurse ahead of the pandemic proved to be very fortuitous and, although Miss Rodger’s start date was delayed until preparations for the new school session were underway, the presence of a medical professional on the staff during this time was invaluable. As we had done during lockdown, we were determined to continue to draw our school community together virtually when it was not possible in person and the innovation which had begun at our kitchen tables continued. I was humbled by the The Chronicle 2021 From the Head 2 The re-opening of school to pupils in August 2020 after lockdown was a joyous occasion! After weeks of careful planning and risk assessment over the summer holiday, it was wonderful to see the corridors and classrooms of St Margaret’s alive again with children and young people learning and playing together. From The Head The Chronicle 2021 From the Head 3 efforts of staff to seek alternative ways to provide a whole host of events, such as clubs, concerts and careers talks, to name but a few. Yet again it was necessary to pivot quickly and my colleagues once more rose to the challenge with gusto. The sudden announcement of a further school closure in January 2021 was disappointing for us all. Of course, the cancellation of exams sent shock waves round the senior school and the development of the Alternative Certification Model was an intensive process for staff and pupils alike. I challenge the readers of this Chronicle to find a school in the country where the teachers took the process more seriously than the St Margaret’s staff: their professionalism was second to none. For the girls, continued uncertainty was unwelcome, but they worked hard and performed very well in their assessments. As you will see from the colourful pages which follow, the summer term brought brighter days and more fun in the form of some local school trips, an outdoor cinema festival at Summerhill, sports days, Duke of Edinburgh expeditions and the surprise arrival of an ice cream van into the playground on the last day of term! Unable to have our usual end of term events, we had a succession of end of year assemblies after which pupils and staff enjoyed their ‘99s’. Even for a school as old as ours there is room for a new tradition! 2021 marks the 175th Anniversary of St Margaret’s and has given us reason to delve into past editions of The Chronicle to learn more about earlier periods in the school’s long history. For me the fact that St Margaret’s has reached this milestone of 175 years is not in and of itself the reason for celebration. What we celebrate is the way in which the school has evolved to provide a rich and varied experience to successive generations of pupils. Girls’ schools were founded to address inequality in education for women and we still live in a world where women are under- represented in many professions. The pandemic continues to offer challenges but the St Margaret’s of today is firmly focused on the future. As St Margaret’s staff, we are privileged to work with a pupil body who rightly challenge us to work for a more sustainable future and to build a school community where there is greater understanding, respect and celebration of diversity in all its forms. That focus on a vibrant future is only possible because of the support and involvement of our wider community to whom we are indebted: our School Council, the PTA, the Parent Forum and Former Pupils’ Association all cherish the history of the school but support us on a daily basis to continue to develop in order that we meet the needs of our pupils in 2021 and beyond. We thank you all! For me the fact that St Margaret’s has reached this milestone of 175 years is not in and of itself the reason for celebration. What we celebrate is the way in which the school has evolved to provide a rich and varied experience to successive generations of pupils. Anna Tomlinson W e were exceptionally pleased that even despite all the restrictions around travel, girls in the French and German classrooms were still able to benefit from their weekly sessions with our French and German assistant, Amelie Reyser, who - by virtue of being completely bi-lingual - was able to fulfil the roles normally occupied by two assistants. We were grateful to Amelie for the interesting and engaging activities she devised for pupils at all levels, and delivering these either in person or remotely (during the spring term from her home in Germany!) as circumstances dictated. We wish her every success as she continues her studies. In October, Miss Joan Aitken retired from her post as a part- time teacher of PE; a stalwart and highly respected member of that busy department, we thank Joan for all of her work in all weathers over the years and are delighted that she will retain her position as our Summerhill Facilities Manager. We were equally delighted to welcome Miss Amanda Pirie as a member of the teaching staff in the PE department and to see her embrace her new role with such enthusiasm. In November we were sorry to have to say goodbye to Miss Ashley Fulton, teacher of modern studies, who left us to take up a position much closer to her home area; we thank her for all of her work during the time she was with us since the start of the previous sessions and wish her well in her future career. In her place, we were very pleased to appoint Mrs Becky Milne, who slotted very easily into her role in our social sciences team and brought with her a wealth of experience as a subject specialist in modern studies. In November we were thrilled also to be able to congratulate Ms Victoria Ellis on the birth of her baby girl. At the end of the autumn term, we were sorry to say goodbye to Mrs Jane Richardson who retired after sixteen years as a part- time teacher of art and design. Jane’s talents and creativity in her field of expertise knew no bounds, and over the years she inspired so many girls in both the junior and senior school with her interesting and engaging lessons. We wish Jane good health and every happiness as she embarks on her thoroughly well-deserved retirement. By the start of January, the country was in lockdown again and therefore for much of the spring term, learning and teaching were conducted once more on a now-familiar online platform. It was unfortunate that we had to bid a virtual rather than a personal welcome to our new colleague of art and design, Mrs Susan Bedford, who, despite the unusual circumstances of her first weeks at St Margaret’s, settled into the routines of her classes very quickly and easily. We also welcomed Miss Grace Gray who returned from maternity leave to her position as a classroom assistant in the junior school and we were thrilled to hear of the safe arrival of baby Sophie Reid, second child to Mrs Jen Reid and her husband. Around the time of the February half-term, we were sorry to have to say goodbye to Mrs Elaine Gibb who resigned from her position as teacher of 5 Junior to pursue a new opportunity elsewhere; we thank her for her work in the junior school since she joined us in 2017 and wish her every success in her new post. In her place, we were pleased to appoint Mrs Vanessa Gerbrandy who was already familiar to the girls in the junior department and who was still able to combine her role as a junior classroom teacher with her part-time food technology commitments in the senior school. As a school year draws to a close, it is almost inevitable that we will be bidding farewell to colleagues who are either retiring or moving on to pursue new ventures. Session 2020-21 was no exception: Mr Anthony Mountain left his office as Bursar at the end of the session in June 2021. Tony has held office since The Chronicle 2021 From the Staffroom 4 From the Staffroom The start of session 2020-21 was like no other; although this article is entitled “from the Staffroom”, the concept of the staffroom as we know it did not exist as we returned to new daily routines and practices shaped by government guidelines, Covid-secure measures and 2m distancing. However, this did not prevent us being able to extend a very hearty welcome to the new colleagues joining us in August, namely Miss Sarah Wood who succeeded Mrs Scott as head of Art and Design; and Mr Terry Ward who joined the history department to cover the maternity leave of Mrs Stirton, whose baby girl was also born in August – great news to herald the new school year. The Chronicle 2021 From the Staffroom 5 October 2013 and the Board of Governors extended thanks to him for his contributions to school life and development of the school’s administration and estate over that period, including the Science Building Project and the arrangements to support continuity during COVID 19 restrictions. We wish Tony well for the future. Mrs Rachel Appleton concluded her maternity cover in modern languages and headed off to her family to their new home in Oxfordshire. Rachel’s earlier career in marketing proved to be very useful as she led the school’s charity work for the year in addition to her teaching commitment. Two members of our junior school team, Mrs Gail Wyatt and Miss Kirstie Maddison left us for new adventures at the end of the summer term. One of Mrs Wyatt’s major contributions across the junior school was her role in Conservation Club and under her guidance the junior girls thrived and many wonderful initiatives were introduced and are now embedded into the life of the school. Miss Kirstie Maddison’s 4 Junior classes benefitted from the wonderful teaching she provided and the kind, caring and positive environment she created for the girls. We thank both of these staff members for all they contributed to the life of St Margaret’s and wish them every success in their future adventures. The end of session also marked the end of a long teaching career for three of the longest-serving members of staff, who, together had been employed at St Margaret’s for a combined total of 74 years. Mrs June Slater retired from her post as Head of Guidance and teacher of business management after 27 years at St Margaret’s: June will be so fondly remembered by countless girls who have benefitted from her patience, her encouragement, her words of wisdom and her kindness over the years, in both her guidance and teaching roles. June’s camaraderie and good humour will be missed in the staffroom, but her retirement is well-deserved and we wish her every happiness as she embarks on this next chapter of her life, with more time to spend with her family and to realise her dreams of travel. Also retiring after a distinguished teaching career both in the UK and overseas was Mrs Sue Smith, my colleague on the Senior Leadership team since 2018 and formerly Head of Maths from 2004-2018. Sue is a true professional: a subject specialist second to none who instilled her own love of mathematics in so many St Margaret’s girls and inspired them to pursue STEM- related pathways. As our school timetabler, Sue had immense capacity for seeing the bigger picture whilst also being a stickler for detail, qualities that were so much admired by those of us who had the pleasure and privilege of working closely with her. We wish Sue all the very best as she moves into her retirement, with time to spend as she pleases with her husband and family, and hope that she will spend many relaxing and enjoyable days on her beloved west coast of Scotland. As I write this, my final “from the Staffroom” article for this publication, it is with very mixed emotions that I approach my retirement after 29 years at St Margaret’s. However, any sadness I may feel is also tempered with the joy I have derived in having spent my entire teaching career in this wonderful establishment; it has truly been a privilege to have been associated with the name of St Margaret’s and to have played a part in the formative years of so many young women in the last three decades. It has also been a pleasure also to have worked with so many dedicated and committed staff over the years, both in teaching and in support roles, and I feel honoured to be able to call them my colleagues and friends. I joined St Margaret’s in August 1992 as a probationer teacher of French and German; I was fortunate to be appointed to a variety of promoted posts over my career at the school, culminating in my appointment as deputy head in 2010, but I am a linguist first and foremost with a genuine love of being in the classroom, and I thank all St Margaret’s girls, past and present, who have been part of my journey at the school. The time is right now, for me to bid “au revoir” and “auf Wiedersehen” to my career as a full- time member of the teaching profession, but I am certain that I will continue to have a long association with the school in the years to come. As session 2020-21 ends, we thank all colleagues throughout the school who have worked tirelessly throughout the last twelve difficult months, and wish continued good health, happiness and success to everyone in the new academic year. Susan Lynch The Chronicle 2021 Retirements 6 Retirements Susan Lynch, June Slater and Sue Smith The academic year 2020 – 2021 was not just a difficult year due to the pandemic, but also because it was the year that we knew we would have to say goodbye to three of our longest serving members of staff: Mrs Susan Lynch, Mrs Sue Smith, and Mrs June Slater. Susan Lynch A graduate of Aberdeen University, Susan Lynch joined St Margaret’s in August 1992 and has given an incredible 29 years of devoted service to St Margaret’s; her entire teaching career has been given to this school. Miss Ogilvie was the head who appointed Mrs Lynch and she remembers that she came into the staffroom like a breath of fresh air; from the outset she demonstrated her intelligence and commitment to St Margaret’s and its pupils. Mrs Lynch’s career at St Margaret’s began as a teacher of German and French, but it was not long before she enthusiastically took on other responsibilities. Her warmth and empathy made her a natural choice as one of the new Heads of House and Guidance, and she later became Head of Modern Languages. Mrs Lynch was the first Head of Sixth Year and this was a role that she enjoyed very much. Her ability to write fluently and lucidly was an asset in this role as in so many others, not least in her preparation of UCAS references. Few teachers manage to achieve the balance between academic and pastoral strengths that Susan Lynch epitomised throughout her career. As Deputy Head since 2010, she continued to lead by example: calm and dignified, she is the consummate professional who can navigate any situation with discretion and compassion, and always to the highest of standards. Her relationships with colleagues, parents and pupils are characterised by charm, kindness and a willingness to listen. While none of us could have predicted the level of volatility which the world has experienced during the pandemic, we could have predicted that Susan Lynch would give her all to making sure that school continued as smoothly as possible for St Margaret’s pupils and staff. We have been incredibly fortunate to have Mrs Lynch as a champion of St Margaret’s for so long, and thousands of girls owe her a debt of gratitude for all that she has done to support them. We wish Mrs Lynch much happiness and good health for her retirement in the years ahead. SUSAN LYNCH, SUE SMITH JUNE SLATER The Chronicle 2021 Retirements 7 Joan Aitken Miss Aitken is hanging up her trainers as she retires from teaching at St Margaret’s. Since starting with us in 2009 she has been a hard working, highly organised and motivating teacher to the girls, as well as a wonderful colleague to work with. Miss Aitken took over the responsibility of promoting cross-country running and has encouraged many girls to challenge themselves and succeed in a variety of school, club and national competitions over the years. She has also been hockey coach to many different age groups, determined in her aim to inspire and develop the potential of players to club, district and national level. Although she is leaving teaching, Miss Aitken will continue in her role as facilities manager at Summerhill. We wish her a long and happy retirement enjoying hobbies such as golf and photography to name but a few. Karen Norval Sue Smith A talented maths teacher, Head of Department and latterly a Deputy Head, Mrs Sue Smith’s intelligent and insightful approach has undoubtedly benefited hundreds of St Margaret’s girls. Sue attended a girls’ school herself before studying mathematics at Oxford and she joined St Margaret’s in 2003 as an experienced teacher who had taught in a number of prestigious schools both in the UK and overseas. Mrs Smith’s considerable abilities as a mathematician meant that she inspired confidence in the most able pupils, whilst a genuine interest in the subject and enthusiasm for it at every level made lessons rewarding for all of her students. Mrs Smith demonstrated endless patience and creativity in her teaching of those pupils for whom maths was a real challenge. Mrs Smith also dedicated much of herself to learning beyond the curriculum, supporting pupils with the The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award and countless competitions, trips and extra-curricular opportunities. She has also been a wise counsellor to girls about their day to day challenges and in their choices of subjects and courses both in and beyond school. Mrs Smith’s patience and attention to detail and desire to meet the needs of all have been a feature of her timetabling. Of course those timetabling skills have never been tested so much as during the pandemic; but, every time a new scenario was presented she was steadfast in her willingness to reflect, adapt and put in the hours to make things work for the school. It was with heartfelt thanks that we bade Mrs Smith farewell, to embark upon a long and enjoyable retirement. June Slater Mrs Slater was appointed in 1994 at St Margaret’s as teacher of office and information studies and word processing. It was not long before she became Head of Department with the introduction of Higher Business Management a few years later. It was clear from the start of her career that Mrs Slater was interested in the pastoral care of her pupils, becoming a dedicated form tutor, and in 2005, Mrs Slater was appointed as Head of Guidance, a role in which she was also responsible for the content and teaching of the Personal and Social Education curriculum. Empathy was a word often associated with Mrs Slater, and she provided her students with sound advice, guidance and support over the years. Generous with her time, there are generations of girls and their parents who will remember Mrs Slater with fondness and gratitude for the pastoral care given over the years. Mrs Slater was also involved in many other aspects of school life – from The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award to school shows, trips near and far, she has always been a willing participant and has embraced every opportunity to get to know her pupils. A highlight for many girls has been the Youth Philanthropy Initiative and Mrs Slater led this project at school since it began. It was with much fondness and affection that we said goodbye to Mrs Slater, to enjoy a healthy and fulfilling retirement. Anna Tomlinson Jane Richardson This year we said thank you and goodbye to Mrs Jane Richardson, teacher of art and design who retired from St Margaret’s after 15 years. Jane’s talents and creativity in her field of expertise knew no bounds, and over the years she inspired so many girls in both the junior and senior school with her interesting and engaging lessons. Having postponed her retirement, I particularly appreciated Jane’s support during my first term at St Margaret’s. During that last term’s teaching she still had the enthusiasm of a teacher new to the profession, embracing new ideas and techniques and generating exciting projects. Her commitment to the girls, the school and wider school community will be greatly missed. We wish Jane good health and every happiness as she embarks on her thoroughly well-deserved retirement. Sarah Wood The Chronicle 2021 Retirements 8 ‘Susan Lynch is a consummate professional and it has been a privilege to work with her for the last seven years. She combines outstanding skills in administration and organisation with a genuine commitment to and care of all pupils and staff at St Margaret’s. Nothing is ever too much trouble for Susan: she embodies all that is good about St Margaret’s and has had a positive impact on thousands of young women over her twenty-nine years of service to the school.’ Miss Tomlinson III SENIOR INTERVIEW Mrs Lynch has been working at St Margaret’s for twenty-nine years and first arrived in August 1992. This was her first and only teaching position as a teacher of French and German. She came to the school for a job interview straight after her teacher training and immediately felt at home. “Very soon after arriving here, there was just something tangible about being in this building. You could feel the warmth and a sense of community” said Mrs Lynch. Over the years the school has seen many physical changes such as new buildings, however the family-like atmosphere to St Margaret’s has remained unchanged. Q: What is your favourite event during the school year? A: That’s a difficult one to pinpoint because I have a few that I could probably name. I think what is most special to me are the events where the whole school comes together, so that would be St Margaret’s day, the carol service and speech day. Q: What will you miss most about our school? A: I don’t think there is one single answer; I am going to miss so many things. Probably most of all I am going to miss this contact with you, the girls even though I am not in the teaching classroom all day everyday now. One of the things about my job as deputy head is that every day is different and every day is so varied and busy; I am going to miss being able to be involved with so many different aspects of school life; being able to speak to girls of all ages; still being able to teach in the German classroom, not just dealing with administration and management. First and foremost, I will miss the contact with the pupils, with my colleagues and I’m going to miss my busy day-to-day routine. Q: What was your greatest challenge during your time at the school? A: I think the greatest challenge without a doubt has been this past year and that has been a challenge for everybody because we all had to adapt to new ways of working and adapt to operating in circumstances that we are really not used to. There have been all sorts of complicated logistics to bear in mind at every point this year and I think it has been a challenge to come to terms with the fact that for a whole calendar year many aspects of the St Margaret’s that we know have not been able to happen within the restrictions. Q: Would you have any advice for any girls coming up through the school A: That’s a tricky one! I would say: be true to yourself, be true to your values, be the best version of yourself that you can be, always, and aim high. To know that you are doing your best is all that can be asked of you; this will mean different things for every individual, as everyone has strengths in different areas. I would also advise that you should never be afraid to ask for help. If you do your best, ask for help if you need it, and take advantage of all the opportunities that come your way, then you will have a bright future ahead of you. Q: What are you most proud of from your time at St Margaret’s? A: Probably just having played a part in shaping the lives of so many pupils over the years; I think that has been the most rewarding aspect of my career. Q: What are your hobbies? A: Visiting Switzerland is one of my major hobbies! I hope that I will be able The Chronicle 2021 Retirements 9 MRS LYNCH to go there again in the not-too-distant future when Covid restrictions have eased. I do love to travel, especially to German speaking countries. I love walking, especially in the hills and in the mountains. I also play golf; I definitely love being outside in the fresh air. I very much enjoy gardening, reading, listening to music, playing the piano and the clarinet, although I have not had as many opportunities to play clarinet in recent years. I also enjoy cooking very much and I hope to do all of these things a lot more when I retire. Q: What’s the naughtiest thing anyone has ever done? A: What would be the naughtiest thing? I do remember someone once putting a dead bird in one of the lockers which wasn’t a very pleasant find for the person who discovered it. There is no doubt, we will all miss Mrs Lynch very much, but we are very grateful for her service to St Margaret’s for the past 29 years. We all wish her a happy and healthy retirement. Interview by Rebecca, Rachael, Divinewill and Joy III Senior, June 2021 The Chronicle 2021 In Memoriam 10 In Memoriam It is with great sadness that we share the news that Anna Bibby, former junior school teacher at St Margaret’s, passed away in December 2020. Anna Bibby - or Miss Bibby as she was known to her pupils – began her career in teaching at Crossmichael Primary School, “Anna graduated from Aberdeen College of Education in 1972. Apart from a year at a school in the Borders her entire teaching career was spent at St Margaret’s. She taught 5 Junior for many years and her science experiments were legendary. On Friday afternoons the 5 -7 junior classes had craft and Anna made gorgeous rag dolls with the girls. In the summer term she did cycling proficiency up at Summerhill. She was talented at art and her classes produced fantastic work including wonderful origami creations. She was also an expert in the art of calligraphy. Her hobbies included classes in jewellery making and photography. Her other interests were lapidary, bird watching, plants and much more. She loved animals and her poodle, Sophie, was a constant companion. She enjoyed travelling especially with the caravan to the north of Scotland. Sadly Anna’s health deteriorated in her last 2 years but she will be remembered as a dear friend and colleague” Edna Findlay Former Teacher at St Margaret’s Castle Douglas, where she taught for 1 year before deciding that Aberdeen had more to offer, both socially and professionally. Anna joined St Margaret’s School for Girls in 1975 and for the next 39 years became an important and highly-respected member of the junior department team. Anna Bibby Anna Bibby (centre) The Chronicle 2021 In Memoriam 11 Dr Lori Houlihan Lori Houlihan (nee Manders) sadly passed away in April 2021. Lori Manders was a governing Council Member of St Margaret’s School during the whole period of my headship there, from 2007 to 2010. She was there when I was interviewed for the post in 2006 and made an immediate impression: she was busy, vibrant, full of energy and relentlessly positive. She sent her daughter, Poppy, to St Margaret’s and she was always a great advocate for the school. Working full-time at the University of Aberdeen in a leadership post, she still, miraculously, found time to devote to St Margaret’s, and was an energetic supporter of new ideas. If her own ideas did not find acceptance, she moved on, bearing no grudge and ready to work on the next new thing that might emerge to the school’s advantage. As chair of the marketing committee, she encouraged the school to punch above its weight and, with a vast experience of fund-raising and with contacts throughout Aberdeen, she was able to advise us intelligently and effectively. She missed no opportunity to raise the profile of our school whenever she could. She had just offered to nominate me as a Burgess of the City of Aberdeen when I dropped the bombshell that I was moving on to another headship, this time in Edinburgh. While some were unimpressed by this news, Lori turned the whole thing on its head and announced to Council how thrilled they should be for me and that it was “a feather in the cap of St Margaret’s” that I had been appointed to lead a bigger school elsewhere. I shall never forget that generosity of spirit, which was so typical of Lori. If she could help someone, she would. The world was a better and sunnier place for having her in it, and I shall always remember the dash she cut as she rushed along the school corridor. And the warmth of her smile. Anne Everest Former St Margaret’s Head We were delighted to be back in nursery in person in August, ready to start a new school year, even if things were a little bit different. Despite how abnormal the world outside has been, we were keen for nursery to be a place of familiarity, routine and somewhere the children knew they could explore and be creative whilst continuing to promote hand washing practices and good hygiene. REPORT nursery The Chronicle 2021 Nursery Report 12 The Chronicle 2021 Nursery Report 13 W hilst the staff remained consistent, the nursery had use of an adjacent classroom to aid social distancing. Having the extra room enabled the children and staff to spread out and engage in a variety of activities Adapting The children adapted well to the drop-off and pick-up arrangements and quickly became accustomed to the new routines, where, for example, additional handwashing was an integral part of nursery life. The children started having packed lunch in the nursery, soon demonstrating how independent they could be, especially at opening their own tubs and flasks and how well they sat for mealtimes. As well as helping the children settle in and adjust to routines, there was a focus on kindness, with staff sharing social stories about kindness and the children being made aware of the many kind things that happen in a day. The children engaged well and made a kindness tree to demonstrate all the acts of kindness they do. Rhymes To support early literacy, there were plenty of opportunities to work on rhyme, with the children finding rhyming words and rhyming objects as well as playing rhyming games. Although we touched on this early in the nursery year, it was a theme we kept returning to and the children even looked for rhyming objects when they went out for walks. Autumn The children were very interested in the changes in the environment as autumn approached and had fun out in the school grounds playing with and collecting leaves. This led on to early maths, sorting through colour, shape and size as well as imaginative and sensory play with the leaves. Conkers are a popular ‘loose part’ that the children utilise in all sorts of ways, sometimes they are a counting tool, at other times they are being cooked up in the kitchen. Autumnal vegetables were also a great tool to facilitate learning as the children measured, weighed, sorted, smelled, chopped and hammered them. This was a great opportunity for the children to develop their hand-eye coordination as well as learning about safety for themselves and others when using tools. Although there was not the traditional Harvest Service, the children enjoyed learning about Harvest and about how farms play an important part in providing us with the food we eat. The children embraced the opportunity to explore some barley and to use it in their play. Autumn and the dark days naturally lead on to some Bonfire Night celebrations with the children really engaging in some colourful and fun firework art and craft. Nativity The traditional Nativity was presented to the children and parents in a different way this year, with the children recording their parts individually or in groups. In preparation for this there was lots of storytelling, songs and crafts taking place in the nursery. There were costumes for everyone and once the recording was completed the children really enjoyed watching themselves and their friends in the Nativity on the ‘big screen’ New Year We were disappointed not to be returning to in-person nursery after the Christmas holiday but the children (and parents) embraced online learning once again. We celebrated Burns Night with a week of Scottish crafts, poems, dancing and recipes. The children had fun weighing and mixing ingredients as well as tasting some new foods. This moved swiftly on to celebrating Chinese New Year, with yet more cooking and crafts as well as some Chinese writing. Although the children were set specific activities each day, we were so impressed with the effort and variations of work that the children took part in. As well as these special events, we engaged the children with nursery rhymes and activities to go along with them. The Chronicle 2021 Nursery Report 14 Feelings When the children returned to nursery in-person towards the end of February, we embarked on some work related to ‘The Colour Monster’ to help the children identify and name their feelings. This led to some great discussions, teamwork and craft opportunities. The children enjoyed acting out some of the emotions and talking about ways to support themselves and others when their emotions became a bit overwhelming. Outdoor Learning Throughout the year, outdoor learning remained a key focus for the children. Being outdoors allowed the children to explore their environment, move their bodies, develop communication, cooperation, maths, problem-solving and science skills. By providing the children with loose parts, child-led learning was facilitated and supported. Building obstacle courses was a favoured activity. There was a great deal of trial and error involved in creating these courses, with each child having their own opinion on what was ‘too easy’ or ‘too hard’ . It was always a pleasure to watch the children support and encourage each other to have a go at the courses. There was a lot of interest in mini-beasts and the children had a great time using tools to chip at a large piece of wood and go mini- beast hunting, as well as looking under logs and in the flowers. We were delighted to restart Wee Green Spaces, during which the children are encouraged to be as independent as possible. They packed their own bags and put on their own waterproofs before each outing. The walk to Bon Accord Terrace Gardens is quite lengthy for little legs and the children are encouraged to use this time to take in the environment around them. Looking for letters, numbers, shop signs and rhyming objects, the children are developing their early literacy and numeracy skills along the way. Looking in shop windows and identifying the different work places and items for sale also supported the children to be aware of the world around them. When at Bon Accord Terrace Gardens, the children are encouraged to be adventurous and investigate the environment. Before they set off, they are involved in safety chats and learn to set their own ‘boundaries’ for the time there. The children are encouraged to challenge themselves and are supported to go up and down steep hills - rolling, sliding and running are popular ways to come down. Much fun is had when using the swing and the bothy bag. The children embrace opportunities to develop their gross motor skills, balance and coordination when walking along walls, negotiating obstacles and climbing, all the while supporting their friends. The children are experts at washing their hands outdoors and this is done before snack. Even when out and about they enjoy sitting together and eating. Despite this year being far from normal and not without its challenges, it has been an incredibly productive and rewarding time in nursery which was only possible due to our wonderful children, parents and staff. We thank them for their hard work and enthusiasm to keep things running so smoothly and for carrying on in such spectacular style. One is not possible without the other and that is what makes St Margaret’s such a special place. Jennifer