Click here for News Archive: Autumn 2005, Lent 2006
Week 11
During the final week of term, many pupils were out of school for some or all of the time. Shell boys were variously on the CCF Camp, or a cricket tour to Sedbergh, where they won two of three matches; other seniors were on their final Duke of Edinburgh Expedition. The Third Form went to York on Tuesday, a large group of Lower Sixth to Newcastle for university open days on Wednesday, and the Fourth Form went out on Thursday. Also for the Lower Sixth, a 'Business Dynamics' seminar was held over two days. Cultural activities included the Choir giving a concert on Monday preparatory to its tour to Provence next week, the Edwards Reading Competition, and many Pringle boys were involved with Scottish Opera's workshop performance at St George's. All the Housemasters gave parties of varying descriptions for their houses and prefects at different times. The swimming pool was in use all week for life-saving courses, with a group of Fifth Formers completing their Bronze Medallion training. The 1st XI notched up further victories in their match against Fettes.
Public examinations finally came to their end on Friday afternoon, and as the week drew to a close, the first Prizegiving Ceremony that evening was followed by the Leavers' Ball; term ended officially after Saturday's Prizegiving, at which Sir Peter Burt (Chairman of ITV and Merchistonian) spoke on the theme of coping with Failure.
Week 10
The Lower Sixth participated in a series of cultural and other events in a new format 'Sixth Form Festival' organised by Mr Silk. Each afternoon and evening they attended a mixture of talks, for example by a holocaust survivor, and culutral event , for example, an opera trip. Those studying English went to Stratford and attended Shakespeare performances in the second half of the week. Next year's prefect teams were announced.
On Friday, the Games was held. As seems usual, the sun did not shine, but the weather was (according to Mr Appleson, at least) ideal conditions for the event's performing athletes. Three new school records at U14 and a games record at U17 were set. On Saturday, the 1st XI continued their very good season to date by winning the Lothian Schools' Cup.
This week finally marked the end of GCSE exams for Fifth Formers except for physicists, who have one remaining.
Week 9
Year groups in the lower part of the School joined their senior counterparts in sitting exams for all of this week. It was announced publicly that three new subjects will be taught next year, increasing provision at both the top and bottom of the school; click for more details. On Friday evening, the annual Music Competitions took place. We were especially pleased this year to be able to welcome Mrs Forbes, widow of the cup's donor, former Headmaster Donald Forbes, to present it to the winner (pictured). Also on Friday, we had success in the Young Engineer for Scotland Competition, with a Sixth Former winning the national final, to go forward to the UK final. The Pipe Band also had a good weekend, with the drumming corps coming second in a CCF competition in Glasgow.
Week 8
Public exams were in full swing this week for 5th and 6th Form pupils. On Friday, a group of swimmers went to Glasgow to the
Scottish Schools Championships, and in the S3/4 4 x 50m Freestyle relay we won Bronze Medal. Members of the Athletics teams went to participate in the Athletics version of Scottish Schools Championships at the end of the week, and returned with two Gold, one silver and three Bronze medals. A group of Merchistonians who left 50 years ago toured the School in wonderful weather on Saturday.
Week 7
It may only have been a one-and-a-half day week after returning from the break, but the first evening back saw the third annual 'Celebration of Merchiston Music', with most boys who are involved in the various musical activities performing to each other and sharing a meal, along with several of the Music Staff. Also on Friday evening, the 1st XI departed for Gordonstoun for a match on Saturday. Fortunately the long trip was worthwhile, as an excellent match resulted, which Merchiston won by 24 runs. Pringle boys also made a long trip to play cricket in Northern England.
Pictured is a group of instrumentalists performing at Friday's Celebration of Music
Week 6
Two Sixth Form pupils and the Headmaster featured in a Radio Scotland interview on Wednesday, discussing the topic of single sex education. (You may read a transcript here.) A small group of boys and staff returned from last weekend's Three Peaks Race, in which they were very happy with their performance. The Pipe Band were part of a massed Beating Retreat at Edinburgh Castle on Tuesday, and Holyrood on Thursday. That evening, the Art and Design Department opened for its annual exhibition. Chalmers East House went to Alton Towers for a day of fun on Monday.
A marquee dominated the Rogerson Quad for Friday's Commemoration Dinner Dance, which was attended by a record 270 guests, and Saturday's Commemoration Day Concert (pictured) and Lunch. The latter followed a Service of Commemoration at which Mrs Sally Kuenssberg, who is the daughter of the late Lord Robertson, formerly Chairman of the School Governors, gave the address. We were delighted to see several familiar faces from the past at these events, as well as many current parents, pupils and staff. Half-term ran from Saturday lunchtime until Thursday.
Week 5
The 1st XI got through to the final of the Scottish School's Cricket Championship after beating Fettes on Friday, Tuesday's match having been abandoned owing to rain. Several groups from local primary schools came to perform in a concert in the Memorial Hall on Wednesday evening. Other sporting successes were seen on the Athletics field, and we were pleased to tie a Golf fixture with Loretto.
Week 4
Several boys who had been in the USA on exchange returned to School. Sixth Form Biologists attended a talk on Stem Cell research on Tuesday. Various prep and primary schools came to the Junior Swimming Gala on Thursday afternoon. For classes up to Shell year it was report card week. A full programme of cricket and athletics fixtures took place on each half day with mixed fortunes! There were also shooting and diving outings.
Week 3
Members of the Sixth form are having some success in this year's Shares for Schools challenge. Junior School boys put on performances of two short plays on Friday evening in the theatre. Pictured is the III and IV Form combined production of extracts from Ernie's Incredible Illucinations. The previous evening the Pipe Band put on its annual concert, with both small and large band numbers from all age groups performing. The first of the term's two 'Bag-a-book' days, held mid-week, was aimed at boys up to the Shell year, and some 240 books were sold altogether. On Friday, some of the Sixth Form attended a conference run by the Royal Society of Edinburgh, sponsored by the FCO, on Islam and Democracy. The speakers included Frances Guy of the FCO and Baroness Shirley Williams, all filmed by Al Jazeera and Sky.
As well as hosting an Information Morning on Saturday, the School opened its grounds to members of the public as part of Edinburgh's 'Parks and Gardens Day'. Merchiston has the most varied collection of trees in Edinburgh after the Botanic Garden, and two groups of visitors were shown around.
Week 2
Two members of staff from St George's gave a presentation in Tuesday's assembly about next year's projected Antarctic Expedition, which is open to members of both schools, their families, and former pupils. On Wednesday, many pupils attended a Dinner for those involved with school sport, at which Craig Gordon gave the after-dinner talk. The Third Form visited St Andrews and the Secret Bunker on Friday, a reward for their hard work and excellent effort grades last term.
Week 1
Term commenced on Wednesday morning with the usual Service and Handshaking. Sixth Formers studying English went to London on Thursday and Friday to see a performance of Edward Albee's Whose afraid of Virginia Woolf and a tour of The Globe Theatre. The first cricket fixtures were on Saturday.
Left: Trees in the Chalmers quad, 20 April
Easter Holidays
As ever, a variety of trips took place over the break. The Ski trip to France found good snow conditions despite some days of poor visibility, but this was probably better than the very poor weather in the north west of Scotland, where a CCF Camp was held. The Sixth Form language study visit to Spain fared well with weather and their host families. Other trips included rugby tours, a Fives tour and a Duke of Edinburgh practice expedition. The History department took a trip to Eastern Europe.
