Craigclowan Preparatory School

Enjoyment this term has come from a variety of sources, as always. A number of parents from the final 3 years contributed to a Parental Survey of Satisfaction undertaken by RSAcademics, an independent Consultancy Company. This survey was donated by friend of the school. The results were a resounding endorsement of what is happening. In their words, ‘We have not, in our experience, seen such high figures of support for a school in so many different areas.’ Needless to say that this does not make us complacent at all, but as determined as ever to get and keep things right.

Enjoyment has come from the fact that the Cross Country runners have excelled. This is a new venture for us and the fruits of the labour of Fabienne Thompson and Tracey Stamp are plain to see. The ski trip to France was a resounding success, and, as a result of that, and the relative lack of snow this year in Scotland there will be another visit to the Alps in 2007. In race terms, the ski year was thin, but Hope Whitelaw excelled again as a 10 year old coming 4th in the Scottish Schools U14 Championship, and helping the girls’ team to a 4th, place too in the team event. Hope also came 2nd in the Scottish U11 Bairn’s Bucket. The choir, both here, and through the visit of our Icelandic friends has excelled, as have the U13 girls netball team who qualified to represent the Scottish schools in the IAPS netball finals at Roedean. The scholars have been a ‘wow.’ Poppy Deards, Charlie Black, Michael McKenzie, Olivia Strydom, Charlotte Marlow, Oscar Eriksen, Ellie Gorham, Ruairidh Watson, Ben Melville and Hannah Cox won a total of 12 awards in Music, Sport, Art, All Rounder and Academic categories. This bears testament to the all-round nature of the children’s efforts in school. Congratulations to everyone involved, not least the children themselves.

Celebrating Robert Burns

Ski Trip to “Les 3 Vallées”

IAPS Netball Finals at Roedean

During the holiday, I will be available by appointment. IAPS events are taking me in several directions at different times, but Wendy Stewart will be available between 9am and 3pm each day to take messages.

Next, I’d like to ask for support in two areas of school life. Firstly, could any temptation to allow any of the older children to have highlights put in their hair not be permitted? The damage is done when the deed is done, and weeks pass by before normality can be restored. Older children act as a magnet of role modelling for younger ones, and our life is made very difficult when we have school rules which are not enforced. The same is true of ‘fashion shoes.’ I am really co-operative about these areas, some of which can be sensitive, but, in return for me being responsive and helpful, I welcome support from home. It is as true now as it is always has been that every member of the school community supports school uniform, but there are a few who do not wish to apply things uniformly. This is an appeal to everyone’s better nature and good sense to see the point for the benefit of the whole community.

The musicians from Álftanes in Iceland

The Senior Choir

Finally, some information about staff changes in September. As a result of retirement, Osla Guest, Rae Farrow and Nuala Kennedy will all leave at the end of next term. I am delighted to say that they will be replaced in their respective roles by Tracey Stamp, Gemma Douglas and Charlie Reynolds. All are known to most of you and are moving from an existing role in school to these new jobs, thus ensuring a welcome sense of continuity and familiarity to the children. We will welcome Sue Brown, Liz Henderson and Ruth Grahame back from maternity leave at various stages between now and September and in slightly varied roles from those that they left.