Craigclowan Preparatory School

Our sports teams have, as usual, competed fiercely on the field and at senior level we were delighted to have a strong contingent representing WOSPS in their fixtures against Dandylions. Ynke Larivière played for the Netball As while the B Team, captained by Sandie Smillie, consisted of another four Craigclowan girls: Alexandra McLellan, Isobel Houston, Hope Whitelaw and Annabel Flowers. Meanwhile, Marcus Black, Ross Davies, Cameron Montgomery, Shane Brown, Scott Whiteford, Martin Marshall and Rory Wood were all picked for the WOSPS Rugby side on the back of a fine 1st XV season and the first five of that group also represented the Scottish Prep Schools XV. Elsewhere, our hockey teams have played increasingly well with a number of senior players back next year. The Under 10 rugby side lost just one fixture and the 2nd XV, after a series of close matches, snatched a victory in their last game.

Hope Whitelaw has once again been selected to be part of the British Ski Academy Training Squad in France next term as well as being called up to represent Scotland in the World Schools Ski Championships in March. Ross Davies has been selected to be part of the Scottish Under 16 Hockey Development Squad and Aiden O’Brien auditioned successfully for a part in Sleeping Beauty at The Royal Opera House in Covent Garden. All very fine personal achievements representing the depth and variety of talent within the school.

The school has been lifted by the return after half-term of Iain Simpson and he will be taking back more of his teaching in the New Year. During the first half of term we undertook further development of the school lunches. On the Parents Page of the website you will be able to find weekly menus and more details of our recent review. The staff also discussed the format of reports. I hope you will appreciate not only the quality of the comments made by staff about your children but also the changes to the layout. Your feedback will be very welcome.

F.V Roman Day at the Museum

The car park is a source of frustration for some and I hope that the following measures will help to ease the congestion at busy times. In the mornings, if you wish to take your child to his or her classroom or talk to members of staff, please park in the Main Car Park. If you simply wish to drop your child, please drive into the tennis court, turn immediately left and move around the edge as far as possible before stopping. Your child should then get out of the car and head to the closest set of steps, staying on the edge of the tarmac area. This should create a constant flow of traffic through this area provided cars leaving the court are allowed priority and I will be present on the first few mornings to try to keep things moving.

In the afternoons please park in either the Main Car Park or the Tennis Court. Children in Forms I and IIB may be collected from their classrooms or the square but those in IIA upwards should be met at the tree stump next to the Pre-school building. This will reduce the amount of time for which cars are parked and so help free up parking spaces. At all times, patience and care are required to ensure the safety of everyone’s children. Can I also ask that only cars displaying registered disabled stickers use the disabled parking spaces near the Pre-school. No matter how desperate you are for a space, there are a number of people who need them.

I would like to draw your attention to the term dates for the coming year. In particular the half-term dates for Spring 2009 which now give a full week’s holiday. I hope that this will allow those of you who wish to ski with your family at that time the opportunity to do so without missing school either then or at the end of term. Equally, it will give us all a decent break to recharge our batteries as will the extra day added to the Summer half-term 2008 and I hope that this will not cause any inconvenience.

I encourage you to visit www.schoolstrader.com a unique website for independent school communities. Parents, staff, friends and family can use it to advertise to each other or search for items for sale (from holiday homes and bikes, to pets and musical instruments). It is useful, simple and completely free. Once registered, you can place ads or search for items under specific categories. Communication between buyers and sellers is by email. Users may place ads on the Craigclowan pages and on other local independent school pages in our area. I have enclosed a postcard with more details.