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12th December 2006
My highlights: This week (week 15) has been yet another wonderful period in the life of the School, and it has seen so much: the Pringle Christmas Concert, the J4, J5 and First Form pantomime, Hansel and Gretel (which 'brought the house down'), and a huge amount of sport. There has also been so much singing: the Chapel Choir singing for the residents of Woodthorpe Sheltered Housing in Redford Road, our traditional charity carol singing in Jenners, and, of course, tonight's Service of Nine Lessons and Carols.
5th December 2006My Thoughts: This week I am speaking to the boys about teamwork. To my mind, teamwork is all about each individual ‘pushing the boat out’ and wanting to be the best he can be. If each individual in a team does this, pulling together and working alongside members of staff, then we have real teamwork. It has been a great pleasure for me to see so many young men in the School enthusing in so many areas of School life: the academic, the sporting, the dramatic, the musical and that of leadership. My Highlights: My highlight of last week was the School production of Macbeth. You may be interested to read my note to the cast and crew “...I really enjoyed being challenged by this production. It is extremely good that the School (in partnership with St George’s) concentrates on 28 November 2006
My Congratulations: Fraser (current Captain of Rugby), Douglas and Archie were today awarded their Colours for rugby. Also pictured (left) are Rickie and Jamie who were awarded Major Games Ties, for making 3 starts for the 1st XV. Last week in the Edinburgh Schools Swimming Championships Andrew won a Gold medal in the 100m breast stroke, and Alexander won a Bronze medal in the U15 100m Freestyle. (photo below)
My Highlights: Part of our job at School is to discover what each young man is good at and let him do it. So on Friday I enjoyed listening to 150 pupils taking part in the Choral and Instrumental Concert, involving the individual instrumentalists, the Orchestra, the Jazz Band, the Castle Band, the Pipe Band, the Rock Band, the Choir and the Close Harmony Group (which also sang Sloop John B at this morning’s Assembly!) 21 November 2006My Thoughts: Two stories hit the Edinburgh headlines last week: the 1-year old baby being admitted to hospital as a result of, allegedly, swallowing heroin, and a Sikh boy's hair being cut off in a racist attack by a 'knife gang'. These two stories are gave me the opportunity to speak to the School unequivocally about drugs and racism. I remain confident that Merchiston boys (and their parents) understand the challenges of modern life. I read out two recent quotes from national newspapers: "At the heart of all the faiths is the common value to love your neighbour as yourself." (Rabbi Dr Jonathan Romain), and "Love and compassion attracts; hatred and anger repels." (the Dalai Lama). I stressed that what happens in the 'outside world' affects us, for, as John Dunne said, "No man is an island", and I reminded the boys that each of us is different and distinct.
My Highlights: To finish on a highlight: after weekend leave, last night's Lower Sixth Parents' Meeting included a crisp MidYIS and ALIS presentation in the Robertson Building, and there was a real hubbub in the Memorial Hall as young men and parents spoke to the staff about their son's academic progress. The evening continued with a presentation on the next Fiji Millennium 3 Project by Mr Millard, and the Parents' Forum was chaired by Patrick Hodge and me. So, all the Merchiston constituencies were moving onwards and upwards!
14 November 2006My Thoughts: The following was prompted by one of my highlights last week, namely the Scottish Schools Cup rugby fixture against Watson’s. Yes, Merchiston was a tad lucky to win this match, but our team showed durability and was well led. I was reminded how important grace and dignity are as qualities by the reaction of the Watson’s team and their captain, particularly as they lost the match in the last 10 minutes. Whilst I applaud our team for their victory, I also applaud the Watson’s team on the way they played and on their graciousness and magnanimity in defeat.
My Highlights: Two other highlights of last week are very different. First, the Service of Remembrance and Dedication on Sunday, which saw a packed Memorial Hall, full of members of the School, staff, parents, and last, but not least, Merchistonian war veterans (click for photos). One particularly moving moment was 20 boys representing the various nationalities at Merchiston lighting candles as a symbol of hope and reconciliation – the countries were Argentina, Australia, Barbados, Britain, Chile, China, Ecuador, Germany, Ghana, Hong Kong, Japan, Kenya, Mexico, Netherlands, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Korea, Spain, Thailand, Ukraine, USA, Uzbekistan and Zimbabwe. The Chapel Choir was in particularly fine form, singing the wonderful Call to Remembrance, O Lord, in parts, unaccompanied. This was a special Merchiston occasion. So, as you can see, we have had an exciting week, but let us not forget that the ‘nitty gritty’ of the School continues, ie teaching and learning. Pictured left are Duncan, Hamish and Guy, who played as a trio in a Piping Competition last week and performed in today's assembly.
07 November 2006
This then leads to ‘bounce-back ability’. Everyone has to show bounce-back ability at some point. What is so wonderful about Merchiston is that it is competitive, but on the other hand members of the community are incredibly supportive of each other. So I am confident in saying that the development of bounce-back ability, optimism and resilience are fostered in this School. My Congratulations: At Assembly today, I congratulated Rorie on his appointment as a Prefect in Evans, and the boys who acted in Beauty & the Beast. I also gave Major Games Ties to Finlay, Peter and Robbie. After Miss MacMillan’s engagement last week, it was good to welcome Mrs Davies back from her Honeymoon. Judith Holdstock, who runs Merchiston Enterprises, married Richard Davies over the half term break.
 My Highlights: It is difficult, in a way, to produce one or two in such a full week. I try to see the young people and the staff on so many different occasions, and this week I was sorry to miss the Pipe Band Presentation Evening. However, I very much enjoyed watching the D1s showing resilience in their match against Cargilfield, as well as hearing about the determination of our 2nd XV in their tremendous victory over Howe of Fife. It was a particular pleasure to see St George’s production of Beauty and the Beast, most ably directed by two of their Sixth Formers, Lindsay and Julia. Barbara and I very much enjoyed seeing Hector, Ruaridh, Rory, Michael and Angus on the stage, as well as the sister of one of our pupils and the daughter of a member of staff. It is always extremely good, and indeed therapeutic, to spend a whole evening laughing!
31 October 2006I have spoken to the whole School at assemblies - this week held in the Dining Hall - to emphasise the need for all pupils to show respect for this facility and for all the support teams. With regard to the respect for food, it is interesting that the food wasted at one evening meal last week amounted to roughly £1,000 and therefore, based on 425 boys, this represents a cost per head of £2.35 wasted in one day. I told the boys that this sum would feed 200 children in Malawi breakfast for one year. In the Enlightened Curriculum, last week’s talk on Aids by Emma Cole was very well received, and the annual Prestige Physics Lecture was attended by five schools. We have been busy on the games pitches: rugby fixtures against the Edinburgh Academy on Saturday in which the 1sts, 3rds, 5ths, C1s and C2s won their matches; the 6ths achieved the extremely rare score of a 0-0 draw, and the 4ths and B1s won against the West of Edinburgh select teams. The tennis team won in the 1st round of the Scottish Schools Tennis Cup against The Academy and the basketball side was successful in the 1st round of the Scottish Schools Basketball Cup against Earlston High School.
In this week’s Headmaster’s Assembly, Calum, Richard (pictured) and Zachary were appointed prefects, and Senior Games Players ties were awarded to James, Christopher, Sebastian, Benny and James. This tie is granted to a pupil who has been in the starting line-up on three occasions in a major sport, namely athletics, cricket and rugby.
Adam and James (pictured) were also commended on stage for their contribution to Drama in the summer holiday; both participated in an independent production at the Edinburgh Fringe. Charles was congratulated on stage as the newly appointed Swimming Captain for this year. The news on Dr Stranock is that he has had a better week. A Merchiston rugby ball was delivered to his hospital bed along with two small England balls, as well as a DVD of Merchiston rugby matches. Our thoughts continue to be with him and his family. I welcomed Mr George to the School; he will be helping out with Biology this academic year.
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My thoughts: Yesterday epitomised the tremendous esprit de corps of the School: three excellent Christmas Dinners attended by the pupils, teaching and support staff.
At the Juniors' lunch Fraser entertained on the accordion, before Sam, Duncan, George, Ruairidh and Ruaridh sang 'The Locomotion' (photo left).
Two rock bands provided entertainment for the Chalmers Houses, playing some remarkable numbers. The Shell band featured Guy, Rory and Fergus, who played their own compositions entitled 'Never Be Better', 'Waiting On Sunshine' and 'Be All Right'. The senior band, consisting of Fergus and Dominic and Tom from the Upper Sixth, and Jake from the Lower Sixth, played 'Boys Don't Cry' (The Cure), 'Last Night' (The Strokes), 'Chelsea Dagger' (The Fratellis), and Going Missing (Maximo Park). It was great fun as the Headmaster to ask the senior rock band to play two encores! The Captain of School performed an amusing and illuminating skit on 'a life in the day of Merchiston'. I want to finish by quoting yet another of my clichés: in leadership we serve; in service we lead. It gives me great pleasure to say that the success of this school, and its sense of community, so utterly depend on all the different teams of people working together and supporting one another. 
My congratulations: Adam was today congratulated on achieving his Arts Honours for Stage Management. Merchiston then said goodbye to Mr Ian Craig (photo left) who retires tonight after almost twenty-two years at the School. During this time, he has been an inspirational teacher of Physics, and an outstanding Head of Physics and Technology, and then Head of Science; in December 1998 he was appointed Assistant Head Academic and a member of the Academic Management Team. He has really made a difference at Merchiston. One of my abiding memories of Ian was a Headmaster's Assembly last term when he gave an audience of 500 people (pupils and staff) a brilliantly illustrated lesson on 'Momentum' and how it can make good situations better or bad ones worse. What is even more interesting is that when I asked the School whether they had remembered this lesson, lots of hands shot up, and one pupil, Charlie, declared that he had certainly done so! It was also moving when four boys thanked Mr Craig on the stage: two spoke in Mandarin, one in German, and finally a Perthshire pupil in English. I presented Mr Craig with some gifts on behalf of the School. We shall miss him hugely; he is somebody who has always put the boys' interests first. 
My Congratulations: Following Macbeth last week we had Arts Honours to give out in assembly. Arts Honours for involvement in drama, and in particular for outstanding performances in Macbeth went to Dominic and Leo. Behind the scenes, James B received his Arts Honours for major contribution to sound in this and other productions, while Oliver and Alexander received theirs for stage management (photo left). Arts Honours also went to Ben for contribution to instrumental music, as well as Choir and Close Harmony Group, and to Leo, Struan and Douglas for their Choral 
contribution and involvement in Close Harmony Group. Sandy received his Major Games Tie, and I had pleasure in congratulating Fraser, Cameron and James (right) who have been selected for the Scotland Under 18 rugby squad. 
delivering a variety of drama, and Shakespearian tragedy is one of the most demanding forms of drama. Moreover, it is possible to surmise that there are easier Shakespeare plays to direct and in which to take part than Macbeth. Both Mrs Hunter and I were incredibly impressed by so many aspects of the production: the delivery of the iambic pentameter, let alone the memorisation of so many lines and soliloquies by Macbeth himself, also the shapes and patterns of the actors on stage, the relationships between the leading characters, the set design and the visual presentation of the set, the accompanying music, the slickness of the battle scenes, and the seamless transition of sound and light. I think this is a remarkable production and you all deserve so many congratulations. I think that not one of you will forget taking part in such a piece of art.” 
My Thoughts: It is important for Barbara and me to visit the home areas of so many pupils in the School, whether this be in Scotland – the Borders, East Lothian, Glasgow, Aberdeen, Inverness – or the whole of England. Other members of staff often visit places further afield, such as Japan, Hong Kong, China, Russia, Germany, and indeed Kenya. Last week, Barbara and I were delighted to visit Stranraer, and to see the home area of Aaron, Hamilton, Kerr, Mark and Grant (pictured). Let’s not forget that these boys travel three hours to get to School, as indeed do their parents to so many School events – all part of the vital Merchiston triangle of relationship between the pupils, the staff and the parents of each young man. What is intriguing about these boys is that they are all playing an important part in the resurgence of a Merchiston sport, namely curling. 
My Congratulations: This morning in assembly Duncan spoke about the visit of the Royal Marines, and Zachary, the captain of the Basketball team, spoke about their season so far (pictured left). My Congratulations go to them on winning their Scottish Schools Cup match against Hill Park Secondary School, thus making it through to the next round. I was delighted to receive today the Kings of the Bens Youth Team Trophy (won in the Scottish Islands Peaks Race last term); this was presented by Christopher, Alasdair, Kit, Chris and Hamish (pictured below) - members of the winning team, along with Christian. They themselves received this trophy at the Scottish Islands Peaks Race Presentation Dinner in Glasgow at the weekend. 
My Congratulations: It was good to see Geography being highlighted on the stage with the award of the Geography Department’s ‘World Wide Quiz’, the aim of which is to improve the pupils’ sense of place in the world around them. Prizes were awarded to Alexander, Angus, Keith, Kit and Peter (photo left). Mairi and Richard Lucas, and their sons, Paul and Andrew, received a blessing in Headmaster’s Assembly, as well as a gift from Barbara and me, and our warmest congratulations on Andrew David Lucas’s safe arrival last week. (Photo below) 
My Thoughts: This week, I have been reflecting on the concepts of self-esteem, optimism and resilience. An optimist sees the world as being the “best of all worlds”; such a person thinks that good will triumph over evil, and has a hopeful disposition. A resilient person is somebody who springs back, who recovers, and who is buoyant and cheerful. 
We had an extremely successful Information Morning on Saturday. Many visitors commented on the beauty of the campus, and the sense of quiet purpose in the School, but nearly every single visitor mentioned how impressive our young men are in how they present themselves. 
My highlight of the Assembly was Guy, Charlie and Luke speaking about the impact Miss MacMillan (photo left) had had on them as young people. (Guy and Charlie were amongst the first intake of J4 and J5 pupils into the School, and Luke is in our present J5.) They finished by congratulating her on her engagement to Mr Alan Trotter, and gave her a small gift from Barbara and me.
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