News Archive: Autumn 2005, Lent 2006, Summer 2006, Autumn 2006, Lent 2007, Summer 2007, Autumn 2007, Lent 2008, Summer 2008, Autumn 2008,
Lent 2009, Summer 2009, Autumn 2009
Week 9
A group of LVI studying Government & Politics went to the Parliament at Holyrood on Thursday and Geographers were out doing fieldwork in Leith this week. The Cross Country team had various fixtures, including at Fettes on Tuesday and Strathallan on Thursday.
The biggest event of the week, involving around a quarter of the school as performers, was the Choral Society's performance (with St George's) of Carmina Burana in the University's McEwan Hall on Sunday evening. Accompanied by a large orchestra, it was well received by a capacity audience.
Week 8
The Spawforth Library is celebrating its 10th Anniversary this year, and a series of events to mark this began this week with Mr Hall talking about Jane Austen's Emma, in the first of the 10 minute book talks called 'Reading Rocks'. The Sixth Form met together for a collective meal on Tuesday evening. Saxophone pupils gathered on Wednesday for a workshop with the Quartet that visited school to perform last year. The Fifth Form parents' meeting on a snowy Saturday, when rugby fixtures were again cancelled, was mainly geared towards subject choices for the Sixth Form. In the evening, the Sixth Form Highland Ball took place, with girls from St Margaret's, St George's and Kilgraston.
Week 7 (Half term)
Week 6
Groups of Lower Sixth pupils attended training by the Place2be at the start of the week, designed to help them with the skills they might need in their placements with younger children. On Tuesday, a group of Lower Sixth went to Glasgow to attend a 'Mathematics and Science Colloquium' at Hutcheson's. Meanwhile, back at school, Professor Xunyu Zhou, Nomura Professor of Mathematical Sciences at Oxford University, gave a lecture and then answered pupils' questions on Mathematics and Economics.
At the end of the week we finished for the half-term break, and some V Formers went on a rugby tour to the South of France.
Week 5
The annual Scholars' Dinner was held on Tuesday evening, addressed by Professor Waterhouse, one of our governors. On Thursday some of our senior athletes took part in the Scottish Schools Indoor Athletics Championships, and five Shell boys took part in the 'Stock Market Challenge'. Also that day, two boys from the L6 took part in the Scottish heat of the Historical Association’s ‘Big Debate’. The theme was Local Heroes and Alex and Ben spoke about John Napier and the Marquess of Montrose respectively. They acquitted themselves well, but lost out to a talented speaker from Glasgow. There was a theatre trip to The Price at the Lyceum. Another covering of snow curtailed the games programme again, though some outdoor activity was still possible (if cold!).
Fifth Form and Shell years both began their exams this week: mock GCSEs for the former. J4 and 5 went to the Science Museum in Glasgow on Friday.
Week 4
Lower Sixth Geographers finally made their field-trip to Cumbria, which had to be cancelled owing to poor weather earlier in the term. A precursor to the Fifth Form's mock exams were mock speaking tests in languages, held this week. The Hockey team had its first match of the season, and clocked up a victory. Three of our musicians took part in the Braids Rotary Club's annual Young Musician competition on Thursday. Junior entrance days were held at the end of the week, with some of our pupils helping out with the visitors. Despite a beautiful sunny day on Saturday, rugby had to be cancelled because of the low temperatures having frozen the pitches. Our exchange pupils from Germantown Friends School in Philadelphia arrived at the end of the week: this is an annual exchange.
Week 3
In a busy week, a group of IV Form pupils were successful in the Construction Challenge. The Choral Society had its first joint rehearsal with St George's for the forthcoming concert in March. Burns Night was celebrated (early!) on Friday by the UVI attending a Supper at St George's. Rugby practices resumed in 'normal' conditions this week, following a thaw, even though the temperatures remained low. The semi-final of the Scottish Schools' rugby cup took place here on a very soggy (and slippery) Saturday afternoon, when we were defeated 3-7 by Stewart's Melville.
Week 2
We were able to confirm that five current Sixth Form pupils had gained places at Oxford or Cambridge following their recent interviews. Boys in J4 and J5 went to the Queen's Hall to hear a talk by children's author Lemony Snicket; some of them were interviewed afterwards for a television report.
The week was very cold and icy, with alternative games arrangements continuing to be used. A slow thaw at the end of the week saw much of the snow disappear from the grounds. Junior entrance tests took place on Saturday. In the evening, around 200 people attended the annual Burns Supper, which went especially well this year. On Sunday, we hosted a prep schools' football tournament.
Holidays & Week 1
At the start of the holiday, the 2nd XV made its annual visit to Northern Ireland. Although they were defeated in both matches, against RAI and Campbell College, the participants enjoyed the experience.
The Curling Team won the Hay (Schools') Trophy during the holiday. Their results to date are on the sports page.
Term started with heavy snow in Colinton and sub-zero temperatures all week, which are proving a challenge to all, with special games arrangements in place. Despite the weather, almost all pupils managed to return in time for the beginning of term on Thursday morning.
Sunday's morning service was changed to be for boarders only in view of the weather and the fact that visiting speaker was unable to come.
