News Archive: Autumn 2005, Lent 2006, Summer 2006, Autumn 2006, Lent 2007, Summer 2007, Autumn 2007, Lent 2008
Week 11
The last week of term saw a remarkable number of things happening, both in and out of School. On home ground activities included Pringle's Concert and Prizegiving, a safety awareness day, Business Dynamics course, lifesaving course, and a careers day for the III Form.
Away from home there were cricket tours for members of both IV and Shell Forms, the Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme Expedition to Yorkshire for a large group of senior pupils, and the whole III Form went to York on Tuesday.
Two Prizegiving ceremonies concluded the term; at the main ceremony on Saturday, the address was given by Robert Grant (Merchistonian), who gave an excellent and thoroughly engaging talk about his experiences rowing across the Atlantic earlier this year. This was much enjoyed by the entire audience, and made an uplifting end to the year.
Week 10
Music featured prominently again this week with the visit of Mr Malcolm Harding as Musician in Residence. He visited classes, gave mock exams for Associated Board candidates and was guest speaker at Friday's 'Celebration of Music', to which we welcomed some parents and former pupils.
Friday's major event was The Games, on which day we were blessed with bright and sunny, if windy, weather - a pleasant change from some recent years! It was less sunny on Saturday, but nevertheless a large programme of cricket was able to take place at all age groups.
Members of the Lower Sixth Form studying English headed for Stratford-upon -Avon at the weekend to view Shakespeare productions at the RSC. The Second Form headed to Bamburgh to visit the Castle and beach.
Week 9
All years from First to Shell Forms joined the older pupils in examinations for most of this week. Two music competitions took place. In our own, on Friday, the annual instrumental competitions for the Macleod Cup and the Forbes Bowl were both won by saxophonists: Joe won the junior cup, and Ben the senior one. He is pictured with Mrs Forbes, widow of Donald Forbes, who donated the Bowl when he retired as Headmaster in 1982. Pipers and Drummers went to Loretto on Sunday for the CCF competition.
Midweek, a group of staff and boys went to hear Cherie Blair speak in town.
Week 8
Many of the GCSE exams took place this week, with English and Chemistry in particular involving the entire V Form. On Wednesday evening, junior boys performed instrumental ensembles organised by Ms Cohen.
Week 6
Over 400 guests attended the 175th Anniversary Ball at the EICC on Friday night, and the auction raised more money towards the Sixth Form House. On Saturday, the visiting speaker at the Commemoration Service was Dr David Millar, (Merchiston 1980-85) who delivered a powerful talk about his life, which was permanently changed by a spinal injury a few years after he left school. The silent atmosphere in the crowded Memorial Hall during his talk, and the length of applause following it said it all.
The service was followed by an exhibition of Art, and Design and Technology which some pupils and parents had already visited on Thursday. A concert featuring many pupils playing and singing in a variety of ensembles brought the half-term to a close.
Week 5
The Modern Languages Department held a special French day on Tuesday (photo left), to which we also invited St George's girls. On Wednesday we held our annual concert with local primary schools. Cricket during the week went ahead in rather cool and gloomy conditions, though Saturday's wet weather forced cancellations. Social activities took place with both St George's and Kilgraston this week, and some Pringle boys went on a camp at Blakerston at the weekend.
Week 4
The Fifth Form entered the exam season proper by sitting their Standard Grade Maths on Thursday. A junior drama evening was staged mainly by members of Pringle House, who put on performances of The Witches in the theatre on Friday. After a week of glorious weather, on Saturday cricket was disrupted by rain; an Athletics match against the Edinburgh Academy continued despite a thunder storm and several torrential downpours.
Week 3
A whole School photograph was taken on Tuesday - quite a complex operation, seen in progress on the left - with House ones following on Thursday. The termly bag-a-bok days were at the end of the week in the Library, and the Junior Maths Challenge took place on Thursday morning. Friday night saw socials for both the most senior and junior ends of the School. Saturday was this term's Information Morning, with a special focus on Pringle, and we welcomed a good number of both current and prsopective parents. Our clay pigeon shooting teams took part in a competition in Staffordshire on Sunday; in the morning a service conducted by the boys was followed by a drinks party which the Headmaster held for leavers and their parents. In the evening 6 boys were confirmed by the Bishop of Edinburgh in a service at St Cuthbert's Episcopal Church in Colinton.
Week 2
The week began with a Higher Education and Careers Fair for senior pupils, at which they were joined by girls from St George's and St Margaret's; many were able to speak to people about university choices at this meeting. On Friday, many pupils and staff involved in the various sports at School gathered for a dinner. The first set of cricket fixtures took place during this week for many of the teams; the 1st XI had already had a victorious start to their season last Saturday. One of a variety of weekend trips took advantage of the good weather for a visit to the beach.
Easter Holidays & Week 1
Holiday activities included an U16 team playing at the Melrose Sevens, a ski trip, a History Department visit to Eastern Europe, a Geography Department trip to Iceland, Sixth Formers visiting Spain, and a Duke of Edinburgh Award Practice Expedition.
Term began on Wednesday with assembly and hand-shaking, and despite rather cold and wet weather, cricket practices got underway straight away, with the first matches being played by Pringle and the 1st XI on Saturday. The entire IV Form took part in a Duke of Edinburgh Bronze Award camp and Expedition at the weekend and into Monday.
