At the end of this term, we say goodbye to Robin Silk. Robin joined Merchiston in September 2003 as Housemaster of Rogerson East and teacher of History, in addition to coaching rugby, hockey and cricket, and playing an important part in the CCF. He has also taken History trips to the USA and Eastern Europe. He was appointed Housemaster of Rogerson West and Head of the Sixth Form in January 2006. Robin and Asli will be moving to Dubai where Robin takes up the post of Head of the Senior School at Repton, Dubai. As you know, Robin Macpherson will be the Acting Housemaster of Rogerson West for the Summer Term 2008 and will also teach Robin’s History & Politics lessons.
Sadly, Fiona Miller is also leaving Merchiston at the end of this term as she will be relocating to her home town of Ayr. Fiona joined us in August 2006 and she has been a highly talented teacher of two subjects, IT and Maths. The School will be writing to parents about the arrangements we have put in place for the teaching of Robin Silk’s and Fiona Miller’s classes. Jill Hall, Accountant, left us at the end of February after 10 years at Merchiston to take up an appointment at Loretto, and Mike Murray joined us as the new Accountant/Finance Manager. We wish our leavers every success in the next stages of their lives and thank them for their respective contributions to the life of the School.
New Members of the School Community
At the beginning of term, we welcomed Mrs Jackie Ghazal (mother of Third Former Andrew Ghazal) as the Pringle Centre Teaching Assistant. In addition, Carolyn Thornton joined the Development and Alumni Office as Development Assistant, and Mhairi Riach is our new catering member of staff who is helping with functions. Our new GAP students also arrived at the beginning of January: Charles Fairfield-Smith, Canberra Grammar School, Australia; Angus Lockhart, The Southport School, Australia; and David Owen, Lindisfarne College, New Zealand.
Moreover, four Professional Graduate Diploma in Education (PGDE) students have been undertaking teaching practice at Merchiston this term, as part of their course: Roderick Carter (Chemistry), Sophie Bigg (Geography), David Cornwall (Physics) and Craig Harrison (Physical Education).
Last, but not least, we were delighted to welcome baby Orla Cartwright (daughter of Dale and Sara Cartwright) to the Merchiston community. |
