Junior girls continue to support Moncreiffe Care Home
Some of our Reception girls have been sending regular letters, drawings and pictures to the residents at Moncreiffe Care Home in a bid to lift their spirits and let them know that they are still thinking of them.
It is of the utmost importance to protect the residents, as well as our girls, so when the care home and Kilgraston shut their doors, the girls had to get creative to stay in touch. The residents have received some lovely letters, beautiful drawings and heartwarming cards.
The staff at the care home have said it really lifts spirits and puts smiles onto the residents faces, which they desperately need at the moment, given the fact they are unable to see their family.
Kilgraston’s Treehouse
Charlie has used spare materials found around the school to build the junior girls a treehouse which features a rope ladder, balcony and living wall.
In ”normal” circumstances, Charlie works in Theatre, creating scenery and sets (in London and around the world!), as well as impressive displays within the retail industry.
The treehouse was built over the course of a a few weeks, with girls being updated on it’s progress during Mrs MacGinty’s assemblies.
We know the junior girls will absolutely love this new treehouse and will be very grateful to Charlie for all his hard work!
#ThankATeacher Day
#ThankATeacher day is a day to give thanks to our dedicated teaching community that go above and beyond to provide the best education for their pupils.
We would like to take this opportunity to say thank you to all the Kilgraston teaching staff who have been, and still are, providing the very best for their pupils in these very difficult circumstances. When we asked the girls what they are missing the most about being at school, alongside their friends, they all said they missed their teachers. Each and every member of staff has such a vital role to play in our girls progress and success, both from a pastoral perspective and academically. It’s a role that our teachers take very seriously because they care about each and every girl they teach.
So on #ThankATeacher day, we are asking you to say thank you to your teachers. You can send a free e-card on the #ThankATeacher website here.
You can also submit a short video thanking your favourite teacher here.
Alex named player’s player of the year for netball
We spoke to Alex to find out more about her fantastic achievement.
How do you feel about winning players player of the year?
I am ecstatic about winning players player of the year for Perth ladies league! This was my third year in this league and it has been the best season for me so far.
What have been the highlights for you over the last year?
There have been many highlights for me this year. One of them includes being accepted into Edinburgh Accies U19 training programme with previous head Scotland coach, Mary Ann Cosgrove. This was an amazing experience with late night intense training sessions every Monday at the Oriam, Heriott Watt University. Another highlight includes the school senior team reaching Scottish cup finals. After the semi finals, all of us were so excited to play in the final. However, due to Covid-19, it was cancelled. Fingers crossed it can be rearranged!
How has Kilgraston supported you in your Netball success?
Kilgraston has been a major support system for my journey with netball on and off the court. If I had any free time, you would usually find me shooting in the sports hall, doing a session in the gym or talking about game plans with Mrs Ferry. The encouragement from the sports department has been incredible. They have encouraged me to go for every opportunity and be at the top of my game. Also, the support from students and teachers towards the senior netball team have been amazing. By having them watch and cheer us on in our home fixtures has really helped us boost our confidence this season.
Kilgraston and beyond: alumnae stories
This week’s alumnae story was sent in by the family of former Kilgraston girl, Grace Thomson.
Grace left Kilgraston in 2014 after being elected Head Girl from 2013-14. She went on to study nursing at the University of Glasgow, where she graduated with a Bachelor of Nursing degree with Honours. Soon after graduating, Grace started working at Glasgow Royal Infirmary (GRI) in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) where she and her colleagues are currently working tirelessly on Covid19 wards, fighting on the very front line on this pandemic.
Grace’s family are understandably missing her, but are enormously proud of her, as is everyone here at Kilgraston.
As we stand in our doorways and clap for our key works on Thursday next week, we ask that you clap just a little louder for Grace and her colleagues at GRI, as well as every other key worker helping keep our country safe.
Thank you for all your hard work Grace, we look forward to welcoming you back to Kilgraston for a visit when this is over!
If you have a alumnae story to share, please email us at [email protected]
#twopointsixchallenge
The Covid-19 pandemic has had a catastrophic effect with the cancellation of thousands of events and the loss of billions in income through fundraising events.
The Virgin Money London Marathon alone, which should have taken place on Sunday 26 April, is the world’s biggest one-day fundraising event, which raised more than £66.4 million for thousands of charities in 2019.
The challenge involves dreaming up something to do with an activity based around the numbers 2.6 or 26 that suits your skill, this could be something as simple as pledging to run or ride 2.6 miles as your daily exercise, holding the plank for 2.6 minutes, to gardening for 26 minutes. There are no rules – apart from the Government guidelines on how to exercise safely during this time.
We are enormously proud of all the girls and staff who took part in the #twopointsixchallenge, here is what some of our pupils and staff did:
- Anais made 26 pancakes
- Rebecca made 26 cupcakes
- Mrs Lund walked 2.6k everyday for 10 days
- Paula ran 26km
- Laura shot 26 netball hoops
- Charlotte cycled 26km
- India did 26 repetitions of each of her ballet movements
- Bethan did a 260m cycle 10 times a day for 10 days
- Rosie and Natalie cycled 2.6 miles
- Mrs Speed did a 2.6km run
What did you do for your 2.6 challenge? Email us at [email protected] and let us know!
Desert Island Books
Find out which book Ms Hall has picked as her Desert Island Book.
Kilgraston and beyond: alumnae stories
Zinnia (Zinnie) Hall, a former Kilgraston girl, has been working on the front line during this pandemic. Zinnie left Kilgraston in 2011 and has since found her career in medicine.
She is now working in Medicine covering a variety of wards, including Covid-19 and respiratory wards at St Peter’s Hospital in Surrey.
Thank you Zinnie, keep up the amazing work!
If you are a former Kilgraston girl with a story to share, please contact [email protected].
twopointsix challenge - Miss Patton takes part
Kilgraston and beyond - Alumnae stories
Karen Clark (née Ryder) attended Kilgraston from 1979 - 1985 and is now a Speech and Language Therapist at Perth Royal Infirmary and is still supporting patients through this pandemic.
Karen was a keen member of the choir at Kilgraston and that passion for singing and music never left her as she went on to join the church choir and then onto the Craigie choir, who she has been singing with for around 10 years now.
A few weeks ago, Karen received an email from the producer working on the charity single ‘You’ll Never Walk Alone’ (with Michael Ball and Capitain Tom Moore) asking if she, and any of her colleagues, would like to be involved as part of the ‘Voices of Care’ choir - singers working within the NHS.
After a fast sign up, she, and her colleagues had to record themselves singing the track and send the recording studio to be mixed that night. There was then a zoom call with Michael Ball and the music producer to capture the faces behind the voices of Voices of Care choir to create the video.
The song was broadcast on BBC Radio 2 and BBC Breakfast before flying to number one in the charts.
Karen said ”It has been a crazy, surreal roller-coaster of an experience and definitely not the average day in the life of a Speech and Language therapist!”.
Check out the article in The Courier here.
If you are a former Kilgraston girl with a story to share, please email [email protected]