Burns Supper at Kilgraston on Wednesday 23 January 2019
This much-anticipated annual event, with the required ‘touch of tartan’ manifesting itself in everything from plaid ‘trews’ to multi-coloured hair ribbons, is a Spring Term favourite with senior girls and staff at the school.
Joint Deputy Head Girls, Mia H and Maria M, kicked-off proceedings with Burns’ Selkirk Grace, hailed from the poet’s visit to the seat of the Earl of Selkirk when he was asked to offer a prayer before the meal.
Chaplain, Mr Allaker’s self-depreciating ‘Toast to the Lasses’ sparked hilarity among his flock, with Head Girl, Cleodie L, giving a spirited riposte, imagining the consequences of the Bard having access to twenty first century social media – “He’s out with who tonight?!”.
Cock-a-Leekie soup, Haggis, ‘neeps’ and ‘tatties’ and Catering Manager Dougie Macdonald’s signature ‘Celtic Cranachan’ – a delicious combination of raspberries, cream and oatmeal – was all washed down with a perfect rendition of Burns’ Immortal Memory by Mrs MacGinty and Mr Campbell’s ‘A-list’ performance of ‘Address to a Haggis’.
Mrs Blue’s troupe of talented Fiddlers offered a rousing performance of three spirit-lifting Scottish tunes, while pupil Tabitha K delivered the moving solo, ‘Ae Fond Kiss’.
The traditional Vote of Thanks was offered by Mrs McFadden but really, the vote of thanks should have been offered to her for organising such a wonderful evening.
Hands were clasped for Auld Lang Syne and smiles on faces from around the world demonstrated the pleasure gained from this traditional evening.
We’ll tak’ a cup o’ kindness yet, for auld lang syne. Indeed.
Mairi Fraser
Kilgraston athlete’s success gains media attention
Freya is hugely supported by the PE Department at Kilgraston, together with her Club, Perth-based Strathtay Harriers, which meets at the George Duncan Athletics Arena in the City.
Joining Kilgraston in 2015, 15 year-old Freya has gone from strength to strength and, in 2018, was placed in the UK Top 3 in three individual disciplines, in addition to being ranked as the UK’s best female javelin thrower for her category.
Well done Freya, we’re all behind you. Read about her progress here…
Life at Kilgraston - first-hand piece by a member of our Junior Years Magazine Committee
The Life of a Junior School pupil
“When I first came to Kilgraston my expectations were normal and not very high, but within a quarter of the day, I had fallen in love with the school. I enjoyed all of the fun lessons and activities they had available, and everywhere I looked I could see smiles.
This is what a typical school day looks like:
A Kilgraston day is like every other school, but better in every way. Your very first lesson depends on the timetable, but it will probably be Maths, English or Social Studies and, as some people know it best, Topic.
If you ask me, the best lessons are Drama, Music, English, Art and maybe Religious Studies. The worst lesson is Maths, but most kids don’t like that subject! Spelling is very hard too but in Lower Third, if everyone gets their spelling correct, you are allowed to go down stairs and do the Macarena!
The lunches at Kilgraston are amazing; delicious, wonderful, great; did I say delicious already? Sorry, it’s just they are very good. My favourite lunches are pizza, KFC (this stands for Kilgraston Fried Chicken), fish Fridays and macaroni cheese.
At break time you can visit the obstacle course and go on the little bars or the wobble bridge and down into a big space where there are lots of trees and another obstacle course, monkey bars and a balancing chain.
On the first break you can have a snack and find out what’s for lunch and run around. On the big break you can still run around, or you can go to a club like, netball, musical theatre, sewing and magazine club, and that is how I got to write this article.
One of the main events of this year is St Andrew’s Day, where all of the Junior Year classes join in. This year the youngest pupil, Sophia, cut the cake with Mrs McGinty. It was an amazing event, the girls danced with their classmates and teachers and, if you wanted to, you could dance with your mum and dad. So if you had come to watch events you might find yourself up on the dance floor!”
December is a time of giving and this year Kilgraston pupils decided to ask: “What did you GIVE for Christmas?” and not, “what did you get?”
Back in October, girls approached Stephen Johnston, Head of Religious Studies at the school, with the idea to sell ‘Real Gifts’ prior to Christmas. Having decided on their course of action, Kilgraston girls gave a presentation at the school’s weekly assembly to inform and encourage engagement with their fellow pupils.
The small leadership group soon got to work running a stall at lunchtimes, where they sold ‘real gifts’ in the shape of a donation toward life-essentials like crop seeds, sewing kits, pigs and goats. “I was delighted to help our pupils instigate this great project, but really they did all the work themselves,” said Mr Johnston.
However, the amount raised soon far exceeded expectations so Head, Dorothy MacGinty, suggested aiming for a higher goal. She said: “The girls decided to extend their giving to try and achieve the objective of training a teacher (£830 per annum). Girls rallied and donations for annual, in-house, ‘Secret Santa’ presents were shelved and the money given instead to the SCIAF project.” Mrs MacGinty continued: “Everyone should have access to education, to nurture the skills and get the knowledge they need to live life to the full. By providing training to teachers, it can help reach many more people in need and make a real and lasting difference, giving hope for the future.”
SCIAF, the Scottish Catholic International Aid Fund, is the official aid and development agency of the Catholic Church in Scotland, working in 15 countries across Africa, Asia and Latin America to support some of the world’s poorest people.
Patricia Ferguson Outreach Manager at SCIAF, said: “Each Christmas it’s incredible how people respond to our Real Gifts, seeing them as wonderful presents for their loved ones, but also as an opportunity to change the lives of some of the poorest people in the world.” Ms Ferguson continued: “The chance to train a teacher is a new gift we’re offering this year. We’re so grateful that the pupils at Kilgraston have chosen to pass on the gift of education. We know first-hand what an incredible difference it can make to the lives’ of children in some of the poorest countries in the world and it’s a real tribute to Kilgraston that they’ve shown such generosity.”
Pupils have decided to continue the project and make it an annual event; perhaps they are no longer such a ‘secret Santa!’
Bridget Kayak success
Bridget (U5) has finished her first season of kayaking slalom on a high where she has been promoted through 3 divisions and being awarded “Most improved paddler” in Strathallan Canoe Club.
Bridget also won the Central Area Neil Caffrey Trophy at Alva this month too.
Pictured is Bridget with Neil Caffrey, Irish internationalist and 2008 Olympian.
Sophie and Niamh Black belts achieved
This week both Sophie (L4) and Niamh (L6) achieved black belts in Taekwondo and Karate respectively.
Wonderful for the girls to get so far to date.
Tatler comes to Kilgraston
Every year, the influential Tatler Schools Guide arrives to the eager anticipation of independent schools throughout the UK.
We’re thrilled to announce that the 2019 edition gives Kilgraston a resounding ‘gold star’.
Academically, we “punch well above” our non-selective weight, while our”outstanding STEM department” is highlighted. The fact too that the school is the only one in Scotland to boast an on-site Equestrian Centre is brought to readers’ attention.
We pride ourselves on the exceptional pastoral care here at Kilgraston and it is lovely to have this ethos endorsed with the relationship, between staff and pupils, being described as “very special”.
A review of Kilgraston’s magical ‘Portraits of Christmas’ spectacular
Billed as a ‘cross-school production’, and held at Perth’s Concert Hall on Friday 7 December 2018, ages five to eighteen rallied, bringing alive Mary and Joseph’s journey to Bethlehem through a narrative of verse and humorous conjecture in this one-off Christmas ‘KBC’ special: that’s the Kilgraston Broadcasting Company.
“Do you realise how hard it is to hire a donkey costume at this time of year?!” exclaimed an exasperated ‘TV exec’. The ‘donkey’ was in fact a horse and, in a further unexpected twist, the Heads of Geography and English, Messers Phillips and Kearns, surprised everyone by emerging, separately, from their fluffy constraint. “Pull yourselves’ together,” shouted the pupil-Exec. Teachers obeyed.
Ruth M’s beautifully iconic a capella, ‘No Room, No Room’, was accompanied by poster-sized flashcards telling us that the ‘Bethlehem Marriott, Hilton and Premier Inns were full for the night.’
The production was unexpected from the onset when the school’s Pipes and Drums band silently appeared on a pitch-black stage, only to give a stirring rendition of ‘Little Drummer Boy’ with the aid of luminous glow sticks. Mary and Joseph may well have been following a bright star over Bethlehem 2,000 years ago, but the audience followed the dashing flashes just as closely.
Junior performers had their say in a modern way with a jaunty ‘Roman Rap’ as soldiers gathered to track down the Messiah. Dave Godfrey’s ‘yeah high ‘Sat Nav Song’ embraced the whole stage - and some of the audience too - dozy do’ing and flossing along their foot-tapping journey.
This show constantly surprised and never more so than with the quality of traditional melodies. The ‘Breath of Heaven’ duet - a heart-felt rendition of Mary’s difficult predicament - by pupils Amy B and Tabitha K, certainly gave the hairs on the back of your neck something to think about, while Libby B S’s timbre during Kirk Franklin’s sweeping gospel ‘Joy!’ swept you away from a stage in Perth and off to a deep-south plantation.
But this was very definitely a performance soaked in Scottish inflection. Did fiddles appear in the original Bethlehem stable? They certainly did tonight, giving ‘How Suddenly a Baby Cries’ a definite tartan twang. Even Highland Dancer, Bridget S-B, performing some intricate steps, seemed entirely in keeping with this unique interpretation. The green and blue clad choir clutched candles and swung to the various rhythms like a murmuration of well-rehearsed song birds.
The last laugh though must go to Sara D’s feisty ‘Herod’. “Phew” exclaimed the three Wise Men as they left the mean King’s chamber after a thorough grilling. “I’m not dead yet,” he (she) barked as acolytes dragged him (her) kicking from the stage.
An ambitious production, humorously delivered by a broad age-range of talent. This was a delightful piece of festive entertainment, where cast and audience fully engaged with the traditional take.
Mairi Fraser
MUSIC at Kilgraston
DRAMA at Kilgraston
And don’t just take our word for it…one Courier reader felt so inspired by the show that he wrote to the paper…thank you sir!
A fine show all round
The Courier & Advertiser 12 Dec 2018
Sir, – As a regular theatre and concert goer I had the privilege of being in the audience for Kilgraston school’s presentation of Portraits of Christmas on December 7.
The whole production was really glorious with the story of the Nativity running throughout along with marvellous music from the orchestra and choir.
The highlights for me were the solo singing performances, while the moment when King Herod died was really magical.
I am sure that many a professional company could not have done better.
Thank you all at Kilgraston for a memorable evening. Jim Balneaves. Tayside Place, Glencarse.
Independent Schools of the Year
Kilgraston was voted “Highly Commended” in 2 categories:
Environmental Achievement
Healthy Eating
Novelty Nativity for Kilgraston’s donkey divas
The obliging donkey duo are owned by one of the young Junior Years singers, Lucy H, who, while rehearsing for the show, had the idea that it would be great to have a real version to practice with.
Head of Music at Kilgraston, Jason McAuley, was delighted to make this happen. “Instilling a love of all things musical in children is my main aim and using inspiring locations is all part of the fun process,” he said.
Portraits of Christmas is on Friday 7 December at 7pm and brings alive the Nativity story through melodies and music from both the Junior and Senior sections of the school. The show is open to everyone and tickets are available from the Concert Hall.
Sadly, the descant donkeys won’t be appearing on the stage.