‘I would walk 84 miles’
Starting from Wallsend near Newcastle on Thursday 30 May, Clara R, completed the 84 mile trek, arriving in in Bowness-on-Solway, just over five days later, on Tuesday 4 June. During her walk along the route of the defensive wall - built by the Romans on the northern border of their empire - Clara reached a height of 1132 feet, passing 16 forts and 160 turrets!
Clara’s achievement – averaging some 17 miles per day – was impressive enough in itself, but even more so as it came hot on the heels of her Higher exams. Sitting Geography on the 28th May and Psychology on Wednesday 29th, Clara had no time to put her feet up, donning her boots the very next day.
Raising funds for The Cure Parkinson’s Trust (CPT), Clara has, as of 7.6.19, raised over £2,000 (not including Gift Aid) with donations still coming in. The link can be found here.
CPT is the only organisation in the UK solely dedicated to finding a cure for Parkinson’s. Parkinson’s disease is a condition where parts of the brain become progressively damaged over many years. Living with Parkinson’s means you experience tremors, slow movement, stiff muscles as well as a loss of smell, insomnia and problems with your balance and memory. Parkinson’s is caused by a loss of nerve cells in part of the brain which leads to a reduction in a chemical called dopamine, which is vital for regulating movement in the body. At the moment, there are treatments to reduce symptoms and maintain quality of life however there is no cure for this disease.
CPT was founded in 2005 by four people living with the condition, CPT takes a patient-centric approach to funding innovative projects and inspirational scientists to modify the progression of Parkinson’s and to find a cure. CPT believe they are closer than ever to delivering treatments that for the first time will slow, stop or even reverse the progression of the disease.
Clara said: “I believe that The Cure Parkinson’s Trust is an amazing charity to support.”
Ask the experts - What to look for in a senior school
Kilgraston’s Headmistress, Mrs Dorothy MacGinty, says it’s all about the “atmosphere” and “eye contact…”
To read more from Mrs MacGinty, and that of the four other Heads, please turn to pages 59-61 of ISP Summer 2019. If you would like a hard copy of the magazine, they are available in both Kilgraston’s Senior School Reception and Junior Years.
Whole-school ‘Wear it again’
Inspired by renowned environmentalist, Sir David Attenborough, who recently said: “We need to move beyond guilt or blame and get on with the practical tasks in hand,” pupils approached Head, Mrs Dorothy MacGinty, with the idea for a vintage clothes day to demonstrate that quality clothes never go out of fashion.
“The girls felt passionately about doing something positive but were unsure how they could make a difference on their own,” said Mrs MacGinty, “So, together, we have devised a list of 100 little changes, which everyone can implement, and that starts by buying fewer, cheap, clothes.”
To highlight the need to think about fashion purchases - not bowing to the trend for ‘fast fashion’ - everyone at the School wore clothes that were over ten years old.
Kilgraston’s inaugural ‘Wear It Again’ Day involved all 260 pupils who were asked to ditch their uniform for the day in favour of something ‘vintage’. “Quality lasts – I routinely wear a jacket that my mother-in-law gave me when I was first engaged and I’ve been married for thirty years!” said Mrs MacGinty.
During a recent assembly, the Head highlighted to pupils the enormous impact the fashion industry has on the world’s carbon footprint: “According to a report by the industry-led Circular Fibres Initiative, in 2015, global greenhouse gas emissions from textile production totalled 1.2 billion tonnes of CO2 equivalent; more than the emissions of all international flights and maritime shipping combined.” Mrs MacGinty continued: “Less than 1% of the material used to produce clothing globally is recycled into new clothing, with only 12% recycled into other products such as insulation or mattress stuffing.”
Kansas comes to Kilgraston
Between imaginative direction by new Head of Drama Hannah Murphy, the vibrant set design of Head of Art Gillian MacLeod and the musical interpretation by Jason McAuley, like Dorothy, you found yourself looking through the prism of fantasy to another world. Dream or reality? You decide.
Kilgraston’s Junior Years’ production of The Wizard of Oz was, to paraphrase Mary Berry: “A real show stopper.” Running over two nights plus a matinee performance, this ambitious production involved all 64 pupils; every five-year-old twirled a spotty umbrella – who knew what you could do with a flattened cake-cup holder…
The opening scene finds our heroine ‘Dorothy’ in mid-west America dreaming of excitement in far-away lands. Of course, after a tornado catches her and her dog Toto (Hannah A) on the hop, this wish is granted and she is indeed a long way from the prairies.
The show is a metaphor for every human being – hence it’s appealing longevity. Children dream of loosening the apron strings but, hang on a minute, do we like what’s over the rainbow? Somewhere on life’s journey, we all realise that “there’s no place like home.”
The original film, starring Judy Garland, is some 80 years old, but its strong sentiments are as valid today as they were before WWII: ‘If you want something bad enough, you have to believe in yourself.’ A lesson for us all.
Fern N stole the show with her Cowardly Lion, encapsulating the essence of someone who’s riddled with doubt: “The only thing I want is to be taken away from all this.” Thank goodness she wasn’t; turns out ‘courage; was at the top of her wish list and courage she found.
Throughout the journey along the mysterious ‘yellow brick road’ Lion’s contemporaries, Scarecrow (Melissa A) and Tinman (Megumi S) also found their hearts’ desires, but not without resistance.
Every show needs a baddie and this one has the Wicked Witch of the West. Hell-bent on revenge, after Dorothy’s house landed on her sister, she was depicted with an evil resonance, way beyond her years, by Meadow B. All long-nails and pointy hat, Witchy cackled her way through the show, hotly pursuing the coveted ‘ruby slippers’ and breathing fire: “You’re nothing but a bale of bovine fodder,” she charmingly addressed poor Scarecrow.
When it was first aired in 1939, the original film wowed audiences with its transition from black and white to colour and epic scale of the City of Oz scenes – including some 124 ‘Munchkins’. Kilgraston was equally ambitious. In no-less than four scenes, every pupil simultaneously appeared – Tough Guys, the Lollipop Guild, animated Apple Trees, Crows, Monkeys, Jitterbugs and Winkies – jiving, diving, dancing and prancing. Capucine Williot’s rainbow-coloured tutu brought a touch of balletic class to proceedings while Kate D, as Glinda the Good Witch of the South, showed that she could not only look lovely, but sing beautifully too.
Of course, there wasn’t just one Dorothy in the auditorium; a cheeky reference to the eponymous Headmistress had the audience in stitches and earned a rye smile from Kilgraston’s boss!
No production is complete without some animal-action - and this show had its share of furry-friends. None tugged at the heart-strings more though than Toto, providing the perfect foil to our heroine’s adventure’s with an able interpretation of the script, “Woof”.
In a pitch-perfect southern drawl, and perhaps with a view to cutting down on any future diesel-guzzling travel miles, Dorothy announced that: “I’ll never look for my heart’s desire again, if it’s not in my back yard I don’t want it!”
Everything you could have wanted was in Kilgraston’s ‘back yard’ during this aspiring production; a peep behind curtains into a magical land, and not one that you had to take a trip on a tornado to see.
Katherine swimming success in international arena
Swimming for her Club, Perth City Swim, Katherine, who is on a Sports Scholarship at the School, won the Open 200m Fly in the B Final with a new personal best time 2:23:34, also a new Midland District record. After the race, the commentator noted: “Katherine is one for the future.”
In addition to this result, Katherine came a very impressive Ninth place in the A Final 400m Free, with a time of 4:28:96, with places Fifth to Ninth all coming in with exceptionally close times in the 4:28 bracket.
For this time, Katherine hit a coveted ‘Gold’ time, which means she has just two ‘Golds’ left to achieve before the end of July to be considered for a place in Scotland’s Gold Squad. If she hits this target, and makes the team, there is a chance for sponsorship, additional training and physiotherapy.
“Swimming is a very tough sport and, with twelve hours’ training in the pool each and every week, it takes a big commitment however, when you achieve a result like this it makes all the hard work very worthwhile,” said Katherine.
Hosting 840 athletes from all over Europe, including Danish, Greece, Finnish and some of the UK’s top performers, this is the last meet of the season where competitors can achieve British Summer Meet times.
Director of Sport at Kilgraston, Pauline Stott, herself a former Olympic athlete, commented: “Swimming demands a huge amount from its participants and I have nothing but praise for the dedication that Katherine demonstrates, not only with her swimming but also in the coaching help that she offers younger swimmers. She’s at a critical stage of her education too so we keep a very close eye on her training/study balance and meet each week to make sure all is on track. This is a great achievement.”
The next big competition for Katherine is the Scottish Summer Meet in Edinburgh’s Commonwealth Pool in July 2019.
The important role of ESOL in British boarding schools
Much-respected industry journal, Independent Education Today, has, on pages 40 & 41 of it’s June 2019 edition, carried a feature looking at how learning English as a non-native speaker delivers many opportunities for both pupil and teacher at a British boarding school…
Three former Kilgraston pupils head to the Palace for their Duke of Edinburgh’s Gold Award
The Dof’s Awards are all about gaining new skills, pushing yourself physically, helping others and exploring new territories. At the same time, gathering new friendships, experiences and memories.
“For the past seven decades, the DofE charity (Reg. no. 1072490) has inspired and transformed the lives of millions of young people from all walks of life. From volunteering to physical activities, life skills to expeditions, achieving a DofE Award is a passport to a brighter future, valued by employers and universities,” says the official Duke of Edinburgh’s Award website.
A huge achievement, well done girls.
.
Photo from left to right: Emily Rourke (former Deputy Head Girl) Lara Melville (former Deputy Head Girl) and Catriona Roberts
Kilgraston’s annual Spring Fair offered fun for all the family, with a serious message at heart
Kilgraston’s Spring Fair sprung into life on Sunday 19 May with the only ingredient left to chance – Mother Nature – obliging us beautifully. As accurately predicted by the BBC Weather app, at the stroke of midday, just as the first visitors arrived, clouds parted and sunshine prevailed throughout the afternoon.
Added to the fun was the serious business of raising money for the Parents’ Association and this year an impressive £1,800 total was achieved, which will go a long way to purchasing a defibrillator for the School.
The annual event, now in its fifth year under parents’ association the KPA, is much-anticipated by staff, pupils and visitors alike. The relaxed atmosphere and sense of family entertainment always kicks-off the outdoor season of events, bringing generations together.
Even the annual conundrum, of how to hang a banner, with the aid of little more than a little piece of Blue Tak and a large portion of willpower, was in attendance. So too was Mrs Stott’s regular wrestle with the public address system, and the ever-necessary lesson to the uninitiated, on how to work the School’s pavilion-residing high-tech hot drinks machine!
All part of the magical mix.
Capturing the day’s party spirit, Head Mrs MacGinty - no slouch when it comes to the fairway - threw herself into the pitching competition with her legendary swing. Unfortunately, on this occasion, Lady Luck didn’t visit, but, conceding victory, a hearty smile and handshake encapsulated the warm occasion.
Were there one, Director of Music, Mr McAuley, would have earned ‘hero of the day’ award. Undeterred by a being just a little bit saddle-sore and really rather stiff, he raced to the fairground, picked up a trumpet and belted out several foot-tapping tunes, having just spent five and a half hours completing Pitlochry’s super-tough Etape Caledonia’s 85 mile cycle route. Go Mr M!
More ‘heroes’ arrived in the form of the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service who very kindly gave up their Sunday afternoon to show children around the magnificent Fire Engine, while gently extolling the virtues of being vigilant around flames to the eager young crew .
A large blue teddy – newly entitled (rather incongruously) ‘Snowie’ - was won by a thrilled pupil, who whisked it away to its new, boarding house, home.
To the delight of several adults, several bottles of organic Prosecco were awarded in the raffle and super-sized bars of chocolate (much better than silverware) were presented to the thrilled winners of the hard-fought tennis tournament.
Sunshine, smiles and strawberries; perfect ingredients for yet another successful Kilgraston Spring Fair. And not a soggy bottom in sight!
See you next year.
Mairi Fraser
Thanks you to Mrs Saunders for her wonderful photographs of the event.
Spring Fair OUTSIDE Sunday 19th May
The Spring Fair will be on outside Sunday.
The forecast is for light showers at times so we are going to keep fingers crossed and keep it on at the Pavilion area.
An interview with Mrs McHugh for International Receptionists’ Day
“August 2013 marked the end of the motherhood ‘protective bubble’ which had surrounded my babies and me for seven years. Today, Mummy was going to work!
Kilgraston’s driveway was the start of my new journey; the trees lining the road providing a useful countdown to my grand arrival at the front door.
What could possibly happen, I thought, that life had not already thrown at me? Four years of University teacher training; ranked in the UK’s top ten for kayak slalom; eight years’ in the finance sector and, the one from which I would mainly draw strength, the ability to react, adapt and smile, gained during motherhood.
Hopefully, I am well presented, punctual and have the ability to communicate effectively with staff, pupils, parents and visitors. Knowing the names of almost every pupil in the senior school makes it easier to deal with the day-to-day demands of a busy office environment.
Kilgraston, as with any school, continually presents different situations - from girls sustaining a knock on the hockey field, to unexpected visits from former pupils and the arrival of School Inspectors. There is never a ‘same’ day and I truly love every minute.
Each term brings something new. Summer, for me is the most exciting time with the promise of longer holidays, House competitions and end-of-year talent showcasing concerts. The expectation of exams has gone, replaced with the emotion of saying goodbye. In the air is the hope that we’ll have good weather for both Sports Day and picnics on the front lawn at Speech Day. Summer brings the school together and it is at these times, when it really does become one body.
It’s not always smooth running though. Head of Maths, and Queen of Stats, Mrs Speed, runs an annual Maths Stats Course, where teachers from other schools come to Kilgraston to work through the latest coursework.
By coincidence, one year, on the same day, Kilgraston held Mass, with both events generating several visitors. Within minutes of the scheduled start of the service, a lady arrived. I enquired as to whether she was here for the start of Mass. “Yes indeed,” she responded. Quick as a flash, I scooped her up and travelled at break neck, high-heeled, speed to deliver her safely to the chapel door, which she entered and was not seen again for another hour. She never did make the beginning of Mrs Speed’s Maths Course. In fairness, it does sound awfully like ‘Mass’!
It would be difficult not to be impressed by the grandeur of the entrance to Kilgraston or the recently redesigned elegant, yet informal, waiting area. Mrs MacGinty has influenced many of the spaces within the school and Reception is just one in which her vision is reflected, producing a lovely place to work.
Here, it is easy to shut-out the influences of the wider world and become absorbed in the pupils and staff, who are collectively striving towards a greater future for woman in the world.”
Summer Term, 2019