Kilgraston Speech Day 2023
Kilgraston Speech Day 2023 had much to celebrate and alongside our existing families, alumnae attended this year’s event.
Our guest speaker was Olympic athlete, Eilidh Doyle, who gave an insightful speech into her competitive experiences and urging pupils to make the most of opportunities, staying to true to what ignites flames of ambition. Also speaking was Mr Barry Farrell, a former Kilgraston Bursar of 19 years and who is now part of the investment group, Achieve Education.
Our Junior Speech Day took place in the morning before a break for the Kilgraston tradition of picnics on the Front Lawn. Our Senior School Speech Day then followed with a special mention to Deputy Head Mrs Carol Ann Lund who is retiring this year after 34 years at Kilgraston .
The academic year 2022 - 2023 has been which will stand long in the memories of our Kilgraston family, and it has shown us all what we are capable of. Well done to all prizewinners this year and thank you to our community for your ongoing support. It has meant a great deal.
Now to 2023 - 2024 and beyond - we are excited and ready for it. See you all then.
Kilgraston alumnae news from Ecuador
We are extremely proud of our Kilgraston alumnae and are delighted to share news from Manon Kempermann.
Manon came to Kilgraston for Sixth Form, leaving in June 2022. She is currently working on projects in Ecuador. Here she shares her amazing experience, there is a link at the bottom on the educational project in the indigenous Kichwa community.
Today marks already half of my time in Ecuador and I almost cannot believe how fast the time is going. The last five months have been incredibly enriching and full of wonderful experiences. I am very grateful to be here and to do this voluntary service. I think, if I had just travelled around, I would not have had the opportunity to gain such deep insights into the culture and the life here.
Apart from being now able to speak Spanish fluently, I have learned so much about myself and how privileged I actually grew up. Until now I supported the English teachers and sometimes taught English alone in two different schools in Tena. Seeing how poorly trained the teachers here often are and how less attention is actually paid at students progress really makes me appreciate what a good education I so far received. Many students especially girls have very low perspectives after school. A number of girls at my age already are married and often have a child. At the same time I feel like I achieved to spark some more interest for English in some kids and with some of the university students I live with I practice English on a regular basis and they are making significant progress. My work in the student house is very diverse and I love the cultural exchange with the indigenous students.
Two weeks ago we started a new project in an indigenous community. We want to send one volunteer to teach English in the primary school of the village. The demand is huge, neither of the two teachers speaks English, but it is still in the curriculum. When the students later go to the senior school in the next city, they have almost no chance to catch up with their class mates, who received at least a little bit of English classes. As no one really cares for them in the school, they often drop out of school early. Now we are building a little hut for the volunteer to live in with the parents of the children. I spent the last two weeks in the indigenous village helping to build the hut. The people are really kind and hard working, but most live in poverty and have almost nothing. I hope we can finish building the house soon and start helping in the school.
Many parents have great hopes that our work can at least improve the perspectives for their children’s future a bit. To realise this project we are currently fundraising on Gofundme. I am very grateful that so many of the Kilgraston family have already supported me at my cake sale last year, but it would be amazing if some of the Kilgraston family wants to support this specific project as well. Thank you already for your support.
Apart from my work in the rainforest, I often use the weekends to travel to the Andes and hike up mountains. So far I have summited three mountains over 5000m over sea level and a couple of over 4000m mountains as well. The landscapes often remind me of Scotland with the green and grassy hillsides and the lagoons in between. I often think back to my time at Kilgraston and what a wonderful year it was. You all really have empowered me and showed me my potential. Looking back, it was definitely my best year of school and you have made me so much more confident as a girl loving STEM subjects. Without all your effort I would not have achieved such results. I know decided to apply for bioinformatics at the University of Saarbrücken.
Here you can find our Gofundme for the educational project in the indigenous Kichwa community:
https://www.gofundme.com/f/haus-fur-volontare (The description in English is below the German)
Many regards to all of the Kilgraston family!
Manon
Kilgraston alumnae stories - Sophie Downes
Kilgraston alumnae Sophie Downes recently graduated with a First Class degree from the prestigious, Glasgow School of Art in Textile Design. Sophie left Kilgraston in 2017, and very kindly shared some of her thoughts on her time as a Kilgraston pupil and how it helped shape her.
What were your favourite subjects at school and why?
Apart from spending any spare moment in the Art Department to work on my Design and Fine Art projects I also loved Geography, saw it through to Advanced Higher and almost chose to study this at University. I particularly enjoyed Physical Geography and spent the majority of Upper Sixth quizzing Dr Phillips on the how’s and why’s of the planets and their creations. As a visual learner, Geography was the perfect mix between essay writing, experiments and illustration. History followed close behind and although I didn’t study Drama as a subject, taking LAMDA to Grade 8 curbed this fix! I generally preferred social subjects at school.
Why did you choose to study Textile Design at university?
Having considered Law, Geography, Event Management and all things Art School, my career options were incredibly broad. After careers talks, research and realising that I made any subject a creative task (I turned my entire Higher History revision notes into a cartoon strip!) I decided that studying Design was what most inspired and appealed to me. I ended up applying to five different Art School courses at Scottish Universities and it wasn’t until Glasgow School of Art’s Open Day that I realised that it was Textile Design that I really wanted to study! My design work during Higher and A Level Art at Kilgraston really lent itself to this course and without realising it, I had been practicing Textile Design through my last four years at school. This meant that my portfolio also lent itself to this degree. Textile Design is a very adaptable course and overlaps into many different Design paths. I always explain it as a subject in between Fashion and Interior Design. We design and create the fabrics and pass these over to a Product Designer. Textile Design appeared as a drawing-heavy and incredibly practical degree which suited my hands-on work approach.
How did Kilgraston help you develop your skills?
Especially during A Level Art, I was encouraged to push my design ideas and delve into new techniques that I had never tried before. Throughout that year I experimented with a variety of medias and approaches and took risks which were both successful and not. Through this I learnt how to be resilient and determined. Studying essay-heavy subjects at school proved really beneficial when writing Design, History and Theory essays at University. When it came to writing my dissertation this year, I chose to investigate the Historiography of Children’s Dress History so my Higher History analysis and evaluation skills definitely came into play. Although Kilgraston helped shape my academic skills, through extracurricular activities and opportunities I also left with confidence in public speaking, interpersonal skills and self-determination.
In your opinion and experience, how is Kilgraston different from other schools?
I struggle to explain my time at school to other people as it was an incredibly unique experience. Having studied at Kilgraston from the age of 5 to 18, I saw the school from every angle and got to experience all of the special traditions, incredible sense of community and lovely support from all of the teachers for many years. I would go back to school in a heartbeat! Kilgraston is an incredibly safe space, where you can truly be yourself. There’s no comparing yourself to others, awareness of subject stereotypes or shyness when it comes to sport. I always felt encouraged at school and doing well and trying hard was highly looked upon and you were not seen as a ‘try-hard’ by classmates for putting your all into school projects. Although school and it’s subjects and teaching were key factors to my happy memories of Kilgraston, the quirky and special extras are what makes Kilgraston the school it is. I got the opportunity to throw myself into so many different experiences and events which are the memories I always look back on! The size of the school is definitely something that sets itself apart from other schools. Due to the small year sizes I always felt listened to, supported and was confident to ask questions and speak up in class. Also everyone knows everyone by name which emphasises the happy community at Kilgraston!
How did Kilgraston help you on your higher education path?
I actually never intended to study Art when it came to choosing my Highers as I didn’t recognise it as something I was particularly great at, more just a hobby! It wasn’t until I asked Miss Macleod at a Parents Evening if she thought I’d be able to do it, that I started to consider it at a higher and career path level. With Art not always being accepted as an incredibly academic subject, I never felt this through school, and felt as though I got treated with the same support as my friendship group who all chose to study STEM subjects at University. When it came to choosing a higher education path I always felt as though I could ask questions and receive help with researching options. The Art Department staff were amazing for encouraging and giving me confidence to apply to the Universities I did.
What are your plans for the future?
Now having graduated GSA, I plan to apply for Junior Designer roles within Fashion and Interior Brands with the hope of moving down to London. I will continue to design and sell my own prints, gift and lifestyle products online in the meantime. My dream is to design for a children’s wear brand who share the same mission as me of creating ‘happy’ and feel-good textiles. I am also open to working within Fashion Events as during this past year I have been Creative Director of Edinburgh’s Charity Fashion Show 2021 which has exposed me to many new career paths. As long as I can be creative, scribble and sew and be myself in a workplace I’ll be a very happy human!
Do you have any advice for Kilgraston pupils interested in studying Art subjects?
I’d say go for it! Although when at Open Days and when looking through example entrance portfolios you may be full of self-doubt and compare you work against others (this was me!) the tutors at Universities hunt for new qualities each year. For example, the year I got accepted we were told they were looking for drawing skills. So although you may not feel your portfolio exactly matches the degree you are applying for, they may see something in your work. As long as you are passionate, demonstrate that your skills are adaptable to different projects and show that you aren’t afraid of taking risks you will be sorted. My four years at Art School were insane and I’d encourage anyone to apply if you have the slightest incline to. If you enjoyed being yourself at Kilgraston, Art School is an emphasis of this where literally anything goes!
How would you sum up Kilgraston in five words?
Encouraging, Special, Homely, Supportive and Lively.
Your favourite Kilgraston memories
Every school production (particularly wearing a bright pink suit as Nathan from Guys & Dolls in Lower Sixth with my best friends), the annual Barn Dance and BBQ, the hot chocolate and tea cake break with Dr Phillips during Advanced Higher double periods on a Wednesday morning, many breaktimes spent in our dens in the Adventure Playground during Prep School, the Christmas Concerts at Perth Concert Hall, winning the Midlands Cup in our final First XI Hockey Tournament in Upper Sixth, the Lower Fourth Dance Competition in PE, the Sixth Form Ball prep and night, Hockey Tours to Berlin and Barcelona, Fright Night, lunch time performances in the common rooms, getting ready for our first social, House Cross Country, Morning Club colouring, line dancing and movies with Trish, Highland Dancing with Mrs Malloch, playing the lead mouse in the nativity play and drawing around and painting life size versions of ourselves in Reception with Mrs Ferguson.
Follow Sophie on her social media channels below and to all our alumnae, please sign up to join our database.
Instagram:@sops_textiles
Etsy Shop: SophieDownesDesigns)
Kilgraston Speech Day 2021
We were delighted to be able to mark the many and varied achievements of our pupils this year at our annual Speech Day.
Parents and families were unable to attend but we did welcome a fantastic guest speaker, and former Kilgraston Head Girl, Dr Zinnia Hall. Dr Hall left Kilgraston ten years ago and has spent the following years carving out a career in medicine.
As a former Kilgraston pupil, Dr Hall’s speech gave a wonderful insight into how Kilgraston and our staff has shaped her life choices including her career in medicine.
Dr Hall went on to give some inspiring advice to the enraptured audience. She said: “Say yes to opportunities. Do not aim for perfection, but embrace your flaws.
“You are an individual, experience life. Trust and be guided by your instincts and judgement. Be fearless and think big. Rise to your challenges.”
In his speech, Kilgraston’s Chair of the Board of Trustees, Mr Thomas Steuart Fothringham thanked Mr Tim Hall for his dedication to Kilgraston for the past 20 years. Mr Hall stepped down as Chair of Kilgraston’s Board of Governors in 2020 but continues on our Board of Trustees and his speech Mr Hall paid tribute to Mrs MacGinty’s leadership and sense of humour.
In our Junior Speech Day, outgoing Head Girl, Willow gave a wonderful speech thanking her deputies and talking about the fantastic achievements of the Junior School this year.
In the Senior School Speech Day, Head Girl Team 2020-2021, Issy, Libby and Emily looked back on their Kilgraston journey and shared their highlights.
Head Girl Emily spoke movingly about how Kilgraston has supported her, admitting that school days do indeed go by so quickly, and as a result it would seem that parents are never wrong when they have imparted this wisdom to their children.
She said: “Kilgraston has given us knowledge. It is up to us to head out into the world and understand it.
“This is a bittersweet moment but we are ready.”
We wish all our pupils, families and staff a wonderful summer. To our 2021 leavers, we wish them every success - please do stay in touch.
Kilgraston alumnae presentation - Emily Dark
We always love to hear from Kilgraston alumnae and recently, Kilgraston was delighted to welcome back (virtually), Emily Dark.
Emily graduated from Kilgraston in 2017 and is now studying physics at St Andrews University. She has also played for Scotland and one to keep an eye on for the GB squad in future years.
In her talk to pupils, Emily chartered her hockey career from when she started playing at Kilgraston at the age of eight through to being Scotland’s youngest ever capped female player, to now, when she is training as part of the GB Elite Development Programme (EDP).
Emily, who plays all positions and in 2019 competed at the Senior European Championships in Glasgow 2019 where Scotland won gold and Emily won under 21 player of the tournament, also discussed how she’s dealt with set backs and how she has a mental attitude to never give up.
Thanks to Emily for a wonderful session. You can read more about Emily’s numerous successes here.
Former pupil to train with senior Great Britain hockey squad
Former Kilgraston pupil Emily Dark is to train with the senior Great Britain hockey squad. Emily, who graduated from Kilgraston in 2018, said: “It has been an ambition of mine to play for GB for so many years, so to be offered this opportunity to train with them for the next three weeks is unbelievable.
“I am incredibly excited to get started, not only for high-quality hockey, but to meet everyone too. This is a big opportunity for me to show what I can bring to the game and I want to embrace it and have fun.”
Emily, who is now studying Physics at St Andrews University, was selected for the GB Elite Development Programme (EDP) in 2018, and the opportunity to train with the GB women’s team presents an excellent opportunity to develop, and impress, at the top level.
It has been an outstanding few years for Emily, with her representing Scotland at international level winning her 23 senior caps. Her international career has also seen her be part of the team which won gold at the EuroHockey Championship II in 2019 with Emily winning Young Player of the Tournament.
Speaking on the Scottish Hockey website, Emily said: “Winning gold with Scotland at the home Europeans last year has definitely been a highlight for me, and I loved working with the team before and during the tournament to make sure we were in the best position possible to perform at our best.”
Commenting on Emily’s achievements, Kilgraston’s Headmistress, Mrs Dorothy MacGinty said: “We have watched Emily’s progress through the ranks with great interest and enthusias, and watching her move on to this next, very demanding, level of the game is hugely exciting for all the staff and pupils here at Kilgraston. We wish her every success with the future and will be following her progress very closely!”
Image by Mark Pugh
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]