The Chronicle 2024

The Chronicle 2024 WWW.ST-MARGARET. ABERDEEN.SCH.UK

THE CHRONICLE 2024 | CONTENTS

Welcome to The Chronicle 2024 Contents From the Head

02

From the Staffroom

04

Retirements

CONTENT TO COME

06

In Memoriam

08

Speech Day

10

Reports – Nursery

12

– Junior School

16

– After School Care and Holiday Club

18

– Senior School

20

Charity Events

22

Careers

24

In The News

28

Whole School Events

36

The Music Department

44

Sports Review

48

Activities & Extra-curricular – Junior Activities/Extra-Curricular

51

– Junior Residential Trip

58

– Senior Activities/Extra-Curricular

60

– Senior Residential Trips

70

Art Gallery – Junior School

74

– Senior School

78

Silver Awards

87

Drama

88

Parent Teacher Association

92

Development Office

94

01

THE CHRONICLE 2024 | FROM THE HEAD

From the Head Session 2023-24 began with a celebration of extraordinary SQA exam results. The pre-appeal Higher pass rate of 99.3% was certainly the best for 20 years; to be honest it was so good that I thought we must have miscounted and the stats were checked again and again! The results at Advanced Higher and National 5 were also very impressive and the outcome of a great deal of hard work by pupils and much support from teachers and parents.

More important than the stats though are the individual stories of resilience and determination behind the results, and the stepping stone that these public examinations provide to courses and careers beyond school.

T

he range of the destinations of our leavers continues to be broad and varied. The exciting thing for us is that these destinations reflect the ambitions and passions of individuals. We are here to support each girl to learn about her strengths and develop a strong sense of self so that she can set off from school on the path that feels right for her.

When I show visitors around St Margaret’s they often comment on how engaged pupils are in their learning.

When teachers come to work with us they often observe how rewarding it is to be able to focus on teaching and learning in an environment where hard work and ambition are the norm. This session saw numerous new initiatives across the school which have inspired learning. The Daffodil DNA project is surely one such example: through a Royal Society Partnership Grant the biology department is working with the University of Dundee and the James Hutton Institute to extract and sequence chloroplast DNA, and they are using bioinformatics to work out the relatedness of two cultivars of daffodil. How exciting to be contributing to this piece of original research!

The 7 Juniors might argue that they have been flying higher still with their success as winners of the Aerospace Kinross Schools Air Race Challenge. As a result of this project, we now have qualified drone pilots in our midst!

However, I think that the 6 Juniors might feel that they hit the jackpot with their cross-curricular learning on sustainability which resulted in the school achieving the FairAware Award.

At St Margaret’s we select projects which reflect our school values and which are going to have the most impact on our pupils. This is certainly the case for the Rights Respecting Schools Award, an award from UNICEF UK which recognises schools that prioritise the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) in their practices, policies, and ethos. With the Bronze under our belt we are now making a submission for the Silver Award. This initiative has built on the existing good practice at St Margaret’s of taking pupil voice seriously.

The senior school pupil library crew has certainly influenced change. It has been a whole school development priority 02

to promote independent reading for pleasure and the pupil library crew has been very active in this regard.

International research clearly points to the positive relationship between reading frequency and attainment as well as to the personal and emotional benefits of reading.

So, the school year has been punctuated by reading initiatives which have been enjoyed by pupils and staff alike. Breakfast with a book, book swaps, book fairs, a house reading challenge and reading quizzes are just some of the activities which have inspired reading.

As a hub of all things literary, we also have in our midst avid writers. Our budding journalists launched Meg’s Column this year: a magazine written by pupils for pupils.

To quote the editors, Meg’s Column is “a place where laughter is filled and tea is spilled!” Even our 1 Junior and 3 Junior girls are published authors with their own books just released. To their credit, a number of pupils have been placed in local and national competitions so it really can’t be long until a St Margaret’s former pupil makes the shortlist of the Booker Prize!

Creativity is everywhere at 15-17 Albyn Place: for those readers who were lucky enough to visit the MegArt exhibition, you will have seen the range and depth of work in the art and design department. One such creation on display was the Junk Kouture entry. Junk Kouture challenges young people to design, upcycle and create high end Kouture from recycled products and to everyone’s delight our team were UK finalists!

The Junk Kouture group, like so many of their peers, spoke about their work in assembly. Many of our regular assemblies are pupil led and guests are often taken aback by the professional way in which girls can present to an audience. Former pupil Emma Peterson, fiscal depute, was certainly impressed when she took part in the mock court case, which was imaginatively named St Megs Case Crackers Court. Our public speaking team brought home the trophy of the North of Scotland Senior Schools Public Speaking Competition and our Model United Nations team have also been recognised a number of times for their skills. Perhaps the most challenging task fell to Orla and Lydia who interviewed Lady Dorrian, the Lord Justice Clerk, who was our guest

THE CHRONICLE 2024 | FROM THE HEAD

at a Fearless Women webinar held to celebrate the 150th anniversary of the Girls’ Schools Association.

For some the opportunity to take to the stage is the highlight of the year and the drama department has provided plenty of opportunity for this. The senior school show, Disney’s The Little Mermaid, was a triumph and set the bar high for the subsequent 7 Junior performance of Hamlet, the IS and IIS production of A Whistle Stop Tour of Ancient Greece and, of course, junior show club’s Frozen Jr. The music department has also seen its usual full concert programme. Some of these concerts have taken place in venues around the city and have compelled complete strangers to write in praise of the performers: “I write to congratulate the girls who performed in the Cowdray Hall concert on 22nd February. It was an absolute joy to listen to them. They all looked serene and very composed, even when they were not performing.

Smart in their uniform, they had self-respect and clearly uphold their school’s values. I felt so proud of them and I am not even related to them or the school.”

The involvement of our young people in community projects has also prompted positive communication: an email at the end of the autumn term from the manager of Grampian Women’s Aid certainly brought a smile to my face. She said, “I felt the girls put such effort and dedication into their YPI research and presentation that I have put them forward to be presented to Queen Camilla at the official opening of a domestic abuse Safe Space at Aberdeen Art Gallery.”

This year we have sought to expand opportunities for volunteering by providing a structured volunteering pathway which starts within the school through student committees, charity events and support for younger pupils. Students then extend their skills and service in the wider community through activities such as reading to nursing home residents, working in charity shops and participating in beach clean ups. This complements the longstanding programme of charity events run by each form class.

Hockey Challenge Cup in Glasgow. There has also been significant success in netball, cross-country and athletics amongst other sports. Building on their sports leadership event at the start of session, our sports captains have provided strong leadership for younger pupils in both clubs and competitive situations.

As part of the annual ritual of writing this introduction to the Chronicle, I always enjoy re-reading each edition of the Weekly News. I was struck this year by the juxtaposition of the traditional and the innovative: St Margaret’s Day and a IIS AI conference; paired reading and the arrival of Marty the Robot; the Murray music competition and winning entries to a Young Coders National Competition.

The history, traditions and nurturing ethos of our all girls' school provide a stable environment for the students of 2024 to explore all that is new and challenging in the world. From the Maritime Museum to MIT, Hadrian’s Wall to Harvard, as a school community we are there, ready to learn and to embrace the future. We do so bolstered by the support we enjoy from the wider St Margaret’s community. We are so grateful to those family members who give of their time and energy at Parent Forum and PTA events – it is thanks to tireless efforts at uniform sales and seasonal get-togethers that we gained ‘Betty’, our outdoor room in the playground. The Former Pupil community also supported this endeavour and numerous others throughout the year. The range and number of professionals from the parent and former pupil body who come into school to support learning is invaluable, and we are most grateful.

I hope that as you read this edition of The Chronicle you will be inspired as I am by the creativity, compassion and achievements of our children and young people.

Tenez ferme!

Anna Tomlinson Head

In October, the PE department championed a whole school charity event, entitled ‘Treasure Your Chest’, which raised money for the research into breast cancer being undertaken by Aberdeen University. Our very own Mrs Norval was quoted in The Sunday Times about the importance of including a sports bra on the uniform list!

This session the PE department has continued to encourage the widest possible participation in sport, urging all of our pupils to try out different activities and promoting healthy, active lifestyles. It is impossible to mention them all. I will, however, note that our junior cup team with players from first to third year won the Scottish 03

THE CHRONICLE 2024 | FROM THE STAFFROOM

From the Staffroom

As we started the autumn term 2023-24 we were delighted to welcome a number of new colleagues who quickly became a part of the team and the wider St Margaret’s community.

We welcomed Miss Emma

at St Margaret’s. Within the after

quickly settled into the nursery

Cottingham as Head of Juniors

school care team we also welcomed

routine and the children quickly

and also into the junior school we

Mrs Shona Arthur.

became familiar with the new faces.

In October, Miss Jenn Minett

Towards the end of the autumn term

began her maternity leave and

there were some other changes.

we welcomed Mrs Alison Stephen,

Mrs Karen Matheson left her role as

an experienced nursery manager,

a teacher of modern studies and

as acting nursery manager. Later

Ms Jill Matheson moved on from her

in the month we were delighted

role as Pupil Support Coordinator.

welcomed Miss Emma Thomson and Mrs Faye Nesbitt. Into the senior school we welcomed Miss Abby Miller, a former pupil of St Margaret’s, into the PE department and Mrs Lindsey Vyse to the English department.

Following the retirement of Karen Mackie we welcomed Mrs Jenny Strang as our laboratory technician in the science department.

to hear that Miss Minett had a beautiful baby girl, Daisy. Also in the nursery, Mrs Corrie Methven, Miss Lisa Williams and Miss Audrey Fraser left us as nursery practitioners

We also said farewell to our school nurse Miss Emily Rodger who took up a new role at Barnardos. The start of the spring term therefore saw us welcoming new colleagues.

There were also changes in the

and were replaced by Miss Emily

support team when our receptionist/

Austin, also a former pupil. Mrs Lorna

Mrs Muir moved across the office

school administrator, Mrs Joanne

Cochrane and Miss Jennifer Brown.

to take on the role of Pupil Support

Stanger, left for a move to Glasgow

Mrs Iwona Pruchnika also joined the

Coordinator and Ms Tara Knight

and we welcomed in her place

nursery team in the role of support

joined us in the reception/

Mrs Louise Muir, a parent of two girls

worker. All of our new colleagues

administrator role. Ms Knight quickly

04

THE CHRONICLE 2024 | FROM THE STAFFROOM

became a friendly and familiar face

studies, retired from St Margaret’s

at the front desk. Mrs Millie Allerton

for the second time and the end

joined us in February as our school

of session marked the end of a long

nurse. Mrs Allerton is also a former

association with the school for

pupil and very quickly found her way

Mrs Sandra Crabb, who retired

around and again became part of

having supervised our Homework

the St Margaret’s community.

Club and also assisted in our finance

Also in the spring term, Mrs Anne Bonandrini left us to take up a role at Robert Gordon University and Ms Karen Schmitz took on the role of Admissions Officer alongside her role of PA to the Head. Ms Schmitz

department. Mrs Crabb had also been a parent of two daughters at St Margaret’s before becoming a member of staff. Again we look forward to seeing Mrs Crabb at school events.

had worked in admissions prior

We also said a fond farewell to

to taking on the PA role and was

Mrs Wiedermann after 10 years at

delighted to slot back into that team

St Margaret's. Mrs Wiedermann has

where she has very much enjoyed

relocated to be closer to her family

meeting and talking to all our

and grandchildren where we are sure

prospective families. As the Easter

she will be kept busy. We would like

break commenced we wished

to thank Mrs Wiedermann for her

Mrs McGovern well on her maternity

valued contribution to music within

leave and welcomed the happy news

the junior school at St Margaret's.

of the arrival of her baby girl, Millie, shortly after. Also, during this time we welcomed Mrs Jessica Foster to the junior school as Mrs Sophie Munro started her maternity leave.

We were delighted to learn later of the birth of baby Fergus.

Mrs Foster quickly adapted to life at St Margaret’s and has become a valued

This will be my last “from the Staffroom” as I retire from my role as Head of Finance & Operations although I will maintain some contact through my role as Clerk to the Board of Governors for the remainder of the session. I approach this next chapter with mixed

member of the junior school team.

emotions but I know that my

The summer term and the end of

started in 1969 when I joined the

another school year inevitably finds us bidding farewell to colleagues who are either retiring or moving on to pastures new and this year was no different. Mrs Susan MacFadyen, Head of Maths, left to take up a Head of Department role at Aberdeen Grammar School. Mrs MacFadyen remains a parent of the school and we look forward to seeing her soon at one of our many events.

Mrs Binfield, our 6 Junior teacher, also left us to work nearer to home.

After a very successful final holiday

association with St Margaret’s which nursery will continue and that I am, and always will be a St Margaret’s girl at heart. I will miss the pupils and the amazing colleagues who make St Margaret’s so special and who it has been a joy and a privilege to have worked alongside.

As session 2023-24 ends, we thank all colleagues throughout the school who work tirelessly to ensure that St Margaret's enjoys the successes it justly deserves and wish continued success and good health to all staff

club Miss Thomson, our afterschool

in the new academic year.

care and holiday club manager

Tenez Ferme

moved on to a new role working with Barnardos. Mr Gordon Rennet,

Mhairi Miller

teacher of history and modern

Head of Finance and Operations 05

THE CHRONICLE 2024 | RETIREMENTS

Retirements

at St Margaret's

Sandra Crabb

Mhairi Miller

This year we said farewell to Mrs Sandra Crabb, leader of Homework Club, accounts assistant, and much-admired member of the St Margaret’s community. Sandra has been part of St Margaret’s for many years, with both of her daughters attending the school.

After years of dedicated service, Mrs Mhairi Miller begins her well-deserved retirement, leaving a legacy of commitment and community at St. Margaret’s.

Many pupils and staff will miss the support and encouragement that Mrs Crabb provided, ensuring that the library is a happy and welcoming space. She always had a kind word or sage advice for anyone who asked for it.

Everyone will surely miss Sandra’s smile and wave as they pass by the library door.

All of St Margaret’s wish Sandra a long and healthy retirement, and hope she enjoys all her future adventures.

Mhairi’s journey with St Margaret’s began as a pupil from 1969 to 1983. During her school years, she was a vibrant member of our community, frequently appearing in The Chronicle. Later, as a parent, she served as Chair of the PTA while her daughter, Abby Miller, attended St Margaret’s. Today, many of us know Abby as "Miss Miller," who is now a valued member of our PE department.

Mhairi joined the St Margaret’s staff in 2017, following a distinguished career as a chartered accountant. As Head of Finance and Operations, she has led numerous impactful projects and provided invaluable support to her colleagues in achieving their goals.

In her final months, Mhairi worked closely with her successor, Jane Innes, ensuring a seamless transition. We extend our warmest wishes to Mhairi for her retirement years, where we expect to see her excelling on the golf course!

06

THE CHRONICLE 2024 | RETIREMENTS

Gordon Rennet After an extraordinary teaching career spanning over 30 years, Mr Gordon Rennet is retiring from his role at St Margaret's School for Girls. Known for his dedication, kindness and enthusiasm, Mr Rennet was an admired figure in the classroom, inspiring countless students with his deep knowledge and encouragement.

Mr Rennet originally joined St Margaret’s in 2015 as Head of Modern Studies going on to also teach History and Geography. He enjoyed a brief retirement from teaching starting in 2019, returning to St Margaret’s in 2023 to teach History.

The school extends its sincere gratitude to Mr Rennet for his outstanding contributions and wishes him a fulfilling and well-deserved retirement. His presence will be greatly missed by both staff and students.

07

THE CHRONICLE 2024 | IN MEMORIAM

In Memoriam Anne Farquhar MRS ANNE FARQUHAR, A FORMER MUSIC TEACHER AT ST MARGARET’S SCHOOL FOR GIRLS, SADLY PASSED AWAY IN FEBRUARY 2024.

Well known in local music circles, Anne had a kind and happy spirit which she shared with our pupils through her passion for music.

Anne kept in touch with the school after her retirement and occasionally volunteered at school events. She will be fondly remembered by all who knew her.

THE CHRONICLE 2024 | SPEECH DAY

Speech Day SINCE THE FIRST SPEECH DAY IN 1932, THIS ANNUAL END OF THE SCHOOL YEAR CELEBRATION IS A MUCH-LOVED TRADITION. IT IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THE SCHOOL COMMUNITY TO COME TOGETHER, ENJOY MUSICAL PERFORMANCES AND CELEBRATE THE ACHIEVEMENTS OF PUPILS.

T

his year we welcomed University of Aberdeen

allergy awareness campaigns, and emotional support

Rector, Martina Chukwuma-Ezike, as our Speech

for those affected. One of its key achievements is the

Day guest speaker. Mrs Chukwuma-Ezike is Chief

creation of the UK's first Asthma Support Centre, based

Executive of the Asthma and Allergy Foundation,

in Aberdeen, which provides personalised guidance to

Scotland’s only dedicated asthma charity, which she

individuals and families, ensuring they have access to the

founded in 2009. The charity set up the first Asthma Support Centre in the UK in order to provide support services for people with asthma and allergies in the northeast of Scotland.

necessary resources to manage their conditions effectively.

In addition to direct support, the foundation plays a critical role in raising awareness about asthma and allergies, working to influence public health policies and improve care standards across Scotland. Through collaboration

The foundation's mission is to improve the quality of life

with healthcare professionals, schools, and community

for individuals living with asthma and allergies through

organisations, the Asthma and Allergy Foundation is

education, support, and advocacy. It offers a range of

committed to creating a more inclusive and supportive

services, including asthma management programs,

environment for people affected by these conditions.

10

THE CHRONICLE 2024 | SPEECH DAY

During her speech, Mrs Chukwuma-Ezike spoke about the importance of perseverance, community service, and the value of education in shaping the future. She shared

She encouraged students

her personal journey of founding a charity, emphasising

to embrace the power of

the challenges and triumphs of building an organisation

compassionate leadership,

from the ground up, while inspiring students to pursue their passions with purpose and resilience.

highlighting the importance

Mrs Chukwuma-Ezike shared her thoughts on leadership,

of giving back to their

responsibility, and the profound impact young people can have on society when they channel their skills and ambitions toward meaningful causes. She encouraged students to embrace the power of compassionate leadership, highlighting the importance of giving back

communities and making a positive difference in the world.

to their communities and making a positive difference in the world. Drawing from her own experiences in public health and advocacy, she urged the students to face future challenges with confidence, resilience, and the tenacity their education has equipped them with, reminding them that they have the potential to shape a better, more inclusive future.

11

THE CHRONICLE 2024 | NURSERY REPORT

Nursery REPORT

The Nursery Children

Christmas Outing

It was lovely to welcome our returning children back to

The nursery children thoroughly enjoyed going to

nursery and to meet our new starts. We quickly reached

The Lemon Tree to see ‘The Gift’; this lovely interactive

our capacity of 40 children. We have free flow between

show enthralled the children. It was a pleasure to

room one and room two, and our outdoor space

take the children on the bus and to the show. They

during our sessions. This free flow model provides

behaved impeccably throughout and appeared to

various options for our children and plenty of space for

enjoy the parcels being opened and the excitement

learning experiences.

of who or what came out of them.

Staffing

Winter Music Celebration

We were delighted to start the new school year with

We welcomed parents and carers into the school in

familiar faces in our staff team, which gave continuity

December for our Nursery Winter Music Celebration.

to our returning children. As September ended we

The children rose to the challenge of performing for an

welcomed early years practitioners: Miss Austin,

audience while on the stage and enjoyed putting on their

Miss Brown, and Mrs Cochrane to replace Mrs Methven,

costumes and singing festive and winter themed songs.

Miss Fraser and Mrs Williams who had moved on to

Mrs Wiedermann put together a lovely programme

new challenges. During this recruitment phase

which worked so well for the children. This was her last

Mrs Pruchnicka arrived to join our team as support

Christmas show with the children as she moved to

practitioner, and we welcomed Mrs Stephen as

Edinburgh to spend time with her family.

temporary nursery manager to cover Miss Minett’s maternity leave from October. This completed our nursery team for the school year 2023/24.

Miss Minett was delighted to welcome baby Daisy at the end of October. The nursery children enjoyed a visit from them both.

12

THE CHRONICLE 2024 | NURSERY REPORT

Dancing

Literacy and Numeracy

All year our preschool children had the opportunity to

The Curriculum for Excellence (CFE) in Scotland

take part in dancing lessons with Gillian Stuart from

places a strong emphasis on literacy and numeracy.

Academy Street Dance Studio. These lessons are full of

At St Margaret’s nursery we consider literacy and

fun and learning for our young dancers and they are

numeracy development as the building blocks for future

always very enthusiastic when it is time to go. It was

learning. Our nursery teacher, alongside the nursery

wonderful to invite the parents of our preschool children

team, plans exciting learning opportunities linked to

into school at the end of the summer term to watch a

the planning which is enhanced by our pupils' interests

lesson and see what their children have been doing.

and enquiries. Throughout the year they revisit and

Paired Reading

consolidate these skills.

The nursery children really enjoyed paired reading with

Parents in nursery

the 3 Junior girls. This is a lovely opportunity for the

We had an informal information night which was an

nursery children to experience the wider school

opportunity for the nursery team to provide information

environment and get to know some of the older girls.

regarding the school year ahead. Throughout the term

The junior girls enjoy reading to the nursery children,

there was the opportunity for parents to assist at our

building confidence, whilst the nursery children love

lending library. We also had a ‘stay and play’ week for

listening to stories and talking about a wide variety

parents to share play experiences with their child and

of books.

their peers. These special times were enjoyed by parents, children and staff alike.

13

THE CHRONICLE 2024 | NURSERY REPORT

Wee Green Spaces

The Den & The Glen

We were delighted to restart Wee Green Spaces; in

In June we spent the day at The Den & The Glen. This was

addition to spending time outdoors on a daily basis,

a wonderful experience for the children. Our time was

we like to expand our children’s knowledge and

split between soft play, and the outdoor grounds where

experience of outdoor spaces. The children are

the children had time to explore the different sections

encouraged to pack their own bags, get waterproofs

and a wide variety of characters from fairy tales and books.

and wellies on before beginning our adventure.

Once again, we were so proud of the children and how

The walk to Bon Accord Terrace Gardens is quite a

much they engaged in all aspects of the trip. The visit was

distance for our young learners, however, excitement,

finished off with lovely packed lunches in the picnic area

chat and observations about the environment

before getting the bus back to nursery.

certainly makes time pass quickly. When they arrive at their destination the children are keen to explore,

Sports Day

so after a safety recap they are encouraged to do just

Being part of the whole school sports day is really special

that. Looking at different trees and flowers, comparing

for our children. As well as the excitement of their own

the different shapes and sizes of leaves and petals,

races, they are able to watch some of their friends in the

rolling, jumping and running up and down hills,

junior school take part in their races too. Mrs Norval had

finding paths to explore, taking some time to look

the children practising races during their gym time so

and listen to their local environment. These sessions

that on the day everyone knew what was expected of

are so valuable and the children learn so much from

them. Our children all did so well in their individual and

taking part in them.

team races and were delighted with their stickers at the end of the races. When all the races were complete all our athletes enjoyed a well earned ice cream.

14

THE CHRONICLE 2024 | NURSERY REPORT

Summer Celebration

We were pleased to invite all our parents and carers in again for our end of term Summer Celebration.

Mrs Magill provided our children with lovely songs and scenes to act out from the stage. To prepare for the performance, each child also made a headband to go along with one of their songs. These looked wonderful on the stage and at the end of the day, the children were delighted to take them home.

In amongst all of these exciting events, the nursery children were developing independence and confidence whilst being able to lead their own learning, build friendships and resilience. What a lovely nursery year it has been; seeing all our children develop and progress so well is the icing on the cake! They are ready for the next challenge.

We have free flow

Alison Stephen and Laura Simpson

between room one and room two, and our outdoor space during our sessions.

15

THE CHRONICLE 2024 | JUNIOR SCHOOL REPORT

Junior

SCHOOL REPORT

Well, they say time flies when you’re having fun and this year has certainly flown by! I have been so impressed throughout the year by our girls. Their hard work and dedication to their learning is exceptional, not only in the classroom but in their wider achievements as well.

S

o many times I have gone from the classroom,

Aberdeen Cyrenians by the pupil council. They had a tour of

to a music recital, to a dance competition, to a

their warehouse before going to see the hub where people

show and seen so many of the girls performing at

go for a range of support including food and essentials.

a high standard. They are really giving it their all

The pupil council then did a great presentation for the

at St Margaret’s!

rest of the junior school showing how their donations had

We started the year off welcoming new teachers into the junior school. Miss Thomson, Mrs Nesbitt, Mrs Evans, and later in the year, Mrs Foster, who have really settled into the way of life at St Margaret’s providing a rich learning environment and giving our girls lots of opportunity to thrive in their learning.

helped people in need.

It was lovely for 3 Junior to reconnect with Rubislaw Church Centre later in the year and meet once a month with some elderly members for games and chats. 1 Junior brought into school some of their preloved toys or books and took them to the charity shop to donate them and 4 Junior researched different charities before choosing PDSA charity to be the

St Margaret’s has long had an ethos of service and

recipient of a donation raised by a very successful class fair

throughout the year the juniors have been busy with

of games and activities. Not to be outdone, 6 Junior learnt a

their fundraising and volunteering. This started with our

lot about sustainability before hosting a sustainability cafe

Harvest celebration which saw generous donations being

for their parents, showcasing their learning and providing

provided by our families. These goods were delivered to

fairtrade treats.

16

THE CHRONICLE 2024 | JUNIOR SCHOOL REPORT

As always the year wouldn’t be complete without

To finish off the year, 6 and 7 Junior enjoyed another

the shows. 7 Junior impressed us at the Lemon Tree

very successful residential activity trip to Crieff. Upon

with their Shakespeare performance of Hamlet and

their return the whole of the juniors then enjoyed an

4 to 6 Junior followed with an outstanding performance

action packed Health Week. We had visitors come into

of Frozen. Wanting to join in with all the show fun,

school to deliver running and rugby workshops as well as

1 to 3 Junior added a mini show club performance of

learning about healthy eating from Chef Mark and how

the Jungle Book at the end of the year.

to wash our hands from Nurse Allerton. There was also a

This year junior girls have also impressed by their success in competitions. 1 Junior saw their drawings of their family printed in a book with other winning entries across Scotland, whilst 5 Junior entries to the Rotary Young Writer Competition saw one of our girls come first locally and then joint third in Scotland. 6 Junior were

day when each class rotated around completing a wide variety of activities with each class teacher. The week came to a close on the Friday with 7 Junior organising different activities for all the junior children to take part in. They learned how tricky it is to teach and how clear instructions have to be!

busy entering the Pilot Pen 'Make Your Mark' competition

As you can see from the small number of activities

which one of our girls won and has since been used as

which it has been possible to write about here, it has

part of a digital campaign promoting the benefits of

been a busy and enjoyable year. As I have settled into

handwriting. The final competition saw 7 Junior winning

St Margaret’s this session, I have seen first hand the kind,

a national aerospace competition. Their prize included a

warm and welcoming ethos in which learners thrive and

trip to Deeside gliding club where they received a tour of

I am so thankful that I have had the opportunity to be

the hangar, looked at a stationary plane, received a talk

part of this community. I look forward to building on the

by a glider pilot before experiencing the gliding simulator

successes of the junior school in the years ahead.

and trying to land a plane!

Emma Cottingham Head of Junior School

17

THE CHRONICLE 2024 | AFTER SCHOOL CARE AND HOLIDAY CLUB

After School Care and Holiday Club

IT HAS BEEN ANOTHER BUSY YEAR IN AFTER SCHOOL CARE (ASC) AND HOLIDAY CLUB! THE CHILDREN CONTINUE TO ENJOY ALL THE FUN AND CREATIVE ACTIVITIES WITH ALL OF THEIR FRIENDS. ALL CHILDREN, FROM NURSERY TO 7 JUNIOR ENJOY ACCESS TO MANY SCHOOL AREAS, SUCH AS THE SAFE AND ENCLOSED PLAYGROUND, PLAY EQUIPMENT AND OUTDOOR CLASSROOM AREA.

T

he ASC children decide on

which animal charity they would

In the summer there were some

what they want to do for the

choose to support. After the very

amazing costumes on display as

upcoming month. They also make

successful sale, Abigail and Anna

Holiday Club took on the glitz and

suggestions for the snack menu.

worked out how to spend the money

glam of being popstars! They made

The children love playing outside,

using the charity’s ‘wish list’. They

friendship bracelets and microphones

crafting, and role-play games!

were very excited to be able to visit

in the morning and then rehearsed

Everyone also enjoys loose-part play

the SSPCA in Drumoak to hand over

for the Brit Awards in the afternoon.

which sees the children using their

the donations.

Everyone had a great time and took

imaginations to create new things out of what most people consider to be ‘junk’. Dens are the most popular activity but there is no end to the creativity!

The school Holiday Clubs were also a great success this year. The clubs run in the October, Easter and Summer holidays. The children enjoy a number of fun and exciting activities.

part in some amazing performances!

The summer club is also the time for the much anticipated foam party.

It is definitely the highlight of the year for the children!

At this year’s ASC Pupil Conference,

Children were welcomed into a

This was my final year working at

Abigail was the Chairperson and was

world of pure imagination with a

St Margaret’s so it was very special

assisted by Xi-Ning and Anna from

Wonka themed day in Easter. Children

to build up many more lasting

the Pupil Council. The girls discussed

collected their golden ticket as

memories. It has been an absolute

with the other ASC members what

they came into school which was

privilege to watch so many girls grow

snacks and toys they would like in

transformed with balloons, streamers

up at St Margaret’s and I will always

ASC and also discussed holding a

and giant lollipops. They had great fun

treasure my time with them.

charity event. The girls voted to go

with Wonka-themed crafts, making

with an animal charity. They then

top hat treats, and dipping fruit and

involved the parents in voting for

waffles into the chocolate fountain!

18

Sandra Thomson After School Care Manager

THE CHRONICLE 2024 | AFTER SCHOOL CARE AND HOLIDAY CLUB

They had great fun with Wonka-themed crafts, making top hat treats, and dipping fruit and waffles into the chocolate fountain!

19

THE CHRONICLE 2024 | SENIOR SCHOOL REPORT

Senior

SCHOOL REPORT

Session 2023 – 2024 was another busy year in the senior school; there were many different activities and events throughout the session that have shaped the experiences of all our pupils. Some of these events are firm fixtures in the St Margaret’s calendar and others brought new and exciting opportunities for the girls.

A

t the start of term we welcomed our new I Senior

school assembly and set up activities for the whole

pupils. They quickly settled into their new

school to participate in, the highlight perhaps being

routines and began getting to know each other. In

the ‘design a language inspired tote bag’ competition.

early September the I Senior girls all headed off to

This led us into culture week, which celebrates diversity

Hazlehead Park to participate in a team building event.

within and outwith our school community. A programme

The day was run by Aberdeen City park rangers and

of events run by the race and culture committee

the girls enjoyed den building and other team building

certainly provided something for everyone with games

activities. They worked together in groups and the

from around the world, henna art, a culture cinema

day provided an excellent opportunity for them to

with the week culminating in a cultural fashion show,

strengthen bonds with their fellow classmates.

a firm favourite with the girls.

At the start of every new session the girls have the

The second half of the autumn term is always a busy time

important job of electing the new office bearers for the

of year for the senior school, with the senior school show

many pupil groups in school, including pupil council,

being one of the main events in the St Margaret’s social

rights respecting schools’ ambassadors, sustainability

calendar. This year’s show, Disney's The Little Mermaid,

representatives and many more. These provide

was excellent. The girls who performed and those who

valuable leadership opportunities and are a very

joined the stage crew all worked very hard to ensure a

important avenue for pupils to have their say and

sparkling production. Expectations were high and the

contribute to many school initiatives. This was very

cast certainly did not disappoint. We, the audience, were

evident when the school celebrated European Day of

treated to a super show on the night.

Languages, when the language ambassadors led a

20

THE CHRONICLE 2024 | SENIOR SCHOOL REPORT

Other events in the autumn term included the VI Senior

In early March the school received confirmation that

dance, which is always a great social event, a trip to the

a £3,000 Royal Society partnership grant had been

Museum of Scotland, a visit from Dr Ness, a chemical

awarded to the school to be part of the Daffodil DNA

engineer, another successful climate café and the Model

Project, run by the University of Dundee and the James

United Nations team attending events in both Aberdeen

Hutton Institute. The project ran throughout the

and Edinburgh. The III Senior girls all participated in

summer term and was an incredible opportunity for the

the Youth Philanthropy Initiative. During the final the

girls involved to participate in primary science research.

standard of presentations by the girls was incredible and all the groups deserved to win the £3,000 for their chosen charity but it was the group representing CALICO that came out on top. During an assembly in mid-November we gave recognition to the volunteering commitment of a large number of girls in the senior school through the iVolunteer and Saltire awards. Many thousands of hours of volunteering hours have been clocked up, which is a great achievement.

We began the spring term with the older year groups preparing for their prelim exams and continuing to work on their SQA assignments in many subject areas.

This was also the term when our II, IV and V Senior girls began the process of choosing the subjects they wished to continue to study in the following academic session: a time to reflect on what they have enjoyed studying

With study leave and the SQA exams behind them the older year groups came together with the I – III Senior girls to participate in activities week. Some of the girls headed to Boston, Spain or Germany for educational, cultural and musical trips and some participated in locally based activities. These activities included completing a science-based Crest Award, creating a school magazine, undertaking a level 1 sailing course, a drama project and many more. I can safely say the girls had a great time whichever programme of events they chose.

The last week of the summer term is when we said a final farewell to our VI Senior year group which was full of mixed emotions for the girls, excitement for what lies ahead as well as sadness as they left their school years

and which subjects they may require for the future.

behind them.

This is a process that they were fully supported with

I am sure you will agree that all the events and activities

through careers meetings, subject choice information

that have been mentioned contribute towards what is a

evenings, and of course, the pastoral team were always on hand to talk things through.

Spring term also saw the start of our House Reading Challenge. This challenge was conceived by our pupil library team and it was a great success with 300 books

broad range of experiences without even touching on all the sporting and musical events, competitions and clubs that take place throughout the year. It is impressive that the girls continue to thrive in all aspects of school life, in and out of the classroom. This is down to their

being read in the first few weeks of the challenge. In the

enthusiasm, hard work and commitment helped along

end, Crathes achieved the most read books. In March

by the support of all the staff at St Margaret’s. I could not

a team of three V Senior pupils attended the North of

be prouder to play a small part in their journey.

Scotland Senior Schools Public Speaking competition.

Deirdre Latimer

They performed very effectively as a team and won the competition.

Deputy Head (Academic)

The first of our Fearless Women webinars took place in February, when The Right Honourable Lady Dorrian, a trailblazing figure in the Scottish legal profession, discussed her career and achievements with current pupils and acknowledged the notable women who paved the way before her. When the spring term came to a close, I think I can safely say after a packed term the girls all deserved a very good rest over the Easter break.

During the first half of the summer term our IV, V and VI Senior girls were concentrating on their final SQA exams.

There was some nervousness, as would be expected, but also a sense of achievement.

31 21

THE CHRONICLE 2024 | CHARITY EVENTS

Charity Events 2023-2024 Once again a number of successful charity events have taken place throughout the school year with the junior school and senior school form classes carrying out a wide range of events and activities to raise money for their chosen charities.

Junior School 1 JUNIOR

the 4 Junior classroom to participate

The Junior School also participated

1 Junior walked to a local charity shop

in the different activities, with the

in a number of other charity events

and donated some of their preloved

chance of winning prizes.

throughout the year.

toys. During this trip they also learned

6 JUNIOR

about where their donations go and what the charity shop does.

6 Junior raised £240 for the charity Lend with Care. This charity helps

3 JUNIOR

to raise funds for small business

3 Junior organised a butterfly

owners in developing countries who

hunt to raise donations for the

can struggle to get funding to start

Rainforest Trust.

up their businesses.

4 JUNIOR

7 JUNIOR

4 Junior organised a Fayre to raise

7 Junior raised £94.50 for the Scottish

funds for the PDSA. Classes visited

Refugee Council.

Senior School I Senior IA raised £131 for the SLAC –

IM raised money for both the RNLI (Royal National

William Prosper charity.

Life Boat Institute) and the charity Kayleigh's Wee

The aim of this charity is to

Stars, which provides financial support to

aid subsistence farmers in

the families of children with terminal illness.

western Uganda and to try

They set-up a fair with a variety of stalls,

and improve those farming

including: hook the duck, tombola, bowling

communities by improving,

and a guess the stuffed toys birthday. The

amongst other things,

event was well attended and the girls raised

education and food supply.

£185.18 for their chosen charities.

22

| CHARITY | IN THE THETHE CHRONICLE CHRONICLE 20242024 EVENTS NEWS

II SENIOR IIA decided to take part in Instant Neighbour’s Giving Tree. The Giving Tree provides Christmas gifts for children, who are living in difficult circumstances and where families struggle to afford Christmas gifts.

A Christmas tree was set up in the senior school and decorated with labels provided by Instant Neighbour.

The labels contained information about a child in need of a gift, including their age and gender. Within minutes of the tree going on display, most of the labels had gone and a large number of festive gifts were received for delivery to Instant Neighbour.

VI Senior The VI Senior girls organised their Winter Wonderland fair in December. This included: karaoke, a tombola, a food stall selling fair trade goods and a guess the bear’s birthday.

They raised £277.28 for the Samaritans.

III SENIOR III Senior worked together to raise £500 for the winning Youth Philanthropy Initiative charity.

They collaborated to complete a walk/jog, during one of their afternoon Games session. This covered the equivalent distance from Aberdeen to Glasgow.

This year the winning charity was CALICO. CALICO provides small grants for the families of children diagnosed with cancer. They help with, among other things: travelling and utility expenses, vehicle repairs and requirements for other children within the affected family.

IV SENIOR In December, IVA raised £83 for the Brain Tumour Charity – Super Sam’s Fund, by selling raffle tickets for a festive hamper. Super Sam’s Fund is a supporter group for the Brain Tumour charity. This charity helps to raise money for research into finding a cure for aggressive brain tumours in children.

IVM raised just over £112 for BBC Children in Need by selling Pudsey badges and carrying out a guess the teddy’s bear’s birthday. Each girl in IVM donated an agreed amount to buy the badges from the Children in Need online shop. Two Pudsey bears were also purchased from the online shop and donated for a guess the teddy bear’s birthday raffle.

V SENIOR During the run-up to Christmas, VA took orders for and made up festive reindeer hot chocolate cones, snowman soup, candy cane snowmen and sweet bags to sell around the school.

Those beautifully presented items made ideal Christmas gifts. The girls raised £98.50 for Choices Aberdeen. Choices Aberdeen provides support to people facing “…a pregnancy crisis or loss."

VM raised £204.12 for Street Friends, Aberdeen.

Street Friends provide food and drinks to people in need in Aberdeen. They organised a bean bag throwing challenge during a number of lunchtimes that proved very popular with the girls.

There were other charity events throughout the year, including: a food bank collection conducted as part of the St Margaret’s Day celebration, Treasure Your Chest (raising breast health awareness), a MacMillan coffee morning for school staff, the Scottish Poppy Appeal, Save the Children’s Christmas Jumper Day, a non-uniform day to raise funds for Epilepsy Scotland and collections for UNICEF and the Morocco earthquake appeal.

Thank you to all who have donated to our various charity events throughout this school year. Your continued support is very much appreciated.

Fiona Stone Head of Charities

THE CHRONICLE 2024 | CAREERS

Careers IIS CAREERS EVENT – 29TH APRIL 2024

for a Go Abroad placement regardless of the course they were studying. It certainly gave the girls some food for

IIS were lucky enough to be invited to the University

thought. Finally we were joined by two representatives

of Aberdeen’s School of Natural and Computing

from Thorpe Molloy McCulloch, Miss Hannah Smith and

Sciences for their careers day this year.

Miss Sabia Rahman. The ladies talked to the girls about

The aim of the day was for the girls to gain more experience of AI and how they can be prepared to use AI effectively in their future. Dr Kamaran Fathulla introduced the girls to many aspects of the world of AI with help from his colleagues and students. The girls learnt about metadata and programming and had hands-on experience of using various pieces of software and apps. It was also delightful to see former pupil Romina Degan taking one of the sessions to introduce the project she had been working on in AI.

UCAS DAY – 3RD JUNE 2024

writing a CV, the do’s and don’ts of what to include, and about interview skills and techniques. Overall the girls were exposed to a vast array of information to help them make an informed choice about their future.

IVS CAREERS DAY – 4TH JUNE 2024 Our IVS careers day began with a talk about Law from Mr Liam Kerr MSP. Mr Kerr told the girls about his experience of studying and working in the field of law and highlighted many important aspects of the different types of law.

He also told the girls about his journey into law via

UCAS Day for the V Senior girls is always a busy one.

another degree which highlighted to the girls that they

It is jam packed with information on how the girls

can change career paths at any point if they need to.

can be best prepared for the UCAS applications and

After this we were joined by Miss Terri Foubister from

life beyond school.

the Robert Gordon University. She came to teach the

The day began with the girls getting registered for UCAS and exploring the online tools available to them.

Then we were joined by Miss Frances McBean from the University of Aberdeen. Miss McBean talked about how to write a personal statement and highlighted what the universities are looking for. She also highlighted the additional things such as extra-curricular activities, volunteering and roles of responsibility that can really make an application shine. Next we were joined by

girls more about Sports Science and Nutrition and about the facilities and other courses at RGU. Sticking with a science theme we were then joined by Professor John Barrow from the University of Aberdeen. He came to talk to us about biochemistry and how many similar degree courses can lead into similar careers beyond university so the important thing is to focus on what they enjoy rather than the job they want to do beyond their degree.

Mrs Daniela Smoke from North East Scotland College.

After break Dr Clemence O’Connor, also from the

She spoke to the girls about the range of courses they

University of Aberdeen, came with 2 of her students to

have on offer and also about degree links that allow

talk to the girls about a career in languages. During this

pupils to go to college for a year or two and then

session the girls learnt about learning languages and the

sometimes progress directly into 2nd or 3rd year of

courses on offer at Aberdeen. They also learnt about joint

their chosen course at university. We were then joined

degrees with languages at various universities. The girls

by another visitor from the University of Aberdeen,

then got to try their hand at writing Mandarin and Arabic

Miss Alexandria Ross who is the Go Abroad Officer.

which was trickier than it looked! It was very interesting

She told us all about the opportunities there are to study

to hear about the students' experiences in particular and

abroad whilst studying at Aberdeen. It was interesting

the doors that learning a language has opened for them.

to hear case studies of former pupils who have studied degrees such as Law, International Business and English with Spanish and Latin American studies to take time out of their degree to study in Denmark, the USA and Spain.

We learnt that anyone studying at Aberdeen could apply

24

THE CHRONICLE 2024 | CAREERS

In the afternoon Miss Emma Moran and Miss Linda Milne

She told us that her job entailed a lot of engineering and

came from Ardene Vets. Miss Moran told the girls about

how having physics was important in her day-to-day

her journey to becoming a vet, university entry grades,

job. She talked about making robotic limbs and how

what it was like to study to be a vet and the highs and the

today you even get prosthetics that link with your mobile

lows of life as a vet. Miss Milne then told the girls about

phone! Furthermore, using this technology you can get

her journey to becoming a vet nurse. She too highlighted

different settings such as ski mode for prosthetics legs!

entry requirements and further information about the course. It was interesting to learn that Miss Milne couldn’t study to be a vet nurse in her home country and that is one of the reasons she moved to Aberdeen. It was an extra special treat to see pictures of both ladies at their work with some adorable animals! Finally we were joined by former pupil Miss Eleanor Grant. Eleanor was a student at St Andrews herself and loved St Andrews so much that she decided to stay there! It was so lovely to welcome her back to St Margaret’s to talk to the girls about what it was like to study and live at St Andrews.

ALLIED HEALTH EVENT – 5 JUNE 2024 All girls in IIIS-VS who were interested in healthcare were invited to attend our Allied Health Event on Wednesday 5th June 2024.

Our first speaker was Karen Bartlett who is a podiatrist.

It was so interesting to hear about what she did day-to-day and inspiring to hear that she had worked as a podiatrist for 35 years in the NHS and thoroughly enjoys it. Emily Christie and Jaqueline Dougal who are both speech and language therapists spoke next. They filled us in on the topics they covered at university such as anatomy,

After Rhona we were joined by Abi Bolton who is a physiotherapist. Abi started by asking everyone to sit and stand as many times as they could in a minute and then she asked 3 volunteers to repeat the exercise but this time with an ailment such as breathing through a straw, having hands behind your back and using crutches!

The outcome was of course quite different and gave us all a better understanding of how basic tasks can be much harder to cope with if you have a disability. Our penultimate speakers before break were Fabi Solano Ramirez and Tina McGilton who are both dietitians. They both explained their role and how they give personalised advice on patients' diets to help manage diseases and recovery. They highlighted that they have to take into account any dietary requirements and/or allergies as well as cultural and religious factors. Our final Allied Health speaker was Stevie Low who is an occupational therapist.

It’s her job to break down the task and find what is limiting the person and how they could compensate to be able to gain joy from doing the things that they love. She explained that everyone is different and that OT’s need to have a person centred approach. Stevie explained that she can work with adults and children including babies.

linguistics, phonology, neurology, language and science to name but a few. They told us about entry requirements for university and the many settings that they can work in, such as schools, community care and prisons. After this Rhona Marshall told us about working in prosthetics and orthotics. She took in 2 prosthetic legs for us to see and asked the girls what situations people might be in to require prosthetics.

25

THE CHRONICLE 2024 | CAREERS

We were delighted to hear from all of our Allied Health professionals. We could fully understand how they work

WORK EXPERIENCE – ALINA IMRAN VS

as a team to find the best solution for their patients and

I did a four-week placement with Dr. Steven

it was obvious that they had all chosen careers that they

MacLennan from 3rd July to 28th July 2023, at the

fully enjoy.

University of Aberdeen. This invaluable experience

MINI MEDIC EVENT – 5TH JUNE 2024 The Allied Health event led nicely into our mini-medic event which started with a talk from Dr Jenny Sekulin who is a GP. She gave the girls an insight into her career path and the girls had lots of questions about ethics and how to cope with such a stressful career. We were then joined by Dr Ching-Wa Chung who is the admissions lead at the University of Aberdeen. Dr Chung came to talk to the girls about the UCAT, University Clinical Aptitude Test, which all of our medics needed to sit before they could apply for medicine. This insight was invaluable and allowed the girls to get into the swing of the different styles of questions and also learn how to approach their revision for such an important entry test. Finally we were joined by two of our sixth year medics, Marion Ikuenobe and Divinewill Nwugo. Their career path so far was particularly interesting to the girls as they are just one step ahead of them. They passed on excellent advice for subjects and skills that they will need, what they experienced on work experience, how to write their personal statement and lots more. This will have been invaluable to the girls as they continue down the same path as Marion and Divine.

26

provided me with an opportunity to understand various aspects of healthcare research.

I was involved in a research project to assess the quality of systematic reviews, which were referenced by the European Association of Urology, Clinical Practice Guidelines on Prostate Cancer by AMSTAR 2 tool.

I contributed to protocol writing, AMSTAR 2 quality assessment of several systematic reviews, and manuscript writing. I continued to work on this research project after the placement. The findings were presented at the annual scientific meeting of the European Association of Urology Congress in Paris earlier this year, and I was the second author of this conference abstract. Currently, we are in the final stages of preparing the manuscript, which we plan to submit to a peer-reviewed journal within the next one to two months.

Susan Brown Head of Careers

THE CHRONICLE 2024 | IN THE NEWS

In the News ST MARGARET'S STUDENTS ADVANCE IN DAFFODIL DNA PROJECT ST MARGARET’S SCHOOL FOR GIRLS IS MAKING SIGNIFICANT STRIDES IN THEIR DAFFODIL DNA PROJECT, A COLLABORATIVE EFFORT WITH THE UNIVERSITY OF DUNDEE AND THE JAMES HUTTON INSTITUTE. THIS INNOVATIVE PROJECT AIMS TO EXTRACT AND COMPARE DNA FROM DIFFERENT DAFFODIL SPECIES TO UNDERSTAND THEIR GENETIC RELATIONSHIPS BETTER.

explored advanced lab techniques, including using flow cells for DNA sequencing and confocal microscopes to examine plant cells closely.

The project also received a Royal Society Partnership Grant, which will fund the purchase of equipment

T

and further experiments. Despite he students, known as

setbacks like the untimely flowering

#TeamDaff, have been

of their daffodils during the Easter

engaged in a variety of scientific

holidays, the students remain

activities to prepare for their final

dedicated, meeting regularly to

DNA sequencing experiment. They

learn about daffodil classification,

have practiced each stage of the

growth measurements, and

DNA extraction process, including

advanced lab techniques like

chromatography experiments to identify photosynthetic pigments stored in the chloroplasts of daffodil cultivars. These experiments involved observing the pigments' reactions to different pH levels and determining whether the pigments were water or oil soluble.

Dr Alison Roberts from The James

centrifugation and electrophoresis.

Their efforts are documented on a dedicated notice board in the science block and shared through weekly updates, showcasing their progress and fostering a love for science and learning among the students.

Hutton Institute has played a pivotal

The Daffodil DNA project has

role in the project, guiding the

provided a unique, hands-on

students through practical

learning experience, inspiring

experiments and teaching them

students to pursue scientific inquiry

about flower anatomy. During a visit

and explore the exciting possibilities

to the institute, the students

of genetics and plant biology.

28

Pupils meet

Her Majesty Queen Camilla On Thursday, 18th January a group of St Margaret’s pupils had the honour of meeting Her Majesty Queen Camilla at the official opening of a domestic abuse Safe Space at Aberdeen Art Gallery.

T

he group of III Senior pupils

the gendered nature of domestic

Her Majesty also spoke with artist,

represented Grampian Women’s

abuse and violence against women,

Shelagh Swanson, whose artwork

Aid in their Youth Philanthropy

which is routed in gender inequality.

draws inspiration from her journey

Initiative presentations. Impressed

They believe that all women, children

as a survivor of domestic abuse.

by the depth of work, thought,

and young people have the right to

The artwork is prominently displayed,

and care which they had put into

live free from abuse. The development

visible both internally and externally,

their project, Aileen Forbes,

of their service provision over the last

symbolising the venue as a safe

manager of Grampian Women’s

40 plus years has been guided by the

space for anyone.

Aid invited the team to be with her

women, children and young people

at this important event at which

that they have supported.

Queen Camilla spoke with each girl.

At St Margaret’s we are striving to support girls to develop

The recently established Safe Space

self-assurance and compassion

within the Gallery will be managed

in order that they can engage

by individuals who have undergone

constructively with the harder

specialised training in mental health

aspects of life and show care and

awareness and domestic abuse.

consideration when working with

This designated area serves as a

others in the wider community. We

Grampian Women’s Aid was

place for those seeking assistance

were very proud of Eva, Lena, Libby,

established in 1977 and work

or for those who simply need it for

Mary-Kate and Sophie yesterday.

within a framework of recognising

contemplation and reflection.

Afterwards, Aileen reflected that “they had shared their passion for their project and views of violence against women in an eloquent way.”

29

THE CHRONICLE 2024 | IN THE NEWS

Flying High Students Win 1st Place in Air Race Challenge EIGHT 7 JUNIOR STUDENTS SOARED TO VICTORY, WINNING FIRST PLACE IN THE SCHOOLS AIR RACE CHALLENGE, HOSTED BY AEROSPACE KINROSS. COMPETING AGAINST NINETEEN SCOTTISH SCHOOLS, THE GIRLS SHOWCASED IMPRESSIVE DRONE PILOTING AND ENGINEERING SKILLS. After earning their drone licences, the students designed and navigated an indoor obstacle course featuring landmarks like Ben Nevis and a solar system. Their preparation included regular flying lessons in the school gym and exploring flight principles, engineering, and physics.

30

Teacher Mrs O’Neill praised their teamwork and creativity:

Student Zoe Eke reflected on the experience: “Learning

“The competition allowed the girls to develop

to pilot a drone was challenging but rewarding.

collaboration skills and have fun while tackling

I’ve discovered a new hobby and would love to

challenges. They demonstrated creativity in ICT

continue flying.”

and art lessons, designing skins for their drones and experimenting with payloads in physics.”

Head Anna Tomlinson emphasised the importance of

The students' success highlights their dedication and St Margaret’s commitment to promoting STEM education and empowering girls in under-represented fields.

such initiatives in closing the gender gap in STEM fields: “Initiatives like the Schools Air Race Challenge nurture interest and ambition in STEM careers.”

31

THE CHRONICLE 2024 | IN THE NEWS

St Margaret's Students Celebrate Exceptional SQA Results Pupils and teachers celebrated another year of achievements following the publication of impressive SQA examination results.

Pupils in IV Senior achieved a 98% pass rate (A-C) at National 5 with 94% of grades at A or B level.

The school attained a 97% pass rate (A-C) at Higher level for VS pupils with 84% of grades at A or B level.

Results at Advanced Higher were demonstrated by the pass rate of 93% (A-C grade) and with 78% of grades awarded at A or B.

32

In a year when the national pass rates have dropped pupils at St Margaret’s pupils have excelled with:

100% 100% 100%

A-B pass rate in English and Maths at National 5 Pass rate (A-C) in English at all levels Pass rate (A-C) in languages (French, German, Spanish, Latin) at all levels

In STEM subjects (biology, chemistry, computing science, maths, physics) at Higher there was a 98% pass rate and a 92% A-B pass rate

THE CHRONICLE 2024 | IN THE NEWS

CELINE

JOY

Among those celebrating today is Celine,

Fellow computer scientist, Joy, is celebrating

who has achieved 5 As at Higher. Celine is a

the achievement of her grade A at Advanced

self-confessed 'girl-geek' and hopes to pursue

Higher level as she prepares to pursue her

a career in computer science in the future.

course in Computing Science, commenting:

Reflecting on her experience at St Margaret’s Celine said:

Advanced Highers are a huge step-up academically and have really taught me how

Achieving these results is the first step on

to develop strategies to study courses at this

my journey to securing a place at university.

level efficiently and effectively, which is really

I am planning to complete an application to

good preparation for university. I believe that

study in America, and although my academic

learning in an all-girl environment, free from

achievements are very important to that process,

gender stereotypes has allowed me to pursue a

so too are my learning experiences beyond

career that is male-dominated. I am so grateful

the classroom. At St Margaret’s I have been

for the support from my teachers who went over

encouraged and supported to try everything

and above to offer help and encouragement,

and I have embraced every opportunity

providing me with opportunities to experience

wholeheartedly. Whether running a Model

STEM in and out of the classroom and ensuring

United Nations Conference, competing in

that I was able to engage with highly successful

national tech competitions, taking on various

female role-models in science and technology.

positions of responsibility or mentoring younger

The world of IT needs more female representation

pupils to develop their love of STEM, my teachers'

to provide a balanced view of female gender and

belief in me has given me the courage to find

technology sector issues and I am ready to take

my own pathway and be my own person. One

on that challenge. In years to come, I hope to be

of the things I love most about my school is that,

able to inspire future generations of St Margaret’s

at St Margaret’s it’s cool to be clever.

girls to join in on my quest.

33

THE CHRONICLE 2024 | IN THE NEWS

ST MARGARET’S, IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE OTHER SCOTTISH INDEPENDENT GIRLS’ SCHOOLS, LAUNCH THE

Fearless Women Webinar Series 2024 IS THE 150TH ANNIVERSARY YEAR FOR THE GIRLS' SCHOOL ASSOCIATION (GSA).

FOR 150 YEARS THE GSA HAS CHAMPIONED GIRLS AND THEIR TEACHERS TO ACT AS A CATALYST FOR POSITIVE SOCIETAL CHANGE.

I

n celebration of this significant anniversary the

of exotic animal diseases, advises on the programmes

four independent girls’ schools in Scotland –

necessary to control, and, where appropriate,

St Margaret's School for Girls, St George's School, The Mary Erskine School and Kilgraston – launched a brand-new webinar series for 2024 featuring 'Fearless Women'.

eradicate disease.

Detective Chief Inspector Gina Brennand spoke with Kilgraston School about her life and career. Her story is one of resilience, determination, and breaking down

These webinars featured women who have excelled

barriers. Throughout her career, she has demonstrated

in their field.

that being fearless doesn’t mean the absence of fear,

Launching the webinar series, senior pupils at St Margaret's School for Girls spoke with the Right Honourable Lady Dorrian. Lady Dorrian is a Scottish advocate and judge who has served as the Lord

but rather the courage to push through challenges and pursue one’s goals with unwavering determination.

During the webinar, DCI Brennand discussed the importance of challenging societal norms and stereotypes.

Justice Clerk since 2016, the first woman to hold this role.

Finally, The Mary Erskine School hosted Professor Linda

During the webinar Lady Dorrian discussed her career

Bauld, Bruce and John Usher Professor of Public Health

and achievements with current pupils. Lady Dorrian

and Co-Head of Centre for Population Health Sciences

is a graduate of the University of Aberdeen (LLB). She

at The University of Edinburgh. Her research focuses on

was admitted to the Faculty of Advocates in 1981 and

two main areas: the evaluation of complex public health

was Standing Junior Counsel to the Health and Safety

interventions, and how research can inform public health

Executive and Commission between 1987 and 1994. Lady

policy. She has also been involved in communicable disease

Dorrian served as Advocate Depute between 1988 and

research on Covid-19 and chaired Scottish Government

1991, and as Standing Junior to the Department of Energy

advisory groups on Covid-19 and children and young

between 1991 and 1994. Lady Dorrian was appointed

people (schools and HE/FE) from September 2021.

Queen’s Counsel in 1994. Between 1997 and 2001 she was a member of the Criminal Injuries Compensation Board.

Next was Professor Christine Middlemiss with St George’s School. In her current position as UK Chief Veterinary Officer, Professor Middlemiss leads the government's animal health policy and oversees disease control strategies across the UK. Christine has led impactful responses to outbreaks of avian influenza, bovine TB, and other pressing animal health issues.

She leads the Defra/England response to outbreaks

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THE CHRONICLE 2024 | IN THE NEWS

Junk Kouture Three talented students secured a place in the national final of Junk Kouture, a prestigious fashion competition promoting sustainable design. Sylvie, Mary-Kate, and Lena impressed the judges with their innovative haute couture creation made entirely from recycled materials.

Junk Kouture, targeting students aged 12-19, challenges participants to upcycle and design high-end garments, emphasising the environmental impact of the fashion industry. The trio’s entry, a dress named “Afternoon Sustainibilitea,” showcases their creativity and commitment to sustainability. The dress features pre-loved lace, old tablecloths, broken teacups, and paper doilies, ingeniously repurposed into a stunning piece of wearable art.

Reflecting on their achievement, Mary-Kate shared her excitement: “This experience has been a rewarding challenge. Our dress is made entirely from old tablecloths, with an underskirt crafted from a nativity angel costume. The lace is from an old overdress, and the broken teacups and plates were all dug up from Lena’s garden, glued onto stripped coffee pods, and sewn onto the skirt. We hope our design highlights the possibilities of sustainable practices through upcycling.”

Head Anna Tomlinson expressed her pride: “This is the first time that our school has entered this competition, and I am very proud of the girls’ success. Initiatives like this enable our inspiring creatives to apply the skills and knowledge learned to all aspects of their lives.”

Sarah Wood, Head of Art and Design, praised the students’ efforts: “Junk Kouture challenges anyone with a creative flair to envision, upcycle, and create high-end couture from recycled junk. The level of ability delivered by these students has been incredible.

They are an inspirational group who have shown enthusiasm and really thought outside the box.”

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THE CHRONICLE 2024 | WHOLE SCHOOL EVENTS

Whole School Events Carol Service Despite the blustery weather, St Margaret’s pupils, staff, and families came together at Aberdeen’s Beach Ballroom for the annual Carol Service celebrations before the end of the Autumn term.

O

ur community gathered in the iconic Aberdeen venue, which overlooks Aberdeen

Beach, to hear a full programme of musical performances and readings. The service included readings from IS-VIS pupils and the assembled audience enjoyed beautiful performances from school choirs, soloists, and musicians.

Photo: Darrell Benns & DC Thomson

ST MARGARET'S SCHOOL CELEBRATES

Cultural Diversity During Culture Week St Margaret’s School for Girls again held an exciting and enriching Culture Week, filled with a variety of student-led activities celebrating cultural diversity. Organised by the pupil-led Culture Week Committee, the event aimed to recognise and honour different nationalities and cultures within the school community.

T

he first two days were

Miss Tomlinson praised the event,

packed with activities,

saying, "Culture Week has provided

including dance classes, henna

a wonderful opportunity for our

sessions, and various cultural

students to engage with and

crafts. Senior girls engaged the

appreciate the diverse cultures

students with a flag Kahoot

represented in our school. The

quiz, while the junior school

hard work and creativity of

participated in activities that took

our pupils have made this week

them "around the world." Pupils

truly memorable."

crafted the Eiffel Tower, explored nature, and learned about wolves and koalas. Older students also gave presentations to their classmates, making for a busy and educational afternoon.

With activities like games from around the world, arts and crafts, and various competitions, Culture Week at St Margaret’s was a resounding success, fostering a deeper understanding and

The week concluded with a vibrant

appreciation of global cultures

cultural fashion show, where

among the students.

students showcased traditional attire from various cultures, celebrating the rich diversity within the school.

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THE CHRONICLE 2024 | WHOLE SCHOOL EVENTS

MEGArt This year the art department held the first MEGArt exhibition showing work from 5 Junior up to Advanced Higher. Family and friends were invited into school to walk around and view art installations in the various rooms and departments of St Margaret’s.

It was lovely to have so many visitors in school and receive such wonderful feedback on the students’ work.

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Celebrating St Margaret’s Day On a clear but crisp day, St Margaret’s pupils, staff, and families came together at St Machar’s Cathedral for the annual St Margaret’s Day celebrations on Friday, 17th November.

Our community gathered in the stunning cathedral, overlooked by the crest of St Margaret which resides alongside many others on the ceiling of St Machar’s.

The service began with readings from our Head, Miss Anna Tomlinson, the Head Girl Team, and senior prefects and the assembled audience enjoyed beautiful performances from school choirs, soloists, and musicians.

St Margaret’s Day is celebrated by the school annually, and is an opportunity for our pupils to express their gratitude for their education and the opportunities this provides them. Our pupils, in the spirit of St Margaret, are encouraged to reflect on and participate in charitable activities. We were so encouraged by the generosity of the girls and their families through the abundant amount of donations to Somebody Cares. A representation of the donations was blessed at the service before being given over to the charity.

St Margaret’s Day is one of the special whole-school occasions which punctuate our school calendar.

In the splendid surroundings of St Machar’s Cathedral, we celebrate the long history of our school through words and music. Whatever our respective age and stage, the St Margaret’s Day tradition provides an opportunity within a very busy term for both staff and pupils to pause and reflect.

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THE CHRONICLE 2024 | WHOLE SCHOOL EVENTS

RIGHTS RESPECTING SCHOOLS AWARD THE START OF SESSION 2023-2024 SAW ST MARGARET’S GAINING OUR BRONZE RIGHTS RESPECTING ACCREDITATION. THROUGH PREVIOUS ASSEMBLIES, LESSONS, OUR PUPIL STEERING GROUP, THE WEEKLY NEWS AND MUCH MORE, WE BROADENED OUR SCHOOL COMMUNITY’S KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING OF THE UNITED NATIONS CONVENTION ON THE RIGHTS OF THE CHILD (UNCRC), CEMENTING OUR COMMITMENT TO UPHOLD CHILDREN’S RIGHTS.

B

uilding on their training

experience of the award to our group.

from the previous session,

Our Rights Respecting Ambassadors

staff continued to plan curriculum

play a crucial role in leading school

links to children’s rights within

events and advocating for children’s

their departments. This has

rights. This year, the addition of a

created opportunities for pupils to

Junior Rights Respecting club added

explore articles from a variety of

to our pupil voice opportunities.

perspectives, increasing both staff and pupil understanding to work for improved child well-being, school improvement, global justice and sustainable living.

40

Meeting on a weekly basis, junior pupils discussed what rights meant to them, exploring specific articles of the UNCRC in more depth. To end the session, two of our 7 Junior pupils

The reforming of our senior pupil

created a ‘Rights Rap’ which helps

steering group saw many new

to understand the nature of rights.

I Senior pupils joining, adding further

Through our working groups, pupils

THE CHRONICLE 2024 | WHOLE SCHOOL EVENTS

and staff collaborate to develop

linking articles which pupil’s feel

Notre Dame Academy. The class

and maintain a school community

best underpin it.

made several short videos

based on equality, dignity, respect, non-discrimination and participation; the foundation of the rights respecting schools award.

CULTURE WEEK AND NEURODIVERSITY WEEK SERVED AS AN EXCELLENT SPRINGBOARD FOR FURTHER CONVERSATIONS AND EXPLORATION OF CHILDREN’S RIGHTS ON BOTH A LOCAL AND GLOBAL SCALE.

YPI (Youth Philanthropy Initiative) continues to provide enhanced opportunities for pupils in III Senior rights on a local scale. Through their

award in the junior school has also

research into, and work alongside

allowed our pupils to further explore

local charities, pupils are encouraged

rights on a global scale; where their

to make connections with the

food comes from, what is meant by

UNCRC, where appropriate. Model

‘fairness’ and discussing how children

United Nations (MUN) has also

and their rights may be impacted.

and discuss children’s rights on a

was a huge hit with pupils in

global scale, increasing awareness

1 – 7 Junior. Every pupil had the

and empowering the conference

opportunity to create their own

participants and audience to uphold

rights respecting character in class

the Convention.

Pupils were also encouraged to link specific articles from the UNCRC to their creation. There were many excellent entries with imaginative and artistic ideas showcased, with our overall winner being Zoe Eke from 7 Junior with her creation of Karly Kraken. A plush of Karly Kraken has been purchased and will be used by classes across the school when exploring children’s rights.

In the Autumn term, the introduction of iVolunteer awards in the Junior school, and Saltire

await the results of the exchange.

The introduction of the FairAware

allowed our senior pupils to explore

nationality, likes and dislikes.

were sent to Uganda, and we keenly

to promote and represent children’s

Our junior school mascot competition

time. Each character had an identity,

documenting 'Life in Scotland' which

Work towards gaining our silver level rights respecting accreditation will continue into session 2024-2025 with our sustainability representatives joining with our rights respecting ambassadors to create a unique wall

Last session we continued our

display, highlighting links between

communication with the teacher and

the Sustainable Development Goals

charity founder William Prosper in

and articles within the UNCRC.

Uganda. William teaches agriculture at Notre Dame Academy, a Catholic Girls' school in Kibaale district, Uganda. William's charity SLAC (Steam the Light for African Communities) aims to reduce climate change, extreme poverty and gender imbalance in Uganda through agroforestry education.

IA form class chose to initiate a cultural exchange with the girls at

On July 16, 2024, the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) (Incorporation) (Scotland) Act came into effect, enshrining the rights of children and young people in Scottish law. This landmark day for children's rights in Scotland will ensure that children's rights are protected and respected.

The St Margaret’s community are proud to uphold and promote children’s rights.

awards in the Senior school, recognises and celebrates pupil volunteering work and leadership skills. Culture week and Neurodiversity week served as an excellent springboard for further conversations and exploration of children’s rights on both a local and global scale.

Through regular pupil consultation, and with some of our II Senior ambassadors taking the creative lead, our school Code of Respect has been redesigned, highlighting

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Sports Day

3rd June 2024

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The Music

Department This year has been a very busy and productive one for the music department. As well as a full programme of concerts, shows and services, there was a very successful and memorable music trip to the beautiful Rhine and Moselle region of Germany, giving the girls the opportunity, not only to experience a different culture but also to share their talents with very appreciative German audiences. Below is a selection of some of the musical events and achievements seen at St Margaret’s over the past session.

RUBISLAW AUTUMN CONCERT On Thursday 12th October St Margaret’s was privileged to give a concert at Rubislaw Church as part of the Rubislaw Church Organ Concert series. Sadly, this was to be one of the final concerts to mark the closure

The concert also featured contributions

MAGGIE’S CHARITY

from the senior and chamber choirs

CHRISTMAS CONCERT

as well as the Baroque and woodwind ensembles and some solos.

EVENING EXPRESS CHRISTMAS CONCERT

On Tuesday 12th December the chamber and senior choirs, along with some instrumental groups, joined the Granite City Chorus and Albacappella in a Christmas concert

of Rubislaw Church, with which the

On 3rd December our junior choir,

at Midstocket Church to help raise

school has had close ties with for

made up of girls from 5-7 Junior,

funds for Maggie’s cancer charity.

many years. We were particularly

took part in the Evening Express

The event was a sell out and a total

delighted to support Mr Allan Bickett,

concert at the P&J Live. Twelve

of £3,740.24 was raised to help support

the Director of Music at Rubislaw

schools and groups from the local

people in the North East living with

Church, who organised the concert

area took part in this evening and

cancer. The evening finished with

series and was eager for St Margaret’s

St Margaret’s was the final act before

our girls leading a song called ‘I feel

to take part in the penultimate

the finale. The girls beautifully sang

like fa la la’ which involved all three

concert. Two of the pieces performed

two songs – ‘It’s Christmastime again’

choirs and audience participation in

were from Fauré's Requiem,

and ‘African Noel’ to a packed

the form of two-part body percussion,

deliberately chosen because they

audience and received a well-deserved,

much enjoyed by all!

feature an organ accompaniment.

enthusiastic round of applause.

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ABERDEEN CITY ORCHESTRA – YOUTH ENSEMBLE

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COWDRAY HALL

SPRING CONCERT

On Thursday 22nd February the

Our annual spring concert was

On Friday 1st December, some of our

chamber choir and a number of

held at Fountainhall at the Cross on

senior pupils took part in a concert

instrumentalists gave a concert as

Wednesday 27th March. The concert

given by the Aberdeen City Orchestra

part of the Cowdray Hall lunchbreak

opened with Karl Jenkins’ Sanctus

– Youth Ensemble at Fountainhall

series. This prestigious event drew in

from the Armed Man, featuring the

at the Stocket. They played Emilie

significant numbers in the audience

massed choirs and orchestra with

Mayer’s Symphony no 1, followed by

and our talented girls performed

brass up in the gallery. Another piece

extracts from Mozart’s dramatic opera

exceptionally well, prompting a

performed from the same work was

Don Giovanni, complete with solo

standing ovation at the end, a rare

Benedictus, celebrating 80 years

singers. This was followed by Eddie

occurrence at this event.

since the D Day landings and also

McGuire’s Fiddler’s Farewell. The

marking Karl Jenkins’ 80th year.

overall sound was exceptional and

ST ANDREW’S CONCERT

The concert featured a number of

much appreciated by the audience.

AT NOON

solos from our VIS pupils and a range

UKULELE CLUB CHRISTMAS COMPETITION

On Saturday 9th March eight of our girls performed a recital as part of the St Andrew’s Cathedral Concert

This session saw the commencement

at Noon series. The cathedral is

of a very popular ukulele club, run

beautiful inside and has wonderful

by two of our IIIS girls, Chloe Cherrie

acoustics, put to good effect by the

and Martha Hurry. They ran a

stunning performances from all girls.

Christmas song competition where

With music ranging from Albinoni

the girls had to make up their own

to Shostakovich and Vivaldi to Lloyd

lyrics and include at least three songs

Webber’s beautiful Pie Jesu, the

on ukulele.

concert was a showcase of some of

of choral and instrumental items, including one from the newly formed percussion ensemble.

the musical talent in the school.

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THE CHRONICLE 2024 | THE MUSIC DEPARTMENT

SUMMER CONCERT At the summer concert, on 28th May, the audience was treated to a wide variety of music, performed by the junior choir, Jolly Rockers and concert band as well as a number of solos and duets. The concert culminated with a performance of Skyfall with vocal soloists and concert band.

Four girls successfully passed Grade 8 in piano, clarinet and cello, National

very high for each competition and

Youth Orchestra and Choir of Scotland Isla MacFadyen secured

the variety and quality of the

a place in the NYOS Development Orchestra and Tiana Mudkavi a place

it difficult to choose winners.

in the National Choir of Scotland, each with courses over the holidays.

Rosebowl, Emily Gunn won the

Isla was selected once again for the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland

the Lamont competition.

Juniors in Glasgow.

INFORMAL CONCERTS

SCHOLARSHIPS

Over the course of the year, several informal concerts were held, giving girls the experience, some for the first time, of performing in front of

Congratulations to Lydia Cherrie (piano), Ellie Ong (piano), Tiana Mudkavi (voice), Phoebe Rose

the judges were impressed by programmes performed, finding In the end, Lydia Cherrie won the Murray and Hannah Magill won

SCOTTISH OPERA In June, girls in 5-7 Junior delighted us with an amazing performance of Scottish opera’s ‘Vikings! The Quest for the Dragon’s Treasure’. 7J were the vikings group, 6J the sorcerers

and voices.

(saxophone) for gaining scholarships at NESMS (North East of Scotland Music School). In addition, Hannah Magill (oboe) won the prestigious Dorothy Hately NESMS scholarship.

Congratulations also to Tiana for her choral scholarship at Fountainhall at the Cross Church.

ABRSM, TRINITY AND

ROSEBOWL, MURRAY AND

LCM SUCCESSES

LAMONT COMPETITIONS

This session was a successful one

IVS girls – Sarah Reynolds as the

and LCM music exams, with many

The annual Betty Wyness Rosebowl Piano Competition and the Murray and Lamont competitions were held

achieving merit or distinction results.

in March and June. The standard was

MacFadyen as the Farmer.

a live audience. Additionally, for those preparing to sit music exams, this served as good practice for them.

Girls from 2 Junior – VI Senior performed a wide range of repertoire on all manner of instruments

for those girls sitting ABRSM, Trinity

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and 5J the villagers. The girls rehearsed the songs and moves for the show during some of their music classes and also created their own helmets, shields, wands and hammers to go along with their outfits. All of this culminated in a workshop and two performances on Thursday, one to 1-4J and the other to parents. This year, the solo leads were sung by three of our talented Viking Queen, Jessica Gunn as the Sorcerer Supreme and Isla

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THE CHRONICLE 2024 | SPORTS REVIEW

2023-2024 AT ST MARGARET’S OUR SCHOOL VALUES OF RESPECT, EQUALITY, HARD WORK, AMBITION, AND COMMUNITY ARE AT THE HEART OF EVERYTHING WE DO. IN PHYSICAL EDUCATION, THESE VALUES ARE INTEGRATED INTO EVERY LESSON, ACTIVITY, AND INTERACTION. HERE'S A GLIMPSE INTO OUR YEAR IN PE, WHERE THESE VALUES ARE BROUGHT TO LIFE.

respect

EQUALITY

This year, our sports teams have embodied the true

The spirit of equality at St Margaret’s is reflected in

spirit of respect. In hockey, our players demonstrated

our sporting events, lessons, and extracurricular clubs.

outstanding sportsmanship, always acknowledging

A prime example is our annual gymnastics and dance

the efforts of their opponents and supporting their

cup competitions, which saw over 80 girls participating,

teammates. The Junior team and the 1st XI teams

with enthusiastic supporters from all year groups

participated in the Scottish Hockey Challenge Cups,

cheering on the sidelines. These events promote a

with the Junior team emerging victorious in their

strong sense of inclusivity and equality, allowing any

final. The second years extended their winning streak

pupil to join in and achieve something, ensuring

by winning the North District Tournament, while

everyone feels valued and included.

the first years and 1st XI both secured impressive second-place finishes.

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THE CHRONICLE 2024 | SPORTS REVIEW

HARD WORK Our girls have consistently demonstrated hard work throughout this year. Their individual efforts were evident in our Senior Swimming Gala in December and our Junior Swimming Gala in February. The dedication and effort of both individuals and teams were evident in the singles and doubles badminton championships, where many girls put in great effort to win all their matches and secure the gold.

ambition Ambition has motivated girls to explore new opportunities and excel in various sporting events. This was reflected in the school’s cross-country championships, where one of our girls secured first place, leading the team to a gold medal. The netball teams also displayed incredible ambition, always aiming to improve and consistently training each week. This ambition was also evident in the growing involvement of pupils, with teams at the Senior, Junior, 1st year, and 6 and 7 Junior levels. Their dedication led to many successful matches, especially for the Junior team, who secured 4th place in the Junior Shield.

community This leads us to our final value, which fundamentally underpins all the others, community. This is exemplified at our annual sports day, which brings together our community of students, staff, and families in a celebration of hard work, respect, equality, and ambition. Where it’s not just about winning; it’s about nurturing a spirit of inclusion and encouragement, ensuring every student feels valued and part of the school community. This ethos is woven throughout sport at St Margaret's, with our many clubs not only offering a chance at competition but also providing a sense of belonging. From athletics, netball, dodgeball, gymnastics, cross-country, tennis, and pickleball to hockey, street dance, volleyball, basketball, and martial arts, our clubs provide platforms for students to socialise, lead, and have fun across various year groups.

This year has been a testament to the power of respect, equality, hard work, ambition, and community in sports. Our students have not only achieved great success, but have also embodied the values that make our school a special place. Here’s to another year of outstanding achievements!

35 49

1 Junior are published

illustrators!

1 Junior entered an art competition to draw a picture of themselves or their loved ones for Me and My Family.

All their entries were successful and the girls have had their artwork published in a book. 1 Junior are so proud seeing their art work in a book that they get to keep and treasure.

Vitamin C Experiments 1 Junior enjoyed a visit to the senior science lab!

The girls received specialist teaching from a member of our science department on the importance of Vitamin C and why we need it.

1 Junior then conducted an experiment on different types of fruit juice, determining which one had the most Vitamin C. Active cross-curricular learning drives science throughout the junior school, as experiments engage every child’s natural curiosity. The junior school benefits from a close relationship with the senior school meaning that girls in younger years can enjoy the facilities and resources of the entire school.

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Biology 2 JUNIOR WERE LEARNING ABOUT THE HEART AND VISITED THE SCHOOL'S BIOLOGY DEPARTMENT TO GAIN A DEEPER UNDERSTANDING OF THE HEART'S STRUCTURE AND FUNCTION. We looked at a real lamb's heart and the girls had the option to have a closer look. This hands-on, experiential learning encourages curiosity and critical thinking, empowering children to ask questions and explore the wonders of the human body.

DUTHIE PARK 2 Junior went to Duthie Park using the public buses and used their wonderful Aberdeen City Council’s free bus passes.

They then met up with Rachel, the Park Ranger, to investigate local wildlife and their habitats.

Rachel organised a scavenger hunt where the girls were looking for clues in order to match the animal, footprints, habitat and their food. They learned about different minibeasts and were able to find and view some of them today. We then released them back into the wild. The girls all engaged well with the activities and asked Rachel some insightful questions.

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PAIRED READING

3 Junior had Dawn Leslie from the Elphinstone Institute and Linguistics Department at Aberdeen University visiting as part of their topic about Scotland.

The girls enjoyed the whole session – listening to stories, learning Scots words, learning about Pictish Stones and discussing folktales.

It was a very busy and fun afternoon, with lots of learning taking place.

The girls explained what they had been learning so far in our topic with great recall of facts and stories. They listened enthusiastically and were

3 Junior enjoyed meeting with their nursery buddies for paired reading. This was a brilliant

very confident when completing the 'Aye or No' Quiz about the story of the Maiden Stone. They confidently acted out the story, showing great drama skills that they had been practising weekly with Mrs McGovern.

opportunity for the 3 Juniors

They then got the opportunity to create their own folktale and drew

to improve their reading skills,

what they thought a Pictish stone that represented their story would

in a purposeful context.

It was also a great chance for the preschool children to build relationships with girls and staff in the junior school.

look like.

At St Margaret's, having links with our local community is a key way in which we enrich the learning experience for our pupils. We look forward to having more opportunities to work closely with the university in the future.

53

Bird Feeders 4 Junior made bird cakes and hung them outside in the playground ready for taking part in the big bird count.

The bird cake was made by mixing lard with bird seed, raisins and grated cheese. Each girl then filled a plastic cup with the cake and chose a place to hang it. We are hoping that feeding the birds will attract more to the playground so we have a greater variety to count next year.

Calm & Relaxing Stories 4 JUNIOR HAVE BEEN USING RELAXATION MEDITATIONS IN CLASS. For children's mental health week, 4 Junior's writing lesson required them to write their own meditation which they then shared with the class.

The meditation allowed the girls to channel their imagination and creativity. The girls used their chrome book to type their completed piece and added a picture which has been printed and collated into a book which can be found in the junior library.

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5 Junior's artworks inspired by the sea TO LINK WITH THEIR CLASSWORK ON NATURAL DISASTERS THE GIRLS STARTED TO LOOK AT ARTWORKS INSPIRED BY THE SEA, WAVES AND SKIES. They started an outcome based on the sea, working from photographs but used shapes and patterns to represent the large waves. During their next lesson the girls used anilinky inks to add colour to the waves shapes that they had designed.

St Machar's Catherdral 5 Junior enjoyed visiting St Machar's Cathedral. They learned about the ancient history of the Cathedral and took part in some fun role play activities.

The girls learnt about the different shields displayed on the ceiling of the Cathedral and enjoyed spotting the shield of St Margaret!

They had the opportunity to design and create their own shields.

55 35

CO-OP VISIT THIS YEAR, 6 JUNIOR VISITED THE CO-OP ON UNION STREET. THEY CRAFTED A HEARTFELT LETTER TO THE CO-OP MANAGER APPEALING FOR FAIRTRADE FOOD DONATIONS FOR THEIR UPCOMING FAIRTRADE CAFE. Their efforts culminated in the bustling success of the Fairtrade Café, held on March 21st. Through their delicious class baking they managed to raise an impressive £236.43! Every penny of this generous sum will soon find purpose in supporting 'Lendwithcare', a testament to 6 Junior's commitment to making a difference.

FAIRAWARE AWARD As part of their Sustainability topic last term, 6 Junior led the junior school’s application for the FairAware award.

FairAware is the first Fairtrade Schools Award and is about finding out where our school is in terms of understanding Fairtrade and using Fairtrade products.

They created Google Forms to collect information from different areas of the school, which included:

• A product audit to find out which Fairtrade products we use around school already and where they are used.

• A teaching audit to find out what the school is already teaching.

• A learner audit to find out what our learners already know about Fairtrade and the world around them.

After all their hard work, we are happy to announce that on 17th May the junior school became a FairAware School!

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Crackers Court At six o'clock on Wednesday 1st of May 2024 something big was going down in the hall. The 7 Junior’s St Meg’s Case Crackers Court (SMCCC for short) was taking place.

There were two teams, the pursuers and defenders.

Both teams had been preparing for ten weeks straight.

Everyone in 7 Junior had a role to play in bringing the court to life. We were so lucky to have one of our former pupils Miss Emma Petersen, a Procurator Fiscal, join us on the night and to be our sheriff.

The night started off with an introduction to the event and the case. Parents were able to wander around the room and look at the exciting displays that we had put together. Then the court was open and we heard the fabulous opening statements, expertly presented by the solicitors, who wore gowns made by our gown makers. After this, the witnesses were questioned.

First up were the pursuers, then the defence. After

UK

Parliament Talk 7 Junior had a visit from Philippa Mason, who is the Senior Education and Engagement Officer for the UK Parliament.

this, everyone heard the closing statements and then the moment we had all been waiting for, the judge made a decision. It was very tricky and overall both teams benefited from the decision, but compromises had to be made.

Thank you so much to our class teacher Mrs O’Neill and our parents for helping and supporting us.

Philippa shared with the girls all about how the UK Parliament is set up, how it operates and who the members of the Parliament are.

The girls were very interested to learn about the House of Commons and the House of Lords and why they are named the red and the green houses.

They were amazed to learn that King Charles III is not allowed to enter the House of Commons and ceremoniously has the door closed on him each year, during the custom of Black Rod at the Opening of Parliament.

This was a great introduction to the new topic of Government and Law which 7 Junior enjoyed.

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THE CHRONICLE 2024 | JUNIOR RESIDENTIAL TRIP

Crieff TRIP I

n 7 Junior we had a super exciting week when we went to our residential in Crieff.

We were staying at The Scottish Adventure School in June. We arrived at lunchtime and ate our packed lunches in the lovely common room just below our dorms.

After lunch we went down to a large field next to the loch and played capture the flag, then we got to go swimming in the loch! It was so much fun and the people who didn't want to get wet enjoyed watching those who did.

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THE CHRONICLE 2024 | JUNIOR RESIDENTIAL TRIP

The next day we did the high ropes

In most people's opinion Thursday

Friday was a lot calmer as we just

course and rock climbing. The rock

was the best day because we went

went for a low land walk around

climbing took place outside. It was so

off site to a river and a canyon. In the

Crieff before we packed up our bags

much fun and some parts of the wall

morning we went white water rafting

and got on the bus to head back

were much harder than others. The

and, in the afternoon, we got to go

to Aberdeen.

next day (Wednesday) we went on a

gorge walking. There were lots of

walk round the hills and played lots

jumps and there was even a 6-metre

of games. At the end we even got to

jump! It was so much fun and gave

go to the adventure playpark!

you a massive adrenaline rush.

It really was a great week and everyone in 7 Junior agrees we had the best time!

Naomi Thomson 7 Junior

59

Breakfast with a book As the school barrelled into winter, a cosy morning was shared by girls across the senior school.

To celebrate Book Week Scotland, the Library Crew – a group of pupils who promote the school library and reading for enjoyment – hosted the Breakfast With A Book event.

60

he sell-out event was set up by

T Mrs McDonald, Mrs MacFadyen

interruptions”. By 8:30, only crumbs

and some very helpful members

was delightful chatter over novels,

of the Library Crew. Fruit was

as well as pupils engrossed in stories.

chopped, pastries were buttered and all beautifully plated up. Juice and water was elegantly presented in champagne flutes to keep up with the sophisticated air of the

were left of the pastries and there

Hopefully this was the first Breakfast With A Book of many, as everyone loved the good food and good company.

event. Breakfast was then served to

But the fun didn’t stop there!

the pupils, with their books in hand,

The Library Crew quickly turned the

who had registered for this event.

library around, transforming the

Due to the unforeseen popularity of Breakfast With A Book, a strict first-come first-served system had to be implemented. Those who did attend praised how it “[brought] people together in the library” and gave people the opportunity to “read quietly in the morning without

space into a bustling book swap shop. In the days leading up to the Book Swap Shop, senior pupils generously donated books they had already read. These books were then up for the taking on Wednesday, free for all those who donated.

At both break and lunch, pupils swarmed tables piled high with books. Pupils appreciated that it was “a great way to be sustainable and build a sense of community around reading and the library”.

One pupil left with an armful of David Walliam books, Christmas shopping for a younger sibling.

After a day full of bookish events, the Library Crew would like to specially thank Mrs McDonald, Mrs MacFadyen and everyone who participated in our Book Week Scotland events.

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THE CHRONICLE 2024 | SENIOR ACTIVITIES & EXTRA-CURRICULAR

Kilgraston Equestrian Championships

O

n Sunday, March 17th,

by securing third place individually.

throughout the championships,

the equestrian team from

In the Novice dressage class, Marcy

showcasing their dedication to the

St Margaret’s School embarked

and Romy once again showcased

sport and their school. While not

on a journey to Howe Equestrian

their skills, with Marcy clinching third

every performance resulted in a

Centre in Fife to participate in

place individually and Romy securing

podium finish, the team's unwavering

the Kilgraston Scottish Schools

fifth place.

commitment and passion for

Equestrian Championships. The

In the show jumping competitions,

equestrianism shone brightly

event boasted a fantastic turnout, with over 200 competitors hailing

Tamsin exhibited exceptional form, delivering two flawless rounds.

from more than 15 schools across

However, despite her flawless

the region.

performance, Tamsin's pace fell

Our Prelim dressage team, composed of Marcy, Romy, and Tamsin, delivered three impressive

just short of securing a placement.

Meanwhile, Marcy had an unfortunate pole in her showjumping class.

performances, earning them

Overall, the St Margaret’s School

a commendable third place overall.

equestrian team demonstrated

Romy further distinguished herself

remarkable skill and sportsmanship

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throughout the competition.

THE CHRONICLE 2024 | SENIOR ACTIVITIES & EXTRA-CURRICULAR

Economics Seminar

Both the Higher and Advanced Higher Economics classes attended an economics seminar at the Royal Bank of Scotland’s Corporate Division at Marischal Square.

The bank’s senior economist, Philip Bartlett, gave the girls an insight into the current topical economic issues being debated in the media; namely, inflation, the impact of rising interest rates, real wages, low productivity in the UK, government spending, the possible consequences of an ageing population, and the divergent views on the future impact of artificial intelligence on the economy.

Information surrounding these topics was given to us in a series of slides and students were also informed about the work of an economist and given advice on studying economics at university. A lively question and answer session brought the event to a close and we were very grateful for the selection of refreshments provided to us by RBS!

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THE CHRONICLE 2024 | SENIOR ACTIVITIES & EXTRA-CURRICULAR

YOUNG CODERS NATIONAL COMPETITION This year, the IS pupils participated in the nationwide Young Coders Competition. The theme for this year's contest was to create a game using Scratch that teaches children about space and time. This theme was designed to spark interest in space exploration, physics, and astronomy while also enhancing coding skills.

Our pupils were selected as one of the national winning teams from among 600 entries. They received awards as well as prizes for the school.

All of the IS pupils attended the virtual presentation of the Young Coders Awards, which took place on Thursday, 27th June.

Here are the thoughts from the winning teams:

Thejal Senthil

April Campbell

Thejal

Keira Senthil Jackson

April Campbell Rose Downey

Keira Jackson

Christina McNeill

The Young Coders Competition was an amazing

Doing the Young Coders Competition was a great

way to challenge our creativity. To create TRAK, we

experience for coding, planning and working as

began by designing a plot and distributing roles to

a team. We started the project Nixon with organising

everyone in our group. As the planning progressed

Lowri

the levels and choosing who would do what.

we added levels to support our ideas, along with

As time went on the game evolved and more

doing research on the chosen theme of ‘Space and

designs were added completing the finished product.

Time.’ Once the design and planning phases were

With the theme of ‘Space and Time’ it took a while

complete, we began to code. Our final project

to research and find a fun way to make the game

consisted of 9 levels altogether, with the ultimate

while also adding in facts to help people learn.

aim of saving the missing crew of NASA. Throughout

Our 9 levels included dodging asteroids, escaping

the game, we provided a series of mini-games and

a maze, doing quizzes and lots of other fun

facts for the user, which were later tested through

activities. The dialogue formed as the game went

a short quiz. In the end, our project was submitted

on and although I had to change things at different

to the Young Coders Competition. Overall, this

points the storyline still managed to run thoroughly.

was a really fun experience and I would like to do

Overall, the competition was a great way for me

a similar competition again.

to express my passion for coding and design ideas.

I would most definitely love to do another competition like this again.

64

Rose Dow

THE CHRONICLE 2024 | SENIOR ACTIVITIES & EXTRA-CURRICULAR

Keira Jackson

bell

Christina McNeill

Doing the Young Coders Competition was a great way to expand our skills working with Scratch and what we could create using the blocks of code. The competition also allowed

Lowri Nixon

us to improve our teamwork skills. This included communication and working together to make sure the code worked to the highest standard. Overall I think that this was a great experience which I would highly recommend and would do it again if offered.

Rose Downey

n

Christina McNeill

Doing the Young Coders Competition was an amazing opportunity to express our passion for computing and coding. This has helped us to widen our skills in coding

Lowri

and learn important lifeNixon skills such as teamwork, problem solving and communication.

It allowed me to be creative and it was really fun.

se Downey

ey

Rose Downey

Christina McNeill

THIRD PLACE Lowri Nixon

When hearing about the coding competition about space and time, I was excited to see what we could create. Christina and I have been friends for a long time, and we decided to work together to create space rats! We enjoyed making space rats as it was fun making a game with our ideas. I never really expected to come 3rd out of lots of amazing groups. I am very thankful for this opportunity !

Christina McNeill Doing the Young Coders Competition was a great experience and gave me and my partner time to improve both our skills using Scratch and teamwork. This was

Lowrichallenging at times but we worked hard and stayed calm through tough situations Nixon like deadlines and when we thought we had not done enough but overall this was a great experience and I would do it again.

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THE CHRONICLE 2024 | SENIOR ACTIVITIES & EXTRA-CURRICULAR

VI Senior Conference

A

ll VI Senior girls attended their annual conference,

skills and talents. Overall the day was exciting and each

which this year was held at RGU. After being

speaker gave the girls another perspective, and some

treated to a breakfast roll and coffee, pupils had their

invaluable advice, leaving all of them more confident in

first talk from Erica Cargill, Associate Dean for Academic

themselves and their futures.

Development and Student Experience in Aberdeen Business School. She talked about selling yourself as uniquely human in an increasingly digital world, and taught them about the value their generation (Gen Z) has within the workplace, as well the unique skill set they all possess. Many of the lessons given to the girls in this talk they will take with them for years to come.

Following on from this, three St Margaret's former pupils spoke to the VIS class about their lives after school. This was a highlight for many of them. It was interesting to hear about their very varied experiences of university, and how that has shaped their lives, or how they will take what they know into their next year of university.

The final speaker, Sarah Smart, shared more about their personalities and individual strengths. Through hands-on activities they all found out more about themselves, and how others perceive them. This information was later used to help them develop their interview and persuasion skills, which will no doubt come in handy for the future.

To finish they looked at themselves and their individual

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THE CHRONICLE 2024 | SENIOR ACTIVITIES & EXTRA-CURRICULAR

®

THE DUKE OF EDINBURGH’S AWARD

Duke of Edinburgh EXPEDITION

O of Edinburgh expedition. The trail

n June 1, we set off on our Duke of

was around 12 miles long which was completed over the span of 2 days.

This was challenging as we trekked along many steep terrains and tried our best to maintain ourselves as a group considering all of our different walking speeds.

The Duke of Edinburgh showed me teamwork and leadership skills and was definitely a challenging adventure that pushed us to develop valuable skills through outdoor activities and teamwork.

However it is a rewarding experience and the memories made are worthwhile. It was definitely a great opportunity to challenge myself and broaden my horizons. Overall, it was certainly a great experience and an amazing opportunity.

Yashila Muniandy III Senior 35 67

THE CHRONICLE 2024 2022 | FROM SENIOR THE ACTIVITIES HEAD & EXTRA-CURRICULAR

or, akoz o Nw g O , do koso acrae M ela O icha d Jodie M – n ian ga amp h Warin r G isis Hanna e Cr Rap arnett, H Erin

id – n’s A ome y, Sophie W n pia ibby ned Gram Kate Ken iekerk, L N y n r a a r V e M a Palm , Len Moir and Eva r Butle Social Bite – Poppy M Emilie Pa rkinson an ain, Sylvie Muir, Oliv d Erica M ia Arthur, cKee

Ch a Yas rlie H hila o Mu use – M nia ndy olly W and ils Da on, C isy h Lei arlot ght t on e Holr oyd ,

The Youth and Philanthropy Initiative (YPI) is The Wood Foundation’s powerful active citizenship programme, empowering young people to make a difference in their communities. YPI develops skills and confidence through a contextualised learning experience. The programme raises awareness of social issues and local charities, and is a vital means of enabling devolved, locally driven grant making.

124 68

| FROM THE HEAD THE CHRONICLE 2024 | SENIOR THE CHRONICLE ACTIVITIES 2022 & EXTRA-CURRICULAR

Home-Star t – Freya Ca Iluore, Mwa mpbell, Clar pe Mwansa issa and Sienna Johnstone

n– rdee Abe Njoku, h t l lle n ea iche tephe tal H Men ndres, M etsy S B A d e n d ara ph a Barb en Jose Eile

Tou ch o f Nkw Love O u ogu , Oli treach via Bar – Dam ber i and Adeot Chlo i, Ste p eM acD hanie ona ld

CALICO – Aishah La wal Sophie Cr aig and An , Chloe Cherrie, M artha Hur nabel List ry, er

Teams taking part in the initiative

Charlie House, Home-Start, Mental

leukaemia or cancer related illness.

are required to prepare and present

Health Aberdeen and Touch of

The first priority of CALICO is to the

a talk on their selected charity.

Love Outreach.

family of any child with cancer of

The winning group will receive £3,000 to award to their charity.

This sum comprises £2,500 donated jointly by The Wood Foundation and the YPI Principal Funder in Aberdeen, abrdn. £500 will be raised by the III Senior girls.

It was a fantastic evening of engaging presentations which included songs, poems, monologues and digital creations. The overall winners who

leukaemia to alleviate, where possible, financial stress caused by additional expenses. Each year CALICO helps with the provision of essential equipment

will receive the £3,000 grant was the

for the Oncology Ward at the Royal

group representing CALICO.

Aberdeen Children's Hospital as well

CALICO (Cancer and Leukaemia

as toys, games and craft supplies for the outpatient’s department.

In November, all of IIIS took part in

in Children Orientated) is a local

the YPI Final Presentations. There

charitable organisation in the Grampian

Congratulations go to the winning

were 8 charities represented:

Region set up in 1983. Their aim is

group of: Chloe Cherrie, Sophie

Grampian Women’s Aid, Social

to help and support all families who

Craig, Aishah Lawal, Martha Hurry

Bite, CALICO, Rape Crisis Grampian,

have children suffering from cancer,

and Annabel Lister.

124 69

MURCIA This year a group of 39 pupils and 5 teachers enjoyed 5 sunny days in Aguilas near to Murcia in Spain.

We had a fantastic time with a mix of activities throughout the week to suit all tastes.

On Tuesday we enjoyed some water sports at the beach – BigSUP being a particular highlight.

On Wednesday we had the chance to visit the town of Cartagena where we saw the oldest submarine in Spain as well as enjoying a boat trip and a visit to the Roman theatre. We finished the week on Thursday with some Spanish dancing and Spanish cooking as well as a beach photo challenge and a supermarket picnic challenge.

The girls had the opportunity to develop their Spanish skills throughout each of these activities in the company of our amazing team of 'monitores'!

They ensured that we learnt some new vocabulary as well as having the chance to develop our cultural knowledge. Overall it was a fantastic week!

70

Music Trip TO RHINE, MOSELLE REGION, GERMANY In June, a party of girls ranging from I-VIS embarked on an exciting music trip to the beautiful Rhine and Moselle region of Germany, staying in the picturesque town of Boppard.

The girls gave two outstanding concerts, one in the Christuskirche, Boppard and the other at Bad Kreuznach Kurpark. The girls performed a range of music, including several with a Scottish flavour as well as a medley from the Little Mermaid. The concerts were extremely well received, with a standing ovation and applause that went on for more than 5 minutes!

There were many compliments from the audience, not only about the wonderful performances but the exemplary way in which the girls had conducted themselves. A number of the audience in the first concert were so impressed that they travelled 70km to enjoy the following day’s concert in the beautiful spa town of Bad Kreuznach.

As well as concerts, the girls had the opportunity to explore the beautiful town of Cochem, with its impressive castle, Beethoven’s haus in Bonn and had an exciting day in Phantasialand theme park. Perhaps a highlight of the tour was the impromptu performance of Ally Bally Bee that the girls gave in the amazing acoustic of an underground cellar at Rheinfels Castle, delighting the other visitors who were drawn to the sound!

The girls also took part in an impromptu ceilidh in the street outside our hotel, which was much enjoyed by all.

THE CHRONICLE 2024 | SENIOR RESIDENTIAL TRIPS

Boston

ON A RAINY JUNE MORNING, 44 EXCITED GIRLS AND 6 STAFF MEMBERS EMBARKED ON A JOURNEY TO BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS. AS SOON AS WE STEPPED OFF THE PLANE, WE FELT THE INTENSE HEAT OF A CITY IN THE MIDST OF A HEATWAVE – A STARK CONTRAST TO THE COOL WEATHER WE HAD LEFT BEHIND IN ABERDEEN. AFTER A SHORT JOURNEY THROUGH THE CITY, PASSING THE RED-BRICK HOUSES OF THE BACK-BAY AREA, WE ARRIVED AT OUR LOVELY HOTEL, READY FOR AN EXCITING WEEK AHEAD.

o

ur first full day began with a

where each of us received a card

diorama of the events leading up

guided tour of Boston’s historic

detailing the role of a historical

to the infamous witch trials of

sites. We wandered through the

figure. We joined the protests with

1692. We learned about the tragic

North End, Boston’s Italian quarter,

enthusiastic cries of “Huzzah!”

outcomes for many of the accused

and took in the scenic views along

and explored a replica of the ship

and how the hysteria finally ended.

the harbour. The golden dome of

involved in the original events. This

A tour of the House of Seven Gables

visit laid the groundwork for a trip

followed, where we marvelled at the

the State House and the lush Boston Common were highlights of our morning. The girls were thrilled to explore Quincy Market and Faneuil Hall, popular spots for shopping and dining. By request, we even planned a return visit later in the week. A short walk from there brought us to the New England Aquarium, where the air conditioning was a welcome

later in the week to Lexington and Concord, where the first battles of

impressive 17th-century home. We particularly enjoyed discovering the

the American Revolution took place.

secret staircase behind the fireplace,

As the temperature continued to rise,

historical tour. Later, we cooled off

we escaped the heat with a trip up the coast to the charming town of Rockport. With its clapboard houses, art galleries, and stunning coastal

adding a sense of mystery to the at the Northshore Mall, enjoying a bit of shopping and food.

Midway through the week, we visited the prestigious Massachusetts

relief. The exhibits were impressive,

views, Rockport offered a delightful

with the ray pool, penguins, and

change of scenery. We strolled along

sea turtles being firm favourites.

Bearskin Neck, watching the boats

We rounded off the day with a visit

bob in the bay and indulging in ice

to the Boston Tea Party Museum.

cream before heading to Salem.

At the Boston Tea Party Museum, the

In Salem, we visited the Salem Witch

week, we returned for an in-depth

group participated in a re-enactment,

Museum, which exhibited a narrated

look inside the university’s facilities,

72

Institute of Technology (MIT). We were given a guided tour of the MIT campus by a former student, visiting the photonics lab, dormitories, and the famous MIT dome. Later in the

including the materials department,

A highly anticipated part of the trip

views of the Boston skyline as the

computer science building, and

was our visit to Boston Dynamics.

sun set. The evening was filled with

cancer research centre. This was an

The team at Boston Dynamics

music, dancing, and a chance to

exciting opportunity for the girls,

warmly welcomed us and gave us

reflect on our unforgettable week.

especially those interested in

a tour of their facility, where we saw

pursuing careers in STEM fields.

their cutting-edge robots in action.

At the MIT Museum, we participated in two workshops led by MIT professors. The first, titled “Catching Physics in the Act,” focused on capturing and analysing the seemingly simple act of water splashing using high-speed photography. The second workshop, “Exoplanet Mystery,” had the girls step into the role of astronomers, using science and math to decode signals from distant planets.

Afterward, we explored the museum’s

We observed Spot, the four-legged robot, climb stairs and even perform parkour. The engineers explained the rigorous testing process the robots undergo, and we watched as they navigated autonomously around the facility. The inspiring Q&A session with female engineers, who shared

museum’s interactive exhibits offered a fascinating look into life at sea over 200 years ago.

inspiring to walk through the historic

how attainable a future in robotics

campus, led by a student guide who

and engineering could be.

shared stories and secrets about

Concord, where the first shots of

largest collection of holographic art.

the American Revolution were fired.

with celebration. Sports are deeply

to a captain’s inauguration, the

was eye-opening, showing the girls

breakthroughs, and the world’s

Finals, and the stadium was buzzing

we couldn’t board the ship due

the oldest university in the U.S. It was

time with visits to Lexington and

The Celtics had just won the NBA

USS Constitution Museum. Although

highlight for the girls. The experience

collection of inventions, scientific

team and the Bruins ice hockey team.

Naval Yard, where we toured the

We then toured Harvard University,

Later that day, we stepped back in

home to Boston’s Celtics basketball

with a visit to the Charleston

their journey into STEM fields was a

galleries, which featured an impressive

That afternoon, we visited TD Garden,

Our final day in Boston began

Our knowledgeable guide led us

life at Harvard. Some girls opted for last-minute shopping in Harvard Square, while others explored the university’s museums or returned to MIT for more discoveries.

through both towns, pointing out

As we headed to the airport, we felt

key historical sites from the conflict.

a bittersweet mixture of sadness

The picturesque towns, rich in

at leaving and gratitude for the

American history, were a perfect

incredible experiences we had.

blend of learning and sightseeing.

Our week in Boston was truly

ingrained in Bostonian culture, with

On our last full evening in Boston,

memorabilia of baseball, basketball,

we enjoyed a dinner cruise aboard

hockey, and the Boston Marathon

the Spirit of Boston ship. We sailed

showcased in the stadium’s museum.

around the harbour, taking in the

unforgettable, and many of us left with dreams of returning one day.

L Hawthorn, Trip Leader

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THE CHRONICLE 2024 | JUNIOR ART GALLERY

Junior Art Gallery A Selection of Work from 5 Junior

Anderson Naughton

Isabelle Ogosi

Milena Harris

Evangeline Clews

5 Junior Volcanos

Faye Jaffrey

5 Junior Clay Tiles

74

Julia Bamford

Evangeline Clews

6 Junior Embroidered Cave Paintings

Automatic 6 JuniorDrawing Jellyfish

A Selection of Work from 6 Junior

Naureen Hasan

6 Junior Animals

Abigail Howell

Danielle McAdam

6 Junior Plastic

Fern Hawkins

A Selection of Work from 6 Junior

Anisha Kumari

6 Junior Plastic Weaving

Xi-Ning Chen

Sophie Johnston

THE CHRONICLE 2024 | JUNIOR ART GALLERY

A Selection of Work from 7 Junior

7 Junior Bras

7 Junior Clay

Jessica Jaffrey

Manuela Lares

Annabelle Williamson

Zoe Eke

Emilie Ayres

7 Junior Bras

Peppers

Meishana Johnstone

Elsie Woodward-Nutt

77

THE CHRONICLE 2024 | SENIOR ART GALLERY

A Selection of Work from I Senior

Mathea Furo

Emily Dillon

Tasneem Asraf

Bhodhini Kumar

I Senior Mandalas

Emily Gunn

I Senior Crabs

Pippa Stephen

I Senior Clay pots

78

April Campbell

I Senior Zentangles

Aditi Kavi

2Automatic Senior Fabric Drawing Folds

Lucy Cherrie

Dara Tivendale

Amelia Hangings Blythe

Bukayomi Adejuwon

Sophie O'Neill

Safiya Rahman

A Selection of Work from II Senior

Nandi Dasar

Sobechi Onyekwere

Qi Qi He

Samaira Noor

Sylvie Muir, Olivia Arthur, Ogo Nwakozor, Sophie Moir

Chimdi Zubi-Emele

Ogo Nwakozor and Libby Butler

Mary-Kate Kennedy

Sophie Moir

Libby Butler

Lena Van Niekerk

Automatic Lena VanDrawing Niekerk

Mary-Kate Kennedy

III Senior Hangings Bags

Charlotte Holroyd

Freya Campbell

A Selection of Work from III Senior

III Senior Sea stuff

Sylvie Muir

Libby Butler

THE CHRONICLE 2024 | SENIOR ART GALLERY

A Selection of Work from IV Senior National 5

Amy Braisby

Anastasia Ionescu

Fiona Lim

Gwen MacDonald

Grace Barker

Anastasia Ionescu

Aanya Jerrard

Amy Braisby

Gwen MacDonald

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THE CHRONICLE 2024 | SENIOR ART GALLERY

A Selection of Work from IV Senior National 5

Mumba Mwansa

Adnee Rahman

Sarah Reynolds

Freya Fiona Miller Lim

Alice Downey

Rylee Wood

Romy Bryce

Alice Downey

82

Grace Barker

Laura Thorn

Sarah Reynolds

Milly Moyes

Laura Thorn

Automatic Keanna Drawing Harris

Work from V Senior Higher

Hannah Brown

Laura Thorn

Laura Thorn

Milly Moyes

Laura Thorn

Hannah Brown

Hannah Brown

Automatic Tobi Awonuga Drawing

Tobi Awonuga

Keanna Harris

Naureen Keanna Hasan Harris

Keanna Harris

A Selection of Work from V Senior Higher

Milly Moyes

Laura Thorn

Milly Moyes

THE CHRONICLE 2024 | SENIOR ART GALLERY

A Selection of Work from VI Senior Advanced Higher

Freya Miller

Freya Miller

Rose Main

Jorja Clarke

Jorja Clarke

85

THE CHRONICLE 2024 | SENIOR ART GALLERY

A Selection of Work from VI Senior Advanced Higher

Jorja Clarke

86

Rose Main

Jorja Clarke

Freya Miller

Jorja Clarke

Rose Main

Freya Main

THE CHRONICLE 2024 | SILVER AWARDS

Silver Awards Silver awards, are given to pupils who have completed thirteen years or more of education at St Margaret’s School for Girls.

I was delighted to be a recipient.

M

y happy school memories include participating

In my opinion, St Margaret’s School created a safe and

in World Book Day, Duke of Edinburgh Award

supportive learning environment, where I received an

Scheme, Junior and Senior School Shows, Young

outstanding education. I developed the confidence and

Enterprise Scheme, Senior Careers Week, Music Trip

skills to gain a place at the university of my first choice.

to Germany, Murray Competition and Cowdray Hall

St Margaret’s School is justifiably proud of its traditions

Concerts, to name but a few.

and heritage and will I’m sure, continue to be

I relish singing, playing the piano and flute and was an

forward-looking and go from strength to strength.

enthusiastic member of the Senior Choir and Concert

Ellen Smith

Band. I especially enjoyed participating in the many

Class of 2024

musical celebrations: Harvest Festival, St Margaret’s Day Service, Carol Service, Spring Concert, Summer Concert, and Speech Day.

Shaneka Hapuarachchi

Marcy Bryce

Charlie Penny

Ellen Smith

Lucy Cruickshank

Erin Gray

THE CHRONICLE 2024 | DRAMA

Disney’s The Little Mermaid SENIOR SHOW AS SOON AS THE SENIOR SCHOOL SHOW WAS ANNOUNCED TO BE “THE LITTLE MERMAID” EVERYONE WAS EAGER AND EXCITED TO START RIGHT AWAY. THE STORY FOLLOWS ARIEL THE YOUNGEST OF KING TRITON’S DAUGHTERS WHO LONGS TO EXPERIENCE LIFE BEYOND THE SEA.

W

hen young Ariel has her first taste of the world

wide-eyed youngster Ariel. Joining her was Vanessa

above and falls in love with a human prince she

James who played King Triton along with Ariel’s six

wants nothing more than to become a human herself.

mersisters Anna Byrne, Josie Laing, Bukayomi Adejuwon,

She turns to her aunt Ursula the wicked sea witch

Amelia Blythe, Ava Scott and Penny Campbell. Up on the

and her two slippery eels Flotsam and Jetsam for

land Lena Van Niekerk took on the role of noble Prince

help. Ariel must trade her beautiful singing voice in

Eric with Jewel Ifezulike playing the trusty valet Grimsby

exchange for a pair of legs and is given three days to

and Isla MacFadyen starring as the infamous Chef

make Prince Eric fall in love with her or else she will belong to Ursula forever. With Ariel’s friends Scuttle, Flounder and Sebastian by her side they all give her a helping hand to get Prince Eric to ‘Kiss the Girl’.

Louis. Ariel’s trusty sidekick Flounder the fish (Tasneem Asraf), the eccentric seagull Scuttle (Amy Braisby), and Sebastian, the fun-loving, if a little anxious crab (Sarah Reynolds) all brought an element of comedy to the

Auditions were held and the show was cast in no time.

performance, while Jessica Gunn dramatically brought

Yasmin Wisemen was cast as the show’s lead, the

the cruel and flamboyant Ursula to life. The large chorus

88

filled the stage with colour, adding to the story

names ever since. Whether on the stage, in the orchestra

with some clever choreography by Anna Byrne and

pit, or behind the scenes, The Little Mermaid family have

fantastic singing.

been on a fun-filled journey that has brought them closer

The rehearsals were purposeful from the beginning and the cast were working hard to learn lines, lyrics and choreography, not to mention developing

together, taught them new things and made wonderful memories that will last forever.

Jessica Gunn & Sarah Reynolds

movement to give the impression of being under the sea! Finally, the whole school was able to join together at the Arts Centre in early November as the last stages of preparation took place. Here, the costumes, makeup, and set all came together to bring this show to life, making the under the sea experience even more magical. The band were phenomenal and would not have been out of place in any West End theatre and the crew worked incredibly hard behind the scenes to ensure a seamless production. Audience reviews were overwhelming, with positive comments flooding in.

The cast particularly enjoyed the number of junior school girls who came dressed as their favourite characters and we love that they have called us by our character

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THE CHRONICLE 2022 | DRAMA

Disney’s Frozen JUNIOR SHOW T

he 4 – 6 Junior showclub transported audiences to Arendelle as they performed Disney’s Frozen Jr at the Lemon Tree in May. Telling the tale of two royal sisters, Elsa is struggling to control her secret magical ice powers and her younger sister Anna has to embark on a dangerous journey to reconnect with her sister and save their kingdom from eternal winter. The show offers lessons of love, friendship and bravery; something everyone should embrace and feel inspired by.

I felt extremely excited, proud and a little nervous playing

brilliant performances from the whole cast, the audiences

the part of Elsa, and I had to persevere a lot to learn so

were dazzled. Being part of Frozen Jr was an amazing

many tricky lines. On opening night, despite the nerves

opportunity and I feel so lucky to have had that experience.

and butterflies in our tummies, we knew we had worked really hard and we needed to just go for it. Our costumes sparkled and shone on the stage, and together with the

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Abigail McKilligan 6 Junior

THE CHRONICLE 2024 | DRAMA

Shakespeare’s Hamlet J7 JUNIOR

I

n March, 7 Junior performed Shakespeare’s Hamlet at the Lemon Tree. We were excited to take on this challenge and we knew that the first thing we would need to work on would be the language. Once we started rehearsals we were amazed by how quickly we sped through the script and soon we were working on the most amazing ensemble scenes which communicated the moods and atmosphere of the play. As a cast, we not only learned to understand Shakespearian language, but we also worked together to develop our own non-verbal ensemble language. The ensemble scenes took a long time to perfect, because the timing was so important and they involved so many actors.

When it was time to perform we were all waiting in the wings anxiously for what felt like a hundred years. Finally the lights went down and it was time to step onto the stage to share one of Shakespeare’s most amazing plays with the audience. After the show we received many congratulations and we went home with a sense of achievement.

The play that had seemed so difficult only a few months earlier, was now something that we were able to communicate creatively and effectively to an audience in a professional theatre.

Naomi Thomson 7 Junior

to be, or not to be?

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THE CHRONICLE 2024 | PARENT TEACHER ASSOCIATION

PTA Celebrates a Year of Fun and Fundraising The PTA held a series of successful events which brought families, staff and pupils together while raising funds for school initiatives.

FISH AND CHIPS QUIZ: A NIGHT OF TRIVIA AND TASTY TREATS

FESTIVE FAMILY DISCO: DANCING INTO THE HOLIDAY SEASON

The annual Fish and Chips Quiz kicked off the school

The Festive Family Disco was another highlight of the

year with a bang. Parents and staff faced off in a spirited

year, offering a night of fun, music, and endless dancing

evening of trivia, all while enjoying delicious fish and

for pupils and their families. The event was

chips. The event, hosted by Martin Ingram from Original

brimming with festive cheer, featuring

106 – famously known as "the voice of the North East" –

glitter tattoos, holiday crafts, and an

saw fierce competition, with Team Quiz Akabusi

abundance of cupcakes. It was the

emerging as the champions for the second year in a

perfect way for families to kick off

row. The big question now is: Can they secure a hat trick

the holiday season and create

next year? The community is eagerly waiting to find out.

lasting memories.

FESTIVE PRIZE DRAW: A SEASON OF GIVING

BAG2SCHOOL: SUPPORTING SUSTAINABILITY AND SCHOOL INITIATIVES

The annual PTA Festive Prize Draw was a major

In the spring term, the PTA organised a Bag2School

success, offering a range of incredible prizes, including

collection, encouraging families to donate quality

14 luxury hampers and various gift vouchers. Each

second-hand clothes. The initiative not only supported

class contributed to the prizes and the proceeds were

the circular economy but also helped families declutter

directed towards enhancing resources for pupils.

their wardrobes for a good cause. The proceeds from this event contributed to the PTA's ongoing efforts to support school resources.

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SUMMER FAIR AND UNIFORM SALE: A DAY OF SUNSHINE AND SUCCESS

A HEARTFELT THANK YOU TO VOLUNTEERS

This year’s Summer Fair and Uniform Sale was a

and class representatives who dedicated their time

resounding success raising over £4,000 for the school.

and energy throughout the year. Their efforts were

Blessed with unexpected sunny weather, the event

particularly appreciated during the second-hand

saw the playground come alive with excitement.

uniform and book sales, which play a crucial role in the

Children bounced on the bouncy castle, enjoyed soft

school’s fundraising efforts. These sales not only help

play areas, and participated in a variety of games.

families find affordable uniforms but also promote

The second-hand uniform sale was particularly popular,

sustainability within the school community.

providing parents with an opportunity to secure great deals for the upcoming school year.

Stalls offering everything from beauty tombolas to sweet treats were bustling with activity, with the stationery tombola selling out just before the event ended. The cake stall, fruit kebabs, and morning

The PTA extends a massive thank you to the volunteers

As the school looks forward to another exciting year, the community’s continued support and enthusiasm are sure to make it a success.

Victoria Aston and Michelle Bergin PTA Chairs

rolls – expertly prepared by school chefs Mark and Chelsea – ensured that everyone was well-fed throughout the event.

SPORTS DAY BBQ: A PERFECT END TO THE YEAR The PTA's BBQ and refreshment stands were the highlights of Sports Day, which took place under sunny skies at Summerhill. The event provided a perfect conclusion to the school year with families enjoying good food and fine weather while supporting pupils from nursery to VIS who participated in all the races and sporting challenges.

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THE CHRONICLE 2024 | DEVELOPMENT OFFICE

UPDATE FROM THE

Former Pupil Day The Former Pupil Day held on Saturday 1 June was a huge success, with over 90 guests in attendance. Former pupils from 1961 through to 2014 returned to school and enjoyed a morning of catching up with classmates and former teachers.

Anna Tomlinson delivered a warm

hallways and classrooms, as well as a

celebration of community and

welcome address, expressing her

chance to see the new developments

support. It reaffirmed the lasting

joy at seeing so many former

and improvements made since their

impact of the school on our alumnae

students return to St Margaret’s.

time as pupils.

and the strong connections that

She highlighted the school's achievements over its long history, capturing the sense of pride and fondness for the school among the attendees. The occasion also marked her 10 Year anniversary

The event concluded on a high note with a rousing rendition of the school songs, bringing back fond memories and uniting everyone in a shared tradition.

as Head and she reflected on the

Adding to the success of the day

“Top 10 traditions” handed to her

was a raffle held to support the

by the class of 2014 when they left.

school's Bursary Programme. Thanks

Following the welcome, guests enjoyed guided tours of the school

to the generosity of the attendees nearly £400 was raised – amazing!

by current pupils. These tours offered

The Former Pupil Day was not just a

a nostalgic journey through familiar

walk down memory lane but also a

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continue to thrive long after leaving.

THE CHRONICLE 2024 | DEVELOPMENT OFFICE

Former Pupil News Alumnae have supported career events, provided advice to current pupils and we are always interested to hear about successes and achievements in our wider school community.

personally and professionally today. A lot of the values we are taught at St Margaret's I have definitely held close in my time post-school”.

We were delighted to hear exciting news from former

Our 7 Junior class won the Scottish Air Race Challenge

pupil, Talia Mathers, class of 2017, who has been offered

this year. As part of their training and preparation for

the opportunity to undertake a PhD in Chemistry at the

the competition they welcomed guest speakers to their

University of Bern later this year. We asked Talia to share

class for their insights into flying – Elizabeth Brown,

some advice for current pupils:

class of 1985, who was a cabin crew manager, and Emily

“ Always remember, you don’t need to be the best at everything. Just work hard and believe in yourself.

When an opportunity presents itself – go for it!

If you don’t, you’ll never know”.

Owen, class of 2017, who is a Ground Safety Controller at Heathrow.

On International Women’s Day the local press featured an interview with Erin Cornwell, class of 2015, who works as a production coordinator for Sky Sports Formula 1 Team:

“ I always felt cared for and encouraged at school which has definitely contributed to who I am both

To share your news or if you would like to be involved with a careers event get in touch with us at development@st-margaret.uk

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Former Pupils’ Club

A

t the Former Pupils’ Club EGM held in April it was agreed that the FP Club Committee be

Support from our community for our Bursary Programme There are girls in Aberdeen city and shire today

dissolved and all administrative responsibilities for

who hope to attend St Margaret’s, yet their families

alumnae relations be transferred to the school.

are unable to meet the cost of tuition fees. Our

The FP Club feel this is a positive step forward.

Bursary Programme offers support to these families

Through St Margaret's Connect, our alumnae platform, the school already manages all former

by covering some or all of their fees. However, the demand for bursaries exceeds the school’s financial

pupil information in line with current regulations,

capacity and this need continues to grow each year.

organises events and sends newsletters and updates.

Many independent schools have significant

Instead of a formal committee, the school will

endowment funds from which they draw income to

introduce a new Former Pupil Liaison Group who will help foster connections, work collaboratively with the school and support former pupil events. This group will be fully supported by the school's development office and give volunteers the opportunity to support the school without the added responsibility of managing a formal committee.

We know St Margaret's means so much to so many and the school is proud of the close connections we all share. We all see this as the turning of a new page in our school's history as we look towards 180 years of educating six generations of girls in Aberdeen.

Keeping in touch Keep up to date with the latest news from school through St Margaret’s Connect,

benefit from such resources. It is only through careful management of school finances together with kind donations from our community that the school is able to provide means-tested bursaries. With the addition of gift aid, donations from our community make a significant impact on the level of support the school can extend.

Thank you to all who have supported the school this past year.

who will benefit from the lifelong value of an independent education.

Every gift in every Will to St Margaret’s makes

our online community. Get in touch at

a difference – even 1% so your family inherit the

development@st-margaret.uk to register

remainder – but you can leave more if you want to.

or update your details.

The only information your Will Writer needs if you

A GIFT IN YOUR WILL A gift in your Will to St Margaret’s, regardless of size, will enable us to fund the education of our pupils and help transform their lives.

A gift in your Will to St Margaret’s will create a lasting legacy, shaping the future of girls

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support bursaries. St Margaret’s, however, does not

decide to remember St Margaret’s in your Will is our Charity Name and Number: St Margaret’s School for Girls – SCO16265 Contact the Development Office for more information at development@st-margaret.uk Rachel Paterson-Davies, Head of Development

The Chronicle 2024 17 Albyn Place, Aberdeen, AB10 1RU T: +44 (0)1224 584466 E: info@st-margaret.uk St Margaret’s School is a registered charity (OSCR Reg. No. SC016265)

WWW.ST-MARGARET. ABERDEEN.SCH.UK

Photo: Darrell Benns & DC Thomson