The Chronicle 2024

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.

The 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

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

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.

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

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

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 Cottingham as Head of Juniors and also into the junior school we 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.

There were also changes in the support team when our receptionist/ school administrator, Mrs Joanne Stanger, left for a move to Glasgow and we welcomed in her place Mrs Louise Muir, a parent of two girls

at St Margaret’s. Within the after school care team we also welcomed Mrs Shona Arthur.

In October, Miss Jenn Minett began her maternity leave and we welcomed Mrs Alison Stephen, an experienced nursery manager, as acting nursery manager. Later in the month we were delighted 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 and were replaced by Miss Emily Austin, also a former pupil. Mrs Lorna Cochrane and Miss Jennifer Brown. Mrs Iwona Pruchnika also joined the nursery team in the role of support worker. All of our new colleagues

quickly settled into the nursery routine and the children quickly became familiar with the new faces.

Towards the end of the autumn term there were some other changes. Mrs Karen Matheson left her role as a teacher of modern studies and Ms Jill Matheson moved on from her role as Pupil Support Coordinator.

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.

Mrs Muir moved across the office to take on the role of Pupil Support Coordinator and Ms Tara Knight joined us in the reception/ administrator role. Ms Knight quickly

became a friendly and familiar face at the front desk. Mrs Millie Allerton joined us in February as our school nurse. Mrs Allerton is also a former pupil and very quickly found her way around and again became part of the St Margaret’s community.

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 had worked in admissions prior to taking on the PA role and was delighted to slot back into that team where she has very much enjoyed meeting and talking to all our prospective families. As the Easter break commenced we wished Mrs McGovern well on her maternity leave and welcomed the happy news 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 member of the junior school team.

The summer term and the end of 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 club Miss Thomson, our afterschool care and holiday club manager moved on to a new role working with Barnardos. Mr Gordon Rennet, teacher of history and modern

studies, retired from St Margaret’s for the second time and the end of session marked the end of a long association with the school for Mrs Sandra Crabb, who retired having supervised our Homework Club and also assisted in our finance 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.

We also said a fond farewell to Mrs Wiedermann after 10 years at St Margaret's. Mrs Wiedermann has relocated to be closer to her family and grandchildren where we are sure she will be kept busy. We would like to thank Mrs Wiedermann for her valued contribution to music within the junior school at St Margaret's.

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 emotions but I know that my association with St Margaret’s which started in 1969 when I joined the 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 in the new academic year.

Tenez Ferme

Mhairi Miller Head of Finance and Operations

Retirements at St Margaret's

Sandra Crabb

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. 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 Miller

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

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!

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.

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.

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.

This year we welcomed University of Aberdeen Rector, Martina Chukwuma-Ezike, as our Speech Day guest speaker. Mrs Chukwuma-Ezike is Chief Executive of the Asthma and Allergy Foundation, Scotland’s only dedicated asthma charity, which she 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.

The foundation's mission is to improve the quality of life for individuals living with asthma and allergies through education, support, and advocacy. It offers a range of services, including asthma management programs,

allergy awareness campaigns, and emotional support for those affected. One of its key achievements is the creation of the UK's first Asthma Support Centre, based in Aberdeen, which provides personalised guidance to individuals and families, ensuring they have access to the 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 with healthcare professionals, schools, and community organisations, the Asthma and Allergy Foundation is committed to creating a more inclusive and supportive environment for people affected by these conditions.

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 her personal journey of founding a charity, emphasising the challenges and triumphs of building an organisation from the ground up, while inspiring students to pursue their passions with purpose and resilience.

Mrs Chukwuma-Ezike shared her thoughts on leadership, 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 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.

She encouraged students to embrace the power of compassionate leadership, highlighting the importance of giving back to their communities and making a positive difference in the world.

Nursery

The Nursery Children

It was lovely to welcome our returning children back to nursery and to meet our new starts. We quickly reached our capacity of 40 children. We have free flow between room one and room two, and our outdoor space during our sessions. This free flow model provides various options for our children and plenty of space for learning experiences.

Staffing

We were delighted to start the new school year with familiar faces in our staff team, which gave continuity to our returning children. As September ended we welcomed early years practitioners: Miss Austin, Miss Brown, and Mrs Cochrane to replace Mrs Methven, Miss Fraser and Mrs Williams who had moved on to new challenges. During this recruitment phase Mrs Pruchnicka arrived to join our team as support practitioner, and we welcomed Mrs Stephen as 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.

Christmas Outing

The nursery children thoroughly enjoyed going to The Lemon Tree to see ‘The Gift’; this lovely interactive show enthralled the children. It was a pleasure to take the children on the bus and to the show. They behaved impeccably throughout and appeared to enjoy the parcels being opened and the excitement of who or what came out of them.

Winter Music Celebration

We welcomed parents and carers into the school in December for our Nursery Winter Music Celebration. The children rose to the challenge of performing for an audience while on the stage and enjoyed putting on their costumes and singing festive and winter themed songs. Mrs Wiedermann put together a lovely programme which worked so well for the children. This was her last Christmas show with the children as she moved to Edinburgh to spend time with her family.

Dancing

Literacy and Numeracy

All year our preschool children had the opportunity to take part in dancing lessons with Gillian Stuart from Academy Street Dance Studio. These lessons are full of fun and learning for our young dancers and they are always very enthusiastic when it is time to go. It was wonderful to invite the parents of our preschool children into school at the end of the summer term to watch a lesson and see what their children have been doing.

Paired Reading

The nursery children really enjoyed paired reading with the 3 Junior girls. This is a lovely opportunity for the nursery children to experience the wider school environment and get to know some of the older girls. The junior girls enjoy reading to the nursery children, building confidence, whilst the nursery children love listening to stories and talking about a wide variety of books.

The Curriculum for Excellence (CFE) in Scotland places a strong emphasis on literacy and numeracy. At St Margaret’s nursery we consider literacy and numeracy development as the building blocks for future learning. Our nursery teacher, alongside the nursery team, plans exciting learning opportunities linked to the planning which is enhanced by our pupils' interests and enquiries. Throughout the year they revisit and consolidate these skills.

Parents in nursery

We had an informal information night which was an opportunity for the nursery team to provide information regarding the school year ahead. Throughout the term there was the opportunity for parents to assist at our lending library. We also had a ‘stay and play’ week for parents to share play experiences with their child and their peers. These special times were enjoyed by parents, children and staff alike.

Wee Green Spaces

We were delighted to restart Wee Green Spaces; in addition to spending time outdoors on a daily basis, we like to expand our children’s knowledge and experience of outdoor spaces. The children are encouraged to pack their own bags, get waterproofs and wellies on before beginning our adventure. The walk to Bon Accord Terrace Gardens is quite a distance for our young learners, however, excitement, chat and observations about the environment certainly makes time pass quickly. When they arrive at their destination the children are keen to explore, so after a safety recap they are encouraged to do just that. Looking at different trees and flowers, comparing the different shapes and sizes of leaves and petals, rolling, jumping and running up and down hills, finding paths to explore, taking some time to look and listen to their local environment. These sessions are so valuable and the children learn so much from taking part in them.

The Den & The Glen

In June we spent the day at The Den & The Glen. This was a wonderful experience for the children. Our time was split between soft play, and the outdoor grounds where the children had time to explore the different sections and a wide variety of characters from fairy tales and books. Once again, we were so proud of the children and how much they engaged in all aspects of the trip. The visit was finished off with lovely packed lunches in the picnic area before getting the bus back to nursery.

Sports Day

Being part of the whole school sports day is really special for our children. As well as the excitement of their own races, they are able to watch some of their friends in the junior school take part in their races too. Mrs Norval had the children practising races during their gym time so that on the day everyone knew what was expected of them. Our children all did so well in their individual and 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.

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.

Alison Stephen and Laura Simpson

We have free flow between room one and room two, and our outdoor space during our sessions.

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.

So many times I have gone from the classroom, to a music recital, to a dance competition, to a show and seen so many of the girls performing at a high standard. They are really giving it their all at St Margaret’s!

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.

St Margaret’s has long had an ethos of service and throughout the year the juniors have been busy with their fundraising and volunteering. This started with our Harvest celebration which saw generous donations being provided by our families. These goods were delivered to

Aberdeen Cyrenians by the pupil council. They had a tour of their warehouse before going to see the hub where people go for a range of support including food and essentials. The pupil council then did a great presentation for the rest of the junior school showing how their donations had 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 recipient of a donation raised by a very successful class fair of games and activities. Not to be outdone, 6 Junior learnt a lot about sustainability before hosting a sustainability cafe for their parents, showcasing their learning and providing fairtrade treats

As always the year wouldn’t be complete without the shows. 7 Junior impressed us at the Lemon Tree with their Shakespeare performance of Hamlet and 4 to 6 Junior followed with an outstanding performance of Frozen. Wanting to join in with all the show fun, 1 to 3 Junior added a mini show club performance of the Jungle Book at the end of the year.

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 busy entering the Pilot Pen 'Make Your Mark' competition which one of our girls won and has since been used as part of a digital campaign promoting the benefits of handwriting. The final competition saw 7 Junior winning a national aerospace competition. Their prize included a trip to Deeside gliding club where they received a tour of the hangar, looked at a stationary plane, received a talk by a glider pilot before experiencing the gliding simulator and trying to land a plane!

To finish off the year, 6 and 7 Junior enjoyed another very successful residential activity trip to Crieff. Upon their return the whole of the juniors then enjoyed an action packed Health Week. We had visitors come into school to deliver running and rugby workshops as well as learning about healthy eating from Chef Mark and how to wash our hands from Nurse Allerton. There was also a 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!

As you can see from the small number of activities which it has been possible to write about here, it has been a busy and enjoyable year. As I have settled into St Margaret’s this session, I have seen first hand the kind, warm and welcoming ethos in which learners thrive and I am so thankful that I have had the opportunity to be part of this community. I look forward to building on the successes of the junior school in the years ahead.

Emma Cottingham Head of Junior School

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.

The ASC children decide on what they want to do for the upcoming month. They also make suggestions for the snack menu. The children love playing outside, crafting, and role-play games! Everyone also enjoys loose-part play which sees the children using their 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!

At this year’s ASC Pupil Conference, Abigail was the Chairperson and was assisted by Xi-Ning and Anna from the Pupil Council. The girls discussed with the other ASC members what snacks and toys they would like in ASC and also discussed holding a charity event. The girls voted to go with an animal charity. They then involved the parents in voting for

which animal charity they would choose to support. After the very successful sale, Abigail and Anna worked out how to spend the money using the charity’s ‘wish list’. They were very excited to be able to visit the SSPCA in Drumoak to hand over the donations.

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. Children were welcomed into a world of pure imagination with a Wonka themed day in Easter. Children collected their golden ticket as they came into school which was transformed with balloons, streamers and giant lollipops. They had great fun with Wonka-themed crafts, making top hat treats, and dipping fruit and waffles into the chocolate fountain!

In the summer there were some amazing costumes on display as Holiday Club took on the glitz and glam of being popstars! They made friendship bracelets and microphones in the morning and then rehearsed for the Brit Awards in the afternoon. Everyone had a great time and took 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!

This was my final year working at St Margaret’s so it was very special to build up many more lasting memories. It has been an absolute privilege to watch so many girls grow up at St Margaret’s and I will always treasure my time with them.

Sandra

Thomson After School Care Manager

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

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.

At the start of term we welcomed our new I Senior pupils. They quickly settled into their new routines and began getting to know each other. In early September the I Senior girls all headed off to Hazlehead Park to participate in a team building event. The day was run by Aberdeen City park rangers and the girls enjoyed den building and other team building activities. They worked together in groups and the day provided an excellent opportunity for them to strengthen bonds with their fellow classmates.

At the start of every new session the girls have the important job of electing the new office bearers for the many pupil groups in school, including pupil council, rights respecting schools’ ambassadors, sustainability representatives and many more. These provide valuable leadership opportunities and are a very important avenue for pupils to have their say and contribute to many school initiatives. This was very evident when the school celebrated European Day of Languages, when the language ambassadors led a

school assembly and set up activities for the whole school to participate in, the highlight perhaps being the ‘design a language inspired tote bag’ competition. This led us into culture week, which celebrates diversity within and outwith our school community. A programme of events run by the race and culture committee certainly provided something for everyone with games from around the world, henna art, a culture cinema with the week culminating in a cultural fashion show, a firm favourite with the girls.

The second half of the autumn term is always a busy time of year for the senior school, with the senior school show being one of the main events in the St Margaret’s social calendar. This year’s show, Disney's The Little Mermaid, was excellent. The girls who performed and those who joined the stage crew all worked very hard to ensure a sparkling production. Expectations were high and the cast certainly did not disappoint. We, the audience, were treated to a super show on the night.

Other events in the autumn term included the VI Senior dance, which is always a great social event, a trip to the Museum of Scotland, a visit from Dr Ness, a chemical engineer, another successful climate café and the Model United Nations team attending events in both Aberdeen and Edinburgh. The III Senior girls all participated in the Youth Philanthropy Initiative. During the final the 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 and which subjects they may require for the future. This is a process that they were fully supported with through careers meetings, subject choice information 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 being read in the first few weeks of the challenge. In the end, Crathes achieved the most read books. In March a team of three V Senior pupils attended the North of Scotland Senior Schools Public Speaking competition. They performed very effectively as a team and won the competition.

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.

In early March the school received confirmation that a £3,000 Royal Society partnership grant had been awarded to the school to be part of the Daffodil DNA Project, run by the University of Dundee and the James Hutton Institute. The project ran throughout the summer term and was an incredible opportunity for the girls involved to participate in primary science research.

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 behind them.

I am sure you will agree that all the events and activities that have been mentioned contribute towards what is a 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 enthusiasm, hard work and commitment helped along by the support of all the staff at St Margaret’s. I could not be prouder to play a small part in their journey.

Deirdre Latimer Deputy Head (Academic)

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

1 Junior walked to a local charity shop and donated some of their preloved toys. During this trip they also learned about where their donations go and what the charity shop does.

3 JUNIOR

3 Junior organised a butterfly hunt to raise donations for the Rainforest Trust

4 JUNIOR

4 Junior organised a Fayre to raise funds for the PDSA. Classes visited

Senior School

I Senior

IA raised £131 for the SLAC –William Prosper charity. The aim of this charity is to aid subsistence farmers in western Uganda and to try and improve those farming communities by improving, amongst other things, education and food supply.

the 4 Junior classroom to participate in the different activities, with the chance of winning prizes.

6 JUNIOR

6 Junior raised £240 for the charity Lend with Care. This charity helps to raise funds for small business owners in developing countries who can struggle to get funding to start up their businesses.

7 JUNIOR

7 Junior raised £94.50 for the Scottish Refugee Council

The Junior School also participated in a number of other charity events throughout the year.

IM raised money for both the RNLI (Royal National Life Boat Institute) and the charity Kayleigh's Wee Stars, which provides financial support to the families of children with terminal illness. They set-up a fair with a variety of stalls, including: hook the duck, tombola, bowling and a guess the stuffed toys birthday. The event was well attended and the girls raised £185.18 for their chosen charities.

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

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.

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

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

Careers

IIS CAREERS EVENT – 29TH APRIL 2024

IIS were lucky enough to be invited to the University of Aberdeen’s School of Natural and Computing Sciences for their careers day this year.

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

UCAS Day for the V Senior girls is always a busy one. It is jam packed with information on how the girls can be best prepared for the UCAS applications and life beyond school.

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 Mrs Daniela Smoke from North East Scotland College. She spoke to the girls about the range of courses they have on offer and also about degree links that allow pupils to go to college for a year or two and then sometimes progress directly into 2nd or 3rd year of their chosen course at university. We were then joined by another visitor from the University of Aberdeen, Miss Alexandria Ross who is the Go Abroad Officer. She told us all about the opportunities there are to study abroad whilst studying at Aberdeen. It was interesting 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

for a Go Abroad placement regardless of the course they were studying. It certainly gave the girls some food for thought. Finally we were joined by two representatives from Thorpe Molloy McCulloch, Miss Hannah Smith and Miss Sabia Rahman. The ladies talked to the girls about 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 another degree which highlighted to the girls that they can change career paths at any point if they need to. After this we were joined by Miss Terri Foubister from the Robert Gordon University. She came to teach the 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.

After break Dr Clemence O’Connor, also from the University of Aberdeen, came with 2 of her students to talk to the girls about a career in languages. During this session the girls learnt about learning languages and the courses on offer at Aberdeen. They also learnt about joint degrees with languages at various universities. The girls then got to try their hand at writing Mandarin and Arabic which was trickier than it looked! It was very interesting to hear about the students' experiences in particular and the doors that learning a language has opened for them.

In the afternoon Miss Emma Moran and Miss Linda Milne came from Ardene Vets. Miss Moran told the girls about her journey to becoming a vet, university entry grades, what it was like to study to be a vet and the highs and the lows of life as a vet. Miss Milne then told the girls about her journey to becoming a vet nurse. She too highlighted 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, 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.

She told us that her job entailed a lot of engineering and how having physics was important in her day-to-day job. She talked about making robotic limbs and how today you even get prosthetics that link with your mobile phone! Furthermore, using this technology you can get different settings such as ski mode for prosthetics legs!

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.

We were delighted to hear from all of our Allied Health professionals. We could fully understand how they work as a team to find the best solution for their patients and it was obvious that they had all chosen careers that they fully enjoy.

MINI MEDIC EVENT – 5TH JUNE 202 4

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.

WORK EXPERIENCE – ALINA IMRAN VS

I did a four-week placement with Dr. Steven MacLennan from 3rd July to 28th July 2023, at the University of Aberdeen. This invaluable experience 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

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.

The students, known as #TeamDaff, have been engaged in a variety of scientific activities to prepare for their final DNA sequencing experiment. They have practiced each stage of the DNA extraction process, including 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 Hutton Institute has played a pivotal role in the project, guiding the students through practical experiments and teaching them about flower anatomy. During a visit to the institute, the students

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 and further experiments. Despite setbacks like the untimely flowering of their daffodils during the Easter holidays, the students remain dedicated, meeting regularly to learn about daffodil classification, growth measurements, and advanced lab techniques like 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.

The Daffodil DNA project has provided a unique, hands-on learning experience, inspiring students to pursue scientific inquiry and explore the exciting possibilities of genetics and plant biology.

meet

Her Majesty Queen Camilla Pupils

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.

The group of III Senior pupils represented Grampian Women’s Aid in their Youth Philanthropy Initiative presentations. Impressed by the depth of work, thought, and care which they had put into their project, Aileen Forbes, manager of Grampian Women’s Aid invited the team to be with her at this important event at which Queen Camilla spoke with each girl. Afterwards, Aileen reflected that “they had shared their passion for their project and views of violence against women in an eloquent way.”

Grampian Women’s Aid was established in 1977 and work within a framework of recognising

the gendered nature of domestic abuse and violence against women, which is routed in gender inequality. They believe that all women, children and young people have the right to live free from abuse. The development of their service provision over the last 40 plus years has been guided by the women, children and young people that they have supported.

The recently established Safe Space within the Gallery will be managed by individuals who have undergone specialised training in mental health awareness and domestic abuse. This designated area serves as a place for those seeking assistance or for those who simply need it for contemplation and reflection.

Her Majesty also spoke with artist, Shelagh Swanson, whose artwork draws inspiration from her journey as a survivor of domestic abuse. The artwork is prominently displayed, visible both internally and externally, symbolising the venue as a safe space for anyone.

At St Margaret’s we are striving to support girls to develop self-assurance and compassion in order that they can engage constructively with the harder aspects of life and show care and consideration when working with others in the wider community. We were very proud of Eva, Lena, Libby, Mary-Kate and Sophie yesterday.

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.

Teacher Mrs O’Neill praised their teamwork and creativity: “The competition allowed the girls to develop collaboration skills and have fun while tackling challenges. They demonstrated creativity in ICT and art lessons, designing skins for their drones and experimenting with payloads in physics.”

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

Student Zoe Eke reflected on the experience: “Learning to pilot a drone was challenging but rewarding. I’ve discovered a new hobby and would love to continue flying.”

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

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.

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

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

Among those celebrating today is Celine, who has achieved 5 As at Higher. Celine is a self-confessed 'girl-geek' and hopes to pursue a career in computer science in the future. Reflecting on her experience at St Margaret’s Celine said:

Achieving these results is the first step on my journey to securing a place at university. I am planning to complete an application to study in America, and although my academic achievements are very important to that process, so too are my learning experiences beyond the classroom. At St Margaret’s I have been encouraged and supported to try everything and I have embraced every opportunity wholeheartedly. Whether running a Model United Nations Conference, competing in national tech competitions, taking on various positions of responsibility or mentoring younger pupils to develop their love of STEM, my teachers' belief in me has given me the courage to find my own pathway and be my own person. One of the things I love most about my school is that, at St Margaret’s it’s cool to be clever.

Fellow computer scientist, Joy, is celebrating the achievement of her grade A at Advanced Higher level as she prepares to pursue her course in Computing Science, commenting:

Advanced Highers are a huge step-up academically and have really taught me how to develop strategies to study courses at this level efficiently and effectively, which is really good preparation for university. I believe that learning in an all-girl environment, free from gender stereotypes has allowed me to pursue a career that is male-dominated. I am so grateful for the support from my teachers who went over and above to offer help and encouragement, providing me with opportunities to experience STEM in and out of the classroom and ensuring that I was able to engage with highly successful female role-models in science and technology. The world of IT needs more female representation to provide a balanced view of female gender and technology sector issues and I am ready to take on that challenge. In years to come, I hope to be able to inspire future generations of St Margaret’s girls to join in on my quest.

JOY

CELINE

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.

In celebration of this significant anniversary the four independent girls’ schools in Scotland –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'.

These webinars featured women who have excelled in their field.

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

During the webinar Lady Dorrian discussed her career and achievements with current pupils. Lady Dorrian is a graduate of the University of Aberdeen (LLB). She was admitted to the Faculty of Advocates in 1981 and was Standing Junior Counsel to the Health and Safety Executive and Commission between 1987 and 1994. Lady Dorrian served as Advocate Depute between 1988 and 1991, and as Standing Junior to the Department of Energy between 1991 and 1994. Lady Dorrian was appointed 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

of exotic animal diseases, advises on the programmes necessary to control, and, where appropriate, 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 barriers. Throughout her career, she has demonstrated that being fearless doesn’t mean the absence of fear, 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.

Finally, The Mary Erskine School hosted Professor Linda Bauld, Bruce and John Usher Professor of Public Health and Co-Head of Centre for Population Health Sciences at The University of Edinburgh. Her research focuses on two main areas: the evaluation of complex public health interventions, and how research can inform public health policy. She has also been involved in communicable disease research on Covid-19 and chaired Scottish Government advisory groups on Covid-19 and children and young people (schools and HE/FE) from September 2021.

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.”

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.

Our 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.

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.

The first two days were packed with activities, including dance classes, henna sessions, and various cultural crafts. Senior girls engaged the students with a flag Kahoot quiz, while the junior school participated in activities that took them "around the world." Pupils 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.

The week concluded with a vibrant cultural fashion show, where students showcased traditional attire from various cultures, celebrating the rich diversity within the school.

Miss Tomlinson praised the event, saying, "Culture Week has provided a wonderful opportunity for our students to engage with and appreciate the diverse cultures represented in our school. The hard work and creativity of our pupils have made this week truly memorable."

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 appreciation of global cultures among the students.

ST MARGARET'S SCHOOL CELEBRATES

Photo: Darrell Benns & DC Thomson

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.

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.

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.

Building on their training from the previous session, staff continued to plan curriculum links to children’s rights within their departments. This has created opportunities for pupils to explore articles from a variety of perspectives, increasing both staff and pupil understanding to work for improved child well-being, school improvement, global justice and sustainable living.

The reforming of our senior pupil steering group saw many new I Senior pupils joining, adding further

experience of the award to our group. Our Rights Respecting Ambassadors play a crucial role in leading school events and advocating for children’s rights. This year, the addition of a Junior Rights Respecting club added to our pupil voice opportunities. 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 created a ‘Rights Rap’ which helps to understand the nature of rights. Through our working groups, pupils

and staff collaborate to develop and maintain a school community 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.

Our junior school mascot competition was a huge hit with pupils in 1 – 7 Junior. Every pupil had the opportunity to create their own rights respecting character in class time. Each character had an identity, nationality, likes and dislikes. 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 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

linking articles which pupil’s feel best underpin it.

YPI (Youth Philanthropy Initiative) continues to provide enhanced opportunities for pupils in III Senior to promote and represent children’s rights on a local scale. Through their research into, and work alongside local charities, pupils are encouraged to make connections with the UNCRC, where appropriate. Model United Nations (MUN) has also allowed our senior pupils to explore and discuss children’s rights on a global scale, increasing awareness and empowering the conference participants and audience to uphold the Convention.

Last session we continued our communication with the teacher and charity founder William Prosper in 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

Notre Dame Academy. The class made several short videos documenting 'Life in Scotland' which were sent to Uganda, and we keenly await the results of the exchange.

The introduction of the FairAware award in the junior school has also allowed our pupils to further explore rights on a global scale; where their food comes from, what is meant by ‘fairness’ and discussing how children and their rights may be impacted.

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 display, highlighting links between the Sustainable Development Goals and articles within the UNCRC.

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.

Sports Day 3rd June 2024

EVENING EXPRESS

CHRISTMAS CONCERT

RUBISLAW AUTUMN CONCERT

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 of Rubislaw Church, with which the school has had close ties with for many years. We were particularly delighted to support Mr Allan Bickett, the Director of Music at Rubislaw Church, who organised the concert series and was eager for St Margaret’s to take part in the penultimate concert. Two of the pieces performed were from Fauré's Requiem, deliberately chosen because they feature an organ accompaniment.

The concert also featured contributions from the senior and chamber choirs as well as the Baroque and woodwind ensembles and some solos.

EVENING EXPRESS

CHRISTMAS CONCERT

On 3rd December our junior choir, made up of girls from 5-7 Junior, took part in the Evening Express concert at the P&J Live. Twelve schools and groups from the local area took part in this evening and St Margaret’s was the final act before the finale. The girls beautifully sang two songs – ‘It’s Christmastime again’ and ‘African Noel’ to a packed audience and received a well-deserved, enthusiastic round of applause.

MAGGIE’S CHARITY

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 at Midstocket Church to help raise funds for Maggie’s cancer charity. The event was a sell out and a total of £3,740.24 was raised to help support people in the North East living with cancer. The evening finished with our girls leading a song called ‘I feel like fa la la’ which involved all three choirs and audience participation in the form of two-part body percussion, much enjoyed by all!

OPERA – VIKINGS! THE QUEST FOR THE DRAGON’S TREASURE.

ROSEBOWLCOMPETITION

YOUTH ENSEMBLE

ABERDEEN CITY ORCHESTRA –YOUTH ENSEMBLE

On Friday 1st December, some of our senior pupils took part in a concert given by the Aberdeen City Orchestra – Youth Ensemble at Fountainhall at the Stocket. They played Emilie Mayer’s Symphony no 1, followed by extracts from Mozart’s dramatic opera Don Giovanni, complete with solo singers. This was followed by Eddie McGuire’s Fiddler’s Farewell. The overall sound was exceptional and much appreciated by the audience.

UKULELE CLUB

CHRISTMAS COMPETITION

This session saw the commencement of a very popular ukulele club, run by two of our IIIS girls, Chloe Cherrie and Martha Hurry. They ran a Christmas song competition where the girls had to make up their own lyrics and include at least three songs on ukulele.

SPRING CONCERT

COWDRAY HALL

On Thursday 22nd February the chamber choir and a number of instrumentalists gave a concert as part of the Cowdray Hall lunchbreak series. This prestigious event drew in significant numbers in the audience and our talented girls performed exceptionally well, prompting a standing ovation at the end, a rare occurrence at this event.

ST ANDREW’S CONCERT AT NOON

On Saturday 9th March eight of our girls performed a recital as part of the St Andrew’s Cathedral Concert at Noon series. The cathedral is beautiful inside and has wonderful acoustics, put to good effect by the stunning performances from all girls. With music ranging from Albinoni to Shostakovich and Vivaldi to Lloyd Webber’s beautiful Pie Jesu, the concert was a showcase of some of the musical talent in the school.

Our annual spring concert was held at Fountainhall at the Cross on Wednesday 27th March. The concert opened with Karl Jenkins’ Sanctus from the Armed Man, featuring the massed choirs and orchestra with brass up in the gallery. Another piece performed from the same work was Benedictus, celebrating 80 years since the D Day landings and also marking Karl Jenkins’ 80th year. The concert featured a number of solos from our VIS pupils and a range of choral and instrumental items, including one from the newly formed percussion ensemble.

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.

INFORMAL CONCERTS

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 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 and voices.

ABRSM, TRINITY AND LCM SUCCESSES

This session was a successful one for those girls sitting ABRSM, Trinity and LCM music exams, with many achieving merit or distinction results.

Four girls successfully passed Grade 8 in piano, clarinet and cello, National Youth Orchestra and Choir of Scotland Isla MacFadyen secured a place in the NYOS Development Orchestra and Tiana Mudkavi a place in the National Choir of Scotland, each with courses over the holidays. Isla was selected once again for the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland Juniors in Glasgow.

SCHOLARSHIPS

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

ROSEBOWL, MURRAY AND LAMONT COMPETITIONS

The annual Betty Wyness Rosebowl Piano Competition and the Murray and Lamont competitions were held in March and June. The standard was

very high for each competition and the judges were impressed by the variety and quality of the programmes performed, finding it difficult to choose winners.

In the end, Lydia Cherrie won the Rosebowl, Emily Gunn won the Murray and Hannah Magill won the Lamont competition.

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 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 IVS girls – Sarah Reynolds as the Viking Queen, Jessica Gunn as the Sorcerer Supreme and Isla MacFadyen as the Farmer.

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 spirit of respect. In hockey, our players demonstrated outstanding sportsmanship, always acknowledging the efforts of their opponents and supporting their teammates. The Junior team and the 1st XI teams participated in the Scottish Hockey Challenge Cups, with the Junior team emerging victorious in their final. The second years extended their winning streak by winning the North District Tournament, while the first years and 1st XI both secured impressive second-place finishes.

The spirit of equality at St Margaret’s is reflected in our sporting events, lessons, and extracurricular clubs. A prime example is our annual gymnastics and dance cup competitions, which saw over 80 girls participating, with enthusiastic supporters from all year groups cheering on the sidelines. These events promote a strong sense of inclusivity and equality, allowing any pupil to join in and achieve something, ensuring everyone feels valued and included.

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 community

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.

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!

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.

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 Biology

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.

PAIRED READING

3 Junior enjoyed meeting with their nursery buddies for paired reading. This was a brilliant opportunity for the 3 Juniors to improve their reading skills, 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.

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 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. They then got the opportunity to create their own folktale and drew what they thought a Pictish stone that represented their story would 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.

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.

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.

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!

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 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.

UK Parliament Talk

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

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.

Crieff TRIP

In 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.

The next day we did the high ropes course and rock climbing. The rock climbing took place outside. It was so much fun and some parts of the wall were much harder than others. The next day (Wednesday) we went on a walk round the hills and played lots of games. At the end we even got to go to the adventure playpark!

In most people's opinion Thursday was the best day because we went off site to a river and a canyon. In the morning we went white water rafting and, in the afternoon, we got to go gorge walking. There were lots of jumps and there was even a 6-metre jump! It was so much fun and gave you a massive adrenaline rush.

Friday was a lot calmer as we just went for a low land walk around Crieff before we packed up our bags and got on the bus to head back to Aberdeen.

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

Naomi

Thomson 7 Junior

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.

The sell-out event was set up by Mrs McDonald, Mrs MacFadyen and some very helpful members of the Library Crew. Fruit was 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 event. Breakfast was then served to the pupils, with their books in hand, who had registered for this event.

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

interruptions”. By 8:30, only crumbs were left of the pastries and there was delightful chatter over novels, as well as pupils engrossed in stories.

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

But the fun didn’t stop there!

The Library Crew quickly turned the library around, transforming the 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.

Kilgraston Equestrian Championships

On Sunday, March 17th, the equestrian team from St Margaret’s School embarked on a journey to Howe Equestrian Centre in Fife to participate in the Kilgraston Scottish Schools Equestrian Championships. The event boasted a fantastic turnout, with over 200 competitors hailing from more than 15 schools across the region.

Our Prelim dressage team, composed of Marcy, Romy, and Tamsin, delivered three impressive performances, earning them a commendable third place overall. Romy further distinguished herself

by securing third place individually. In the Novice dressage class, Marcy and Romy once again showcased their skills, with Marcy clinching third place individually and Romy securing fifth place.

In the show jumping competitions, Tamsin exhibited exceptional form, delivering two flawless rounds. However, despite her flawless performance, Tamsin's pace fell just short of securing a placement. Meanwhile, Marcy had an unfortunate pole in her showjumping class.

Overall, the St Margaret’s School equestrian team demonstrated remarkable skill and sportsmanship

throughout the championships, showcasing their dedication to the sport and their school. While not every performance resulted in a podium finish, the team's unwavering commitment and passion for equestrianism shone brightly throughout the competition.

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!

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:

The Young Coders Competition was an amazing way to challenge our creativity. To create TRAK, we began by designing a plot and distributing roles to everyone in our group. As the planning progressed we added levels to support our ideas, along with doing research on the chosen theme of ‘Space and Time.’ Once the design and planning phases were complete, we began to code. Our final project consisted of 9 levels altogether, with the ultimate aim of saving the missing crew of NASA. Throughout the game, we provided a series of mini-games and facts for the user, which were later tested through a short quiz. In the end, our project was submitted to the Young Coders Competition. Overall, this was a really fun experience and I would like to do a similar competition again.

Doing the Young Coders Competition was a great experience for coding, planning and working as a team. We started the project with organising the levels and choosing who would do what. As time went on the game evolved and more designs were added completing the finished product. With the theme of ‘Space and Time’ it took a while to research and find a fun way to make the game while also adding in facts to help people learn. Our 9 levels included dodging asteroids, escaping a maze, doing quizzes and lots of other fun activities. The dialogue formed as the game went on and although I had to change things at different points the storyline still managed to run thoroughly. Overall, the competition was a great way for me to express my passion for coding and design ideas. I would most definitely love to do another competition like this again.

Thejal Senthil Keira

Christina McNeill Rose Downey

Keira

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 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.

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 and learn important life skills such as teamwork, problem solving and communication. It allowed me to be creative and it was really fun.

THIRD PLACE

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 !

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

Christina McNeill

Rose Downey

Lowri Nixo n

Christina McNeill

Downey

Lowri

Nixo n

Jackson

Christina McNeill

Rose Downey

Lowri Nixo n

Campbell

Jackson

Christina McNeill

Rose Downey

Lowri

Nixo n

VI Senior Conference

All VI Senior girls attended their annual conference, which this year was held at RGU. After being treated to a breakfast roll and coffee, pupils had their first talk from Erica Cargill, Associate Dean for Academic 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

skills and talents. Overall the day was exciting and each speaker gave the girls another perspective, and some invaluable advice, leaving all of them more confident in themselves and their futures.

THE DUKE OF EDINBURGH’S AWARD ®

Duke of Edinburgh

EXPEDITION

On June 1, we set off on our Duke of of Edinburgh expedition. The trail 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

RapeCrisisGrampian

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.

Grampian Women’s Aid –Mary-KateKennedy,Sophie Moir,LenaVanNiekerk,Libby Butler and Eva Palmer

Social Bite – Poppy Main, Sylvie Muir, Olivia Arthur, Emilie Parkinson and Erica McKee

Mental Health Aberdeen BarbaradeAndres,MichelleNjoku, EileenJosephandBetsyStephen TouchofLoveOutreach

–DamiAdeoti,Stephanie Nkwogu,OliviaBarberandChloeMacDonald

Teams taking part in the initiative are required to prepare and present a talk on their selected charity. 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.

In November, all of IIIS took part in the YPI Final Presentations. There were 8 charities represented: Grampian Women’s Aid, Social Bite, CALICO, Rape Crisis Grampian,

Charlie House, Home-Start, Mental Health Aberdeen and Touch of Love Outreach

It was a fantastic evening of engaging presentations which included songs, poems, monologues and digital creations. The overall winners who will receive the £3,000 grant was the group representing CALICO.

CALICO (Cancer and Leukaemia in Children Orientated) is a local charitable organisation in the Grampian Region set up in 1983. Their aim is to help and support all families who have children suffering from cancer,

leukaemia or cancer related illness. The first priority of CALICO is to the family of any child with cancer of leukaemia to alleviate, where possible, financial stress caused by additional expenses. Each year CALICO helps with the provision of essential equipment for the Oncology Ward at the Royal Aberdeen Children's Hospital as well as toys, games and craft supplies for the outpatient’s department.

Congratulations go to the winning group of: Chloe Cherrie, Sophie Craig, Aishah Lawal, Martha Hurry and Annabel Lister.

Home-Start – Freya Campbell, Clarissa Iluore, Mwape Mwansa and Sienna Johnstone

CALICO – Aishah Lawal, Chloe Cherrie, Martha Hurry, Sophie Craig and Annabel Lister

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!

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.

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.

our first full day began with a guided tour of Boston’s historic sites. We wandered through the North End, Boston’s Italian quarter, and took in the scenic views along the harbour. The golden dome of 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 relief. The exhibits were impressive, with the ray pool, penguins, and sea turtles being firm favourites. We rounded off the day with a visit to the Boston Tea Party Museum. At the Boston Tea Party Museum, the group participated in a re-enactment,

where each of us received a card detailing the role of a historical figure. We joined the protests with enthusiastic cries of “Huzzah!” and explored a replica of the ship involved in the original events. This visit laid the groundwork for a trip later in the week to Lexington and Concord, where the first battles of the American Revolution took place.

As the temperature continued to rise, 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 views, Rockport offered a delightful change of scenery. We strolled along Bearskin Neck, watching the boats bob in the bay and indulging in ice cream before heading to Salem.

In Salem, we visited the Salem Witch Museum, which exhibited a narrated

diorama of the events leading up to the infamous witch trials of 1692. We learned about the tragic outcomes for many of the accused and how the hysteria finally ended. A tour of the House of Seven Gables followed, where we marvelled at the impressive 17th-century home. We particularly enjoyed discovering the secret staircase behind the fireplace, adding a sense of mystery to the historical tour. Later, we cooled off at the Northshore Mall, enjoying a bit of shopping and food.

Midway through the week, we visited the prestigious Massachusetts 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 week, we returned for an in-depth look inside the university’s facilities,

including the materials department, computer science building, and cancer research centre. This was an exciting opportunity for the girls, especially those interested in pursuing careers in STEM fields.

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 galleries, which featured an impressive collection of inventions, scientific breakthroughs, and the world’s largest collection of holographic art.

That afternoon, we visited TD Garden, home to Boston’s Celtics basketball team and the Bruins ice hockey team. The Celtics had just won the NBA Finals, and the stadium was buzzing with celebration. Sports are deeply ingrained in Bostonian culture, with memorabilia of baseball, basketball, hockey, and the Boston Marathon showcased in the stadium’s museum.

A highly anticipated part of the trip was our visit to Boston Dynamics. The team at Boston Dynamics warmly welcomed us and gave us a tour of their facility, where we saw their cutting-edge robots in action. 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 their journey into STEM fields was a highlight for the girls. The experience was eye-opening, showing the girls how attainable a future in robotics and engineering could be.

Later that day, we stepped back in time with visits to Lexington and Concord, where the first shots of the American Revolution were fired. Our knowledgeable guide led us through both towns, pointing out key historical sites from the conflict. The picturesque towns, rich in American history, were a perfect blend of learning and sightseeing.

On our last full evening in Boston, we enjoyed a dinner cruise aboard the Spirit of Boston ship. We sailed around the harbour, taking in the

views of the Boston skyline as the sun set. The evening was filled with music, dancing, and a chance to reflect on our unforgettable week.

Our final day in Boston began with a visit to the Charleston Naval Yard, where we toured the USS Constitution Museum. Although we couldn’t board the ship due to a captain’s inauguration, the museum’s interactive exhibits offered a fascinating look into life at sea over 200 years ago.

We then toured Harvard University, the oldest university in the U.S. It was inspiring to walk through the historic campus, led by a student guide who shared stories and secrets about 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.

As we headed to the airport, we felt a bittersweet mixture of sadness at leaving and gratitude for the incredible experiences we had. Our week in Boston was truly unforgettable, and many of us left with dreams of returning one day.

L Hawthorn, Trip Leader

Junior Art Gallery

A Selection of Work from 5 Junior

Isabelle Ogosi

5 Junior Volcanos

Evangeline Clews

Anderson Naughton

Milena Harris

Julia Bamford

Faye Jaffrey

Evangeline Clews

5 Junior Clay Tiles

Junior Jellyfish

6 Junior Embroidered Cave Paintings

6 Junior Animals

Naureen Hasan

Danielle McAdam

Abigail Howell

A Selection of Work from 6 Junior

6 Junior Plastic

Sophie Johnston

Xi-Ning Chen

6 Junior Plastic Weaving

Anisha Kumari

Fern Hawkins

A Selection of Work from 7 Junior

7 Junior Bras

7 Junior Clay

7 Junior Bras

Jessica Jaffrey

Zoe Eke

Annabelle Williamson

Emilie Ayres

Elsie Woodward-Nutt

Peppers Meishana Johnstone

Manuela Lares

A Selection of Work from I Senior

Mathea Furo Tasneem Asraf

Bhodhini Kumar

I Senior Mandalas

I Senior Crabs

I Senior Clay pots

I Senior Zentangles

Emily Dillon

April Campbell

Pippa Stephen

Emily Gunn

A Selection of Work from II Senior

Aditi Kavi

Automatic Drawing 2 Senior Fabric Folds

Nandi Dasar

Safiya Rahman

Chimdi Zubi-Emele

Sylvie Muir, Olivia Arthur, Ogo Nwakozor, Sophie Moir

Amelia Blythe

Dara Tivendale

Qi Qi He

Bukayomi Adejuwon

Sophie O'Neill

Lucy Cherrie

Samaira Noor

Sobechi Onyekwere

A Selection of Work from III Senior

Hangings III Senior Bags

Lena Van Niekerk

Senior Sea stuff

Automatic Drawing Lena Van Niekerk

Freya Campbell

Libby Butler

Mary-Kate Kennedy

Mary-Kate Kennedy

Charlotte Holroyd

Sophie Moir

Ogo Nwakozor and Libby Butler

Sylvie Muir

Libby Butler

A Selection of Work from IV Senior National 5

Amy Braisby

Anastasia Ionescu

Amy Braisby

Aanya Jerrard

Gwen MacDonald

Anastasia Ionescu

Gwen MacDonald

Fiona Lim

Grace Barker

A Selection of Work from IV Senior National 5

Sarah Reynolds

Adnee Rahman

Alice Downey

Alice Downey

Sarah Reynolds

Fiona Lim

Mumba Mwansa

Rylee Wood

Romy Bryce

Laura Thorn

Grace Barker

KeannaDrawing Harris

Laura Thorn

Laura Thorn

Hannah Brown

Laura Thorn

Milly Moyes

Milly Moyes

Laura Thorn

A Selection of Work from V Senior Higher

Automatic Drawing

Tobi Awonuga

Hannah Brown

Keanna Harris

Keanna Harris

Milly Moyes

Laura Thorn

Hannah Brown

Milly Moyes

Tobi Awonuga

Keanna Harris

A Selection of Work from VI Senior Advanced Higher

Freya Miller Freya Miller

Rose Main

Jorja Clarke

Jorja Clarke

A Selection of Work from VI Senior Advanced Higher

Jorja Clarke

Rose Main

Jorja Clarke

Freya Miller

Jorja Clarke

Freya Main

Rose Main

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.

My happy school memories include participating in World Book Day, Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme, Junior and Senior School Shows, Young Enterprise Scheme, Senior Careers Week, Music Trip to Germany, Murray Competition and Cowdray Hall Concerts, to name but a few.

I relish singing, playing the piano and flute and was an enthusiastic member of the Senior Choir and Concert Band. I especially enjoyed participating in the many musical celebrations: Harvest Festival, St Margaret’s Day Service, Carol Service, Spring Concert, Summer Concert, and Speech Day.

In my opinion, St Margaret’s School created a safe and supportive learning environment, where I received an outstanding education. I developed the confidence and skills to gain a place at the university of my first choice.

St Margaret’s School is justifiably proud of its traditions and heritage and will I’m sure, continue to be forward-looking and go from strength to strength.

Ellen Smith Class of 2024

Marcy Bryce Charlie Penny Ellen Smith

Lucy Cruickshank Erin Gray Shaneka Hapuarachchi

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.

When young Ariel has her first taste of the world above and falls in love with a human prince she wants nothing more than to become a human herself. She turns to her aunt Ursula the wicked sea witch and her two slippery eels Flotsam and Jetsam for help. Ariel must trade her beautiful singing voice in exchange for a pair of legs and is given three days to 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’.

Auditions were held and the show was cast in no time. Yasmin Wisemen was cast as the show’s lead, the

wide-eyed youngster Ariel. Joining her was Vanessa James who played King Triton along with Ariel’s six mersisters Anna Byrne, Josie Laing, Bukayomi Adejuwon, Amelia Blythe, Ava Scott and Penny Campbell. Up on the land Lena Van Niekerk took on the role of noble Prince Eric with Jewel Ifezulike playing the trusty valet Grimsby and Isla MacFadyen starring as the infamous Chef 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 performance, while Jessica Gunn dramatically brought the cruel and flamboyant Ursula to life. The large chorus

filled the stage with colour, adding to the story with some clever choreography by Anna Byrne and fantastic singing.

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

names ever since. Whether on the stage, in the orchestra pit, or behind the scenes, The Little Mermaid family have been on a fun-filled journey that has brought them closer together, taught them new things and made wonderful memories that will last forever.

Jessica Gunn & Sarah Reynolds

Disney’s Frozen JUNIOR SHOW

The 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 the part of Elsa, and I had to persevere a lot to learn so many tricky lines. On opening night, despite the nerves 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

brilliant performances from the whole cast, the audiences were dazzled. Being part of Frozen Jr was an amazing opportunity and I feel so lucky to have had that experience.

Abigail McKilligan 6 Junior

Shakespeare’s Hamlet J7 JUNIOR

In 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?

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

The annual Fish and Chips Quiz kicked off the school year with a bang. Parents and staff faced off in a spirited evening of trivia, all while enjoying delicious fish and chips. The event, hosted by Martin Ingram from Original 106 – famously known as "the voice of the North East" –saw fierce competition, with Team Quiz Akabusi emerging as the champions for the second year in a row. The big question now is: Can they secure a hat trick next year? The community is eagerly waiting to find out.

FESTIVE PRIZE DRAW: A SEASON OF GIVING

The annual PTA Festive Prize Draw was a major success, offering a range of incredible prizes, including 14 luxury hampers and various gift vouchers. Each class contributed to the prizes and the proceeds were directed towards enhancing resources for pupils.

FESTIVE FAMILY DISCO: DANCING INTO THE HOLIDAY SEASON

The Festive Family Disco was another highlight of the year, offering a night of fun, music, and endless dancing for pupils and their families. The event was brimming with festive cheer, featuring glitter tattoos, holiday crafts, and an abundance of cupcakes. It was the perfect way for families to kick off the holiday season and create lasting memories.

BAG2SCHOOL: SUPPORTING SUSTAINABILITY AND SCHOOL INITIATIVES

In the spring term, the PTA organised a Bag2School collection, encouraging families to donate quality second-hand clothes. The initiative not only supported the circular economy but also helped families declutter their wardrobes for a good cause. The proceeds from this event contributed to the PTA's ongoing efforts to support school resources.

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

This year’s Summer Fair and Uniform Sale was a resounding success raising over £4,000 for the school. Blessed with unexpected sunny weather, the event saw the playground come alive with excitement. Children bounced on the bouncy castle, enjoyed soft play areas, and participated in a variety of games. The second-hand uniform sale was particularly popular, 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 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.

A HEARTFELT THANK YOU TO VOLUNTEERS

The PTA extends a massive thank you to the volunteers and class representatives who dedicated their time and energy throughout the year. Their efforts were particularly appreciated during the second-hand uniform and book sales, which play a crucial role in the school’s fundraising efforts. These sales not only help families find affordable uniforms but also promote sustainability within the school community.

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

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 welcome address, expressing her joy at seeing so many former students return to St Margaret’s. 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 as Head and she reflected on the “Top 10 traditions” handed to her by the class of 2014 when they left

Following the welcome, guests enjoyed guided tours of the school by current pupils. These tours offered a nostalgic journey through familiar

hallways and classrooms, as well as a chance to see the new developments and improvements made since their time as pupils.

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.

Adding to the success of the day was a raffle held to support the school's Bursary Programme. Thanks to the generosity of the attendees nearly £400 was raised – amazing!

The Former Pupil Day was not just a walk down memory lane but also a

celebration of community and support. It reaffirmed the lasting impact of the school on our alumnae and the strong connections that continue to thrive long after leaving.

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.

Our 7 Junior class won the Scottish Air Race Challenge this year. As part of their training and preparation for the competition they welcomed guest speakers to their class for their insights into flying – Elizabeth Brown, class of 1985, who was a cabin crew manager, and Emily 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

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 pupil, Talia Mathers, class of 2017, who has been offered the opportunity to undertake a PhD in Chemistry at the University of Bern later this year. We asked Talia to share some advice for current pupils:

“ 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”.

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

Former Pupils’ Club

At the Former Pupils’ Club EGM held in April it was agreed that the FP Club Committee be dissolved and all administrative responsibilities for alumnae relations be transferred to the school.

The FP Club feel this is a positive step forward. Through St Margaret's Connect, our alumnae platform, the school already manages all former pupil information in line with current regulations, organises events and sends newsletters and updates.

Instead of a formal committee, the school will 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.

Support from our community for our Bursary Programme

There are girls in Aberdeen city and shire today who hope to attend St Margaret’s, yet their families are unable to meet the cost of tuition fees. Our Bursary Programme offers support to these families by covering some or all of their fees. However, the demand for bursaries exceeds the school’s financial capacity and this need continues to grow each year.

Many independent schools have significant endowment funds from which they draw income to support bursaries. St Margaret’s, however, does not 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.

Keeping in touch

Keep up to date with the latest news from school through St Margaret’s Connect, our online community. Get in touch at development@st-margaret.uk to register or update your details.

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

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

Every gift in every Will to St Margaret’s makes a difference – even 1% so your family inherit the remainder – but you can leave more if you want to.

The only information your Will Writer needs if you 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

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)

Photo: Darrell Benns & DC Thomson