Chronicle 2024

2024

CHRONICLE

Shooting for Success

A Year to Remember

A Year of Connection Alumnae Events at St George's in 2024 The Foundation Office celebrated yet another remarkable year of alumnae events, with highlights that showed the enduring bonds of the school community.

In May, the London Reunion at the Caledonian Club brought a wonderful group of alumnae together.

Their charm and approachability reflected the inclusive and grounded spirit of St George's. Alumnae of all ages chatted easily, exchanging reminiscences from school days along with updates of their lives since leaving.

June brought the long-awaited Summer Lunch, as alumnae across seven decades reacquainted themselves over laughter and conversation. An intriguing archive table displaying vintage photos, yearbooks, Chronicles, and old uniforms encouraged curiosity and much debate among attendees.

The St George's OGs Golf Team took to the greens once again in true sporting form, participating in the Tassie Tournament at the Berkshire Golf Club. While the team was outplayed this year, they gave an impressive performance in a competitive field of 24 teams. Later in June, Liz Childs organised a memorable golf day at the Elie and Earlsferry Ladies’ Golf Club. Despite challenging weather, Shona Thomson (Class of 1992), Suki Stobbs (Class of 1984) and Liz herself emerged triumphant, showcasing the St George’s spirit.

In September, the school marked the following reunions: the Class of 2004's 20th Reunion, the Class of 1984's 40th Reunion and the Class of 1974's 50th Reunion. November wrapped up the year with the Class of 2014's 10th Reunion and the Class of 1964's 60th Reunion Tour, where alumnae had the opportunity to be reunited and reflect on their time at the school.

This year, as the run of events has once again illustrated, has shown just how strong the St George's community is. From alumnae returning to share tales through renewing friendships and celebrating their link with the school, St George's we look forward to more great times being enjoyed in 2025.

Dates for Your Diary: Alumnae Events in 2025

MAY

3

2025

Class of 1985 40th Reunion

MAY

15 2025

London Reunion

JUNE

14

2025

Summer Lunch

Contents G 14

34

Contents 4

The Big 4

38 Art

5

Letter from Head

43 Design &

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Toddler Group

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Nursery

10 Primary 1 12 Primary 2 14 Primary 3 16 Primary 4 18 Primary 5 20 Primary 6 24 Photography 26 Lower School Events 28 Wellbeing Week

Technology

44 Creative Writing 46 Food Technology 48 Remove Camp 50 L4 Camp 51 A Year in

Houldsworth

52 U4 International Exchange

54 S6 International Exchange

56 S6 South Africa Hockey Trip

29 CCF Camp

60 Library

30 Maths

62 Sport

32 Music

72 Staff Leavers

34 Drama

79 In Memoriam

36 Women in

80 Valete

Computing

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Student Leadership Team 2023-24 Head Student – Lexi Parkinson Deputy Head Student – Kedison Njotu Senior Prefect – Mounika Pasupulate Head of Boarding – Danni Zhang Deputy Head of Boarding – Irelia Kuo Boarding Ambassador – Karla Chui & Zumrad Jabbarova

House Captains Argyll – Annabel Nicol Buccleuch – Esme Stevens Douglas – Isla Parkinson Lindsay – Lucy Gray Moray – Isla McLintock Strathmore – Chloe Taylor

Vice House Captains Argyll – Lucy Welsh Buccleuch – Caitlin Hutchinson Douglas – Helena Wand Lindsay – Tilly Tavadia Moray – Rosie Platt Strathmore – Orla Grey

School Prefects Careers – Keisha Patrick-Ajufo Charities – Olivia Anderson, Rona Marshall & Raffy Serafini-Francassini Design, Innovation and Engineering – Mhairead Bruce Diversity – Eliza Gardiner E-learning – Maira Ratnarajah International – Kyla Barclay L5 – Charlotte Earl Learning & Teaching – Sarah Connors PR – Lois Norrie & Sara Qayyum Social Science – Eva Laird Sports – Hannah Cully Sustainability – Imogen McCall & Rosie Simpson U5 – Honor Simpson U4 – Evie McCallum Wellbeing – Skye Humphrey Yearbook – Megan Baskill & Kate Green

Editor: David Robinson

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G Student Leadership

The Big Four It has been an absolute pleasure to be this year’s Deputy Head Student! I’ve had the privilege of engaging with a range of ages within the school—from Upper School, Lower School, and staff—to help foster a connected community. Hosting a variety of events with the rest of the student leadership team not only enhanced my communication skills but also greatly improved my teamwork abilities.

Choosing to take on this role has been one of the best decisions I’ve ever made and a highlight of my time at St George’s!

Kedison - Deputy Head Student When I was given the role of Senior Prefect, I was truly grateful for the opportunity, especially since the U6 Ball is one of the most anticipated events in our final year. The role of Senior Prefect was incredibly fulfilling, involving everything from spending breaks with nursery and junior school students to recording hilarious videos for the Revue. Despite some challenging moments, I look back fondly on those experiences, as they made me stronger, and the laughter shared far outweighed any momentary stress.

I loved witnessing how our entire year group came together, sharing excitement and participating in various events throughout the year. I believe I matured through this role, as it required balancing multiple tasks and prioritising organisation. This year was particularly special to me, as we were all figuring out our next steps together—feeling confused, worried, and happy as one. The memories and experiences I’ve shared with the St George’s community are ones I will cherish for a lifetime.

Mounika - Senior Prefect

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Introduction G

Letter from the Head Welcome to this year’s edition of The Chronicle, which has been a special feature of St George’s life, throughout its long history. One important project we embarked on in 2023-24 was to make a start, with the help of Margaret Imlah, our volunteer archivist, to digitise items from our extensive school archive.

This means that a copy of the first Chronicle from March 1894 (among others) is available for everyone to see at St George's School | Digital Archives.

It is quite special to have maintained the tradition of a school magazine for 130 years, despite the many pressures (which have included two world wars and the relocation of the school) for this length of time. In the introduction to that very first edition, the editor referred to the challenges in opening the school just six years earlier, “some doubts and hesitation were felt when our school itself was opened; we all know how they have been silenced by the success of the school- let us hope that the success of the Magazine will be as great, and that the time will come when St George’s girls will wonder how they ever existed without The Chronicle.” I think it is fair to say that The Chronicle has been a long-lasting success and at many of our recent alumnae gatherings (class of 1974 and class of 1984) , our former pupils have greatly enjoyed finding themselves in the pages of The Chronicle and reminiscing over their experiences at the school.

The 1894 edition covered articles as diverse as Kaiser Wilhelm II’s birthday and the activities of a student debate group. Two debate motions particularly drew my attention.

The first: ‘that it is more desirable for women to abstain from engaging in the professions of medicine, law and politics, than for them to engage in them’ and the second, ‘that golf is a better game for girls than cricket’. From this we see, St George’s has always sought to ensure its students have full and unfettered access to all opportunities, educational and cocurricular, even in a context when this was far from the norm.

I hope you enjoy reading about all the fantastic adventures and opportunities that 2023-24 has offered and the extremely beneficial impact of them. My grateful appreciation goes to all the staff, students and families for supporting all we do at St George’s with such good will and enthusiasm.

Carol Chandler-Thompson 2024

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G Toddler Group

‘Come and Play’ Community Toddler Group ‘Come and Play’ is the name of the new community toddler group established at St George's School during 2023/24. It runs weekly and is open to all families. This initiative aims to provide a welcoming and stimulating environment for young children aged between 1 and 3 and their families.

Led by a dedicated team of nursery and Junior School staff, including Sammi Broadfoot, Brette Phebus, and Lorna Grey, the group offers a variety of engaging

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activities. Sessions this year have alternated between Messy Play and Bouncing Rhyme time.

Since its inception, the toddler group has seen a steady increase in attendance, reflecting the growing demand for such services within the community. The school is immensely proud to be able to offer these valuable sessions and is committed to expanding the program to include music and language activities in the future.

Nursery G

Nursery Little Owls, Big Achievements This year, The Little Owls have had a delightful year of learning. The summer term has been filled with: • preparing for transitions and times of change • working on each child’s self-care skills and independence • developing skills on how to manage and regulate big emotions The children have also taken great interest in the changing seasons this year and watching nature come into bloom in our nursery garden.

A new approach to our ‘rolling’ snack provision has been an area we have been developing with the children this year. The children have been eager to learn skills which will help them gain confidence and independence as they move forwards to their preschool year.

Every day our team have set out the snack area with a variety of healthy foods for the children to try, with photographs attached of the food on offer for that day. As you can imagine, routine and hygiene play a central role in this provision!

Earlier in the Spring term, our rolling snack was showcased to our parents during our lively ‘Stay and Play Morning’, which allowed our parents to see the independence skills each child has learned throughout the term. We have loved watching how thrilled each child has been to visit the snack area and help themselves to the range of tasty foods available.

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G Nursery

Seeing the World Differently: Little Owls’ Gallery Adventure This year, the Little Owls have focused on identifying and understanding their emotions, culminating in an exciting trip to The Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art—one of the highlights of our year! The children participated in two engaging workshops centered around how we feel, guided by our nursery team and knowledgeable gallery experts.

During the visit, the Little Owls explored a variety of artworks throughout the gallery. They had the opportunity to create colourful chalk rubbings, experimenting with mixing different colours and linking them to their emotions. One of the standout sculptures depicted a man whose body was underground while his head emerged above. The children delighted in adding loose parts to give him unique hair, glasses, and a range of fun accessories, filling the space with laughter and creativity.

Next, the children encountered a fascinating sculpture that encouraged them to observe themselves from different angles. Some of our little artists used a Polaroid camera, capturing moments while their classmates posed as part of the sculpture. This interactive experience deepened their understanding of selfawareness and perspective.

We also tied our art exploration to meaningful stories, including “The Invisible String” by Patrice Karst and “The Colour Monster” by Anna Llenas, further enriching our discussions about emotions.

Overall, it’s been a fantastic year for the Little Owls, as we’ve built on their interests and knowledge in creative and impactful ways!

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Nursery G

Big Owls in Action: Crafting, Coding, and Creating This year, the Big Owls have enjoyed putting on their thinking caps and exploring the many fun and exciting learning opportunities that STEM has to offer. STEM, also known as “science, technology, engineering, and mathematics”, has been an ever-evolving topic of interest within the Big Owls, the biggest one of which has been technology It all began with the BeeBot, which is a programmable robot designed to introduce children to creating simple programs. By using the BeeBot, the children learnt the importance of accurate sequences of instructions alongside developing their directional language and understanding. The children loved exploring the many paths they could program the BeeBot to take and quickly began making obstacle courses and story maps to challenge the BeeBot’s abilities. As a class, the children decided to craft a floor map for the BeeBot to navigate. Drawing their homes, familiar places, and roads on a large piece of paper, the children directed the BeeBot through the map, discussing routes, directions, and developing their problem-solving skills.

The Big Owls then transferred their newly learned

programming skills to the screen, where they explored early coding by playing Rodocodo. Rodocodo is a coding game that involves choosing the correct commands to make a cat move from start to finish. To correctly program the cat to move forward, the children would use their logical thinking to move the correct number of steps and accurately work out the direction of travel. The children loved participating in Rodocodo, where they used their higher order thinking skills to break down the problem of the game into a series of steps.

Finally, the children were introduced to a program that used coding to animate their drawings. The children created special characters that were later brought to life using the coding app. The Big Owls loved watching their drawings move, run, and dance!

By introducing coding and programming into their play, the Big Owls developed their problem-solving, pattern recognition, and logical reasoning along with boosting their confidence and creativity. We cannot wait to see where their newly developed programming skills will take them in the future!

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G Primary 1

Transformative Journeys: Primary One Students Explore Life Cycles!

Primary One students thoroughly enjoyed delving into life cycles during Term 3. The term kicked off with the arrival of 10 small caterpillars, sparking our fascination as we witnessed their remarkable metamorphosis into magnificent butterflies.

Equipped with magnifying glasses and microscopes, we scrutinised the intricate wing patterns and examined the empty chrysalis cases. Alongside our observations, we documented our discoveries in personal life cycle diaries, sharing these reflections with our families. Moreover, the children produced some beautiful artwork the riting in representing each stage of the life w d e k li ‘I iary.’ cycle, exploring symmetry, pattern, tterfly d u b colour, printing, and collaging.

Chloe

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Primary 1 G

ge all ey chan er h t t a h t nev ‘I like They are . e im t the e. It was the sam ol.’ quite co Esme

‘My f was h avourite t h oldin g the ing lo butte rflies. vely ’ Cecil e

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G Primary 2

"Seeds of Knowledge Sprout: Primary 2 Explore Plant Growth!"

Primary 2 have been enjoying some greenfingered fun this term, diving deep into the world of plants. They've been getting their hands dirty planting seeds and exploring what makes these leafy miracles thrive.

In Science, they have been on a journey to uncover the secrets of plant growth. They excitedly planted seeds and closely monitored their progress. Through a fun experiment, they discovered the essential ingredients all plants need to flourish.

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Creativity Blossoms: Primary 2 Capture the Beauty of Flowers Turning their attention to Art, our budding artists created stunning observational drawings of flowers inspired by Vincent Van Gogh's Sunflowers. With watercolour paints and pencils in hands, they brought their creations to life with vibrant colours and intricate details. Their masterpieces now proudly adorn the walls of the Junior School Future's Room, showcasing their talent, enthusiasm and hard work.

Primary 2 G

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G Primary 3

Primary 3 The Victorians 3, we learned all As our fourth topic in Primary learned about about the Victorians. First, we We learned a lot Queen Victoria and her life. her. We teac of amazing things from our would have dren chil learned about lots of jobs in a coal king wor like od had during this peri In Music ant. serv a g bein or mine, factory, mill gs too. At the we learned some Victorian son us presented a end of the topic, each one of In Art, we talk on an area of our choice. house and designed our own Victorian have looked like ld researched what they wou

iture Victorian and the different types of furn tained. We went households would have con oom in on a trip to a Victorian Schoolr ol life would have Edinburgh, to see what scho to dress up as been like for children. We got do our and s Victorian children ourselve done during e hav ld wou lessons, just like they ugh to visit eno y luck e wer this time. We also e mor n eve n lear to se Hopetoun Hou ory. The hist of era this ut abo s fact interesting to we got dress best part of our trip was that up and act as servants!

Victorian Schoolroom

s I really liked that we got to dres , dren chil n up and be like Victoria s. pen l quil using slates and Gracie

At the Victorian Schoolroom gh I got to do the washing thou el Isab y! it was very nois In both buildings the ceilings were very high! Julia

would use

I really enjoyed listening to t they e in the house - things like wha everything that would be don to cook and clean. Mabel

I really liked that we got to see

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what they would do at home.

Florence

Primary 3 G

Hopetoun House I really enjoyed getting to dress up at the start. Oona We really enjoyed seeing the different rooms and designs on the ceilings. Norah I really liked writing the letter with the quill pen but some people found it very hard. Emilia I learned that when someone walked past you, you would have to look down. Matilda My favourite part was when we went to the butler’s pantry and had lots of fun. Aria It was really fun when we were cleaning the floor. Ayana I really liked being the butler because I got to wear a black top hat. Sadie I enjoyed playing with all the Victorian toys. Ella We loved playing in the butler’s pantry. Rosie I really liked dressing up as a housemaid at Hopetoun House. Arabella

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G Primary 4

I found out that leeches live in the river.

Amelia

At the start of our walk, there was a water spray coming from the bridge which was really satisfying to look at.

Julia

Stopping the big turbine from moving! It was quite hard!

Rose and I tried to slow it down but it was impossible.

Jessica

I liked the Interactive area and listening to different outdoor sounds.

I liked listening to the bees!

Raeka

I enjoyed learning about the run-offs and seeing the water trickle down.

Odell-May

I liked the interactive room; I liked the activity where you could pull the stoppers up and it would get some machines working.

Maria

Water by Primary 4 Running into a little stone house!

Aaliyah

I liked how we got to build the frames for the artwork inspired by Andy Goldsworthy.

Akshara

I liked how we looked at the insects and caught them.

I especially liked looking at the leeches moving even though they were creepy.

I liked the litter Eva picking. I saw that there were a lot of pieces of rubbish.

Mini

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I liked celebrating Emily’s birthday and eating her cake at the Water of Leith.

Harriet

I liked how we worked together to make our art and how we can make stuff without pieces of paper!

Emily

Primary 4 G

I liked smelling the plants that the Outdoor Learning teacher found for us as we walked along by the river.

Eliza

At the end of the day, we created Andy Goldsworthy natural sculptures at the side of the river.

Olivia

I enjoyed the peacefulness of walking along beside the river and listening to the birds.

Julia

Finding nature items to make art pictures beside the river with my group was interesting.

Keira

I loved everything about the visit but especially lifting the rocks to find the things that lived underneath them.

Orianna

I liked river dipping in my wellington boots and walking along the path by the river.

Natalia

Lifting the rocks and looking underneath for water creatures was my favourite part of the Water of Leith visit.

Lola

In Science, Primary 4s have been learning about the important role that water plays in our lives. In June, we went on a trip to the Water of Leith to learn more about this topic. Ruth, who is the education officer there, talked to us about our local river. We participated in different interactive stations to learn about water as a renewable source of energy as well as being an essential habitat for a variety of life. We went outside and explored the area around the river and also enjoyed river-dipping for water I tried really hard to creatures. Inspired by the artist Andy Goldsworthy, we created our own outdoor art too. build a Lego dam to stop the village from flooding in the Interactive Centre.

Rose I tried hard to stop Walking along the the enormous Water of Leith with Primary 4 I was really interested in It was the first time that wheel when we and the Outdoor Learning classifying the water bugs I have ever river dipped were in the teacher listening to the river that we found in the in wellington boots! interactive centre. and the birds was my favourite Water of Leith.

Melina Alice part of the day visit.

Liana Anna

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G Primary 5

Inspiration Awaits: Primary 5 Connects with Art at Jupiter Artland “I really loved everything, but the thing that caught my eye was ‘The Light Pours Out of Me.’ It was an amethyst cave. It looked really boring on the outside, but when you went down the stairs, it was amazing.” Emily “I really liked drawing the weeping girls because they were very inspirational to draw. I was very interested in thinking about their stories and how they got into those positions.” Ilma “I really enjoyed seeing the weeping girls in Jupiter Artland because it was very fun trying to make up stories about why they were made of stone.” Rebecca “I really enjoyed the sculpture called ‘The Light Pours Out of Me’ from our Jupiter Artland trip because it was made from amethyst, and it was really beautiful. The stones felt very smooth.” Zoe “My favourite thing at Jupiter Artland was ‘The Light Pours Out of Me.’ I liked it because the amethysts were so bright, colourful, and beautiful.” Ava “At Jupiter Artland, I really liked the weeping girls by the artist Laura Ford. I think they were very mysterious.” Rose “I really enjoyed ‘The Light Pours Out of Me.’ It’s a cave made out of amethyst.” Pearl “I really enjoyed visiting the weeping girls at Jupiter Artland. I found them interesting because you could imagine their stories!” Alice

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Primary 5 G

“I really enjoyed the amethyst wall called ‘The Light Pours Out of Me.’ I liked it because the amethysts were very beautiful and attracted me.” Amaya “My favourite thing about Jupiter Artland was ‘The Light Pours Out of Me.’ I enjoyed the artwork because the amethysts were so beautiful.” Lorelei “I really liked the amethyst wall called ‘The Light Pours Out of Me.’ Amethysts are very pretty, and I can imagine all the hard work that went into creating it.” Lucy

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G Primary 6

Primary 6’s Spicy Year: From Galactic Gazing to Flavourful Feasting The P6 class had an exciting year filled with engaging activities and memorable trips.

Food Tasting February saw P6 indulging in an Indian food tasting day, where Ms. Pickering showcased her culinary skills.

Students sampled a variety of dishes, including onion bhaji, lime pickle, mango chutney, dhal, poppadoms, naan bread, chai tea and raita. The diverse flavors— spicy, sweet, and sour—made it a delightful experience, with many students expressing their desire to repeat the event in the future.

Dynamic Earth Trip In October the students visited Dynamic Earth, where they enjoyed a geography walk around Arthur’s Seat, guided by Angus. They explored different rocks and later took a fascinating tour of Dynamic Earth. Highlights included a visit to the planetarium, where they marveled at the Andromeda Galaxy and stunning images from the Hubble and Euclid telescopes. Other hands-on experiences included a 3D Earth time machine, a room that simulated an earthquake with moving floors and smoky scents, and a melting ice block display. The visit concluded with a fun 3D show featuring bubbles!

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Primary 6 G

Risk Factory Trip The classes also took a trip to the Risk Factory on January 17th. This interactive experience taught students about the importance of understanding and managing risks. They engaged in various scenarios, learning about safety at home, the consequences of vandalism, and the importance of making informed decisions. Students shared their thoughts about the trip, noting the thrilling surprises and real-life situations they encountered, which helped them feel more confident in emergency situations, including calling for help.

Overall, it has been a year of exploration, learning, and fun for the P6 class!

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G Primary 6

From Posters to Pedals: Celebrating Active Travel with Lower School!

On March 20th, several P6, Remove and L4 students had the honour of representing our school at the official launch of the City Centre West to East Link (CCWEL) walking and cycling path.

They held the ribbon for a ceremonial ride led by Scottish Government Minister for Active Travel, Patrick Harvie MSP. The cyclists were also welcomed by musical performances from pupils at St Mary's Music School. The launch celebrated the new safe and direct cycling route connecting Roseburn to Leith Walk through Edinburgh's City Centre. The path aims to create healthier, more accessible spaces for cycling, walking, and wheeling along some of the city's busiest streets.

Isobel (P6), whose poster design won a CCWEL competition, was given a special invitation and recognition during the launch. Her colourful winning poster was on display on t-shirts for the event.

It was great to see the enthusiasm for cycling and sustainable travel in our community. Our students were proud to be part of the day's festivities!

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Connected Culture Conference

Understanding the Realities of Online Information

In February, we had our annual Connected Culture Conference in the Lower School Hall, focusing on online safety and the responsible use of technology. All of Lower School participated in three engaging workshops centered around AI, privacy, wellbeing, and addiction.

We brought our devices to explore how long we spend on screens and the importance of not sharing personal information. In our first activity, we learned about addiction and its effects on our mental and physical health. It was eye-opening to discover that spending over four hours a day on our phones can indicate a potential addiction.

In another workshop, Mr. Walker led us through an interactive game where we had to guess which images were real and which were AI-generated. We ran to

different sides of the room based on our guesses, which made it clear just how many fake things we encounter daily. I found this particularly enlightening, especially when Mr. Walker showed us a video of a woman speaking about deepfakes, only to reveal afterward that she was a deepfake herself. This really helped me understand how common misinformation is online. Additionally, Mr. Roache educated us about artificial intelligence and its applications in our everyday lives, like Siri and Alexa.

Overall, we had a fantastic experience at the conference and are grateful to everyone who contributed to our understanding of how to stay safe online.

Anaya, Melody and Eliza

I liked it when

I found it fun when Mr.

I liked when we

It was remarkably

It was exciting, and I

we had to guess

Walker asked us questions

had to tell if the

interesting when

learnt a lot. I also liked

if a picture was

and we had to go to a side

object had AI in it

we learned

when we had to tell if an

real or fake.

of a room to say yes or no.

with Mr. Roache.

about addiction.

object uses AI in it.

Alba

Tessa

Selma

Teria

Imogen

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G Photography

Photography Gabriella S

Scarlett P

Lindsay Y

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Photography G

Justine M

Morran M

Helena W

Tilly T

Annabel N

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G Lower School Events

Lower School Events Mission Possible: Engineering Insights from BAE Systems on Ocean and Space Exploration!

In September, we received a presentation from three representatives of BAE Systems: Matt, Fran, and Ellie.

It began with a brief introduction to submarines, engineering, and spacecraft. We learned about the various challenges involved in surviving at the two extremes of human exploration—from the depths of the oceans to outer space—and the engineering solutions developed to overcome these challenges.

At the start, they asked for two volunteers, and Adwita and Elizabeth stepped forward. Adwita had to shout instructions into a megaphone to help Elizabeth complete a picture puzzle. This exercise demonstrated the importance of clear, precise communication, particularly when there is a task to be accomplished.

Next, they presented a short talk on how they plan

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to send a submarine into space! They demonstrated communication in space and requested more volunteers. Teme wore an astronaut’s helmet and gloves while Olivia shouted (without a megaphone) instructions on how to make a satellite dish. This activity illustrated how challenging it can be to complete even the simplest tasks while wearing equipment designed to protect us from the dangerous environments of underwater or deep space.

Finally, they filled an inflatable sun with air to show the difference in scale between our sun and Earth. The inflated sun was enormous, and on this scale, the Earth would have been the size of a small glass marble!

Elizabeth and Hibah, Lower 4

Lower School Events G

Fizzling with Fun: Lower School House Captains Ignite Crafting Skills!

On Friday 3rd of November, the Lower School House Captains led a house event in Junior School. We got to teach the P1, P2 and P3 students a bonfire themed craft. We also had the P5 House Captains helping too.

Me and my partner taught the younger girls how to make paper fireworks. We thought this was a good idea because it would be simple, fun and also not too messy.

We started by showing them a demonstration of what their masterpieces would look like in the end and explained what they needed to do. The younger students could choose their own colours, and what they wanted to add to the middle of their firework.

They did a really amazing job! Their ideas were very creative, beautiful and eye catching. I was really impressed!

I loved this House event and saw how important it can be to get to know younger students in our House very well. I also had so much fun getting to know my Lower 4 House Captain partner better. The Junior School students asked us lots of questions about Lower School which we were really happy about because they all seem so excited to start learning in

Lower School.

All six houses had been working on different activities in different classrooms and after lots of fun, we tidied up and went to the Junior School Hall all together. The P4s and P5s were there too. Junior School students all sang a song which was really fun to listen to – some of the House Captains who had been through Junior School enjoyed reminiscing and sang the song as well. The younger students then shared what they had been doing with the rest of Junior School. There were so many volunteers wanting to talk about what they had done. We were really happy to see they had had fun and were confident enough to share their work. It was fun to see what everyone else had been up to as well. There was a great range of crafts ranging from glittery fireworks to soaring rockets.

It was a wonderful afternoon.

This was definitely a great start to my journey as a House Captain. After a quick debrief we all left to go back to our lessons. If I could ever do this again, I’d be glad to.

Liyana, Lower 4

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G Wellbeing Week

Wellbeing Week

Sleep, Stretch, and Smile: The Spirit of Wellbeing Week During the week of May 13th-17th, Lower School students focused on their wellbeing by taking part in a range of activities to highlight the importance of taking care of our minds as well as our bodies. Throughout the week, students engaged in activities that promote positive wellbeing, including mindfulness/meditation, chalk murals, fitness/yoga, nature bingo, and nature art.

The students also attended an assembly led by Mrs. Chandler-Thompson, focusing on five key areas that can help maintain a healthy mind. By following these top tips, we can feel better, achieve our best in school, and enjoy life to the fullest.

The five top tips were: 1. Getting enough sleep 2. Exercising regularly 3. Practising mindfulness 4. Connecting with others 5. Challenging negative thoughts Mrs. Mushat also launched the wellbeing journal, showing how writing thoughts down and participating in mindful activities can help frame our mindset in a

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positive way. The aim of the week was to raise awareness and to get students involved in as many mindful activities as possible. Thank you to everyone who took part.

CCF G

CCF Camp Chronicles: Building Bonds and Skills Camp at Barry Buddon was a week where we all came together; it was a chance to make new friends across the year groups and form a community. Throughout the week, we participated in daily activities, from the 36hour exercise to coasteering and shooting at the ranges. We put our skills to the test, including teamwork, leadership, and resilience.

During CCF camp, I was a section commander for the first time, which allowed me to practise everything we had been learning during the CCF sessions throughout the year while improving my leadership skills and ability to work as part of a team. One of the

highlights for me was the coasteering activity—while it pushed us out of our comfort zones, it was also incredibly fun. Having hot toasties and chips to warm up afterwards was very much needed!

CCF summer camp was a great experience because it helped me build my leadership and teamwork skills through the fun challenges we faced. Being able to make team decisions and solve problems really helped develop transferable skills that I can use in and out of school. However, CCF camp was also just a great time to socialise with loads of other schools and chat with new people in the evenings.

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G Maths

Maths Maths Challenges and more…

It was a year full of successes for the students who took part in Maths challenges and competitions.

UKMT Junior, Intermediate and Senior Mathematical Challenges The Challenges are multiple-choice papers which encourages mathematical reasoning, precision of thought, and fluency in using basic mathematical techniques to solve interesting problems. The problems on the Mathematical Challenges are designed to make students think. Most are accessible, yet still challenge those with more experience.

All participants received a certificate of participation.

To recognise the highest performers in the Challenges, the top-scoring participants were awarded Bronze, Silver and Gold certificates. Students that are 'Best in Year' or 'Best in School' also received a badge to denote this on their certificates.

UKMT Mathematical Olympiad for Girls On September 27th some of our Upper School students and one student in Remove took part in the UKMT Mathematical Olympiad for Girls.

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The Mathematical Olympiad for Girls is aimed at girls and young women across the UK and consists of five challenging problems.

Maths G UKMT Team Mathematical Challenge Due to the pandemic, this was the first time the UKMT Team Maths Challenge was run since 2019. On 19th June 2024, four St George’s students took part in the competition held in Loretto School, competing against nineteen other teams.

The Team Maths Challenge started at around 10am and consisted of four rounds in total: the Group Round, the Shuttle, the Crossnumber and the Relay.

The thrill of racing against time made and against other teams made the experience particularly exhilarating. The challenge also involved lots of movement and enthusiasm, making it incredibly fun and engaging.

The Team Maths Challenge was a remarkable experience for everyone involved. Collaborating to tackle tough problems, celebrating each success, enjoying the thrill of each breakthrough and the spirited environment.

Scottish Maths Challenge Students from Remove to Upper 6 are invited to take part in the Scottish Mathematical Challenge.

Mathematical Challenge is a problem-solving competition which goes back to 1976. The Challenge is open to all students educated in Scotland. Its aim is to promote mathematics as a source of interest and pleasurable achievement through challenging problems which require only elementary techniques and simple logic.

On Friday, 31st May, four of our students attended the Scottish Maths Challenge prize-giving ceremony at

Edinburgh Napier University's Sighthill campus. Their experience was unforgettable, surrounded by many brilliant mathematicians from various schools. The students enjoyed an engaging talk by Professor Adam McBride on random numbers, which seamlessly transitioned into the prize-giving segment—the highlight of the day. They then proudly walked up to receive our mugs and certificates from Professor McBride, smiling as they did so, bringing this special experience to a close.

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G Music

Music

Notes of Success: Celebrating Music at St George’s It has been an exciting and eventful 2023–24 academic year in the Music Department at St George’s, with our musicians playing an integral role in a wide range of co-curricular activities. From rehearsals to performances, the dedication and passion shown by our students have been nothing short of inspiring, reflecting the vibrant and thriving musical community here at St George’s.

In November 2023, the RMC proudly hosted the Young Musician of St George’s and Young Singer of St George’s competitions—two prestigious events that showcased a remarkable breadth of talent. The standard of musicianship was outstanding across the board. Christine (L6), a gifted pianist, was crowned the winner of the Young Musician competition once again, while Sylvie (L6) emerged as the winner of the Young Singer competition. External adjudicators praised the technical proficiency, artistry, and stage presence displayed by all participants, underscoring the exceptional skill and preparation of our students.

We would like to extend our congratulations to everyone who participated in ABRSM and Trinity music exams this year—well done! The results were exemplary,

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with many students achieving top marks, a testament to both their hard work and the unwavering support of their teachers. Leading up to the exams, many students also took part in our Tuesday lunchtime recitals—a fantastic opportunity to build confidence and refine their performance skills in a supportive setting.

The festive season of 2023 brought a true sense of joy and creativity to the school’s musical offerings.

Junior, Lower, and Upper School ensembles all took part in a series of Christmas concerts, carol services, and nativities. These events, filled with energy and enthusiasm, were a wonderful showcase of our students' musical talent, as well as the dedication of the staff who helped bring everything together.

Throughout the year, the Music Department continued to provide a range of performance opportunities, including the Junior and Lower School Performers’ Platforms. Looking ahead to the Spring and Summer terms, preparations were already underway for some highly anticipated events, including the Spring and Summer Concerts, the Cantate Concert, the Piano Platform, and many exciting Junior School musicals.

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Special congratulations are offered to Samanthi (U5), Clara (L5), and Eva (L5), who delivered performances at the St George’s Annual Ball at Prestonfield House.

Their beautiful music added a magical atmosphere to the event, and their contributions were deeply appreciated by everyone in attendance.

Another highlight of the year was Christine (L6), who represented St George’s with great distinction at the Annual Scottish Young Musician of the Year Competition at Wellington School in Ayr. Sincere gratitude is extended on behalf of the Music Department to Isabella (U6), our music prefect for the 2023–24 academic year, for her leadership and commitment. We are also deeply grateful to our Sixth Form leavers, who performed beautifully at the

Leavers’ Recital in June, providing a memorable and fitting conclusion to their time at St George’s. The Senior Choir and the Sixth Form leavers’ singers also gave an unforgettable performance at Speech Day, adding a moving finale to the year. These students will be greatly missed by the Music Department, and we wish them all the best in their exciting new ventures.

In conclusion, the 2023–24 academic year has been one of musical excellence, marked by exceptional performances, inspiring achievements, and the continued growth of our vibrant musical community.

We look forward to another year of exploration and success as we continue to nurture and celebrate the talents of our students.

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G Drama

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Drama G

Drama A Midsummer Night’s Dream Review “As imagination bodies forth The forms of things unknown, the poet's pen Turns them to shapes and gives to airy nothing A local habitation and a name.”

(Theseus Act 5 Scene 1) Glow sticks were handed out to the audience as they entered into the magical world of the enchanted forest. The school stage was unrecognisable as the audience admired huge trees, colourful flowers and a glorious moon. As the audience settled, Samanthi played an original composition on the grand piano. They were shocked out of their contented stupor by the arrival of Egeus requesting that his daughter be put to death if she did not accept his choice of husband.

That started a night of high passion from the lovers as they fell in and out of love while the mischievous Puck created chaos with his love potion. Alongside these troubles and trickeries, we watched the King and Queen of the forest and their band of fairies all wearing stunning costumes and performing dances of their own choreography. As an antidote to this highly charged drama, the audience enjoyed the comedy of the hapless Mechanical workers rehearsing their own play.

Brilliant characterisation and comic timing left the audience in fits of laughter. Overall, this was a highly entertaining performance and a credit to all involved in it.

If we shadows have offended, Think but this, and all is mended, That you have but slumbered here While these visions did appear.

(Puck, Act 5 Scene 1)

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G Computing

Celebrating Isla K and the Launch of the Hopper Award This year, we are proud to announce the inaugural recipient of the Hopper Award for Excellence in Computing Science, awarded to Isla K in L4. This special award, inspired by the pioneering work of Grace Hopper, celebrates the exceptional achievements of female pupils in Computing Science and their contributions to the school community. It is supported by DressCode and sponsored by JPMorgan, designed to inspire and recognise young talent in this vital subject.

Isla has gone above and beyond in her Computing Science journey. She has demonstrated remarkable skill and creativity in Python programming, most notably by creating an impressive snowman animation entirely through code. Beyond her personal achievements, Isla has been a consistent presence at the school’s DressCode Coding Club, offering help and guidance to others while showing a genuine passion for learning and sharing her knowledge. Her enthusiasm, hard work, and dedication make her a role model for her peers and an outstanding recipient of this award.

The Hopper Award will now become an annual feature at our school, recognising a new recipient each year. The award aims to encourage more female pupils to pursue and excel in Computing Science.

Isla’s name will also be featured on DressCode’s national roll of honour, highlighting her accomplishment and celebrating the extraordinary talent present in schools across Scotland.

Congratulations to Isla for her well-deserved recognition! We look forward to seeing her and future recipients continue to lead the way in Computing Science.

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Computing G

Women in Computing: Influential Voices in Tech On January 9th, over 300 girls from St George's and other local schools gathered for an inspirational day of talks and hands-on activities aimed at sparking their interest in technology and computing careers.

The day kicked off with a keynote speech from Leah Hutcheon, CEO of the highly successful local startup Appointed and advocate for women in business.

Hutcheon shared her personal journey to tech entrepreneurship and offered advice to the students on following their passions.

Students then heard briefly from several other successful women in Scotland’s burgeoning tech sector, including software engineers, founders, and leaders in cybersecurity. Each speaker highlighted the range of opportunities available to girls looking ahead to careers in computing. They then presented awards to St George’s Lower School pupils who have excelled in computing science with the help of an assistant, “Spot” the robot dog.

"Events like these underscores why we believe so strongly in a specialised education for girls," said Carol Chandler-Thompson, St George's Head. "By bringing successful women in STEM fields to interact with our

students, we're showing them first hand the breadth of technology careers they can aspire to. We know that role-modelling is so important: if you can see it, you can be it."

The real highlight of the event was the exhibition hall, where groups of girls rotated between interactive stalls hosted by cutting-edge companies and organisations like Amazon, NatWest, the National Robotarium, Space Intelligence and more. Students were able to get hands-on with robots, built digital art using AI, learned about ethical hacking, explored satellite imaging technology, see demonstrations by “Spot” and much more.

“The idea was to showcase the excitement, creativity and global impact possible in a tech career,” said Jack Walker, Computing Teacher, and organiser of the event. “Judging by the energy in the hall today, I think we succeeded!”

With Scotland seeking to strengthen its reputation as a world leader in fields like AI, fintech and space technology, events like this aim to ensure girls see themselves as part of that future.

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G Art

Nada M - A Level Art

Caitlin H - A Level Art

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Art

Caitlin H - A Level Art

Art G

Sarah C - A Level Art

Sarah C - A Level Art

Lucy P - A Level Art

Lucy P - A Level Art

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G Art

Caitlin H - A Level Art

Caitlin H - A Level Art

Sarah C - A Level Art

Caitlin H - A Level Art

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Art G

Nathania C - A Level Textiles

Nada M - A Level Art

Kate G - A Level Textiles

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SCAN ME

Educating Young Men of Integrity Since 1833 merchiston.co.uk | admissions@merchiston.co.uk

Design and Technology G

Design and Technology This year has seen big changes in Design and Technology with the lower school workshop being relocated to its new dedicated space at the RMC end of the Junior school. This joins together the design and CAD classrooms with the workshop, bringing huge benefits for all learners. In addition we were grateful to receive funds from the Parents Association to purchase a new 3D printer and VR / AR headset which will greatly enhance the experience offered to students. Despite the upheavals with classrooms, there was a huge variety and complexity of projects produced by students from Remove through GCSE to Advanced Higher, with products ranging from Roman Catapults to a virtual Big Ben, plus designs for picnic caddies and subsea themed crazy golf! Sadly, though we also said goodbye to Mr Wallace, whose presence and influence on pupils throughout his 21 service will be greatly missed.

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G Creative Writing

Creative Writing POETRY

n o i t i t e p m Co DEADLINE: WRITE A ‘W

DECEMBER

INTER’ THE

4TH

MED POEM

WINNING PO EMS WILL B E READ AT THE LOW ER SCHOOL CAROL CONCERT

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Creative Writing G

A Wonderful Winter

A Winter Walk in Town

In winter’s embrace, the world turns to ice,

Stepping out onto the frosty street,

A wonderland of snow, a paradise.

Snow crunching underneath my feet,

The air is crisp, the sky so clear and bright,

Spotting a puddle frozen with ice,

A magical time, a wondrous delight.

Cracking the surface feels so nice,

The trees stand tall, adorned in frosty white,

Wrapped up warm in my scarf, gloves and hat,

Glistening like diamonds, in the soft moonlight.

Dusting the snow off my boots on the mat,

The Earth is hushed, as if holding its breath,

Children on the carousel squealing with delight,

in awe of the beauty that conquers death.

Shop windows filled with twinkling festive lights,

Children laugh and play in the fields,

Dads wobbling on the ice rink while kids go fast,

Building snowmen and forts, their joy revealed.

‘Last Christmas’ playing, what a blast,

Their rosy cheeks and noses kissed by cold,

Red noses and rosy cheeks like berries,

Their spirits soaring, their hearts uncontrolled.

The smell of cinnamon rolls makes me feel merry,

Families gather round the crackling fire,

Carol singers bring everyone such cheer,

sharing tales and warmth, their love never tires.

It is truly the best time of the year.

The scent of cinnamon and spiced mulled wine fills the air, creating memories that are beyond compare.

By Fleur Bennett

As the sun sets, painting the sky in hues of gold, The world is transformed into a sight to behold.

A wonderful winter time, a season so divine, where nature’s magic and love intertwine.

So let us cherish this enchanting season, Embracing its gifts without any reason.

For in winter’s embrace, we find comfort and cheer, A wonderful time of the year.

By Charlotte Crawford

These poems won the Remove and Lower 4 Winter Poetry Competition.

Special mention to Charlotte whose poem was read at our Christmas Service alongside Georgia, whose poem won the P6 competition.

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G Food Technology

Food Technology The Lower School Science clubs and classes were busy planting and growing a range of vegetables to learn about lifecycles. In Food Tech we loved exploring and eating produce in the Edible Garden this year and starting a Sustainability Club that aimed to use produce from our garden while exploring different ways to reduce food waste.

Edible Garden and Sustainability Challenge Cooking Club We loved exploring produce in our Edible Garden this year and starting a Sustainability Club that aimed to use produce from our garden while exploring different ways to reduce food waste.

L4 Fibre February

Our pupils loved creating bookmarks to promote healthy eating, and we enjoyed sharing them with other pupils during Fibre February!

Festive Bakes

During winter, our pupils created incredibly creative and technically challenging products.

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Food Technology G

L4 Orange and Halloumi Salad

L4 started their year with a delicious crispy halloumi and orange salad. We loved segmenting oranges for fruit salad, but this time we thought we’d mix things up!

L4 Super Salads

We enjoyed exploring the Thomas Franks Nutrition Conference in February and were excited that our pupils' designed Super Salads linked with their 30+ Plants recommendations!

L5 Highland Show

The GCSE students headed to the Highland Show last week and had a wonderful time! We explored local produce and met lots of Scottish producers. We enjoyed seeing different animals, whether it was hatching chickens, feeding goats, or seeing cattle and horses—we fell in love with many of them!

U4 Pizza Task

Our U4 pupils loved developing and exploring business ideas and food science! We created a pizza by exploring the science of bread-making, looking at sensory analysis and competitors, and then creating our own product.

Amazing work!

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G Trips

Remove Camp Ospreys, Abseiling, and Adventure: Our Epic Week at Remove Camp Before I went to Remove Camp, I was beyond excited! There’s nothing I love more than a week of adventure with my friends, and this trip promised to be full of unforgettable moments. The journey there felt long at first, but once we were just five minutes away from the camp, the excitement hit us all at once. I’ll never forget how we sang and screamed to Taylor Swift and the Barbie soundtrack on the bus—it was one of the best parts of the trip!

When we arrived and found out we’d be staying in dorms with all our friends, the excitement was through the roof. Our dorms were named after places near Lagganlia, and mine was called Inch, after Loch Inch, which we later canoed on. Since I was a new student, it was a great chance to get to know the other girls better. No one really got much sleep that week (especially the teachers!), but the laughter and latenight chats made it all worth it.

The activities were incredible, and we got to try some once-in-a-lifetime experiences. On the first morning, we had an amazing breakfast of bacon rolls, which definitely set the tone for the day. After that, my group went canoeing to an island where ospreys nested. We learned that these majestic birds stay there from April to August before migrating to warmer climates, which was really cool to hear about while we were out on the water.

Other activities included gorge walking (which was freezing—Baltic in fact—but also incredibly fun), abseiling (definitely my favourite), hiking, cycling, and even skiing and snowboarding. The instructors were kind and supportive, and they made the experience even better. One of the most exciting challenges was

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the Night Line, where we wore goggles to block our vision and had to navigate an assault course in the dark. It was one of my favourite activities, despite the fact that the teachers seemed to take a lot of joy in watching us struggle!

The evenings were just as fun, especially the Mumbo Jumbo challenge. We had to complete a list of crazy tasks with our teams, and it was absolute chaos in the best possible way. Everyone was running around, trying to get things done as quickly as possible, and it’s a moment I think everyone who was there can relate to.

The biggest highlight for me, though, was the adventure race, which took place at the end of the week. All the groups competed in a series of fun challenges, and the energy was high as everyone gave it their all. It was the perfect way to wrap up an actionpacked week of fun and friendship.

Throughout the camp, we stayed up late in our dorms, laughing, chatting, and sharing stories. I think that’s what made the experience even more special— being able to bond with my friends in such an adventurous and exciting setting. But by the end of the week, I really didn’t want to leave. I’m pretty sure I felt the exact opposite of the teachers, who were probably just looking forward to getting some rest after such a busy week!

Overall, Remove Camp was one of the best experiences I’ve ever had. It was packed with adventure, laughter, and memories that will last a lifetime. A huge thank you to all the teachers who made it possible and gave us a week we’ll never forget!

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Lower 4 Camp

Facing Fears: Lower 4 Takes on Climbing and Abseiling!

On Lower 4 camp, we had the opportunity to go climbing and abseiling, testing our confidence and facing our fears. The day began with a hike to the climbing area, with the sun shining and trees glimmering. Soon, we arrived at a giant rock wall, and we couldn’t believe we were about to climb! The instructors set up one abseiling section and two climbing sections (easy and hard). While some attempted the hard wall, most opted for the easier one. It was great to see nearly everyone, including the teachers, give abseiling a try. It was a rewarding challenge and a chance to learn a new skill.

During this year’s L4 camp in Newtonmore, I joined the expedition, not fully knowing what to expect. We walked 40km over two days, camping overnight in tents.

With our rucksacks on, we set off from Newtonmore at 9:30 AM. The rocky path soon turned marshy, and we spent what felt like hours navigating the soggy ground until we reached a small burn. My friend and I created a makeshift stepping-stone bridge to help everyone cross without getting wet. After safely crossing, we spotted the bothy where we’d have lunch.

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Once we arrived, we rested and enjoyed our meal, unaware that we were only halfway through. The second half of the journey involved steep climbs. Every time we asked our instructor if we had reached the top, he jokingly said, “Yep, this is the top,” until we finally did reach it. From the summit, we could see the river where we’d kayak to the campsite.

Kayaking was fun but challenging, and thankfully, no one fell in! Once at the campsite, we set up our tents and cooked dinner, which turned out surprisingly well.

My friend and I had a blast until we realized we had no pillows. We built a barricade with our bags to rest our heads. We toasted marshmallows and enjoyed hot chocolate by the campfire before bed.

Bright and early the next morning, we packed up for the next leg of our walk. It felt like a long trek, and we were exhausted, with some enjoying Haribos along the way. By then, my legs were so stiff I could barely move.

The expedition was challenging, but we pushed through and enjoyed the experience. I would definitely recommend the camp! Elizabeth

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A Year in Houldsworth

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U4 International Exchange Global Connections: Reflections on the U4 Exchange Programme This session was a fantastic year, with 12 students participating in our Upper 4 programme. They were paired with students from four of our partner schools. Below are some snapshots of their experiences:

Germantown Friends School – Philadelphia

"I spent four weeks in Philadelphia, while my exchange partner, Ana, spent a month here in Edinburgh. This exchange was enriching and enlightening; I feel like a completely changed person, with new perspectives on everything!" Zoe

Trinity Valley School – Fort Worth, Texas

"My experience on the exchange was amazing. I went to Fort Worth, Texas, and attended a school called Trinity Valley. My experiences were incredible, and I tried so many new things. Some of the best experiences I had were visiting Six Flags, trying brisket for the first time, and just going to school and meeting new people. I would highly recommend this experience to anyone who wants to gain more independence."Beth "I loved taking part in this exchange because it is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to go to another country and live with a different family for a couple of weeks. I also tried activities that I usually wouldn’t, such as an art festival. What made my exchange even better was that my partner and I got along so well; she felt like another sister to me. Her family also felt quite a lot like mine, and they were some of the nicest people I have ever met. They welcomed me into their home with open arms." Zara

Havergal College – Toronto, Canada "I had the most amazing experience on the exchange. I must admit, it was a rollercoaster of emotions – from leaving my family in Scotland to then leaving my exchange family in Canada. As soon as I met my partner, we instantly clicked. A fun part of my

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exchange experience, although it may not seem so, was being a tourist in Scotland. For example, going around Edinburgh and properly looking at monuments I would normally walk by without a second thought."Paige

Trips G "First, my exchange partner came to Scotland for two weeks in March. As soon as she got here, we immediately clicked, and it felt like having another sister for two weeks.

It was so much fun showing her around Edinburgh and doing things I had never done before, like visiting Camera Obscura. We also did many other things, such as going to the school ceilidh dance and visiting the castle, which she loved. After that, I went to Canada for two weeks in April, and my exchange partner gave me an unforgettable experience. We did so many things, like visiting Niagara Falls, going up the CN Tower, and going to the aquarium."Holly

St Clement’s School – Toronto, Canada

"My exchange experience is one I will never forget. I made so many memories both when hosting and travelling.

I hope that anyone who is given this opportunity takes it, as it is a once-in-a-lifetime experience. I am so grateful to have had the chance to share my experiences and reflect on all the amazing things I learned throughout the exchange. Going to Canada was incredible. It was amazing to experience such a different lifestyle from what we have in Scotland. St Clement’s was different in many ways, which was fascinating from a cultural point of view. My host family was incredibly kind and provided me with so many fun and memorable activities, such as visiting Niagara Falls, going up the CN Tower, attending a skating show, and watching a Blue Jays baseball game, as well as experiencing daily life in Toronto. I was particularly lucky to be there during the solar eclipse, which I never thought I would see." Tessa St Clement’s was so welcoming, and I felt comfortable instantly. Everyone was so nice, and I knew I was going to miss them a lot when I left. The subjects were different, and it was so interesting to see what they were learning in the different periods of the day. The teachers were amazing, treating us like part of the class and always ensuring we had something to do, whether it was joining in on group activities or following along with the lesson." Ghorgie "I have enjoyed the exchange so much; it has been such a wonderful experience. When I went to Canada, I was a bit nervous because I was away from my family and didn’t know what to expect. But as soon as I met my exchange partner Chloe and her family, they were all so kind and welcoming that I knew I was going to have a great time. I wasn’t nervous at all after that. The experience of attending a different school in a different country was so exciting. The people at St Clement’s were so welcoming, and it was fun to be around them. The exchange was such a great opportunity, and I loved the experience so much!"

Caroline

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G Trips

Sixth Form International Exchange

Sydney, Australia – A PLC Sydney – A Month Life-Changing Experience of Exploration I was incredibly fortunate to have an amazing time last summer in Sydney!

The day I arrived, my host organised the Sky Walk around the edge of the Sydney Centrepoint Tower. We were 268 metres high, and the views were breathtaking – it was a tremendous introduction to Sydney. We spent a month exploring the city, completing the famous Bondi to Bronte walk, and sailing underneath the Harbour Bridge.

One of my highlights was a family trip down to the south of Sydney, to a farm in the countryside. The landscape, the people, and the Australian animals were all so memorable. It was a great weekend of hunting, driving utes, sunshine, and cooking over log fires by the river.

This exchange was a life-changing experience, and I can’t wait to go back to Australia one day and see all of my friends again! Susanna

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Last summer, I had the incredible opportunity to go on the school exchange programme to Australia and attend PLC Sydney. Within the school, all the exchange students from a variety of different countries were given the chance to go on multiple excursions. Some of the highlights were visiting the zoo, Bondi Beach, and the aquarium.

On the last day at the school, we attended an art lesson where we made prints of the Sydney Harbour Bridge and learned to cook iconic Australian Anzac biscuits in their food technology labs. My exchange partner and I often went shopping after school and on weekends, visiting various malls such as Bondi Junction and Broadway. She also took me to do the Harbour Bridge climb, where I got to see incredible views over the city. Towards the end of the month, we had a day out in the Blue Mountains, where we went on a walk through their amazing forests. Abi

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South Africa – An Unforgettable Adventure South Africa was one of the most memorable experiences I have ever had. I flew ten thousand miles to witness the most extraordinary sights. I still keep in touch with my amazing exchange partner and have learned so much about the country.

In the wild, I saw real lions, zebras, elephants, and cheetahs, which were incredible to witness. I also experienced beautiful night skies, rolling hills, and gorged on delicious food. DGC (Durban Girls' College)

was exceptionally accommodating for exchange students, offering African beading classes, a city tour, boat trips, and the opportunity to join various extracurricular activities.

Everyone was extremely friendly, and I felt so welcome. If I were ever given the chance, I would go back a hundred times. It has certainly changed my life.

Heather

Hosting Durban Girls' College, South Africa Recently, faced with the challenging but exciting task of hosting, my exchange partner and I have been tying jackets around our waists like true tourists.

Though it may sound strange to be a tourist in your own country, taking someone else to see a place for the first time can be just as exciting as when you saw it for the first time.

Letting my partner take the lead on what she wants to see, while my mum and I make suggestions about

where and when works best, we’ve visited the Royal Yacht Britannia, the Royal Mile, Edinburgh Castle, the Edinburgh Dungeons, touched the nose of Greyfriars Bobby, explored Greyfriars Kirkyard, climbed Calton Hill and Arthur’s Seat, and even went on a day trip to Glasgow, ending with a concert. Many hours of great fun and plenty of pictures to capture the moments.

With only four weeks of hosting my partner, it almost feels too short! Amy

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G Trips

South Africa Sports Tour Hockey, Hippos, and High Spirits During the summer holidays, 30 students and 6 staff members embarked on a remarkable sports tour to South Africa. Throughout our journey, we engaged in hockey and netball matches while exploring the vibrant cities of Cape Town and Stellenbosch.

Our first match was against a development club in Langa, which proved to be both challenging and rewarding, set against the breathtaking backdrop of Table Mountain. Both teams embraced the spirit of sportsmanship by collaborating and donating old PE kits to their netball teams. This act of community outreach transformed the trip into an unforgettable experience, fostering lasting connections and a positive impact beyond the field.

Our second fixture was against Herschel Girls' School. It was an exhilarating match, punctuated by the presence of peacocks and dachshunds wandering across the pitch—Miss Aitken even shed a few tears (her fear of birds got the better of her).

The subsequent hockey match was against Wynberg High School. Despite it being winter in South Africa, we played in sweltering heat reminiscent of our summer. This impromptu match featured both the first and second teams, each playing a half. Regrettably, we

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were unable to secure a win. Fun fact: one of the players on this team was recently selected as the captain of the U18 South Africa hockey team!

Our final hockey match was against Hugenote High School, located near Stellenbosch. The first team concluded the tour with a commanding 5-1 victory, while the seconds demonstrated admirable resilience despite a 2-0 defeat. In addition to the matches, we participated in several training sessions, one of which was led by a national coach—an incredible opportunity for skill development. Our last session took place at the Stellenbosch University hockey pitches, under the guidance of Mr Campbell. Competing against South African teams was indeed a challenge, yet their warmth and hospitality provided a delightful balance of competitiveness and enjoyment.

We also engaged in two friendly netball matches against Paarl Girls' High School, a school ranked among the top ten in South Africa. With true St George's determination, we prepared to take on their C and D teams. It was inspiring to see players who typically do not compete step forward and give their all. The spirit of St George's was palpable, with enthusiastic chants and cheers emanating from the

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sidelines—I'm certain the entire town of Paarl heard us! Following the matches, we were given a tour of their school, offering fascinating insights into the differences in school life between South Africa and Scotland.

A cherished tradition of our tour was awarding our St George’s mascot, a dragon, to the player of the match after each game. This honour is particularly special, as only a few St George’s girls possess one.

Below, you can see some players proudly receiving their dragons—a rare and treasured gift!

Camps Bay

When not engaged in hockey and netball, we visited various locations and participated in a range of activities. Unfortunately, our planned trip to Robben Island was cancelled, so Mrs Fourie arranged a visit to Camps Bay, a world-renowned beach. The sun shone brightly, though the water was freezing; a few brave

girls ventured in for a swim. Afterward, we indulged in some of the best ice cream imaginable!

City Tour

We explored the stunning city of Cape Town aboard our private city bus. Known as the Mother City, Cape Town is breathtaking, with Table Mountain as a backdrop and surrounded by the sea. It is easy to understand why it is one of the most visited cities in the world. We were treated to magnificent views, though the chilly weather caught us by surprise.

Zip Line

We earned our wings with Canopy Tours, soaring through the treetops from platform to platform under the vigilant care of our knowledgeable guides. While it was intimidating to be so high up, the experience was exhilarating. We celebrated our accomplishment with hot chocolate afterward, gazing at the zip lines we had just traversed, filled with pride.

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African Experience

One of the highlights of our trip was an evening at the Gold Restaurant, where we sampled 11 cuisines from various regions of Africa, accompanied by vibrant singers and dancers showcasing their cultural heritage.

We were even invited on stage to learn a traditional South African dance.

Surfing

Another exhilarating experience was surfing! We began by learning about the different flags used to signal shark activity, which heightened our awareness.

With that knowledge in mind, we eagerly picked up our boards and cautiously entered the water. It didn’t take long for us to forget about the sharks—the warm

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water, perfect waves, and our shared enthusiasm led everyone to catch a wave!

While in South Africa, we had the opportunity to visit The Pebbles Project in Stellenbosch, where we volunteered to make soap and assist in educating younger children. We divided into two groups: the Lower 6s began by making soap, then switched with the Upper 6s, who engaged with the younger children.

We spent time in the baby room, where older toddlers clamoured for a turn in a push-around car while younger babies peacefully slept. We even caught Mr Campbell nodding off in a rocking chair with a tiny baby in his arms! Next door, the toddler room was home to a few slightly older boys who were quieter but equally enjoyable to play with. We either sat on the

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floor building towers or sat at a table, playing snap (albeit with their unique rules!). Bidding farewell to the children was bittersweet, as we all relished the time spent with them.

Prior to our departure, we fundraised to purchase sports equipment for the project. Along with our old PE kits, we donated balls, swing ball sets, bubbles, stationery, and essentials such as baby formula and nappies.

Before leaving, we gathered in the car park with several project leaders to express our gratitude for their hospitality. Their reactions to our gifts were heartwarming, highlighting how the things we often take for granted can profoundly impact others. The work being done at The Pebbles Project is truly inspiring, and their commitment to providing the best for the children is commendable.

Safari

Our adventure culminated with a two-day safari at Aquila—an unforgettable experience! We encountered elephants, rhinos, hippos, zebras, giraffes, springboks, and an array of other wildlife.

During the safari, we enjoyed snacks, though we had some amusing encounters with baboons chasing Mrs Bargeton and Miss Aitken! My personal highlight was witnessing a lion just five metres away. We rose early to catch a glimpse of the lions, and it was undoubtedly worth the effort.

In sum, our South Africa tour was a remarkable blend of sport, culture, and unforgettable connections, leaving us enriched with experiences and memories that will last a lifetime.

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Library News Every year, the libraries are bustling hubs of new books and activities. Here are some of the highlights from the 2023-2024 school year.

Author Visits

We were lucky enough to have an incredible array of author visits this year. Our younger students in the Junior School enjoyed visits from Kate Abernethy and Margaret Lillie, having a romp of a time learning about how a story is made into a book through our canine friends. At the beginning of the year, the prolific Holly Webb visited our school and left a great impression—we're still reading her books and talking about her at the end of the school year!

The Junior and Lower Schools together had author visits from Cressida Cowell, Lucy Strange, Elle McNicoll, Abi Elphinstone, and A.F. Steadman. These authors covered a range of genres and topics, such as historical fiction, adventure, fantasy, general fiction, and science fiction. Remove students were treated to a creative writing workshop with Lucy Strange on a gothic theme. Primary 4, 5, and 6 learned to take inspiration from ordinary things to make extraordinary stories with Abi Elphinstone. We’re also grateful to Merchiston Castle School for inviting us to see Cressida Cowell and A.F. Steadman. Students thoroughly enjoyed learning how authors got their start, asking a range of questions about their books, and meeting the authors to get books and bookmarks signed.

There were some incredible ideas for stories, characters, and themes that were brought to life.

Patron of Reading and Adrien Prize

This year, we celebrated Elle McNicoll as our Patron of Reading for 2023-2025. Elle is our second Patron of Reading, taking over from Anna James, author of the bestselling Pages & Co series. Elle is a bestselling and award-winning author and television producer. She is also an advocate for better representation of neurodiversity in storytelling. As Patron of Reading, Elle is our school’s dedicated author, enhancing our culture of reading through initiatives and events throughout the year and across the school. We were honoured to be this year’s Young Judges for the Adrien Prize, an annual award for positive representation of neurodiversity and disability in children’s books. Our five Lower School judges—Samhita, Maggie, Bess, Erin, and Sophie—read four great books and chose their favourite, When I See Blue by Lily Bailey.

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Co-Curricular Activities

The Junior School Story Time Club had a brilliant time reading books and making crafts, everything from a paper chain caterpillar to an entire wardrobe of pants for an alien to wear. The Book Club spent their time reading Baby Aliens Got My Teacher by Pamela Butchart and ended the year by turning themselves into aliens and creating their own rocket ship to head off to space!

The Junior School Student Librarians worked hard this year. They helped with shelving in library lessons, delivered Christmas post, presented information in multiple assemblies, and even created their own book award! They announced at the end of this year that The Button Book by Sally Nicholls and Bethan Woollvin is the inaugural winner of the St George’s Picture Book Award.

The Lower School has been lucky to have an enthusiastic group of Student Librarians this year. They designed eye-catching displays showcasing their favourite books, organised fun lunchtime activities for World Book Day, and took steps to make browsing easier by organising books into different genres.

Four of our Lower School students represented the school at the National Reading Champions Quiz. Samhita, Autumn, Erin, and Imogen showcased their literary prowess by competing against 18 other schools in the regional heats.

Throughout the event, the girls enthusiastically tackled 75 questions covering a vast array of books, demonstrating their extensive reading knowledge and love for literature.

In the Upper School, the Student Librarians honed their library management skills and took on creative tasks. They crafted badges for Reading Record prizes and designed engaging library displays, including a display featuring books with screen adaptations and a fun character personality quiz. Our Upper School Book Club named themselves ‘Back to the Books’ this year and read The Society for Soulless Girls by Laura Steven, Everything, Everything by Nicola Yoon, Legendborn by Tracy Deonn, Five Survive by Holly Jackson, Ready Player One by Ernest Cline, and The Eternal Return of Clara Hart by Louise Finch.

World Book Day

World Book Day is always an exciting event across the whole school. We all dressed up, inspired by our favourite childhood books and characters, and enjoyed a day of bookish fun, activities, and author visits. The Upper School listened to Elle McNicoll talk about her journey as a storyteller and played everyone’s favourite matching game, Literary Pairs. The Lower School was joined by Merchiston, and after listening to an author visit by Elle McNicoll, they participated in a book quiz to test their knowledge. A lot of fun was had, and some new friendships were formed. The Junior School had a visit from Emma-Louise Beeson and, of course, our book fair, where students and family members were able to come after school to buy books and support our school. This year, our purchases raised a record amount, allowing us to buy many more books for our library!

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G Sport

Hockey

1st XI Hockey Team

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Our 1st XI Hockey team began the season as a young and relatively inexperienced group, having lost 11 players from the previous year's squad. This resulted in some challenging results in September, but the team concluded the first half-term with an encouraging 3-2 win against Loretto. In November, we faced a tough draw in the first round of the Scottish Cup, away to Dollar Academy. The girls demonstrated remarkable improvement in a short space of time, playing with great spirit and skill; they led the game 1-0 with only 12 minutes remaining but ultimately lost 2-1 to the eventual Scottish Cup winners.

Our new kit has been a significant boost, contributing to a professional appearance for the team and enhancing their confidence. We extend a heartfelt thank you to I-Confidential for their support. It has been a pleasure to witness the camaraderie between our older and younger players, both on and off the pitch, throughout the season. Notable highlights include a 3-2 victory over Dollar in January and commendable performances in our hockey sevens tournaments in March. Our squad now has the opportunity to tour South Africa in August, and with many players returning next season, our hopes are high for a successful year ahead!

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Lower 5A Hockey The L5A team has had a fantastic 2023/24 season. They have improved significantly as a unit and have been a joy to coach, making steady progress with each game.

We enjoyed an excellent East District Tournament, winning our section and scoring some impressive team goals. We also reached the semi-finals of the Scottish Cup, where we lost to Edinburgh Academy. The

highlight of the season was the East Cup Final, where the girls were narrowly defeated 1-0 by George Watson's. This match showcased a brilliant team performance, reflecting all the hard work the girls had put in throughout the season. The team exhibited grit, determination, and excellent linking play. Well done, team!

Indoor Hockey Our 1st Indoor team competed in the East District Tournament on Friday, 1st December. The team prepared well with morning sessions and a friendly match but lost their group games 2-1 to George Heriot's and 4-1 to The Mary Erskine

School, with goals scored by Caitlin and Izzy. With eight players competing in indoor hockey for the first time, the team showed plenty of promise for the upcoming season.

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Netball A Season of Success

This season, seven teams competed in the Netball Scotland Scottish Schools Cup competition. Twelve games were played during the pool stages, and it was fantastic to see so many of our girls on the court enjoying the experience. The Lower 4A and Lower 5A teams progressed to the Plate competition, while the Upper 4A and First Senior teams advanced to the Cup competition. Both the First Team and Upper 4A team faced tough opponents in their first knockout rounds.

Congratulations to the Lower 5 team for winning their first knockout round and securing a top 10 spot in their competition, and to the Lower 4 team for reaching their Plate final.

Our Primary 6 and Remove teams had a fantastic time participating in the EPSSA Netball tournaments. It was wonderful to see so many enthusiastic girls showcasing their skills on the court. Well done to all involved!

Lower 4A Netball Team Earns Silver at Scottish Cup

The Lower 4A Netball team concluded their Scottish Cup campaign with a silver medal in the Netball

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Scotland S1 Plate Competition. Their journey began in November with three games against Edinburgh Schools, securing second place in their pool to continue in the Plate competition. After Christmas, the knockout rounds started with a 15-5 win away against Perth Academy in the regional round. The quarter-final was another away game, where they beat Lomond School 28-5. Next was the semi-final against Holyrood Secondary School, which they won 24-11 to reach the final.

After six months and eight games, the girls travelled to Glasgow's Emirates Arena, home of the Strathclyde Sirens, for the final. Their opponent was an experienced North Berwick High School team. The girls had a nervous start but fought hard, refusing to give up. After four quarters, they earned silver medals and gained valuable experience playing on such a big stage.

Congratulations to North Berwick High on their gold medal as new S1 Plate Champions. Elodie received Player of the Match honours. The girls can be proud of their efforts, demonstrating resilience with extra early training sessions. Some began playing netball this season, while others changed positions, but all showed remarkable commitment throughout.

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Athletics Aspiring Athlete Programme This year, we introduced an Aspiring Athlete Programme as part of our Upper School Sports Programme. The aim of the programme is to provide a supportive infrastructure for long-term athletic development, enabling our students to maximise their potential and achieve their personal aspirations of playing sport at the highest possible level. Our success criteria is to ensure that pupils leave school with the self-confidence and physical competence to undertake a training programme in various environments.

Currently, the programme includes strength and

conditioning sessions in our gym, as well as regular talks and workshops on topics such as nutrition and sports psychology. We have partnered with Athletes Focused to run the Strength and Conditioning Programme, which develops a range of physical competencies centred around fundamental movement patterns. We welcomed nutritionist Christine Bailey, who discussed the importance of nutrition for sports performance with our aspiring athletes. World record cyclist Josh Quigley also spoke about his journey and the role nutrition played in his success.

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Olympic Day Celebration Inspiring Young Athletes Students from Primary 4 to Lower 4 participated in a fun-filled Olympic Day event, celebrating the Olympic year. The day focused on Olympic education, sports exploration, and promoting an active lifestyle.

Partnering with local organisations, students tried various Olympic sports, including: • Football with Spartans FC • Judo with Edinburgh Judo • Basketball with The Crags Centre • Weightlifting with Athletes Focused • Lacrosse with Lacrosse Scotland • Skateboarding with The Surf Skate Academy

In collaboration with Merchiston Castle School, we expanded the sports offerings to include rowing, rugby, volleyball, athletics, table tennis, hockey, golf, and gymnastics. This diverse range of activities aims to empower our students and friends from Merchiston, helping them discover new passions and embrace the Olympic values of excellence, friendship, and respect.

We are grateful to all participating organisations and our partners at Merchiston Castle School for making this Olympic Day celebration a memorable and inspiring experience for our young athletes.

Lacrosse

The Lacrosse Sixes team were undefeated in the bleak conditions at Fettes College. The girls battled through the rain and the mud to win the 6s

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Championship, fending off Loretto, Fettes and Glen Almond College.

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Equestrian 2023/24 has been another busy year for the St George’s equestrians with new team members, partnerships, injuries and new events. Never-the-less they have approached every change with commitment and positivity. It has been great to watch the partnerships and friendships blossom.

Qualifiers at the Ian Stark Equestrian Centre on Sunday 5th May. They were Katie Russell Remove, Isla Innes U4, Isla Thomson U4, Orlaith Bailey L5, and Bea Earnshaw U5. ISEC did not disappoint with its quirky fences and plenty of tricks to test our riders.

Orlaith came second in the Warmup event. For the first time, we had two teams competing in the 80-85cm Showjumping event. The St George's White Team comprising of Orlaith, Bea and Katie, came Sixth in the 80-85cm Team Qualifier and are looking forward to competing in the NSEA Championship Plate in October.

The first schools’ event of the year was Strathallan’s Show Jumping competition at Highfields Equestrian Centre of Howe in November. Three of our riders competed there namely Orlaith Bailey L5, Isla Innes U4 and Isla Thomson U4. Isla Thomson was placed fourth in the 75cm Show Jumping and whilst there were no other placings, it was great day for the girls and their ponies to gain more experience in different events.

The Equestrian students had a great time at the Highfields of Howe NSEA Interschools National Qualifiers events, on Sunday 17th March 2024. Four students competed at this event namely, Isla Innes U4, Isla Thomson U4, Orlaith Bailey L5 and Bea Earnshaw U5. Isla Thomson came second in the 60cm Warm Up, Orlaith was third in the Dressage, whilst Isla Innes and Bea Earnshaw jumped clear in the 70/75cm and 80/85cm Show Jumping classes, respectively. A great day all round and lovely to see them enjoying the event together and with their ponies.

Five St George’s riders competed at the National Schools NSEA Showjumping

Three members of St George's equestrian team, Bea, Isla Innes and Elizabeth Round competed at Scottish National Equestrian Centre (SNEC) for the NSEA National Schools Arena Eventing Qualifiers on Saturday 25th May 2024. This was the first time the girls had competed in the Arena Jumping, and Elizabeth's first event representing the school. It was a fun day with some very tough courses and lots of learning!

Some news of one of our previous team members and 2024 leaver, Rosie Simpson and her horse Sierra, who came second at Blair Castle Horse Trials qualifying them for the Voltaire Grassroots Championships 100cm at Badminton Horse Trials. Although, not highly placed they smashed the cross country.

Congratulations to all of our equestrian members who have worked hard this year. We look forward to seeing all of you again next year and adding to your number.

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Awards & Presentations NEW RECORDS ON SPORTS DAY Katie Hall – Cricket ball distance of 37.57m Teme Desi – New Lower 4 80m record with a time of 10.4s Anna Matheson – New Lower 5 80m record with a time of 10.4s

VOLUNTEER & CONTRIBUTION

Person who has contributed to PE/Sport as a volunteer or helper Orlaith Bailey – Orlaith has been a key member of the Lower 4 hockey club. Her commitment and kind manner made her an invaluable helper, even assisting on Saturdays when she could. Her efforts throughout the year were greatly appreciated.

YEAR GROUP SPORT AWARDS

Individual participation in a variety of sports for school, shown commitment, good attitude and good teammate.

Tessa Daubenspeck, P6 Charlotte Crawford, Remove Isla McGlynn, L4 Tessa Gilchrist-Adams, U4 Anna Matheson, L5 Mabel Platt, U5 Verity Shand, L6 Rosie Platt, U6

YEAR GROUP EXCELLENCE SPORT AWARDS

Awarded for individual excellence in a variety of sports.

Melody Ross, P6 Bess Lloyd, Remove Elodie Dick, L4 Beth Buchanan, U4 Francesca Earl, L5 Isobelle Paton, U5 Susanna Hotson, L6

OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE OF THE YEAR: UPPER SCHOOL

Best performance of the year in a single fixture or event.

6s Lacrosse at Fettes Tournament – The girls won all their matches, remaining undefeated after beating Loretto in the final, all while contending with true Scottish weather—very wet, muddy, and cold.

OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE OF THE YEAR: LOWER SCHOOL

Best performance of the year in a single fixture or event.

Teme Desi – Congratulations to Teme for breaking a 19-year-standing record with a time of 10.4 seconds in the 80m sprint. The day prior, she equalled this long-standing record of 10.9 seconds in the semifinals, setting a new benchmark for future athletes.

This achievement is particularly impressive, as she is only 0.1 seconds away from the senior upper school record, making her one to watch in the coming years.

DISTRICT/NATIONAL EVENT REPRESENTATION RECOGNITIONS

The following students were chosen for their sports District Team or participated in a National Event.

Iris Weston – Netball (U17 Edinburgh District) Kari Fourie – Netball (U15 Edinburgh District) Beth Buchanan – Hockey (U14 East District Squad) Lily Finlayson-Russell – Hockey (U15 East District Squad) Hannah McIntosh – Hockey (U15 East District Squad) Elodie Dick – Tennis (East of Scotland U14) Kana Saito – Tennis (East of Scotland U14) Anushka Anoj – Tennis (East of Scotland U18) Bella Geard – Swimming (East of Scotland) Charlotte Earl – Lacrosse (Development) Florence Henry – Lacrosse (Development) Chloe Hu – GB Roller Derby Training Squad

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TEAM OF THE YEAR – UPPER SCHOOL This award is for a team that demonstrated good teamwork, dedication, and consistent performance throughout the season.

Lower 5A Hockey Team – The team had an excellent East District Tournament, winning their section and scoring some fantastic team goals.

They also reached the semi-final of the Scottish Cup, narrowly losing to Edinburgh Academy. The highlight of the season was the East Cup Final, where the girls were defeated 1-0 by George Watson's. This match showcased a brilliant team performance, reflecting all the hard work they put in throughout the season. Well done, team!

TEAM OF THE YEAR - LOWER SCHOOL This award is for a team that demonstrated good teamwork, dedication, and consistent performance throughout the season.

Lower 4A Netball Team – All the girls can be very proud of their efforts. They went above and beyond this season, attending several extra early morning training sessions. Some girls only just started playing netball this season, while others changed positions, demonstrating resilience and grit in every game. Well done!

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Awards & Presentations - continued INTERNATIONAL REPRESENTATION RECOGNITIONS

The following students were chosen to represent Scotland.

Honor Simpson – Hockey Edinburgh Lightning Brave Aspiring Girls Squad.

Abi Grahamslaw – Hockey Edinburgh Lightning Brave Aspiring Girls Squad.

Jessica Forman – Hockey Edinburgh Lightning Brave Aspiring Girls Squad.

Isobelle Paton – Lacrosse Scotland.

Isla McLintock – Lacrosse Scotland.

Diya Shukla – Cricket Scotland Girls U15 Cricket Squad.

Adwita Choudhury – Cricket Scotland Girls U15 Cricket Squad.

Deepti Vijayakumar – Badminton Scotland Junior National Squad.

Vibha Raman – Badminton Scotland Senior Development Squad.

Caoimhe Vick – Swimming Scottish Swimming Junior Academy.

Evie McCallum – Golf Scotland.

Teme Desi – Gymnastics Scotland.

Alexia Hardie – Fencing Great Britain.

Rosie Simpson – Eventing Scotland.

“Natural talent only determines the limits of your athletic potential.

It's dedication and a willingness to discipline your life that makes you great.”

Billie Jean King

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STEEDMAN SALVER AWARD

Awarded to an individual with the best performance in a range of sports. This is a particularly strong field and it has been difficult to select the winner, as each nominee has been outstanding in their time at St George’s.

Olivia Anderson – Olivia has excelled in her time at school, serving as vice-captain of the 1st XI hockey team and captain of the 1st netball team this session. Throughout her career at St George's, she has represented the school in athletics, equestrian events, and lacrosse, demonstrating her commitment as a dedicated team member. She embodies all the attributes required to excel in sport, and we have thoroughly enjoyed witnessing her journey.

PE AWARD

Awarded to the most outstanding team or individual(s) Honor Simpson – Honor has captained the 1st XI hockey team and was a key player in both the 1st lacrosse and tennis teams. Outside of school, she has participated in the Lacrosse All-Stars, Scotland's development squad, and the Brave Hockey programme. Honor has balanced playing at a high level alongside her school commitments, exemplifying dedication to school sport.

She always steps up for extra fixtures and serves as an excellent role model. Her love for sport is contagious, inspiring those around her to strive for excellence.

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Sports Day St George’s Sports Days were once again among the highlights of the year, featuring four separate events for Nursery, Junior, Lower, and Upper School.

The sun shone (occasionally), and everyone had fun competing for their house with great enthusiasm. It was wonderful to see so many girls participating, whether individually on the track or in the field, in the 'fun track' events for house points, or in the many relays. We also witnessed some excellent athletics this year, with two long-standing school records broken. Congratulations to Teme Desi (Lower 4) and Anna Matheson (Lower 5) for setting new school records in the 80m sprint for their respective age groups—an outstanding achievement!

Our individual sports day champions for 2024 are listed below. Well done to the winners and all who took part!

Primary 5 • 1st: Gigi Lloyd • 2nd: Zoe Enahoro • 3rd: Zara Russell Primary 6 • 1st: Alice Bennett • 2nd: Georgia Cairns • 3rd: Annabel Jimenez Remove • 1st: Eva Mudavanhu • 2nd: Bess Lloyd • 3rd: Kana Saito Lower 4 • 1st: Teme Desi • 2nd: Isla Kay • 3rd: Oonagh Corrigan Upper 4 • 1st: Sophia Belsey • 2nd: Kari Fourie • 3rd: Bella Oxley Lower 5 • 1st: Anna Matheson • 2nd: Scarlett Gilchrist-Adams • 3rd: Francesca Earl Senior • 1st: Daisy Scott-Watson • 2nd: Mary Brotherton • 3rd: Julia Janowska New Records • Lower 4 80m record: Teme Desi, 10.4 seconds • Lower 5 80m record: Anna Matheson, 10.4 seconds Finally, congratulations to Douglas, the overall winners of the Sports Day house competition!

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G Staff

Staff Leavers As Lynn embarks on a well-deserved retirement, with plans to enjoy family time, hobbies, and the company of her dog, Fiona, the St George’s community thanks her for decades of dedication and wishes her the very best for the future. Lower School—and indeed the entire school—won’t be the same without her.

Lynn Paterson

Lower School Facilities Assistant, 30 Years of Service For over 30 years, Lynn Paterson has been an integral part of the St George’s community, known for her warmth, kindness, and unwavering commitment to students and staff alike. Beginning her career as a Facilities Assistant in the Lansdowne kitchen, Lynn played a vital role in supporting the Lower School’s dining arrangements, catering to hundreds of pupils daily.

As her role evolved, Lynn became a dependable presence across many areas of school life, taking on early morning duties, playground supervision, afterschool care, and administrative support. Her meticulous attention to detail shone when she began assisting in the Head’s office, offering her trademark home-baked treats and freshly brewed tea at key meetings.

Beyond her professional duties, Lynn’s genuine care for others left an indelible mark. From guiding children safely across the road to supervising games in the playground or ringing the iconic hand bell, she was a comforting and calming influence. Her colleagues fondly recall her cheerful adaptability—whether making scones in the Lansdowne kitchen or ensuring school events like Diversity Day ran smoothly.

Mel Aitken, Head of Lower School, aptly describes Lynn as “patient, selfless, and unflappable,” always tackling tasks with a smile. Staff and students alike will remember her warmly, from her signature purple bag on the mail run to her white coat as she prepared bacon rolls.

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Muriel Hackland

Classroom Assistant, 22 Years of Service For 22 years, Muriel Wilson has been a vibrant and dedicated member of the St George’s community, bringing creativity, warmth, and positivity to every role she undertook. Her journey with the school began in 2001 as a Junior School Auxiliary, and over the years, she became an integral part of school life, excelling as a Classroom Assistant and as the organiser of After School Care and Holiday Clubs.

Muriel’s knack for creating joyful experiences is unforgettable. From organising engaging trips and creative craft activities to transforming the Reading Room into a cosy haven, her efforts have enriched the lives of countless children. Most recently, her work supporting Primary 3 to 5 teachers and students has been exemplary, showcasing her meticulous nature and caring spirit.

Beyond her skills and accomplishments, Muriel’s cheerful presence and personal style have left an indelible mark on St George’s. Her bright smile, infectious positivity, and love of vibrant colours have brought joy to students, parents, and colleagues alike.

As she retires, Muriel leaves behind a legacy of

Staff G creativity, kindness, and dedication. The entire St George’s community thanks her for 22 remarkable years of service and wishes her a retirement filled with new adventures, happiness, and fulfilment.

Gary Wallace

Teacher of Design and Technology, 21 years service We were sad to see the departure of Gary Wallace in June 2024 after 21 years of service at St George’s.

Gary came straight to St George’s as a Teacher of Design and Technology from Glasgow University after completing a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Technological Education in 2002. He brought with him a wealth of experience not least from his time served in the Parachute Regiment, where he was a Senior Military Instructor, having joined aged 17. Gary drew on his military experience as a member of the CCF which he led for several years.

Gary made a huge impression on all his pupils. His vast depth of technical knowledge, sense of humour and larger than life personality meant there was always a waiting list for his young engineer’s classes. Students affectionately knew as ‘Mr Walrus’ on account of his trademark moustache. Indeed, for many years he has been the face and driving force behind the Western Desert Recce Group, a charity that restores WW1 and WW2 vehicles, supporting and supported by military veterans. Gary was always happy to share this experience with the school, even bringing in his own restored WW2 jeep to show pupils and using his workshop and tools to help pupils restore a Triumph Spitfire.

Whilst we know Gary won’t miss his mammoth daily commute from Glasgow, he will be greatly missed by the generations of students he taught, and we wish him every happiness for the future and spending more time with his family and with his charitable work.

chemistry department’s contribution. She also enjoys dressing up, and we will miss her Marie Curie impersonation.

She is a wonderful teacher and team leader: generous with her time and support. Her voice and teaching style are unmistakable. If you wander down the Chemistry corridor, you can hear her explaining things in a precise and articulate way, emphasising the important phrases and key points.

We will miss her subtle sense of humour, her supportive nature, and her cool, calm manner whatever the situation. Our loss is Northern Ireland’s gain.

Claire Hainsworth

Principal Teacher of Chemistry, 16 Years of Service Claire has been a wonderful member of our team in Chemistry. She has led the Go4SET and STEM industrial cadets for many years and organised many other enrichment trips to St Andrews and Edinburgh universities.

She is a great organiser and talented choreographer, leading many of the Science faculty’s contributions to staff extravaganzas over the years. She even managed to cope when Joelle was stuck in quarantine and had to dance in front of her computer to be part of the

Dyhan Eisenecker

Music Administrator, (Almost) 16 Years of Service A girl should be two things: classy and fabulous.”

This quote by Coco Chanel perfectly captures Dyhan Eisenecker, who has been the heart and soul of the Music Department at St George’s. Combining

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G Staff dedication, efficiency, and vast knowledge with an unfailing sense of positivity, Dyhan defined her role as music school administrator with elegance and assurance.

Her impeccable organisational skills ensured every detail was in its place, leaving the department stronger than ever. Beyond logistics, Dyhan became a source of calm and confidence for students, parents, and staff, easing pre-exam nerves, solving problems, and helping others face challenges with self-assurance. The many heartfelt conversations and tearful farewells in her office stand as a testament to her profound influence on the lives she touched.

With retirement, Dyhan’s plans include spending more time with her family, embarking on new adventures in travel and hiking, and indulging a passion for cooking. While her presence will be deeply missed, her legacy of excellence and care will continue to inspire.

Her exceptional service to the Music Department and St George’s has left an indelible mark. Wishing her every happiness in this new chapter, along with the hope that Chanel and Dior will play a part in the celebrations ahead.

ongoing improvements across the faculty. His engaging, interactive lessons, including creative methods like writing on the desk, will be fondly remembered, along with his many musical contributions to school shows and performances.

A passionate musician, Mark was a key presence in performances, offering calm and steady support to students. His willingness to participate in faculty dance routines, notably as Captain Von Trapp, showcased his playful side and team spirit.

In addition to his teaching role, Mark took on the challenging position of Head of Academic Administration, managing the school’s timetable, room bookings, and cover with remarkable efficiency. His work in this area ensured the smooth operation of the school, from handling subject changes to introducing a new room booking system.

Mark now returns to his first love, Biology, and will also take on a role in rugby at SMC—another passion he has not been able to explore fully at St George’s. His enthusiasm, creativity, and dedication to both teaching and the wider school community will be greatly missed.

Adam Clarke Mark Ashmore

Head of Academic Administration, 13 Years of Service Mark Ashmore joined St George’s in 2011 as Head of Science, bringing a wealth of knowledge, support, and advice to the faculty. His approachable and thoughtful leadership fostered a collaborative environment, where colleagues and students alike benefitted from his guidance. Mark was always forward-thinking, offering valuable insight into course choices and encouraging

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Teacher of German, 13 Years of Service Adam joined St George’s in 2011, after studying Modern European Languages (German and Russian) and European Union at Edinburgh University and completing his PGDE at Moray House. Since then, he has built strong relationships with both students and staff and become an integral part of the school community.

As the sole teacher of German, Adam was responsible for curriculum design and was known for

Staff G creating engaging and fun lessons that balanced educational value with creativity. His perfectionist nature and attention to detail led to excellent exam results and highly motivated students. He also continued the German exchange programme and led successful trips to Paderborn. During the Covid pandemic, Adam and Rachael Porteous expertly guided the MFL faculty, maintaining stability and support for all.

Outside of the MFL faculty, Adam took on the roles of Head of House and U4 Year Head, providing encouragement and support with empathy and humour. He also contributed to CCF for many years.

Adam was always a source of joy and laughter, participating in school events despite his natural shyness. He entertained colleagues and students alike in performances such as dancing to Moulin Rouge, starring as Ron Weasley in a Harry Potter skit, and playing one of the three wise men in the school’s Nativity. His creativity extended into the virtual realm during lockdown, where his Hot Dub Time Machine and the 24-hour paint-a-thon raised money for a school defibrillator, lifting spirits and providing muchneeded morale.

Known for his deep knowledge of global politics and world philosophies, Adam’s quick wit and engaging conversations made him a beloved colleague. Whether at book club, work nights out, or wild swimming, his presence will be greatly missed. We wish him all the best for the future and know he leaves behind fond memories for all who have worked with him.

Iain Maciver

Teacher of History and Modern Studies, 8 Years of Service Iain has been an integral part of St George’s,

embodying the very essence of the school through his dedication, humour, and unwavering commitment to both teaching and student development. His exceptional skills as a historian were matched only by his ability to make even the most challenging historical concepts accessible and engaging. Though his lessons may have seemed chaotic to an outsider, there was always a clear goal in mind, with every discussion and activity designed to deepen students' understanding and prepare them for success. His keen eye for detail and dedication to exam preparation ensured that his students not only grasped core content but developed the critical thinking skills necessary to excel. His steady guidance and constant support were invaluable to his students, who felt both encouraged and secure under his mentorship.

Iain’s impact at St George’s extended far beyond the classroom. As Head of Strathmore House, he demonstrated exceptional leadership, supporting and encouraging students through both academic challenges and personal growth. His influence also stretched across the wider school community, particularly through his work with Model UN, where his intellect and diplomatic skills helped shape the experience for many students. Iain was also a passionate advocate for diversity and inclusion, tirelessly working to promote fairness and ensure that all students felt seen and valued. His contributions to these areas have had a lasting impact, creating a more inclusive and supportive environment for all members of the school community.

Iain’s sense of social justice, strong moral compass, and unwavering commitment to fairness made him not only a wonderful educator but also a cherished colleague. His ability to balance kindness with authority, and his genuine care for students, earned him the respect and admiration of all who worked with him. Whether it was through his leadership roles or his daily interactions with students and staff, Iain consistently demonstrated a dedication to making St George’s a better place for everyone.

Although his presence will be greatly missed, the legacy Iain leaves behind at St George’s is undeniable.

His students and colleagues alike have been fortunate to benefit from his intellect, compassion, and tireless dedication. Iain is truly a hard act to follow, and we wish him all the best in his future endeavours, knowing that his contributions will continue to shape the school long after his departure.

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G Staff

May Gray

Non-Resident Houseparent, 8 Years of Service May joined St George’s through her granddaughters, who were both flexi-boarders. Initially sceptical about the idea of students staying overnight at school, she soon recognised the benefits of being part of the Houldsworth family and, before long, she had joined us herself. What was intended to be a brief retirement job turned into an eight-year journey, with May still outpacing the rest of the team in energy and enthusiasm.

At an age when many would take it easy, May embraced new challenges, diving into the world of technology with determination. Her commitment to lifelong learning culminated in her achievement of an SVQ 3 in Children and Young People in 2023, proving that it's never too late to adapt and grow.

May’s contributions to Houldsworth and St George’s are too numerous to list. Her talents in baking, gardening, flower arranging, and hosting have transformed Houldsworth from a house into a home.

Her ability to focus on the bigger picture while meticulously managing the smaller details made her a pivotal presence in the school.

Above all, May’s greatest impact was in her role as Houseparent, where she built deep, caring relationships with the girls in her charge. Whether offering support through exams or helping them through personal challenges, May’s warm and attentive nature made her beloved by all.

As she embarks on her second retirement, May looks forward to a well-earned break, with plans to indulge in golf, pickleball, skiing, coffee, and cake. Her presence will be deeply missed, and we wish her every joy in the next chapter of her life.

Julia Robertson

Science Technician, 4 Years of Service Julia joined St George's four years ago and quickly made a lasting impression. On her first day, the school discovered her email initials would be JRR, prompting several references to Tolkien, much to Julia’s amusement.

Throughout her time here, Julia has been a cornerstone of the science department, managing the organised chaos of the L4 CREST projects and handling last-minute requests with unwavering efficiency and a willingness to try new ideas. Her super-organised approach and readiness to help made her an invaluable asset, ensuring the smooth running of LS Science.

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Julia also briefly worked in the Food Tech department, where she was a fantastic support, even if the mention of NEA 2 was best avoided! Her organisation and willingness to lend a hand, even at short notice, have made her a much-loved colleague.

Julia’s support and contributions will be greatly missed, and we thank her for all she has done during her time with us.

Bruce Dawson

Head of Facilities, 3.5 Years of Service Bruce joined the school in January 2021. In his time here, he has made significant changes in the Facilities department, ensuring a safe and welcoming environment for everyone. Some of these include modernising our approach to health and safety, improving the customer experience by implementing and analysing the facilities helpdesk, and, along with Mel, really pushing forward the school’s letting programme, generating significant additional income for the school.

Bruce has also led several projects during his time here, including the DT move and the coordination of the RAAC remedial work, which required many room moves as well as coordination of surveyors and contractors behind the scenes. I know many of you have been very grateful for his ability to stay calm and positive while managing challenging logistics.

Bruce has always been willing to lend a hand, and this is evident whether he is directing traffic at the bottom of the drive or getting soaked at 11 pm on a Friday night by a burst pipe in Lansdowne Lodge.

He has provided excellent leadership to the Facilities team, and I know he will be particularly missed by them. We are very grateful for the high standards he has set and the guidance he has provided through many challenges. We are sure Bruce is looking forward to spending more time in the summer with his boat, and of course, Lisa—whether that’s more DIY or just enjoying the sea breeze and the fruits of his hard labour! We wish him all the best in the future.

Stephanie Patmore

Facilities Assistant – Cleaner, 2 Years 10 Months of Service Steph joined Houldsworth as the weekend facilities assistant while balancing her teaching degree and the demands of being a mother to two young children.

Despite these challenges, she became a quiet but steadfast presence within the team—always

Staff G dependable and bringing a sense of calm to those around her.

A flexible and valued member of the team, Steph was always willing to lend a hand, and her hard work never went unnoticed, even though she rarely sought the spotlight. With her teaching degree completed and a probationary teaching position secured, she is now ready to begin the next chapter of her career.

Steph’s contributions to Houldsworth will be greatly missed, and we wish her all the best in the future.

Irene Oksen

Head of Business and Enterprise, 2 Years 7 Months of Service Irene has been a force of innovation and exploration throughout her time at St George’s. Her leadership of the TEDx event in March 2023 exemplified her commitment to creating transformative connections through the sharing of ideas. As she stated herself, her work is driven by a belief in the power of community and knowledge-sharing. This philosophy resonated strongly with her students, who recognised her ability to inspire and encourage growth in Business and Enterprise, an area where her entrepreneurial spirit truly shone.

Beyond the classroom, Irene’s influence extended into cultural diversity and inclusion, highlighted by her role as a panellist at Edinburgh University’s discussion on Black Lives Matter. Though not seeking to be a role model, she has led by example and encouraged others to follow her path.

A true optimist, Irene’s resilience and grace in the face of adversity have been remarkable, particularly in recent weeks. Her commitment to personal growth and helping others extends beyond teaching—she is also an ultra-marathon runner, qualified spin instructor, charity fundraiser, and Samaritan.

Irene leaves us to take up the position of Assistant Dean Academic at Liverpool College, where she is already planning a TEDx event for a global audience of 1,000 people. Her impact at St George’s has been immense, and we wish her all the best as she embarks on this exciting new chapter.

Iris Koglberger

Nursery Administrator and After School Play Leader, 2 Years 5 Months of Service Iris has been an invaluable member of the Junior School and Nursery teams at St George’s, where she has provided exceptional childcare and support to

children and their families. With a wealth of experience working with children of all ages, she has consistently demonstrated a nurturing and warm approach in everything she does.

Her solution-focused mindset and admirable interpersonal skills have made her a supportive and empathetic colleague, always ready to tackle challenges, large or small. Iris is now pursuing her academic studies through a research project that aligns with her future career ambitions, and while she will be missed by the team, we wish her all the best as she follows her heart and embarks on this exciting new chapter.

Natalie Pascual

Lower School Student Welfare Manager, 2 Years 2 Months of Service During her two years at St George’s, Natalie has played a key role in ensuring the smooth operation of life in Lower School, thanks to her excellent communication and organisational skills. Her efforts in keeping both students and parents informed and organised have been invaluable.

Natalie’s support of students has been greatly appreciated, though she may not miss the challenge of chasing after locker keys or attempting to break into lockers! Known for her carefully coordinated outfits, a skill honed during her time at Accessorize, she has made a lasting impression on those around her. As she embarks on a new university course, we wish her all the very best for the future.

Afshan Ahmed

After School Care Assistant, 1.5 Years of Service We would like to express our heartfelt gratitude to Afshan for her outstanding contributions to the Junior School team. A gentle and wise presence, she was adored by the children and deeply valued by her colleagues. Always ready to lend a helping hand, she approached every task with dedication, care, and her ever-present warm smile. Her kindness, professionalism, and high standards enriched our school community in countless ways. While we will miss her greatly, we wish her all the best as she steps away to spend more time with her family. She leaves with our appreciation and fondest wishes for the future.

Rebecca McIntyre

School Nurse, 1.5 Years of Service Becky joined us in January 2023 and settled in very quickly to the role. While there was a steep learning

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G Staff curve, as it was her first time working in a school, she dealt with everything in a very professional and sensible way. Her years of working in the neo-natal unit meant that she approached situations in a calm and caring manner. She has developed a great rapport with the students and, regardless of the issue, has been unflappable in how she deals with those who turn up to the nurse's room. Becky has a good sense of whether someone is genuinely unwell or just wanting a few minutes’ rest or a break from a lesson—being able to give those students a listening ear and a bit of TLC before sending them on their way.

It has been a joy working with Becky, and she has been a valued member of the pastoral team, supporting the various PSE sessions and providing medical cover across the whole school. Her input into updating and developing our medical policies has been appreciated and will help us moving forward. A thoughtful and supportive colleague, Becky thinks of others and has made a positive impact on staff and students in the short time she has been with us.

We wish her well as she returns to the neo-natal unit.

Lorna Macrae

Assistant Housemistress, 1 Year 2 Months of Service Lorna joined St George’s and Houldsworth House in 2020 after her cabin crew role was unexpectedly cut short due to Covid. During a challenging period, she proved to be a dedicated and hardworking member of the facilities team, going above and beyond to ensure the house ran smoothly, often in times when students were isolating. Lorna’s warm, welcoming nature shone through as she served breakfast and got to know each student individually, providing a first-class service.

After a brief stint as Day Matron at Belhaven Hill School, Lorna returned to Houldsworth in January 2023 as Assistant Housemistress. Her commitment to the boarders, combined with her caring and reliable nature, has made her an invaluable member of the team.

Having had her airline career cut short, Lorna is now ready to return to the skies. We wish her all the best as she embarks on her next adventure.

Elena Smirnova

Graduate Music Assistant, 1 Year of Service Elena joined St George’s in August as the Graduate Music Assistant, a role that, though brief, left a lasting impact. A talented pianist and musician, Elena quickly became an integral part of the Music Department. She took on numerous roles, including accompanying

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students for ABRSM and Trinity exams, as well as performances for the Junior, Lower, and Upper Schools. Elena also served as the official accompanist for the Junior School Recorders, Junior School Choir, Lower School Choir, and Senior Choir, all while supporting classroom teaching.

Known affectionately as "the feeder," Elena brightened up break times with her thoughtful treats, sharing chocolates and snacks with both staff and students. Despite the challenges of commuting daily from Glasgow to Edinburgh, she was always committed and present, earning the respect and affection of colleagues and students alike.

In her short time here, Elena’s contributions have been invaluable. She leaves with our warmest wishes for a bright future and will be missed by all.

Other Leavers Sophie Rondeau

Early Years Practitioner, 11 Months of Service

Rosie Boath

1-to-1 Pupil Support Assistant, 10 Months of Service

Mark Wilson

Head of Strings, 10 Months of Service

Stephanie Bain

Teacher of PE, 9 Months of Service

Gabrielle Nottle

Early Years Practitioner, 7 Months of Service

Laura Callaghan

Teacher of French and Spanish, 4 Months of Service

Edward Sanjuan

Teacher of Mathematics, 4 Months of Service

Savannah Stade

Early Years Practitioner, 4 Months of Service

Kelsey Gosling

Resident Houseparent, 2 Months of Service

In Memoriam G

In Loving Memory of Brian Scott: A Legacy of Service and Dedication Brian joined St George’s in September 1986, initially as a Lab Technician in the Science Department. His arrival was memorable from the start—some colleagues still recall the sight of him driving in each morning in his little red Lotus. In those early days, Brian also worked as an Art Technician, but it was clear from the outset that he was someone who could turn his hand to almost anything.

As the school’s need for IT support grew, Brian moved to the ICT Hub,. From there, his role expanded beyond technology, and Brian became an indispensable part of the school’s day-to-day operations. He took on a wide range of responsibilities, including electrical testing, driving the school’s minibus, making small electrical repairs, and contributing to general facilities and maintenance work. Brian’s ability to troubleshoot and save the day, especially in the music department, became legendary—one former music staff member often recalled how Brian was the go-to person when a synthesizer decided to malfunction at the last minute!

Over the years, Brian witnessed the school grow and change in ways that many of us could never have imagined. He worked under seven different Heads, saw the addition of numerous buildings, and watched as the campus expanded from a smaller, more compact space to the vibrant, diverse school it is today.

Brian was integral in furnishing and setting up many of these new buildings. He assisted with countless relocations of staff and departments, and Margaret Imlah, the former Facilities Director, would often speak fondly of Brian’s patience and dedication during those hectic years of change.

One of Brian’s lasting legacies at St George’s is his role as one of the school’s first trained minibus drivers.

Before the fleet of minibuses was a reality, the idea of shuttle services or regular bus routes to and from school was unheard of. Brian made sure many students who were running late or missed the scheduled pickups got to school on time, with a calmness and reliability that meant students (and their parents) could always count on him.

Brian was also a key player in the behind-the-scenes

work that made every school event, big or small, run smoothly. Whether it was setting up for Speech Night with its over 1,000 chairs, arranging stages and musical equipment, or dealing with unforeseen challenges (like the G8 summit or the visit from the President of Pakistan!), Brian was always there, working tirelessly to make sure everything was just right.

From shifting photocopier paper and accepting deliveries to setting up rooms for meetings, plays, exams, or parent evenings, Brian’s contributions were endless. He was there for the practical tasks—building furniture from flat-packs, replacing light bulbs, cleaning minibuses, clearing paths in winter—but also for the big moments, like supporting the Friends of St George’s events or handling bar and waiter duties at school functions. And, despite his many talents, Brian always turned down the offer to play Santa Claus at Christmas!

Outside of school, Brian had a passion for sports, particularly football, and proudly admitted to being a casual Hearts fan. He also had a fondness for the races, never turning down a tip for Musselburgh.

Brian was an unassuming yet truly exceptional member of the St George’s family. His dedication, expertise, and warm, helpful nature touched countless lives during his 37 years at the school. Though he left us far too soon, Brian’s legacy will continue to be felt by all who knew him.

We are deeply grateful for the years he gave to St George’s, and we offer our heartfelt thanks and warmest wishes to his family, friends, and colleagues. Brian, you will always be remembered with fondness and gratitude by all who had the privilege of working with you.

An honest man here lies at rest, As e’er God with His image blest: The friend of man, the friend of truth; The friend of age, and guide of youth: Few hearts like his, with virtue warm’d, Few heads with knowledge so inform’d: If there’s another world, he lives in bliss; If there is none, he made the best of this.

Epitaph on my Own Friend by Robert Burns

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G Valete

VALETE 2024 Nathania Chan

Sarah Connors

Annabel Nicol

Oluwalonimi Fakunle

Harriet Fowler

Isla Parkinson

Isabella Grahamslaw

Skye Humphrey

2018 – 2024 University of the Arts London – Art Foundation 2012 – 2024 University of St Andrews – Chinese Studies and Management (year abroad) 2017 – 2024 University of York - Economics

Zainab Hafeez

2010 – 2024 Platinum Badge University of Stirling - Psychology

Nicola Han

2017 – 2024 The University of Edinburgh – Economics with Finance

Zoe Kirkbride

2019 – 2024 The University of Edinburgh - Civil Engineering

Karla Lai Tung Chui

2022 – 2024 The University of Edinburgh - Law and Sociology

Lucie Primrose 2010 – 2024 Platinum Badge Gap Year

Maira Ratnarajah

2012 – 2024 The University of Edinburgh – Computer Science

Chloe Taylor

2016 – 2024 Leeds Arts University - Comic and Concept Art 2011 – 2024 Gold Badge University of St Andrews - English 2010 – 2024 Platinum Badge The University of Edinburgh – Sustainable Development

Anaysa Kaddeer

2011 – 2024 Gold Badge University of Aberdeen - Anthropology and International Relations

Tsai-Yi (Irelia) Kuo

2020 – 2024 BIMM University – Popular Music Performance

Hanshijia (Tiffany) Liu

2020 – 2024 Parsons School of Design, New York – Fine Art

Imogen McCall

2017 – 2024 The University of Edinburgh – Interdisciplinary Futures

Jiaying Sun

2019 – 2024 The University of Edinburgh - History and Archaeology

UPPER 6R

2008 – 2024 Platinum Badge University of Aberdeen – International Relations and Legal Studies

Olivia Anderson

Vlada Tsymbal

2009 – 2024 Platinum Badge Newcastle University - Accounting and Finance

2022 - 2024 The University of Edinburgh Architecture

UPPER 6Q Clara Ahnert

2011 – 2024 Gold Badge University of Cambridge - History

Leah Akhtar

2022 – 2024 University of Stirling - Criminology and Sociology

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2012 – 2024 The University of Edinburgh - Medicine

Eliza Gardiner

Clementine Hunter

2020 – 2024 University of St Andrews - French and Spanish (year abroad)

Tsai-Chin (Anivia) Kuo

2020 – 2024 Hong Kong University Finance and Mathematics

Evie McCallum

2015 – 2024 Campbell University, North Carolina USA - Sports Management

2022 – 2024 Rose Bruford College London - Acting Foundation 2014 – 2024 Lancaster University - Geography

Vibha Raman

2010 – 2024 Platinum Badge University of Strathclyde - Law and Politics and International Relations

Helena Wand

2015 – 2024 Manchester Metropolitan University – Fashion Business and Mangement

Lucy Welsh

2020 -2024 Newcastle University - Geography

Hei Tung (Bivy) Wu

2022 – 2024 The University of Edinburgh – Veterinary Medicine

UPPER 6S Kyla Barclay

2018 – 2024 University of Glasgow - Sociology

Lauren Connel

2017 – 2024 University of York - Computer Science (with a year in industry)

Orla Gray

2010 – 2024 Platinum Badge The University of Edinburgh – History of Art

Kate Green

2017 – 2024 Newcastle University - Marketing

Isla McLintock

2017 – 2024 University of Glasgow - Politics/Social & Public Policy (SocSci)

Savannah Somuah

2018 – 2024 Heriot Watt University - Psychology

Gabriella Stewart

2016 – 2024 Heriot-Watt University – International Business Management with Year Abroad

Valete G

UPPER 6W Hannah Cully

2019 – 2024 Gap Year with Project Trust

Lucy Gray

Matilda Tavadia

2010 - 2012 2015 – 2024 Platinum Badge Northumbria University - Business and Marketing

2010 – 2024 Platinum Badge University of Glasgow – Scots Law

UPPER 6Y

Eva Laird Daly

2011 – 2024 Platinum Badge Oxford Brookes University - Motorsport Engineering

2018 – 2024 Durham University - Criminology

Cheuk Ling (Clara) Lee

2022 – 2024 The University of Edinburgh - Law

Xingjie (Bella) Li

2020 – 2024 The University of Edinburgh - Biological Sciences (Biochemistry)

Mhairead Bruce

Charlotte Earl

2009 – 2024 Platinum Badge Durham University – Philosophy, Politics and Economics

Samantha Emson

Marni McMyn

2018 – 2024 The University of Edinburgh - Ancient History

Honor Simpson

Morran Macaulay

2016 – 2024 Durham University – Natural Sciences 2011 – 2024 Gold Badge University of Dundee - Dentistry

Esmé Stevens

2013 – 2024 University of Leeds - Sociology

Xintian (Lynn) Wang

2022 – 2024 University of Southampton – Computer Science

UPPER 6X Megan Baskill

2017 – 2024 University of Glasgow – History (Medieval/Modern or Medieval/Modern/Scottish)

Charlotte Duffin

2016 – 2024 University of Stirling - Sport Business Management

Caitlin Hutchinson

2022 – 2024 Newcastle University – Sociology

Zumradkhon Jabbarova

2023 – 2024 Manchester Metropolitan University Fashion Marketing

Aimee Mill

2022 – 2024 The University of Edinburgh – Social Policy and Politics

Lois Norrie

2017 – 2024 University of St Andrews - Geography

Rosie Platt

2019 – 2024 Durham University - Geography

Raffaella Serafini-Fracassini

2018 – 2024 University of St Andrews - Geography

2018 – 2024 University of Glasgow - Geography

Alexandra Neubeck

2016 – 2024 University of Dundee - Physics with Astrophysics

Keisha Patrick-Ajufo

2018 – 2024 University of York – Computer Science/Mathematics (Equal)

Yang Tung (Scarlet) Poon

2021 – 2024 Edinburgh Napier University – Sport and Exercise Science

Sara Qayyum

2017 – 2024 The University of Edinburgh – Social Policy and Law

Arabella Simpson

2008 – 2024 Platinum Badge Royal Holloway, University of London Zoology

STUDENT LEADERSHIP TEAM Yaodan (Danni) Zhang

Head of Boarding 2020 - 2024 University of St Andrews - Chemistry with External Placement

Mounika Pasupulate

Lindsay Young

Deputy Head of School 2017 – 2024 University of Aberdeen – Medicine

2014 – 2024 University of St Andrews - Social Anthropology 2016 – 2024 University of York - Marketing

UPPER 6Z

Rona Marshall

Isla Baruah-Macfadyen

2021 – 2024 University of Dundee Art and Design – General Foundation

Sophie Mackenzie

Rosie Simpson

Simi Adedokun

Nada Mohamed

2020 – 2024 University of Glasgow – Finance and Mathematics

Senior Prefect 2018 – 2024 University of Glasgow - Medicine

2009 – 2024 Platinum Badge University of Glasgow – Scots Law and English Literature 2014 – 2024 University of Aberdeen - Geography

Xinyi (Ella) Cai

Kedison Njotu

Alexandra Parkinson

Head of School 2014 – 2024 University College London – Politics and International Relations

2018 -2024 University of Glasgow – Computing Science 2011 – 2024 Gold Badge The University of Edinburgh – Health in Social Science

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Garscube Terrace, Murrayfield, Edinburgh EH12 6BG

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