Life @ EA
Rector’s Blog
5 November 2020
Dear Parent/Guardian,
As I write this week’s News Sheet, the vote counting over in the USA is proceeding at pace and we will soon know which candidate will be the leader of the free world as we get into 2021. As if we didn’t have enough to contend with! 2020 will certainly be a year for the history books! With all the turmoil and change outside of the school gates, it is always remarkable how life at school seems to simply carry on. It’s hard to believe that Half Term was only a short while ago, such has been the busyness of the last week. We are indeed lucky that our students and our staff are so resilient. Yesterday saw our 2nds doing a day of Outdoor Learning down at New Field, masterminded by the wonderful Mrs Isherwood and they were blessed with some fantastic autumnal weather for their BBQ and shelter building. At the same time our 3rds had a STEM Day, working on plastic pollution, led by Dr Kiernan and Miss Hennessy and the 4ths (and all those in the CCF) had their CCF Field Day. That we have managed to run so many activities in these very restricted times is wonderful and my sincere thanks go out to all those staff involved in these trips/events. Tonight (Wednesday) we run the first ever Virtual Parents’ Evening for half of the 2nds and I do hope that this all goes well. Please do bear with us in case of technical difficulties!
At the same time our sporting programme continues as best it can in these strange times and congratulations to all those involved in some tough games against GWC at the weekend. I have to make one request of parents of those who play in school games on a Saturday. We have received a number of complaints from residents on East Fettes Avenue, as well as pedestrians walking along this road, about crowding of parents who are watching the games through the fence. This last weekend complaints were also made to local councillors who have also asked us to politely request that parents do not assemble on the pavement to watch games. Could I therefore ask all those parents to simply drop off and pick up from New Field. Please do not stay to watch games. Who would have thought I would ever have to ask parents not to watch their own children play sport. I am sorry to have to request this but, for everyone’s safety and good health, I do hope you understand why this request is being made. Many thanks.
For those parents awaiting further news on SQA examinations this year, I am delighted to report that on Monday the SQA produced guidance on the gathering of key evidence for producing estimates for National 5 English and Mathematics. Guidance for the remaining subjects will be published on a rolling basis until Thursday 19 November. All this material will aid us in the compiling of the evidence required for our current 5ths, especially as they head into their first period of official testing, starting on Monday 16th November. Our own guidance here is simply this: do not panic! We have plenty of time in the coming months to secure the necessary material that we require for this coming exam season. For those students in 6ths/7ths – just keep working and always ask for help when you need it!
Attached to this News Sheet is an information sheet from Stevensons (Aitken and Niven) regarding their opening hours and plan for the next few months. I hope that this is helpful information.
As some of you may have noticed from previous announcements, this year sees a number of significant ‘retirements’ as senior members of staff decide to step down. We are saying farewell to Mr Ronnie Paxton after 37 years of service to the school. Ronnie has worked tirelessly to support all sorts of different activities and has cared for and helped an enormous number of students over the years. We wish him all the very best in his well-earned retirement. As you may also have seen, Mr Meadows and Dr MacPherson are both stepping down as Heads of their respective Departments (English and Biology) at the end of this academic year and we will be interviewing for these positions in the coming weeks. Both gentleman have made an enormous impact in the school in their time with us and have made a long lasting and hugely positive impression on all those lucky enough to have been taught by them. We will hopefully be able to properly celebrate the careers of all three gentleman at Exhibition in June 2021, when I sincerely hope we will be able to assemble once again as a school community.
Best wishes
Barry Welsh
Rector
