Life @ EA
Rector's Blog
Thursday 6 June
There is something very special about Assembly in the Main Hall. When I walk into that space for a school assembly there is always a sense of how fortunate we are as a community to still meet there four times a week and have a chance to listen to ‘other voices’. Finding the correct balance between student and staff voice is always a difficult thing to do and it would be reassuring to many of our students to learn how nervous and full of trepidation speaking in an assembly can make even our most experienced members of staff. Mr Jarrold does the most sensational job in organising all the wonderful presentations that we are blessed to have in that space. It is something that we challenge all our students to do - to find a way to stand on the stage in any given year - either in speaking, reading, performing, receiving congratulations, prizes or award or in leading the school in a thought for the day or a series of themed presentations for a whole week. We are lucky this week in having a masterclass from Mr Mair, who has enthralled us with stories ranging from the first ascent of the Matterhorn to the Battle of the Little Bighorn and the demise of the 7th Cavalry - with both stories starring Academicals. I am already looking forward to Friday!
Earlier in the week we also had the opportunity to announce the School Ephors for next year. It was an absolute delight to interview over forty of our 6ths and a very difficult thing to pick out a smaller group from such an impressive collection of students. Whilst it was wonderful to celebrate those who were successful, this success is also bittersweet as there will be some who will feel overlooked or as having ‘failed’. An interview is still a blunt tool, despite being the most commonly used form of assessment in the workplace, and I continue to encourage all those who would love a leadership role to keep doing the things that are important to them and keep feeling that they can make a significant difference in the school next year. We are in the business of leaving doors open for the willing to step in should they want to (and sometimes leading someone right up to the door and encouraging them to take the next step!)
Before I finish, I would like to remind everyone of the fantastic musical events in the coming weeks. The Usher Hall Concert on Sunday evening - tickets available on http://www.usherhall.co.uk/whats-on/edinburgh-academy-choir-and-choral-society-2 - is followed in quick succession by the Summer Concert on the 20th June. In a change to our programme the Junior Division Music Soloists Competition will change format slightly and be run in the following manner: Thursday 13th June - Division Soloist Heats (3:40-5pm) - the Music Department will arrange these Heats. The finals of this competition will take place on Monday 24th June (Geits-2nds) and Tuesday 25th June (3rd-4ths) - both competitions will take place at lunchtime, rather than at an evening competition. The Music Department will be advertising all these details to students.
With best wishes
Barry Welsh
Rector
