2020 has certainly arrived and we have begun the year with our customary array of new events and activities. Last term was a vast 16 weeks long and it is good to see the children return to school looking and feeling refreshed. On the flip side, this term is only 10 weeks, but the school calendar for the Spring Term is just as full! Believe it or not, we do have the colder and freezing temperatures on the way, despite the beautiful spring weather we all experienced last weekend. I found it hard to believe that it was January as we walked the Williamsburg Bridge for lunch in t-shirts! It has certainly been a warmer start to the decade in New York.
I always enjoy taking the first assembly of the term and last week was no exception. It was good to welcome all new children to the school and I would like to welcome two new children to Grade 1 and three new children who joined the Nursery. We have a further young girl arriving to Grade 2 in a few weeks and another boy to the Nursery in February- wishing you all a warm welcome and I am sure you will be very happy here. I then chose to take the children on a trip down my memory lane at assembly and back to my very special days at Edinburgh University from 1995 to 1999. Whilst you all know of my English and Irish roots, I wanted to introduce the children to this beautiful city and to Scottish culture. I spent four very happy years in Edinburgh and it was a unique experience that will never leave me. Not only I did study for a wonderful MA degree, but I met some incredible people and forged some lasting memories. I took the children on a whistle stop tour of Scotland’s landmarks, traditions and music. We watched everything from marching pipe bands to a school ceilidh and then listened to a greatest hit of the very famous Scottish rock band, ‘Wolfstone’, whose main piper was a friend of mine at University.
It was lovely to see your children’s faces as we visited highland cows, Eilean Donan Castle (my favourite landmark), haggis, kilts and whisky factories. Scotland really does have something for everyone – I hope you can visit with your families, if you have not yet made it. Your children will now want to take you to the top of Arthur’s Seat, an extinct volcano, and share that wonderful view of the City. This holds a very special place in my heart and was the window view from the Halls of Residence in my first year as an Edinburgh Fresher. Let me know if you go and I can give you some suggestions…
