Boroughmuir High School

Welcome To Boroughmuir

Speed Date a Scientist!

Thursday 7th June

Reminder to all new S6 Science, Maths and Technology students that we are looking forward to seeing you at this event on the 7th of June. We are expecting to see all of you there so make sure you let Ms Livingstone know if you really can’t make it.

Stephen Hamilton
Biology Teacher

Munich Exchange

The 2012 Munich exchange is off to a great start. The whole group arrived at Edinburgh airport looking great in their München 2012 hoodies [a huge thank you to David Flockhart for organising these so quickly for us!] and very excited about the trip. There were definitely a few nerves amongst the group as we waited to collect suitcases before meeting exchange partners and host families for the first time at the airport in Munich. But everyone is settling in well and the first full day here has been spent getting to know pupils from the German group, seeng some of the local sites near the school and eating ice creams and pizzas in the sunshine! Tomorrow we will be venturing in to the city centre and later in the week we will visit the Olympic Park. And everyone is crossing fingers that the weather stays as nice as it has been so far. More updates will follow throughout our stay, hopefully including some photos as well.

S Alexander

Headteacher’s Newsletter

Mr. Dempster’s latest newsletter is now available.

Rugby Game

Photo © Boroughmuir

Boroughmuir in action

Last Friday saw the Edinburgh State schools 7’s for S3. There was a great turn out and Boroughmuir did extremely well. Their pool consisted of 5 teams. The first game against Royal High A proved to be the toughest in the pool with a win by Boroughmuir by 19 points to 7. Second came Craigmount who were not quite as tough an opposition going down by 38 points to 0. Best score for Boroughmuir came next against Newbattle with 45 to 0 win and finally in the pool the boys took Balerno by 17 points to 5. This massive try fest in the pool stages put Boroughmuir up against the winners of the second pool, Portobello. The most closely fought match of the tournament saw saw great play by both sides Portobello scored first but missed the conversion 5–0 Porty this was quickly followed by Boroughmuir scoring and converting to take the lead 5–7. Portobello then scored for a 10–7 lead Boroughmuir score to bus don’t convert make the score 10–12 before Porty get their third and convert for a 17–12 lead. Another 30 seconds on the clock would have made all the difference as Boroughmuir launched their final attack only to have a dubious decision for a knock on against them. Time up and after a great day Boroughmuir have to settle for 2nd place. Good show lads and well done Portobello.

G. MacDonald

A Promising Olympic Haul!

We entered the British Biology Olympiad this year for the first time; with 4 intrepid 5th years and 2 6th years volunteering to act as guinea pigs… Despite having only a short time to prepare, the inconvenience of prelim exams to contend with [!], and having to compete without specially designed Stella McCartney outfits all those involved put in a magnificent performance. Our results were:

Hopefully such a strong performance from the 5th years bodes well for next year, when their experience and a bit more preparation should pay dividends.

Boroughmuir Produces Scotland’s Best Biologist—Fact!

Following on from her excellent showing in the Biology Olympiad, School Captain, Ailsa Bruce, beat every other Higher Human Biology student in Scotland in the 2011 exam diet! She has been invited by the Society of Biology to an award dinner at the Grand Central Hotel in Glasgow on 31st May to accept her prize, and bask in some well deserved glory. Top job, Ailsa!

Pupil Scholarships to USA

Sophie Thornton and Annie Clinton, both S6, have won scholarships to study in Georgia, USA in academic year 2012/13. Annie will be studying in the University of West Georgia and Sophie at Augusta State University. Sponsorship has come through the Rotary Club of Braids who are linked with several Rotary Clubs in Georgia.

It is a tremendous honour to win and be awarded such a scholarship.

Well done to both Annie and Sophie on winning this prestigious award.

We look forward to hearing how Annie and Sophie get on.

D Dempster

Congratulations to…

Ross Allan who runs for Edinburgh Athletics Club and took part in the 1st meeting of the Scottish Young Athletes League on Sunday 6th May. He came 2nd in the Under 13, 800 metres with a time of 2 minutes 21 seconds, this time put him into 2nd fastest in Scotland and 3rd in the UK. He was also part of the 100 metre relay team who won 1st place.

Well done Ross!

Cailin Michie

Scottish Girl's football squad

Photo © Boroughmuir

The Scottish Schools Squad [Cailin is front left]

What started off with a football trial for the South East Schools in November on a damp Wednesday afternoon at Forrester’s High School ended in international glory for Cailin Michie as she capped off a remarkable schools season with a second consecutive 4–0 win over England U15s Schools in April.

Having successfully come through the trial, midfielder Cailin in S2 [who can play another season at this level] played North and East regions in qualifiers at Linksfield stadium in Aberdeen in December. She was delighted to score two goals in front of her Aberdeen dwelling grandparents to secure qualification into the final at Toryglen, Glasgow in January.

Emulating her sister Hannah in S4, who played the previous year, Cailin’s South East team triumphed over the much lauded West schools team 2–0 to secure the trophy.

The week following the final a trial was held to select the eighteen players to make up the Scottish Schools international squad but whilst this was going on Cailin was flying to the United States on the Boroughmuir High School ski trip.

However she was delighted to discover that her performances for the region had secured her a place in the squad and then the work really began.

As her registration teacher Mr Baillie can testify from the authorised absence requests, the programme really kicked in from February half term onwards. Just about every week there were either training camps or matches against much older club sides across Scotland all of which the squad won comfortably.

Therefore during the Easter week it was a well prepared and confident Scotland squad that set off to Dublin for the Bob Docherty international tournament against England, an All Ireland select, Northern Ireland, Republic of Ireland and Wales.

Rushed in the first game into playing a long ball game which suited the Northern Ireland girls the Scots lost to the eventual winners 3–2 but rallied in their next two matches to beat the All Ireland team 2-0 and then comfortably triumphed over England 4–0 to secure second place in the tournament.

A weeks break with the family in Harris for Cailin to recharge batteries and then back to the Scotland squad for preparation for the Lloyd TSB Challenge International match against England in Glasgow. The day was going to be special whatever happened as the squad had received delivery of their made to measure suits to wear for their official cap presentation at Hampden after the game.

As this was the last opportunity for the older girls to play schools international football the coaches generously gave them most of the playing time but Cailin still managed to make an impact coming on as substitute, dispossessing an England midfielder wide on the right then slipping past the full back to arrow in a precise pass to the feet of her team mate in the box to score the fourth goal. Another 4-0 win for Scotland and a great way to finish off the schools international season.

Pleased to report that on returning to club football this weekend there was no international hangover for Cailin as she fired in a first half hat trick this weekend for Boroughmuir High School’s local community club Boroughmuir Thistle to win 4–1 against Spartans!

Germany Day

Germany Day

Photo © Boroughmuir

Germany Day

On the 3rd of May Boroughmuir High School hosted a Germany Day. In different subjects the students were encouraged to learn about German inventions, scientist, artist or food and experience another side of language learning. Franz Marc, Max Beckmann, Otto Diesel and Heinrich Hertz, became more than just names. With the assistance of the German language assistant teachers of Boroughmuir High School brought the countries language and culture alive.

Thanks to everyone involved.

Chatterbooks

Chatterbooks

Photo © Boroughmuir

Chatterbooks

The S1 book club, Chatterbooks, are busy reading through the Carnegie Book Award 2012 shortlist. Please visit the blog on our shadowing site to read reviews of the books we’ve enjoyed so far. Don’t forget to vote in our poll—the question changes every week!

Like books?

Then Goodreads is the site for you. [Recommended by Ms. Stratton]

SQA Exams

S4 are now on exam leave. They have left with a wealth of information which parents may wish to read.

S5 and S6 pupils go on exam leave on Friday 4 June.

If there are any issues regarding the exams please telephone the school office on 229 9703 and ask for Joyce Scott or email me [shiona.livingstone@boroughmuir.edin.sch.uk].

Shiona Livingstone
DHT S5/6
SQA Coordinator

The timetable is available on the SQA website.

S4 Examinations

Can I personally and on behalf of the whole staff wish all our S4 well in their upcoming National Examinations. Keep up the hard work during exam leave and do pop in if you need some additional help. We look forward to seeing those of you who are returning on Thursday 31st May. For those of you who are leaving Boroughmuir we wish you well in life beyond school!

D Dempster

S4-5 Medical Society

Congratulations to Emma Anderson for being elected as the new chair of the senior school medical society 2012. She would like to invite all current 4th & 5th years interested in a career in medicine to make themselves known to her or Mrs Somerville so they can be included in the weekly meetings and Facebook group. Meetings will be at lunchtimes when the new term begins.

Medical Society

Edinburgh Dance competition

The team

Photo © Boroughmuir

The girls

On Friday the 30th of March [when everyone else was on their Easter break! (erm, not quite everyone!—webmaster)] 16 of our S1-3 Pupils represented Boroughmuir High School in the annual Edinburgh Dance competition at Broughton High School.

The Boroughmuir Dance team, complete with fluorescent leg warmers, headbands, make up, glitter and backcombed hair, did an amazing job! Their energy was high and timing spot on! The team, which includes dancers with a range of experiences, looked fantastic as they kicked, spinned and body popped to ‘Alors on Danse (Djs from Mars FM remix]”. This was their very first performance to an audience as a team and they made both Miss Gibson and I very proud [and slightly emotional!]

Pink hoodies

Photo © Boroughmuir

A vision in shocking pink!

The competition was fierce and with 18 other schools represented, we missed out on the 1st to 3rd placements. However, with a special mention for our music and their heads held high, the girls are getting ready for the next one!

The Dance team would like to say a huge thank you to David Flockhart for his help designing, organising and delivering [at very short notice!] the team hoodies.

Miss Nisbet

Boroughmuir High School Reunion—Year Group 1962–68

Date
Friday, 18th May 2012
Venue
Merchants Golf Club
Time
6.30pm - 11.30pm
Guest
Danny Swan
Buffet
4 course Gourmet meal
Memorabilia
There will be a display stand for class photos, magazines, old exam papers and old report cards, etc. Bring as much memorabilia as you can. There will be photocopying facilities available on the night.
Class 2A1 1964

Photo © Boroughmuir

Class 2A1 1964

In addition to the above event we are also organising a tour of the school at 2.30pm on Friday 18th May [meet outside Main Entrance in Viewforth at 2.20pm sharp].

This may be our last opportunity to see the old school!

Also, on the Saturday, 19th May, we are meeting at 12pm in the bar at the Bruntsfield Hotel [now that the Lemmy is no more] for a lunch/walk to round off the whole week-end.

For more details contact us by email [boroughmuir62@yahoo.com]

Scarlett, Don and Ken.

The Boroughmuir Cookbook is here!

At last the long awaited book that has the favourite recipes of parents, pupils and staff!

The front cover is beautifully illustrated by Morag Hood [S6] and the book expertly designed by Izzy Fraser [S6]. It is the ideal present for family and friends.

It is on sale from the Bursar’s office. £6.00 per copy or two for £10.00

The Head Team