All under one roof

All under one roof Fraser playing in the orchestra Gardening Club activities

Celebrating the joy of Maths Eco ambitions

Although a specialist music school, we support our pupils Climate change and environmental responsibility have with a wide-ranging education, ensuring their choices always been high on the School’s agenda and the remain open, and Maths is a subject that’s definitely alive EcoSchool club is looking forward to a busy year ahead. and kicking here! Here’s what Mrs Holm has to say: Pupils are involved in numerous extra-curricular activities to stretch their thinking, from the Scottish Maths Challenge, the Enterprising Maths Challenge, the UK Mathematics To keep our Green Flag awarded by ‘Beautiful Scotland’ we create an action plan each academic year with three main topics based on sustainable development goals. Our “ Trust (UKMT) Team Challenge and the follow-on British focus for 2020/21 will be on litter, food and environment, Maths Olympiad and Royal Institution Mathematics and energy. As a school community we are doing really Masterclasses. In 2019/20, for the first time, the School’s good work to reduce litter and, if possible, we’ll organise a Maths department extended its offering to include litter pick up outside of school as we have done in the past National 4 Applications of Mathematics and Advanced on Portobello Beach. This time we’ll work with St Mary’s Higher Mathematics of Mechanics (in conjunction with St Cathedral to do a litter pick on the Cathedral grounds. A George’s School for Girls). Assessments were verified by big part of reducing litter is disposing of waste correctly the SQA and the report noted ‘exemplary practice’. and we’ll keep auditing our recycle bins and updating the One pupil who has been at the forefront of every UKMT we successfully created Christmas crackers from recycled challenge in the past seven years is Fraser, heading materials and would like to do this again in 2020, perhaps off to Trinity College, Cambridge, this year to study… with even more recycled items. Mathematics. As well as being a superb pianist, Maths has school community on the best way to recycle. In 2019, always been Fraser’s passion and he achieved a Distinction Climate change is an important topic that we will keep in the first round of the British Mathematical Olympiad addressing, as a school and as individuals. Planned 2019/20 and was invited to sit the second (and final) round activities include participating in WWF’s Earth Hour, paper, achieving a Distinction again. A phenomenal result publishing a newsletter, organising an awareness and and a marvellous end to a hugely impressive seven years fundraising event, growing our own herbs and vegetables, of UKMT competition participation! We wish Fraser well at taking part in the RSPB bird watch and more! We’re Cambridge. working with the kitchen staff to keep improving and promoting healthy and sustainable eating and our new S2 year group has started designing a planting schedule for the school garden, with some great new ideas - these will be judged by an experienced panel, including horticulturist Tony Garn.

Over the years we have worked on reducing our energy use and we will keep doing this with a focus on some areas in the school, like certain practice rooms, where we believe improvement can be made. Finally, it’s important to keep ourselves healthy too and, throughout the year, activities like running club will continue with Dr Taylor and Ms Findlay. If possible sports day will be combined with an eco picnic and we are looking into organising cycle training with Ms Ulferts, a certified trainer. “

Jake singing with the Choir of St Mary's Cathedral

Neil and Lachlan in a twin boarding room

Perspectives from the parents Thoughts on being a boarder

of a chorister Around half of the instrumental pupils at St Mary’s Music We often talk about what it’s like to be a chorister, but School board with us during term time on a weekly or fullwhat’s it like to be a chorister’s parent? We asked Tracey time basis. Neil (S6) gives us the lowdown. and Richard, whose 11-year-old son, Jake, joined the Choir in 2018. Why did you consider a chorister place for Jake? Tracey: “Jake has always been musical – he was singing before he was speaking – and we had a wonderful teacher locally. We went to the Cathedral when Jake was about seven and he said he’d love to sing there one day but we didn’t know about St Mary’s Music School until a couple of years later. When he auditioned, he fell in love with the School – jazz coming from one room, classical from another – and we really took the lead from him. It’s like a dream come true for him.” My favourite part is literally just getting up and walking down the stairs to school! Not having to travel is great – I used to spend at least an hour on buses and trains so now there’s no stress before school because you’re already there. It’s very, very difficult to be late. The rooms are good and you get an en-suite bathroom, which is cool. There’s enough space for each person and you have to keep it tidy for the cleaners who go in every day. There are always people around who you can go and meet or go out if you want to – it’s a nice balance. It’s pretty chilled at the weekend. You’d expect it to be quiet – at least I did when I first came here – but I figured out pretty quickly that wasn’t the case! You wake up on a Saturday morning and hear “ How would you describe the commitment as a parent? Richard: “I work in Edinburgh and Jake’s hours are the children making a noise in the courtyard beneath you from the Saturday Music Classes. same as mine but Jake’s sister Emily is very involved in The boarding house team are great – there’s normally gymnastics – that’s her first love – so we rotate two people on duty at any given time – they are really fair around them.” and they’re there to talk to and help you out. There’s all Tracey: “We’re either at the gym, at the School or at the Cathedral most of our lives – going backwards and forwards like taxi drivers!” different ages in the boarding house and everyone is mixed in together so people do get on – younger and older – there’s not any definite split in ages really. In the evenings, the school organises loads of really great Richard: “But there’s no resentment. I think we’re both pretty good at fitting other stuff around it and it’s so worthwhile because they get so much out of it.” concerts around Edinburgh and stuff to go to – soloists are always coming to the Usher Hall and I get to go and see them. It’s really good. “

Are there any challenges in combining singing and academic work?

Richard: “Jake loves the academic work and all the different topics – he stayed on top of his work over lockdown and never complained – he really enjoyed it. He loves the small classes. The biggest challenge is the lead up to exams – Jake puts a lot of pressure on himself to do well and takes being a Chorister very seriously – but the School is very good at getting the balance right, taking both sets of needs into consideration.”

What would you say to other parents considering the Choir?

Tracey: “It really depends on the child – they need to have a certain personality to make the most of the School and the Cathedral. They need to be dedicated and enjoy standing up and performing – it’s not about showing off though, it’s a certain type of confidence. There are massive opportunities to develop musicianship and it’s a wonderful environment – the Cathedral offers the best type of musical training for sight-singing that you’ll get anywhere.”