The Hutchesonian 2010 The Hutchesonian 2010 Contents Founders’ Day 6 Beyond Hutchie 14 Kingarth Street 60 House Reports 68 Magazine Team 2010 Sport 72 Editor Journalists Charlotte McKechnie Beyond Hutchie Prize List 2009 96 Katie Sloan Sub Editors Cover High Profile Events Hazel Frier Gregor Hogan Jacqueline Gibson School Life Events/Charity Aneesa Malik Anisah Chaudry Arts Clubs Jack McLeod Tayyabah Mohammed Aneesa Malik - Music Neil Watson Young Enterprise/ Advertising - Drama Zoe Lau Jack McLeod Recreational Sports - Art Laura Yuill Matilda Greig Photography Kingarth Street Jacqueline Gibson H. Tempest, Ltd. Lindsay McCormick SNS Group Jennifer Liddel Gillman & Soame Elaine MacDonald Karin Woods Cate Hamilton Creative Section Zoe Lau Tara Kamalidden and many others to Hazel Frier whom we are most Karen Clyde grateful. Sport Overview Karen Clyde Jordan Miller Mr David Campbell Beyond Hutchie Sarah Innes Hayes Hutchesons’ Grammar School is governed by Hutchesons’ Educational Trust, Registered Charity Number SC002922 1 Editorial Editorial The Hutchesonian has recorded the people of different nations can pull my love of performance – it was because activities of our school for over eighty together in times of crisis; for example, of her that I first took to the Kingarth years and is sent annually to over twelve in the relief effort for the earthquakes in Street stage thirteen years ago this month hundred households as it champions the China or in the chaos caused by the (as Helen of Troy in The Aeneid in my achievements and dreams of our two eruption of the Icelandic volcano. Primary One show) from which I have thousand pupils, not to mention the staff Although we may now face greater never really gotten down, as I now and alumni. This having been said, I felt problems than ever before we are also embark on a performing career as a no small sense of responsibility when I better equipped to deal with them, singer (well that’s the plan anyway). was awarded the post of Editor in through the use of digital technology in October – for how can one possibly global communication, for example, I have enjoyed editing The Hutchesonian represent such a body in a mere one although this does have the drawback of more than I can possibly express; I have hundred pages (though I suppose being intensifying the spread of mass culture. had a small yet incredibly hard-working in a position of having almost too much My point is, however, that the future team of sub-editors and journalists who, talent to draw on is preferable to having looks hopeful for international relations I think you will agree, have produced none at all)? I myself have been a and therefore, to enlighten and one of the best magazines to date - I am Hutchesons’ pupil for thirteen years and, encourage fellow Hutchesonians in the incredibly grateful to them all. Thanks even as my time here draws to a close, I benefits of internationalism, this is the must also go to our designer Martin am still struck by the scale and breadth theme which I have adopted for this McKenzie. But finally, last but most of activity and life which the school year’s magazine. Therefore, in addition certainly not least, I want to thank Mr exhibits: it is an honour to record it. to our extended trips and exchanges Campbell to whom we are all indebted section, there is a special feature on for his invaluable advice, support and The subject of Internationalism seems to Advanced Higher Languages to enthuse constant enthusiasm. be a hot topic around the world in 2010 younger pupils with what to expect in with international relations becoming their Senior Years and also to enlighten In conclusion then, I would like to leave fraught over such questions as the parents. Furthermore the enlarged you with one of my favourite quotes. It world’s economy, climate change and the Kingarth Street section reflects the ever- was said by entrepreneur Steve Jobs, co- development and application of nuclear developing Primary School and is founder of Apple, and speaks to me of technology, not to mention the escalating dedicated to Mrs Lorna McKie, who the importance of believing in yourself conflicts in the Middle East. Writing retires as Depute Rector after inspiring and trusting your abilities – two things this, I must appear to paint a rather her charges for thirty-three years; I feel I which, more than anything else, my disheartening picture of how I see the owe her a special debt of gratitude, not Hutchesons’ teachers have imparted to future mapping out, this is not my only for giving me and my friends her me. intention and I personally have been relentless encouragement and support Charlotte Louise McKechnie encouraged to see recently how well but, specifically, for helping me discover “Your time is limited, so don’t waste it living someone else’s life. Don’t be trapped by dogma – which is living with the results of other people’s thinking. Don’t let the noise of other’s opinions drown out your own inner voice. And, most importantly, have the courage to follow your heart and intuition. They already know what you truly want to become. Everything else is secondary.” 2 From the Rector aving devoted last year’s article to describing Music in the school, this year I would like to turn to another specialist area within HHutchesons’ that really deserves more explanation and praise – Drama. This is especially good timing, given the recent announcement of our plans to make the building of new Drama Studios the school’s next big capital project. Anyone who has been in the current drama facilities for any length of time will see why this particular part of the school is next on the list for re- development. The Drama department teachers, ably led by Valerie Alderson along with Eleanor Meek and Diane Sobolewksa, have been incredibly patient and long-suffering. This past winter has posed the severest challenge to their physical and mental well-being, as the arctic winds scoured through the flimsy walls of the drama rooms round the pond and at the back of the assembly hall. No amount of introduced heating could balance the whisking away of heat through the floor, walls and ceiling. And when it rained… This has been an unacceptable state of affairs for some time, but unfortunately plans which were drawn up for a new From the Rector build two years ago had to be delayed, set design, lighting and sound, and S2 curriculum. There is a consistently first because of uncertainty over the costumes. Hopefully, these new large pupil uptake in S3 and S4, and recession, then for our concern over facilities will be built according to many of these pupils continue to Higher possible costs in retaining charitable schedule and ready for use at the start of in S5 and indeed Advanced Higher in status and lastly because of the difficulty session in August 2011. Together with S6. For pupils the subject is a of having another construction project the continued use of the Assembly Hall particularly rich and diverse one, and running alongside that of the new stage for larger productions, and about much more than ‘acting’ or athletics stadium and hockey pitch. Fotheringay too on occasion, we should studying plays. In the Drama classroom However, the waiting is over, and at the at long last have facilities worthy of the a wide range of issues are explored; start of the summer holidays work excellence of our Drama department. pupils get the chance to discover a great begins on three new studios, which will deal about themselves and how they appear in roughly the same location, but Hutchesons’ is slightly unusual amongst interact with others, for example. on a much bigger and grander scale. Scottish schools in having a separate Through the years a wide range of Two of the studios will combine, with Drama department in the first place. cultural and artistic references are taught, pull-out seating, to make a studio Often Drama as a curricular subject is and while some emphasis is rightly theatre, which will be another welcome subsumed within English, and taught by always placed on personal ‘performance’ addition to the facilities on the campus. those teachers within normal English there is an academic core to the subject We can look forward to having a curriculum time. We are very fortunate which carries considerable weight and modern, well-equipped set of studios to have three specialist teachers, and integrity. Over the years grades with all the attendant support in terms of Drama as a separate part of the S1 and achieved in SQA examinations have 3 From the Rector been consistently high, and steady numbers of leavers go on to study the subject at university, college or Drama School. In S6, as well as Advanced Higher, pupils can take an SQA National Certificate which is based around the performance of a play. This course often attracts pupils who have perhaps not taken Drama beyond S2, but who want to be part of a major production, and there have been some wonderful ones in recent years, this year’s being ‘A View From the Bridge’ by Arthur Miller. I particularly remember a painfully funny production of ‘Abigail’s Party’ and a chillingly sombre ‘Gaslight’. However, this is only one side of the a very strong cast in ‘West Side Story’. factory with all the emphasis on Drama department, because there is a Like all of what we do at Hutchesons’ academic work. I have been attending massive commitment to ‘extra- the emphasis is on real quality, and if school plays and musicals all my curricular’ involvement by large you have never been to the Senior working career, and I can genuinely say I numbers of pupils throughout the year.