Page 91 - Herioter 2020

about the prospect, rather like the
excitement that greets a snow day.
We knew it was coming, of course. In
March, as time went on, everything
apart from timetabled lessons was
wiped from the calendar, right up to
the end of June: trips, visits, activities
weeks, external speakers, sports
fixtures, concerts, shows. Hand
sanitiser, tissues and wipes abounded,
and the word ‘coronavirus’ was on the
lips of everyone, the youngest pupil
to the oldest teacher, underpinning
our every thought and action. Like an
ocean liner destined for port, Heriot’s
sailed on, with the Principal sending
out almost daily missives, while the
school reiterated the simple message of
governments around the world: wash
your hands.
The reality of closure was stark; this
was no snow day. Virtual learning via
Firefly and eventually Microsoft Teams
would replace classroom learning, but
what is a school without its pupils? As
I watched S5 gather and linger in the
playground after double English on that Mrs Hughes’ S6 registration class, trendsetters since S1
Thursday, looking bewildered and lost, their children from the playground – shout. It was a scene of innocence and
they had also come to that realisation. they were no longer allowed to enter hope – reminiscent of the first day
What had it all been for?
Greyfriars. of this session – but a scene tinged
And so to that Friday. Classes in the The sun shone luxuriantly, flooding the with sadness: a moment of joyful
Junior School were already decimated ordinariness on an extraordinary day.
by those self-isolating; many teachers playground in shimmering light. P1 We said goodbye – to pupils, parents,
were forced into their homes, too; S1, children ran happily into the arms of colleagues, friends. See you…
S2 and S3 pupils had been asked to their parents, then peeled off to join It was the end of something, we knew,
stay at home; teachers of examination their little friends, grappling, tagging, but it was the beginning of something
years were frantically trying to ready hugging. Parents shrugged. Older else – something we could not yet
coursework for submission to the Junior School classes nearby were fathom.
SQA. S6 pupils had long gone when playing rounders: a scamper of feet,
Mr Jonny Muir
Junior School parents arrived to collect a thwack of racket on ball, an urgent

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