Page 3 - Herioter 2021

Welcome to The Editor

THE HERIOTER And so ends (another) session like no
other: a pandemic, a dearth of trips, visits,
sporting fixtures and concerts, another
lockdown, a term of remote, then blended
learning, the cancellation of public exams.
gowns (useful for protecting our clothes from One wonders how we will reflect on this
chalk dust!); or the fact that there are computers session in years to come. While there is
in our classrooms. likely to be little room for nostalgia, there
However, most of the changes have been less will be an acknowledgement that Heriot’s
obvious to the eye but far more momentous now feels a starkly different place to the
in their impact, such as our constant referral to school we knew in the innocent days of
our mottos in order to influence the behaviour February 2020. It is the end of an era, too,
of all members of the community; our double as Lesley Franklin calls time on a 26-year
Gold Rights Respecting Schools awards; our career at Lauriston Place.
‘We Care’ Award; our Eco Schools awards and The 2021 Herioter makes no attempt
our International School awards. All of these to gloss over the difficulties of this session.
reflect our focus on respect and thinking beyond Indeed, the brevity of the magazine is
ourselves. Of course, many things have not indicative of what did not happen, as
changed at all – including the cheerfulness and much as what did.
hard work of our pupils, staff and the entire Nonetheless, I am once again
community. indebted to the numerous pupil and
The Principal There have been numerous highlights for me staff contributors, but in particular to Roy
over the years but I think, as Principal, one of my Munro, our school photographer, and
Congratulations and thank you to Jonny Muir, main highlights was the series of lectures I was to Ann McHattie, of Barr Printers, who
Herioter Editor, and his team, on successfully asked to give to various groups of business leaders designed the pages.
producing a magnificent edition of The Herioter throughout Edinburgh – suggesting ways to As I write these words sitting in a
under very challenging circumstances. None of create positive cultures in their institutions using second-floor classroom in the Old Building
us thought that The Herioter would be affected Heriot’s as a template. One of the most powerful in late May, I can hear singing: it is P2L,
by the Covid-19 pandemic for a second year! was when some S6 pupils joined me to give under the direction of Mrs Lovell, happily
Nonetheless, despite cancelled concerts, trips, ‘top tips’ regarding mental health to hospitality belting out When it’s a sunny day, from
extra-curricular activities, drama performances, leaders. George Heriot’s legacy of reaching out to the cover of the playground marquee
and so on, Jonny has managed to show the the city of Edinburgh lives on through our pupils – as rain thrums on the roof. The words of
breadth of activity and learning that did actually and this type of reaching out is seen throughout the refrain resonate today – as they have
take place this year – and what a superb job he the pages of The Herioter. every day this session:
has done. The last year has given me time to reflect on 26
This is my final ‘Principal’s Welcome’ and, wonderful years spent at Heriot’s. It has been an Today whatever the weather
as you might expect, I have been on reflecting honour and a privilege to be part of such a warm We can make the most of our time.
on what has changed at Heriot’s during my 26 community and I now look forward to a new Today we’re in it together
years here. There are some very obvious changes, direction in my life. So it doesn’t matter if the sun won’t
such as June Day no longer being held in the shine.
Quadrangle; or how frequently we used to wear Mrs Lesley Franklin There it is: When it’s a sunny day, the
soundtrack to session 2020/21.

Mr Jonny Muir

Published annually by
George Heriot’s School, Lauriston Place,
Edinburgh EH3 9EQ
Telephone: 0131 229 7263
Fax: 0131 229 6363
Email: enquiries@george-heriots.com
www.george-heriots.com

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