School has been abuzz with works over the summer, including repairs to the Junior School and Dining Hall since the flood at the start of June. The Junior School has received some new furniture and equipment, and the kitchens have been plastered and are being cleaned up in time for the start of term as I write this. In addition, there is an enormous volume of other work, including tarmacking in the car park, work on the external wall on the road to the playground, and various repairs and ‘background works’. I am very grateful to all involved in this essential maintenance work. It all helps to make the school a comfortable, safe and enjoyable place to be.
The most noticeable piece of work which has happened this summer is the building of a new partition wall on the side of our Assembly Hall to create a new space for the Upper School Common Room. This will create a bright, large, multi-function space for S5 and S6 to work during study periods, and to relax in together during break, lunchtime and after school. Pupils will be involved in fundraising for this project and furnishing the space accordingly, and this will, I am sure, mark a substantial improvement for pupils at the top of the school. In the last week of term, our new S6 were on the residential teambuilding trip to Abernethy Ardonaig, and Mrs Taylor and I visited them up there during the week. I accompanied some of the S6 boys up Ben Lawyers (which proved to me that I need to work on my fitness levels! 17 year old lads can virtually hop up a munro, but I, alas, cannot!) and this was a great opportunity to chat to pupils and find out about their summer, accompanied by Sasha, the younger of our dogs. As we go on to develop the Upper School further this term, these things all help pupils to become more independent and prepared for life outside of school.
The Music Tour to Belgium was a resounding success, and pupils enjoyed the tour enormously, as well as playing to some large audiences throughout Flanders. Many thanks to Miss Hardie, Mrs Tweedie for organising this fruitful trip.
Hamilton College pupils have performed exceptionally well in SQA Examinations this year, with some fantastic and impressive results. I am enormously grateful to all the staff in school who teach and nurture pupils to ensure they have a terrific, caring atmosphere in which to learn and succeed. I also want to thank our supportive parents, who have encouraged their children to always do their best throughout the year.
These results enable our pupils to progress to top Universities throughout Scotland and the UK including Oxford, Bristol, St Andrews, Glasgow, Edinburgh, Strathclyde, Aberdeen, Stirling, Dundee, to mention but a few, to read for a wide variety of degrees across various disciplines.
The coming term is a very busy one, and we will be embarking on an awareness and fundraising ‘Sleepout’ event on school grounds for Bethany Christian Trust at the start of October.
Some coming events include:
· 14th September 2015 – 6.30-8.30pm – Careers Fair
· 2nd October 2015 – Sleepout in school grounds for Bethany Christian Trust
· 28th October 2015 – Hamilton College Open Day
· 21st November 2015 – Friends of Hamilton College Christmas Fayre
We also look forward to the Service of Carols and Lessons in Bothwell Parish Church.