MUSSELBURGH GRAMMAR SCHOOL

THE GRAMMARIAN

Friday 19th June 2026

It’s been a lovely second last week of term with two brilliant celebrations of the sporting and musical talent in our school: read on for more details of the Sports Awards. Photos of last night’s Summer Jam will be in next week’s Grammarian.

Interviews for our Head Team started today and finish on Monday, with eight amazing S6s putting themselves forward for a role. Results will be shared in next week’s end of term Grammarian.

Bon voyages and bonne chance to Mrs Watson, Mrs McIntosh, Mr Mainds, Ms Dudley, Mrs Dias, Ms Fraser and Mr Dewar who depart for Normandy via Dover on Sunday night with two coaches full of ninety keen historians and linguists. I’m sure they will have a brilliant time, and what a way to start the summer holidays!

Enjoy the weekend.

Jodie

STAFFING

We are saying goodbye to a number of colleagues at the end of term.

Mr Greig, CL Communications, moves to North Berwick High School after 6 years at MGS; Ms Duggan, CL Maths, moves to St Margaret’s in West Lothian; Ms Emslie and Mr Plenderleith, Teachers of PE, and Ms Fraser, Teacher of RMPS, all move on the next chapters of their careers after a year here.

It has been a pleasure having them on our team, and we wish them all the best.

The following staff commence with us in August:

Mr Hoyland, CL Mathematics

Mrs Dods, CL Languages and Literacy

Ms McKinnon, Teacher of Home Economics

Ms Marr, Teacher of Modern Studies

Ms Raventos, Teacher of French and Spanish

And we will welcome Mrs Craig, Teacher of RMPS, back from maternity leave.

PARENT COUNCIL MEETINGS

The dates for next session’s Parent Council are now set.

Links to the online briefings will be shared next session.

Thursday 27 August briefing 7-8pm
Tuesday 29 September AGM 6.30-8.30pm
Tuesday 27 October briefing 7-8pm
Thursday 14 January briefing 7-8pm
Tuesday 9 Feb briefing 7-8pm
Thursday 1 April briefing 7-8pm
Wednesday 9 June 6.30-8.30 in school

KEY DATES

Thursday 25 June: Sports Day at Pinkie Playing fields

Friday 26 June: Term ends

PHONE FREE LEARNING

Thanks to parents and carers who joined Ms Uttley and I online yesterday afternoon to talk through our proposed approach to phone free learning at MGS. We are also holding an in person discussion 4-5pm on Monday 22 June.

Please use this link to sign up: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSc7--m-m8bHD6YePVAfz7xxBjw5IFKn4Kyz1iHnmfRl2_iddQ/viewform?usp=publish-editor

Details of the updated policy will be shared with parents next week in preparation for its launch in August.

INSIDE APPRENTICESHIP AT BARCLAYS

We’re delighted to invite you to Inside Apprenticeships at Barclays - an engaging virtual event designed to give students, parents/carers and educators a clear, realistic insight into what an apprenticeship at Barclays truly looks like.

This session is for anyone who wants to learn more about Barclays apprenticeships, whether you’re a student exploring your next steps or supporting someone who is. Attendees will hear directly from current apprentices and apprentice alumni, helping to demystify apprenticeships and address common questions and misconceptions.

Event details

📅 Date: 25th June 2026
⏰ Time: 4:30-5:30pm
💻 Format: Virtual (online)
👥 Audience: Open to all

What the session will include

A clear overview of Barclays apprenticeship programmes and the end-to-end student journey

Real apprentice and alumni stories, sharing lived experiences

Insight into learning, development, support and progression

A structured Q&A session with Early Careers colleagues and apprentices

👉 Register here:

Virtual Event Scotland - Register here

SPORTS' AWARDS 2026

Our annual celebration of sporting talent is one of my favourite ceremonies of the year, and I am always in awe of the range of sports our young people participate in and the standard at which they compete. I am delighted and beyond proud that they represent themselves and our school so well.

Congratulations to :

Junior Sportsman of the Year runner up: Dutu Horga

Junior Sportsman of the Year winner: Dmytro Kos

Junior Sportswoman of the Year runner up: Isla Cornet

Junior Sportswoman of the Year winner: Freya Main (pictured below)

Sports Personality of the Year runner up: Olivia Cornet

Sports Personality of the Year winner: Thea Cooke

Team of the Year: Senior Girls Football (Zoa Strachan, Grace Dilly, Alyx Ghori, Robyn Calder, Zoe Turnbull, Olivia Cornet, Maisey Cain, Libby Robertson, Ellie Sanders, Ella Gray, Faith Cairney, Mia Kay, Orla Harrold, Rachel Smith, Ava Davidson, Freya Main)

Coach of the Year: Allan Russell

National Athletes:

For Scottish Dance competitions – Ruby Oliver

For National and International Level Karate – Munro Ritchie

For National and International Level Cheerleading – Scarlett Cesari

For Scottish Rugby – Eilidh Mcintyre, Hamish Delaney and Ewan Eaton

For British Canoeing – Thea Cook

For Scottish Open Gymnastics – Zachiariah Ng

For Scottish Football – Orla Harold

For British Gymnastics – Nieve Sharp

For British DMT and Trampolining – Asia Donaldson and Zander Donaldson

MVPS: Most Valuable Player Awards. The award winners have been nominated by their coaches and recognised as athletes who have shown commitment and dedication to developing their performance through training and contributing to the overall success of the team. 

Under 13 Boys Football – Angus Grant
Under 18 Boys Football (in association with the honest lads society) – Jamie Dickson
Junior Girls Football – Zoa Strachan
Senior Girls Football – Alyx Ghori
Hockey – Scott Ryan and Emma Spencer
Badminton – JJ Meldrum
Dance – Aleesha Monk
S1 Boys Rugby – Zac Glass
S2 Boys Rugby – Finlay Pryzbysz-Hunt
S3 Boys Rugby – Daniel Robertson
S4 Boys Rugby – Hamish Delaney
Senior Rugby – Alexander Grigg
Girls Rugby – Mia Lesley

Primary Sport Star Awards:

Emma Currie
Adam Dilly
Martha Turner
Jessica Hill
Nick Oliver
Ryan Kerr
Summer Jones

Pais:Performance Athletes in School

Every year, a select group of young people are invited to Meadow mill sports centre to receive bespoke strength and conditioning, along with coaching sessions. Spaces on the programme are reserved only for those who perform at an elite level and have the commitment and drive to engage consistently in early starts and hard work, all to help them progress in their chosen sport.

Nina Miller

Isla Cornet

Hamish Delaney

Ewan Eaton

Alexander Grigg

Well done to Macy Laidlaw, Lois Cunningham, Lauren Davidson and Thea Cooke for hosting the evening so well, and to Mr Michie, Ms Emslie and Mr Plenderleith in PE for organising it.

Junior Sportswoman of the Year winner: Freya Main (pictured left)

Sports Personality of the Year winner: Thea Cooke (pictured right) with Scott Robertson)

SENIOR GIRLS FOOTBALL - LEAGUE & CUP DOUBLE WINNERS

Another week and another fantastic achievement from the Senior Girls Football Team!

Last Friday the Girls won the East & Midlothian Cup with a 1-0 win against Lasswade completing the League Cup & Cup Double for the 25/26 Season.

Attached are some of the fantastic pictures from the day courtesy of team photographer Rhea Hardie.

ARE YOU LOOKING FOR WORK EXPERIENCE, EMPLOYMENT OR A MODERN APPRENTICESHIP?

The job vacancy links below highlight a range of opportunities. Please follow the links for further information and application details.

If you require assistance to complete the application or would like to chat it over, please see Ms Hoffman B16.

Job vacancies - East Lothian Works | East Lothian Council

https://edinburghfuse.com/

https://rscfortkinnaird.co.uk/

https://www.jobs.service.gov.uk/

https://myjobscotland.gov.uk/

https://careers.nhslothian.scot/

https://www.edinburghguarantee.org/support-job-seekers/find-a-job

iAds COMPETITION

Massive thank you to Lauren and Astrid in the Advanced Higher Biology class who kindly gave up their time to help Dr Brown prepare an entry to the iAds video contest. We had to prepare a video to explain the aims of the iAds project (see below for details!) in the hopes of winning an ipad/tablet for our department.

Please see the link below to watch the video of their hard work!

https://youtu.be/41hXGJGMzds?si=vrYeVJ6JamtJRkiu

PE DEPT

We would like to remind all pupils that they should bring a full change of kit for PE to allow them to take part to the best of their abilities and to maintain high standards of personal hygiene.

Crocs(even in sport mode) and Uggs are not suitable and are dangerous when taking part in PE. The most appropriate and suitable footwear are trainers.

Another reminder that phones are not to be used in changing rooms for taking pictures/selfies/tik toks etc.

ROYAL HIGHLAND SHOW TRIP

Our annual trip to the Highland Show did not disappoint! The forecast rain did not appear and we had a lovely day food tasting, looking at hand made Scottish craft, watching animals compete in the showground, and even spotting a few famous faces including FM John Swinney. Pupils were a credit to the school and voiced how much they enjoyed the experience!

THE HONEST THREAD

Our Honest Thread, “free to a good home” initiative is a new way to share gently used school uniforms within our school community. Anyone who is in need of these items are welcome to request them free of charge.

If you would like to receive any uniform items, please complete the short Google Form below. This allows us to organise requests and prepare your order for collection from the School Office.

https://forms.gle/8NGk3eGnr5M9bMd56

The form will be added to on a regular basis and we hope that we will be able to include items other than schoolwear; this scheme is entirely donation based, so families are always invited to donate clean, good-quality items they no longer need. All donations are much appreciated and can be dropped off at the School Office.

NOTES FROM THE OFFICE

Reminder that all absences should be reported before 8am by texting 07860 049075. We have noticed that there are a few parents leaving pupil absence messages on out staff absence line. This line is not always manned after 8am therefore pupil absences will not be pick up in time. Please help us cut down on staff time and costs by notifying us before we have to contact you.

Please also remember to let us know in advance of any healthcare appointments for your young person, to save time at the point they need to leave school. If we haven’t been notified in advance, we will need to call you to verify, which may delay their departure from school.

We would like your help to ensure that all young people arriving in school after 08:30am sign in with the QR Code or office staff to avoid any unnecessary messages home.

SCHOOL TOILETS

Our pupil toilets are checked on a regular basis to ensure everyone’s comfort and safety. These checks may be done by male or female staff members, and signage is in toilets to make pupils aware of this.

UNIFORM REMINDER

I appreciate that parents may not want to buy all new items school uniform at this point in the school year, but do ask for your support in ensuring that our dress code is followed, even in warm weather:

Black shorts or skirts of an appropriate length for school, or trousers;
White shirt- long or short sleeved with a tie;
Black shoes or trainers

Please note that items such as coloured t-shirts, band t shirts, crop/ bra tops, tracksuits etc are not part of the dress code, and pupils may be asked to return home to change or wear clothing items from our store.

And please do let us know if we can help with uniform from our store.

Thank you as always for your support with our uniform.

LOST PROPERTY

A black Northface body warmer has been handed in, if you think this may belong to your child, please ask them to go and see Ms Harvey in the Medical room.

MEDICAL

Asthma - All pupils who have Asthma please make sure you have an inhaler with you at all times.

Our Healthy Respect drop in service runs in school every Wednesday lunchtime. This NHS run wellbeing service is in a discreet area of school, is free and confidential, and offers support and advice to young people on a range of matters including sexual health information for pupils over the age of 13.

MGS WEBSITE AND SCHOOL HANDBOOK FOR PARENTS

Our website has lots of useful information for parents, and includes our School Handbook and School Policies. Have a look! We welcome your feedback.

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