MUSSELBURGH GRAMMAR SCHOOL
MUSSELBURGH GRAMMAR SCHOOL
THE GRAMMARIAN
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Friday 29 January 2026
Friday 29 January 2026
Today was Values Votes Day! The whole school voted for their three preferred values, and votes will be counted on Monday once the parent’s survey results are in. Details of how families can vote were in yesterday's special edition of the Grammarian.
Best wishes
Jodie
KEY DATES
Tuesday 27th Jan: Solo Performer of the Year, 5-7pm
Tuesday 3 February: S4/5 Pathways Assembly
Tuesday 3 February: Parent Council briefing online 7-8pm https://meet.google.com/csy-mvmg-mtu?authuser=0&hs=122
Friday 13 February: end of term
Monday 23 February: Inset day for staff only
Tuesday 24 February: all pupils return to school
PARENT COUNCIL MEETING DATES
These are the dates for this session’s Parent Council meetings:
Tuesday 3rd February 7-8pm online https://meet.google.com/csy-mvmg-mtu?authuser=0&hs=122
Wednesday 1st April 7-8pm online https://meet.google.com/csy-mvmg-mtu?authuser=0&hs=122
Thursday 4th June 6.30-8.30pm in school
PARENTING SUPPORT
Parent Council has asked me to share the following information
Because Parenting Isn’t Easy… Let’s Support Each Other 💛
Parenting can feel particularly tough this time of year with dark days, busy routines and tight budgets. The Scottish Government’s Parent Club has put together a helpful set of wellbeing tips, support links and practical ideas to help parents and carers look after their own mental health and wellbeing — from managing stress and staying active to affordable comfort food ideas and financial support. Supporting yourself makes it easier to support your family too.
Take a moment to read and share the resources here:
🔗 Because Parenting Isn’t Easy. Let’s Support Mental Health https://sgmarketing-newsroom.prgloo.com/news/because-parenting-isnt-easy-lets-support-mental-health
INVITATION TO MGS 400 ALUMNI
I invite any Grammar alumni to get in touch with us on this email address if you would like to be notified of upcoming events such as a tour of the school, and having your memories of school recorded for our 400 years 400 voices video which will be completed by December 2026.
We look forward to hearing from you!
400alumni@musselburghgrammar.elcschool.org.uk
Mr Bissett, in the Inclusion and Nurture department, is a talented artist who is leading an exciting creative project to recognise our history.
He is inviting any interested students and staff to collaborate on a Mural fur Mussy which will be displayed both in school and on a wall in the town once completed.
400 ACTS OF KINDNESS
One of the first events we have launched to celebrate 2026, (and what better way to start a new school year off in what can be a bleak January!) is 400 Acts of Kindness.
Mrs McKechnie, Maths teacher, has coordinated this, and Libby Bain, one of our Head Pupils, launched it at recent House Assemblies.
All pupils and staff are encouraged to recognise acts of kindness wherever we can and these will be counted up each week to see which House and class is the kindest.
400 Acts of Kindness will run for all of January and February.
YEAR GROUP ATTENDANCE
Improving attendance to improve attainment is one of our school improvement priorities this year and we expect pupils’ attendance to be at least 90%. We are tracking pupils’ attendance carefully throughout the session and more information about our attendance strategy will follow. I hope parents and carers find this weekly update on each year group's attendance useful.
UNIFORM REMINDER
Thank you for your ongoing support of our dress code.
Wearing uniform in school continues to be an important feature in school, not least for a safety aspect, as it allows us to identify who all our pupils are.
As our S5 and S6 pupils have chosen to return to school and are aware of the expectations of uniform and attendance laid out at the beginning of the session, I do expect our seniors to uphold our uniform standards. This is not only for safety reasons but also as role models to all younger students.
To encourage this, uniform wearing will be considered alongside attendance as a deciding factor for seniors attending social events.
Our uniform expectations are:
Trousers/ skirt- black only
White shirt and tie
Black jumper
Blue jeans, ripped jeans, cropped/ belly tops, band t-shirts and joggers/ tracksuits etc are not part of our dress code.
Please get in touch with the school office or your child’s PSL (Pupil Support Leader) if we can support with any uniform items.
Thank you for your ongoing support of our dress code.
FOUNDATION APPRENTICESHIPS
Session 2026-2027
To help us organise Foundation Apprenticeships (FA), pupils who are interested or would like to find out more about FAs please complete the attached form. The FAs are for pupils going into S4/5/6 and it will be part of your subject choices. Information on the sessions are in the google classroom.
https://forms.gle/9VAH72t31bzfFizF9
Please read the options carefully before submitting and ensure you are eligible.
Be quick, you don't want to miss out. Any questions, please see Ms Hoffman, Rm B16.
Edinburgh College applications for January 2026 are now open, please see link below if interested.
https://www.edinburghcollege.ac.uk/
Anyone requiring help to apply, please see Ms Hoffman in Rm B16 to book an appointment.
SOLO PERFORMER OF THE YEAR 2026
The Music Department is delighted to announce that our Solo Performer of the Year competition will take place on Tuesday 27 January at 5.00pm. This prestigious event marks the first stage of Scottish Young Musicians, Scotland’s leading national festival of music competitions.
Scottish Young Musicians provides young performers with the opportunity to win prizes, perform on a national stage and challenge themselves at the highest level. The 2026 competition is being held in schools across the country, with successful competitors progressing to the National Final at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland on Sunday 24 May 2026. From each school, one winner will be selected to advance to the Regional Final on Wednesday 18 March, with regional winners going on to compete in the national final in May.
We are thrilled to present an exciting programme featuring 16 talented musicians from S1 to S6, performing a wide range of music from Beethoven to Elton John. Entry is free, and we warmly encourage pupils, families and friends to come along and support our fantastic young performers as they showcase their musical talents.
SCHOOL TRIPS
We still have spaces available for any current S4/5 pupils interested in joining our trip to France in June. The visit will include the Normandy region, with stops in Bayeux, the D Day landing sites, and Caen. If you’d like more information, please collect a letter from Miss Dudley in D3.
If you are already signed up for the trip, please ensure your payments are up to date. We will be holding a meeting for parents of all pupils who are signed up, on Monday 9th February, at 5.30pm, and will be sending out an email about this very soon.
HEAD TEAM BLOG
This week we visited the Burgh Primary School to chat to the P7's about transition. We had great fun with them chatting and doing various activities, one being teaching them to tie a tie. A massive thank you to those who have already donated ties which we used at the Burgh. Please see our appeal post below.
Also, a big thank you to Daisy and Ava who came with us to help, we were very grateful to have you there!
Next week we will be at Loretto and Campie schools which we are really looking forward to!
Head Team
APPEAL FOR OLD TIES
If you have any spare ties within your household, please donate them to the school. I am doing an activity with the p7 transition pupils to teach them how to tie a tie, an essential skill for coming to MGS! Please drop the ties into the school office. Any donations are greatly appreciated!
Grace Ryan
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 FAO Ms Ritchie.
NOTES FROM THE OFFICE
NOTES FROM THE OFFICE
We’re your friendly office team - the first port of call for most parents and, often, pupils. We look after pupil records, timetables, attendance, and all communications to and from school.
A gentle reminder that all absences should be reported before 8am by texting 07860 049 075.
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.
MEDICAL
MEDICAL
Polio/dip/tetanus/meningitis for all S3 pupils plus catch ups will take place on Thursday 19th March 2026. Please return all forms to the school office a.s.a.p.
LOST PROPERTY
LOST PROPERTY
Some new items of lost property have been handed in to Ms Harvey in the Medical room.
Some new items of lost property have been handed in to Ms Harvey in the Medical room.
CAR PARK SAFETY
A safety reminder to all families who drop children off at school in the morning that they should be dropped off in the turning circle
outside the main gates and then use the footpath to the main doors, not walk through the car park.
This is due to a few near accidents recently with the volume of cars in the car park and pupils walking through it. If it is essential to come into the car park then the one way system must be used, again, to prevent accidents.
In addition, any S6 pupils having driving lessons should not be using the school car park for any part of the lesson due to the amount of cars in the area including narrow lanes and parking bays.
Thank you for your support.
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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