News
Christmas Fair November 19th 2022
Is it too early to wish everyone a Merry Christmas? Not now that we have hosted our Christmas Fair!
Thank you so much to all our talented artisan stallholders, we really are lucky to have such clever and creative parents, teachers and craftspeople in East Lothian. Thanks also to the team of bakers who stocked up our café, the teachers who brought along our charity team to sell their gifts in aid of the Ukraine appeal and our team of busy volunteers.
The event raised an amazing £2000 for the Bridges Project; a cheque will be presented to this local Mussleburgh charity on 7th December to support them in their work to change the lives of young people in the area.
The dining hall, red hall and old library were transformed into a winter wonderland, with the Pipers and harpist Caitlin getting us in the mood to shop. It was lovely to reconnect with friends, chat over coffee and cake and tick off the Christmas lists. A massive thanks to Sonia for her vision and hard work to get the festive season started at Loretto.
The Friends of Loretto wish all the fabulous Loretto families a very Merry Christmas.
— Sarah Lang
Welcome Back and Meet, Greet & Games: 1st September 2022
Welcome back! It was so lovely to welcome so many new families, old friends, new teachers and new pupils to Loretto at the Meet, Greet & Games and Welcome Meal. We hope you thoroughly enjoyed the delicious school dinner prepared by Carol and her team. It was a moment of nostalgia for many and a chance for you to imagine a 'new normal' for your children experiencing their first time at Loretto.
It was great to see so many of you at school, I think it was a record with 245 attending and the atmosphere was so happy and energising. A big thanks for the team that pulled the evening together and who supplied the badminton, spike ball, volley ball, giant dominoes, volleyball, cricket and rounders kit to get the games going and to the sports staff and sixth formers for their help sorting out teams, keeping scores and their shouts of encouragement.
We very much look forward to seeing you in chapel, on the side of a pitch, at a play or concert soon and please save the date for the Christmas Fair on Saturday 19th November.
— Sarah Lang and the team (Karen, Clare, Jen, Sonia, Nicola and Helen)
General Update: 10th July 2022
A parent forum has now been set up with Gemma Scott, Alison Reigels, Etta Dunsmuir, Karen Chapman, Jo Pearce, Nicola Peddie as the new team. Over the summer we will be in touch with all new families that have completed forms as part of their welcome pack and requested a call from the Friends of Loretto to help them settle in and get ready for the start of term. We will also be attending and supporting school events.
— Sarah Lang
Jubilee Picnic: 11th June 2022
Strategic placement of the marquees was essential given the forecast of strong winds and showers—an essential element of all Scottish picnics—but the sun actually came out and we enjoyed a lovely afternoon on the Pinkie Lawns. The red, white and blue bunting was strewn around, a photo booth with her Majesty was set up, the Lucas van was in position and the tables were groaning under the weight of strawberries and teas. Background music could just be heard over the chatter and laughter and it was great to sample cakes from the Jubilee baking contest. Mr Barker was honoured to plant a Willow tree as part of the Queen’s green canopy initiative and the 1st XI won their cricket match. Thank you so much to everyone that came along and shared in the Jubilee fun.
— Sarah Lang
Summer Soirée: 12th May 2022
Finally we could throw open the gates and welcome familiar faces and new families to Pinkie to celebrate the ending of Covid restrictions. The FOL team created some lovely floral displays and were out with the red and white umbrellas to say big 'hellos' to our Loretto families. Carol and her catering team provided some fabulous canapés and Dr Hawley and Rachel were delighted to address a gathering of 80+ guests and to highlight the art on display from last year's A-level students. Elspeth (L6) and Caitlin (4F) showcased their vocal and harp playing talents and the FOL team took guided tours of the campus for those that wanted to explore.
What a joy to hear the pipe band playing again and to see them perform with the Highland dancers—it always brings a tear to the eye and it was a great chance for them to practice before the beating of the retreat at Edinburgh Castle. We are so glad to be able to put the Heart back into Loretto and get that special community feeling back. You can watch a video from the event, here.
— Sarah Lang
General Update: November 2021
Hurray! We have finally had a team meeting and are hosting small events and making plans for 2022! It’s been so frustrating having to cancel the Greek night and not being able to have fun parties but we have our fingers crossed that 2022 is going to be a very social year.
It's been great to make contact with our new Loretto families and help you settle in and feel welcome.
The team have organised walks and coffees at Newhailes, The Restoration Yard, The Rocketeer and Croallas. Afternoon teas have been enjoyed at Carberry Tower and it’s Christmas Wreath making for some year groups in December. We have had a pot luck supper for Form 2 and our biggest event to kick things off this term was the Yellow Craigs beach party attended by families across all year groups for rounders, football, paddle boarding, spike ball, and a BBQ picnic.
We are looking at a group theatre booking and are making enquires for year group meals at local Musselburgh restaurants in the spring term as well as working on a plan for a Hog Roast and then a big summer family party to celebrate the Queen's Platinum Jubilee on the beach. A cricket & tennis cream tea and another quiz night are also on our to do list. We can’t wait to be back on campus.
If you have ideas for an event or would like to get involved please do get in touch via friendsofloretto@loretto.com
— Sarah Lang
General Update: April 2021
We hope that your children are now settled back into school after the strangest of years and that we will be able to chat on a touch line, the side of a pitch, in chapel, at a school event or in the theatre in the not too distant future. We are really missing seeing you all and welcoming new families to the school.
I would like to introduce our Friends of Loretto team who are going to be arranging some coffees and walks in line with government guidance in and around East and Mid Lothian soon. Details to follow on this the Friends of Loretto Calendar.
Please do get in touch with your rep to ask any questions or arrange to meet as we know how important a friendly face is.
For families from far away do let us know when you are visiting school and we can say hello and introduce you to your children’s friend’s parents. You can contact us via friendsofloretto@loretto.com and we have year group What’s app chats that you can join. For problems or queries about your child and their academic work their tutor is always the first point of call.
— Sarah Lang
Greek Night: 21st March 2021
The event has been postponed due to the coronavirus restrictions on social gatherings, we can refund your tickets if you get in touch to friendsofloretto@loretto.com. We would love to host this event as soon as we are allowed to and we will keep you informed.
— Sarah Lang
The Haggis Hop: 11th January 2021
The inspiration behind the lovely event on Saturday 11th January was for as many Loretto families as possible to learn the Reel of the 51st Highland division because Lieutenant Jimmy Atkinson of the 7th Arglls and a former Lorettonian created and originated the dance whilst he was a prisoner of war following capture at the Battle of Dunkirk in 1940.
His idea of a reel with a Saint Andrew′s Cross in its key formation was intended to symbolise Scotland and the Highland Division, in adversity. Atkinson's letter home with instructions for the dance was intercepted by the German security service, the Abwehr, who spent the rest of the war trying to break the code. However, another version of the dance reached Scotland where it was published while Atkinson was still a POW and became instantly popular.
So, the Friends of Loretto team decorated Linkfield Hall (the CCF and Pipe band building) with lots of tartan bunting, fairy lights and candles and pulled together a team of dance experts, an accordion player and booked a local caterer. Lots of laughter, patience from our instructors, toes being trodden on, spinning kilts, clapping, giggling and fun ensued and the whole room was a blur of spinning bodies and we now have some confident 51st Reelers.
Thanks so much to everyone who came along, for our young pipers Charlie, Harry and Benji, Stuart on the accordion, Ben, Isla, Mark, Jamie, Chris and Emily for the expert tuition, Angela, Alan and Stevie for helping set up the Hall and Barbarella Beets who served wonderful food all night. Well done to The Kinloch Andersons for supplying all the tartan off cuts for Lizzie’s amazing bunting and a big thank you to the FOL team.
We are planning to give any money raised to The Loretto Pipe Band to buy branded travel bags for all their kit as they fly the flag for the school from Edinburgh to Lords and locally.
To see more pictures of the event, please check our Facebook post, and click here for a short video.
— Sarah Lang
Christmas Update: December 2020
Thanks so much for coming along to our Christmas coffee on Friday 6th December 2019 and having a go at making a seasonal pomander and an aromatherapy roller. Sonia Lee and Lizzie MacRae our creative experts helped us enjoy a festive morning and a big thank you to Mint Fig for supplying delicious mince pies. See more on Facebook.
Also, it was so nice to see so many parents at Lana Thai our local Musselburgh restaurant while the children enjoyed their Christmas Feasts, the food was delicious and it was a lovely chance to catch up with old friends and make new ones.
— Sarah Lang
Scottish Borders gathering: 27th November 2019
Nicola Peddie from the FOL organised a lovely gathering for Loretto’s Scottish Borders parents on Friday 27th November at The Buccleuch Arms in St Boswells. 28 folk had a fun, social time in the boardroom and there was a festive buzz with chatter around the Christmas tree. The food was excellent and families are looking forward to meeting up at the Christmas coffee, Haggis Hop at the next Borders gathering.
Mobile Phone Policy Focus group: 22nd November 2019
On the 22nd of November, a focus group was invited to join Dr Hawley to discuss mobile phone use at school following lots of discussion amongst parents & in the media.
