The first few weeks of the new school year have been a whirlwind of activity, with students from Elementary to High School venturing off-campus for incredible learning, team-building, and adventures. These experiences are a vital part of life at ISA, creating lasting memories.
Elementary Adventures in the Capital
Our Grade 4 classes had an unforgettable trip to Edinburgh to kick off the year. The day was packed with discovery as they explored the National Museum of Scotland and enjoyed some team-building fun at Inverleith Park. The group also had the fantastic opportunity to attend the Edinburgh International Book Festival, where the highlight of the day was meeting Cressida Cowell, the celebrated author of the How to Train Your Dragon series. She inspired us all with her incredible stories and insights into her writing journey!
Middle School Making a Splash
For our Middle School students, the start of term is all about connection, community, and challenging themselves.
Our Grade 6 students took to the water at Knockburn Loch for a thrilling day of activities. They worked together on jumbo paddleboards, raced on two-person boards, and tackled a giant inflatable obstacle course, even enjoying a refreshing swim in the loch! The day was wrapped up with an epic game of capture the flag, making it a perfect way to build community and kick off the school year with positivity.
Our Grade 7 students had their own adventure visiting Granite Adventures at Loch Park in Deeside. The day was a brilliant mix of paddlesports like canoeing, kayaking, and paddle boarding, alongside land-based activities including orienteering and a series of fun team-building challenges.
Meanwhile, our Grade 8 students embraced challenges during their trip to Adventure Aberdeen in Kingswells. The day was designed to help students forge new friendships and strengthen existing ones. They pushed their limits on the climbing tower and low ropes course, tested their aim with soft archery, and developed new wilderness and bike skills, all while working together as a team.
Senior Students Look to the Future
Our senior students have been busy focusing on their academic and future pathways.
Last weekend, our IBDP Biology and Environmental Systems and Society students set off for an immersive ecology field trip to the Isle of Cumbrae. They spent two nights at the Field Studies Council’s residential centre in Millport, working alongside expert ecologists. Across more than 17 hours of hands-on instruction, students mastered key ecological techniques for data collection and analysis, directly supporting their IA coursework and strengthening their understanding for final exams. It was a challenging but rewarding experience, giving our students a real taste of what it means to be an ecologist in action.
Looking ahead, our Grade 12 students took an important step in their journey beyond ISA by attending a UCAS information day at the University of Aberdeen. This gave them a valuable opportunity to meet representatives from universities across Scotland and the wider UK, helping them make informed decisions about their future.
Resilience and Teamwork on the Trail
Finally, a huge congratulations to our Grade 10 Duke of Edinburgh’s Award students who recently completed their Silver practice expedition in Braemar. The team was met with torrential rain and storms, forcing them to shelter in their tents all evening. Despite the challenging conditions, their spirits remained incredibly high, and their teamwork and resilience shone through as every single participant successfully completed the expedition. Well done to all – and good luck this weekend as they take on their qualifying expedition – with more rain forecast!
