This was the view from my office window taken earlier today.  After nearly thirteen years of looking out across the playing fields, it is strange to think that this time next week I will be seeing fences and boards going up to mark out a building site.  While the Senior Leadership Team was meeting, folk from Balfour Beatty were walking around the grounds getting their bearings.  The reality of what is happening became even clearer when at lunchtime an S.1 pupil admitted to me that he was really looking forward to being in the new building.  Good times!

While I will be updating this blog regularly, a live camera link will be set up on the website (www.elginhigh.moray.sch.uk).  You can also follow me on Twitter: @AndySimpsonHT

This afternoon, the text message came through that financial closure had been reached and that the contracts for the construction of the new building had been signed!  Well done to everyone involved.

Meanwhile, we were meeting representatives of Hubco and Balfour Beatty to agree arrangements for the turf cutting ceremony at 12.00pm on Wednesday 16th March.  If all goes to plan, Balfour Beatty will start turning the games fields into a building site on Monday 7th March.  We also discussed a series of briefing sessions for pupils about health and safety.  These should also take place on the 7th March.  Exciting times!  We can look forward to getting into the new building in October 2017.

Financial close has still to be reached.  However, contracts should be signed next Wednesday.  We are now moving quickly to planning the turf cutting ceremony for 12pm Wednesday 16th March.  Good news!  More details to follow.

We have now been given the date of Monday 7th March when Balfour Beatty will move onto the site to start preparing the area.  Wednesday 16th March is the proposed date for the Turf Cutting Ceremony.  The S.5/6 pupil “Events Management” Team are busy planning the event.  Guest lists are being drawn up and invitations designed.  We hope to be joined by P6 pupils from Greenwards, Mosstowie and New Elgin Primary Schools.  They will be in S.1 when we hope to take over the new building in October 2017.  There is even talk of a special cake for the occasion!  More details to follow.

Another landmark has been reached in the journey towards  the new build.  Today the Moray Council Children and Young People’s Services Committee agreed the funding arrangements for the project.  This means that we can now move towards financial closure on Friday 19th February with Balfour Beatty taking over the building site on Monday 22nd February.  To mark the occasion the P&J could only come up with the idea of a photo of the Head of Lifelong learning, etc. and myself as a suitable accompaniment to the story.  I hope it does not do their sales any harm.

Meanwhile a lively meeting of the S.5/6 Events Management Group was joined by folk from Hubco and Balfour Beatty.  There were lots of ideas for planning the turf cutting ceremony.  More details to follow, but after years of hoping, it is getting very real!