Buckie High roll out welcome mat for new faces and say farewell to stalwarts
The last term at Buckie Community High School (BCHS) saw some coming and goings as new faces joined the team while others headed to a hard-earned retirement.
Taking their place at the school are Newly Qualified Teachers (NQTs) Daisy Collins and Scott Sommerville, who have become the newest members of the History and Business Departments.
Heading the other way PT Guidance teachers Donna Mackintosh and Elaine Ford, Depute Rector Moira Taylor and English teacher Grant Smith.
With a full term under their belt, BCHS’s NQT duo had plenty of positive things to say.
University of Edinburgh graduate Ms Collins worked as a PSA in Aberdeenshire for a year and before embarking on a PGDE at the University. Going to BCHS has effectively been a return home.
She explained: “As much as I enjoyed living in a city as a student it’s lovely to be back home.
“Buckie isn’t far from my hometown in Banff at all.
“It is such a pleasure working at Buckie High School, I have felt welcomed and supported by colleagues and pupils.
“I got such a positive feel about the place as soon as I arrived. Another bonus is I have my own classroom which I know is a luxury as an NQT!”
Mr Sommerville is a Forres lad, having graduated from UHI in Business. He joins the teaching profession from a career in sales.
He said: “I suppose you could say teaching is my first employment of a prestigious nature, aside from working in sales for a car rental company.
“The major positive to working at Buckie so far has been the people.
“BCHS staff are friendly and quite laid back. There is a stronger community spirit here than I see elsewhere which I think is because Buckie is a smaller town and more rural than my small rural hometown.”
The summer saw Ms Mackintosh bring the curtain down on a teaching career spanning 38 years, beginning with a two-year stint as a PE teacher at Peterhead Academy. Buckie High beckoned in 1988, again as a PE teacher, a post she held for eight years before being promoted to {T Guidance. This was mainly with Cluny House, but finishing with Seafield House as a job share with Mrs Stewart.
Looking back on her career, she said: “My best memories of being a teacher are all connected to positive relationships with pupils, families and colleagues.
“It is a privilege to see a young person develop throughout their time at high school and beyond. There are fantastic memories of experiences outside the classroom - PE trips, charity fundraising, activities weeks and trips in Scotland and abroad.
“I am most proud of being part of Holocaust Education and various driving safety initiatives over the years.
“The biggest changes I have seen are the increase in staff workload, developments in technology and the influence of mobile phones in the lives of our young people and everyone else.
“My future plans are quite simple - to slow down and enjoy life, spend in time with my partner Gordon, my mum and my friends. Oh, and to try to improve my golf game!”
Mrs Taylor spent a total of 43 years in teaching, 37 of those at Buckie High. Initially an English teacher, she served as a PT Guidance for 11 years and then as Depute Rector for the remining 16 years of her time in teaching.
She commented: “I thin the major highlights for me from my time at Buckie High were Hebbie Grey’s Christmas parties, the Young Enterprise teams, the trips to Tanzania trip and setting up first inclusion department in Moray (Transform).
“Perhaps the biggest change I’ve seen over the years is that all teachers are responsible for providing nurture and support to their pupils ie not just delivering subject content.
“As for the future, I’m looking forward to a slower pace of life, travelling, having time for long walks, spending more time with family and grandchildren and coffees with pals every week not once a term!”
In a previous work life English, Scots Studies and Media teacher Grant Smith was a manager for BT. After changing career horses to teaching he went on to spend 18 years in the profession. He was also very active in running extra curricular activities for students down the years.
He said: I think the best memories I’ll take from teaching include school trips to Barcelona, coaching the senior school football team, staff footy and friendships built with staff and students over the years.
“However, the job itself was superb - especially working in such a vibrant and successful department. Initially I intended climbing up the greasy pole of promotion but quickly realised what I enjoyed most was the day to day battles and banter of the classroom itself.
“The changes were all relative and helping students embrace change all part of the job.
“I looking forward to playing more golf, looking after the grandchildren, travelling with Fiona and adoring new puppy Lola.”
Ms Ford’s BEd Degree in Physical Education in Edinburgh 1988 was to pave the way for a 36-year teaching career, 18 of them in Buckie.
After qualifying, she held the posts of PE teacher, Head of Girls PE and Assistant Head in various schools in Grimsby, North Humberside before returni home to Elgin in 2007 to take up a PT Guidance post at Buckie High.
Her time at Buckie brought many highlights to take away.
“Being Head of Lennox House for 17 years was a major highlight for me, as was chairing the Equalities working group in school and the PT Guidance Moray group for several years.
“The annual trips as a department to Dunfermline for the Scottish Guidance Group Annual Conference and the training we received were truly valuable to shape our PSE curriculum.
“During my last year of teaching I enjoyed co-ordinating support packages looking at alternative curriculums for some pupils to raise achievement for all.
“For me the biggest changes was the increased resilience required by staff and pupils to tackle life challenges and to maintain positive mental health.
“As for the future, it’s looking good and includes grandma duties and mapping out my adventures in our motorhome within Scotland and abroad and setting myself new challenges to make sure I enjoy life.”
