From the Staffroom

As we began the academic year 2021-2022 it was again a very different start to the new school year for us all. Many Covid restrictions remained in place for schools – it continued to be a requirement for staff to keep at least a metre distance from colleagues and pupils. Face coverings were retained for all staff and senior school pupils and they were asked to take a lateral flow test twice a week.

There is little doubt then that the year began with its challenges and the staffroom remained a very different place! The first staff meeting of the year was held virtually which is how we therefore welcomed our new colleagues.

We welcomed Deirdre Latimer as Deputy Head (Academic) and Leona Goodwin, previously Head of Drama, took up the post of Deputy Head (Pastoral). I took up the role of Head of Finance and Operations and together with Miss Tomlinson and Mrs Murray we formed the Senior Leadership Team. We also welcomed Kirsty Syme as Head of Drama, Mel Binfield as teacher of 2 Junior, Melissa Smart joined the Modern Languages department, Elzy Rasmussen joined the English department and Victoria Ellis joined the after school care team. A very warm St Margaret’s welcome was given to these new colleagues.

In September we said farewell to Naomi Shepherd, our admissions officer, who left to pursue a career in finance. Anne Bonandrini moved across the room swapping her marketing role for the admissions role and Dave Stokes joined us in marketing bringing with him his particular experience in digital marketing.

In October, albeit later than usual, we welcomed Celia Druart and Mariam Zoufal, our two foreign language assistants who would stay with us until April. Throughout the winter months staff absence was high as a result of Covid and to ensure continuity of learning and teaching we welcomed a number of new supply staff to the team. We also welcomed back a number of recently retired teachers and to

all of these staff we extend a huge thank you for all the help and assistance they gave at times, at very short notice.

At the end of the autumn term we were sorry to say goodbye to Donna Gregory who decided to take time to look after her new granddaughter. Donna’s kindness and compassion towards the pupils she worked with in her role as a classroom assistant would be missed but it was not long before she too returned to help as a member of our supply staff. We were also sorry to say goodbye to Melissa Coutts who took up a new role where she was able to work from home. Melissa was replaced at reception by Marianne McBay who we welcomed to St Margaret’s.

The return to school after the Christmas holiday started with a welcome back meeting at which Miss Tomlinson thanked staff for their resilience during these Covid times and noted that being in school in person this year was a positive step forward from the previous January when the country had returned to lockdown.

We welcomed Jill Matheson to school in February to a new role as Pupil Support Coordinator and Jill very quickly settled in the front office where her previous experience in hospitality has been much appreciated at times! During the spring term we also welcomed Audrey Fraser to the nursery team as an Early Years Practitioner and said goodbye to Terry Ward, a history teacher who moved on to new adventures with his family.

At the end of the summer term we were sad to say goodbye to Shirley Torrie, our Head of English, who we congratulate on her exciting promotion to a city wide role within Aberdeen City Council. Shirley joined St Margaret’s in May 2016 and has in her time here made a substantial contribution to both the English department and to the professional development of all of our teaching staff through her leadership of literacy and other initiatives. We also had to say a sad farewell to Becky Milne, our modern studies teacher. Becky joined us in October 2020 to cover a maternity leave and stayed with us until the end of session 2021-22. During that time Becky made great contributions to her department and to the wider life of the school through her leadership of Model United Nations.

The end of the summer term also saw the retirement of Margaret Thom, our Banchory bus escort. Margaret joined St Margaret’s in November 2015 and has been a familiar face to families and pupils travelling in from Banchory for nearly 7 years. We wish Margaret a long, happy and healthy retirement.

As I conclude my first “From the Staffroom” I reflect on the changes this year has seen and the number of new faces who have so quickly become part of our community. I also reflect on how far we have come from this time last year and whilst “normality” has not quite returned the buzz around school is back and we can look forward to better times ahead when we can all be back together in the staffroom and socialising together again. We thank all colleagues past and present for the huge contribution which each and every one has made to the life of the school.

The buzz around school is back and we can look forward to better times ahead when we can all be back together in the staffroom and socialising together again.

Mhairi Miller Head of Finance and Operations