Warm Milne's High School welcome for new teachers
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WITH the first term of the new school year almost over, it has been a busy time for Milne's High School's latest recruits.
The school rolled out the welcome mat for a total of seven new recruits in August.
Full-time permanent history and modern studies Stuart Massie is joined by three Newly Qualified Teachers (NQTs) – Kazya Stevens (PE), Deborah Cruden (art) and Donald Rodgers (geography) – in addition to student teachers Andrew Petrie (history and modern studies), Roger Seymore (modern languages) and Mhairi MacLean (English).
The NQTs will spend a year at Milne's while the student teachers will be spending all of their placements at the school.
Extending the hand of welcome was Milne's rector Jemma Playfair.
She said: "I'm really pleased to welcome all our new staff – Stuart Massie as a permanent, full-time staff member, our NQTs Kazya, Deborah and Donald and our student teachers Andrew, Roger and Mhairi,
"They've all settled in really well.
"Stuart and the NQTs are all involved in a variety of leadership projects in the school during the year. He's working with a group pushing for Milne's to become a Rights Respecting School while Deborah is working on activities for Remembrance Week.
"Kezya is organising a week of activities in aid of Children in Need, including a staff v pupils tug of war and a staff v pupils football match.
"Donald is working on our Christmas week events, with the money raised to be split between Moray Food Bank and CHAS."
The new Milne's staff were asked to share a few facts about themselves.
Mr Massie's move to Milne's was just a short hop up the road.
He said: "I completed my probation year at Buckie High School last year after graduating from the University of Aberdeen and was delighted to continue teaching in Moray at Milne’s.
"Everyone has been really welcoming and I have settled in well – the pupils are fantastic and a credit to themselves. I come from Oldmeldrum in Aberdeenshire so not too far away from Fochabers.
"In my spare time, I enjoy reading books and aim to read 52 books a year. I also like walking and running for exercise and like to relax in the evening by cooking and watching a good quiz show."
Miss Stevens, who studied at the University of Edinburgh for an MA Physical Education, has already been busy fostering the school's female football talent.
"In my spare time I like to play and watch football and this year have already introduced a girls football club," she continued.
"I have a cockapoo called Reeva. On the weekends I normally go long walks with her along the beach or in the countryside."
Invernessian Mrs Cruden has lived in Moray for four years having previously lived in other parts of Scotland.
She said: "I studied my art degree at Gray’s School of Art in Aberdeen and in fourth year was awarded a John Kinross scholarship with the RSA to Florence, Italy.
"I took my then 10-month-old with me and it was a bit of an adventure! More recently I studied with Strathclyde University, Glasgow.
"I have three children, two boys and one girl. One is working, one is in secondary school and one is primary school aged.
"I enjoy walking our mini labradoodle puppy we got during the summer. He loves people and his name is Buddy.
"Outside of school, my favourite places to be are on a beach, in the studio painting, or sitting somewhere comfy with a good book. I really enjoy a good movie, too."
For Mr Rodgers, spending his NQT year at Milne's is something of a return to an old stamping ground.
He explained: "Having had a placement here as a student I was delighted to find out that I was returning to Milne's for my NQT year.
"The staff and pupils are very welcoming.
"Growing up in Grantown-on-Spey I have always made the most of the outdoors. In my spare time I love to go mountain biking, and skiing through the winter."
