Staff and pupils at Brora and Helmsdale primaries say a fond farewell to long-serving head teacher

It was a poignant end of term for a popular and long-serving East Sutherland head teacher.

For Dawn McKenzie, cluster head of Brora and Helmsdale primary schools, is retiring after a 33-year career in education, the last 12 as a head teacher and the two before that as an acting head.

Mrs McKenzie, who started in Brora as a P2 teacher, a role she held for nine years, spoke warmly of her long teaching service and the stellar support given to the two schools by their communities.

“It has been a wonderful job and the two communities are wonderful. In both villages the school is so much part of everything,” she said.

“It was truly nerve-racking to carry out the end of term services this year, but both schools made a great effort to make it enjoyable for all the friends and families attending and for me too.”

And everyone present at the end of year assemblies made sure Mrs McKenzie knew just how much she would be missed.

All the pupils at Brora including the nursery class, incorporated a verse about her into their leaving song.

Jane Mackintosh, chairwoman of Brora Parent Council, gave a heartfelt speech thanking her for her work over the years Both parent councils presented gifts.

Pupils at Helmsdale made a huge poster, writing “Happy Retirement” on it and embellishing it with flowers.

Helmsdale teacher Shelly Taylor said: “All staff and pupils would like to wish Mrs McKenzie a long and happy retirement. We bid a very fond farewell to her after four years at the helm (as a cluster head).”

Mrs McKenzie said she had no plans at present other than to enjoy the summer holidays and get some “gardening and croft work done”.

The principal teachers at both schools will provide cover while Highland Council advertise the head teacher’s post and a new appointment is made.

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