Ordinary classroom teachers are the unsung heroes of our schools, according to this year’s recipient of the
Freedom of Kelso High School.
In her acceptance speech at last Thursday’s Celebration of Achievement Evening for 2013 at Kelso High School, former maths teacher Irene Goodfellow said that as well as accepting the honour for herself, she also accepted it on behalf of all other rank and file teachers.
“It is a huge honour to receive this award. Normally it goes to someone very high profile – in the past people like a governor of the Hongkong & Shanghai Banking Corporation or international rugby players. So I was pleased to accept it in recognition of classroom teachers and all they do, and in my acceptance speech I said I felt they were all unsung heroes,” said Mrs Goodfellow, who retired last summer after 32 years’ service as a maths teacher at the high school, and who also presented all the other recipients with their awards during the evening.
The event was attended by school staff, pupils, parents and guests, and is aimed at celebrating the achievements of the school and its pupils over the past session.
Mrs Goodfellow, who presented a range of awards, told The Southern: “It’s because of teachers and all they do that makes Kelso the school that it is.”
And she praised the achievements of pupils also, saying: “Students at Kelso are doing very well and the awards evening was fantastic.”
Depute rector Judy Brotherton added: “It was a hugely enjoyable evening attended by about 300 people – in fact, we couldn’t have squeezed any more in.”
Some of the major awards presented were as follows:
Claire Hill received the Weir Quaich for outstanding performance in hockey. She captained teams which won the South Schools 1st XI Tournament, South Schools Indoor tournament and South Schools U18 Knockout Cup and is an U18 Scottish internationalist;
Mrs Mary Weir was awarded the Borders Sport and Leisure Trust Unsung Hero Award in recognition of her service to hockey and sport for over 30 years;
Michael Berrett received the Bill Forbes Memorial Trophy for outstanding performance in rugby, for his significant contribution to the school team and for coaching.
Euan Pettigrew received the Outstanding Performance in Athletics Award. Euan competed at Scottish Schools level at 200m and 400m this year. He has been the Border Schools Champion at 400m for the last four years and has also won the Borders Schools 200m event twice;
Callum Stockdale received the Les Mitchell Mathematics Award. Callum made outstanding progress in his mathematics, exceeding the department’s expectations;
Sophie Douglas was presented with The Bruce Trophy for the huge contribution she has made to the school in her six years there. She has led the school dance club for five years, choreographed school shows and helped organise the annual community dance evening. Sophie was also the first Kelso pupil to achieve the Higher qualification in dance – with an A pass, of course!
The Purves Leadership & Service to the School Award went to Kate Lesenger, Michael Berrett, Beth Hadshar and Ryan Borthwick, for representing the school at a range of events across the Borders;
Keith Fingland received the Proxime Accessit Award for earning eight Standard Grades at band one, six Highers at A grade and three advanced Highers at A.
Rebecca Mark, Dux of the school, received the Bowmont Medal, for earning seven Standard Grades at band one, seven Highers at A and three Advanced Highers at A.