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CH-CH-CH CHANGES 2009
Dumfries Academy is going through a lot of changes this summer. We have four staff moving on to work elsewhere (Mr Campbell, Ms DeFazio, Miss Steele and Mrs Dempster) and seven retiring (Mrs Burns, Mr Love, Mr Lethbridge, Mr Fyfe, Mrs Hutcheson, Mr Falconer and Mrs Rae). The webteam caught up with those who are leaving to get a few last words. Interviews completed by Stephany MacMillan (S2) and the Academy Focus newsletter team.
Miss Steele has been a drama teacher at Dumfries Academy for a short period of time, and she is leaving us to become a drama therapist. Miss Steele will be missed by both staff and pupils. Her tutor class, 1C3 now 2C3 will also miss her very much. We spoke to Miss Steele and convinced her to do an interview with us about her plans for the future and her time teaching here at Dumfries Academy.
What are your plans for when you retire/leave the school?
I plan to go back to university.
What have you enjoyed most about teaching?
The fun you can have working with the children.
What has been your most embarrassing/funniest moment?
Falling over things in front of classes.
How long have you been at Dumfries Academy?
Just one year.
What has been your most memorable moment?
Doing Abba’s “Dancing Queen” at school talent show.
I have really enjoyed working at Dumfries Academy this year; you have all made it good fun. I will always remember the Peggy Play, Superheroes and being given into trouble for having another can of coke on my desk!
MR LOVE
Mr Love has been a valued member of the Dumfries Academy community for a formidable 27 years. He kindly provided us with a few last thoughts before putting away his protractor and calculator for good.
What are your plans for when you retire/leave the school?
A short term visit to my son in New York to see my granddaughter. Then a visit to New Zealand after Christmas.
What have you enjoyed most about teaching?
The holidays.
How long have you been at Dumfries Academy?
I’ve been here for 27 years.
What has been your most memorable moment?
Listening to the Jazz Orchestra.
I have many happy memories of my time at Dumfries Academy. I always wanted to learn how to play a musical instrument but failed miserably. So when I listened to the school’s Jazz orchestra it gave me great pleasure and filled me full of admiration. In my first year at the Academy the under 18 football team played in the final of the Scottish schools cup. The final was played at Hampden and I will never forget the look on my son’s faces as we arrived at Hampden and got of the bus. They were eight and six years old at the time.
I remember with great fondness a good number of colleagues I have worked with over the years. Some I met on my first day at the Academy and I am still friendly with to this day.
I also remember with fondness a number of colleagues who have sadly passed away. A lifetime of happy memories.
MRS DEMPSTER
Mrs Dempster is one of the school's home economics teachers, but sadly she is leaving us this year. Miss Dempster will be missed by both her pupils and the staff she worked with. Miss Dempster managed to spare a few minutes one day to answer a few questions. She will not be forgotten in a hurry and students can hope her replacement is as good as Miss Dempster.
What are your plans for when you retire/leave the school?
I plan to go and teach at Langholm Academy.
What have you enjoyed most about teaching?
Working with both the pupils and staff and my role in pupil support.
How long have you been at Dumfries Academy?
I’ve been here for two and a half years.
What has been your most memorable moment?
Taking part in the 6th year leaving ceremony.
My time at Dumfries Academy has been good and I especially enjoyed working with the pupils, staff and parents during my time as “ Head of Year ”. I have had some fantastic experiences with the pupils and had a great time visiting France/Belgium, St Andrews and canoeing at “ Loch Ken ” with S6. These are but a glimpse of the fond memories that I will always have.
MR CAMPBELL
Mr Campbell joined the social subjects faculty last year as a bright, enthusiastic RE teacher. He took some time out from his busy schedule to answer a few questions about his time at the school.
What are your plans for when you leave the school?
Leaving. Leaving Dumfries and hoping to become involved in promoting Consciousness based Education programs. In UK and overseas.
How long have you been at DA?
1 school year.
What has been your funniest/ most embarrassing moment?
Forgetting I had to go on a course the day I came back from the holidays and turning up at school.
What has been your most memorable moment?
The first day of school in August. Own class pupils and teaching style.
What have you enjoyed most about teaching?
The opportunity to teach pupils from all levels of the school. It’s been a challenge. I’ve been kept on my toes and most of all it's been good fun.
I am leaving Dumfries Academy after a fun packed and adventuresome year. It has been a year of personal exploration and intensity; good fun indeed!! I have had the opportunity to work in conjunction with a great bunch of generous professionals, making my experience invaluable. In particular I would like to big up Mr William McGair for giving me the creative space to express my interests and develop my teaching skills, and Mr Kenneth Fyfe for showing how the job is done and being a friend!!! I would like to thank the pupils at all levels of the school for their challenge and patience. Good luck, and take life as it comes!!
MRS HUTCHESON
Another change in staffing is that Mrs Hutcheson will be returning to Dumfries Academy part-time after the holidays. She wants her pupils to know that she will not be deserting them completely!
MR FYFE
I will always remember Dumfries Academy as a good school. Just look at the achievements section in our 09 prospectus to see this. But I think I will remember most of all the pupils. Over my years I have met many, many hundreds of you. Constantly, I have been impressed with your talents, quality of work and your motivation. It has made my job in school very rewarding. I hope I will remember I taught you not just about Modern Studies, but about life itself and hopefully you will see the benefits of this. Oh, and remember, take care on the stairs! And have a nice day.
MR LETHBRIDGE
Although I have been given this wee slot on the leavers’ page I am not actually going – well, not completely. I shall be here three days each week. You may think (kindly?) even that is too much for someone who has been around this place for 23 years. I am now teaching pupils whose parents I have also taught! Well, that is really quite nice, even if it is a reminder that you can keep getting older while still doing the same job. You may have been glad of the interruption to your period 7 class on Friday (12 June) when the Physics Dept set off the fire alarm. It was a lovely sunny afternoon, so why not? Actually, the cause was a group of physics teachers enjoying themselves making bangs and smoke with the connivance of Dr Bunhead. So it was for a good scientific reason. I would not list that as a high-light of my 23 years here – it is not an every-day experience but an occasional one. Now here is a common high-light. I am often greeted by people around the town. It may be many years since they have left school but they still remember me – and even recognise me!
MS DeFAZIO
Dumfries Academy will always hold a special place in my heart, and I would like to take a moment to thank all the people who helped me feel so welcome at school this year. Through the inevitable ups and downs, I continually felt cared for and part of the Academy family here (which is invaluable because my actual family is 5,000 miles away).
MR FALCONER
When more and more pupils remind me that I taught their mum and dad I realise it must be time to move on. After 32 years at Dumfries Academy, I am looking forward to my retirement but will miss the camaraderie at school. In the early years I had fun running the squash club as we were very successful in the school region. I have always played football with the other staff on Fridays after school and this has been a good way to wind down. I believe I have always had a good report with staff and pupils, enjoying some banter and sharing mutual respect. The most rewarding aspect of teaching though is helping pupils achieve their potential. On a final note can anyone find the next term in the sequence of letters? O,T,T,F,F,S,S……..
MRS BURNS
Just a word of farewell as I step down as depute. What a time I have had and I can’t believe that 16 years have gone so quickly. It has not been an easy decision to step down but it does allow me the chance to close my career at a slower pace and do some more teaching which is what brought me into the profession in the first place. I am not exactly rushing out in a flurry of dust!
Of the five different schools I have worked in Dumfries Academy will remain my favourite. The range of talent and personalities amongst staff and pupils has made sure that every day has brought something different, sometimes challenging but certainly never a dull moment.
I feel privileged to have had the opportunity to be part of a very hard working team of staff at the Academy and I am deeply grateful for the support and the encouragement that I have enjoyed in the areas of the remit for which I have been responsible. From my early days here I felt looked after and quickly realised that this is part of a long tradition of staff looking after each other and a tradition which I am sure will continue.
I have some great memories of the pupils I have known and look forward to seeing and hearing how their careers progress. For all I know the next prime minister, astronaut, football manager could have been through this school.