Airdrie & Coatbridge Advertiser
Garden tribute to ex-teacher
Pupils remember Mr Thomson
Pupils and staff at Portland High celebrated the memory of a much- loved teacher with the opening of a special garden and presentation of a commemorative prize.
The Coatbridge school now has a new memorial garden in its grounds honouring Neil Thomson, its depute head of six years, who sadly passed away last summer.
It was officially opened by his widow, Helen, accompanied by daughter Amy and son Callum, as part of the school’s end-of-term prize-giving.
Mr Thomson had been depute head at the school since 2010, and colleague Nelson Liddle said: “He was a lovely man who did so much for Portland High.
“Pupils designed, constructed and installed the memorial garden in his honour.”
The inaugural Neil Thomson award – to be presented to a pupil who has made a significant contribution to the school – went to Marshall Laing for his work on the garden. He took the lead on the project, helping to design, fabricate and install the memorial, and was described as a “very fitting” and “worthy recipient” of the new prize, which was presented to him by Mrs Thomson.
Portland’s annual prizegiving event saw the pupil of the year award go to Clark Morgan, with the presentation being made by principal teacher Louise Wishart.
Awards presented at the ceremony were: Outstanding achievement – Shannon Bungard: English, PE, modern studies, administration & IT, Scottish studies; Casper Buglass: maths, art & design, history; Dylan George: hospitality; Marshall Laing: CDT, expanded learning opportunities; Callum McDonald: outdoor education; Clark Morgan: maths, music; Thomas O’Rourke: expanded learning opportunities; Kieran Robertson: home- school partnership; Jordan Simpson: maths ( BGE), English ( BGE); Josh Smith: outdoor education; Andrew Sproul: administration & IT.
Most improved – James Bett: history; Casper Buglass: CDT, PE; Corey Docherty: English, modern studies; Dylan George: maths (BGE); Chelsea Meechan: maths, art & design; Clark Morgan: hospitality; Thomas O’Rourke: Scottish studies; Kieran Robertson: English ( BGE), music, outdoor education; Melissa Stangoe: administration & IT.
Mentor group prizes: Dylan George, Corey Doherty, Clark Morgan, Declan O’Brien, Demi-Lee McArdle, Callum McDonald.