The Courier & Advertiser (Perth and Perthshire Edition)
Perth geographers replenish resources at fire-hit high school
Society responds to teachers’ appeal after books and maps were lost in last month’s blaze
A Perth-based charity has stepped in to lend a helping hand to Woodmill High School in Dunfermline.
The Royal Scottish Geographical Society (RSGS) agreed to assist the school’s efforts in replacing teaching resources after a fire ravaged the building on August 25.
Two of the school’s geography teachers, Andy Nicol and Margo Christie, contacted the charity in an effort to replace what was lost in their department, including books and maps.
Mr Nicol said: “We are overwhelmed by the extremely generous donation of resources from RSGS in the aftermath of the devastating fire.
“The donation of books, maps, pictures and a wealth of other teaching resources will be absolutely crucial in allowing us to continue to deliver engaging and exciting geography lessons to pupils.”
Mr Nicol and Mrs Christie were shown around the RSGS archive yesterday. By the end of the visit, the teachers had their hands full of resources to take back to their pupils.
Mrs Christie said: “Having resources to hand will limit the amount of disruption and get our pupils back learning as soon as possible.
“We are immensely grateful and look forward to further partnership opportunities with the RSGS.”
The items gifted by the charity included surplus Ordnance Survey maps of Scotland from the later 20th Century.
The teachers were also given world atlases, copies of the society’s magazines and large images of geographical landscapes for classrooms and corridors.
The Great Horizon, a book written by RSGS writer-in-residence Jo Woolf, was also donated.
Margaret Wilkes, head of RSGS Collection, said: “When we heard of the loss, we knew we could offer help – particularly as we had duplicate maps accrued through gifts received over many years.
“So it was all hands on deck to bring about ‘RSGS to the Rescue’ and prepare a package for the teachers.
“They went away with maps from Dunfermline to Dornoch, Delhi to Dakar, and Dublin to Darwin.”
The fire displaced around 1,400 pupils but short-term accommodation has been put in place around Fife.
Youngsters will return to lessons in phases throughout the week.
We had duplicate maps accrued through gifts received over many years MARGARET WILKES