School’s out!

DUNBEG Primary School returned yesterday to the odd situation of not having teacher Sine MacVicar there for the first time in 44 years.

AS PUPILS, parents and teachers get back to school this week, there will be one very notable exception at Dunbeg Primary School.

Sine MacVicar, teacher and head teacher at the village school for more than 44 years, will no longer be at the door to greet the 2017 intake of primary pupils at the busy school.

Ms MacVicar, who has decided at 65 she will no longer be taking to the classroom, was still tidying out her desk on Monday morning.

Her filing cabinets no doubt include five decades of policies and reports.

Spending the past 25 years of her career as head teacher, Ms MacVicar had taught three generations of some families.

At the Scottish Education Awards 2017, Ms MacVicar was nominated 18 times by teachers, parents, former pupils and the local police officer – one of the highest numbers to suggest the same person. Ms MacVicar contacted The

Oban Times to thank everyone who had helped celebrate her retirement.

She said: ‘I would like to thank everyone too numerous to mention who joined in the recent celebrations, sent cards and contributed so generously to my recent retirement.

‘To staff, pupils and parents present and former, and to Amanda and staff at the Argyllshire Gathering for an amazing night, my sincere thanks.

‘Dunbeg Primary, its community and beyond, including the secret organisers, you have really done me proud.

‘My heartfelt thanks to you all.’