Popular head given great send-off by kids
Headteacher retires
Pupils at St Thomas Primary in Wishaw have said goodbye to retiring headteacher Mary Cruickshank.
Mrs Cruickshank, who lives in Wishaw, bade a fond farewell to the school as pupils got set to enjoy their summer holidays.
Mrs Cruickshank said: “It was very mixed emotions for me as you can imagine but I’ve had a terrific last few days.
“We’ve had a fun day with water fights so I was drenched.
“I’m looking forward to the next chapter though.
“The children are the biggest part of the job and everyone in the St Thomas catchment area has been great. Everyone has a part to play at the school.”
Mrs Cruickshank, from Craigneuk, started her teaching career at St Thomas before stints at St Aidan’s Primary in Wishaw and Holy Family Primary in Mossend.
She was the headteacher at St Stephen’s Primary in Coatbridge before returning to St Thomas as headteacher for the past seven years.
And Mrs Cruickshank, 59, believes the school is in good hands with new headteacher Mary-Ann Preston.
“I actually taught Mrs Preston when she was in primary three,” said Mrs Cruickshank.
“She will be absolutely fantastic for the school.
“When I was saying goodbye to some of the children I told them I would bump into them in Tesco!
“At St Thomas we have taught the pupils to be proud of who they are, where they are from and that they can achieve anything.”
Mrs Cruickshank is now looking forward to spending more time with her family.
She added: “It will be nice to have a bit more time on my hands.
“Myself and my husband have got a motorhome so it will be good to do some travelling around the country.”