Page 61 - Herioter 2020

Ave et Vale:

Rachel McKinnon

Rachel McKinnon joined Heriot’s in
January 2013 as a part-time teacher
of Learning Enhancement. Having left
her native New Zealand three years
previously, she spent time in both
Leeds and Canada before moving to
Edinburgh, where she soon fell in love
with Scotland’s charms and traditions.
Rachel’s positive outlook and friendly
nature meant she quickly became
a popular member of the Heriot’s
community and her unique brand of jumping off small cliffs into the ocean
‘Kiwi cool’ has left a lasting impression as part of the P7 adventure days.
on all those she worked with.
Rachel was an adaptable member of
Following a short time in the Learning staff whose Kiwi accent caused more Rachel McKinnon is pictured here with
Enhancement Department, Rachel than a few misunderstandings over the Neil Seaton in 2018, shortly after Heriot’s
became recognised as a Gold level Rights
then established herself as a class years, particularly during spelling tests! Respecting School. The selection of
teacher in both P5 and P7 before She did, however, after five years, images below demonstrate how the Rights
being promoted to the role of Principal manage to get the hang of teaching Respecting Schools Group continues to
thrive in the Junior School.
Teacher of Curricular Enhancement. As ceilidh dancing to P7 and was always
well as advancing Financial Fortnight keen to demonstrate her pas-de-
and Digital Citizenship, Rachel further basque!
developed Rights Respecting Schools
and was passionate about ensuring Rachel left Heriot’s to return home to
children’s rights were embedded in New Zealand. After nearly ten years
the curriculum across the whole of away, she is most looking forward to
Heriot’s. Being awarded the Gold spending time with her family, days
Award was a highlight for Rachel on the beach and having a ‘proper’
and testament to her hard work and summer! Since returning home, Rachel
dedication. Rachel is a creative and has taken up a post at a primary school
fun teacher whose classroom is often in Wellington and has been enjoying
filled with laughter. She regularly going to work in shorts and flip-flops!
spoke highly of the pupils she taught Armed with her new camper van
and was motivated by their mature and paddle board, Rachel’s sense of
outlook on life and lively sense of adventure shows no signs of slowing
humour. down and she is excited to rediscover
her homeland. Although she is greatly
Rachel loves to travel and enjoys using missed by all at Heriot’s, we know
her own life experiences to inspire that Rachel is ready to embrace life
the children. She fully embraced all in New Zealand and counts herself as
aspects of life at Heriot’s and was not lucky that she now has two beautiful
one to turn down a challenge. As well countries that she can call home.
as leading curriculum development
in the Junior School and coaching her All of us at Heriot’s thank Rachel
P7 hockey team, Rachel also found for her dedication, enthusiasm and
herself negotiating her way through friendship, and we wish her all the best
Schiphol airport with 67 excitable P7 on her new adventures. Haste ye back!
pupils and staff, perfecting her skills Miss Lesley Meikle, Miss Mari
on the slopes of the Lecht on the Smith and Miss Maxine Anderson
P6/7 ski weekend, careering down Rachel McKinnon left Heriot’s in
hills on a mountain bike, and blindly December 2019.

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