New Building, New Name?

by Councillor Drew Millar

This is an exciting time for everyone living on Skye as we see the new education and community facility growing before our eyes. The opportunities this will give to all sections of our community no matter where they stay are limitless.

The new school will have all the necessary modern IT equipment required for 21^st century education. The new full size swimming pool will allow our promising young swimmers opportunities to train in their locality in a more suitable environment than at present. The incorporation of an adjustable floor will allow much more flexibility for other users such as NHS referrals and people with various handicaps, as the levels and temperatures can be much more easily controlled.

The new community library will see a huge improvement in all aspects of a modern library with three times the size of the present floor space to accommodate everything. Within the new facility there will be rooms to allow further education studies which will allow students of all ages to continue their personal development within their locality therefore allowing them to live, study and even work without having to leave Skye.

With all this about to happen is it not time to look forward and consider what this wonderful new facility should be called? Remembering that the whole island will benefit from this new facility, should the name not reflect that? I am very mindful of the history of Portree High School and as a former pupil I do have fond memories of those days and of lifetime friends made, as well as other memories perhaps better not shared at this moment.

I believe as we move toward a new era in Skye, it is time for a change of identity which takes cognisance of our unique language, culture and will send a message to future generations that we wish to retain and enhance that very uniqueness we are so proud of.

As a starting point for discussion I would like to suggest two possibilities and would welcome responses and other contributions to the debate.

• My first would be; 'Àrdsgoil an Eilean'  - which translates as the 'High School of the Island'. In Gaelic when a Gael refers simply to .. an Eilean, this means Skye. I like beauty and simplicity of this choice of name.
• My second choice would be; Àrdsgoil an Eilein Sgitheanaich -  which translates as the 'High School of the Island of Skye'. This version is somewhat longer, but it specifically includes Skye in the name.

This will send out a clear message of the culture and tradition of the school, and clearly differentiate the school's sense of identity and cultural values from that of 'ordinary' schools elsewhere in the country. Here in Skye, we have a island tradition that we are very proud of. We want the only secondary school on the island to clearly stand for that tradition and instill in our young people a sense of pride in their unique identity.

The name of the current school archive is The Robert Macdonald Archive in memory of the well loved teacher, musician and founder member of Run Rig. It has been proposed that this name is retained and extended to the whole community library – The Robert Macdonald Library. The new building is being built on what was known as the ‘Stanley Robertson Pitch’, in memory of the very popular chemistry teacher and sportsman. However when the old school building is demolished, a new all weather pitch will be  built and it is proposed by the school that it should also be called the ‘Stanley Robertson Pitch’. Many people have suggested to me that the new community pool be named the ‘Anne Weir Swimming Pool’, in honour of the dedicated swimming teacher who gave her life savings to start the swimming pool fund for the current pool.  

The above are all suggestions and nothing has been decided until the all proposals have been heard. So please make a your contribution and have your say. 

(this is a weblink to the online feedback form on www.friendsofportreehighschool.org.uk/haveyoursay, where contributions will be welcome. Alternatively, please email John Howieson john.howieson@highland.gov.uk or write to him at the school.

Drew Millar