An appeal for a lost Fife school mascot which went viral on social media has attracted two new furry friends to the classroom.
Staff at Masterton Primary School in Dunfermline received messages of support last month after sending out an SOS in the hope of finding Dexter, a beloved toy koala that has been the school’s mascot since it opened 12 years ago.
Children took turns to take Dexter home with them each week but many were left upset when Dexter disappeared in Edinburgh, prompting an appeal for his safe return.
He was eventually found in a Gorgie Road McDonald’s restaurant and sent back to Masterton, but Australian woman Lorna Varne, from Queensland in Australia was so moved by the school’s plight she decided to send the children some new additions — a kangaroo, Madge, with joey and a wombat, Max.
“The children were so excited and as promised, two beautiful soft toys arrived a week later,” explained Louise Reekie from the school.
“Dexter and the children were overjoyed.
“The class teacher Mrs Henderson turned the whole episode into a learning opportunity which took in geography, marsupials/Australian wildlife, transportation and literacy as the children all wrote thank you letters to Mrs Varne.
“In addition they held a class ballot to choose names for their new friends and learned about “voting” systems.
“Mrs Varne has Scottish heritage so next time she is over visiting family, she is going to pop in and see the children with their fur babies.”
