Ross headteacher's poignant tribute to 'superstar' pupil; St Clement's School lass 'had film star status'
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A ROSS-SHIRE headteacher has paid tribute to one of her pupils who she described as her school's "superstar".
Despite being severely disabled Zoë Jane Sutton, who was just 13 years old when she passed away last month, did not let it hold her back and enjoyed life to the full.
After her mother Heather was involved in a head on collision while pregnant Zoë was born at Raigmore Hospital in March 2006 with global cerebral palsy, epilepsy and was also registered blind.
Toni Macartney, the headteacher of St Clement's School in Dingwall, said Zoë had been at the school since nursery and added: "Zoë was our superstar. She was a big personality that brought glamour, fashion, fun, laughter and love to our school."
She said she had known her for just six years but she had read about her before she started at the school through the book, 24 Hours in Zoë's shoes, which features a photograph of a pair of pink boots on the cover.
"When I think of Zoe, I think of her in pink, I think of her sparkling, her beautiful big eyes and her smiling face that radiated warmth, love and fun," she said.
"Zoe was so well loved by both staff and pupils. She had film star status. We had watched her grow and develop from a lovely little girl into a fun loving and sociable young teenager who very much knew her own mind.
"Zoe was very diligent in her learning. Although at times her sense of fun would lead her to be distracted for example playing with the beans in maths instead of counting them. She fully participated in school life and in the curriculum. She liked sensory smelling games, these made her laugh."
Miss Macartney said Zoë, who lived in Inverness, loved her family and her face would light up when she heard their voices. She added: "She was beaming from ear to ear the day she caused chaos in the flower shop so that she could make her mum the most beautiful Mothers Day card."
She said Zoë enjoyed being in on the gossip with the girls in the class and she was certain she was involved in the staff gossip too. She added: "Zoë also liked her quiet times and her love of music was strong. Her class mates would say that music was her favourite thing."
Miss Macartney described Zoë as "a petite young lady with a big heart and a brave spirit who enchanted so many people" and added: "In her last school report the final sentence says 'Zoë's presence lights up the classroom with her beaming smile and it is a delight to have her in class'. In actual fact she lit up the whole school, not just her class.
"I am a better person for knowing Zoë. We are devastated to have lost her but we all feel it has been such a privilege to have known Zoë and her wonderful family.
"She was loved so much and had such a full, happy and exciting young life. Zoë, the little girl in pink and sparkles who enchanted us all with her radiant warmth and gutsy spirit will always be remembered by all of us at St Clement's who knew her. She has left a long lasting legacy that will continue to inspire all of us."
Her mother Heather, a former midwife, said: "Anyone who was in her company, no matter what their mood, went away uplifted. I’ve always called her a social butterfly and she has just flown off to another patch of flowers.”
Her father, Gerry, said Zoë was always smiling and added: “As soon as someone came in the room she was happy to see them. We just loved her to bits and that was reciprocated ten-fold. We just loved spending time with her.”
Earlier this year she attended the Belladrum music festival where her personal highlight was seeing Lewis Capaldi perform.
She was also an active member of 2nd Inverness Kingsmills Scout troop, gaining 20 badges including a number of challenge awards.
In August she enjoyed being a princess for the day – which was made possible by Make A Wish – where she enjoyed a limo ride, a pony ride and afternoon tea at Culloden House Hotel.
Throughout her life she was cared for at home by a team of up to 14 carers but, when her condition deteriorated, she was admitted to Rachel House, in Kinross, run by Children’s Hospices Across Scotland, where she passed away peacefully on October 23.
Her 15-year-old sister Natasha said: “Her smile would light up a room. She was just amazing – I couldn’t have asked for a better sister.
“She wasn’t really like a sister, she was like a best friend.”
