Aberdeen teacher captures ‘precious innocent joy’ of Nigerian pupil’s first glimpse of snow

By Nicola Sinclair

December 28 2022, 5:00 pm

Middleton Park pupil Raihannat Abd-Rahmane sees snow for the first time. Image: Middleton Park Primary School

Raihannat Abd-Rahmane was absolutely thrilled to see the first flakes of snow beginning to fall this winter.

The Primary Six pupil from Middleton Park Primary School moved to Aberdeen from Nigeria in February.

Raihannat and her mum, dad and siblings have settled well in Scotland, and probationer teacher Matilda Walker says Raihannat is “a delight to teach”.

This Christmas, the P&J reached out to teachers across the north and north-east. We wanted to hear about the moments that made them proud to be a teacher.

Ms Walker did not hesitate to share this very special moment with us – and the heartwarming picture that paints a thousand words.

‘Her face lit up’

Ms Walker explains: “Raihannat and her family moved from Nigeria earlier this year.

“When it first started to snow at school, we walked outside and Raihannat just stopped and looked up at the sky. I asked her if she had ever seen snow in Nigeria, and she shook her head. ‘This is the first time,’ she told me.

“Her face lit up when she saw the first few flakes falling.”

As the snow became heavier, Ms Walker told Raihannat they needed to capture the moment. The smile on Raihannat’s face says it all.

“I recognised the significance of this moment and wanted to capture the precious, innocent joy,” says Ms Walker.

Probationer teacher Matilda Walker of Middleton Park Primary School spoke of the heartwarming moment her P6 pupil saw snow for the first time. Image: Chris Sumner/DC Thomson

Raihannat told Ms Walker she has since enjoyed many more moments playing in the snow. She has built a snowman and even had a snowball fight with her neighbour. She was particularly amazed to see whole fields blanketed in snow.

“I’ve seen lots of movies with children playing in the snow, so when I saw the snow I was so happy and excited,” says Raihannat.

She adds with a giggle: “The snow is very white and soft, but a lot colder than expected.”

Ms Walker describes the Middleton Park pupil as a bright, kind and ambitious girl whose smile lights up the classroom.

“This was a beautiful, magical moment,” she says. “I hope it warms your hearts as much as it did mine.”