Forres Academy 2019/20 prizes awarded to students at the top of the class

FORRES Academy's head teacher reflected on a four months in lockdown during the school's prize giving ceremony.

Mrs Jan Sinclair was recorded for social media delivering her speech to an empty assembly hall, praising students and thanking staff and families for their efforts during the coronavirus pandemic to ensure that learning could carry on.

She said: "For the last 50 years my predecessors have stood on this stage, delivering to a packed hall. Today I’m stood here whilst you are all at home watching this, a very different situation. However, this is the chance to proudly celebrate the wonderful achievements of our school and this situation was not going to put a stop to this."

Mrs Sinclair was thrilled to report excellent individual and departmental results. In particular, she congratulated 11 S4 students who gained all-'A' passes in their six National 5 courses and two S5 pupils who earned five 'A' passes at Higher level.

She said: "The results are testament to their hard work and the quality of support provided by both staff and parents. We are committed to supporting our students in whatever their pathway and qualifications might look like. It is more than just the straight 'A' passes that are important to us."

Mrs Sinclair discussed a difficult school term which demanded commitment from staff, pupils and their families to working from home.

She described the situation as Covid-19 reached the area: "We saw our absence rates creep up. We displayed signs encouraging hand hygiene and sang happy birthday in our heads, twice. We kept our ears open to what shop had toilet roll in stock!"

By March 18, staff absence meant S1-3 had to be sent home.

It was also announced across Scotland that schools were to close on March 20 and that SQA exams were cancelled.

"We swung into action to support our school," said Mrs Sinclair. "Stationary and sanitary packs were made up and distributed, free school meal pack lunches made and delivered. Glow logins, IT access and supports were put in place. The teaching staff gathered evidence they might need to base the estimated graders in for the senior pupils. We have issued laptops and iPads to support families with no IT devices and our virtual school was opened. Pupils continued to be taught by their teachers and interacted with their class mates in a very different way."

Further achievements during lockdown included: pupil Lucy Evans competing in international online lazer shooting competitions; the senior young enterprise team, Paw Press, being awarded the North of Scotland achievement through adversity award; an 'Over the Rainbow' music video being made to celebrate health care workers; virtual primary transition days; a virtual library; and an emotional S6 leavers film.

Mrs Sinclair said: "We’ve done all that we can to keep our school community connected throughout this challenging times. The creative ways that have been developed to ensure that we can continue to thrive has been immense. I couldn’t be prouder."

Looking to the 'new normal' and the start of the 20/21 school year on August 12, Mrs Sinclair offered reassurances that every precaution is being taken to ensure safety.

She said: "We’ve figured out our entry and exit points, and one ways systems around the building. Schooling will be blended, with some in the school building and some continuing online at home.

"A phrase I head the other week is that we need to 'build back better, and that is exactly what we aim to do.

"So let me end by extending my congratulations to all the prize winners for this year, you deserve to have your successes celebrated, well done. But to all of the school community, a sincere well done. I miss you all and cannot wait to see you all again in August."

CUPS, SHIELDS AND TROPHIES

Elite Award

Isobel Howard

Meritorious Sports Award (Emerging Talent)

Bruce Evans

The Gordon Stables Memorial Award

Libby Killean

The German Consulate Prize

Liam Young

The Nicolson Award

Jessica Powell

The MacIver Prize

Olivia Dawson

Michael Dufficy Trophy

Samson Janousek

The Sunbeam Shield

Abbie-Rose Stewart

Developing the Young Workforce Shield

Niamh Young

ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE

Forres Academy senior school dux 2019-20

Sam McPartlin

The George Pirie Award for the fourth year dux 2019-20

Isobel Howard

The Alan Grieve Memorial Award for Excellence in Science

Jason Beaton

FOURTH YEAR PRIZEWINNERS 2019 - 2020

Hannah Addy Effort and Application in N5 Practical Cookery, N5 Travel and Tourism

Mia Barrere Attainment in N6 Music, N6 History. Effort and Application in N5 Drama, N5 German

Neve Boon Attainment in N5 History

Joshua Brittain Effort and Application in N5 Computing

Max Carty Attainment in N5 PE

Amber Codd Effort and Application in N4 Practical Cookery

Sam Cole Effort and Application in Practical Woodwork, Attainment in N5 Engineering Science

Connor Curran Effort and Application in N4 Computing, N4 Physics

Lily Davis Effort and Application in N5 Biology

Sarah Douglas Effort and Application in N4 Geography

Lily Fullerton Effort and Application in N5 Biology, N5 Music, N5 Business Management

Lily Gadd Attainment in N4 Chemistry

Alana Gallacher Effort and Application in N5 Practical Cookery

Nathan Goureau Attainment in N5 Mathematics. Effort and Application in N5 Computing

Isobel Howard Attainment in N5 Chemistry, N5 Physics, N5 Biology, N5 English. Effort and Application in N5 Mathematics

Eden Inckle-Sharpe Attainment in N5 Music, N5 RMPS. Effort and Application in N5 PE

Brogan Ireland-Fair Attainment in N4 Art and Design

Kimberley Jarman Effort and Application in N4 Geography

Francesca Johnstone-Byrne Effort and Application in N5 Modern Studies

Mika Jones Attainment in N5 Computing, N5 Mathematics, N5 Physics

Jack Long-Melton Effort and Application in N4 Computing

Cara Mackintosh Effort and Application in N4 Chemistry

Lara MacKenzie Effort and Application in N5 History

Christopher Maver Attainment in N4 Biology

Yann McAuley Attainment in N5 Music

Kayla McCallum Effort and Application in N5 History

Magnus McGhee Attainment in N5 Engineering Science, N5 Chemistry

Hope McIntosh Attainment in N4 French

Andrew McRitchie Attainment in N5 Modern Studies

Rachael Mitchell Attainment in N5 Art and Design, N5 Geography. Effort and Application in N6 Graphic Communication,

Jessica Nicol Attainment in N5 Practical Cookery, N5 Modern Studies, N5 Business Management

Jenson Pentith Attainment in N5 German. Effort and Application in N5 Sport and Recreation

Scott Perry Effort and Application in N5 French, N5 Geography, N5 Mathematics

Connor Reid Effort and Application in N4 Physics

Alice Reynolds Effort and Application in N5 Music, N5 Chemistry

Ella Robertson Attainment in N5 French. Effort and Application in N5 English

Ellie Robertson Attainment in N5 Practical Cookery

Harriet Neall Attainment in N5 Biology. Effort and Application in N5 Geography

Devina Paterson Attainment in N5 Geography

Kaiden Philips Attainment in N4 English

Kaleb Roy Effort and Application in N5 Administration and IT

Tai Serapio Effort and Application in N4 Travel and Tourism

Rebecca Simpson Attainment in N5 History

David Spencer Attainment in N4 History

Daniel Taylor-Dewick Attainment in N5 German

Josh Vakasawqa Effort and Application in N4 History

Cade Verner Attainment in N4 Practical Cookery

Joshua Williams Attainment in N5 Sport and Recreation

Owen Windsor Effort and Application in N5 French

Cameron Wright Effort and Application in N5 Drama

SENIOR SCHOOL PRIZEWINNERS 2019 - 2020

Arran Anderton Effort and Application in N6 Physics

Victoria Bell Attainment in N6 Administration and IT. Effort and Application in N6 Geography

Finlay Benson Effort and Application in N5 Graphic Communication, N5 Chemistry

Ailsa Bernard Attainment in N5 Travel and Tourism

Kirsten Blanche Attainment in N6 RMPS. Effort and Application in N6 Administration and IT

Rona Clark Attainment in N6 Biology

Hannah Cox Effort and Application in N6 German

Olivia Crane Effort and Application in N6 Chemistry

Joseph Creaney Attainment in N5 Administration and IT. Effort and Application in N6 Business Management

Iona Duff Attainment in N6 Chemistry, N6 Biology

Lucy Evans Attainment in N6 PE. Effort and Application in N6 German

Ryan Farquhar Effort and Application in N6 RMPS, N6 Modern Studies

Ben Ferry Attainment in N6 History

Cameron Fraser Attainment in N6 Computing

Erin Harper Effort and Application in N6 Philosophy

Keelan Harvey Effort and Application in N6 Physics

Cora Inckle-Sharpe Attainment in N6 Philosophy

Libby Killeen Attainment in N5 French, Effort and Application in N6 German, N6 Mathematics

Emiley Lancaster Attainment in N4 Music

Andrew Longmuir Effort and Application in N6 PE

Wendy MacDonald Attainment in N6 French, N6 English

David Maclean Effort and Application in N4 Mathematics, N6 Music

Max MacFarlane Effort and Application in N5 Modern Studies

Ewan Martin Attainment in N6 Physics

Jenna McCulloch Attainment in N6 Modern Studies

Eilidh McGregor Attainment in N4 Travel and Tourism

Sam McPartlin Attainment in N6 Computing, N6 Mathematics, N6 Music, N6 Physics

Gabrielle McWhirter Effort and Application in N6 Biology

Natalie Mitchie Effort and Application in N6 Modern Studies

Christina Owen Attainment in N4 French

Louis Ozanne Attainment in N6 Chemistry, N6 Modern Studies

Freya Paterson Attainment in N6 Leadership

Siobhan Pentith Attainment in N6 German. Effort and Application in N6 History

Kaycee Pinder Attainment in N6 Geography. Effort and Application in N6 Biology

Rebekah Prentice Effort and Application in N6 German

Dylan Price Attainment in N6 Geography. Effort and Application in N6 English

Rhys Pumfrey Effort and Application in Practical Woodworking

Karenza Rowe Attainment in N6 Art and Design

Abbie-Rose Stewart Effort and Application in N4 Art and Design

Finlay Reid Attainment in N5 Graphic Communication, N4 Practical Cookery

David Scott Effort and Application in N6 Leadership

Elena Simpson Attainment in N4 German. Effort and Application in N6 Chemistry

Cameron Smith Attainment in N6 Mathematics

Thomas Strasdin Attainment in N6 Graphic Communication, Attainment in N6 Engineering Science

Emily Stirling Effort and Application in N6 French

Laura Sutherland Attainment in N6 Business Management

Lisa Walton Attainment in N6 German. Effort and Application in N6 Geography

Josie Watson Effort and Application in N6 Music

Oliver Watson Effort and Application in N6 Mathematics

Owain Williams Effort and Application in N5 RMPS

Andrew Woolfson Effort and Application in N6 Engineering Science

Hazel Young Attainment in N6 French. Effort and Application in N6 History

Liam Young Effort and Application in N5 German

Rhanna Young Effort and Application in N6 French