Award success for county's school pupils

Dec 1 2011 by Marjorie Kerr, West Lothian Courier

HUNDREDS of people turned out to celebrate the success of West Lothian’s young people.

More than 300 young people, parents, carers, teachers, councillors and council representatives attended the Stellar Awards 2011 celebration at Howden Park Centre in Livingston.

The council-run awards celebrated educational excellence and featured categories for academic attainment, citizenship, equality and diversity, achievement, and teamwork.

Pipers, Cameron MacRury and Ben Scott, piped in the guests and the West Lothian Schools Flutissimo and St Kentigern’s Academy Jazz Combo provided the entertainment for the evening.

Pinewood School opened the event with a welcome song.

The events main sponsors were Land Securities and Hochtief with the enterprise award being sponsored by Springfords Chartered Accountants.

West Lothian Council’s depute chief executive (education), Moira Niven, opened the evening and the interval entertainment was provided by Whitdale Primary School, from their show ‘Sam and Sammy’s Shammy Double Whammy’.

The awards were presented by the council’s chief executive, Graham Hope; council leader, Peter Johnston with Katherine Armstead of Land Securities; executive councillor for education, Andrew Miller with Michael McBrearty from Hochtief; executive councillor for social policy, Isabel Hutton; executive councillor for health and care, Ellen Glass; and Carol Wright of Springfords Chartered Accountants.

The awards ceremony was hosted by John Wood, principal teacher, curriculum for arts, drama and music at Inveralmond Community High School.

Councillor Andrew Miller, executive councillor for education, said: “The Stellar Awards continue to be one of the highlights of the education calendar.

“They are a celebration of individual and team achievements across a variety of education activities.

“For the second year the awards have been wholly funded by sponsorship. I would like to take this opportunity of thanking our main sponsors Land Securities and Hochtief without their support this event would not have been possible.

“I would also like to thank local company Springfords Chartered Accountants for their sponsorship of the Enterprise Award.

“It is important to recognise and celebrate educational achievements and I hope that the Stellar Awards will continue to encourage and inspire other pupils.

“The young people attending the event are a credit to their parents and their schools and I would like to congratulate all those involved.”

The winners of the Stellar Awards 2011 are:

Attainment Category: Jemaima Olori (S4), St Kentigern’s Academy; Andrew Mackie (S5), Bathgate Academy; Matthew McLean (S6), St Kentigern’s Academy.

Achievement Category: Winner (music): Matthew Zurowski, The James Young High School.

Commended: Heather Gourdie, Bathgate Academy.

Winner (sport): Alyshia Walker, Bathgate Academy. Commended: Craig Benson, The James Young High School; Eve Findlay, Bathgate Academy; Ryan Laurie, West Calder High School.

Team Awards – Citizenship: Winners – Jordan Jack and Alistair Hutton, The James Young High School; Ross Pitbladdo, Deans Community High School; Rock with Pinewood, Pinewood School; Lois Smith, The James Young High School.

Commended: Project Romania Team, Broxburn Academy, Matthew Zurowski and Gus Thomas, The James Young High School.

Equality and Diversity: Winners – Developing Diversity within our Communities, St Kentigern’s Academy and Pinewood School.

Commended: Around the World, Williamston Primary School.

Team of the Year: Eco/Environment: Winner – The Blue Sky Thinkers, Bankton Primary School; Grounds for Learning, St Margaret’s Academy.

Commended: Pinewood Eco Group, Pinewood School.

Expressive Arts: Winner – senior dance team, Deans Community High School.

Commended: ‘Beauty and the Beast’, The James Young High School; the cast and crew of ‘Sweeney Todd’, The James Young High School.

Healthy Living: Winners – Primary 5/6 and P5/4, Boghall Primary School.

Pupil Peer Support: Winner – library monitors, The James Young High School; Omar Ahmad, Mung Ting Li and Viktoria Bajusova, Deans Community High School.

Sport: Winner – Fauldhouse Foxes, pupils from a number of schools.

Commended: Gymnastics Team, The James Young High School.

Enterprise Winners: The Enterprise Committee, Armadale Primary School.

Commended: Skills for Work Class, St Kentigern’s Academy.