Prizes honour year of success for BCHS kids
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PRIDE in a year of achievement and effort took centre stage at Buckie Community High School (BCHS) when the annual prizegiving ceremony was held.
Students, staff and parents came together to laud young people in S4-6 who had made the outgoing school year a special one.
It was certainly an evening to remember for Scott Davidson (5C1) and Isaac Clarke (6S) who were presented with the S5 and S6 Dux Medals and Joe Mackay Awards respectively.
Guest speaker for the evening was former pupil Andrew Wood.
Addressing the prizegiving ceremony, BCHS Rector Neil Johnson said the shadow of Covid still remained, noting that for this year's S6 students, the exams were the first formal ones they have sat, an experience usually begun in S4. He went on to say that the school's four core values – compassion, ambition, respect and effort – have helped students and staff bounce back from the dark days of the pandemic.
He said: "Although easy to focus on negative impacts, it is clear that the pupils represented here tonight have more than risen to the challenges that have been set for them over the last 12 months – and many are probably stronger and more resilient as a result of this."
Turning to the value of compassion first, Mr Johnson told the audience: "We could be forgiven for expecting that the response of our young people to a feeling of having missed out would be to focus on themselves.
"However, that is far from what we have seen from our students this year. Many of our young people have contributed towards projects and activities that have put something back into their community."
He went on to cite numerous examples from across the year groups, such as students training to be mental health peer educators, helping run the BCHS equalities group, running the community food larder for local families in need and raising £3000 through the Youth and Philanthropy initiative for the local RNLI lifeboat station.
In terms of ambition, Mr Johnson noted both students and staff continued to challenge themselves, which could be seen, among other places, in BCHS's exam results.
He continued: "Many schools across Scotland saw a dip in attainment with the return of exams last year, but many of our pupils rose to the challenge and we saw well above average numbers gaining 5 or 6 at Level 5 in S4 and 5 at Level 6 in S5.
"We have seen an increase in the number of young people wanting to continue to Level 7, with our first cohort of youngsters completing Advanced Higher in PE, and an increase in uptake across a number of other Advanced Higher subjects."
The range of course options continues to expand, he stated, including the welcome return of Classics while record numbers of young people had opted to take part in the Duke of Edinburgh scheme.
Respect, said Mr Johnson, was something BCHS students had shown to both others in the school and the wider community. This included the work of the Prefects and Head Students, those involved with the Buddies mentoring scheme, litter picks and charity fundraisers.
Focusing on the final pillar – effort – Mr Johnson said: "There are many versions around of the proverb 'you get out of life what you put in' or 'you reap what you sow'.
"Some of this is also illustrated by our school motto ‘Remis velasque’ – by oar and sail. That idea of effort beyond the norm being the starting point of doing well has been beautifully illustrated by our young people this year."
The wide range of achievements by BCHS students over the course of the school year spanned both the sports field and the classroom, and indeed beyond that. Mr Johnson also praised the vital contributions young people made to local businesses and organisations either through employment or volunteering.
He added: "All of these achievements, plus many others, are only possible when young people put in effort beyond the bare minimum."
Rounding off his address to the prizegiving ceremony, Mr Johnson said: "Each year I include a relevant quotation and this year I would offer up the words of Albert Schweitzer, Nobel-prize winner, philosopher and missionary in whose honour the Schweitzer Prize is awarded to people who made exemplary contributions to humanity.
"He said 'Wherever you turn, you can find someone who needs you. Even if it is a little thing, do something for which there is no pay but the privilege of doing it. Remember, you don’t live in the world all of your own'."
Prizewinners:
Katarina Acton 5C2 – 1st Creative Industries Nat 5; Kallum Aitchison 5C1 – 1st & the CW Thomson Prize & the Historic Banffshire Kronach Twinning Association Award German Higher, 1st & the George Clark McKenzie Memorial Shield Maths Higher; Teyha Allardyce 4C1 – 1st RMPS Nat 5; Natalie Boyd 4L1 – 3rd Applications of Maths Nat 5, 1st Sport & Recreation Nat 5; Leia Breen 5R1 – 1st Administration Higher; Evan Campbell 4L1 – 2nd Practical Electronics Nat 5; Max Carmichael 5L2 – 2nd Business Management Nat 5, 2nd Modern Studies Higher; Kaden Chalmers 6C – 1st Applied Science Nat 5; Isaac Clarke 6S – 1st Biology Advanced Higher, 1st Environmental Science Higher, 2nd Geography Higher, 1st Physics Higher; Rosie-Willow Clarke 4L2 – 1st Biology Nat5, 1st English Nat 5, 1st & the E Jagger Quaich French Nat 5, 2nd Maths Nat 5, 1st Professional Theatre NPA; Maya Cormack 4L1 – 2nd Modern Studies Nat 5; Isla Coull 6S – The Smith Trophy for Endeavour in Physical Education; Nate Couper-Bracken 4C2 – 1st Photography Nat 5; Douglas Cowie 4L1 – 1st Music Nat 5, 1st Music Technology Nat 5; Kaydee Cowie 4R1 – 3rd Biology Nat 5; Leo Davidson 5L2 – 4th Biology Higher, 1st & Plaque Chemistry Nat 5; Scott Davidson 5C1 – 1st Chemistry Higher, 2nd Equal Maths Higher, 2nd Physics Higher; Eryn Dawson 6R – 1st Computing Science Nat 5, 3rd Philosophy Higher; Lily Dee 4L2 – 2nd Photography Higher; Jack Duncan 4S1 – 3rd Maths Nat 5, 1st Music Performance Award Higher, 3rd Physical Education Nat 5, 1st Physics Nat 5; Kelsi Duncan 4S2 – 1st & the Stewart Trophy Physical Education Nat 5; Jude Ewen 5R2 – 4th Maths Higher; Caera Farren 6S – 1st Human Biology Higher; Milly Findlay 5R1 – 2nd Chemistry Nat 5, 1st & the Ross Finnie Award Physical Education Higher; Neve Finlayson 5C2 – 2nd Chemistry Higher, 2nd & the Class of 1991 Memorial Cup Geography Higher; Seth Fordyce 6S – 1st Maths Advanced Higher, 1st Physics Advanced Higher; Neve Fraser 6R – 2nd Administration Higher; TJ Frew 6R – 1st Music Technology Higher; Brandon Froude 5R1 – 1st & the Buckie Furniture Centre Shield Art & Design Higher; Brooke Gauld 5S1 – 1st Travel & Tourism Nat 5; Ebony Geddes 5S2 – 2nd Environmental Science Higher, 1st & the Hebbie Gray Memorial Cup Music Higher; Kaidey Geddes 5L1 – 1st Media Studies Nat 5; Phoebe Goodall 4S1 – 2nd Physical Education Nat 5; Courtney Grant 5R2 – 2nd Physical Education Higher; Ella Grant 4L1 – 2nd Biology Nat 5, 1st & TSB Business Management Trophy Business Management Nat 5, 4th Maths Nat 5, 2nd Physics Nat 5; Joshua Hannigan 4C1 – 1st Digital Art Nat 5; Cameron Hay 4S1 – 1st equal & the JL Liddle Memorial Quaich & the Historic Banffshire Kronach Twinning Association Award German Nat 5, the Seafield Medical Centre Quaich Music Nat 5; Lana Herbert 6C – 1st Chemistry Advanced Higher, 1st German Advanced Higher; Sadie Higgins 4C2 – 3rd Administration Nat 5; Beth Johnson 4R2 – 1st Applications of Mathematics Nat 5; Natalie Kobedza 5R2 – 2nd Leadership Award Higher; Charlotte Lanham-Barnes 5L1 – 2nd Equal English Higher, 1st History Nat 5; Lucy Linklater 4S1 – 1st & R S Cruickshank Trophy Graphic Communication Nat 5; George Littlewood 6S – 1st Practical Cakecraft Nat 5; Sara Maia 4C2 – 1st & the Grant Shield Art & Design Nat 5; Nathanael Mair 6R – 1st & the Moravian Shield Business Management Higher; Yasmin Mair 4C1 – 5th Biology Nat 5, 2nd English Nat 5; Francesca Mather 6R – 3rd Classical Studies Higher, 2nd Philosophy Higher; Rebekah Mather 4R1 – 4th Applications of Mathematics Nat 5; Elle McLaren 4C2 – 1st Biology Higher, 2nd Equal Maths Higher; Benjamin McLean 4R2 – 1st Hospitality Nat 5; Samuel McLean 5L2 – 2nd Business Management Nat 5; Shayla Miller 5C1 – 1st Equal Administration Nat 5; Arwen Mitchell 5L1 – 2nd equal Biology Higher; Archie Moonie 4C2 – 2nd Sport & Recreation Nat 5; Charlie Moonie 6C – 1st Classical Studies Higher; Alex Murray 5C2 – 3rd Physical Education Higher; Jody Murray 4R1 – 1st Practical Electronics Nat 5, 1st & the Sherman Trophy Practical Woodwork Nat 5; Rosie Murray 4L1 – 1st & the Precious Gifts Shield Photography Higher; Sam Murray 5L1 – 1st equal Administration Nat 5; Enis Palangaliev 4L2 – 2nd Applications of Mathematics Nat 5; Lui Paterson 6C – 2nd RMPS Higher; Abby Phimister 5R2 – 2nd Equal Biology Higher; Poppy Reid 6R – 1st English Advanced Higher, 1st French Higher; Leonie Robertson 5R1 – The Rennie Quaich for Endeavour Music Higher; Christopher Silva 4L1 – 3rd Computing Science Nat 5; Emily Stewart 4R1 – 3rd Equal English Nat 5, 1st Equal Geography Nat 5, 1st Equal & the J L Liddle Memorial Quaich & the Historic Banffshire Kronach Twinning Association Award German Nat 5, 1st Modern Studies Nat 5; Eliza Strachan 4L1 – 2nd Art & Design Nat 5; Joe Sutherland 4S1 – 4th Biology Nat 5, 2nd Geography Nat 5, 1st Maths Nat 5; Luca Sutherland 4L1 – The Class of 1980 Shield for Most Improved in Maths; Autumn Taylor 6C – 2nd Barista Higher; Kaitlyn Taylor 6R – 1st RMPS Higher; Nicole Taylor 5R1 – 1st Leadership Award Higher; Robyn Taylor 4S1 – 3rd Business Management Higher Nat 5, 3rd Equal English Nat 5; Alex Thompson 5R1 – 3rd Chemistry Higher, 3rd Physics Higher; Oleskii Tumanov 5C1 – The JP Pozzi Trophy for Most Improved in English; George Wallace 6C – 1st Geography Advanced Higher, 1st Modern Studies Higher; James Watson 5R1 – 1st Barista Higher; Aidan Wilson 4C1 – 2nd Computing Science Nat 5; Eden Wojcik 5C2 – 1st & the Royal Bank of Scotland Cup English Higher, 3rd Geography Higher, 1st Graphic Communication Higher; Annya Wood 5S2 – 1st & the William Mair Shield Philosophy Higher; Finlay Wood 5L1 – 2nd Equal English Higher, 1st & the Buckie Community Council Millennium Trophy History Higher, 3rd Modern Studies Higher.
Outstanding awards
Cowie Rosebowl – Amy Bruce 5C1; Winnie Ewing Sports Trophy – Roy Taylor 5S1; Community Service Award – Natalie Kobedza 5R2, Lucy Taylor 5S1 and Nicole Taylor 5R1; James Stuart Scott Trophy – Eden Wojcik 5C2; Lewis Connor Forsyth Memorial Award – Jude Ewen 5R2; GC Smith Trophy for Leadership – Mackenzie Miller 6R; Outstanding Contribution to Work in the Library – Ryan Pearce 5S1; Ace Winches Perpetual Trophy for Technology & Science – Eden Wojcik 5C2; Zoe Geddes Memorial Shield – Shaun Doyle 5L9; Clark Memorial Award – Joseph Farquhar 6R; Determination to Succeed Shield – Emily Kean 4L1.
S5 Dux Medal and Joe Mackay Award – Scott Davidson.
S6 Dux Medal and Joe Mackay Award – Isaac Clarke.
