Year of achievement celebrated at Milne's High
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MILNE'S High brought the school year to a close in style when they celebrated student achievements.
Students, staff, parents and guests came together at the annual prizegiving ceremony to mark a year of excellence both in and out of the classroom.
It was an especially proud occasion for Ellen Nicol who was presented with Sir Ashley Mackintosh Medal for Dux.
Addressing the audience, rector Jemma Playfair said the school has had much to celebrate over the course of the outgoing academic year.
One of those was the addition of an extra House – Inchberry – in addition to the existing Spey and Tynet Houses due the continued increase in the school roll. It was, said Ms Playfair, due in the main to families relocating to Fochabers, adding that this, combined with retirals, had seen Milne's recruiting a lot of new staff.
She continued: "I am so pleased that so many people want to come and join our fantastic school community.
"This is down to us having the most dedicated and hard-working staff and people wanting to be part of the great team that we have at Milne’s High School; having young people who show a great desire to be the best they can be and our school community having a strong reputation for being supportive and welcoming.
"This is something to be celebrated."
Ms Playfair told the audience that Milne's had had a "hugely positive" inspection in March and that the school remained "above the Moray average for our attainment and in most measures above our virtual comparator".
She went on to say that the outgoing school year had seen the introduction of new visions, values and aims following a whole school consultation.
Ms Playfair commented: "It is really important that our vision, values and aims are something that we all feel belong to us as we use these to navigate our way to drive forward school improvements.
"I am pleased that we were able to launch these in January after working with all stakeholders in term 1 and term 2.
"We now need to work together on embedding our vision, values and aims into our 'Milne’s Way'. Being able to continue to work creatively and collectively will ensure there is a shared ownership of these and that they are lived values. "
Tribute was played to staff who are retiring and also all those involved in making the year a successful one at Milne's High, including a great many "unsung heroes".
Concluding her address, Ms Playfair: "I want to end by saying a huge thank you to the whole school community.
"I feel I have been embraced by everyone since I took over as head teacher in April 2022. I enjoy coming into school every day because I get to work with the best team.
"I am surrounded by staff that want to improve outcomes for young people and do their very best. I am honoured to serve as head teacher to the best set of young people that I have worked with in my whole teaching career.
"Our pupils are the jewel in the crown of Milne’s High School and working alongside you all is something that I never take for granted. I started this evening by saying it was an honour to be the head teacher of Milne’s High School and I want to end on that very note.
"Milne’s High School is more than just a school, in the word of the young people and staff 'it is like a family'. I really look forward to working with you all next year to work together to create a nurturing environment that provides opportunities for every individual young person to reach their full potential.
"Together we can ensure that Milne’s makes a difference."
Prizewinners:
BGE subject awards S1-3:
Art – S1 Kirk Ward, S2 Neve Harrold, S3 Kaitlyn Giles; ASN – S1 Mayson Donaghie, S2 Dylan Younie, S3 Logan Chisholm; Business Studies – S1 Katie McTurk, S2 Neve Harrold, S3 Alex Rattray; Computing/IT – S1 Mayson Donaghie, S2 Calum Harper, S3 Arwyn Whyte; Admin – S3 Robbie McTurk; English – S1 Toby Borzoni, S2 Courtney Leigh Norcross, S3 Iona MacLeod; Modern Languages – S1 Charlotte Meighan, S2 Luke Sheal, S3 Ethan Lambourne; HE – S1 Erin MacPherson, S2 Fraser Masson, S3 Maya Muhle-MacDonald; Social Subjects – S1 James King, S2 Kaitlin Munro; History – S3 Erin Shand; Geography – S3 Iona MacLeod; Modern Studies – S3 Robbie McTurk; Maths – S1 Emily Paterson, S2 Zennor Muckle, S3 Iona McLeod; Music – S1 Ellie Moxon, S2 Zennor Muckle, S3 Daniel Murray; Music Technology – S3 Leon Jagger; PE – S1 Josh Cruickshank, S2 Neve Harrold, S3 Alex Rattray; Dance – S3 Caledonia Anderson; RME – S1 James King, S2 Fraser Masson, S3 Erin Shand; Science – S1 James King, S2 Jake Shand; Chemistry – S3 Maya Muhle-MacDonald; Biology – S3 Fergus Smith; Physics – S3 Alex Rattray; Design Manufacture – S1 Laurie MacKenzie, S2 Callum Harper, S3 Arwyn Whyte.
Senior phase prizes:
Admin – N5 Sophie Gray (S4), H Alexa Mann (S4); Art – N5 Alba Scanlon, H Beth Jenkins, AH Anna Jones; ASN – N1 Kirstie Burke, N2 Kayah Condy; Biology – N4 Emma Thain, N5 Finn Askew, H Eilidh Hay; Business Management – N5 Katie Dougall (S4), H Gemma Beange (S6); Chemistry – N4 Zander Fleming, N5 Calum McPherson, H Eilidh Hay, AH Owen Smith; Dance – N5 Connie Whelan, H Maia Cameron; Design Manufacture – N4 Anghous Grant, N5 Toluwani Arojojoye, H Finn Askew; Engineering Science – N5 Cormac Marshall, H Jacob Wood; English – N4 Connal McGeoch, N5 Mia Jackson, H Hebe Muckle; French – N5 Cali Rattray, H Eva Melrose; Geography N5 Morgan Jupp, H Eilidh Hay, AH Gemma Beange; History – N5 Lauren Bews, H Ellen Nicol; Maths – N4 Apps Teagan O’Shea, N4 Maths, Joshua Fiori-Lawson, N5 Apps Harris Henderson, N5 Maths Calum MacPherson, H Hebe Muckle, AH Ellen Nicol; Modern Studies – N4 Iona Milligan, N5 Cali Rattray, H Isla Davidson; Music – N5 Music Tech Emily Bremner, N5 Music Cali Rattray, N5 Music Beth Manson, AH Music Lauren Bews; PE Sport and Fitness – Mina Mae Anderson-Elliot, N5 Hannah Jupp, H Ellie Thomson-Bialy, AH Gemma Beange; Philosophy – N5 Lauren Murray, H Carla Robertson; Physics – N4 Jamie Neilson, N5 Angus Low, H Sydney Cooper, AH Owen Smith; Politics – H Ellen Nicol; Practical Cookery – N5 Neve Cruickshank; Practical Craft Skills – N2 Kirstie Burke, N3 Kayah Condy; Practical Woodwork – N4 Andrew Thomson, N5 William Holben; RMPS – N5 Alexander Chambers, H Ellen Nicol.
Sports prizes:
Murray Trophy for 1st Year Boys – Rory Fraser; 2nd Year Girls’ Athletics Trophy – Alex Whelan; 2nd Year Boys’ Athletics Trophy – Rory Lyall; Fochabers Bi-Centenary Trophy for 3rd Year Girls – Skye Gardiner; Fochabers Bi-Centenary Trophy for 3rd Year Boys – Ethan Lambourne; Moir Trophy for Effort and Endeavour – Jake Newlands; McPherson Trophy for Senior Boys – Finlay Reid; McPherson Trophy for Senior Girls – Mia Jackson; Donald Morrison Junior Footballer of the Year – Robbie McTurk; ‘Cos’ Trophy (Hockey) Player of the Year – Mia Jackson.
Special prizes:
Glenfiddich Art Quaich – Anna Jones; Donald Morrison Creative Writing Award – Hebe Muckle;
British Steel Distribution in recognition of Technological Achievement – Finn Askew; Gordon Baxter Culinary Award – Neve Cruickshank; Ena Baxter Art & Design Award – Rachel Archibald;
Milne’s High Soup Challenge supported by Baxters – Fraser Masson, Harvey McWilliam, Damien Kwaw, Owen Robertson; Christie Cup for Special Achievement – Esme McGuire; Cantlie Award for Outstanding Achievement in Personal and Social Progression – Logan Chisholm; Molly-May ‘Believe’ Award – Anthony Lewis; Ryan Morton Memorial Trophy – Zac Reece Munro; Ishbel Lena Macrae Award for Leadership in BGE – BGE Ambassadors, collected on their behalf by Tyler Walker and Grace Neville; Special Service to the School Community – YPI Winners (Abbie Sparkles), Zennor Muckle, Abbie Milton, Freya Mann, Erin Mackenzie; Lennox Community Council Award – # Milnes Makes a Difference Litter Picking Adam Gow and William Holben; Develop Young Workforce Award – Maia Cameron; Head Teacher’s Award to School Captains – Beth Jenkins, Gemma Beange; Munro Medal for Broad General Education (S1-S3) – Erin Shand; Sir James Sivewright Medal for Senior Phase – Hebe Muckle.
Dux of the School:
Sir Ashley Mackintosh Medal – Ellen Nicol.
