Top award for Wairere student

Year six student Kate Mulder’s outstanding leadership qualities has earned her a top award.

The Wairere School student was one of two Matamata recipients of the Sir Peter Blake Young Leader award. The other was Ben Pilmore-Evans, Matamata Intermediate School.

The Young Leader Awards, in association with Westpac, acknowledges young people in years five to eight whose outstanding leadership uplifts the school community.

Young leaders are nominated by either a class or teacher, with Kate’s qualities being recognised and put forward by Wairere school senior class teacher Karen Catchpole.

Catchpole says Kate, who is already a school leader, has not only shown strong leadership qualities but also grown in herself.

‘‘She has made changes in her self confidence, is a motivated independent learner, and has also become a very helpful class member to myself and her fellow peers. I feel that it has taken Kate a whole term (term 1) to step up to being a leader and I feel that she will go on to become an even better leader and contributor to her school and future schools.’’

Shelley Campbell, CEO of the Sir Peter Blake Trust says: ‘‘Sir Peter taught us that great leadership can achieve extraordinary things. This award aims to nurture and celebrate leadership in our young people.

‘‘The qualities these children display; humility, humour, inclusiveness, positivity and a team approach were all shown by Sir Peter himself,’’ she says.

Kate was awarded a prize pack, certificate and Sir Peter Blake Medal.