Awards success is celebrated by pupils

The success and hard work of Crieff High School students was celebrated last Thursday at the school’s annual awards ceremony.

Head teacher Mrs Ross opened the evening with a speech highlighting the many events from the past academic year, such as the battlefields trip and the recent celebrations to mark Her Majesty the Queen’s 90th birthday.

Senior staff members Mrs Couser and Mr Macluskey then started the evening’s official proceedings by reading out the S1 to S3 merit awards, which were presented by the outgoing head girl, Kate Scarborough.

Those gathered were then treated to a rendition of the 1956 song ‘Rum and Coca Cola’, first made popular by the Andrews Sisters and performed by pupils Molly Clark, Kirsten McDonald and Meg McCredie.

The presentation of the S4 to S6 merit awards then followed, with the Co-curricular Awards presented by Mr Leadbitter and Mrs Lombard.

Both popular teachers were guests of honour in recognition of the fact they are retiring at the end of the school term.

The presentation of the Special Achievement Awards included the Frazer Waugh Memorial Prize for Computing, awarded to Fraser Coldwell, and the Anna Visscher Quaich for Personal Achievements, won by Oonagh Griffiths.

Leona Craig then performed the poem‘ For Bet Gaitherin Strawberries’ by Alastair Mackie, which lead on to the presentation of the Sports Awards, and a recital of‘ Valerie’ by the music department and pupils – accompanied by an animated Mr Macluskey playing trombone.

The final section concluded with a presentation of the academic awards.

Prizes in this category included the Sonia Graham Memorial Award for Outstanding Effort in Business Management made to James Scarborough, in honour of the late Sonia Graham.

Jaime Turnbull completed the entertainment with a solo piano recital of the ‘The Sunken Cathedral’ by Debussy, which was regarded by many of those present as a truly magical piece.

In the penultimate act, head teacher Mrs Ross gave out prefect certificates and the outgoing head boy and girl, Blair Gardiner and Kate Scarborough, made a brief but meaningful speech as they handed over the reins to the new incumbents.

The evening was rounded off by a blessing from Pastor James Newell.

Achievement Katriona Taylor and Duncan Lambie admire the many trophies

Recognition Some of the trophies ready for the award ceremony

Silverware Some of the senior prize-winners. Pictured back, from left, are Mikey Coull, Duncan Lambie, Ruairidh Steele and Jamie Turnbull. Front, from left, are Sophie Beattie, Bethany Copland and Bethany Macleod-Garrad

End of an era Campus head Christine Ross, centre, with retiring teachers, Ilse Lombard and Graham Leadbitter, head girl Kate Scarborough and head boy Blair Gardiner

Great effort Most of the award winners, pictured prior to the ceremony