Stirring words as students rewarded for achievements
McLaren High school community, drawn from a catchment area of 600 square miles, last Thursday came together to celebrate pupils’ achievements.
Callander Kirk was the venue for the school’s prize-giving which got off to a stirring start as the McLaren High pipe band, led by Rebecca More, escorted the platform party on to the chancel.
After a brief address given by headteacher Marc Fleming, the audience were enthralled by Fiona Cantlay’s subtle playing of Shostakovich’s Romance of the Gadfly.
Dr John Robert Davis of the Crick Institute gave a powerful and entertaining speech in which he urged pupils not to be constrained by earlier decisions, but‘build on them to take you where you want to go’.
James Douglas set toes tapping with a compilation that showed his prowess on the pipes before the prize-giving started in earnest.
The junior school led the way with the ORCA awards given to pupils who have consistently demonstrated the school’s core values of order, respect, care and achievement.
Dr John Robert Davis awarded the inaugural Crick Institute Prize, a week’s work placement in one of London’s top bio-medical research institutes, to Holly Crawford.
Dr Davis set up this prize to support the Ian Martin Award given in honour of a much-loved biology teacher.
Eve Abernethy won the main Ian Martin prize, a two-week ,allexpenses paid work placement in the sector-leading Baylor Medical Centre based in Texas.
Performing at national level were Eva Donaldson (rugby), Sandy Holl (duathlon), Amy Bryce (pony), Euan Wilbert, Scott Hopper and Jack Campbell (athletics), Catie Warburton (sailing) and Leon Campbell, who could not be present on the night as he was representing Scotland in Spain (water polo).
Dux Ludorum was won by James Isgrove and Holly McNaught for their work in supporting sport across the school.
This year’s ceremony also saw the inaugural presentation of the Rotary Club of Callander and West Perthshire award for endeavour given this year, by a unanimous decision, to William Watson.
One of the school’s top awards is the War Memorial Prize, set up by the people of Callander and the surrounding area to commemorate the fallen whilst protecting those back at home.
This year it was won by Heather Jackson for her sterling voluntary work and Jamie Tawse who, in addition to supporting the junior school, has the claim to fame to be the highest ranking cadet in the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders (Regimental Sergeant) and of ceremonially opening a door for the Queen.
The top curricular prizes were won by Natalie Klaes, Proxime Accessit and Eve Abernethy who was awarded Dux of the school for her outstanding academic achievement.
The evening was brought to a close by the outgoing head boy and head girl, Blair Hail-Brown and Erin Higginson, who made a very moving speech, finishing by encouraging the younger pupils to make the most of their time at McLaren.
This was topped by the school motto: Ab origine fides, faith from the beginning: believe in yourself, and followed by a photo montage depicting a year full of achievement.