PUPIL OSCARS AWARDS 2007 – GLITTERING PRIZES!

Tutor groups were invited to nominate pupils to be this year’s category winners at St. Edmund’s.  A large number were nominated and a selection of members of the School Council met on a miserable February afternoon to consider the shining examples of pupils from across the school. After much discussion, the decisions had been made:

For Service to the Community (outside school) – Ailish Myland-Stokes

For Overcoming Difficulties – Emma Gurr

For Attendance Achievement – Ryan Asplet

For Outstanding Curriculum Achievement – Lucy Mills

Friends of the nominees were invited to Mrs Sage’s room to write the ‘citations’.  A page with a box less than A5 in size was all that stood between nominees and the Oscars.  Those who wrote the justifying statements thought very carefully about what they needed to write.   The statements were photocopied and dropped off at the Civic Offices just before half-term.

Nothing more was heard until Ken Hann rang Mrs Sage to ask if a team including members of Highbury College could arrange to come into school to make a short video.  Two visits were needed because Emma was on Work Experience when Ryan’s video was made.  On each occasion, three or four friends and members of staff (including Mrs Collins, Janet from Connexions and our EWO) were gathered to make supporting comments.  There was quiet excitement and we were asked not to say anything – because these videos meant that two of our pupils were category winners!

The Awards were held at The New Theatre Royal on 21st June 2007.   Mrs O’Mara and Mrs Sage sat in the Dress Circle to watch the proceedings.  Cassie Blagden, in a black strapless dress, made an elegant – even professional – hostess for the evening and Josh Colombi came on to the stage with David Hart to present one of the Oscars.  Emma and Ryan both came on to the stage for the presentation of the Outstanding Achievement Special Award – and Emma was as surprised and delighted as the audience when she won the weekend break in Disneyland, Paris.

Faith Oyegbile was nominated by St Luke’s School for Attendance Achievement. We are pleased that she is now a Prefect in Year 10 and making good friends at St Edmund’s School.

It was difficult to take photographs of the subtly-lit stage as you can see. At the end of the evening, I was able to gather some of the ‘celebrities’ for close-ups!