SCHOOL NEWS: Feel-good success stories aplenty at Swanmead

A BIG beaming smile wrapped itself around Swanmead Community School in Ilminster last week when it held its annual Celebration of Achievement Evening.

Headteacher Mark Walker welcomed a packed audience of guests, parents and pupils to the school where a wide range of subject and special prizes were presented.

“I say it every year, but this remains the most important date on the school calendar,” he said. “It is always wonderful to see a full hall of proud, smiling, happy people here to celebrate the achievements of these very special, very dedicated, very wonderful young people.”

PHOTO - TOP: Award winner Jake Nicholas with the Mayor of Ilminster, Cllr Val Keitch.

PHOTO - RIGHT: Award winner Jacy Brunt.

Guest speaker for the evening last Monday (July 18, 2016) was John Jeffery, well-known in Ilminster, having served as headteacher of the town’s Greenfylde First School for 13 years up until his retirement three years ago.

He said he was always proud wherever he went to say that he was head of Greenfylde and talk about the “wonderful Ilminster community spirit.”

Also among the special guests at the ceremony was the Mayor of Ilminster, Cllr Val Keitch, Ilminster Rotary Club president Harley Pope and Ilminster Lions Club president Alan Rudkin.

There were a number of main awards presented on the night.

Jacy Brunt won the Warehouse Theatre Cup for Performing Arts, while Amy Hart received the Alison Rose Trophy for Art.

Mr Walker said JACY BRUNT won the performing arts cup despite being very “rarely seen on stage” as he had developed a real skill for the technical side of productions.

The headteacher added that AMY HART had “so much to be proud of with the quality and dedication to artwork.”

The Spurway Cup for Sport was won by Lewis Bolland, Paloma Conde gained the Lions Trophy for Endeavour, and Paloma Conde the Lions Trophy for Endeavour, while Molly Harris received the Ilminster Rotary Community Award.

PHOTO - RIGHT: Award winner Amy Hart.

Mr Walker said LEWIS BOLLAND was an all-round sportsman and a “role model for the younger children.” “Lewis is a great athlete – keep an eye out for him in the future,” he added.

He said that PALOMA CONDE had arrived at Swanmead three years ago without speaking a word of English but “kept smiling.” She had now gone on to pass her Year Six SATS test for reading with flying colours and was – according to Mr Walker – a girl of “positivity, fun and full of character.”

Mr Walker said it was unusual for a Year Five pupil to receive a special award, but said that MOLLY HARRIS’ fundraising efforts could not go unrewarded.

Molly raised a magnificent £2,788.70 to buy her friend Joel A’Court, who has Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy, a hot tub.

A company heard of Molly’s fundraising and donated a hot tub instead meaning that the money raised could go towards other things to make Joel’s life easier.

Mr Walker said: “We really must recognise this achievement and fantastic community service.”

Erin Male picked-up the MP Citizenship Award, Charley Jeffrey won the Headteacher’s Award and Jake Nicholas received the John Wilson Memorial Shield.

ERIN MALE was described by Mr Walker as an “all-rounder at Swanmead and a popular and genuine person who was so well thought of she didn’t even know it and if she did, she wouldn’t believe it.”

Mr Walker said CHARLEY JEFFREY had “grown and grown in confidence and was a reliable and mature person” who had once been the butt of his jokes, but now had the better of him with “get a life mate” one-liners.

JAKE NICHOLAS was described by Mr Walker as an outstanding pupil. “If the Queen was visiting Swanmead and we had to choose one pupil to go and meet her – it would be Jake,” he said.

During the evening there were some musical interludes with Sophie Gibbons playing on the piano Moody Prawn Blues and then Kyle Hartnell performed Ode to Joy on the trumpet, accompanied by Sophie on the piano. While Jemimah Dicker gave a superb vocal rendition of Hallelujah.

More photos can be found on our special picture galleries – just click on the links below.

Photo Gallery 1: http://www.ilminsterpress.co.uk/blog/2016/07/18/swanmead-school-celebration-of-achievement-pt-1-july-18-2016/ .

Photo Gallery 2: http://www.ilminsterpress.co.uk/blog/2016/07/18/swanmead-school-celebration-of-achievement-pt-2-july-18-2016/ .

Photo Gallery 3: http://www.ilminsterpress.co.uk/blog/2016/07/18/swanmead-school-celebration-of-achievement-pt-3-july-18-2016/ .

PHOTOS - ABOVE: Paloma Conde (left) and Molly Harris.

PHOTOS - ABOVE: Erin Male (left) and Charley Jeffrey (right).

PHOTO - ABOVE: Sue Spurway with the Spurway Cup for Sport award winner Lewis Bolland.

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