Junior Prize Giving Ceremony

18 Jul 2022

St. Mary’s College Preparatory School held a special event in Southport recently to pay tribute to the achievements of its pupils over the past 12 months.

For the first time in three years because of Covid-19, the Atkinson arts centre on Lord Street was the venue for the Junior Prize Giving Ceremony organised by the Blundellsands primary school.

The VIP guest at this year’s event was former St. Mary’s pupil Ruth Mwandumba, the first female black athlete to represent England in the sport of target shooting.

Ruth – who is the current English champion – is an excellent example of someone who took part in a wide range of activities while at St. Mary’s, including the Combined Cadet Force where she discovered her interest in and talent for shooting.

In an inspirational and well-received speech, Ruth focused on the theme of participation and the importance of pupils taking advantage of all the opportunities that come their way.

She said: “Get involved, and make us all proud. Do more than belong – participate. Do more than care – help. Do more than believe – practice. And do more than dream – work.”

Speaking after the event, Ruth commented: “It felt amazing to go back to where it all began for me. It was a truly special moment for me to be able to award the kids with their prizes, and it meant so much to hear from them and their parents afterwards when they were letting me know that they were inspired by my story.”

The event was compèred by pupils from Years 3 to 6 and during the ceremony the packed Atkinson audience heard that St. Mary’s Prep had again achieved excellent academic results during the school year, despite the challenges posed by the pandemic.

They also watched pupils collect prizes and awards recognising their success in a wide range of extracurricular activities including music, drama and sport.

And guests also enjoyed a series of readings, drama pieces and musical performances that once again highlighted the talent and creativity of pupils at St. Mary’s Prep.

Looking back at the last 12 months, Headmaster Jonathan Webster said: “This annual event is a great way for us to recognise the hard work and achievements of our pupils in so many fields over the last year.

“I pay tribute to all of them for showing their ability to adapt, enjoy and achieve so wonderfully, in spite of coronavirus.”

St. Mary’s College Principal, Mike Kennedy, added: “I would like to salute the whole St. Mary’s Prep community – all the children, and the staff and families who support them – for making the school such a successful and special place of love and learning.”