Gorey Educate Together Secondary School students mark first of many celebrations at inaugural awards

Students in Gorey Educate Together Secondary School celebrated in style in The Ashdown Park Hotel recently as they held their very first awards ceremony.

Over 120 guests were in attendance to watch as the fantastic achievements and results of the students were recognised and celebrated. Each student received a personalised certificate of completion, which also documented all of the extracurricular activities they’d participated in throughout the year. With over 19 subjects studied, many students were delighted to receive a plaque for best contribution and results in their subject.

Principal Conor Berry opened the ceremony by thanking the parents and students for their ongoing support over the last year.

"You took a chance by sending to your child to a school that didn’t exist and it’s safe to say that chance has really paid off as we look around and see what we’ve achieved in such a short time.”

Conor presented the Principal’s award for Leadership to Jamie Hastings, for showing ‘excellent leadership skills inside and outside the classroom, an attribute we value highly in Educate Together’. Meanwhile, The Board of Management Ethos Award was presented to Jessica Kelly Doyle by Chairperson Joanne O’Grady. Chairperson of the Parents’ Association, Lee Richardson presented their Digital Excellence Award to Oscar Kenny for his dedication and brilliance in IT.

Later on, Year Head Julie Browne introduced the five Student of the Year Nominees: Angelica Szymanska, Leah Doyle, Kate Mc Donald, Oscar Kenny and Sam Buker, who were delighted to present to everyone about the first year in Gorey ETSS. They got great laughs and interaction from their classmates and the crowd as they recalled the many memorable moments of their first year in secondary school. Although all were deserving of the award, there could be only one winner. Educate Together CEO Emer Nowlan was there to announce Kate Mc Donald as the winner to much applause and congratulations.

After the ceremony, parents, students and guests were invited back for a reception and tour of the new modular building on The Fort Road. The new building will be open for over 100 students in September and has state of the art science and practical facilities.