Ballacottier Primary School pupils are celebrating after winning a host of prizes in sport and the arts during the 2011/2012 school year. In sport the school won regional championships in tennis, tag rugby, hockey and netball, as well as Isle of Man championships in tennis, badminton, cricket, and table tennis. Ballacottier teams also finished as runners-up in Island tournaments for sports hall athletics, netball, and hockey. Year 5 pupils won the Ballakermeen netball tournament while a school team reached the quarter-finals in the Millennium football competition.
In music and drama pupils matched the successes achieved by the school’s sports teams by winning a string of honours at the Guild including Anika Colligon (winner solo year 3); Anna Shimmin (winner solo year 5); Josh Brown (winner KS2 string instrumental class); and Rachel Johnson (third in public speaking). Ballacottier’s junior choir won at the Manx Folk awards and was second in the Guild while the infant choir was second at the Manx Folk Awards and third in the Guild. The school’s boys and girls choirs also won at the Guild. Other successes for Ballacottier in the past year include third place in Douglas Rotary Club’s all Island public speaking competition, and Abbie Williams winning Isle of Man Newspapers’ Junior Design An Ad competition.
Headteacher Mrs Carol Walsh said: “I am very proud of all the achievements of the children. This year has been very successful, the children have worked hard and reaped the benefits.”
Stuart Colligon, one of Ballacottier Primary School’s governors, said: “It has been a terrific year for the school. Not only have pupils achieved unparalleled success in sport and the performing arts, but their academic results are exceptionally good as well. Nearly all the Key Stage 2 pupils represented the school in some way. The children deserve enormous credit and praise for their achievements. Ballacottier is fortunate to have such a talented and committed group of fantastic teachers who have guided and supported the children so successfully.”
Photo caption - Ballacottier Primary School Headteacher Mrs Carol Walsh, centre, with final year pupils who will move on to secondary school in September. They are pictured with trophies won by pupils of all ages during the 2011/2012 school year.
