Scottish Catholic Observer

THE first group of pupils to have spent a full six years at St Matthew’s Academy in Saltcoats bade an emotional farewell at the school’s recent S6 graduation Mass and awards ceremony.

This year’s S6 pupils started S1 during the school year 2007/08, when St Matthew’s Academy was formed, following the amalgamation of the former St Andrew’s and St Michael’s academies.

During the graduation Mass, Fr Mark Kelly, St Matthew’s chaplain, not only thanked S6 pupils for their ‘long-standing contribution and commitment to the Christian ethos in the school and the general wider community’ but exhorted them ‘to continue to uphold such values when they leave school.’

This year’s senior pupils are not the only people, however, to have recently bade farewell to St Matthew’s.

Eric Allan, the school’s headteacher, retired at the end of this academic year and was also given a fitting send off at the graduation Mass.

Mr Allan paid tribute to his pupils and called on them to ‘continue in their adult lives the valuable lessons, both academic and social, they have received in St Matthew’s.’

“This year’s S6 represent the first generation of pupils who began their school careers as St Matthew’s pupils and they have played a significant role in establishing the ethos and community spirit of the new St Matthew’s Academy,” Mr Allan said. “As they, and I, leave the school this summer, I would like to thank them for all they have done for the school over the past six years and wish them every success in the future.”

During the awards ceremony, pupils were presented with the Saltire Award for volunteering, Young Enterprise Awards and the Pope Benedict XVI Caritas Award winners were presented with their certificates. Pupil Michael Kearns was presented with the chaplaincy award, Amy Hopkins received the Mitie PFI Leadership Shield and the Kilmarnock College Cup for her contribution to the St Matthew’s community over the last six years, and Claire Rimmicans was presented with the Craig Monaghan Award for her work in supporting other pupils.

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—This story ran in full in the June 21 print edition of the SCO