A photo gallery of this event can be viewed at the bottom of this page.
Mount Carmel Awards Evening 2021 took place to celebrate the achievements of current year 11 pupils and also the class of 2020/21.
The evening began with a welcome and opening remarks from Deputy Headteacher Mr Dugdale.
Guest speaker was Matthew Rotherham Paralympic Gold Medallist in Track Cycling and he was introduced by Deputy Headteacher Miss Farrelly. Matt Rotherham is a track cyclist from Bolton who has recently found success as a tandem pilot for the Great Britain Paralympic Cycling Team. He has just recently returned home from Tokyo having led partner Neil Faiche to a gold medal in the 1km Time Trial on the track and is already preparing for a medal challenge in Paris 2024. He has won multiple World, European and National titles both individually and on the tandem.
Matt shared his story of success with visitors during the Awards Evening explaining how he began with the sport at a young age and through sheer dedication and very supportive parents he worked his way into the National Championships. After a period of losing motivation he went to America and fell back in love with the sport and also became stronger and faster!
Matt was asked to be a tandem cyclist for the Paralympics. He explained how he is the eyes, steering, power and strength and the partnership requires the upmost trust between the athletes.
The pinnacle of his career to date has been winning a gold medal at the Tokyo Paralympics in 2021 with his tandem partner Neil Faiche after being delayed due to the Covid pandemic from 2020.
Matt kindly let his gold medal be passed around the audience for everyone to see.
He left with these key messages; Have fun, do what makes you happy and keep achieving little goals, they all add up. He commented that that the road to your destination may not be a straight path but keep going and with hard work you will achieve your goal.
The evening showcased the talents of current Mount Carmel pupils with a beautiful performance of 'Drowning' sung by Shanaya-Rae Howard, this was a song that she had written herself. A solo piano performance by Thomas Smith-Porter of 'Experience' by Ludovico Einaudi also took place before the special awards were presented. Shannon Singleton concluded the evening's performances with 'I Dreamed a Dream' from Les Miserables. All these performances were directed by Miss Javaid, Mount Carmel music and performing arts teacher.
Year 11 subject awards were presented for performance in 2020/21 for attainment and achievement based on progress over 4 years at Mount Carmel. Current Year 11 role model awards were presented one from each form group to Sebastian Long, Ella Jackson, Ella Bentley, Zara Frost, Rebecca Hargreaves and Chelsea Wright. Reasons for nominations for these awards included excellent commitment to their studies, being caring, helpful and trustworthy. Comments also included being active participants in school activities, helping others who are struggling and being positive role models.
Duke of Edinburgh Awards were presented to pupils who have completed the Bronze level award with Louis Riley and Morgan Dolan sharing the Duke of Edinburgh trophy for outstanding performance during the expedition. A special DofE Resilience Award was made to Emily Duxbury who despite acquiring an injury to her foot refused to give up and was determined to complete the expedition.
The presentation of GCSE certificates took place for the class of 2021 followed by a presentation of subject awards for that year group.
Awards dedicated in the memory of loved ones who worked at or were associated with Mount Carmel were presented. The Nicola Hughes Trophy for dedication to language studies was presented to Sana Ibrar. The Ken Hargreaves Memorial Trophy for outstanding achievement in science, sponsored by the Rotary Club of Church & Oswaldtwistle was presented to Jack Frost. The Fred Bentley Prize for achievement in geography was presented to Ann Taylor and the Dean Desmond Award was awarded to Mrs Nadia Clayton for her long and outstanding service as a member of staff at Mount Carmel Roman Catholic High School.
The Headteacher's Award was presented to Ben Whittaker and Isobel Hill for services to Mount Carmel as Head Boy and Head Girl 2020/21. Other special awards were the PTA Trophy for the best GCSE results. This was presented to Haytham Siddique. The Bravery Award was presented to Thomas Smith-Porter. The Mount Carmel Trophy for excellent GCSE performance in the face of adversity was awarded to Jack Eckersall and the Good Citizen Award for outstanding service to the school and its local community was awarded to Reuben Rodd.
Headteacher Mr Xavier Bowers addressed the audience thanking Matthew Rotherham and the performers. He outlined the unusual and challenging time since the last Awards Evening due to the Covid pandemic and commented on how good it was to be able to come together once again to celebrate the success of current and past Mount Carmel pupils. He said it was a privilege to see the pupils develop over five years and leave Mount Carmel ready to take their place in society. He congratulated them for managing all the added stress during the pandemic and channelling their energy into a good outcome.
Mr Bowers hoped all pupils took away many happy memories from their time at school, and that Mount Carmel had provided core values of love and compassion, honesty and trust.
Mr Bowers then thanked parents for doing such a great job supporting and home schooling their pupils over the Covid pandemic period and also thanked all staff for coping so well with taking on new routines and skills from online teaching to making up and delivering food parcels and running a very efficient Covid testing centre on site.
His thanks were extended also to the Diocese of Salford, Parish Priests and to Mount Carmel's dedicated governing body who work tirelessly for the good of all at Mount Carmel.
His final thanks were to those who had organised and helped run the Awards Evening especially his PA Claire Munroe.
A vote of thanks to the guests was made by Alfie Moore and Neve Munroe Mount Carmel Head Boy and Head Girl and closing comments were made by Mount Carmel Chair of Governors Mr Andrew Dabrowski.
Awards Evening 2021                                                                                                            |