The annual Awards Evening for Year 7-9 students at the British School of Kuwait (BSK) took place in lavish style in the Al Baraka Ballroom at the Crowne Plaza Hotel. Parents and staff celebrated the many and varied achievements of the school year 2018-19 in the presence of BSK Chairman Sadiq Al Mutawa and BSK Founder and Director Madam Vera Al-Mutawa MBE.
The Quran reading was made by Year 8 student, Lujine Abdalla. The evening then got off to a brisk and exciting start with the presentation of the Special Awards, including those for the House Competitions, MUN, Debating, Competitive Mathematics with the UKMT, Hadith recitation, Performance Music, Global Social Leaders and F1 in Schools
Presentations were made by Madam Vera, BSK Principal Paul Shropshire and the Ambassadors of Canada H.E. Louis-Pierre Emond, Malta: H.E. Patrick Cole; Serbia; H.E. Vladimir Kohut, Mexico; H.E. Miguel Angel Isidro Rodriguez. The Netherlands; H.E. Franc Potuyt and Belgium; HE Piet Heirbaut.
The Middle Phase Head Teacher, Nicholas Smith, welcomed parents, staff and students, before delivering his Annual Report, including recent developments and plans for further improvement; F1 Racing in Schools, the environmental impact that Global Social Leaders was making and success in the United Kingdom Mathematics Trust Junior Challenge.
Extracurricular successes continued in the prestigious Young Musicians of the Gulf competition in Bahrain, and sporting successes both within Kuwait and at the British Schools of the Middle East competition.
Prestigious Subject Awards went to the top student in each subject in each year group, many of whom achieved near to 100% in their end of year examinations. The Roll of Honour was read by Miss Alya Muflihi, the Assistant Head Teacher.
The Awards Evening also honoured over 120 students who achieved Excellence Awards and Commendations in 2018-19. The Rolls of Honour were read by Assistant Head Teachers, Miss Sophie Ali and Miss Alya Muflihi, and Assistant Middle Phase Coordinator Miss Emma Greaves.
The BSK Concert Orchestra, under the baton of Galina Bojilova, played the rousing Alte Kameraden by Carl Teike as the Award Winners entered the ballroom. Sarah Aldashti wowed the audience with her rendition on violin of Souvenir de Sarasate by Potstock, and staying with violin, Jaewon Park played the spectacular Hora Martisorului by Grigorac Dinicu, both accompanied by Miss Emily Jeffcott on piano.
Guest of Honour, Ambassador of Canada, H.E. Louis-Pierre Emond delivered a speech that focused on the Middle Phase key values of Resilience, Respect, Honesty, Empathy and Courage. His words were warmly received, touching a chord with parents who value an education that goes beyond the classroom and teaches their children important life lessons.
The final student awards of the evening were the much coveted Head Teachers’ Awards. Three such awards were conferred to one student from each of Years 6, 7 and 8. The role of honor was read by Head Teacher Nicholas Smith. Recipients were Moaaz Helal for Year 6, Ragad Ali for Year 7 and Ria Sharda in Year 8.
BSK Principal, Paul Shropshire rounded off the evening by proposing a vote of thanks, congratulating the students on their great successes and looking ahead to another year of hard work and exceptional achievements. The evening closed with the students and parents enjoying a sumptuous buffet dinner.
