Jane Gordon, Head Teacher and local Cllrs Alec Clark, Alec Oattes and John McDowall join the celebrations.
South Ayrshire Council's Invergarven School in Girvan has been presented with an award by Ayrshire Sportsability in recognition of being the Most Active School 2011 in the whole of Ayrshire.
The school was nominated for their commitment to supporting pupils in a wide range of sporting activities throughout the year by Callum Oates, a Council Active Schools Co-ordinator.
Following the nomination the school was shortlisted as a finalist and invited to charity ball at Ayr Racecourse where they were announced as the Most Active School 2011. Jane Gordon, Head Teacher and Depute Head Teacher, Kimberley Keenan attended the final and accepted the award on behalf of the school.
Jane Gordon, Head Teacher at Invergarven School said: "All our staff, parents and pupils are extremely proud to have won this award. It gives us recognition for our commitment and dedication to ensuring that our young people participate in high quality learning experiences, whilst promoting health and wellbeing across learning. Our trophy has taken pride of place in the school. We look forward to continuing with these exciting activities over the next year."
This is what some of the young people at the school had to say about the award:
- "It makes me feel happy to have won this award. I think we won because Invergarven takes part in all the sports. I like going on the climbing wall and playing rounders."
- "We do lots of sports and go on exciting outings. I have enjoyed playing football with Ayr United."
- "My favourite sport is dancing."
- "I feel happy about winning. Our activities were inside and outside. My favourite activity was swimming."
- "It means so much to us to be the most active school in Ayrshire. We have taken part in so many sports. My favourite activities were football, Boccia, volleyball, Dolphin House, triple jump, the list goes on and on."
Councillor Margaret Toner, Lifelong Learning Portfolio Holder for the Council said: "To receive the Most Active School 2011 award from Ayrshire Sportsability is an outstanding achievement for Invergarven School. Pupils at the school have complex additional support needs, despite these barriers every young person at the school has been involved in sporting activities throughout the year
"The pupils participate in a range of physical activities which challenge the students and gives them lots of fun. These sporting activities have had a positive impact on motivation and behaviour, providing enjoyment and ensuring achievement for everyone.
"Through sports activities the pupils have developed confidence in their own abilities and have learned to support each other to overcome challenges.
"Invergarven is an outstanding school, with dedicated staff, enthusiastic pupils and supportive parents and carers."
Pupils have participated in a wide range of exciting sporting activities including:
- Working in partnership with Adventure Centre for Education senior pupils have taken part in Bushcraft, team building, canoeing, gorge walking, abseiling and extreme rockpooling. Junior pupils were involved in a Forest School project where they explored their local environment using their senses.
- A residential stay at Dolphin House to take part in orienteering and skiing.
- Boccia, climbing wall and an Olympic Mini-sports Festival.
- Football training in partnership with Ayr United Coaches.
- Zumba, hip hop dancing, basketball, visits to the local gym, horse riding, swimming, gardening.
The school was chosen to be part of the Get Set Network, which supports the London 2012 Olympics. Pupils have been studying the Olympics during the school year and have participated in a variety of activities including creating their own Olympic website, and designing banner to show our support for the Olympic Torch visit to South Ayrshire.
In recognition of this commitment the school won tickets to take a group of pupils to the Paralympic Games in London in September.