KERR WINS NATIONAL AWARD AT HOLYROOD
FORFAR Academy pupil Kerr Low was among the major prize-winners at a prestigious awards ceremony held last week at the Scottish Parliament.
Kerr, who has now moved into third year, was accompanied by his parents Gillian and Graeme and brother Murray to the event in the garden lobby of the Holyrood building.
He booked his place at the national final after scooping the "best in school award" for his thought-provoking creative "written poster" produced as part of his second year philosophies studies.
His finished article went on to win him the level one, 3rd prize equal in the Learning for Life Values Poster awards ceremony last Monday night in Edinburgh.
Young people aged 12 to 16 were awarded for creating written posters about the characteristics and values they consider to be important in life and the inspirational figures they look up to.
Over 15,000 young people from across Scotland took part.
The young people were presented with their awards in front of an audience of 280 made up of young people, parents, teachers, MSPs and senior figures from education.
Inspirational
In his presentation Kerr wrote about his inspirational figure, ice hockey player Wayne Gretzsky and his favourite team, the Toronto Maple Leafs.
Kerr wrote about Wayne: "He has achieved many things. His effect on my life is to inspire me to reach for my goals, to keep trying and always to care for others."
Kerr chose a quotation from Mahatma Gandhi - "You can judge a man by the way he treats his animals" and added: "I chose this quotation because I am passionate about my animals and protest against any harm towards them, because they are people too, and when I leave school I want to study zoology."
Praising Kerr for his national award, Mr Ian McNeill, who teaches philosophy along with Miss Sarah Wallace at Forfar Academy, said: "Kerr's project was outstanding.
"Learning for Life runs every year for our second year pupils and this year we have 40 pupils who have received certificates.
"There is a prescribed set of criteria. The pupils have to write about an inspirational figure, their favourite story and favourite quotation to compile a booklet.
"They choose aspects that may effect them in their own life, which form their perspective on everything.
"What they write introduces psychology into the philosophy course. It's about how they feel about the world, how they value themselves and where they want to go in the future.
"Through their personal reflection they summarise what life has been like before. We always try to promote personal reflection past, present and future.
"It gives them a sense of introspection - they look within themselves which is something young people tend not to do."
Fitting
The setting for the awards presentation could not have been more fitting as the Values Poster Awards reflect the words inscribed on the mace of the Scottish Parliament: wisdom, justice, compassion, integrity, as well as the aspirations of the Scottish Government's Curriculum for Excellence which seeks to enable all children to develop their capacities as successful learners, confident individuals, responsible citizens and effective contributors to society.
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Weather for Forfar
Thursday 09 February 2012
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