WE’RE calling on our readers to help celebrate the dedication of the unsung heroes of North East classrooms.
For the fifth year running, The Journal has teamed up with its sister paper, the Evening Gazette, and associate sponsors Northumbrian Water, to bring you the North East School Awards.
We have been inundated with nominations from across the region and we are, once again, overwhelmed by the standard of entries.
However, there is still time for pupils, parents and colleagues to be a part of our popular campaign.
One of last year’s winners was Helen Button from Houghton Kepier Sports College, near Sunderland, who scooped the Inspirational Secondary School Teacher award.
The geography teacher was nominated by her students, who described her as dedicated, enthusiastic and imaginative.
Pupil Adam Huitson said: “If we have any problems at all, we all know we can approach her. No matter what topic we are doing, she even manages to make the most boring ones interesting by including and interacting with everyone in the class.
“She genuinely cares about her students, and the whole school, and she will do whatever it takes to get us our results.
“No matter how she feels, she always seems to be in a good mood. There is never any trouble in the class, as she treats everyone like grown-ups and shows us the same respect we show her.”
The North East School Awards are open to all primaries, secondaries and special schools from across the region, including Northumberland, Tyneside, Wearside and Teesside.
The campaign is also being sponsored by Nexus and the Centre for Life.
There are nine awards in total – four for school projects and five for staff. All project award winners will be presented with a £1,000 grant for their school, a trophy and certificate at a special ceremony in July. Individual winners will also get a trophy and certificate.
The categories are: Sustainable School Award; Active Community Award; School Newspaper Award; Healthy School Award; Headteacher of the Year; Support Staff of the Year; Inspirational Primary School Teacher; Inspirational Secondary School Teacher and Caretaker of the Year. The awards ceremony will take place on Thursday, July 14 at the Centre for Life, in Newcastle’s Times Square.
The closing day for entries is Monday, June 6.
If you know of a deserving person or project we want to hear about them.
For more information and to enter online log on to www.journallive.co.uk/schoolawards or www.gazettelive.co.uk/schoolawards
Alternatively, call Jennifer Cook, event manager, on 0191 204 3310 or e-mail jennifer.cook@ncjmedia.co.uk
