JENNY BARRETT DEAF CHILD ACHIEVEMENT AWARDS

The 2011 Jenny Barrett Deaf Child Achievement Awards took place at Bournemouth Deaf Club on Saturday 1st October.

The Jenny Barrett Deaf Child Achievement Award is split into two categories, Junior and Senior. Junior is for any child up to the age of 11 years old and Senior is for 12 to 18 year olds. The awards set out to reward the achievements of deaf and hard of hearing children and young people from Dorset up to the age of 18 and can be for anything from an act of courage or helping others, overcoming a difficulty, or reading a piece of work in assembly at school. Just so long as it is a real achievement for that individual child.

In addition, an award from The Bournemouth Deaf Club is also made to the child or young person judged to have made a special endeavour.

Many thanks to Robin Barrett and Keith Simmons MBE who along with our chairperson Martin Ring have the difficult job of choosing the winners.

Alex Walsh

Alex was nominated by Jackie Maynard, Chair of Poole Sea Cadets for his caring, supportive and helpful attitude to his fellow sea cadets. He is an active band member, playing the bugle, a member of the drill squad and PT team and a very keen sailor.He represented the unit in unarmed drill and they came second in this years area final and second in the UK in a national band competition. His greatest individual achievement was winning through district and area competitions to be selected for the national sailing finals this October. He is described as a true inspiration proving that his disability does not exclude him from activities he is passionate about.

Our congratulations along with the senior winners shield, a personal trophy and £100 go to Alex - Well Done !

Ethan Drewett

Ethan was nominated by his Mother,Davina Drewett for the way he has coped with having three cochlear implant operations in three years.Due to his first implant going wrong he had to endure a removal and refit operation on this implant shortly after having his second,bilateral implant. Despite missing a lot of school during this time Ethan coped well with the whole process and continued his school work at home while recuperating to ensure he did not get too far behind. He is described as very grown up and always happy, never complaining. He is also commended for the way he coped with a new sister  and brother arriving during this period.

Congratulations to Ethan from all of us. Ethan was presented with the Junior Winners shield, a personal shield, a certificate and a cheque for £100 by Keith Simmons MBE, President of Bournemouth Deaf Club.

THE DEAF CHILD ENDEAVOUR AWARD 2011

 The winner of the 2011 award was William Smith. This award is presented by Keith Simmons MBE on behalf of Bournemouth Deaf  Club.  William was nominated by Sue MacDermott, Advisory Teacher HSS, for being an excellent role model to other hearing impaired pupils starting at his secondary school. His openess, confidence and enthusiasm reassured them and impressed the adults involved. William also helped his hearing peers become more deaf aware by devising and presenting a lesson on deafness and openly and courageously discussing the effects of Treacher-Collins syndrome with his fellow pupils.

In addition to our winner Alex also nominated in the Senior category were:

Nick Osborn was nominated by Michele Touye, Advisory Teacher HSS, for his politeness and eagerness to do well. He impressed so well on his work experience placement at a local golf club he earned himself a weekend job there. In September he spoke to three lots of Teachers and Teaching Assistants at a HVSS induction day with confidence and honesty without any allowed preperation time. He is described as a lovely young man and a star.

Jamie Sorbie  received two nominations from Michelle Touye, Advisory Teacher HSS and his Father Charlie Sorbie for being such a fantastic role model for both deaf and hearing pupils and for his outstanding achievements and commitment given to his A level studies, Music and Cricket. He is described as a bright and talented young man with superb academic and musical talents. This year he has gained two A's and two B's in his AS levels and passed his Grade 5 jazz saxaphone on top of gaining his Grade 5 Theory of Music and a GCSE grade A in his music last year. Also he is a true sportsman who is credited for never being boastful and someone who never makes a fuss about his hearing loss and just gets on with things. He has been selected for the Lions Squad of the England Deaf Cricket Team and nominated by the England Cricket Board for the Talented Athlete Scholarship Scheme. He has given most of his free time to work on improving his game and has shown an extremely mature attitude and worked very hard. He has also passed his Grade 1 Cricket Coaching and has been coaching younger boys at his Cricket Club. Jamis is described as definately having the X Factor.

Kamil Krajewski was nominated by Michelle Touye, Advisory Teacher HSS for his trying so hard and not giving up attitude. Especially for the way he has overcome his initial shyness and reluctance to try to speak English because he was teased about his accent. He is now in Year 10 and studying for his GCSE's and learning English at the same time. He will now speak with confidence with those he feels comfortable with and he is commended for his charming and gentle attitude to others. 

Stuart Ring was nominated by Ursula Murley, Advisory Teacher HSS, for the excellent progress he made in his final year in Middle School. His achievements in Maths and Science are above average for his age, due to his hard work and commitment to do well. He also made good progress in English, improving by more than one level in less than a year. He has also improved his sign language production and reception skills.

In addition to our winner Ethan, also nominated in the Junior category were:

Abigail Goodchild was nominated by Michelle Touye, Advisory Teacher HSS for the responsible and sensible attitude she displays with regard to her radio aid. She is also complimented for trying hard at school and her deserving attitude to her work.

Jayleigh Tilley  received two nominations, from Liz Finney, Specialist Teaching Assistant HSS and Ursula Murley Advisory Teacher HSS for the infectious way she has thrown she has thrown herself into school life inYr 5 with her sense of humour and enthusiasm for life. Also for the way she has quickly settled into her new school. She has recently performed well at two disabled sports days and is a kind friend and willing peacemaker. She is described as a very positive role model for signing deaf people and has helped teach her friends lots of sign language. She is described as always a pleasure to work with.

Caitlyn Black was nominated by Michelle Touye, Advisory Teacher HSS for the way she has blossomed over the last few years from a quiet little girl into a mature confident, chatty and funny young lady with a responsible attitude and a lovely sense of humour.

Mason Herrington was nominated by Michele Touye, Advisory Teacher HSS, for the cheerful attitude he always displays despite suffering from long bouts of ear infections when he cannot wear his hearing aid, also having to miss long periods of schooling including having several operations. He never complains despite being in frequent pain and is described as a cheerful chappie.

Edward O'Grady was nominated by Mr Lyn Stockham, Headteacher Sherborne Abbey Primary School for the fantastic progress he has made at school as he is now exceeding expectations for his age group in the core subjects. He is commended for involving himself fully in school activities and has represented his school at football and swimming. He is described as very determined. He has a wide circle of friends and interacts with everyone with a smile.

Molly Stagg  received two nominations, from her Grandmother Kim Baker and her Mother Gemma Stagg for the bravery she has shown in coping with over 50 hospital admissions in her 6 years with problems ranging from asthma to a hole in her heart. She has come from a shy child who would say “it doesn’t matter” when asked where it hurts, as she was afraid of not being understood, to a more confident young girl who will try her hardest to be clearly heard. She loves singing, she tries hard at school and is making progress. She is described as amazing and both nominees say how proud they are that nothing will hold her back and she has overcome and achieved so much.

Chelsea Tuck was nominated by Pat Saunders, Specialist TA and Sally Robinson, Advisory Teacher HSS, for developing her own self esteem and gaining confidence in wearing and looking after her hearing aids. She was also self conscious over wearing her radio aid but with support has overcome this. She has gone up one whole level in her reading and writing and is described as an excellent role model for a reception child in her school who wears hearing aids and helps check this child’s hearing aids. She is described as a very cheerful kind girl with a great sense of humour.

Josiah Waite was nominated by Sue MacDermott, Advisory Teacher HSS for the great progress he has made in reading this year. Josiah started school with very little intelligible language but over the last year he has made wonderful progress in his listening and speaking. Everyone is impressed with how his vocabulary is developing and how his language is maturing. He is very motivated to read and loves to succeed and will have a good attempt at words he doesn’t know.

Katherine Andrews was nominated by Sue Gillson, Advisory Teacher HSS for the way she joins in to the best of her ability, despite her disability and illnesses and shows a real love for going to school. She is described as a very determined young girl who does not let her disability get in the way of her inclusion in school life. Even though some activities are becoming harder for her she continues to surprise and delight the people who work with her by improving her language and social skills by small steps. She is real try-er and a little star.

Lewis Charles was nominated by Chris Merry and Debbie Barnett, Teaching Assistants for the way he always tries his absolute best in everything he does at school. He never lets his hearing impairment stop him from trying. Also for the recent support he has shown his little brother as he prepares to have hearing aids fitted for the first time.