May 12
Meldrum Academy named winner of 2012 Anne Frank Award
A multi-faceted project that celebrates the legacy of Anne Frank has won an Aberdeenshire school the first prize in a special competition staged annually to promote racial and cultural diversity.
Pupils and staff from Meldrum Academy were presented with the top prize in the 2012 Anne Frank School Award in a special ceremony at Aberdeen’s Pittodrie Stadium.
Runner-up in this year’s programme – which attracted a record number of entries – was Central School, Peterhead.
The competition, based on the principles behind the story of the inspirational young Dutch girl who defied the Nazis during World War II, is organised every year by Grampian Regional Equality Council (GREC).
Meldrum Academy representatives received the Anne Frank statue and £200 prize money – courtesy of award supporters, Aberdeen-based commercial office cleaning specialists Contract Solutions Grampian (CSG) – from Lord Provost Peter Stephen.
The school’s winning entry, entitled Embracing Diversity, comprised written work, posters and research into many aspects of diversity.
Award judges hailed the project, which included conferences, all-year group assemblies, newsletters, pupil-led interviews with senior school staff and other activities, as an impressive and highly inclusive project. The judges remarked: “The feedback from pupils demonstrated tolerance, respect, understanding and empathy with others. The pupils really do ‘walk the walk’.”
Peterhead’s Central School had entered its Christmas Project, Christmas around Central’s World, which included a concert, flags and songs. The judges called it “an innovative and creative project that made an obvious difference to many of those involved, and indeed to members of the public who saw the show. The extensive and inclusive nature of the project itself was a true development opportunity for the pupils.”
The runner-up also received a cash prize, of £100, from Contract Solutions Grampian (CSG) who became involved in the awards as a result of their own large multi-cultural staff.
CSG’s commercial director Calum Johnston said: “These awards play a very important role in terms of promoting so many positive messages about diversity in our schools.
“Not only has the 2012 programme attracted the largest number of entries to date, but the quality of work involved is also very impressive. The application, imagination and commitment of the youngsters are clear to see across all the submissions.”
GREC competition co-ordinator Anne McAlister said: “It’s fitting that we remembered her legacy the day after the 60th anniversary of the first English publication of ‘A Diary of Anne Frank’. One entry in her diary reads ‘I want to go on living even after my death’ and this award is just one small part of how she has succeeded in doing so.
“We’ve had a record number of entries this year and hope that, as more emphasis is put on including topics such as diversity, inclusion, cultural awareness and equality in the education curriculum, many more schools will do work throughout the year that can be submitted as entries in future competitions.”
The awards are also supported by Aberdeen Football Club and Grampian Fire and Rescue.
For further information about Grampian Regional Equality Council visit www.grec.co.uk
Meldrum
Back Row: Lord Provost Peter Stephen, Assistant Chief Fire Officer Peter Murray, Grampian Fire and Rescue, Alan Merchant & Kasia Kulikowska (both Contract Solutions Grampian) Sybil Semple, and Anne McAlister, both GREC.Front - From left to right Ruari MacColl, Chloe Johnston, Phoebe Lentell and Rebecca Jackson
Peterhead Central
Lord Provost Peter Stephen, Assistant Chief Fire Officer Peter Murray, Grampian Fire and Rescue, Alan Merchant & Kasia Kulikowska (both Contract Solutions Grampian) Sybil Semple (one of the judges) and Anne McAlister, both GREC Front - Darcy Burrell, William Watt and Holly Strachan and Edith Skinner.
