Tain Royal Academy awards evening returns after four-year Covid-19 absence
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Tain Royal Academy’s school awards made a triumphant return on Thursday after a four-year absence.
The Covid-19 pandemic brought a halt to the annual evening spent celebrating pupils’ achievements, but parents, teachers and members of the local community joined the winners on Thursday night.
Also in attendance as special guest speaker was local MP and former TRA pupil Jamie Stone.
School organisers described the event as a joyous celebration of the many accomplishments of their students.
After an opening welcoming speech by TRA rector Mark Jones, the awards were distributed in a variety of categories, including academic achievement, effort, musical performance, sports and community service.
A school spokeswoman said: “The recipients were beaming with pride as they walked up to the stage to receive their awards.
“One of the highlights of the evening was the heartfelt vote of thanks given by our school captains, Karis MacLeod and Torran McCann. They expressed their gratitude to Debbie Ross, Lynsey Bolton and Sharon MacLeod for their hard work in preparing the pupils for their performances.
“The musical talents of TRA pupils were on display throughout the event and showcased a variety of instruments and genres.
“The presence of Jamie Stone added an extra level of excitement to the evening. The local MP spoke passionately about the importance of education and praised the students for their hard work and dedication.
“He also took the opportunity to speak about the exciting, new opportunities facing our school community and how we can all work together to make the most of them.
“The awards’ return gave the community a much-needed boost after the difficult past few years.
“It was a reminder of the resilience and strength of our community, and of the importance of celebrating the achievements of our young people.
“As the evening drew to a close, there was a sense of optimism and hope in the air.”
Those present were treated to refreshments provided by deputy rector Mrs Farrell and the hospitality department of Mrs Beaton and Mrs Robertson.
The refreshments were served by S2 pupils Minnie Nicholson, Viktoria Korol and Daniella Dominguez-Mosquera.
