Memorial Awards

It's been a big week with the end of the school year events happening.  Earlier in the week we went to the Punchbowl Primary School Celebration Evening.  It hit me about a month ago that Noah would've been in grade 6 this year and would've been leaving Primary School.   It was hard but lovely watching the grade 6 leavers slideshow and seeing Noah's photos up there with the kids he went through school with. 

My boys weren't in anything this year, but as a family we donated a memorial prize for Noah again.  Noah's award is the 'Noah King Friendship Award' and is awarded to a student who is a great friend and shows compassion to others.  All the teachers vote on who should win it and this year Noah's award went to Candy Murphy.  Candy is such a beautiful girl and is so kind to everyone.  When she found out that eleven students who were refugees from Iran/Afghanistan were starting at our school, she learnt some Farsi so she could communicate a bit with them.

Candy was overwhelmed and so emotional about winning the award.  She didn't expect at all to win an award and her Mum later said that it meant more to them that she won an award for being a kind person, over anything else, which is lovely.  

Today Kobe and I went to the Kings Meadows High School Presentation Assembly with my friend Simone and Jonty.   It went for over an hour and a half but Jonty and Kobe were so good.  Kobe is going to be a pro at sitting quietly in assemblies at school next year.

This year I donated two memorial awards again.  It was always nice to take Noah to Child Studies each year and talk about what it was like to have a child with special needs, which is why Aaron decided to donate the award after Noah passed away.  Noah's Memorial Award goes to a Child Studies student who shows genuine concern for children.   This year Noah's award went to Bianca Whelan. 
I was so happy when I heard that Bianca was going to be awarded it because she has been volunteering all year at the special school I used to work at.   She told me today that she was really hoping  to win the award because it was Noah who inspired her to want to work with special needs.   Congratulations Bianca! I know you do such a great job working with kids with special needs and I hope you continue it. 

Aaron's memorial award is always going to be awarded to a grade 9 student as he was the grade 9 Grade Leader when he passed away.  The award is for a student who is hardworking, endeavors to do their best academically, is compassionate and has a love for all sports.  The teachers decided that these were all qualities that Aaron had, and things that he would love to see in any student.  This year Aaron's memorial award went to Grace Van Noord, who I am told  is very deserving.

When I announced the award, I joked that I think the award should be known as 'The Kingy Award' because I love hearing the students calling Aaron 'Kingy'.

It's always really hard to present the awards, but also really lovely as it means that Aaron and Noah's memories are kept alive.