KDSS students recognized for their achievements at awards assembly

Students at Kincardine District Secondary School were recognized for their achievements at the annual awards assembly, held Wednesday morning, June 21, at the school.

First to be honoured were the student's council co-presidents, Rylee Evans and Avery Fitzgerald, and co-vice-presidents, Raza Hussein and Priya Kalra.

Bluewater District School Board trustee Jan Johnstone told the students that every decision she makes at the board level comes from the perspective of the students and what is best for them.

"Today is the first day of summer and the longest day of sunlight," she said. "Go out and enjoy yourself and have a safe and happy summer."

Charlene Martin, president of the KDSS Home and School Association congratulated all the students on their accomplishments, and urged the new student council president to attend the Home and School meetings.

"Student input is valued," she said. "It's important to us. That way we know how to help provide a good education for all of you. Tell your student council and they will tell us."

The assembly recognized achievements in various subject awards.

SCIENCE

• Chemistry contest top KDSS students - Chris Coady and James Nisbitt

MATH

• KDSS top students - Chris Coady (Euclid), Jugal Chitkara (Cayley), Khushali Shah (Pascal), Owen Fohkens and Chris Coady (Canadian Senior and Intermediate contest), Ruby Hall-Elwood (top in intermediate level)

ART

• Carol Johnstone award - Sarah Hobbs

SCHULICH LEADER NOMINEE

• Chris Coady

STUDENT EXCHANGE PROGRAM

• Maria Gonzalez-Rodriguez and Fabio Hernandez Lopez of Spain, and Clotilde Blard of France

BLUEWATER REGIONAL SKILLS COMPETITION

• Bradley Robertson, Austin MacArthur, Owen Jones, Brady Masur, Declan Mowle, Travis Anderson, Lindsay Glover

BREAKFAST CLUB

• Jessica Belyea and Samm Hodgins

MORNING ANNOUNCEMENTS

• Eva Meisenheimer, Nichole Durrant, Daniella McKitterick, Sammy Maurer

JUNIOR ACADEMIC AWARD

Grade 10

• Jugal Chitkara

Grade 11

• Connor Berkman
• Jacob Bishop
• Tyler Brousseau
• Alayna Card
• Kara Colhoun
• Morgan Colling
• Olivia DeJong
• Jenna Dennis
• Deanna Fitzgerald
• Lily Freiburger
• Kayleigh Haferer
• Julia Hallam
• Matt Harrison
• Colton Howatt
• Priya Kalra
• Jacob Lange
• Annie Leppington
• Ariel Luinstra
• Paige Mercanti
• Cassidy Murray-Collins
• Bryce McFadden
• Cailyn McKay
• Shamae Quinquito
• Kady Rice
• Jennelle Smeltzer
• Ryan Thede
• Connor Uzzell
• Matt Venner

Grade 12

• Charlie Boertjes
• Bethany Wilken

SENIOR ACADEMIC AWARD

Grade 11

• Deanna Fitzgerald
• Ryan Thede

Grade 12

• Lauren Andrews
• Charlie Boertjes
• Ryan Burton
• Darby Chalmers
• Riley Cherrett
• Ben Christie
• Jake Fair
• Sarah Keown
• Helena Kiernan
• Chase Meurs
• Jane Miller
• Shaun McCarthy
• Will Sharpe
• Kody Thompson
• Sam Thompson
• Sophia Tomaini
• Annika VanVeen
• Danica Wall
• Bethany Wilken
• Griffin Williamson
• Belle Wilson

MASTER ACADEMIC AWARD

• Lauren Andrews
• Darby Chalmers
• Chris Coady
• Brady Masur
• Declan Mowle
• Sophia Tomaini
• Rhys Vollmer

JUNIOR ACTIVITY AWARD

Grade 11

• Deanna Fitzgerald
• Priya Kalra
• Victoria Weber
• Avery Fitzgerald
• Belle Wilson

JUNIOR ATHLETIC AWARD

Grade 9

• Rose Pande
• Liam Fitzgerald

Grade 10

• Madison Beishuizen
• Madelyn Eybergen
• Laura Fohkens
• Cameron Lamont
• Everett Luinstra
• Luke McBride
• Shayne McCarthy
• Avery Perrier
• Jenna Row
• Hailey VandenHogen

Grade 11

• Clotilde Blard
• Jamie Brock
• Callie Martyn
• Bryce McFadden
• Julia McGregor
• Emma Swift
• Ryan Thede

Grade 12

• Riley Cherrett
• Josh Farrell
• Riley Kirkpatrick
• Maggie Robinson
• William Sharpe
• Sam Thompson

SENIOR ATHLETIC AWARD

Grade 10

• Madison Beishuizen
• Everett Luinstra
• Shayne McCarthy
• Dax Tompkins

Grade 11

• Liam Chapleau
• Jenna Dennis
• Jacob Lange
• Annie Leppington

Grade 12

• Ben Christie
• Sam Colquhoun
• Georgia Fields
• Rainor Kuz
• Jane Miller
• Madison McBride
• Alice Thorpe
• Sophia Tomaini
• Kathleen VandenHogen
• Belle Wilson
• Hailey Woods

MASTER ATHLETIC AWARD

Grade 11

• Kara Colhoun
• Jake Colley
• Lily Freiburger
• Ariel Luinstra
• Cailyn McKay
• Jennelle Smeltzer

Grade 12

• Chris Coady
• Sam Colquhoun
• Georgia Fields
• Avery Fitzgerald
• Kyle Hunter
• Bethan Killin
• Dylan Wolfe

ATHLETIC AWARDS

• Junior female athlete of the year - Madison Beishuizen
• Junior male athlete of the year - Dax Tompkins
• Senior female athlete of the year - Cassidy Murray-Collins and Jennelle Smeltzer
• Senior male athlete of the year - Jake Colley and Chris Coady
• Sportsperson of the year - Dam Colquhoun
• Knight of the Year - Avery Fitzgerald

Vice-principal Suzanne Kennedy said farewell to KDSS as she will be vice-principal at Ecole Port Elgin-Saugeen Central School in the fall.

She commended all the students for making KDSS such a great place to be.

"Best of luck to all of you in your exams. Congratulations to the graduates or those moving away from Kincardine. Remember you were a KDSS Knight and be proud of that. This is a great school, you have enriched my life, and I will miss you all."

KDSS teacher Tracy Capeling was welcomed to the stage to say goodbye, but not before student Cailyn McKay took the opportunity to mimic some of Capeling's routines in class.

"I love teaching," said Capeling. "You are wonderful students and you have great teachers here who start you out on the right path. I attended KDSS so it was an honour to come and teach here. Take what you've learned from here, and look out for each other."

Education assistant Joy Gleeson is also retiring, and received a bouquet of flowers from Brendan Barger, a graduate of the Developmental Learning class at KDSS.

Also leaving KDSS, are Stephen Seile, Dawn MacKay, Paul Dawson, Jenna Rees and Jasmine Freeman.