Year 10 student, Michelle wins Star Pupil Award at the National Be Kind Awards 2023.

A few months ago, staff at Woolwich Polytechnic School for Girls decided to nominate Year 10 student Michelle for a Be Kind Award. 

The Be Kind awards are all about recognising and celebrating young people not just for their academic achievements in school but also for the way that they treat others and show acts of kindness. Individual students, student groups and schools can be nominated in different categories relating to kindness. We nominated Michelle due to her wonderful, caring, patient and kind nature, especially when one of her friends was going through the most awful experience.  In 2021, Michelle’s friend was suddenly diagnosed with a life altering brain tumour. She endured several operations and rounds of chemotherapy and was out of school for a year. During this time Michelle made sure that she kept in touch, on the phone and in person when she was allowed; she kept her up to date with all the school gossip and when she couldn’t respond she would talk to her and text her anyway!   

Michelle has helped her friend to regain her speech and has supported her physically to regain her movement, independence, and strength, especially on days when she finds that difficult. Michelle supports her friend both in school and outside of school, and we really wanted to show Michele how grateful and proud everyone is of her. Once we sent the nomination, we didn’t hear anything for a long time and assumed that unfortunately Michelle hadn’t been shortlisted. A few weeks ago, we received an email from the award winners saying that Michelle had indeed been shortlisted for the Star Pupil award!   

On Monday 19th June 2023, Michelle and her friend were escorted all the way to Manchester by a member of staff to attend the awards ceremony. They were extremely excited to be going and hoping for the best. They had a great day and were astounded when the winners were being announced and Michelle’s name was called! Michelle had won the Star Pupil category at the National Be Kind Awards! 

On behalf of everyone here at Woolwich Polytechnic School for Girls we are so very proud of Michelle and all that she has done and continues to do for her best friend. Michelle is one of the most selfless, giving and kind humans, and we are very lucky to have her within our school community.

Click here to find out more information about the Be Kind Awards