Author: nallen

A Saint Benedict student who was once told he would never walk or talk is celebrating after winning an award.

Noah Gash scooped the Inspirational Young Person Award at the Derby Youth Awards run by Derby City Council.

The award recognises a young person who has overcome a great barrier, or has shown great courage, becoming an inspirational role model to other young people within their community, or the city.

Noah was seriously ill from birth and spent a significant amount of time in hospital, where he was told he wouldn’t be able to walk or talk.

Now he attends mainstream school at Saint Benedict, is a sports leader and has completed his Bronze Duke of Edinburgh award. He also volunteers on local litter picks due to his passion for the environment.

The 15-year-old said he was thrilled to win the award which was presented to him at a ceremony at Rolls-Royce Pavilion in Derby.

He said: “I found out I’d been nominated when my mum called me into the kitchen. I actually thought I was going to get into trouble but she told me I’d been nominated by school for an award. I felt so proud when I won, it was amazing. My mum and dad were really proud of me. I was really, really proud of myself.”

Noah’s mum Jo said he thoroughly deserved the award after everything he’d been through.

She said: “When Noah was born he had to be resuscitated and although we took him home, two weeks later he was diagnosed with suspected meningitis and was in hospital again. We came home after that and then he started vomiting and losing weight, this continued for a couple of months. He ended up spending four months in hospital because he was failing to thrive but they couldn’t find out what was wrong no matter what tests they did.

“One consultant told us he would never walk or talk and he was also diagnosed with dyspraxia. He saw a geneticist at Nottingham City Hospital and we found out that he had two chromosomal abnormalities.

“He would stop breathing in the night every so often and he needed specialist food and medication. He had physiotherapy and occupational therapy, he had splints and would fall over all of the time but we decided we would treat Noah just like our other children. He couldn’t talk for a long time and we used to sign with him. He went to a mainstream primary school and he has a real ‘can do’ attitude and wants the same things as everyone else does for their future.

“When it came to secondary school we looked at special schools but he did much better than expected in his SATs at primary school so came to Saint Benedict. He always takes part in the 1,200 metres at sports day and never loses. Noah’s sister Molly says that he is her hero.

“He was really excited when he won the award; he was just so happy and he was the most grateful recipient.”

Noah has a passion for the environment which comes from dad, Mark, who is an ecologist, and wants to inspire children across Saint Benedict.

The teenager, who is studying for his GCSEs, said: “I do assemblies and litter picks. We made bird feeders from plastic bottles and we have planted trees. I would like two students in each form to be able to plant a tree on school grounds, all the way from Year 7 to Year 13.”

Mrs Boyce said: “We are so proud of Noah for receiving this award. He is an inspirational pupil and contributes daily to the life of Saint Benedict Academy in all he does. I am confident Noah will go on to receive more awards and recognition for the work he does at other points in his education and life.”

Well done to the cast of our school show, Hairspray, who sang at the Commonwealth baton relay at Moorways Sports Village in Derby! The relay began in October 2021 and is on a route to visit all 72 nations and territories of the Commonwealth.

Our Open Evening will take place on September 29th 2022 from 5 to 8pm. Our new Headteacher, Mrs Boyce, will give her address at 6pm and 7pm. We would love to see you there if your child is in Year 5 or Year 6 in September. Click on the image below to expand.

Congratulations to Ysabella in Year 8 who won Derby Schools Public Speaking Competition on Friday. Six of our students were also finalists in the city-wide competition.

Students worked with the Lost Boys Theatre Company and participated in a series of workshops before the competition. They then delivered their own speech and the winner, Ysabella, picked up a trophy in recognition of her efforts. Well done to everyone involved!

Year 8 students have been visiting their former primary schools in the St Ralph Sherwin Catholic Multi Academy Trust to support Year 6 pupils with the transition process. Year 8 students were asked to write letters stating why they should be chosen to visit their old school and those selected have visited St Joseph’s, St George’s, St Alban’s, St Mary’s, St John Fisher and St Elizabeth’s. Mr Thornhill, Head of Year 8, said he was extremely proud of Year 8. Well done to everyone involved!

Tickets are selling fast for our school show Hairspray which runs from July 2nd to July 6th. Make sure to book them soon. You do not want to miss this extravagant, vibrant, 60’s performance! Our students are super talented and have been working so hard. You do not want to miss out!

Book your tickets here Robert Ludlam Theatre event tickets from TicketSource.