Across the Trust this December, we have been spreading festive joy in our schools and offices. As you scroll down, you will find all the glitz and glamour of our school performances. While Christmas is a time for treats and celebrations, many of our schools went out in with the local community to spread the festive cheer. From hosting a senior citizen Christmas party at Rochester to Penbridge Schools singing at St. Mary's Church for the Fratton community, I am astounded by the students' and our schools' efforts and sentiments to ensure the festive period is enjoyed by all.
Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to all. I look forward to welcoming you all back in 2023 for a year full of success and opportunities to transform the life chances of our young people.
Our Trust Newsletter
There were some wonderfully bright and bold Christmas jumpers worn last week for Christmas Jumper Day. While some schools dressed warm and festive to raise money and awareness for Save the Children, others participated simply to spread holiday cheer!
A number of Year 6 students from Cedar recently went on a trip to explore the Royal Opera House in London, learning all about festive favourite ballet, The Nutcracker. The students enjoyed this experience, which was part of their Arts Mark award. A wonderful way to finish of the winter term and head into our Christmas break. Well done to our young performers for their brilliant displays.
It has been lovely to see teachers and staff from across the trust enjoying the sweet Christmas treats this year, with some people getting their hands on a TSAT golden ticket. Some schools have gone all-out to impress Santa by presenting their golden tickets in fun and festive ways.
From presenting the treats in golden boxes to asking everyone to pluck a key from a tinsel tombola, which opened the safe containing the treat and golden ticket, it's been wonderful to see everyone do something different and enjoying themselves.
Last week, junior schools across the Trust came together for the first Trust-wide TSAT Rocks Times Tables Rockstars Battle of the academic year. This year, we have decided to host themed battles every other term, starting with Christmas. It was fantastic to see the children get so involved, and use their sum-solving skills to battle to the top of the table.
Over the past couple of weeks, our Thinking Creative team have been visiting the primary schools, capturing their wonderful retellings of the Christmas Nativity. Our young students came together to sing and perform the story of a couple, a star, an angel and the birth of a saviour in a stable. A wonderful way to finish of the winter term and head into our Christmas break. Well done to our young performers for their brilliant displays.
Well done to the children at Penbridge Infant and Junior School in Portsmouth for spreading the festive cheer in Portsmouth this year at The News' Carol Service.
Stephen Morgan, the MP for the south of the city and the Shadow Schools Minister, said "The carol service is one of my favourite events of the year, well done to the children for the brilliant singing."
It's the second year of 'Elfridges at Meon Infant School in Portsmouth. This festive market is organised by the fantastic Friends of Meon group, who are all volunteers from the community, made up of parents, aunts, uncles, and more, and are passionate about holding events for the school to enjoy. 'Elfridges is one of the first festive events of the year at the school, available to every year group in the school, where children purchase Christmas presents in their pop-up shop.
Year 10 graphics students at Plymouth High School for Girls opened their pop-up Christmas card stall last week, full of festive handmade cards for parents and the wider community to buy. The cards were available to purchase at the school's Mince Pies and Carols event, as well as in the school library, for £2.50.
Not only did this provide a positive opportunity for the students to showcase their brilliant creative work, but it's a self-funding project so will support the next project too. See more here.
The Year 12 students hosted the first Senior Citizens Christmas Party since 2019. Everyone who attended had a wonderful time and the school was delighted to receive a number of calls from guests singing the student's praise. Such a sweet way to connect with the local elderly community. Well done to everyone involved.