Big band students deliver a swinging Xmas
AHOST of special activities kept Haslingden High School students busy in the run up to Christmas.
The Sixth Form welcomed 83 residents from care homes, sheltered housing and senior citizens living independently to enjoy a Christmas party.
A buffet was served by students and the school’s Big Band provided entertainment.
A spectacular Dance Show 2019 was held over two nights in the Sixth Form Theatre and GCSE and A level students got the chance to show their exam pieces ahead of the official invigilator visit.
Head of dance Liza Barrett said: “We had just over 80 students taking part from Year 7 to 13. A lot of the dancing was contemporary but we did also have some street and they performed The Charleston.”
Donations for programmes raised £115 for mental health charity Young Minds in memory of A level student Rachel Collins. Generous students, and their parents and carers contributed items to create more than 30 hampers.
These were distributed far and wide including to the Raft Foundation and M3 Project, in Rawtenstall, Maundy Relief in Accrington, Community Spirit in Blackburn, Salford RSPCA Hospital, Rossendale Responsible Rescue, the Women’s Refuge and Emmeline’s Pantry.
The students personally delivered the hampers, including ones to Abbeycroft and Haslingden Hall care homes.
It is hoped to set up a befriending service in the future.
The school also held a Christmas dinner day, and all the left over turkey went to the RSPCA.
Students got to show off their talents in the Xmas Factor competition and the audience paid £1 to watch.
A non-uniform day was held and the money raised from these events benefited the school’s Rossendale Hospice Youth Enterprise Challenge and Young Minds.