SCHOOLS SING OUT PROUD FOR CHRISTMAS
PLENTY OF FESTIVE FUN DESPITE PULLED NATIVITIES
SCHOOLCHILDREN are singing their hearts out to bring Christmas joy to families despite having Nativity plays ditched.
Due to coronavirus restrictions, schools in North East Lincolnshire have come up with new ways to share festive spirit and selection boxes. Several schools took part in a Big Sing virtual Christmas carol concert rather than hosting traditional plays for families to attend.
At St Peter’s Church of England Primary School children received 230 selection boxes thanks to a parent who raised money at her workplace. Mum-of-four, April Bowser, 33, of Mansel Street, Grimsby donated the selection boxes after colleagues at New England Seafood gave her money. She also received 40 selection boxes from Tesco, £20 from Redemption Vape store and £15 from Wilko in Freeman Street.
April, mum to Troy, 8, Jessica, 15, and Alfie, 11, who lost her infant baby Lizzy at just 28 days old, said: “My little boy told me there was no Christmas play and he was so upset.
“The school has no nativity and no Christingle service and they are all gutted. So I got them all selection boxes.
“Christmas is about spreading cheer and there are a lot of children who don’t get a lot with families who have been on furlough.
“All children have had a shock in their lives this year and I wanted to make them feel better. Christmas is about making children happy.” Pastoral officer at St Peter’s, Suzanne Salter told your Grimsby Telegraph: “It was very kind of our parent to give the selection boxes and thank her and all the staff at New England Seafood. They are all individually wrapped and there are separate selection boxes for children with allergies.
“This year has been hard for a lot of families with not a lot of things to look forward to. This will give them something fun in the week before Christmas, so they can be children again.”
The school is also hosting a Light a Candle Service, a virtual Christmas service within their own classroom bubbles and they will watch on screens a Jack and the Beanstalk panto broadcast from Skegness Embassy Theatre. At Welholme Academy in Grimsby pupils are preparing for Nativity readings which parents can watch from home.
The school also took part in the Big Sing concert organised by North East Lincs Music Hub, involving several schools in the borough.
Principal, Delyse Turrell, who looks after more than 500 pupils, said: “I think it is really important that children still get the Christmas message and they don’t miss out on it. It is important for their well-being., particularly those in Year Six for whom it is their last one.
“Also, it is important for Reception children because it is their first Christmas in school and the milestone has to be recognised.”
At Oasis Academy Nunsthorpe, Grimsby, staff and pupils have celebrated almost half of their 14 Days of Christmas.
Principal Katie McGuire said each day she opens a classroom door to reveal a Christmas surprise. Her pupils also took part in the Big Sing and hosted a Reindeer Day to research the life of a reindeer. They have also enjoyed Christmas maths with a competition to solve a problem and stop the Grinch stealing Christmas. Pupils will also soon enjoy a Christmas Jumper Day and have parties within their class bubbles. Mrs McGuire said: “It is all the more important this year so that the children can have some normality in their lives. They cannot be together outside of school so it is important they can be together in their bubbles. There is a whole year who won’t be able to experience a traditional Christmas unless we create some fun.”