Flintshire school hopes to bring some Christmas cheer to children in need

Following on from its successful Christmas appeal for Flintshire Foodbank, students and staff at Argoed High School have been taking part in activities to raise money and provide gifts for less fortunate children this festive period, as well as participating in a special celebration and a fun Secret Santa.

Getting things off to a great start was a pyjama fundraising day in aid of Children In Need.  Students and staff contributed £1 for wearing their pyjamas, a onesie, something cosy, or bringing in a blanket, and raised almost £420 for the charity.

The school’s annual Christmas Jumper Day raised a further £200 for the charity, with a tasty Christmas dinner on offer in the canteen on the same day.

Sheron Goodwin, religion, values and ethics (RVE) teacher and head of year 8, organised the  Christmas Shoe Box Appeal which has been operating at the school for over 25 years.  

After a whole school assembly to launch the appeal, form tutors worked with their tutor group to make up the shoe boxes during their break and dinner times.

This year, the shoeboxes are heading to local charity, Teams4u, who will collect and arrange transportation to the Ukraine, Moldova, Georgia, Bosnia and Romania where they will be distributed to a vulnerable child, or family, through schools, nurseries, hospitals and orphanages. 

Another school tradition is the Christingle celebration for all year 7 students.  

The students were taught about the meaning of the Christingle and made the symbolic objects during religion, values and ethics lessons.  This memorable experience was captured in photos which students could send to their parents and guardians. 

Usually, staff and students visit the local church, St Cecilia’s, in Mynydd Isa for the Christingle celebration but, due to Covid-19, this has not happened for the past 2 years.  Instead, a mini service was held in the classroom where Christingles were lit and a carol was sung.

Mrs Goodwin also ran a Christmas Tree Competition, and this year’s theme was ‘respect.’  

Form tutors worked with their tutor group during registration time to decide how to demonstrate the meaning of respect, and students then worked with each other to create their group’s Christmas tree.  Mrs Goodwin judged the Christmas trees and prizes were awarded to the top four. 

Finally, as a surprise for Argoed High students, the PTA funded a Secret Santa event.  Staff members, Sarah Hanson, Catherine Green and Sophie Hughes, purchased chocolate Santa lollies, candy canes, and selection boxes for students to buy as a little treat for a friend.  Their items were delivered during registration in the last week of term and were anonymous.

It is the first year that the initiative has been run and it has been a huge success, with staff having to go out and buy more goodies to meet demand.

Mrs Goodwin said: “It has certainly been a busy end to the year with so many different projects and activities taking place, but it is wonderful to see the students so happy to be involved and wanting to help.  We would like to thank everyone for their generosity and support once again this year, it is so much appreciated.”