Christmas 2025 Bulletin

Christmas at Ballard

Welcome to Christmas At Ballard With music, community, and joy at the heart of this festive season, this celebration bulletin brings together many of the wonderful experiences that make this time of year so memorable for our pupils and our wider community. We hope you enjoy this glimpse into the joy and kindness that define our school community during this special time of year.

Priory “On the final day of term, Ballard School held its annual Carol Service in the magnificent setting of Christchurch Priory. The evening combined traditional congregational carols with a rich Christmas repertoire performed by choirs of all ages, soloists, and instrumentalists, creating a joyful and uplifting celebration of the season.

Readings from scripture, poetry, and prose, delivered by pupils and our Headmaster, guided the congregation through the Christmas story with clarity and reverence.

In total, 155 pupils from Years 1 to 11 took part, singing in choirs, playing in the orchestra, or performing with the handbell ensemble; some impressively contributing to all three. They were joined by alumni, as well as our parent and staff choirs, adding to the sense of community. A particular highlight was the premiere of ‘ Can You Hear the Bells ’, composed by one of our parents, Mrs Samantha Jellett, with her son Isaac (Year 8) accompanying beautifully on the flute.

A retiring collection was taken in aid of the Priory Church, while the many gifts presented by pupils supported The Honeypot Children’s Charity.

The service concluded with John Rutter’s ‘I Wish You Christmas ’, performed by the Senior Chamber Choir and alumni. This piece has become a cherished tradition, symbolising the enduring togetherness of Ballard’s extended family and wishing the wider Ballard community much peace and joy at Christmas.

We extend our heartfelt thanks to Reverend Richard Partridge, Mr Chris Dowie, the Priory staff, and all Ballard staff whose dedication made this special evening possible.” Mr P Do watch our video highlights here.

Nativity Our Pre -Prep ‘Sparkling Nativity’ was once again a joy to watch. The children shared the traditional tale of the first Christmas, telling the story through narration, singing, and dancing. They enjoyed every moment of both performances, which were lively and fun!

New Milton Christmas Service “The spirit of Christmas was alive in New Milton on the 6th of December, as the community gathered for the annual Christmas Service, a joyful occasion filled with music, readings, and festive reflection.

The Ballard School Choir took centre stage with a beautifully sung programme that delighted the congregation. Their harmonies and heartfelt delivery brought warmth to the service, and it was a proud moment to see the choir representing the school within the local community.

Adding to the evening’s musical richness, a local strings group performed with great skill, complementing the choir’s contribution and enhancing the celebratory atmosphere. The congregation also joined in with traditional hymns, their voices filling the church with unity and festive cheer.

The service featured readings from Town Councillors, each thoughtful and uplifting, reminding those present of the values of togetherness and goodwill that define the season.

The newly appointed Rector offered a warm welcome and shared a heartfelt Christmas message, officially ushering in the festive season. His words resonated with the congregation, leaving a sense of hope and joy as the evening drew to a close.

The event was a true celebration of community spirit, with music and words combining to create a memorable start to Christmas in New Milton. For Ballard School, it was a special opportunity to contribute to the life of the town and to showcase the talents of its pupils in such a meaningful setting.” Mr P.

Informal Christmas Concert “Ballard School’s annual Informal Christmas Concert proved, once again, to be a highlight of the festive calendar, filling the hall with warmth, community spirit, and the unmistakable joy of Christmas.

With around 115 pupils taking part, the evening showcased the breadth of musical talent across the school.

From the youngest performers to the seasoned Senior ensembles, every group contributed to an atmosphere that was both heartfelt and celebratory.

The concert opened with a burst of energy as the Year 7 Band ‘Monarch’ delivered a wonderfully rousing and rocky version of Chuck Berry’s classic Run, Rudolph, Run . Their spirited performance set the tone for the evening, delighting the audience and capturing the excitement of the season.

Each ensemble brought its own flavour to the stage, performing lively Christmas medleys and wonderful Christmas repertoire, with pupils beaming from start to finish. Their enthusiasm was infectious, and the audience responded with equal cheer.

The Junior and Senior Ensemble performances, both instrumental and vocal, embodied the Christmas message of joy. Their polished delivery and heartfelt engagement created moments of reflection as well as celebration, reminding everyone of the power of music to unite and uplift.

More than just a concert, the event was a testament to the school’s strong sense of community. Pupils, staff, and families came together to share in an occasion that was as much about togetherness as it was about music; a true reflection of what Christmas at Ballard is all about." Mr P

Christmas Community Concert Over 100 residents from 10 local care homes were treated to a festive morning filled with music, mince pies, and a trip aboard the Ballard buses. The event brought joy, laughter, and a sense of togetherness, marking a memorable highlight of the holiday season for all involved.

Light Up a Life “It was a privilege for Ballard School to once again be part of the Oakhaven Hospice Light up a Life Christmas Service at Beaulieu Abbey last week. This annual occasion is always deeply meaningful, and it was wonderful to share in such a special gathering.

The Ballard School Chamber Choir and the Flute and Piano Duo (Daniel Boyd and Isaac Jellett) sang and played beautifully, filling the Abbey with music that added to the atmosphere of reflection and celebration.

There was a lovely warmth in the room, with a true sense of community and togetherness.

We are grateful to have been invited to contribute to this service again and extend to all at Oakhaven Hospice our heartfelt blessings for Christmas and the New Year.” Mr P

Santa Dash Despite the driving rain and wind, we saw our largest-ever turnout for the Lymington Santa Dash last Sunday. With over 90 members of the Ballard Family running for the Oakhaven Hospice , we were their biggest donor on the day. A special mention to Mr Mosley, who came 3rd overall, having completed the Bahrain Ironman just a couple of days earlier! Congratulations to Brodie Roberts (Year 9), who was our top pupil finisher.

Christmas Collection for the Honeypot charity The Honeypot charity was absolutely delighted by all the donations they received from the Ballard Family.

“Oh my goodness, what an amazing couple of days! You completely filled my car with gifts. I can’t believe how generous the Ballard School community has been with these gifts, and some parents even gave financial donations too – enough to fund all the food and treats for five children on their annual residential respite break. Attached is our thank-you letter, and overleaf are some photos taken at our party, with children choosing for themselves from your wonderful gifts. It really did make me cry to see the delight on their faces and the wonder of being able to choose what they truly wanted. From everyone at The Honeypot Children’s Charity, and from every young carer whose life you’ve helped to brighten, thank you for helping to light up their world this Christmas. Thank you so much, Ballard.”

Viv Carter, Community Engagement Manager, Honeypot.

Panto Year 6 put on some brilliant pantomimes for our Lower Prep pupils, complete with some special guest appearances and dancing – oh no they didn’t!

Lower Prep Party Our Senior Prefect team had a wonderful time organising and hosting a party for our Lower Prep pupils.

Christmas Art and Design We love these Gingerbread houses created by our Junior DT Club

And these Year 3 Snowmen

Festive Fun in Pre -Prep Our pupils had a wonderful time creating Advent crafts! Each day, they opened their special Advent calendar to discover a new festive activity, making everything from decorations to seasonal surprises. All their beautiful creations were sent home in a Christmas goody bag.

Christmas Lunch A huge thank you to our catering team for the most delicious Christmas Lunch.

Father Christmas Our pupils were thrilled when Santa Claus paid them an early visit during their Christmas parties. The children asked lots of great questions and were delighted with the books they received.