February 2012
Charity begins at school! I have just received another email asking the school if we could arrange a nonuniform day in support of a thoroughly deserving National charity. This made me think how important it is that we plan our charity events throughout the year. Pupils, staff, parents and friends of South Charnwood High School are so kind and so generous when we arrange any charity event, but we must be careful that we do not overstretch their generosity. The reason I have chosen charity as the theme of this article is twofold; firstly, I specifically wanted to concentrate on the amazing work done by pupils in support of the Shoe Box Appeal at Christmas under the guidance of Mrs Pauline Ackland, and secondly, I wanted to highlight the charity work done in general throughout the year by the school. I suppose I got the idea for this theme from the Christmas newsletter because the first section entitled ‘Fundraising’ contained reports on our Shoe Box Appeal, on our support for Children in Need and the Poppy Appeal, as well as the sponsored walk. Alongside that, we referred to the coffee morning that staff took part in, in support the Macmillan Trust, which raised £174.24. We also participate in activities in support of Red Nose Day and Jeans for Genes and, we are thinking about what we are going to do for Sport Relief this year. At Christmas time our thoughts always go out to others and staff were given the opportunity to send one card to everybody and donate the money they would have spent on Christmas cards. This year the money went to Cancer Research. We have also arranged to take part in Leicestershire County Council card recycling scheme, in support of the Woodland Trust, which is the UK’s leading woodland conservation charity. And then there is the Shoe Box Appeal. It has become a tradition now at the school and is arranged and organised by Mrs Pauline Ackland who, in the run up to Christmas encourages, cajoles and
HAVE YOU LOST YOUR PURSE? A purse containing money was left behind at a performance of “Mother Goose” at Thornton Community Centre in January. If it’s yours, please ring Muriel on 01455 822148.
Is This Your Cat?
Pictured (left to right) are Amy Lucas, Mrs Pauline Ackland, Florence Oram and they are holding 3 of the 115 shoe boxes prepared by the pupils at South Charnwood, which were sent to children in the Ukraine at Christmas nags pupils and staff to find an old shoe box, cover it in Christmas paper and fill it with items for a young child who, otherwise, would not receive any Christmas presents at all. This year our shoe boxes went to the Ukraine and there were 115 in all. As our display in the main corridor shows, the school has raised over £3100 for charity, on top of our shoe boxes, in this first term alone. So, thank you to you all for your generosity. Understanding, empathy and care for others are important attributes to encourage in our young people in preparation for their future and their role as global citizens. This emotional aspect of learning must not be underestimated and it is evident throughout our curriculum, culminating when Year 9s research the Holocaust and visit the Beth Shalom Centre. Raising money and supporting these worthy causes is important but the educational benefits to our young people as far as social and emotional learning is concerned are equally valuable. Thank you all for your support.
Andrew Morris
Headteacher, South Charnwood High School
More details on page 8 ...
Local family freezes!
A Markfield family made the mistake of stepping outside during the recent snowstorm and ended up frozen! A neighbour said: “I looked out of my window and saw them set off to take their dog for a walk during the blizzard. But within a few seconds, they became covered in snow and were frozen on the spot!” The Herald understands that the family - and dog - were safely thawed out by paramedics, using hot water bottles and a hair dryer. Phew!
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