Pupils fare enjoying delivering their Festive Winter Gift Programme and are busy participating in acts of kindness and compassion throughout the school and community including singing for older members of the community.
The activities form part of the school’s Festive Winter Gift Programme each December during which pupils are taking part in fundraising activities, donating gifts to people in need of support and giving their time volunteering to demonstrate their contributions to the wider community through charitable actions.
Members of the school’s Highfield Voices choir were on song when they visited Berwick House Rest Home, on Berwick Road, Blackpool, to sing for the residents who are living with dementia.
As well as residents enjoying singing Christmas carols with the school choir, they were treated to other special pitch perfect performances. These included pupils Hannah Johnstone and Katie Lee’s rendition of Elvis Presley’s Only Fools Rush In, Caitlyn Wright and Demi Garnett invoking the Nativity story when they sang Mary Did You Know? and a few tears of joy were shed as Demi Garnett sang Disney’s How Far I’ll Go from Moana.
Pupils also taught the residents Silent Night in British Sign Language with Isabel Scott and Libby Moran taking the lead. One resident was filled with Christmas cheer when she asked careers teacher Mr John Hooper to join her for a sing-song and a dance to Jingle Bells.
Art and Technology teacher Mrs Hallam had also helped Year 7 and 8 pupil volunteers to make cards, decorations and chocolate treats for the residents, which were distributed on their behalf by the Highfield Voices.
Other activities by Highfield Voices included the school’s carol concert delivered by pupil leaders at St Mary’s Church on Thursday, 13 December, a performance at Highfield Day Centre and singing at the school’s Christmas Community Tea Party.
As part of the school’s Festive Winter Gift Programme, pupils have also been collecting donations to be distributed by Blackpool Food Bank to members of the community living in isolation and food deprivation.
Year 8 pupil Madison Whelan said:
“I really enjoyed it, sometimes I get nervous but I couldn’t stop smiling today.”
Year 9 pupil Bradley Prince said:
“I helped to look after one lady, she didn’t speak but she kept smiling so I just know she was enjoying it.
Year 11 pupil Katie Lee said:
“It was a really good day and we could tell it made a difference, especially when everyone was singing along. Just giving a little bit of your time doing something you enjoy can make a big difference.”
Lead Practitioner for Pupil and Community Engagement Joanne Thompson said:
“We are very proud of our young people. It was an uplifting experience for all involved as music is a wonderful way to bring people together and enhance lives. We are so glad the residents enjoyed listening and taking part in the performance and the experience has offered our young people the opportunity, not only to serve others but to enjoy the social interaction with older members of our community. It was heart-warming to see the gentleness and compassion they showed.”
RAISING the roof: Highfield Voices singers entertained residents at St Mary’s Church with Christmas carols