Children of Arnold’s Ernehale Flying High Academies, bring Christmas cheer to community

Children at Ernehale Flying High Academies have been working hard to bring some Christmas joy to their local community by collecting Christmas gifts, produce for Arnold food bank, and singing at various community events.

One charity drive saw Ernehale pupils who occupy roles as ‘Wellbeing Warriors’ and ‘Kindness Ambassadors’ organising a collection of toys to support the ‘Bags of Blessings’ initiative, a local charity who distribute gifts for children who might not otherwise receive presents at Christmas. The school community also collected produce for Arnold Food Bank.

Ernehale’ s Choir undertook a programme of events, singing at Rainbows Charity Christmas Concert, Coppice Care Lodge and Eagles Nest Community Centre, as well as attending and singing at Arnold’s Christmas Lights Switch On.

Leanne Furr is a Teaching Assistant at Ernehale Flying High Academies, and she supported the choir on their visits. Leanne said, “At Ernehale FHA we have a group of children who are kindness ambassadors – we do acts of kindness in our classes, our school and our community, -in short, we try to make the world a kinder place!

“This term we organised a toy collection for a local charity, gave out kindness certificates in assembly to pupils and handed kindness challenges to all pupils to complete in the school holidays. We wanted to be kind and bring smiles and happiness to people in our community too, and so decided to take our choir to sing at a local lunch club and care home. The children absolutely loved going to sing and they also handed out homemade Christmas cards to everyone there.”

Freya is a year 6 pupil in the choir and attended Eagles Nest Community Centre to sing to at their lunch club. Freya said, “We want to bring joy to our community when we sing.” Fellow pupil, Grace, is also in year 6 said, “We are singing happy songs like ‘Polar Express’. We hope we bring people happiness when we sing to them. I think it is a joy and privilege to be able to sing in our community.”

Poppy is in year 5 and is also in the school choir and said, “Singing together is really fun and helps us with our confidence. I hope that the people we sing to like our songs and that we make their day!” Kiera is in year 6 and said, “I like spreading cheer around my community. I hope people join in if they know the songs.”

Headteacher at Ernehale Flying High Academies is Carmel Atkinson, and she said, “Our children have worked very hard to both collect for charity and their local food bank this Christmas, as well as attending numerous events to sing in our local community.

“The children’s efforts have been amazing; they are a credit to our school, and we hope their charitable acts and performances have brought some extra Christmas cheer to our local community.”

Pupil Ruby is in year 4 and commented following the performance at Eagles Nest Community Centre, “I could see some of the people were crying and it was with happiness!”