Christmas celebrations were in full swing at Oakham School, with the festive season marking the end of a successful first term.
Many activities have taken place across the School as pupils got into the spirit, including a sustainable Christmas campaign, Christmas dinners and hog roasts and the return of the annual Christmas card competition.
Christmas Card Competition
The annual Christmas card competition took place again this year, with Art Scholars Riya and Yat Fei having their designs used as the official Oakham School Christmas card.
Riya won with her design of a ‘Chapel Winter Scene’ and Yat Fei with a ‘Winter Wonderland’ theme.
Yat Fei has also taken the opportunity to sell some of his Christmas cards to pupils and staff raising funds for the ‘Kenyan Schools Project’, which supports primary schools in rural Kenya.
Festive Fun in Houses
Each of the Houses at Oakham School has been celebrating Christmas together, with a whole host of festive activities going ahead.
Lower School pupils enjoyed a festive hog roast together and an evening celebration which included dressing up, playing games and dancing at their very own mini disco.
The Lower School also learned about different countries at Christmas time and how they celebrate the festive season, with activities focused on German and Spanish traditions.
In Middle School, Houses took part in a variety of activities including games and sports and had Christmas lunch together. Some pupils even enjoyed a fire pit in their House gardens, whilst others performed their very own nativity.
In the Upper School, Form 7 girls in Round House hung a ‘gratitude garland’ in their House to celebrate all of the things they’re grateful for this year. School House enjoyed a meal together and hosted a silent disco before taking part in a quiz.
Christmas Jumper Day
Pupils and staff donned their colourful and sparkly Christmas jumpers again this year, raising money for Phab, a charity with which the School works closely. Phab inspires and supports disabled and non-disabled children, young people and adults and the money will go towards the vital work they do in the community.
Rutland Foodbank Donation
Following the donation during the Lower School Harvest Festival, pupils across the School have collected items to donate to Rutland Foodbank, continuing their strong relationship with the charity. An Oakham School coach was filled with boxes of food which were collected across all of the houses at the School, something which the food bank was very grateful for.
Dreaming of a ‘Green’ Christmas
Sustainability also came to town at Oakham School with a ‘greener’ Christmas taking place across the campus to reduce its carbon footprint.
Rented Christmas trees that can be replanted and decorations made using old materials are just some of the initiatives being implemented at the School in the lead up to the festive holidays.
Using a service from ‘Love a Christmas Tree’, the School has rented its real trees which will be returned to the company following the festivities. They will then be replanted back on the same farm where they were grown, so they’re ready to use again next year and reduce the waste of having different trees each year.
Sustainable Christmas Decorations
In the Lower School, boarding pupils have made different sustainable products for their Houses whilst learning how to be more environmentally responsible.
Pupils used computer-aided designs (CAD) and a laser cutter to produce Christmas decorations to hang on their tree at the School. These were made out of laser ply and acrylic offcuts from a manufacturing company that would have disposed of this excess material.
Christmas Carol Service
Look out for our virtual Carol Service due to be released online before Christmas.
