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Berkhamsted Group | 19.12.2018

Serving others: Christmas period heightens awareness of School values

Serving others: Christmas period heightens awareness of School values

Christmas is known as the season of goodwill.  By serving others Berkhamsted School have been bringing joy to the community throughout the School term.

The School values of ‘Aim high with integrity, Be adventurous and Serve others’ are shared across the Berkhamsted family of schools.  Children from Nursery through to Sixth and staff too are encouraged to embrace these ideals in everyday life.

School life during the festive build-up has featured staff and students focusing on helping people in the community.

Braving the cold

Churchill House brought together an adventurous group of Sixth Form students who took part in a sponsored sleep out.  Braving the temperatures that dropped to 2°C and a burst of rain the group aimed to raise awareness of homelessness. They raised £1,135 for DENS – a local charity dedicated to rebuilding lives.

23 boys entered themselves in the Santa Run in London for Teenage Cancer Trust at the start of December. Looking more athletic than Santa is typically represented, they dressed in full suits, beards and hats to take on the 5k and 10k challenge. The team managed to raise an incredible  £8,000.

Musicians from Year 5 and 6 shared their love for music by performing at a care home in Little Gaddesden. They played festive songs at the Robin Hood Care Home and stayed to chat to the residents at the home which specialises in care for people living with dementia.

Values throughout the school group

Philanthropic pupils throughout Prep and Pre-Prep Pupils came together to raise funds for Children in Need.  Their total reached £771.29 which resulted in an exciting visit from Pudsey Bear and Children in Need patron, TV Presenter Matt Baker.

Additionally at the Prep, mufti day in aid of ‘People not Borders’ raised £362.32.

At Heatherton, Reception girls enjoyed decorating a sponsored Christmas tree at St Michael and All Angels Church in Amersham. Their design will be displayed at the church’s Christmas Tree Festival which raises money for local charities.

Berkhamsted Senior School Swim Squad woke up very early to start their sponsored swim for Young Minds. 25 pupils met at 06:45 and swam 916 lengths between them.

Year 7 pupil Molly Kennedy’s had an idea to raise money for the Little Princess Trust that is the epitome of the school values.  After growing her hair down to her waist, she then had it cut off to donate to a child who has lost their hair due to cancer. Her sponsorship page has reached over £600 for the charity.

1 million minutes

Staff also joined the Christmas season of goodwill. Berkhamsted’s Chief People Officer Tracey Evans appealed to staff to support a national campaign #1MillionMinutes. Remarkably, staff pledged to give 14,400 minutes to help combat loneliness at Christmas.

Vice Principal Michael Bond said “The approaching season of Christmas offers an opportunity to reflect upon our school values and the varied and positive ways our staff and students have personified them over the course of this year.

“This month alone has seen numerous examples of our students’ commitment to serving others. At a time when independent schools and the young people who attend them seem increasingly berated and belittled by some sections of the media, Berkhamsted students show time and again their capacity to do good, often making sacrifices to benefit those less fortunate than themselves. We will continue to look for ways we can do even more, in 2019.”

 

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