We decided that Christmas 2020 would be a Christmas of Giving. After such a bumpy year globally, the School has focussed on ways to make a difference locally through a variety of projects. We have embraced the recently launched Classrooms to Carehomes project being promoted by the Times Educational Supplement (TES) which has seen the entirety of the Year 7 students writing Christmas letters to care home residents, as well as holding an inter-form hamper making competition! The School delivered the hampers and Christmas letters to nearby Whiteley Village where they met with staff and residents, socially distanced of course, to present them with the treats.
We have also supported the Salvation Army Christmas Present Appeal by making donations of toys and gifts that will be distributed to local children who might otherwise have been without a gift on Christmas Day. The Student Leadership Team visited the Woking Salvation Army Church where they presented Mr David House with the gifts and saw for themselves the work they are doing to put together packages for families this Christmas.
To support additional charities, the students have also been selling festive candy cane gifts, as well as taking part in Christmas Jumper Day on Thursday 10th December for their chosen charity ‘Shooting Star Children’s Hospices’.
Not to be outdone by the students, the Hoe Valley School staff also stepped up to the giving mark by creating a Reverse Advent Calendar – donating an item each day of advent for Woking Food Bank to help supply much needed food items to local families in need.
Mrs Davies, Head Teacher commented, “I am really proud of the school community and overwhelmed by the generosity of both students and staff. It is a particularly challenging time for everyone at the moment and it was so special to be allowed into Whiteley Village Care Home and make real contact with the recipients of our gifts. We hope to continue this generosity throughout 2021 as we look forward to plans for Easter giving.”
