Berkhamsted pupils get ready for Virtual Spring Fair

A school in Berkhamsted is not going to let the coronavirus lockdown stop their Spring Fair this Saturday, as staff and parents have been working hard to move the fair online.

Swing Gate School is having a Virtual Spring Fair on Saturday, May 16, so children and parents can enjoy lots of activities and games from the comfort of their own homes.

The Spring Fair is an event that brings the children, parents and staff together for a day of fun, games, crafts and activities.

As the school had to cancel this year's fair, Friends of Swing Gate decided to bring the school community together by hosting some fun events online and invite children and parents to join in, through Zoom.

Friends of Swing Gate is a charity run by parent volunteers who organise events for Swing Gate School to raise money for educational resources and experiences for the children.

A spokesperson for Friends of Swing Gate, said: "As we have had to cancel the fair this year, we wanted to bring our school community together by hosting some fun events online.

"We hope the children and their families will enjoy the activities we have planned.

"Our Just Giving Page for voluntary donations has gone live, and we are so grateful for everything we are able to raise as we know how important the funds are for our school."

The theme for this year's fair is 'Under the Sea' and children and parents have been getting creative at home to create a junk model for the Under The Sea Junk Model competition.

On Saturday, there will be a scavenger hunt, a cookery lesson, a family quiz and tea and cakes with the school headteacher to announce the winner of the competition.

Mrs Francesca Gallagher, Head Teacher, Swing Gate Nursery and Infant School, said: "We're delighted that Friends of Swing Gate are managing to hold the Spring Fair online in this unprecedented situation.

"It's the biggest fundraising event of the year for the school, and a lot of hard work by Friends of Swing Gate volunteers and parents had gone into planning this years event.

"We're trying to keep life for our school community as normal as possible so our children can stay happy, active and inspired. Thank you to all the children and their families who are helping or taking part and for all the donations being received by Friends of Swing Gate."

Lucy Curtis has a daughter in Reception at the school, she said: "We have just helped out since Ruby started school and have felt such an overwhelming sense of community spirit and support from Swing Gate and all the teachers and staff throughout her time there.

"It's such a wonderful school and we are so grateful that the children can still feel involved in school activities together whilst they are apart.

"They are all missing their teachers and friends so much and we know that one day they will all be back to their lovely school again, although it may be a different experience and way of learning, we know the staff will make it the same nurturing, happy and inspiring environment for the children to learn.

"We are having Zoom Scavenger Hunts, A Quiz and my Daughters Class, Owls are having a sponsored Under the Sea theme dance in Fancy Dress as well as a Junk Modelling Competition.

"The parents and teachers will try to raise some money for the school as they are missing the biggest fundraiser of the school year.

"Myself and Ruby have been working very hard on a Window display for our house to fit in with the Under the Sea theme for the fair.

"We have painted sea creatures, a huge mermaid and a yellow submarine! We will also be decorating and playing sea sounds on the fair day.

"We hope it will bring some fun to our lovely close and our neighbours and children of the community will enjoy it and we will raise some money for our lovely school.

"Swing Gate teachers and Staff have been incredible supports throughout lockdown and we wanted to do something to say thank you."

To make a donation to the Friends of Swing Gate fundraising page, visit: www.justgiving.com/campaign/FriendsofSwingGate, for more information, visit the FOSG Facebook page.

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