Ysgol Treffynnon

Students who led a project to give a Christmas surprise to less fortunate children overseas, have been commended by staff for their hard work.

The Year 9 and 10 students who are studying for their Level 2 Agored Cymru Work Related Education qualification, set up the Christmas Box project as part of the teamworking unit of the course.

After writing to headteacher John Weir, asking for permission to do the project, the students carried out online research, held team meetings to plan each stage of the project and set deadlines to ensure the project ran to schedule.

Due to the pandemic, a robust risk assessment was put in place which resulted in limiting the number of people able to contribute items to Year 7 tutor groups and staff members. All donations were quarantined for the required time before the students could handle them.

To help promote the project the students also produced a video for Year 7 students.

As well as the practical tasks, including wrapping and packing the boxes, the students were required to record what they did at each stage and provide evidence for the qualification.

Christine Wineyard, deputy Additional Learning Needs Coordinator (ALNCo), assisted the students with the project. She said: "Considering the challenging circumstances this year, and with the Firebreak happening right in the middle of the donation period, the students and staff have done remarkably well.

"In total 25 beautifully wrapped boxes were filled with some amazingly generous gifts such as toys, dolls, colouring books, pens, gloves, and toiletries. The boxes will be distributed around the world so that children from areas of deprivation and/or conflict can have something special this Christmas.

"I am incredibly proud of all the students involved in this project, there is nothing more heart-warming than children giving to other children.

"I would like to thank everyone who donated to this worthy cause, and I have to give a very special thank you to Michelle Reid. She has worked incredibly hard, supporting the students through every aspect of this project, including delivering the boxes to the drop off point at the Entertainer store at Broughton so they can start their journey to other parts of the world."