Southborough High School hosts special ‘thank you’ Christmas afternoon tea party for grandparents and other senior citizens living in the community

As a community, we at Southborough understand and appreciate the crucial role that grandparents play in the lives of their grandchildren. Today’s parents more often than not balance two careers whilst running a busy home and raising their children. Any help and support they can get from their respective parents is an absolute blessing and we often find that grandparents are as invested in the education and wellbeing of their grandchildren as their parents are.

As a thank you to our students’ grandparents, along with the wider community of senior citizens living in and around the school community, Southborough hosts a special Christmas Tea Party each year. It’s an event that Southborough staff and students love getting involved with and this year was no exception, with the party being bigger and better than ever before! And it was a delight to see so many of our boys accompany their much-loved grans, grandads and great aunties to the party. We even had Michael, an ex SHS Deputy Head Boy from the 1960s - attend with one of his grandsons. It was a lovely treat to see him back at school after so many years!

Members of Southborough staff generously donated a whole tableful of Christmas gifts – ranging from toiletries, wine, biscuits, chocolate, candles and scarves – and these served as ideal ‘prizes’ that were on display for our guests to pick and choose from throughout the course of an afternoon packed with food, drink, bingo and a Christmas quiz.

Sixth Form students helped set up the party beforehand and mingled with our guests, ensuring that they felt at home and were enjoying themselves. We were once again able to offer an extra special treat this year in the guise of Year 11 student Alfie L, who as a gifted magician (and star in the making!) performed a variety of magic tricks throughout the afternoon.

Our Year 10 Food Technology students served a delicious afternoon tea of sandwiches, sausage rolls, cheese straws, mince pies and Christmas biscuits - all made from scratch by the students! Our Year 10 school band jollied up the party by singing some popular Christmas Carols which everyone was encouraged to join in and sing along to.

like to say a very BIG thank you to all our lovely guests who came along to the event and to everyone here at Southborough - including Mrs Taylor, Mrs Ball, Mrs Yendoll, Ms Geering and Mr Iles - who made the event happen!