Authentically Adele

It’s not just a Christmas/Winter Fete…

840am, Class doors swing open and the children rush in, buzzing with excitement. It’s been the talk of the week and finally the day has arrived. All schedules are rearranged, a brand-new plan created just for this one special event—a day many children will remember for years to come. Face paints. Tattoos. BBQ. Santa Claus. Crazy games. Candy floss. Popcorn. Hot drinks. Cold drinks.

Oh what fun!

The sparkle in their eyes said it all. Children running up and down to show some teachers the prizes they’d won. Parents looking tired—probably from a full day’s work—then stepping into even more  activities.

But yes, all this… because it’s not just a Christmas fete.
It’s a unique day that draws deeply from the inner strength of every staff member involved. Between lessons, planning, displays, and the constant rhythm of school  life, staff doubled up behind the scenes to make sure this day would be everything it needed to be.

Some arrived at 7am.
Some stayed cooking the whole day.
Some turned their work desks into prep stations.
And still, everyone kept going—for the joy they knew the children would receive.

School ended, but the staff didn’t stop. Instead, they headed straight to their stations and continued to serve with smiles on their faces and joy in their voices. And honestly, it’s hard not to smile when you see children running around full of glee, excitement, expecting you not to recognise them behind their magically painted faces.

Then, eventually, the day ended.

Parents took their children home. I used to be the parent who showed up, enjoyed the event, and left whenever I felt like it. But today was different. Today, I saw what happens behind the scenes on a winter’s day.

The sky grew dark very fast, stars appearing one by one (I assume) the half-moon peeking through. Staff quietly packed things away, put rooms back together, and prepared for the next day—because school life doesn’t pause.

Finally home, feet up on a chair….  and you know what? It was worth it.

Today might have been long but it is manageable when you have a great team—when everyone pulls together, laughs together, and carries the load together.

School staff, are simply amazing. Days like these are a reminder that what we do stretches far beyond lessons and targets. We get to create moments that become memories. We turn ordinary school days into something magical. We stand in the gap, pour out energy we didn’t know we had, and still find a smile to give.
We may go home tired, feet up, wondering how we made it through… but please know this:
Long after the decorations come down and the playground quiets, the impact you made remains. Children won’t always remember every lesson  taught, but they will remember how safe, seen, and celebrated they felt in your care.