By Muryum Khan, Year 12

For the third year running the SMMA Christmas party for the local senior citizens was a huge success. In partnership with Drover’s Day Centre, 6th form students studying the IB diploma organised a Christmas Tea Party for their local senior citizen community.

As part of the core element of the diploma students engage in Creativity, Action and Service projects. Students organise and execute the party independently. They began by raising funds for the party; activities included baking cakes, school competitions, a football tournament and approaching local businesses for food donations and prizes. This year students were lucky enough to secure sandwich and cake donations from Temptations, Holloway Road and Teas and Coffees from Starbucks, Upper Street.

When at the beginning of September we were told to organise a Christmas Tea Party for the elderly, the main question was where to start? We had to get ourselves organised, sort out who would take on which role and most importantly, what we could all do to make this year’s party better than the last. After a visit to the nearby Day Centre talking to those who would be attending, things became slightly clearer and, as December drew ever closer, fundraising plans got underway, prizes, decorations and music were set up and all the arrangements came together in time for the night.

And what a night it was – there was mingling, music and magic in the air as everyone, guests and 6th formers alike, embraced the Christmas spirit and danced to some classic favourites, courtesy of the awesome choir and music department.

The highlight of the evening for many of the elderly guests was a special appearance from Santa Claus (thanks to Mr. Lovelock for agreeing to help out!) as he twirled his way through a song or two with his glamorous belly dancing assistant, followed by a raffle in which lucky winners got a chance to get their hands on some Arsenal merchandise, The Nutcracker at Sadler’s Wells tickets, jewellery and chocolates among other things.

Of course this was all down to the hard work and effort of everyone in the year as Thursday 8th December saw the common room transformed into a paper chain and sandwich making factory, as each student was busy helping to make the evening such a fantastic one. Goody bags were being carefully wrapped and tied with glittery ribbon, decorations had been bought and were being hung up and taped to pillars and the stage was prepped with the equipment that would ensure ongoing entertainment throughout the night.

After all the months of constantly worrying if everything would fit into place, we could all breathe a sigh of relief when, upon leaving the hall, one of our guests was heard to exclaim, ‘this party was even better than last year!’

Thank you to the local businesses donating raffle prizes also included Gina George, Holistic Hair and Beauty, Alternatives Beauty, Euphorium Bakery and the Saddler’s Wells Theatre.

Comments from attendees

“I have to say that I was terribly impressed with the students such a wonderful group of polite and inspired people, whatever the school is doing must be an excellent job.
It was great to see people just having fun and all the effort you and your team put into the event reaped great rewards. Have a great Christmas and feel free to let me know when we can help out again. All the best, Tim.” Tim Watts, Temptations, Holloway Road

“A wonderful welcome from the kind enthusiastic students.Good entertainment, delicious food, a very nice warm atmosphere. Very enjoyable” Ms Sheila Spence

“Very good of the youth of today to give us oldies time, I am very pleased” DA

“Wonderful evening, I feel at ease, great hospitality, wonderful interaction, fabulous decorations, 10/10” Shelia

“For Guy it was two hours of bliss with so many pretty girls everywhere PLUS a surprise belly dancer. For me it was inspirational to see such a beautiful school building and to watch the Academy’s young people treat their older guests with such care and respect. Best wishes Margaret (Baber)”