Kindness is one of our school values and it is always at the forefront of our minds at ESMS, but with so many people affected by the pandemic it has been a particular focus this Christmas. Across our schools, staff and children have been finding ways of giving back to support those in need in our community.
Reverse Advent Calendar
During the month of December many of us open a daily window on an advent calendar with a treat to enjoy each day. This year, classes throughout our Junior and Senior Schools decided to create their own alternative ‘reverse’ calendar which involves giving rather than receiving.
In the Junior School at Ravelston, children in Primary 3, 5, 6 and 7 donated to the Edinburgh Food Project, with some of the children helping to load their many bags full of donations into the Project’s van earlier this week. Mike Stark, Primary 7 Year Group Leader, noted that the initiative would “give our boys and girls the opportunity to appreciate what we can all do to help others.”
Houses at Stewart’s Melville College delivered their donations to projects across the city including Edinburgh Food Project in Sighthill and the Trussell Trust Foodbank Network.
Social Bite’s Festival of Kindness
All our schools gave their support to Social Bite’s Festival of Kindness, a charity initiative looking to raise enough money to provide 250,000 meals and essential items this winter.
Primary 4 children donated wrapped gifts for another child which Social Bite will distribute in time for Christmas and at The Mary Erskine School, donations to the Social Bite’s Christmas tree in St Andrew’s Square from pupils and parents were delivered where a representative was overwhelmed by the number of gifts given. Class 2T from the Middle School at SMC also raised over £170 for the cause.
We know that these donations will help to supply the huge number of applications received by the project every week. If you are passing Social Bite’s Christmas tree in St Andrews Square, please look out for an ESMS bauble on the tree alongside other groups taking part.
Edinburgh Food Social to use MES kitchens to feed families in need
We are delighted to be lending our kitchen at MES to The Edinburgh Food Social next week, to prepare a delicious and nutritious Christmas dinner, which will be distributed to those who need it. The organisation first used the MES kitchens during the summer to cook 65,000 meals for those in need during lockdown. This winter, several local organisations have helped to identify those families in need at Christmas and will help to distribute these meals, including Empty Kitchens Full Hearts, Fresh Start and The Pennywell Pantry. With the initiative running on donations, you can still contribute here.
Reindeer Run
At the Junior School, some of our youngest children from Nursery to Primary 3 have taken part in a Reindeer Run, running or walking one mile to raise money for their chosen charities, which this year include The Yard, RNLI and CHAS. Their current total is almost £1,800.
Christmas Charity Book Sale
A Christmas mystery book sale in the MES Library raised funds for our partner school, Edinburgh Girls’ School Malawi.
Christmas Slipper Day
At MES their Christmas Slipper Day, which replaced Christmas Jumper Day, raised over £200 for Shelter Scotland.
A number of individual efforts have also been noted around the schools, including Primary 6 pupils Emily and Gregor who raised almost £500 for Shelter by baking and selling their own mince pies.
Thank you to staff, children and their families for contributing so much to all of these worthwhile efforts.
