17 December, 2021
Staff, parents and the wider Costessey community have joined festive forces to open Ormiston Victory Academy’s Christmas Shop.
Now in its fourth year, the initiative was initially the idea of vice principal Vicky LeFur, who saw a positive opportunity for the community to come together to ensure that every family is able to enjoy the festive season.
Donations from across the community – from a local Marks & Spencers through to Norwich City Football Club and parents at the local Norwich school – have donated goods which students at Victory can then ‘buy’ through their ‘Victory Visa’ rewards scheme.
Students can collect “visa” points from their teachers through hard work, kindness, and high-quality homework, earning points which can then be spent in the shop. So far, students have been delighted with the opportunity to “buy” gifts for their families, and the academy makes sure to prioritise those who are most in need of support.
Available at the shop are toys, games and books, as well as a host of toiletries, beauty sets and clothes. The school also hopes to make a set of hampers for families in the community, thanks in part to a generous donation from Norwich City Football club, who have provided a signed shirt for the academy to raffle.
As part of the academy’s #WeWill programme – is designed to inspire social action, students are also helping to run the shop, and work closely with members of the community who have donated goods.
This is just one of several initiatives which Victory is undertaking to get into the festive spirit and celebrate its staff and students’ diligence during an uncertain year.
Individual children, who’ve been nominated by staff, are being thanked with selection boxes daily in December for their hard work, with members of staff receiving a special visit from Victory’s very own Christmas elf, Victor, to say thank you! Students have also been expressing their gratitude for staff by writing “Thank You” postcards to any member of staff they wish to nominate.
The academy is continuing to welcome donations to its Christmas Shop. If you, or someone you know, may be interested in donating, please contact the principal, Naomi Palmer, via pa@ormistonvictoryacademy.co.uk
Naomi Palmer, principal said: “I am hugely proud of the way in which the Christmas Shop has come together and would like to sincerely thank everyone for their hard work and generosity. We want to help everyone have a great Christmas, especially those who’ve been hit hard by the past 18 months, and this has provided such a brilliant opportunity for the community to come together.
“We have always taken our role in the community incredibly seriously, so it is heartening to see such support from across the area.”
Category: News
Tags: #iwill, #WeWill, Innovative tuck shop, Ormiston Victory Academy, Social action, Victory
