Inter-House Charity Competition

Last year saw the introduction of a new Inter-House trophy called the ‘Charity Shield’, awarded to the House that collected the most shoe boxes for the ‘Operation Christmas Child Appeal’. This year, the College again supported this excellent cause, and it was fitting that the charity shield was awarded to the House that was most giving.

The magnitude of the student’s response was overwhelming, contributing a total of 1,137 shoeboxes (including 10 late ones) filled with presents heading to children suffering extreme poverty in Eastern Europe. In addition to this, we raised over £2,200 to donate towards the appeal.

It is safe to say, there isn’t anybody who expected such an amazing response from our students and staff. They have all worked so hard, and cared so much for others to have enabled us to make this fantastic contribution towards the appeal.

The appeal this year clearly galvanised the College, with many individual students having prepared a complete box filled with presents. There have also been many students who have contributed more than one box. Worthy of mention here is Sophie Koltyka of OR5, who contributed no less then 28 boxes herself. Not surprisingly it was Sophie’s House group, Orion 5 that donated the most boxes (88) of any individual House Group, and it was Orion that won the Inter-House Competition for their contribution of a massive 296 boxes.

Apart from individual’s contributions, a response like this would not have been possible without students and teachers working together, and that was the most impressive thing about this year’s response. It has also been so pleasing to hear how students from the entire age range of 11-16 have gelled together. This has been possible as a result of the vertical structure of the College’s Pastoral System which has enabled students to work together successfully in this way.

Some students give up their lunch break to wrap the boxes, and others came in to college up to an hour before the start of the day to do the same. Miss Booty, House Tutor of OR5 noticed that her students were suffering withdrawal symptoms the day after the deadline had passed because they had so enjoyed what they were doing.

Young people receive a lot of criticism in the media for their uncaring approach and it is reassuring to know that there is this amount of compassion within our students and evidence of the good natured atmosphere that prevails at our College.

Whilst the students have played the major role in Tollbar’s response this year, we also benefited from donations given by administration staff, lunch-time supervisors, catering staff, caretakers, and other members of the non teaching staff.

On collection day, approximately thirty of our students were excused from lessons to prepare a warm welcome for representatives from ‘Operation Christmas Child’ in the form of a giant heart, made up of all our shoeboxes, around the TBEC crest at front of college.

Nine of our students who had been singled out for making an exceptional contribution towards the cause were invited by Samaritan’s Purse to attend the processing depot. These students were freed from morning lessons to see how the shoeboxes filled with presents were prepared prior to being dispatched to their destination of either Serbia or Belarus. This was undoubtedly the highlight of their day and they were moved by the efficiency and warmth of the volunteers they met.

The whole event made Tollbar very proud of what we achieved and credit is due to our students’ parents/carers, families and friends for the undoubted support that such an effort required.