Christmas Round-Up

11 December 2020

It’s been couple of weeks of busy activity culminating in the last day of term today with an array of colourful Christmas Jumpers, for National Christmas Jumper Day. Here is our round-up of all things Christmas at Shiplake College.

#Shiplakebokaflod

On Monday every year group gathered for one period in the Great Hall to read with a mug of hot chocolate.

This is a twist on ‘Jolabokaflod’, which is a tradition originating from Iceland where, on Christmas Eve, books are exchanged and families spend the rest of the night reading, wrapped up in a blanket, in front of the fire with a mug of hot chocolate.

Jolabokaflod which translated into English literally means ‘Christmas book flood’, started during World War II when paper was one of the few things not rationed in Iceland. Because of this Icelandic people gave books as Christmas gifts, and Jolabokaflod was born!

On Christmas Eve we encourage all Shiplake families to get together and read and share their pictures on social media using the hashtag #Shiplakebokaflod (and tag in @ShiplakeCollege too if possible).

First Days Christmas Stocking Collection

At the beginning of December we took delivery of 50 stockings from local charity First Days to help make Christmas special for children from families who may be struggling this Christmas.

We were so overwhelmed with donations that we could have filled the stockings twice over, and they had to make two trips to pick the gifts up! Thank you so much to our Shiplake families for their generosity.

Emma Cantrell, CEO joined us at our last whole school assembly to tell us more about the charity, she said: Thank you so much for having me this morning it’s real privilege to be here and be able to speak to you all.

“First days helps children from across Berkshire and South Oxfordshire who are living in households where they are struggling to make ends meet financially. We believe children should be safe at home, confident at school and they should be able to have fun and any financial difficulties shouldn’t stop them from happening.

“What you’ve done has made a huge impact for us this Christmas."

You can watch Emma's interview with Mr Howe in today's Whole School Assembly below.

Lower School Panto

We were taken on a swashbuckling adventure in the Lower School Pantomime, Treasure Island on the last day of term. Well done to all the Lower School boys who worked so hard. Watch again here:

Carol Service

Following the Pantomine, we were treated to our annual Carol Service. The Revd Briggs and Music Department presented our first ever virtual Christmas Carol Service.

There were a fantastic 90 pupils and staff involved in the service and particular thanks goes to all the pupils who gave readings, Year 7 pupil, Jack Dag for singing a fantastic solo for the first verse of Once in Royal David’s City, the Senior Choir, the Male Vocal Group, the Lower School Choir and the Shiplake Chorus made up of staff, Sixth Formers and Lower School Pupils.

Watch again here:

Last Whole School Assembly of 2020 - Student Awards, Guest Speakers and Much More!

Our last assembly of 2020 was all about celebrating everything that is great about Shiplake - kindness, generosity, and being the best you can be. We celebrated those pupils who had put in a huge amount of effort in their academic studies with each Head of Department invited to give awards to the highest performing pupil and the most improved pupil this term. Mr Jones also announced this half term's Golden Ticket winners who will all receive vouchers for Marjorie's Cafe. Well done to all those pupils. Watch more here: