Sixth Form Charities Week

Newport’s annual Sixth Form Charities Week raised over £1900 for their chosen charities, Essex Air Ambulance and Khandel Light.  

The week, which was organised by Head Boy Pádraig Curran, Head Girl Natalie Chandler and the senior prefect team, involved a range of events, including fancy dress days and teacher entertainment.  

Throughout the week Sixth formers, unperturbed by the cold weather, come to school in costumes ranging from their old school uniform (while the rest of the school had a non uniform day) to an animal themed day. One of the most popular was the PJ day, which allowed students to get out of bed and go straight to school.

A lot of money was raised at the lunchtime charity events that involved both teachers and students. Teachers’ performances included a tribute to Glee, reggae and rapping. The Science department had a particularly interesting  take on Mary Poppins. Other events included ‘Newport’s Manliest Man’, which involved a pickled egg and cracker eating contest, arm wrestling and a test of DIY, and saw year 13 student Hugo Rooney coming out on top.  One highlight of the week was the turning of the tables as the students beat the teachers 120 to 95 in a University Challenge style competition, which the teachers felt was rather rigged.

'The success of this now annual event is mainly down to the leadership of the sixth form senior prefects’ said headteacher Sean O’Hagan . ‘I am glad so many students were able to be involved in such a positive week that was not only a lot of fun but also raised a lot of money  for extremely good causes. It is testament to the fact that our students not only care about their own community but are concerned with wider causes.'
 
Newport Business Association also helped to raise funds: Pádraig and Natalie attended an NBA meeting and raised over £100 there.

‘This charities week has maintained Newport's proud charitable tradition’ said Head boy Pádraig Curran. Our two chosen charities are much deserving and it was great to see the generosity of students as well as the enjoyment experienced by many who bought cakes or attended events’.