Pupils at Hampsthwaite Church of England Primary School near Harrogate have been celebrating the opening of a new playground.
A wooden trim trail has been installed along with colourful playground markings to make playtimes more exciting.
The playground project started in March when pupils, teachers and parents took part in a fundraiser to collectively cycle the 1,000-mile distance of Land’s End to John O’Groats on four stationary bikes in the school hall in 24 hours.
The original aim was to raise £2,000 to make some improvements to the playground, but the final total was £6,500.
Headteacher Amy Ross said:
“We were overwhelmed by the sponsorship support that we received from parents, extended family, local businesses and members of the community.
“The new playground will be beneficial to children of all ages at the school, and we were keen to choose equipment that was eco-friendly and long lasting to provide enjoyment for pupils for many years to come.
“It was a pleasure to see the smiles on the children’s faces this morning when they saw the new playground for the first time.”
On Friday, October 27, the school will be holding its first open morning of this academic year.
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Schools across the Harrogate district are supporting pupils following the death of the Queen.
Many have spent the day commemorating the life of her Majesty and have paid tribute to the “constant in all our lives”.
At Ripon Grammar School there was a sad, sombre atmosphere in school as students reflected.
Silences were held in assembly and tutor groups, while classes engaged in discussions about the significance of the Queen’s death.
Addressing students this morning, headmaster Jonathan Webb said:
“As a school we will reflect on how we can commemorate the life and work of Elizabeth II as we enter now a period of 10 days official national mourning.”
In a letter to parents David Thornton, headteacher at St Aidan’s Church of England High School in Harrogate, said:
“Our thoughts and prayers go to the Royal Family and everyone in our community as we process this news.
“As a school we have an important role to play in reassuring and supporting our students at times of sadness, particularly when caused by significant national and global events.
“Staff at St Aidan’s will be available to support the school community over the coming days. Our students will be offered the opportunity to reflect on the life and significance of Her Majesty the Queen in assembly and during tutor periods.”
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Amy Ross, headteacher at Hampsthwaite Primary School, said the main priority would be to continue to support children and the wider community through this “upsetting and difficult time”.
She said:
“We will be spending time reflecting on and paying tribute to Her Majesty the Queen, both in class and as a whole school.”
A statement on Harrogate’s Ashville College website said:
“Everyone in Ashville’s community will share the sadness at the news of the death of the Queen. Her Majesty has been a constant in all our lives and very few of us will have known any other monarch. Our thoughts and prayers are with our new King, Charles III, and all the Royal Family.”
“Our school community is saddened to hear of the death of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, and we join with people across the UK and around the world in offering our condolences to the Royal Family.”