Cheery spirit and excitement has filled Oxford High this week – whether it’s enthusiasm for a good lie-in during the holidays or for everything that comes with the festivities. Here’s what we got up to during the last few weeks of term…
Year 7 Talent Show
Written by Ines, Keira and Emma, Prefects
At the end of November, Oxford High hosted one of its most entertaining Christmas events – the Year 7 Talent Show! This event provides a fantastic opportunity for the youngest members of the school to showcase their impressive talents, earning recognition and admiration from the entire school community.
This year’s show featured six exceptional finalists, with performances spanning contemporary dance, traditional African song and a moving solo voice accompanied by piano. Each act captivated the audience, receiving enthusiastic applause and standing ovations. The winner, decided by audience votes, was Kenisha, who provided an emotional solo dance to ‘Leave a Light On’, which left a lasting impression on the audience.
The purpose of this event is to inspire and fuel young talent, offering students a chance to share and celebrate skills developed through hard work and dedication. Beyond showcasing creativity and individual excellence, the Talent Show develops teamwork and courage, as performers step up to perform in front of an audience made up of peers and teachers. In our eyes, every performer this year was a winner for the bravery and enthusiasm they brought to the final, making the event truly an unforgettable highlight of the Christmas term.
Festive Social Action
During the festive period, Year 10, 12 and 13 students participated in a Santa Run around University Parks, raising funds for Helen & Douglas House. The event spread holiday cheer while raising money for an important cause.
The annual Christmas Bazaar brought festive cheer and a wonderful sense of community spirit, as students worked together to support their year group charities. From creative craft stalls and delicious homemade treats to games and festive activities, each year group showcased their talents and entrepreneurial flair – we even had a visit from the big man himself! The bazaar not only spread holiday joy but also highlighted the students’ dedication to making a positive impact, with proceeds going towards causes close to their hearts. It was a fantastic way to celebrate the season while embracing the spirit of giving.
Christmas Carol Service
On the evening of Wednesday 11th December 2024, the school community gathered in St Andrew’s Church for an evening of Christmas music. The choirs, supported by several student organists and other instrumentalists, gave us a very atmospheric evening indeed, and there was some great singing by the congregation too!
Form Decorating Competition
Everyone’s favourite school tradition, the Form Decorating Competition, kicked off on Thursday morning. Each form room was decked out to fit their year group theme, we saw everything from 90s discos to twists on classic pantomimes. Here are the winners:
- Sustainability Award: Recognising efforts to use second-hand materials and sustainable practices, the entire school was commended.
- Best Interpretation of Theme: 10O’s Princess and the Pea won for its modern twist on a classic fairy tale.
- Most Innovative Use of ICT and Technology: 10S’s Hansel and Gretel stood out with a moonlit atmosphere and projections, creating an eerie Black Forest setting.
- Best Solo Performance: The Raven’s elegant ballet interlude in 7S’s Snow White pantomime earned this new award.
- Best Class Performance: 11H’s Y2K Basketball Game won for its engaging choreography and audience participation.
- Runner-Up: 9G’s Merry Christmas Everyone impressed with its nostalgic music video-inspired performance and live band.
- Overall Winner: 8O’s Alice in Wonderland claimed victory with its sustainable decorations, detailed costumes and immersive performances that transformed their form room into a magical underground world.
Staff Quiz & Staff Pantomime
We ended the festive season on a high note with the Staff Quiz and Staff Pantomime. Year 13 students take charge of the quiz, designing fun and challenging rounds that test the knowledge (and drawing skills) of staff – who were all very pleased not to have to answer questions about Taylor Swift.
The morning concludes with the highly anticipated Staff Pantomime, where staff trade their usual roles for over-the-top costumes and hilarious performances. As every year, the panto was completely written and directed by Year 13 students, this year they decided to parody Charles Dickens’ A Chrsitmas Carol.
From all of us at OHS, we wish every one of you a very joyful festive period and a Happy New Year. We hope you all have a wondrous break and look forward to seeing you next Term!