What do we want to do?
We want to take 300 children to watch Disney's The Lion King in the summer of 2022. We want to bring our school community closer in the aftermath of the Covid pandemic and to provide an amazing shared educational experience for our children.
This activity is needed to help the school provide a curriculum which enriches the educational experiences for all our children.
Impact of Covid on Children
Throughout the pandemic, independent of social or ethnic background, all children were isolated and cut off from normal social interactions and every child’s experience was different. This trip will bring the children together and place them on a level playing field by providing them with the same shared experience that we can continue to build on as we strive to raise their aspirations, show them the opportunities available and experience the world around them as they progress through school.
Due to restrictions disrupting school timetables many children have lost their sense of belonging an activity that the whole school can participate in will help rebuild our children’s sense of connection to each other and to the school.
The experience will support the emotional and well-being needs of children. Different children within the same class will have very different experiences of the Covid pandemic. They will also have varying levels of coping skills and resilience in dealing with those experiences. We know the creative arts can help us express feelings that we struggle to put into words and help us to feel less alone. Pieces of music, art and drama can reflect some of the feelings that children might have and can be a useful way to start discussions that are not just about the Covid pandemic and help our children move forward constructively.
Why a Theatre Trip?
In school we see the positive impact that participation in performance arts can have on children’s academic performance, wellbeing and social skills, it boosts confidence, creativity and improves communication skills, and in turn feeds into increasing attainment maths and literacy.
A visit to the theatre is an exciting and unique learning experience that cannot be recreated in the classroom. This opportunity will enable the children discover and learn about the etiquette's of going to the theatre and develop new skills such as not making noise and knowing when to applaud. By sitting still, focusing, and watching the story unfold in front of them they will be transported into hearts and minds of the characters in a way that that cannot be achieved by going to the cinema or watching a film at home.
Back in school we will continue to build on this experience and raise their aspirations through all aspects of the curriculum as we complete our whole school project "Africa".
What do we want to achieve?
Short-term this opportunity will reward the children for their hard work and commitment to learning after a difficult year settling back into school post-Covid. Long-term we hope to re-establish regular educational visits to enrich and enhance learning for all our children. We want this visit to ignite imaginations, boost confidence, raise aspirations and bring our school community closer by providing an experience many children would not have otherwise.
All children were affected by the Covid-19 pandemic and lockdowns, they have suffered emotionally, psychologically and academically. All these children deserve to have the opportunity to participate, to learn and to be part of the “buzz” that an experience like this would create in school.
We want those children returning to our school in September to be excited about being part of the Mora community and for those moving onto secondary schools, they go with a spring in their step, ending their primary school journey on an exciting, inspiring and high note as they prepare to embark upon the next stage in their education.
Our Plea
Please help us to make this once in a life time opportunity happen, we hope to be able to provide this to our children without having to ask families for a compulsory contribution at a time when many are still struggling from the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic.
If we exceed our target your support will help us to provide ongoing educational experiences for our children and make learning outside the classroom accessible to all.
