OH YES they did! A primary school near Rugby has raised funds for new reading books by holding its first ever panto.
Kilsby Primary School staged the Snow White-inspired Mrs Sensible and the Seven Class Teachers, raising £1,300 in the process.
Reflecting the school’s recent expansion to seven classes, the show was written by Head of School Georgina Sensecall specifically for her staff.
The performance was a collaborative effort, featuring participation from teachers, teaching assistants, wrap-around staff, office personnel, and the cleaning team.
Behind the scenes, the Kilsby School Association (KSA) donated funds for staff to hire costumes from Rugby Theatre’s wardrobe department – and also added an authentic touch by selling popcorn and ice cream.
And a supportive parent enhanced the production’s quality by providing professional lighting and sound.
A parent in the audience said: “It demonstrated how invested the teachers and staff are in giving the children the best experience. This will hopefully also inspire some children to get involved in school plays and productions.”
Another added: “I think it’s fabulous that the teachers put themselves out there like this to raise money and entertain the children. We all really enjoyed it.”
A school spokesperson said: “The £1,300 raised not only reflects the success of the panto, but also emphasises the community’s commitment to enhancing the school experience for children who attend.
“Kilsby Primary School is now left with not just a memorable event, but a testament to the strength of community spirit and shared achievements.”
The money raised will go towards a fundraising project being run by the KSA to buy new reading books for the younger children.
The KSA has already put £2,500 towards the project, and the school is raising a further £2,000 to complete the full set of books.
KSA treasurer Mike Dowson said: “Our simple goal is to ensure the school has enough books so all children can learn to read and bring the reading books home to read with their family. Reading is the most important skill to learn and opens the door to endless other learning.
Visit https://tinyurl.com/4tkf3ffr to donate.
