Mansfield schoolchildren's positive messages help make 'key worker's days brighter'

Youngsters at a Mansfield school have been sending out colourful messages to say thank you to key workers during the pandemic.
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Pupils from High Oakham Primary School, on Nottingham Road, sent the supportive pictures and messages to police officers, firefighters, council refuse collectors, hospital and hospice staff and supermarket workers for their tireless service throughout lockdown.

Their efforts were based on the theme of being’ thankful’ and formed part of Children’s Mental Health Week.

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The three to five year olds, including children working from home and youngsters who continued to attend school due to their parents being key workers, were set the challenge to ‘make somebody’s day brighter’.

High Oakham Primary School pupils have been sending supportive messages to Mansfield's key workers.High Oakham Primary School pupils have been sending supportive messages to Mansfield's key workers.
High Oakham Primary School pupils have been sending supportive messages to Mansfield's key workers.

Now their work is on display across the town, including at Mansfield Police Station.

And Nick Butler, of Nottinghamshire Police, has sent the children a video to say a ‘big thank you’ for their work.

“It was a really lovely gesture by the children and one that is greatly appreciated by all of us at the police station,” he said.

Inspector Nick Butler with the artwork now on display at Mansfield Police Station.Inspector Nick Butler with the artwork now on display at Mansfield Police Station.
Inspector Nick Butler with the artwork now on display at Mansfield Police Station.
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"We’ve put this up outside our new neighbourhood policing office and it’s really brightened the place up.

“It’s really cheered us all up and even brought a tear to a few eyes. On behalf of all the police officers in Mansfield I’d like to say a big thank you for all the children.”

Kerry Boaler, deputy headteacher at High Oakham, said the response to the children’s messages of support and artwork ‘has been phenomenal’.

"We have had lots of messages of thanks back,” she said. “The children got involved with all sorts of activities to focus on people doing things for us in the local community."

High Oakham Primary School's waterfall of wishes crested by pupils.High Oakham Primary School's waterfall of wishes crested by pupils.
High Oakham Primary School's waterfall of wishes crested by pupils.
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The week’s activities included daily themes such as Mighty Monday, Thankful Tuesday, Wishes Wednesday, Therapy Thursday and Friendly Friday.

The children also created a ‘waterfall of wishes’ outside the school.

It includes 460 wishes, written on laminated water droplets, stapled to a net, and cascading from a window.

“It is all about the children writing down their wishes, looking forward and focusing on something positive,” said Mrs Boaler. “It’s something to be shared and bring smiles and hope to the community also. It looks really fantastic, it’s a waterfall of wishes.”