By the end of term, staff and students at Savio Salesian College, Bootle, had earned their Christmas rest after a very hectic period of activities that focused on the true spirit of Christmas, helping those in need and taking time for reflection as well as having plenty of Christmas fun.

Last week, the school welcomed over 220 pensioners from the local deanery to enjoy an afternoon of festive food an

d drink with entertainment from the pupils. The guests were waited on by Year 11 pupils, who were, as always, a credit to the school and the Salesian Family.

The Christmas Appeal for Shoe Boxes for the Homeless of Liverpool saw the school collecting toiletries which will be distributed to the homeless by the Liverpool's Whitechapel Centre Liverpool.

Savio is a strong supporter of Jospice (St Joseph's Hospice), which is the only Catholic hospice in Liverpool, and one of the first in the country. Each year, the school raises over £1000 to support the work and mission of this vital resource to the people of Bootle and the rest of Merseyside, and they have been busy with the Christmas Teddy & Light up a Life badge sale this year, as well as making fundraising fun with the Reindeer Romp, where each pupil makes a donation to Jospice and completes two laps of the special Reindeer Romp course!

Pupils were able to sit back and be entertained by the Senior Leadership Team and the Chaplaincy Team performing a 'Savio' version of A Christmas Carol for them.

A very successful week of Year 11 Retreats ended on Wednesday, giving the pupils the opportunity to reflect on the incarnation, and the term ended yesterday with the Christmas liturgy for all pupils.

We hope the students, staff and families at Savio and all the Salesian schools have a peaceful, safe and joyful Christmas, and return refreshed in January.