It was surprise time for children and teachers last week as MP Helen Grant arrived at primary schools all over her constituency to award prizes to her Christmas card 2018 competition winners.
There were goodies for the best in each school, with five achieving a ‘Highly Commended’ award.
The overall winner, who’s design has become the cover of Helen’s official card for 2018, was Daisy Davies aged 7 from Sissinghurst C of E primary school. She wins a trip to the Houses of Parliament with her parents where, among other activities, they will enjoy a cream tea with Helen and a stroll on the river terrace.
Helen remarked ‘My choice of winners is purely based on the design. I don’t get to know the overall winning pupil or school until I have made my choice and for the third year in a row Sissinghurst came out on top. I said to the head Cathy Penfold perhaps there’s something creative in the water here!’
Cathy Penfold, Headteacher ay Sissinghurst Primary said, ‘For the third year running a pupil at Sissinghurst School has won Helen Grant’s Christmas card competition along with a runner up too. We are delighted of course by our pupils’ achievement but wonder what has led to this success? Is it something in the water here… or perhaps just the fantastic attitude to learning demonstrated by our pupils. It has been noted how focused they are in lessons and how keen they are to always give their best. Thank you to Helen for the opportunity she gives the pupils in her constituency every year with this wonderful competition.’
All 635 children from the 8 schools that entered this year have received a special certificate signed by Helen. 5 Highly Commended designs are also printed on the reverse of Helen’s card.
The Head Teacher from the school with the most entries (as a proportion of their pupil numbers) also received a prize and the winning school was St Michaels in Fant, Maidstone, with headteacher Sue Heather.
