Inspired by the world-famous department store Selfridges, on Monday, 11th December, Rookwood School hosted Elfridges—an enchanting shopping experience tailored for its youngest pupils. Run by Friends of Rookwood School (FORS), Elfridges provided pupils from Little Rooks Nursery to Year 6 with the unique opportunity to select and purchase gifts for their families, wrap them, and take them home in time for the festive season.
Mrs. Elaine Ozanne, Head of Prep at Rookwood School, expressed her excitement about the initiative, stating, “As we all know, Christmas is a magical time and it’s particularly enchanting to witness the joy on a loved one’s face as they open a gift you have chosen for them. Young children do not often get the chance to independently select presents for their family members—gifts they’ve chosen themselves. Elfridges provides the perfect opportunity for children to do just that, and they absolutely love it.”
Prior to the event, pupils were asked to bring up to five items from home that were in good condition and suitable for re-gifting. Items could range from candles, ties, DVDs, soft toys, CDs, books, toys, arts and crafts, sweets, toiletries, jewellery, cookware, to unwanted gifts.
Mrs. Ozanne further explained the mechanics of the event, stating, “The pupils voluntarily came to school with up to £5 and a list of people they wanted to buy a present for. They then had the chance to buy their gifts at the event, have them wrapped at school by a member of FORS before taking them home, ready to surprise their loved ones on Christmas morning.”
A special thank you to FORS for coordinating such a worthwhile event for the pupils as well as raising valuable funds.
