Elgin Academy celebrating Christmas market's success as largest crowd yet attracted to event
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STUDENTS at Elgin Academy attracted their largest crowd yet to their Christmas market last week.
The event – run by second years – was a chance for pupils to gain a range of transferable skills while selling hand-made goods to the public.
As well as the pupils’ own stalls, there were also craft stalls from the local community.
The market had a range of crafts on offer, with crafts including Christmas cards and festive mugs. Preserves and cakes produced by pupils were also on sale. Pupils from the music department performed live music throughout the morning.
Organiser Karen Ainslie said: “It has evolved and got bigger and better every year.
“The preparation for the event starts all the way back in August. We try to think about what we are going to do with each second year class, while incorporating their own ideas as well as things we have done in the past that we know work.”
Head teacher Kyle Scott was delighted at the event’s success and the contribution from all second year pupils.
He said that it was a great learning opportunity as pupils improved their communication skills, as well as financial planning and numeracy.
“It’s one of our favourite events of the year," he said. "Most importantly, it is a showcase for our second year pupils.
“We are very proud – they have baked and made a lot of products, and are also running the stalls. We have seen more members of the public today than we have ever seen at any market before.
“The most important thing that I see is the team work – we see so many of the second years working together. They all have different roles but all fundamentally work together in the end.”
The school’s art club sold a variety of crafts made by the club including broaches, ceramic ornaments and clay pots.
Mandy Tullis, the club’s organiser, said that it was a “safe space” for pupils to go during lunchtime.
She added: “It’s simply a place to sit, chat, and work. The money we earn from the stall goes back into the art club while we try to recycle what materials we can.”
