Year seven pupils from The Heys School helped clean up Prestwich village on a pre-Christmas litter picking mission.
Meanwhile, year 10 students put together food hampers to help more than 50 school families in need of support over the festive period.
Staff donated cash to buy food, and members of the local community chipped in by giving items to fill the hampers.
The Heys hat-trick was completed with a competition to design the school’s first official Christmas card.
Cards featuring the winning illustration have been produced and sent with letters and poems to residents of Broughton House Veteran Care Village in Salford, which is the school’s chosen charity. The winning design came from year seven pupil Milana.
The projects were part of The Heys in the Community initiative, which was launched this term at the 700-pupil school to support local organisations and good causes through donations and volunteering.
The 23 ‘Heys Helpers’, escorted by form tutor Isobel Davis, head of year Bethany Kenny and assistant head teacher Phil Taylor, filled bags with rubbish collected along Heys Road, in Prestwich Village and the Longfield Centre.
Miss Kenny said: “The children were really enthusiastic and excited about taking part. They like to helpful to others and do things to improve the community.
“We’re a community school, and we are pleased to be playing our part to help keep Prestwich clean and tidy.
“It was wonderful to hear some really positive comments from members of the public as the students went about their tasks. People were saying how fantastic it was to see them doing this.
“We plan to repeat the exercise, and would love to hear suggestions from members of the community about areas they feel we could go to and help make cleaner.”
The Heys School hamper project was led by performing arts teacher Simone Rhoden and assistant head teacher Helen Pickavance.
Miss Rhoden said: “We have been able to support over 50 of our families in need this Christmas following amazing contributions from staff, students and the wider Heys community.
“The festive hampers were put together by year 10 students, who were determined to shed some light on a gloomy year. It was truly amazing seeing everyone coming together to support a great cause and doing it with a bit of sparkle, glitter and tinsel, The Heys way.”
