Atlantic Academy Primary holds FIRST virtual Easter Bonnet Parade as digital solution for annual event during coronavirus lockdown

A virtual Easter Bonnet Parade has been organised for the first time for pupils at Atlantic Academy Primary.

An annual Easter Bonnet Parade is now a tradition at the school and would normally take place in the school fields.

However with the country battling coronavirus and schools closed for children, bar those of key workers or classed as vulnerable, Principal of Atlantic Primary Melissa Heppell came up with a digital solution.

Pictures of students wearing their bonnets have been pulled together to create a video which was posted on the school’s Twitter and Facebook during the Easter Bank Holiday weekend and will also be available on Google Classroom and See Saw (a digital platform).

Pictured above from L to R: Myla Whyton (Year 2), Emily Vardy (Year 5) & her sister Bobby Price (Reception) and Alex Calvert (Year 3) all pose in their lovely Easter bonnets. 

Students scroll past in the video showing off their bonnets alongside their friends and classmates.

The aim said Miss Heppell is to ensure that although they are away from their friends, teachers and school, they still feel they are part of a community. 

The Easter bonnets were made from anything the children had available at home.

Teachers at the school also joined in with the fun as did parents.  

Pictured below in her ribbon-covered hat, Paige Rumble (Year 2) 

Miss Heppell (pictured below) told the Dorset Echo: ‘’Since it’s opening in 2017, Atlantic Academy Primary has always hosted an Easter Bonnet Parade. It’s an opportunity for the local pre-schools and our school community to come together to celebrate Easter and the event is always popular.

‘’This year however, we are at home helping to support the NHS and social distancing.

‘’However this wasn’t to stop us and we were very keen to ensure the opportunity for an Easter Bonnet Parade was still available to our students and community. With this in mind, we decided to host our first ever Virtual Parade. We have been incredibly impressed with the commitment from our families and look forward to sharing the virtual display with the Portland Community.”

 

The Easter Bonnet Parade would usually be held in the school fields with parents, grandparents and members of the local community invited to watch. The Atlantic Academy PTA would support the event by providing teas, coffee and cake to visitors. 

Pictured from L to R in their Easter-themed creations: Mum Kirsty Dalby with her son Gabe Dalby (Year 6), dad Steve Dalby, teacher Jayne Cornell, Abby Hill, Deputy Principal at Atlantic Primary and Faith Rumble (Year 3).