Shelf J&I School does its bit to celebrate VE Day anniversary

Olivia Meleschko holds painting of a union jack during a VE Day anniversary picnic at Shelf Junior and Infants School, Halifax, which remains open for around eight children of key workers.

Around nine children aged five to 11 are still attending Shelf Junior and Infants School in Halifax during the lockdown period.

The school hosted a picnic as children learned about the significance of the occasion, which marked Victory in Europe in 1945.

Deputy headteacher Neil Badrock said: “With it being the 75th anniversary, if we had all been back at school we would have been doing a big celebration.

Ariana Malone adjusts her hat made from a newspaper as protection from the sun at a VE Day anniversary picnic at Shelf Junior and Infants School, Halifax, which remains open for around eight children of key workers.

“[While] we’re in lockdown we felt we didn’t want to let it go past without some acknowledgement of it within school.”

Kitchen staff prepared the picnic, bunting was put up and posters made by pupils faced out towards the community.

Youngsters, including those who are learning from home, were set tasks by their teachers related to the anniversary.

Mr Badrock said: “We’ve been talking to the children about what VE Day is, why we’re celebrating it and why it’s so important.”