Schools in Great Dunmow and Great Hallingbury have been raising money for charities in the community in the run up to Christmas.
Sixth Formers at Helena Romanes School in Great Dunmow launched their inaugural Charities Week, with activities running from Tuesday, December 13 to Thursday, December 15.
During this time, the students were tasked with providing as many entertaining activities for the lower school as they could.
The Sixth Form students ran a daily Christmas market with games including pinning the nose on Rudolph, guessing the number of sweets in a jar, guessing the name of a bear, a tombola and throwing a snowball at the Christmas cup.
They also held raffles for students and for parents and teachers, a non-uniform day and Christmas jumper day, as well as a teacher fancy dress day.
Teachers got even more involved in the fun with a 'Masked Teacher' performance, and a 'Strictly Come Teacher Dancing' competition with judges - both of which were sold out to a packed hall of over 250 excited students for each show.
Proceeds from the events will be divided between The Laughter Specialists, who support vulnerable children and their families in difficult times, with an emphasis on laughter and fun, and CHESS, which supports homeless people and enables them to move forward with their lives purposefully and in good health.
A spokesperson for the school said: "We are incredibly proud of the whole school's involvement with Charities Week and the amount raised for such worthy causes.
"There is still money being counted, but we appear to have raised around £3500 to split with our two charities, as well as supporting Mrs Bird in the Learning Zone with the Uttlesford Food Bank collection."
Meanwhile children at Howe Green House School in Great Hallingbury have been collecting for their Salvation Army appeal, and have been "overwhelmed by people's generosity".
The pupils collected Christmas present donations, which they then took to the Salvation Army office in Bishop's Stortford.
From here the presents will be given out to local families who otherwise would not be able to give their children a Christmas present.
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