THERE’S been some strange goings-on of late at Bedford High School in Leigh.
Soft toys mysteriously vanishing, only to appear again in different places…almost like they had a life of their own.
But don’t worry, this is one riddle that you won’t need to ponder for very long, because it’s actually quite ‘elf-explanatory’.
And if you tune into You tube or the school’s website you can see the whole story unfold in glorious colour.
Magic Happens is Bedford’s own take on the glossy Christmas video – think John Lewis or M&S advert. Only this movie brings home the message that school is a place where wonderful things happen and the magic lasts all year round.
The five-minute long festive feature follows Bedford’s Attendance and Welfare Manager Stuart Smith as he takes a trip to the local garden centre. A small cuddly elf catches Mr Smith’s eye, so he brings him back to school to take pride of place on his desk.
But all is not what it seems because the elf won’t stay put. It constantly disappears only to pop up at different locations across the school.
There’s magic in the air and if you want to know what happens in the end, you’ll have to watch the whole film.
The film took a week to shoot and student members of Bedford’s Enterprising Media Team took a pivotal role in putting it together.
The whole project was overseen by Jonathon Kay from production company Northstar Digital, who works closely with the school.
Jonathan said: “It’s become a bit of a tradition for Bedford to produce a Christmas video but this year we have really pulled out all the stops.
“The students helped to produce the script and took part in some of the filming and editing as well.
“We wanted to get the message across that schools really are magical places, where great things happen. So what better way to do it than with a Christmas elf?”
Since premiering this week, Magic Happens has already notched up thousands of views on Youtube.
The film follows hot on the heels of Bedford’s last video production, the acclaimed anti-bullying short – I Am Holly.
Bedford High School Head teacher, Helen Phillips, also appears in Magic Happens. She said: “This is a great, fun little festive film that once again showcases the many talents of our students and the great things that are happening at school.
“The feedback from our students has been really positive and it’s definitely got everyone in the Christmas spirit.”
“We have had plenty to celebrate at school this year and we are all looking forward to another great year to come.
“The message of the video is a simple one we’d like to share with everyone: spread a bit of happiness and always take care of your ‘elf’.”
“We would like to wish all our students, parents, staff and the wider community a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.”
