Copyright  2024 by Harriet Murray-Hundley. All rights reserved.

Once upon a time, in the small and cosy village of Cheddington, there was a cheerful little girl named Hope. Hope was a student at Cheddington Primary School, a place filled with laughter, learning, and the occasional smell of freshly baked cheese scones from the nearby bakery. 

Hope loved everything about her school—her friends, her teachers, and most of all, the festive decorations that adorned the classrooms during Christmas time.

But there was something special about Hope that made her stand out from the other children. You see, Hope loved Christmas so much that she decided it shouldn’t just be celebrated in December. She believed that the spirit of Christmas—kindness, joy, and giving—should be felt every single day of the year. 

So, from the first day of school in January to the very last day of term in December, Hope greeted her head teacher, Mr. Doyle, with a bright smile and a cheerful “Happy Christmas!" ever since she started at the school.

At first, Mr. Doyle found it quite amusing. “Happy Christmas, Hope!” he would respond with a chuckle, thinking it was just a phase. But as the weeks turned into months, and spring blossomed into summer, Hope’s daily Christmas greetings continued. 

Every morning, without fail, she would skip into school, her long curly hair bouncing, and say, “Merry Christmas, Mr. Doyle!” The other children started to notice too. Some of them giggled, others rolled their eyes, but Hope didn’t mind. She knew that Christmas wasn’t just about snow, presents, and Santa Claus. It was about spreading happiness, and that’s exactly what she intended to do.

As the year went on, something magical began to happen.

Hope’s unrelenting Christmas cheer started to rub off on everyone at Cheddington Primary. The teachers found themselves smiling a little more often, the students began to share their toys more willingly, and even the school caretaker, known for his grumpy demeanour, started humming Christmas carols as he swept the hallways."

One day, in the middle of a hot July afternoon, Mr. Doyle called an assembly. The students gathered in the school hall, curious about what the head teacher had to say. 

“Children,” Mr. Doyle began, “I want to talk to you about something important. As you all know, Hope has been wishing us a Merry Christmas every day this year. At first, I thought it was a bit unusual. But then I realised something—Hope is reminding us of something truly special. Christmas isn’t just about a day on the calendar. It’s about joy, kindness, and thinking of others. And those are things we should remember every day.”.

"So,” Mr. Doyle continued, “I’ve decided that from now on, every day at Cheddington Primary will be a little bit like Christmas. "We’ll keep our Christmas tree up all year round, and we’ll start each day with a reminder to spread a little kindness, just like Hope does.” 

The hall erupted in cheers. Hope had always known that Christmas wasn’t just a day—it was a feeling, a spirit, a way of being. And now, thanks to her, Cheddington Primary would be the happiest, kindest school in all the land, all year round. 

The children and teachers began decorating the school with Christmas ornaments, lights, and tinsel, even though it was clearly summer outside. Hope helped hang bright ornaments on the tree and enjoyed every moment of it!