The festive spirit soared through the halls of Stretford Grammar last Friday as the entire student body and staff—a mighty total of nearly 1,000 people—gathered for our annual Christmas dinner. It was a spectacular event, featuring a full traditional meal with all the trimmings, and a perfect way to usher in the holiday break. The success of an operation this vast hinges entirely on the incredible dedication of our kitchen staff. We extend a massive, heartfelt thank you to the entire canteen team, and especially to Sarah and Alison, the undisputed "engine room" of the school canteen.

To appreciate the scale of this achievement, consider the monumental effort undertaken to feed 1,000 people a complete, hot, multi-course meal: the team didn't just cook dinner; they managed logistics for nearly 1,000 portions of turkey, over 500 kilograms of potatoes and vegetables, and hundreds of litres of gravy! The process began days in advance, involving the preparation of raw ingredients, meticulous timing, and the arrangement of serving stations to ensure rapid, efficient distribution across the entire lunch hour.

On the day itself, Sarah, Alison, and the rest of the staff had to coordinate the synchronised cooking and serving of the meal, all while ensuring dietary needs were met, and every plate was delivered hot and ready within a tight timeframe. Their professionalism and calm under pressure ensured the operation ran flawlessly.

We are incredibly fortunate to have such a hardworking and committed kitchen team. Thank you, Sarah, Alison, and all the canteen staff, for truly embodying the spirit of community and making our 2025 Christmas celebration a delicious and memorable success!