Staff from the school’s wellbeing team suggested it might be fun for the students to decorate their homerooms ahead of Christmas.

“It just got bigger and bigger,” secondary school nurse Denise Leed said. 

The idea grew into a fierce, but friendly, competition to determine the best-looking room.

Ms Leed said several of the classes found a way to incorporate their studies into their designs.

Mathematics influenced the appearance of once classroom, which embraced geometry and reflected knowledge gained about congruent shapes, angles and measurements.

Students studying German seized the opportunity to learn more about the history and traditions of Christmas in Germany.

Bragging rights and a Christmas hamper big enough to share among the class were up for grabs for the victor.

East Loddon P-12 College principal Steve Leed said the responsibility of judging fell to the school’s youngest students – the preps – with the assistance of himself and prep teacher Sandy Lister.

He said the classes went to great lengths to engage with the preps judging their work.

Students took it upon themselves to make presentations to the preps about the rationale influencing their work.

The eventual victors – the Year 5 class – greeted the judging panel in Christmas costume.

Student wellbeing co-ordinator Wendy Twigg said the prep students were thrilled by the appearance of ‘Santa’ at their school.

“The kids did it all by themselves,” she said.

Ms Leed said the staff just left the students to it, with most of the children and young people from years prep to Year 9 opting to participate.

“It was really driven by the students,” she said.

The students had about 10 days to decorate the classrooms.

“It was a great mental health initiative,” Ms Twigg said.

Chaplain Sue Allen said the activity energised and engaged staff and students alike.

“It was just a nice way to end the year in celebration,” she said.

The school last year celebrated Christmas with Mr Leed riding into the final assembly on a new ride-on lawn mower.