RENDITIONS of the national anthem and mass tea parties and dances are among celebrations planned at schools across Notts for the Queen's Diamond Jubilee.
Organisers of events at schools throughout the city and county say staff, pupils, and parents have pulled out all the stops to mark the celebrations.
All 420 pupils at Highwood Player Junior and Infant Schools in Bilborough will join together for a big party on Wednesday.
The two schools, in Highwood Avenue, are due to merge in September.
The new combined school will be renamed Jubilee Primary School following a vote by staff, parents and friends of the school.
Party organiser and Year 3 teaching assistant Lisa Conway said the occasion had been three months in the making.
It will kick-off with a jubilee dance at noon, and be followed by a tea party, parade, and fairground entertainment including a balloon race.
Mrs Conway said: "The children have been practising the dance.
"We've also had a group of 30 children playing the national anthem on ukeleles and trumpets. They are really good at it.
"We're also having a parade and the kids are all going to be dressed as kings, queens, princes, princesses, or in red, white, and blue clothing, as well as singing and playing instruments.
"It'll be a really colourful occasion."
Celebrations have already taken place at Arnold Hill Academy's Lower School, where a class of BTEC Hospitality students hosted a jubilee tea party for 75 local pensioners on Friday.
The pupils made and served food, including Victoria sponge cakes, while other students provided entertainment.
Footage of the Queen's coronation was also shown, before the group sang the national anthem together.
The school's website editor, Nina Simpson, who helped organise the event, said: "We do a similar party at Christmas each year. It's about the generations meeting, and with it being the Diamond Jubilee we thought it appropriate for young and old to chat together as to how things have changed over the years."
Meanwhile, youngsters at Lowdham C of E Primary School are due to hold their jubilee celebrations today.
The 200 pupils learned a special jubilee dance last week, which will be performed en masse. There will also be a school picnic and charity cake sale.
Head teacher Heather Rattenberry said: "We're also planning a best crown competition. The children were challenged to make their own crowns over the weekend – I can't wait to see what they've created."
Toddlers at Carlton Hill Playgroup will also experience their first Royal-theme occasion on Thursday.
Around 40 children aged between two and four will take part in celebrations, with local residents and members of Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Carlton Hill invited to join in.
Playgroup secretary Esther Coleman-Smith said: "It'll be their first jubilee party, so we want to make it memorable."
