CHILDREN of the Bournemouth Chabad Hebrew School have celebrated the end of their studious year in style.

With a lunch time party for all the children - as well as parents and grandparents - the activities began with a video in the morning showing the events held throughout the year.

It also included footage of the children recording their own song in a professional studio.

Arts and crafts were among the projects students undertook which were exhibited at the party.

Rabbi Bentzion Alperowitz said: "One of the highlights of the Hebrew school is its Aleph Champ Hebrew reading method which all the children, regardless of age group, took part in.

"The Aleph Champ system is based on the judo philosophy of gaining different coloured medals as they advance through the levels going from white up to black, and the buffet lunch was colour-coordinated to reflect the various grades."

The celebration concluded with a prestigious brief ceremony as each child was presented with a personalised framed collage of their year's work and a small gift bearing the school logo.

One of the parents said: “I cant believe how eager my daughter is to go the the Hebrew school, and when I finally manage to get her to leave at the end of the session, I hear about what she has done for the rest of the day."

Rabbi Alperowitz added: "Chabad’s Hebrew School takes place every Sunday and uses a curriculum based on the educational and moral approach of the Rebbe, Rabbi Menachem M Schneerson, of righteous memory. His outlook served as an inspiration to the structure of the lessons, catering to the children's needs in a manner that they truly enjoy. The Rebbe, who is considered by many to be the most influential rabbi in modern history, established thousands of educational centres around the world and his teachings and life lessons continue to inspire millions of people even 22 years after his passing."

The school - which has seen an increase in its numbers in the last year - is run by Chabad Lubavitch Rabbi Alperowitz and his wife Chanchi. The teachers said so popular is the school that when half term was announced they received calls from parents asking if the school could remain open as the children didn’t want to miss out.