Across this academic year, the English Department are celebrating significant literary figures with activities and competitions related to their lives and works. At the end of last term, we marked Jane Austen’s birthday, and students were invited to write creatively using Austen’s famous opening ‘It is a truth universally acknowledged…’; Xuan in Year 10 wrote the winning piece.
On Holocaust Memorial Day we remember all those who died during the Holocaust and other genocides. This year, Angela Strach who used to be the Head of Drama at Kendrick school, was invited to speak about her family's experiences of the Holocaust. She has created and shared recordings of her story, links as below.
Last year, I wrote about the House year being like no other and how I hoped a return to normality would mean we could put on more house events this year. I did not think then that this year would be more affected than the last.
This year we celebrated World Book Day a little later than usual due to the COVID-19 national lockdown.
We held two competitions where students were asked to submit a ‘bookish limerick’ or a photograph of themselves reading in an unusual place. We had a fantastic response to both competitions and would like to share our winning entries with you all. Thank you to everyone who took part this year.
It is now two years since Manasvini, a student in Year 8 passed away suddenly and unexpectedly on 26th March 2019. To mark this day, a message from Mr Stride was read out to students in her year group,
World Book Day 2021 fell on 4th March but as we had not yet returned to school at that point, Kendrick School decided to postpone the celebrations this year until the end of March so that we didn’t miss out on the fun and the important message behind the initiative.
On Wednesday lunchtime, some of the entrants to the ‘Be the Light in the Darkness’ Poetry Competition held after Holocaust Memorial Day at the end of January, were able to meet in the Hall with Ms Kattirtzi and other members of staff, for a prize giving presentation.
Ms Kattirtzi acknowledged the high volume and standard of poems submitted for the competition. She spoke about her delight at the moving and expressive poetry submitted, especially from such young poets and her enthusiasm for future pieces of work as the students continue to develop their poetry-writing skills.
Designed to challenge and inspire, the UK Chemistry Olympiad is the leading Chemistry competition for students in secondary education. This enriching experience is a unique opportunity for students to push themselves further, develop critical problem-solving skills, learn to think more creatively and get a chance to test their knowledge in new, real-world situations.
The Mathematical Challenges are a timed, multiple-choice competition aimed at students across the UK. It encourages mathematical reasoning, precision of thought, and fluency in using basic mathematical techniques to solve interesting problems. The problems are designed to make students think. Most are accessible, yet still challenge those with more experience.
Monday 8th March is International Women’s Day (IWD), an important day for everyone to appreciate and acknowledge women and their contribution and achievements everywhere. This year’s theme is Choose to Challenge, which encourages everyone to accelerate gender parity through action. Here is a display exploring the theme which can be seen in our library and the Sixth form block.
Last year, the Music Department set out to rename its practice rooms in honour of influential and inspirational women from throughout musical history. We thought it would be fitting to introduce those women to you as part of International Women's Day, celebrating how these women have gone on to be successful in their respective fields and pave the way for future women to do the same.
This year as part of Holocaust Memorial Day we invited students to enter a poetry competition.
Poetry can be incredibly powerful. During the Holocaust and other genocides, those persecuted wrote poetry to express their feelings of loss, suffering and hope.
Survivors wrote poetry afterwards as a response to their experiences.
Writing, reading and sharing poetry can be a creative way to bring people together, even if you are not able to physically join together.