Since Christmas, Year 7 students have been on a journey through the evolution of literature in the UK in their English lessons, from Beddgelert, Beowulf and Gawain, through to Chaucer’s ‘The Pardoner’s Tale,’ and then onwards to modern retellings of the ‘Canterbury Tales’ with Patience Agbabi’s ‘Refugee’s Tale.’ Meanwhile, Year 8 students have been introduced to the history of slavery and emancipation in American literature, including Harriet Jacobs, Langston Hughes, Angela Gorman and, from a UK context, the case of Stephen Lawrence and Benjamin Zephaniah’s poetry, before moving on to the study of the play version of ‘Noughts and Crosses,’ about racial discrimination and its impact. Both year groups have also had author events to inspire them further: Daniel Morden’s storytelling for Year 7, and Alex Wharton’s talk about his new book, ‘Bright Lives’ for Year 8.
Students were then set the task of responding creatively to what they have learned and, following the success of our project exhibitions over the last two years, we were able to exhibit both year groups’ work simultaneously on Thursday 16th April. We were inundated with creative projects: from clay models of Beowulf’s Grendel, to swords in the stone, to Guinevere’s gown, to cookies in the shape of weaponry from Year 7; and moving portraits of key figures in the Civil Rights Movement, protest banners, poetry, and sculptures from our Year 8 students. The exhibition was a resounding success, with a wonderful sense of celebration and pride from students, parents and staff alike. An incredible evening to showcase our very talented students!
Thursday was also a special day for Year 7 as we were able to celebrate the participants and winners of our local Book Sculpture competition, run across all the local primary and secondary schools in conjunction with our local National Year of Reading team. All participants received an artist’s sketchbook and pen, but we were also lucky enough to win 3 of the main prizes in our age range, including a one-to-one lesson with a local artist and £25 vouchers kindly donated by the Royal Monmouthshire Royal Engineers. Well done to all involved, and we hope that this will inspire more students to enter our upcoming writing competition; look out for its launch over the next few weeks!
They are extraordinary little birds who live almost all of their lives on the wing - sleeping, eating, drinking and mating without once touching the ground. Generally, they last two to three and a half months before having to rest. They spend their summers nesting in the UK then migrate to Africa in August/September. They nest in the gaps of human-made structures but modern architects have become more focused on streamlining their projects, leaving no space for swifts to nest. Old houses are being knocked down and swifts, being so faithful to their homes, refuse to find different spots. This process is devastating the world's swift populations and it halves every 20 years.
Myself, and a few of my year group, spent a day constructing the swift boxes then it was a case of relaying information between school and Swifts of Usk until, over Easter half-term, the boxes finally went up on the n/w side of the Phoenix Building.
