Category: SMSC

Students used form time to write and draw messages of support and condolence to the families affected by the atrocities in Christchurch:

• Stand Strong, be brave love everyone around you. We are thinking of you. Sending our love from England
• We will never forget the victims. May an event like this never happen again to you. We are extremely sorry for your loss
• We stand together because we are all one.
• Nobody deserves to die from such a cause. I cannot imagine your pain. Everyone stands by you, and I can only wish that in time that everyone can eventually recover.

 

Year 8 Art and Design students have been learning about Chinese New Year and Chinese culture and used their learning as a stimulus for this fantastic art project.

The 12th of November saw the beginning of Anti-Bullying Week at Priestnall School. During the week students participated in a range of activities during lessons and form time that promoted the anti-bullying message ‘Choose Respect.’ Students wrote a ‘Choose Respect’ pledge in form time and completed a SEAL activity which focused on the perceived power that bullies have and how the victim of bullying can take back control. All lessons had an anti-bullying focus and Year 9 students wrote and delivered an anti-bullying assembly. During the week, the Anti-Bullying Ambassadors ran drop-ins at lunchtimes for students to report any bullying issues. During this week thought provoking and reflective work was created by students. Below is an example of work created by students in Miss Condron’s English lessons.

Below are examples of work created by students in Miss Condron’s English lessons and in French lessons.

Students and Staff at Priestnall School are in the middle of the month of Ramadan. A very special month for Muslims all around the world who fast to increase their self- discipline, detox their body, become more charitable and generous; and refrain from food and drink from sunrise to sunset. This is a personal commitment and those of us who have medical conditions or are too young are not recommended to fast.

An assembly on Ramadan has been delivered to Colleges and Learning Co-ordinator groups have gone through a PowerPoint with key facts and questions and answers during their SEAL activity. Mrs Farhat has designated her room for students who are fasting and need rest and a quiet place to reflect in B7 and there is a Friday Prayer service run by Mr Ahmed.

To show empathy and understanding some of our staff of other faith or no faith have taken on the challenge to fast for one day. Mr R Jones our deputy head fasted for a day last year and shared his experience with a video diary and Mr M Jones fasted for the full 30 days after only being asked to try it for one day. The hardest part he said in assembly was not drinking coffee which he found was addictive but he was able to take control over it after fasting. This year he is also attempting to do the same.

A global Ramadan awareness initiative co- founded by Mr Ahmed called ‘#ShareRamadan’ has been in school filming a documentary on Mr M Jones and his experience of fasting and teaching and the video can be viewed below.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9oxpNosbOto

Students have this week been remembering the victims of the Manchester Arena bombing via discussion in form time. They have thought about the ways Manchester showed support and unity in the face of this atrocity and how we can promote love and respect in our communities. Students have also joined the nation in a one minute’s silence. Following this appalling attack, students have created art work using the iconic Manchester bee.

On 15 January 2018, all year 9 students took part in an event to raise awareness of Meningitis. Teenagers and young adults are in one of the high risk categories for contracting the disease so it is important that they understand the symptoms of meningitis and what to do in the event of a concern. The session was led by Matt Dawson MBE and Kate Richardson-Walsh OBE who talked to the students and then led an interactive quiz.

Matt is a retired English Rugby Union player and now Team Captain on A Question of Sport. Matt’s son had meningitis a few years ago, hence his involvement in the campaign. Kate is an Olympic Gold and Bronze medal winning English field hockey player. And an ex-Priestnall School student!

The students really enjoyed the event and learnt a lot about the signs and symptoms of this potentially fatal disease. Member of our school rugby team were also given the opportunity to meet Matt and Kate and have a photograph. See below.

The rest of the school will also be learning about Meningitis during their weekly SEAL activity in form time.If you want further information about Matt and Kate’s campaign, go to Tacklemeningitis.org. (http://www.tacklemeningitis.org/)