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Windrush Day marks the anniversary of the arrival of MV Empire Windrush at the port of Tilbury , near London, on 22nd June 1948. Those who arrived on the Empire Windrush, their descendants and those who followed them, have made and continue to make an enormous contribution to Britain.
The day honours the British Caribbean community, and the half a million people who travelled to the UK after the Second World War. The first Windrush Day was held on June 22 2018. More people than ever before are taking part this year to support the Windrush Generation, and show sympathy with the hardships they have endured.
More Info: www.windrushday.org.uk
Watch the following video: The Empire Windrush arrived in Britain 70 years ago, carrying passengers from the Caribbean and from Poland. They were invited by Britain to assist with post-war reconstruction.
Remember: Tant Que Je Puis!
Today is the longest day of the year!
“Solstice” (Latin: “solstitium”) means sun-stopping
The summer solstice occurs when the Earth’s tilt towards the sun is at it’s maximum and the sun reaches it’s highest position in the sky and is directly above the Tropic of Cancer.
The Solstice is the beginning of the astronomical summer in the Northern Hemisphere.
It ends with the autumn equinox on September 22.
Solstice marks almost equal duration of day and night as the Sun crosses the Line of Equator and moves over the Northern Hemisphere.
On June solstice, the Earth is positioned is a way that the North Pole tilts towards the Sun.
Traditionally, to mark the arrival of summer in the UK, people gather at Stonehenge, in Wiltshire, to see the sun rise. The Heel Stone and Slaughter Stone, set outside the main circle align with the rising sun. Many historians say, Stonehenge, a prehistoric monument in England, is an evidence of humans using June Solstice as a way of setting the time of the year.
Stonehenge in Amesbury, Wiltshire is the most popular place for Pagans to celebrate the longest day because it famously aligns to the solstices. The rising sun only reaches the middle of the stones one day of the year when it shines on the central altar.
Built in three phases between 3,000 B.C. and 1,600 B.C Stonehenge’s exact purpose still remains a mystery. The stones were brought from very long distances – the bluestones from the Preseli Hills more than 150 miles away, and the sarsens probably from the Marlborough Downs, 19 miles to the north.
The day marks the ancient middle of summer. It has significance for pagans who have always believed that midsummer day holds a special power.
Midsummer’s eve was believed to be a time when the veil between this world and the next is at its thinnest, and when fairies were though to be at their most powerful.
Over the centuries, the June solstice has inspired many festivals and midsummer celebrations involving bonfires, picnics, singing, watching the sun rise and Maypole dancing. Many towns and villages across Britain still mark the day.
“In ancient China, the Summer Solstice was observed by a ceremony to celebrate the Earth, femininity, and the ‘yin’ forces. It complemented the Winter Solstice that celebrated the heavens, masculinity and ‘yang’ forces.”
In Sweden, Denmark, Norway and Finland, Summer Solstice is a time of midsummer night festivities. This is the time when countries near the Arctic enjoy the Midnight Sun.
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SEND Teaching Assistant, Ms Szlagor-Zdunczyk of has chosen ‘The Trial by Franz Kafka.
‘It is a genius metaphor of totalitarianism and an allegorical tale about a lonely man who faces omnipotent state and bureaucracy.’
“They are talking about things of which they don’t have the slightest understanding anyway. It’s only because of their stupidity that they are able to be so sure of themselves.”
In honour of Pride Month we will be looking at an extract from “Being Dan” by Donna David
Donna David decided to write this book after a young person she knew told her he was trans. She said, “I wanted to understand what he was going through as much as possible, I was referred to Mermaids UK for further information. What I found were brave and inspiring stories about what it means to be a young trans person in the UK today… Your gender is exactly that: YOURS”
Pride in London will take place on the weekend of 11th September 2021
If you are interested in finding out more, or if you are affected by the issues in this story, then you might find the following LGBTQ+ websites useful…
EGS Welfare and Support Hub Website Page
https://ok2bme.ca/resources/kids-teens/what-does-lgbtq-mean/
Our Display in Lower School:
Pride is widely celebrated in the month of June around the world.
June was chosen after the Stonewall Riots took place in June 1969 following a police raid on the Stonewall Inn in New York on 28 June 1969.
This sparked a series of protests for the rights of LGBTQ+ people, including for there to be establishments where gay men and lesbians could be open about their sexuality without fear.
During Pride month there are usually many events to celebrate the LGTBQ+ community, but also to learn, discuss and campaign around a range of issues, help to raise awareness and promote equality.
Particularly with the Covid-19 pandemic, many events have been pushed back to later months, with some scheduled for August or September instead.
https://ok2bme.ca/resources/kids-teens/what-does-lgbtq-mean/
We are excited to announce that The Dave Storey Trio will be performing for some of our students (years 7 and 8 and a few ‘invited’) in school on Friday 25th June.
Some of you may recognise him, as Dave is one of the Drum tutors that comes in weekly. This time he will be coming in to perform his jazz music to us….what a treat!
#EGSmusicdept
https://www.davestorey.org/about
from Mrs Rudolph, Library Manager;
A book that all pupils / anyone should read. A fantastic reminder that we are ALL capable of achieving great things.
This book encourages everyone to ‘harness the good in themselves and in the world around them, using that fire of positivity to create change in their lives’. Remembering that even in difficult times we can still move forwards.
The Hon. Stuart Lawrence
