Amnesty International Day – 28th May 2021

28th May 2021Mrs S Field
This week’s Form Time Reading has linked to Amnesty International Day today.
The extract is taken from an amazing graphic novel called “When Stars are scattered” by Victoria Jamieson and Omar Mohamed. The latter used his own personal experience to influence the novel.
It is set in a refugee camp called Dadaab in Kenya and tells the true story (with some creative flair in some instances) of Omar and his nonverbal brother Hassan and their lives in the refugee camp.
It is a beautiful story with amazing illustrations – sadly, our scanners only come in black and white so please encourage students to have a look at the book in the library to see the gorgeous colours and artwork.

https://www.booktrust.org.uk/news-and-features/features/2020/july/no-one-chooses-to-be-a-refugee-victoria-jamieson-and-omar-mohamed-on-when-stars-are-scattered/

Omar’s website: https://www.refugeestrong.org/

 

About Amnesty International

Amnesty International UK  work to protect people wherever justice, freedom, truth and dignity are denied.

As a global movement of over ten million people, Amnesty International is the world’s largest grassroots human rights organisation.

They investigate and expose abuses, educate and mobilise the public, and help transform societies to create a safer, more just world. They have received the Nobel Peace Prize for their life-saving work.

Amnesty International was first established in the month of July 1961 in London. Peter Benenson, an English labour lawyer was inspired to establish this organization after learning of two Portuguese students being imprisoned for seven years after “having drunk a toast to liberty.” Together with Eric Baker of the Religious Society of Friends, and numerous other intelligentsia, including academics, writers, and lawyers, they composed an article called “The Forgotten Prisoners” that would see publication in The Observer in May of 1961. This led to an appeal which quickly grew into an organization that would work to change the world and see that everyone would be entitled to a set of basic human rights.

To see their campaigns & Issues: https://www.amnesty.org.uk/issues

 

Twitter: @AmenstyUK

Instagram: amnestyuk

Facebook: @AmenstyUK

#HumanRights

https://www.amnesty.org.uk/education/human-rights-young-people-schools

 

 

Vesak

26th May 2021Mrs S Field

Vesak is one of the most important Buddhist festivals. It is also known as Wesak or Buddha Day.

Vesak is celebrated once a year. The date of Vesak changes each year as it take places at the time of the first full moon of the ancient lunar month of Vesakha, which usually falls in May or early June.

It is a celebration of Buddha’s birthday and, for some Buddhists, marks his enlightenment (when he discovered life’s meaning). Each Buddhist culture has its own traditions for the day, but it is celebrated in lots of different countries, including many across Asia such as: India, Thailand, and North and South Korea.

Many Buddhists will go to their local temple and some might even stay there throughout the day and night of the full moon.

Many will do good deeds, take part in chanting and meditation, reflect on Buddhist teachings, bring offerings to the temple and share food with people. Families may decorate their homes with lanterns, take part in processions and wear special white clothes to mark the occasion. Friends and family may also send cards to each other.

A ceremony called Bathing the Buddha may also be held, when water is poured over the shoulders of the Buddha to remind people to clear their minds of negative thoughts like greed and hatred.

It is also a time to reflect on his teachings and what it means to be Buddhist.

Buddhists do not believe in a single god who created the world and everything in it. In fact, most Buddhists believe in the teachings of a man called Siddhartha Gautama – also known as the Buddha. Siddhartha is believed to have been a prince who was born into a wealthy family in what is now called Nepal in the 5th Century BC.

It’s believed that Siddhartha Gautama realised that wealth and luxury did not guarantee happiness. So he travelled as a homeless holy man to learn more about the world and saw the suffering in the world. It’s believed that after six years of studying and meditation on his travels, he became spiritually aware and reached his goal of finding meaning in life. This is called enlightenment.

At this time, he became the Buddha and for the rest of his life he taught his followers of his experiences.

Buddha is a title, rather than a name, which means the enlightened or awakened one.

6th Form Examination Period & Year 12-13 Progression Week

25th May 2021Mrs S Field

I am writing to outline the examination period for this summer, and the transition programme for Year 12 into Year 13.  Please take careful note of information outlined below.

This information will also be outlined in assembly and on the school website.

 Key dates for your diaries:

Mon 14 June – 18 June Year 12 Mock Exams begin. Year 12s have exam leave during this time and will only be expected to be in school, when they have an exam. Timetable to be shared.

Exams to take place in the Sportshall. ID LANYARDS MUST BE WORN TO ALL EXAMS
Mon 21 June – 25 June Progression week commences for all students.

This is compulsory.
Monday 28 June Year 11 Transition day – Year 12s to stay at home to finalise personal statements.
Wednesday 7 July Year 12 Re-sit exams
Tuesday 13 July Thorpe Park Trip information to be shared shortly.

 

Progression Week: Monday 21 June – Fri 25 June 2021

The Year 12 Progression Week is compulsory for all students unless they have a work experience placement. It is designed to provide support and advice for students beyond Sixth Form, to enable the preparation of University and Apprenticeship applications.  The objective is for all students to have at least two progression routes prepared, and a personal statement completed, so all are able to apply for their chosen pathways early in Year 13.

It is important to note that the Progression Week will include:

  • Monday 21 June: Guest speakers from various universities, UCAS Registration, course application, apprenticeship and finances talks.
  • Tuesday 22 June: A trip to Sussex University (am) and Brighton seafront/pier (pm); students will also be given time to explore Brighton Pier and Seafront.
  • Wednesday 23 June: Work Shadowing/ Peer Mentoring
  • Thursday 24 June: Leadership Treasure Hunt – Central London including Hyde Park, Kensington and surrounding areas. Students will be working their way around London in unsupervised groups.
  • Friday 25 June: Work Shadowing/Peer Mentoring.

 All school based activities will require students to wear school uniform.

For offsite trips, students are to come in appropriate clothing for the day and that they either take a packed lunch, or have money to buy food/drinks during the day.

In order to participate in all the trips, students must return the reply and parental permission online, no later than Friday 4 June 2021.

In addition, for the Brighton trip to run successfully, we are asking for a voluntary contribution of £15.00 to be made through ParentPay no later than Friday 4 June 2021.

I appreciate that this is a busy period for students, as they are rightly focused on their examinations, however, please ensure all returns (Work Shadowing and Peer Mentoring) and permissions are completed to published deadlines.

Please contact me at school if you have any further questions.

Yours sincerely

Ms Y Akaydin – Head of Year 12

 

Progression Week 2021 Overview  

Mon 21 June

 

 

 Progression Talks and Information

 

 Yr12 Assembly 08.30

Students in full uniform

Students leave school approximately 14.30.
Tues 22 June

 

 Sussex Campus visit AM

Brighton Seafront/Pier PM

 Leave at 8.30am from Civic Centre, non-uniform

Non-uniform

Return approximately 5pm
Weds 23 June Work Shadowing/Peer Mentoring

Clothing appropriate for activity

 Peer Mentoring in School 09.00 until 15.00 –

Students in full uniform

Work Shadowing –

Appropriate clothing for place of work
Thurs 24 June Leadership Treasure Hunt Leave school at 9.00 or meet at Hyde Park Band Stand 10.00

Non-uniform

Tube Fare/Oyster Card needed

Return approximately 3.00pm
Fri 25 June Work Shadowing/Peer Mentoring

Clothing appropriate for activity

 

 Peer Mentoring in School 09.00 until 15.00 –

Students in full uniform

Work Shadowing –

Appropriate clothing for place of work

Favourite Book Friday!

23rd May 2021Mrs S Field

Teacher of RE, Mr Khan’s choice is, of course, one to get your minds thinking. The book grapples with the major questions of human existence: birth, death, God, time, relating to others and how to make ourselves get out of bed in the morning!

The Trouble with Being Born By E.M. Cioran

“I love it because it found me and changed my life. It is the reason I have a degree in Philosophy and in Theology as well as the reason I am a teacher of philosophy, religion and ethics. The author shamelessly exposes the reality that none of us asked to be born and then necessarily have to die. He highlights the predicament we are all forced into… and out of.” “There was a time when time did not yet exist. … The rejection of birth is nothing but the nostalgia for this time before time.”

www.enfieldgrammar.org/learning-support/literacy/

 

The Plight of the Bumblebee – Year 12 Geography Lesson

20th May 2021Mrs S Field
Recently, Year 12 begun a unit of work on ecosystems and we started off by looking at the plight of the bumblebees.
They are vital for pollinating lots of the crops that we rely on for food.
Why are bees important? What is happening to bees?
 To find out more, check out the video and the articles below:
Check out this site – everything to help you understand and care for bees!

How Are You?

19th May 2021Mrs S Field

Members of Enfield’s Youth Parliament and the Young Mayor worked on a short film to destigmatize mental health issues and to recognise the differing impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on young people.  They also share five ways to wellbeing.

How are you can be viewed below via the link and was launched as part of Mental Health Awareness Week.

It was led and delivered by the young people of Enfield in partnership with Enfield’s Council’s Corporate Strategy Service and the Educational Psychology Service.

It was launched today by Enfield Council

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C4GSeQvPFww&feature=youtu.be

Favourite Book Friday!

14th May 2021Mrs S Field
Favourite Book Friday!
MFL teacher, Ms Montfort’s book choice claims to keep us intrigued by using all 5 of our senses! Let’s read on…
Perfume: The Story of a Murderer by Patrick Süskind
“It was hard to choose just one favourite book! Süskind takes his readers on an adventure which is not only visual but also olfactory, creating a book in which all five senses are reunited. We see, we hear, we touch, we taste and, most importantly, we smell as we follow Jean Baptiste Grenouille – a craftsman of a new genre, a highly-skilled perfumer–wandering in the streets of Paris in the 18th century. ” “He who rules scent ruled the hearts of men.”
 
 
#EGSliteracydept #lovebooks #keepreading #bookclubs #englishliterature #FavouriteBookFriday

Mental Health Awareness Week 2021: ‘Nature’ – What Can You Do To Connect With Nature?

10th May 2021Mrs S Field

This year the theme for Mental Health Awareness Week is ‘Nature’.

There’s a lot of good research to support the role nature can play in protecting and supporting our mental health.

www.mentalhealth.org.uk/campaigns/mental-health-awareness-week

Click here to download the Thriving With Nature pdf guide

See below for some top tips and to watch the video….

Favourite Book Friday!

7th May 2021Mrs S Field
Teacher of English & Media, Ms Dakin’s choice is Animal Farm; a book that should be read by everyone and is very apt for the world we live in today.
Our Year 7 book club have recently been reading it too…
Animal Farm by George Orwell
“Orwell had an exceptional insight over 70 years ago into the strategies that the Media and governments can use to control people. Animal Farm is more relevant now than it was at the time that it was written. It is a skill to be able to condense decades of complicated history into a novella, as his aim was to ensure that everyone had access to this information. Once you have read it, it makes you question all embedded meta-narratives; every time I read it again, I learn something new which is the sign of a great book.”
“If liberty means anything at all it means the right to tell people what they do not want to hear.”

Aviation Programme for Young People from BAME Backgrounds

6th May 2021Mrs S Field
Fantasy Wings is now open for registration, for young people from Black, Asian and Ethnic Minority backgrounds.
They run an Aviation programme which teaches young people how to become professional pilots and all about the world of Aviation, from Engineering to Aviation Leadership.
It will run on one Saturday a month, beginning this October for 10 months and will be delivered by Airline Pilots, Aviation Professionals and Industry Leaders.
Please visit www.fantasywings.co.uk for more information and to register