Ramadan – A very important time for Muslims

12th April 2021Mrs S Field

Ramadan is a very important time in the Islamic calendar, and Muslims all over the world will take part.

This year Ramadan starts on 12th April and lasts until the evening of 12th May.

During the month of Ramadan, Muslims fast – they won’t eat or drink between dawn and sunset.  Fasting is important during Ramadan as it allows Muslims to devote themselves to their faith and come closer to Allah, or God. Fasting is one of the Five Pillars of Islam, which form the basis of how Muslims live their lives. The other pillars are faith, prayer, charity and making the pilgrimage to the holy city of Mecca.

Ramadan is also a time for spiritual reflection, prayer, doing good deeds and spending time with family and friends. Normally, people will make a special effort to connect with their communities and reach out to people who need help.

It is common to have a meal (known as the suhoor) just before dawn and another (known as the iftar) directly after sunset. At the end of the fast – when the sun has gone down – usually, families and friends will get together for iftar to break their fast. (although during covid restrictions celebrations will have to be via zoom / within bubbles)

Many Muslims also usually go to the mosque to pray, when lockdown restrictions aren’t in place. Some mosques have been holding virtual services online for people to watch together.

Ramadan falls during this month because this is when the holy book that’s followed by Muslims, called the Qur’an, was first revealed to the Prophet Muhammad.

Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic calendar, but the date changes each year. This is because Islam uses the lunar calendar (based on the cycles of the Moon), so it isn’t a fixed date in the Western/solar calendar.

There is a special festival to mark the end of Ramadan when they will feast and celebrate! This is called Eid al-Fitr – the Festival of the Breaking of the Fast. It begins when the first sight of the new moon is seen in the sky. Muslims will not only celebrate the end of fasting, but will also thank Allah for the help and strength that they were given throughout the previous month.

Survey of demand for school holiday adventure camps

11th April 2021Mrs S Field

We are asking our parent / carers and local community to complete the survey from United Adventure Camps (United Education) who would like to ascertain the demand for school holiday adventure camps locally with an aim of holding them on our school site.

Thank you

For more information, please click below:

https://www.united-education.co.uk/united-camps/

Career, Apprenticeship & Mentoring Opportunities for Years 11, 12 & 13

8th April 2021Mrs S Field
For students in years 12 & 13; – Deutsche Bank are offering an Apprenticeship Programme – Technology, Data & Innovation 
For students in years 11, 12 & 13 – Urban Synergy are offering E-Mentoring Programmes.

For information about Mentoring Programmes, please click here: Urban Synergy

For more information and guidance regarding careers, please click here: Careers & Guidance

 

Billy Year 8 – ‘A Hair Raising Story!’

6th April 2021Mrs S Field

Year 8 Billy Wells is raising money for Noah’s Ark Hospice by cutting his ‘lockdown’ hair into a mullet and keeping the hairstyle for 2 weeks!                                                                         “I might look weird with my hair…..but it’s worth it for all the donations!”

His hair was cut by his Dad. Billy decided to raise the money for the hospice due to their work with children. Billy wanted to raise awareness and funds for the charity and the range of projects they run.                                                                                                          “Everyone should be able to have fun in their childhood. I couldn’t imagine what it would feel like to have a life-threatening illness.”

Well done, Billy! A wonderful example of empathy and caring for others.

Billy has raised £515 so far – amazing! If you’d like to donate: https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/clare-vincent4
 
#childrenshospice #EGSboysschool #empathy #communitysupport #charityawareness @noahsarkhospice

 

Edible Drugs – Letter from Enfield Safer Schools Team (Metropolitan Police)

5th April 2021Mrs S Field

Click the relevant language for the translation of this letter: French   Polish   Greek   Turkish

As a Schools Team we are aware of the concerns raised recently re Edible Drugs and this being promoted on some social media platforms such as Snapchat and Instagram.

Recently we as a borough have become aware of an “Edibles Alert” from Healthy Young People Southwark after thirteen young people in Camden were admitted to hospital after consuming sweets infused with Cannabis oil.

As you may be aware, cannabis can be mixed into cakes (hash brownies), tea, yoghurt or sweets (gummies/lollipops). The amount of cannabis in these products can vary greatly and sometimes other harmful drugs are added too.

The effects of consuming edibles are unpredictable and it can be very easy to accidentally take a larger dose. Edibles take between 1-3 hours to have an effect because food is absorbed into the bloodstream through the liver. Because it takes longer, the user may end up consuming larger amounts of the drug while thinking the drug isn’t working.
Overdosing with Edibles can be a greater risk because of this!

We ask that you monitor food packaging/ wrappers at home looking for wording such as CBD or THC suggesting the items are cannabis oil infused. Please be mindful of the medical needs should your child present with such symptoms, or if it becomes apparent they have consumed a drug laced substance.

If you are made aware of any social media accounts advertising these items, we ask you report this information to the Police, School or Crime Stoppers so work can be done around these accounts due to the dangers Edibles present.

We have attached some examples of what some of the sweet packages look like and also have attached the link to Frank which gives more information and laws surrounding Edibles.

www.talktofrank.com/drug/cannabis

Kind regards,
Haringey safer Schools Team

 

PlayStation F.C. Schools’ Cup Freestyle Competition Is Here!

5th April 2021Mrs S Field
PlayStation F.C. Schools’ Cup is running their annual freestyle competition, where pro freestylers Jack Downer and Lia Lewis are on the hunt for the nation’s next generation of skilful footballers.
And a chance to win a Digital PlayStation 5!

All you need to do is:

1. Go to TikTok channels to see their Freestyle videos:

Lia’s –  https://www.tiktok.com/@lia.lewis?lang=en

2. Duet with Jack or Lia’s video

3. Send your duet and completed consent form to: playstationschools@eartotheground.org

and to Mr Peek in our Sports Department: [email protected]

4. Make sure you and your parent/carer have checked the T&Cs and got the consent form from pssc.info/consent

The competition runs until the 13th April, when Jack and Lia will pack their two finalists.

This Week’s Favourite Book Friday…….

2nd April 2021Mrs S Field

Weaveworld is a 1987 dark fantasy novel by Clive Barker. It is about a magical world that is hidden inside a tapestry, known as the Fugue, to safeguard it from both inquisitive humans and hostile supernatural foes.

The Fugue, a magical land inhabited by descendants of supernatural beings who once shared the earth with humans. The Fugue has been woven into a carpet for protection against those who would destroy it; the death of its guardian occasions a battle between good and particularly repulsive evil forces for control of the Fugue. Weaveworld is rich with memorable characters and exciting situations.