Today is Holocaust Memorial Day. It is a time to reflect on and commemorate the suffering and murder inflicted on millions of innocents perpetrated by the Nazis and their allies in World War II.
I hope that you can watch/take part in the UK ceremony at 7pm today. I also hope that you can join the nation to Light the darkness at 8pm.
5. Create a board game on a topic that you’ve learnt in RS…
Image from The Guardian.
e.g. a snakes and ladders game based on Hindu beliefs about life after death, or a journey game (hajj), or key terms where they have to answer a question correctly to move their counters. You’ll have to make the board and questions!
Five wonderful students have kindly agreed to write items about their work for the forthcoming school newsletter. My grateful thanks to each of them.
1.
Our first item is written by two Year 9 students who have worked very hard during lockdown. They’ve consistently produced some exceptionally high quality work in Religious Studies.
This student’s FPQ involved an educational visit to Liverpool (yes, Liverpool!) I am grateful to everyone at the Titanic Hotel who have been so enthusiastically supportive. They have even invited our amazing student for afternoon tea, which is very generous.
There is no telling what the future holds for this modest, thoughtful, and diligent student, with whom it has been a privilege to work during lockdown.
Can you guess which image/description goes with which teacher?
L. Clark
D. Driver
R. Giacopazzi
A. Polak
A. Stoddart
J. Stone
G. Wakenshaw
H. van Teutem
Do the quick quiz if you think you know! A housepoint to anyone who gets all answers correct. Quiz closes: 6 July 2020.I’d choose a Koala, they are small and cuddly and love two main things, sleeping and eating, sounds perfect. Eucalyptus is essential for them and I love that fragrance. They are not bears but marsupials and have a pouch to look after their babies for up to 6 months and there is nothing more wonderful than cuddling and having your children close, the very best of memories.I did an online personality test. I’m an INFJ-A. This hasn’t changed since I first did the test many years ago! INFJs are quite rare, apparently: 1% of everyone. They are symbolised by the mysterious wolf. Here’s a description of the INFJ, which captures me quite well.This caused lots of discussions in my household. They all agreed on an organised animal. So how about a jay bird? These are masters of organisation and forward planning. They can determine the future needs for themselves and others and work to achieve it. They have good self control and empathy skills too.I would have to go with a bee. Strong work ethic – work for the good of the community. Essential for pollination and balance in the ecosystem. Adaptable – they shouldn’t be able to fly because they aren’t aerodynamic but they’ve adapted. The bee is a totem animal for those whose greatest wish is for all living things to co-exist in peace and love.I would have to go with a mouse. Often underestimated and features in a lot of stories where the mouse triumphs against adversity. Also a major part of My Holocaust studies with Maus.The snowy owl: graceful, rare to see in the wild, wise, and free to fly many miles!I had to ask my children what they thought about this one. I say children, the youngest is 27 and the oldest is 37. The five of them all decided on a big dog. It was to do with loyalty, telling long winded “shaggy dog stories”. As in the picture, rescuing them on a number of occasion. And one said “his bark is worse than his bite”. They all agreed I don’t like going on long walks!I’d be the border collie. Enjoys working with lots of different groups, happy to be part of a team, can be loud and as I have been told try and get people to listen and do what I ask them to do. Enjoys being outside.
To receive a prize in this competition would contribute to a maximally competitive university application. The essay titles are very enticing too!
The deadline is 15 July 2020midnight (roughly three weeks from now).
There are two age categories:
Students aged 15 and above
Students aged 14 or younger (on 15 July 2020)
15 year olds and older
You write a 2,000 word essay on a question on one of these subjects:
Philosophy
Politics
Economics
History
Psychology
Theology
Law
The competition website lists the titles. My personal favourite is:
Q3. Can good art make one a better person?
14 year olds and younger
You have a choice of five questions:
Q1. The government funds opera and ballet, but not Call of Duty or Super Mario. Should citizens be forced to subsidise entertainment? And, if so, why some people’s but not others’?
Q2. Who should own your data? The companies with which you agree to share your data, everybody, just you, or nobody?
Q3. How socialist is Sweden?
Q4. Who was the best leader of all time?
Q5. What’s wrong with slavery? (Professor Roger Teichmann, University of Oxford)
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If you decide to take part, we will make sure that your efforts are rewarded with rigorous support—please let me know.
Here is my contribution to our school’s summer playlist being compiled by Ms. van Teutem.
And the Band Played Waltzing Matilda (1971) – The Pogues (Cover version, 1985)
Why I chose this song
The song unfolds a story that is utterly gripping, if you listen to it carefully.
It is an adaption of a patriotic Australian song Waltzing Matilda (1895). But it’s not patriotic. It’s about the real horror of World War I and the disastrous attack by Australian troops on Gallipoli (1915).
Thank Christ there was nobody waiting for me, to grieve, and to mourn, and to pity.
When you think about it, this line is so powerful. The maimed soldier prefers even abject loneliness to the grief and mourning of loved ones.
This haunting song evokes vicarious memories of my great grandfather who fought in that war in the height of the summer. I never met him, but I’ve found out lots about him.
