The first week of May brought with it the return of the English Department whose alliance remained unshakeable despite their weeks in the furthest regions of the galaxy. Manning the Eastbrook Falcon were ‘Leia’ Lötter, ‘Chewbacca’ Maprayil and ‘Rey’ Malherbe flanked by ‘R2D2’ Buckingham and ‘Luke’ Bishop.
The last few weeks had brought with them an unnatural confinement of the body which resulted in a certain desperation to unleash the creative juices with forceful abandon.
It was in this spirit that we embarked upon a week that would be punctuated by a series of activities designed to invigorate the senses and stir the spirit. Academic learning was mixed with a heady cocktail of creative endeavours in order that our students would be empowered to shake free of the “mind forg’d manacles” these strange circumstances had created. Our students drank deep of the cup of adventure and were open and responsive to everything on offer … what follows is just a snapshot of the highlights that we enjoyed.
Harnessing the Primal
Strange times call for a re-evaluation of the self and on Tuesday our students were asked to focus on their qualities and characteristics before turning to the animal kingdom and the myths and legends for inspiration. Who among us has not wondered how we might define ourselves if we were to take on new forms? Beasts have long stirred the imaginations of the poets and writers of past times and we asked our students to imagine what animals they might embody if they were to be cast into a mythical world where imagination was the only limit to possibility. Their answers were to be immortalised in paint and came in all sorts of shapes. S One saw himself as a Lion, one as a turtle, while others imagined more domesticated beasts like dogs albeit touched by the magic of the unicorn … the results were audacious and bold.
Taking the Biscuit
There is nothing quite like the sweet taste of success and for this task our students were invited to learn how to bake a delicious treat in the form of chocolate chip cookies that could allow them to conquer the kitchen before consuming their hard work – an edible victory that could be shared with friends and family! Ms Lötter whose passion for literature is only matched by her flair for baking brought wizardry to the kitchen and the students were delighted and amazed as they watched the most basic ingredients from the store cupboard transform with their careful and dedicated attention to detail into moist chocolate delights, they were amazed by their own abilities!
When Nature Calls
Having explored our own creativity it was time to take heed of the natural world and its wonders which took the form of a journey into a landscape of beauty and tranquillity that we are lucky enough to have just a few short strides from the school. Eastbrookend country park and Chase nature reserve is an unspoilt playground where our feathered friends are king. The students could barely contain their joy at being submerged and surrounded by nothing but the green, lush foliage which framed the lake and its inhabitants. With the sun kissing their faces, we discovered swans nesting, geese, and small fluffy ducklings taking their first tentative paddles into the world. In such a time of loss and devastation we found a sweet escape in our own version of Milton’s sequel to his most famous work; for just as paradise may seem lost, so too can it be regained.
Moving the Goalposts
Testing times call for not only mental vigour but physical temerity. Having been cooped up for so long we encouraged the students to push their bodies as well as their minds. In this manner every day included a portion of sport. Football and badminton were the challenges and our students embraced their athletic side with great sportsmanship. The badminton court set the stage for teachers to take on students desperately attempting to prove that age really is just a number, determination was on the menu as both sides served up a dish of dexterity and concentration that left no one spitting feathers. On the football pitch girls and boys played together, united in competition. The ball brought out a fierce competitive streak that wove new friendships and crowned surprising champions.
Victory in Europe
The V.E day celebrations were a fitting end to the week, allowing us to reflect and ruminate on the perils that we Europeans have been through in the living memory of many of our pupils’ grandparents. The lesson for the day was one that brought home one of the key tenets of our character education curriculum – resilience. We were lucky enough to see the awesome sight of the RAF’s Typhoons fly over the school in formation just after 10am before observing the two minute silence at 11am. We watched the 1981 classic Escape to Victory and discussed the way, now more than ever, an ability to remain determined and strong in the face of adversity is not only admirable but essential to our ability to thrive as a society. We may be isolated but we are never alone, community and cooperation are at the heart of our school and our future.
