In Friday’s assembly pupils presented what they had learnt during Poppy Week. Every year leading up to Remembrance Day, Ghyll Royd School holds Poppy Week to get children thinking about the significance of the events in the First and Second World Wars, and to develop their understanding of the poppy and how we choose to remember our servicemen and women.
Reception made a poppy wreath with their handprints and talked about what they had done in class to remember this special time. They had also made their own miniature wreaths and poppy pictures to show the school.
Forms 1 and 2 got into pairs and made acrostic poems using the word ‘poppies’ in their English lessons, where they had to think of emotive, powerful words which began with the letters of the word. They read out some of their excellent work to the school.
Form 3 reflected on their visit to the Royal Armouries from earlier in the week where they learnt about the use and impact of propaganda posters. They also spoke about Mrs Merkin’s stories from her grandad’s time in the war and how fascinating her stories were. Lucy in Form 3 said that she didn’t want the story to end!
Form 4 produced fantastic mixed media art based around artist Jaqueline Hurley who uses wax crayons and pastel crayons to achieve this eerie yet bold look. The class commented on how emotional the images were, particularly with the dark silhouettes of the soldiers mixed with the brightness of the poppies.
In Form 5, each pupil created their own poem as they continued to learn about slam poetry in English with Mr Nicholson. The class then amalgamated their poems together to create one poem which cleverly featured the different words, feelings and rhythms of each pupil.
To finish, Form 6 had created posters which explained the work of the Royal British Legion, including facts about the Armed Forces and individual servicemen. Several pupils then shared their beautiful war poems with pupils, staff and parents. Later that morning, Form 6 went across to Burley memorial where they had planted new flowers earlier in the week, for a minute silence and to read their poems around the Cenotaph. Joshua in Form 6’s poem ‘One Lost’ can be heard below.
Well done to each and every pupil for their attentiveness in lessons, their enthusiasm to learn and discover more about these events, and for their fantastic and beautiful work produced in honour of those who sacrificed their lives for us almost 100 years ago.
Conveniently situated on the A65 between Ben Rhydding, Ilkley and Burley in Wharfedale, Ghyll Royd School, Pre-School and Nursery is ideally located for families living in or commuting to the surrounding cities, towns and villages of Ben Rhydding, Ilkley, Burley in Wharfedale, Addingham, Menston, Guiseley, Baildon, Bingley, Otley, Leeds, Bradford, Harrogate, Skipton and Keighley.
