26 April 2019
#WeStandTogether #NoBystanders #ChooseLove #Moreincommon #YoungPeopleCan
We recently celebrated our very first #WeStandTogether Week during the last week of Spring Term, as a way to promote our diverse local, national and worldwide communities.
Inviting individuals, organisations and guest speakers to run workshops, learning activities and to provide a fantastic array of educational events and experiences for our students. Each activity was aimed at giving our students the opportunity to learn about what brings us together, think about what drives us apart and discuss the ways we can continue to grow together as a diverse, supportive and empathetic community.
The week began with a brilliant Year 7 inclusivity workshop organised and delivered by Year 10 members of our Gay Straight Alliance Club. This event encouraged students to take part in various scenarios whilst working in small groups to think about answering various questions surrounding inclusivity and equality.
We had the privilege to welcome, Holocaust survivor, Danny Herman, to deliver an incredibly moving and inspiring talk to our Year 9 students. Mr Herman discussed his life and early childhood, recalling family memories and his incredible journey, fleeing Germany to the UK just before the outbreak of WW2.
Year 8 students welcomed Jason Wingard @JmgMedia, the extremely funny and entertaining director of @EatenbyLionsUK to deliver a narrative and storytelling workshop, helping our students to explore a range of diverse themes and ways to create, write and tell their own stories.
The inspiring Megan Marie Griffith @MeganMegaMegMe from @GirlGangMcr provided a thought provoking empowerment workshop. Taking our Year 7 and 8 students through two sessions of powerful learning to uncover techniques to find and use their own 'voice' in a compassionate way.
During the week our amazing 'Young Interpreters Club' held a charity cake sale to raise donations for @HelpRefugees, whilst also encouraging conversation, sharing and laughter during break and lunch times.
We also welcomed Year 6 Primary students to take part in a brilliantly entertaining production run of Macbeth held over two evenings. This event provides an excellent introduction to our school for the newest members of our CHS community, helping to build confidence and new friendships as each student takes to the stage to perform in front of invited parents, carers, family and friends.
Our Year 8 and 10 students enjoyed a fantastic Intergenerational Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) session with the Chorlton Civic Society. Retired Resuscitation Officer Catherine and retired Nurse Jenny proved entertaining guides as they led our students through vital first aid techniques before encouraging them to use and embed their new skills during a role play workshop.
We ended the week with an incredible presentation by the truly inspirational Figen Murray @FigenMurray, mother of Martyn Hett who at 29 years of age was tragically killed in the terrorist attack at the Manchester Arena. Her talk captivated our Year 8 and 10 students with its message of hope, strength and courage, leaving everyone in the room truly inspired by Ms Murray's enormous capacity to forgive.
We have been absolutely blown away by the amazing response, support and feedback from our students, parents/ carers, individuals and organisations to our first ever #WeStandTogether Week, you have all helped to inspire and grow our community.
A huge thank you to everyone who helped to make this such an inspiring series of learning events, we look forward to planning and organising our next #WeStandTogether Week very soon, please do get in touch if you would like to be part of it!
#WeStandTogether #NoBystanders #ChooseLove #Moreincommon #YoungPeopleCan
