It was Languages Day on Friday, at the end of our annual International Week, celebrating the international dimension of St Edward’s. It was very much a day of colour. As well as there being a rich display of flags in the Canopy which revealed the impressive range of nationalities of students at the school, students arrived in colours and costumes representing a country of their choice.
All this week, as well as international-themed lunches in the Canopy, there have been within lessons a variety of language-linked cultural activities, including such as word derivations in English and Religious Studies and, in the Maths Faculty, they have been working in House Groups during Maths and Computer Science lessons to research and produce Infographic presentations based on this year’s Commonwealth Games based in Birmingham. On Thursday there was an RE/MFL Charities assembly for our chosen charity, the British Heart Foundation, focussing on The Tower of Babel and Pentecost and in the course of which prayers were said in both French and Spanish.
The Day of Languages began with a European General Knowledge Quiz, won on this occasion by 10H with 7Ho, 8G, and 9S claiming the top spots in the other Year Groups. The “best-dressed” final took place at the beginning of the day and first prize was awarded to Poppy P-P (Year 7) with Dex M (Year 7) coming second. At breaktime, the Charity Ambassadors sold fresh strawberries and cream, strawberries dipped in chocolate, strawberry cakes and sweets in the Triangle for the British Heart Foundation. In the early afternoon, there was Italian Bingo won by Jack A (Year 9) and a pétanque tournament took place on the Front Lawn. This was won by More with Fisher coming second.
A big feature of the day, and indeed, of the week has been the opportunity for students to sample another language and, as well as lessons of German and Italian delivered by MFL staff, a Year 8 class was treated to some Welsh courtesy of Mr Lewis.
A huge thank you to all who led or participated in the various classes and activities and to the staff in the Languages Faculty for all their efforts in making the week such an enjoyable one.
