Science Enrichment: Page 26

From Ms Ghaffar, Science Enrichment Coordinator; follow us on twitter: Cherwell School Science

@Cherwell_Sci

ENGLISH DEPT NEWS

By Ms Hathaway and the English Dept Team

Creative Writing Club - Shining Summer Sun on Amazing Writing

What a year this has been for the Creative Writing Club. Greatly expanded, CWC has had its best attendance in its 10-year history and the drive continues. With its writers published in a range of new nationally released books (Empowerment, Twisted Tales and Whispers of Winter II), it has been an exciting time. The Creative Writing Club also participated in the Cherwell Reconnects Arts Evening on the 25th of July, with Co-President Shalva Rosenfeld, Benjamin Tomlinson and Sarah Ali each sharing poems or prose from their published works. Read with conviction and sensitivity, it was a remarkable moment in a remarkable year for these young writers. With the next year rapidly approaching, it is time for students to start thinking about coming to join this artistic collective. The Creative Writing Club is very inclusive (see image of the student’s poster of diversity "Everyone's Valid") and is a great place for all ages and ability levels. Everyone is welcome in this supportive environment. Meetings are held 3:15 to 4:15 each Tuesday afternoon in Room 5 on the North side.

All abilities and styles of creative writing are welcome: poetry, short stories, songs, screenplays. You name it; we explore it and write it! We hope to see you there! Mr Strickland

ENGLISH DEPT NEWS

By Ms Hathaway and the English Dept Team

Tuesday 5th July saw the English Department’s very first ‘Shakespeare’s Living Library’: an afternoon which enabled all of Year 7 to demonstrate their knowledge of Shakespeare and to celebrate the various elements of his world. Students chose their favourite aspect of Shakespearean England to research and study further and we invited parents and staff to see what the students have learnt and to ‘borrow’ Year 7 students from the Library to learn more about each topic. The students became experts on different areas of Shakespearean England including the monarchy, Shakespeare’s life, colonialism, attitudes to the supernatural, theatres, Shakespeare’s plays and the expectations of women of the era. All of the classes in Year 7 put in enormous effort that was well worthy of the Bard. Not only did they talk with confidence about a range of contextual knowledge, but there were also sonnet readings and mini quizzes about Shakespeare’s life to top it all off. We’re pretty certain that some of these students could have been on the stage of the Globe or Blackfriars had Shakespeare seen them himself! Of course, the most important element of the afternoon was to allow students the opportunity to present their extensive knowledge in a formal way to anyone and everyone who was willing to listen. Year 7 were truly impressive in their ability to talk about a range of Elizabethan and Jacobean world issues with pride and were enthusiastic and confident in the knowledge that they have built on the subject. They handled their questions from parents and staff like absolute professionals. Thank you, as ever, to everybody who was involved in making the day such an enjoyable experience: to parents and staff that came along to celebrate and to those who also supported by helping make cue cards, practising presentations and generally talking about Shakespeare at home! A massive well done and thank you to all involved - we’re so proud of you. Ms Hathaway and Ms Reeves