INTERNATIONAL WEEK OF LANGUAGES AND BLACK HISTORY MONTH
S P EC IA L EVEN TS
Black History Month In October, the College celebrated Black History Month. Following feedback from the previous year, pupils took more of a leading role in shaping the plans for the week. They were keen for the activities to be more focused on their lived experiences rather than historical figures and events. As well as acknowledging it for the whole month, we made celebrating Black History one of our Themes of the Week. The Afro-Caribbean Society (ACS) and some of their Year 13 colleagues had the opportunity to put together the plan for the week and they did a fantastic job. The main entrance was decorated in celebration of black culture and the plans for the week were set. A virtual assembly was led by Dunstonian, Andrew Osayemi, who left a very successful career in investment banking to set up a TV production company. He produced the comedy show Meet the Adebanjos, which was loosely based on his life as a British child growing up in London with African parents. He encouraged pupils to be a part of the change they want to see, and make a contribution. We were delighted that he was also able to visit later in the week to deliver live, socially distanced assemblies to individual year groups. He shared his life experiences and challenged pupils not to give up on their hopes and dreams when confronted with the word ‘no’. We are sure the pupils will remember the phrase, ‘Don’t dwell on no, focus on earning your yes’ long after they leave the College. Another highlight was the ‘Celebrating Diversity at St Dunstan’s’ video that the ACS produced for viewing in form time, in which the pupils spoke passionately about their pride in being part of such a diverse community. A recurring message that came across was the pupils’ desire for this celebration of not just black history, but the richness and diversity of all cultures to be something that we continue to do right through the year. Who could disagree with them!
The CHRONICLE 2021
119
