Centenary of Remembrance

11th November 2014

Today we marked the Centenary of Remembrance with a special whole school event.  The Tower of London poppy display inspired the staff so much that they decided to focus on this and make sure the key messages were explained to the children.  Poppies were made by each child using different art techniques – paintings, drawings, collage and sewing.  A fabulous ‘wave’ of poppies stretched around the garden area next to the playground and at a special assembly held outside attended by staff, pupils and governors a two minute silence was marked at 11am on 11th November.  

Year 1 pupils talked about why poppies are used as a symbol of remembrance and Year 6 pupils recited the famous ‘Flanders Field’ poem by Dr John MaCrae.  Ben and Ryan  read aloud a version of the poem they had written themselves and the Last Post was sounded to mark the end of the silence.  After this event, some Year 6 children pupils walked up to the Cramlington War memorial to meet a local resident who explained the history of some of the people who had died in the First World War and showed them some of the war graves in the churchyard.

The interest of the pupils and the enthusiasm of the staff was fantastic.   The whole school was totally focused on ‘poppies’ and as well as raising money for the Royal British Legion.  Every class from Nursery to Year 6 made their own poppies in really creative ways.  Displays both in school and outside have been created and everyone in school is very aware of the special significance of this centenary of remembrance.