[P]upils at Penrith’s Queen Elizabeth Grammar School have celebrated diversity this week in an afternoon of mixed activities.
The aim of the afternoon was for students to pursue a new skill, or have a new experience or challenge. This was certainly the case when Year 7 and 8 pupils were asked to pull a mountain rescue vehicle. Others faced the impossible by creating flying machines or paper superheroes.
The activities were suggested and run by staff and sixth-form volunteers, and included pursuits not covered by the usual curriculum. Sports on offer included croquet, pentangue and Danish longball. Musical students could choose between Djembe drumming and karaoke, whilst artists could make paper Anime models or weave friendship bracelets. An international flavour was provided by South African cooling, beginners’ Spanish and a European quiz. One group visited the Roald Dahl Exhibition at Rheged whilst another enjoyed a walking tour of Penrith’s past.
In total, nearly 30 different activities were offered to students.
Kerry Davies, Citizenship and PSHE Coordinator at QEGS, organised the afternoon. She said: “It was nice to give students a choice of activity and see them having fun. I was especially pleased by how many year 12 students volunteered to run activities and share their enthusiasm for the unusual with younger pupils. Tansey Mak offered a speed challenge for cup stacking and Sam Turnbull and Greg Clement engaged students with djembe drumming amongst lots of sporting opportunities. A special thank you goes to all our senior pupils who contributed to making it a successful afternoon.”
Diversity afternoon was scheduled to coincide with the school’s non-uniform day, which raised over £350 for Help for Heroes.
