This is a message that all should hear and remember. The great wars of the 20th century were fought for freedom and against oppression, but never forget those wars were fought by innocent men and women on all sides who did not necessarily understand or question why they were going to war. Today across our school we held services of remembrance.
In primary...
Displaying exemplary deportment and reverence the children listened respectfully to the Year 6 performance of Danny Boy on the steps of school today. Ralph Gawthorpe in 5B performed an excellent rendition of the Last Post and moments of silent reflection were observed by all year groups during assembly and in class. Thank you to everyone who contributed to the Poppy Appeal in primary from which we raised 5,183 RMB. The money raised will go to help those injured in war and their families.
In secondary...
We had representatives from the student council and teaching staff read passages written during the First World War to remember the brave and give a small taste of the horror that people had to endure.
We represent the future. People fought two great wars because they had too. Now we realise that preventing war and building a bond between humans of all nationalities is the best way to avoid unnecessary bloodshed and conflict.
As we hear the stories of horror whether it be in the trenches of World War I, in the gas chambers or the jungles of World War II, or the deserts and mountains of Kuwait, Iraq and Afghanistan in more recent years, we salute the bravery of those that fought but learn our lessons and make sure we now question ‘why are we still fighting?’
After the trumpet sounded the last post we held a 2 minute silence. In those quiet moments of reflection students thought of those on all sides who fought bravely, and were thankful to them for having given their lives so that we have the freedom to stand in a small corner of China united as an international group of boys, girls, women and men. We live in a world where sadly there is still war, but the greatest possible act of remembrance is that we get along and avoid conflict where at all possible.