In remembrance of HRH Elizabeth II

Dear Parent/Carer

As you will have probably heard, Monday 19^th September will be a national Bank Holiday in respect of the State Funeral for Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II.

The Department for Education announcement to Headteachers and school leaders stated the following:

The official date of the State Funeral is 19 September 2022. This day will be a bank holiday and settings that are normally closed on a bank holiday should close on this day as a mark of respect. This will include schools and colleges.

All schools, sites, and premises of Ivy Education Trust will be completely closed to staff and pupils on this day.

Schools will re-open and continue as normal the following day, Tuesday 20^th September.

We would like to thank the staff in all our schools for their skilled and sensitive handling of the death of the Queen with their pupils. Each school has marked the events of recent days in a manner that has been both compassionate and appropriate for their particular learning community.

Whilst the country mourns the death of our monarch, a family have lost their mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother – our thoughts, sympathies, and condolences are with them.

Kind regards

Katy Quinn

Chief Executive Officer
 

Paul Cornish

Executive Director of Education

African Drumming Workshops with Lyndon at Starcross Primary school  

Lyndon, who is a professional percussionist, ran two full days of workshops in school on Monday the 11th and Thursday 14th July. The Helen Foundation supported workshop, was facilitated by Daisi. The workshops were a fantastic opportunity to learn about the history of percussion and other cultures, listen to new and exotic instruments being performed, as well as the chance to compose and perform their own music. 

The drumming workshops particularly focussed on African drums. The students were introduced to many different types of drums and were told of the evolution of drums. We were also told about the history of drumming rhythms and how in Africa, they play different specific rhythmic performances that represent special events such as weddings and many other cultural ceremonies.   

Lyndon performed some musical pieces on several instruments for the students for them to listen to the various sounds and moods the instruments produced. The students thoroughly enjoyed listening to this musical performances and it really evoked their emotions and imagination. Priya, from year one said: “When Lyndon played the hand pan the music felt like I was in a forest meditating and blossom was falling all around me”.  

The workshops also involved lots of fun interactive activities where the students performed body percussion pieces and used their bodies as instruments. The students also explored all the instruments and had the opportunity to use their creativity to compose and perform their very own rhythmic ensembles in small groups.   

We would like to sincerely thank Lyndon, Daisi and the Helen Foundation for providing our school with this unique and valuable learning experience. All of the students and staff members thoroughly enjoyed the workshops and have taken something special away from them.