The Remembrance project creates meaningful connection to Remembrance Day. From 1 day to a full week, the project provides a welcoming space for pupils to come and reflect on the theme of remembrance both personal and corporately. Using self guided activities which engage pupils and enable them to learn and connect with their feelings and understanding of the importance of remembrance, forgiveness and reconciliation.
The LED tree provided a place to remember loved ones who had died. A mirrors activity with a recorded narration encouraged participants to think about their place as a unique individual in the world, amazingly and wonderfully made, and the challenge, ‘how would you like to be remembered?’ Several people found this to be very moving and we heard comments like: “I’d never seen myself like that before.”
The Remembrance project at Stanway School was located in the Soul Space in the corner of the LRC (library). There were some really moving moments where students shared their experiences and feelings about siblings, parents and grandparents who have died. By the end of the week a beautiful display of poppies and leaves attached to ribbons had been created. I was really pleased when we were asked by the LRC staff to leave the project hanging up so over the next few weeks people can continue to remember and add poppies and leaves to the ribbons.
One of my most moving conversations was with a boy who asked if he could remember his brother and two sisters. Each one had died before being born, one only two weeks before birth. He wrote each of their names on a different coloured ribbon and we worked out a way to tie them together into the net; the siblings he never knew, but was proud to remember.
There were many moments during the Remembrance Project which had a lasting impression, but one which stood out was a student who came to say that although they didn’t have anyone they could think of to write on a ribbon, they wanted to say thank you for doing something new in the school which was bringing students together. For me, that shows the impact of what we can do in school communities.
