News Blog
Posted on: 12/11/2018
Remembrance and the commemoration of the centenary of the Armistice 2018
Remembrance of those who have sacrificed their lives fighting for our country and our freedom is always a special time in Fitzalan, but in this centenary year it was all the more poignant as we remembered the day the guns fell silent at the end of the First World War.
Throughout the week leading up to Armistice Day, all the year groups in Key Stage 3 and 4 had a remembrance assembly delivered by the history department. Whilst the Armistice centenary was the focus of this assembly, we also took time to consider that remembrance is for all those who have died in conflict since the First World War and right up to the present day.
Throughout the week poppies were sold so that pupils could donate to the Royal British Legion and wear a poppy as a symbol of remembrance.
At lunchtimes, pupils from Year 7 to Year 13 were invited to visit the history department to decorate a pebble for remembrance. There was a wonderful response from pupils and they decorated some really beautiful pebbles. It is hoped that these pebbles will be displayed to remind us of the sacrifice so many have made for our freedom.
On Friday 9th November our commemorations culminated with our usual silence. The whole school fell silent when the bell rang at 11am and our pupils stood respectfully for two minutes. At this time, we also held our annual ‘wreath-laying ceremony’. A group of over 100 pupils gathered in Upper School Hall where the poppy wreaths were laid, pupils gave readings and of course we observed the two-minute silence. At the conclusion of this time, each pupil had one of the decorated pebbles to place alongside the wreaths as their own individual act of remembrance. The wreath was later placed under our remembrance tree at the front of school. It was good to include our CCF cadets, dressed in their uniforms, in the proceedings this year; they marched in to the hall, laid the wreaths and read a Navy poem about remembrance.
The events as always were very thoughtful, reflective and respectful, with those who have sacrificed so much for us being honoured.
