2020-2021 LGGS Chronicle

1 0 3 r d e d itio n

Meet the Team(s) Hello, we are the 20202021 Chronicle Team!

Eleanor Halhead

Grace Moran

Sarah Whyte

Grace Barnsley

Arwen Burgess

Ayisha Bawla

The Chronicle is a bit different this year. Unfortunately, we have not been able to include all of the exciting events like PAF and trips abroad that usually make up a year at LGGS. However, this year’s Chronicle is a celebration of all the personal achievements from charity walks to House competitions on Teams. LGGS has shown that even though we were physically apart, we could still come together to support each other.

We hope you will enjoy our attempt at the 103rd edition of the LGGS Chronicle!

Lauren Usher

Eva Canovan

Emily Benny

Kate Armer Daisy Hodges Alice Bertrand Anna Bousfield Matilda Bulman Freya Kitchin Arunima Panikkar Esme Parker Rosa Piacentini-Kemp Alice White

It all began in March when we were informed that we must book a Covid-19 test within school before our return. The school took over the gym with staff and parents trained and ready to give every student in school 3 tests so that school could reopen. Our amazing school worked really hard for hours to prepare rooms, booking systems and to safely marshall students, making sure no one was left out.

Once this had taken place we were then trusted to do the lateral flow tests at home.

Gym tests

Charity £12,000 was raised Another one of our remarkable students, Bess Eagles and her family, undertook a tough cycling challenge during the height of lockdown on the 11th May 2020. They were raising money for a new van for Morecambe Food Bank.

They cycled on exercise bikes for 20 hours, covering 400 miles! This is the distance equivalent of circumnavigating the entirety of the Irish Sea.

Foodbank During the week commencing the 9th of November 2020, Amal Shaji in Year 12, organised a food bank collection from the Sixth Form. The outcome of this collection was amazing, with Year 12 and 13 alone donating the equivalent of two cars full to the roof of food for The Olive Branch, based in Lancaster. Lancaster Olive Branch from April-Sept, handed out 585 food parcels per month, which totals to 3,510 within this time. This fed on average 239 adults and children! There were 20,000 emergency food supplies given out during lockdown in Lancaster.

Ayisha Bawla writes .....

Many of us during 2020 have become aware of the anti-black racism, Islamophobia, antiSemitism, xenophobia, homophobia and prejudice that sadly plagues this world; for many this is and has been an everyday existence but for others, through a series of events and incidents, it will be a first shocking exposure to this racism and discrimination. Fortunately for some, the colour of their skin, religion, or gender has meant that they have never been exposed to this.

In 2013, three female Black organisers — Alicia Garza, Patrisse Cullors, and Opal Tometi — created the Blackcentred political will and movement building project called #BlackLivesMatter in response to the murder of an innocent Black teenager, Trayvon Martin. BLM is now an international movement fighting for freedom, liberation and justice for Black people; it is working for a world where Black lives are no longer systematically targeted for demise. Since its launch, it has grown to encompass wider social inequality issues faced by black women, black people with disabilities, and the black LGBTQ+ community.

The Black Lives Matter movement in Britain is here to lift all black lives irrespective of religion, sexuality or gender. Here at LGGS we must stand in solidarity against all forms of discrimination. Members of the LGGS community come in all shades as we do in shapes and sizes, and no one should be made to feel inferior to others because of this. We are all LGGS students. We are one community. The BLM movement is about righting the wrongs of racial discrimination as well as social and criminal injustices, but it will take effort from all of us to make this happen. We must all stand together and be clear there is no room for racists or racism in Britain or our small world upon the hill. We must stand together in solidarity and demand equal rights, racial equality, social and criminal justice and, through determination, eradicate racism and all forms of discrimination that scar and divide humanity.

Britain, and what it is to be British, has evolved and developed from what it once was a long a time ago, from being an only white populated kingdom to one filled with all different types of beautiful and diverse cultures.

We need to recognise this by coming together, by uniting to amplify our voices that we echo as one, spreading across the nation, to speak out and stand together in solidarity. Silence is not an option. We all need to speak out if we want to eradicate racism from the society we are growing up in. Those who are discriminated against, who are the categorised 'minorities', cannot do it alone. Black, brown, Jewish, Muslim, gay, non-binary people cannot do it without the solidarity and power of all of us to stand right alongside, to shout out against racism and all forms of discrimination. If you are someone who has never had to experience racism or discrimination, acknowledging your privilege like this may be uncomfortable, but it is important. Sit with that discomfort and think about what it means. You need to take responsibility for educating yourself and having difficult conversations about racism.

Our small world upon the hill is part of a much bigger world, a world sadly filled with injustice, hate and discrimination. But together we can make a change! Through our empathy and humanity, we can make this world a better and just place; a place without discrimination, racism, or hate.

We must educate ourselves in every way we can to get a world full of love, peace, and equality. So do not be silent and speak out. It starts with your voice. It starts with you and with me.

Christmas Jumper Day 2020

The Carol Service The 17th December the LGGS Carol Service was a bit different from previous years – instead of the whole school going to the priory, it was only the performers who went. The festive performances were recorded and then edited into a Christmassy video, ready for everyone to watch from the comfort of their own homes.

Creative Writing Challenge Over the third lockdown, the Chronicle team launched a creative writing competition with the theme of lockdown. We got so many amazing entries, and had so much fun reading them all. Here is the winning poem.

First place: Harnoor Kaur, Lublin KS3 MY DIARY Dear Diary, Lockdown has been interesting, to say the least.

I missed a welcome and a farewell Or at least the complementary treats I missed the new buzz of high-school I was worried I would have been flattened I was excited and anxious about this, But I shouldn’t have been, none of it happened.

Or at least this was what I first thought I have realised now that I was wrong Sure, I couldn’t do as much last year But I’ve never become this independent and strong.

‘We are apart but not alone’ Whoever said this is very wise, I have made new friends who are with me online and off So there is something from 2020 not to despise.

I guess all I am trying to say is That no one ever expected what came last year But nature always finds its way out So my dear diary, don’t fear.

Yours sincerely Harnoor Xxx

Lockdown Timeline 23rd March – Boris Johnson announced first UK lockdown.

23rd March - Over lockdown, Joe Wicks started one of many ‘PE with Joe’ YouTube videos to help children stay active.

26th March - The first ‘Clap for the NHS’ began at 8pm on Thursday night. This ‘routine celebration’ saw many people standing outside their homes at 8pm every Thursday to clap for the NHS workers that were risking their lives every day in the hospital to help those who were suffering with Covid-19. This celebration lasted 10 weeks ending on May 28th.

28th March – Instagram's latest challenge ‘Run 5, Tag 5, Donate 5’ began. This saw volunteers from all over the country participating in this 5km running challenge which helped raise over £2 million for the NHS and was the fastest spread challenge since the ice-bucket challenge in 2014.

5th April – The Queen broadcasted a message about coronavirus thanking the people for following the government rules and paid tribute to the key workers for their efforts. In her speech she said that “We will be with our friends again, we will be with our families again, we will meet again”.

6th April – Captain Tom Moore achieved his goal of doing 100 laps of his garden by his 100th birthday. The War Veteran raised over £30 million over the course of 24 days. Tom was later knighted by the Queen in July at age 100.

8th May - VE day marks 75 years since the guns fell silent at the end of the war in Europe. Millions of people lined the streets to celebrate peace and mourn their loved ones. The Royal British Legion asked citizens to reflect in a moment of silence at 11am to remember those who risked their lives in World War 2.

28th May - NHS Test and Trace officially launches across England.

26th June - Tony Hudgell raised £1 million for the NHS. The 5-year-old walked a grand total of 10km on two prosthetic legs. This was an incredible achievement for Tony and the applause at the end was very well deserved!

4th July – Lockdown restrictions eased across England.

24th July – Face coverings become mandatory in shops across England.

3rd August – The Government’s Eat Out to Help Out scheme launches with restaurants, pubs and cafes offering half-price means to diners.

24th August – Prime Minister issues plea to parents to send children back to school once they reopen.

12th October – Prime Minister launches a three-tier system of local alert levels for England.

4th January 2021 – Third national lockdown announced.

8th March 2021 – Lockdown restrictions eased for the third time.

23rd March 2021 – A day of reflection one year after the UK went into the first lockdown to honour those who lost their lives to Covid.

21st June 2021 – England fully coming out of lockdown delayed for another four weeks until the 19th of July at the very latest.

Teacher Anagrams (These anagrams don’t include ‘Mr’ ‘Mrs’ or ‘Miss’.)

1.Len Laws

3.Mil Wails 2.Elton Sing

4.Splasher

6.Chino Hunts 5.Genre

7.Chad Norris

9.Hairy Sneer

8.Berky Lime 10. Wash

12. Ink posh 11. Dramas Rap 14. Born Fact 1. Mr. Swannell 2. Mrs. Singleton 3. Williams 4.Ms. Sharples 5. Mr. Green 6.Mrs. Hutchinson 7. Mrs. Richardson 8. Mr. Kimberley 9. Mr. Yearnshire 10. Mrs. Shaw 11. Mrs. Ram-Prasad 12. Mrs. Hopkins 13. Mrs. Cahalin 14.Mrs. Bancroft

13. Al China

Fundraising with Josna What made you want to help the Humanitarian Crisis in Yemen?

I actually saw a photo of a malnourished child and I felt deeply saddened. I wanted to use my privilege to help those in need. The first lockdown gave me the opportunity to join with others and cycle as a community for Yemen. I loved the fact that everyone could join in and we could all make a great effort.

Do you think more still needs to be done to help the people in Yemen and, if so, how can people help?

The crisis in Yemen is still ongoing. Many families and children are suffering tremendously. Recently, children have been targeted and have sadly passed away. It is important to stay educated and spread that knowledge to others. Donating money has enormous impacts as charities can provide sanitation packs and books for children.

Have you got any plans for any future fundraisers?

I love fundraisers as they allow people to join in unity and overcome a challenge. At the moment I am doing a fundraiser for my youth group who have been struggling with funds during Covid. I hope in the future to still fundraise and work together with others!

Do you think schools have a responsibility to educate people on international crises?

I believe we all should acknowledge global issues and educate ourselves about issues.

However, I also think schools can give information and statistics in lessons such as citizenship on World problems. This will allow students to have a better understanding of what to do, but also how fortunate we are.

- Josna George

More fundraising What cause were you raising money for/ why did you choose this specific cause?

During Corona virus, we took part in a fundraiser in which, during the six weeks of Lent 2021, people cycled, ran, and walked the equivalent distance of Preston to Jerusalem – 5,255km – so that we could (virtually) arrive in time for the events of the Easter Tridium.

We were raisings funds for Metanoia Project, which is a charity organisation in Preston which aims to bring out the best in people as well as help people build their faith. We are young leaders, and therefore volunteer with the Metanoia Project, for example, at youth groups and the homeless shelter.

We chose this charity as the Metanoia Project had plans in expanding their organisation, by getting more volunteers and bringing this organisation to other people, not necessarily just in Preston. We have been with Metanoia since the age of around 9 so they have definitely helped to shape us into who we are now, so it felt good to give something back.

Jeny John, Year 13

Have you got any future fundraisers that you are thinking of doing?

Every year we tend to have an annual fundraiser to keep the Metanoia Project going. Previously, we have done Indian nights, quiz nights, car washes and bake sales to raise money. We hope to do more of these in the future as, not only does it keep the charity going, but it also brings us together as a community.

Emily Benny, Year 13

How do you think it is best for people to get involved in fundraisers and charity events?

There are many different types of fundraisers, which use a variety of talents. The metanoia project has allowed us to raise money as well as increasing our fitness. The best way to get involved is to get to know your community by joining groups online or in real life and get to know what goes on in your area. Fundraising is a great way to understand the circumstances of others and provide help to others.

Josna George, Year 13

What uniform are you?

Pick stationary a) A planner b) Pastel highlighters c) Fine liners d) A ruler

Pick a classroom a) Room 29 b) The Library c) The Drama Studio d) The Gym

Pick a canteen food a) Panini b) Hash browns c) Radnor fizz d) Chocolate cookie

Pick a house a) Lublin b) Rendsburg c) Aalborg d) Perpignan

Pick a school event A) Children in Need B) PAF C) Sports day D) World Book Day

What uniform are you?

The Answers.

If you got mostly As you are a tie!

You are very academic and you love the classic things in life. You have a lot of school spirit and always get involved If you got mostly Bs you are a skirt!

You love making aesthetic revision notes and your handwriting is impeccable. You probably love musical theatre and TikTok. If you got mostly Cs you are a school shirt!

You love YA novels and doing practical lessons in science are the highlight of the term. You know your friends timetable better than they do, and your revision schedule would make a grown man cry.

If you got mostly Ds you are a jumper!

You are very sporty and love being outside in the sun. You love animals, hate sitting still and are a member of fifty clubs.

book reviews

ELIZA ROSE By Lucy Worsley

‘Can a girl choose her own destiny in a world ruled by men?’ This easyread historical fiction is an exciting glimpse behind the scenes of the Tudor court. The protagonist is a lovable, head-strong girl who finds that fate has brought her to the treacherous but thrilling courts of Henry the Eighth. This book is perfect for one of those days where you want to escape the real world and imagine what life was like hundreds of years ago…

MOXIE By Jennifer Mathieu This empowering book about feminism is a must read! As high school student, Vivian Carter decides that she is fed up with all the sexism that happens around her every day, she decides to distribute a feminist zine around school and students begin to respond. This book highlights the fact that sexual harassment is unacceptable, and girls should not have to put up with it. Moxie is an amazing read that inspires girls to stand up against injustices. Catch the movie on Netflix now.

AND THEN THERE WERE NONE By Agatha Christie This classic murder mystery will have you guessing who did it until the very end! Set on a desolate island, ten strangers are mysteriously invited to the only house on the island by Mr Owen. At dinner, a recording plays accusing each person of a murder. The clock starts to tick as one by one the guests start to die. From the chilling nursery rhyme to the isolated location, this mystery promises to be filled with mind blowing plot twists and secretive characters. A must read for murder mystery lovers!

10 MINUTES 38 SECONDS IN THIS STRANGE WORLD By Elif Shafak This story follows the memories Tequila Leila recalls after her death, remembering the encounters of misogyny and religious hypocrisy she had to face. Elif Shafak is a feminist and campaigner and has shone a light upon the vulnerable and marginalised people in Turkey. The writing in the book itself is a masterpiece – the language, descriptions and story structure is perfect. The characters in this book are wonderful and you are guaranteed to fall in love with each one of them.

Inspirational Women Mary Seacole (1805-1881) Mary Seacole was born in Jamaica more than 200 years ago. In 1850, she nursed victims of the Kingston cholera epidemic. She then travelled to Panama in 1851 only to find that her skills were needed once again because the town of Cruces was suffering its own outbreak of the disease. Mary travelled to England and approached the British War Office, asking to be sent as an army nurse to the Crimea where she had heard there were poor medical facilities for wounded soldiers. She was refused and so decided that she would fund her own trip to Crimea where she established the British Hotel. Mary died in London in 1881. She was then lost to history for around 100 years until nurses from the Caribbean visited her grave in Northwest London, where the local MP promised to raise money for a statue for Mary. In 2004, Mary was voted the Greatest Black Briton.

Jane Austen (1775-1817) The British writer wrote many memorable books, including the classic romance novel Pride and Prejudice, which explored the social and economic status of women in her time. Her female characters were never afraid to speak their minds and she used humour to convey her message to the reader. Many of her books were published but did not gain recognition straight away. It was only after her death in 1817 that her books began to gain popularity. Austen did not let anyone prevent her from writing and she inspired many other women to take up their passion and become authors.

Emmeline Pankhurst (1858 - 1928) Pankhurst was the leader of the well-known movement called the Suffrage in 1903. She recruited many women, known as the Suffragettes, and inspired them to campaign for women’s rights and, most importantly, the right for women to vote.

Amanda Gorman (1998—) Amanda S. C. Gorman is an American poet and activist. Her work focuses on issues of oppression, feminism, race, and marginalisation, as well as the African diaspora. Gorman was the first person to be named National Youth Poet Laureate and the youngest U.S. inaugural poet when she read her poem ‘The Hill We Climb’.

Katherine Johnson (1918-2020) Katherine Johnson, one of the three black students chosen to integrate West Virginia’s graduate schools, graduated with highest honours in 1937 and took a job teaching at a black public school in Virginia. She began work at Langley in the summer of 1953 and after just two weeks into her tenure in the office, Dorothy Vaughan assigned her to a project in the Manoeuvre Loads Branch of the Flight Research Division. She spent the next four years analysing data from flight tests and worked on the investigation of a plane crash caused by wake turbulence. In 1962, as NASA prepared for the orbital mission of John Glenn, Johnson was called upon to do the work that she would become most known for. As a part of the pre-flight checklist, Glenn asked engineers to “get the girl” (Johnson) to run the same numbers through the same equations by hand on her desktop mechanical calculating machine. “If she says they’re good,’” Katherine Johnson remembers the astronaut saying, “then I’m ready to go.” Glenn’s flight was a success and marked a turning point in the competition between the United States and the Soviet Union in space.

Inspirational Women Gertrude Ederle (1905-2003) The 19-year-old Olympic champion, Gertrude Ederle, was the first woman to swim across the English Channel. Despite the warnings about how dangerous and cold it would be, Ederle did not want to give up. She swam the channel two hours faster than anyone had done before.

Rosa Parks (1913 - 2005) In December 1955, Parks refused to give up her bus seat to a white passenger. At the time in the US, segregation meant that black and white citizens were kept separate and white people were deemed as superior. However, Parks did not move and as word of her defiance got out, many black people decided to boycott the buses. Parks’ boldness was an important step towards making the lives of black and white people equal in the US.

Coco Chanel (1883-1971) The fashion designer, Coco Chanel, changed the way women dressed in the early 1900s and her ideas have paved the way for how we dress today. Chanel decided to make casual and sports clothing which was very different than the restrictive corsets which dominated the fashion scene in the early 19th century. Chanel even included trousers in one of her collections, an item of clothing only worn by men before this!

Marie Curie (1867 - 1934) Curie was born in Poland and moved to France to study science at university. She discovered two new elements: Polonium and Radium, which she worked out were both radioactive. Curie, in fact, was the first person to coin the term radioactive. As she continued to experiment with these elements, she discovered that radium was a wonder element, meaning it could be used to cure cancer. Curie won two Nobel prizes, 1903 and 1911, and remains the only woman to have won the prize twice.

Guess Who 1.Who is this footie star?

3. Who’s this playing in the grass?

5. Who’s rocking the mullet?

2. Throwing a tantrum is Ms…?

4. Who broke the blender?

6. Chilling at the beach is …?

Wellbeing Challenge: Lily Bayley, Aalborg KS3

Fruit and Veg Cake Challenge: Olivia King, Perpignan, KS3

Rainbow Cooking Challenge: Briege Hutchinson, Rendsburg KS5

Rainbow Cooking Challenge:Anna Nicholson, Lublin KS3

Funny Pet Photo Challenge: Faatimah Ali, Aalborg KS3

Fruit and Veg Animal Challenge: Eva Lavendar, Rendsburg KS3

Lockdown Interhouse Competitions

Over the third lockdown (January – March 2021), numerous house challenges were launched via Teams. These were an opportunity for us all to get involved with school life even from home, and to show off our artistic flair!

Nature photo challenge

Lucy Bowler, Aalborg KS3

Miranda Hartley, Aalborg KS3

Zara King, Perpignan KS3 Mae Weldon, Aalborg KS3

Lucy Howard, Perpignan KS3

Emily MacPherson-Littler, Rendsburg KS3

Nature photo challenge

Sally Bennett, Lublin KS3

Evie D’Souza , Aalborg KS5

Catherine Hill, Rendsburg KS3

Aarushi Wuppalapati, Lubin KS5

Nature photo challenge

Daisy Hickman, Lublin KS3

Maisie Jackman, Lublin KS3

Alice Sanderson, Lublin KS4 Ginny Watson, Lublin KS5

Emily Holt, Perpignan KS3 Farwa Ali, Perpignan KS3

Nature photo challenge

A Sarakauskaite, Rendsburg KS3

Hea Westaway, Rendsburg KS3

Iona Mumford, Lublin KS3

Eloise Cook, Aalborg KS5

New Teachers Interview ear 13 Form photos

We wanted to ask some of the new members of staff some questions about their first year at LGGS: Mrs Williams (Maths) Mrs Reade (Chemistry and Physics) How has your first year at LGGS been? ​It has been the strangest year of teaching I have known, but it has been lovely getting to know the staff and students here at LGGS. Everyone has made me feel so welcome and there is such a positive atmosphere here despite the many struggles we have all faced this year.

So, it's been a wonderful fresh start, but also quite stressful at times working around all the covid restrictions.

How to describe my first year at LGGS... one of the oddest in my career! With all the challenges this academic year I have been amazed by the dedication and diligence shown and have really enjoyed getting to know the brilliant students and staff at the school.

Are there any significant differences you have noticed whilst being at LGGS compared to your last school?

My last school was an all-boys school so there are lots of differences, some conforming to the gender stereotypes and some not. The general standards of personal hygiene are certainly better here! LGGS is also smaller than my previous school and so it's much easier to get to know everyone, which is nice.

The main difference I've noticed is the drive and determination of so many of my pupils.

There is such an impressive ethos of trying hard and wanted to improve, I feel very lucky to teach at LGGS. Was there anything you were anticipating before coming to LGGS? I came for my interview in January before Covid had had any impact in the UK and so it's strange to think back to that day and what I was anticipating life at LGGS to be like, compared to where we all are now. One thing I hadn't anticipated was how much I'd appreciate being surrounded by familiar accents again, I grew up in Lancashire but have not lived here since I was 18 to it's certainly good to feel at home again.

I was anticipating finding a love of learning at the school and this was immediately evident. I was also anticipating getting rather lost, which, sadly was rather too evident as I attempted my first break duty route!

What has surprised you the most since starting? ​I'm not sure surprised is the right word, but what has struck me most significantly is how resilient people have been over the last year. Almost every aspect of our lives and work has changed and yet on the whole everyone is still smiling and happy to be here at LGGS. This shows what a strong emphasis there is on wellbeing and looking after each other, both amongst the staff and the students. ear 13 Form photos

I think I have been most surprised by the love of pastel highlighters! They appear in most lessons and I didn't even know that many shades existed!

What’s it been like starting a teaching post at a new school during a pandemic?

Bizarre. Everything about teaching covid-style is bizarre. I was just starting to feel settled at the end of the Autumn term and then we all found ourselves learning from home in January and February and it was like starting a new job all over again. Sometimes it is hard to imagine what LGGS is like in non-covid times, I don't even know what the 'normal' timetable times are or where the school field is!

It has been rather odd, for want of a better word, to start a new post during a pandemic, however I've been amazed at how welcoming everyone has been and how you can still tell a smile from under a mask! I don't know as many of the staff in the main school as I'm sure I would in normal circumstances. In fact, only last week, I was at a playgroup with my baby daughter and chatted to a lovely, friendly lady......only after an hour did we realise we were colleagues and she works in the Maths department! Crazy to have worked at the same school for 8 months and not met!

What has surprised you the most since starting? ​I'm not sure surprised is the right word, but what has struck me most significantly is how resilient people have been over the last year. Almost every aspect of our lives and work has changed and yet on the whole everyone is still smiling and happy to be here at LGGS. This shows what a strong emphasis there is on wellbeing and looking after each other, both amongst the staff and the students.

I think I have been most surprised by the love of pastel highlighters! They appear in most lessons and I didn't even know that many shades existed!

What’s it been like starting a teaching post at a new school during a pandemic?

Bizarre. Everything about teaching covid-style is bizarre. I was just starting to feel settled at the end of the Autumn term and then we all found ourselves learning from home in January and February and it was like starting a new job all over again. Sometimes it is hard to imagine what LGGS is like in non-covid times, I don't even know what the 'normal' timetable times are or where the school field is!

It has been rather odd, for want of a better word, to start a new post during a pandemic, however I've been amazed at how welcoming everyone has been and how you can still tell a smile from under a mask! I don't know as many of the staff in the main school as I'm sure I would in normal circumstances. In fact, only last week, I was at a playgroup with my baby daughter and chatted to a lovely, friendly lady......only after an hour did we realise we were colleagues and she works in the Maths department! Crazy to have worked at the same school for 8 months and not met!

What are you looking forward to for the future of working at LGGS? I'm really looking forward to activities outside the classroom starting up again. I feel like there is a huge part of the school identity which I haven't met yet and it'll be so nice when performances and clubs and trips are allowed again. On a more basic level I'm just looking forward to seeing students faces again without the masks and being able to walk around the classroom to talk to the people who are sat at the back.

As for the future, I'm looking forward to seeing even more progress from my fantastic pupils and guiding my GCSE and A-Level students through to their exams. As restrictions lift more I am very excited about more practical work and a return to the use of Bunsen burners! It's definitely the longest I've gone without using them with classes in over a decade!

What are you looking forward to for the future of working at LGGS? I'm really looking forward to activities outside the classroom starting up again. I feel like there is a huge part of the school identity which I haven't met yet and it'll be so nice when performances and clubs and trips are allowed again. On a more basic level I'm just looking forward to seeing students' faces again without the masks and being able to walk around the classroom to talk to the people who are sat at the back.

As for the future, I'm looking forward to seeing even more progress from my fantastic pupils and guiding my GCSE and A-Level students through to their exams. As restrictions lift more I am very excited about more practical work and a return to the use of Bunsen burners! It's definitely the longest I've gone without using them with classes in over a decade!

Lancaster LitFest by Emma Giffney ear 13 Form photos

I first got involved with Litfest 2021 through my connections with the North West Youth for Eden campaign group. The director, Kyle McKenzie, was making a handful of short films on individual topics all relating to ‘How we Live Now’. The topic I addressed in the short film was youth and the environment, in which I was sent a few general topic questions to think on but was told to be as honest and candid as possible. On the filming day, we started at More Music in Morecambe for a sit-down interview then headed to Torrisholme Barrow for some wide shots. I discussed what it has been like as a student during covid and the disruption it has brought to our lives and how I felt the environment could help us recover from this. It was a very nerve-racking experience, and I was quite anxious about the initial filming, but I found that the more I talked and the further I got into the filming, the more I began to enjoy it. Initially I was apprehensive about the filming as I would consider myself to be quite introverted and camera shy but I’m so glad that I did it. I am so honoured to have been able to be a part of this project and it has been an absolutely amazing experience.

Sports Day Sports Day(s) 2021 was a great way to finish a very different and challenging year! Years 7, 8, 9 and 10 had a staggered sports day on the 7th of July and Year 12 had theirs on the 8th of July. From the 4x100m relay to speed bouncing, there was no shortage of fun activities to do on the day. Although the school couldn’t be together for one big Sports Day (because of Covid) it was nice to have a bit of normality after such a hectic year. With classic events such as the 100m and 200m sprint, 4x100m and 2x50m relays taking place on the field, new events such as the hurdle run, straight sprint, standing jump and timed laps paarlauf were taking place on the AstroTurf. These new events were a great addition to Sports Day and made sure that everyone was doing something on the day, whether that was jumping over a cone as many times as possible in 30 seconds, or jumping over hurdles to win more points for their house.

There was also a cake stall run by Year 8 and 9 students that was raising money for ActionAid and the Gaza Emergency. There was a variety of delicious cupcakes to choose from and the team managed to raise lots of money!

Thank you so much to all the PE teachers and Sports Leaders for arranging such an amazing Sports Day!

Sports Day

Sports Day

Farewell Year 13

Sixth Form Societies At LGGS, Covid-19 has not hindered the array of societies available to students. We interviewed some of the society leaders asking them about their experiences of running their societies in these times.

1) Can you tell us a bit about your society?

Medibook gives everyone the opportunity to take some time for wider reading into topics they are passionate about, based on health. The meeting are for reflecting on skills and lessons learnt from the books and how they can benefit us in our future careers 2) What have you found challenging about running a society during the pandemic?

The main challenge has been communication. The pandemic has made it quite hard to gather together.

3)What have you enjoyed about running a society this year?

The sense of collaboration during a pandemic has been great. It has been so interesting listening to other people's perceptions and reflections 4)And finally, what is the most interesting thing you have discussed in your meetings?

Each individual has very interesting and diverse topics. It's nice to get an insight on a variety of things in one session.

-Josna George and Aditi Gudur

MATHS SOCIETY

DEBATE SOCIETY

1 – Maths society meet every week to solve fun and challenging maths problems together or talk about current applications of maths in the real world. We sometimes watch TED talks or other short lectures on maths-related subjects, or present to each other about interesting maths we have come across.

2 – Running a society during the pandemic is challenging because we have struggled to find enough members to run our society, as we have to meet out of school time online.

3 – The part I enjoy most about running a society is sharing my passion for maths with other interested students in school.

4 – The most interesting thing we have looked at in maths society is the maths behind the Covid-19 pandemic. We watched a couple of videos, including a quite silly one about how all the SARS-CoV-2 particles in the world would fit into a coke can, and discussed our thoughts.

-Rebecca Argall and Natalia Graham

1- We created debate society with the aim of encouraging free speech and discussion as well as generating awareness about worldly issues that are relevant today. Through debating you will be able to develop your argumentative and public speaking skills and learn about different viewpoints, some of which have never been considered before.

2– Due to the pandemic, we have had to host our debates through Microsoft teams and, because of this situation, it has been quite hard to maintain the fluency of each argument and counter argument which is why our debates are hosted in an informal style.

3- I’ve really enjoyed meeting a lot of new people and hearing different points of view and insightful ideas from everyone, as well as having experience in planning and leading the meetings.

4- I really enjoyed the discussion about the media being too negative - it introduced new conversations about human nature and how newspapers get sold that I have never heard before.

- Rachel Mokete, Aaminah Metajee and Grace Moran

LGBT+ SOCIETY 1- The LGBT+ Society is a safe space for students who identify as LGBT+ within school; the society is also open to those who want to support or learn more the LGBT+ community. The society is just generally a chill way for students across all years to come together (through teams this year!) and meet others while not being afraid of hiding who they are.

2- I don’t think anything has been particularly “challenging” – however, that in mind, I do have to say adapting to running the society online due to the pandemic has definitely been interesting, and something everyone has been able to do quite quickly. That’s the only thing that has been a challenge in any way, finding the best way to adapt to run online and accommodating for everyone.

3- What I have enjoyed most about running a society this year is, despite restrictions limiting face-to-face contact, the society has still come together and have that community feel. While the meetings have had to change, that aspect has been present throughout the meetings while meeting as a society virtually. Although having meetings online, the society has still been able to carry on with being able to provide a safe space (even if it has been due to plans not going quite right, but nothing that a Kahoot cannot solve). I’ve particularly found meeting people across all years enjoyable, and being able talk to people I didnt know before, especially during the pandemic. This has been something that others in the society have felt as well, specifically during times where restrictions have been tighter and they might have not have had much contact with others.

4- The most interesting thing we’ve discussed is hard to pick, either LGBT+ representation in the media (from which everyone was able to come away with something new that had LGBT+ representation in), why a vote for Trump was a vote against the LGBT community, or the Gay Olympics. But we’ve also discussed interesting topics such as the importance of Black Pride marches, and other issues – so it’s hard to pick just one!

MEDSOC SOCIETY 1- At MedSoc, we aim to aid aspiring medics through the application process for medicine.

As well as this, we also talk about current medical news or anything interesting in the medical field. The meetings are held once a fortnight and this year we have been running the society online.

2- It was challenging to hold meetings during the pandemic, however together as a team, we were able to manage by recording videos in our spare time.

3- I enjoyed seeing the many enthusiastic individuals in year 12 who were eager take up the opportunity to run a meeting of their own, expressing their own interest in the medical field as well as educating others. I also enjoyed working together with the team to ensure that the society ran efficiently.

4- The most interesting topic we have looked at is coronavirus. The recording of this meeting can be found on Micosoft Streams in the MedSoc channel.

Aarushi Wuppalapati, Charlotte Folkard, Hania Haq, Madhura Sivakumar and Denin Matthew

Sixth Form Fashion After months of taking it easy at home in our pyjamas, loungewear has crept into everyday fashion - baggy clothes are all the rage. Joggers and oversized tops are a favourite, but we're keeping it chic with stylish colour schemes and sleep accessories.

Black remains a classy and timeless choice, but pairing a monochrome outfit with bright shoes makes for a much more exciting look!

Flares are making a comeback - very 70s!

Funky knitwear is giving a nod to the 80s, and homemade face masks with stylish patterns on are a must-have for any outfit!

Denim Denim Denim!

Denim skirts and jeans are all the rage even better if they're mom jeans to keep up with the baggy clothes trend. Pair these with an oversized zip-up hoodie in neutral colour for a perfect outfit.

Trainers are the shoe choice in 2021 Nike Air Forces or Jordans are an essential!

What kind of person are YOU? 1.How would you describe yourself? a) I am outgoing, confident, energetic b) I am friendly, trustworthy and likeable c) I work well with other people; I can adapt to any situation and learn things very quickly d) I am independant and often find myself happiest when doing things alone

7. If you won a million pounds, how would you spend it a) Buy a new phone, LOTS of clothes, buy a huge house b) Give it all to charity c) I'd like it to save it so one day I can travel the world 7. d) Would keep it in a bank and save it. Money changes people and I am quite content with my life at the moment

2. What are you like when out with friends? a) I am the life of the party! b) I stick with my friends and go with the flow c) Depends, sometimes I'm energetic and bubbly, other times I go with the flow d) I only go to places that I'm happiest at and have been to many times

8. What role do you play in your friendship group? a) Always there to lift everyone's spirit b) The organiser and adviser c) The floater d) The encyclopedia

3. Are you competetive? a) Yes! I like to be the best b) To me it's about the taking part rather than the winning c) I can be really competitive when I want to be d) Not really, I like taking part and don't really care if I end up losing

4. How would you describe your friendship group? a) My friendship group is big and I like to surround myself with new people b) I have a smaller group of friends that I can always rely on c) I'm included in many different friendship groups. I can be friends with anybody! d)I have a couple close friends and feel very comfortable with them 5. What do you do in your spare time? a) Go out to town with my friends every chance I can b) I love to bake and watch films in my spare time c) I get involved with a lot of sports activities in my spare time d) I love to read and go on walks in my free time

6. What's one thing you couldn't live without? a) My laptop and phone b) My toothbrush, music c) My friends d) My bed and all my books

9. What animal best fits your personality? a) Bear (powerful, direst, outgoing) b) Dolphin (smart, friendly, curious) c) Beaver (energetic, playful, adaptive) d) Cheetah (self-sufficient, determined, insightful) 10. What subjects do you enjoy the most? a) P.E., geography b) Biology, RS c) History, Spanish d) Art, Maths

11. What genre of music do you like and listen to the most? a) Rap and Hip Hop b) Indie music c) Pop music d) Classical music 12. What's your favourite drink? a) Red bull/ Coca Cola b) Apple juice c) Anything fizzy d) Smoothies Mostly a): outgoing, enthusiastic, optimistic and lively Mostly b): even-tempered, accomodating, patient, tactful and kind Mostly c): strong-willed, flexible, loyal and adaptable Mostly d): analytical, reserved, systemical and precise

103rd edition