University of Liverpool

BIOLOGY FIELD TRIP

A Level Biologists in Year 13 travelled to Grasmere to carry out ecological surveys.

This involved an investigation into changing diversity of flora in woodland at White Moss Common and a second investigation into the differences in invertebrates living in contrasting river environments in Tongue Gill. E. Houlihan, Head of Biology

YEAR 7 MIDDLE AGES TIMELINE

Year 7 have been enjoying their first few weeks of lessons in History getting to grips with the Middle Ages and 'The Medieval World, c.480-1485'.

Pupils have been practising their chronology skills creating a timeline of key events from the Middle Ages from the 5th to the 15th Century. Each student completed a homework task researching one of these topics/events and creating an information sheet about them to hang on our timeline 'washing line'. Many of these key events, people and places we will study in History this year. Knowledge organisers related to the course containing some of this can be found in the student booklet. This activity and many we carry out throughout the year and Key Stage 3 are designed to help students reflect on the bigger picture and story of history and historical narratives that stretch over decades, centuries and even millennia. Mr Yearnshire

LANCASTER SLAVE TRADE TRAIL

AND POETRY COMPETI TION

An aspect of our Year 8 History Curriculum is focused on a study of the Transatlantic Slave Trade through the lens of a local history study; can we learn all we need to know about the history of the Transatlantic Slave Trade from a study of the history of Lancaster? As part of this unit of study we take all our Year 8 students on a guided walking tour and educational visit of the recently updated Lancaster Slave Trade Trail. Click here for more information.

One of the tasks our current Year 9 students had to complete following their visit, at the end of the last school year, was a piece of creative writing, a poem, about their trip and their learning. All student's work was then reviewed by teachers before being entered into a competition organised by LGGS History Society and judged by the joint presidents of the History Society, Lilly & Nancye in Year 13. We were delighted with the high quality of the work that was entered, and we are now pleased to announce the three winners of this competition and share their poems with you (see below and the following page). The students will shortly be presented with their prize, a copy of the recently published ‘Black Poppies: The Story of

Britain’s Black Community in the First World War’ .

This is a book that is also available in the School Library and which we are recommending to Key Stage 3 students as a wider reading option as part of our Black History Month celebrations at LGGS. Well done to not only our winners but all the other students who wrote such thoughtful and interesting poems about their local history and their learning.

Mr Yearnshire Head of History

1ST PRIZE: CATHERINE HILL, YEAR 9

THE SINGLE WORD

The property is packed tight on the grand cargo ships, More are destroyed but still more profit is made, The conditions are terrible but at least they aren’t people, Just goods, One hears a single word, That turns to a murmur, And passes on to a sentence, That forms a rumour, Young ears are covered, Gasps fill the small air pockets, Looks of grief for people not yet deceased

cover faces, The word should never be spoken, Visions of a Quaker house are reflected in eyes, The facade shows wealthy Georgian architecture, Non-conformist Protestants not ‘loving thy neighbour’ Some fighting for freedom while others disapprove, Cargo on the right has heard of a Dodgson Foster, His place of burial hosting the Satterthwaite family, Nervous glances occur as the myth of the mummified hand is told, But for some it is a tale for another day, Some on the left foresee the future to come, Of old muddy banks for unloading the goods, Little do they know they were replaced,

By a great quay for a saint and new, modern warehouses, A Norman castle of 1068 is pictured, A prison for nonconformists like George Fox,

Margaret Fell and many more, Threats shouted by high authority at those with none, Screams of torture rising far above the castle walls, Or maybe a pleasant memorial comes to minds, Surrounded with nature and flowers inscribed with Walinson and Hind, A William Lindow’s wealth is thought of fondly, How it came to be is not, A James Sawrey is the lead subject in conversations for some, His mahogany from Jamaica is spoken of highly, His wealth even more so, But the suffering behind it all is often unheard of, Images of mills spinning and weaving cotton are described, As goods share their greatest hopes of futures, A cotton town with mills calmly working perfectly, But some tell of the dangerous often fatal machinery of the industrial revolution, The canal built in the 1790s is referred to alongside the mills, It speeds up the industrial revolution, Transporting coal much faster than any other method, Maybe some of the voices behind the rumours will end up on the boats, A beautiful and expensive Saint John’s church is envisioned by the artistic shipments, A memorial stone is in place for the 3 John’s, A prosperous home for the trade and made from its profits, Being the wealthiest country in the world has some things for it, The Sun Inn is whispered with crossed fingers, If the cargo is lucky enough they might become drivers, They would discover new places all over the country, And rest at the inn during their travels, The name Richard Gillow is heard from many other mouths, Gillow’s warehouse and pub are described with terror, As the famous mahogany furniture manufacturer is said to have invested, In the very parcels muttering his name, A Dodgson Foster is also discussed, 5 voyages of 650 other individual purchases, Just like them, Wondering where most ended up, The goods themselves may view their price, They will likely be worth, Alongside their companions, 900% profit during their voyage, The youngest imports think of the excitement, The Theatre Royal makes little eyes light up just at the mention of its name, Playing host to the great African American

Ira Aldridge, Known for his incredible portrayal of Shakespe are characters, The theatre is mentioned again but through the mouths of the most academic, A Moses Roper spoke here as a proud abolitionist, Many of the mouths speak in admiration and awe, Maybe he will be the man capable of changing their future, Some older merchandise think if it’s beauty worthy of a museum, Of the Ancient Rome and Greek columns installed by a Richard Gillow, In the building made for customs and taxes, Of which they likely won’t have to pay, Or maybe a town hall comes to mind, With the same consistent Georgian architecture, Hosting Thomas Hind, John Bond and more mayors to come, Or perhaps it will become a museum for the small city to share its history, But there is one family name that is mumbled the loudest with danger of being heard, The Lindow family and their trade across the islands, In their home’s attic John Chance lives a quiet life, And William Lindow’s creation of Lindow Square is greatly approved of, Predictions for Odd fellows hall are given, The future speaking place for many

African Americans, If only freedom was given, Someday it might just be, Not many parcels end up, Alongside all of the envisioned, But these whether they are lucky or unlucky, Have done just that, The stories were shared, The rumours continued, Until a shrill scream comes from all around, And the single word is finally shrieked at the highest octave, Not Lancaster!

2ND AND 3RD PRIZE WINNERS

can be viewed on the News area of the school’s website. Click here.

LIBRARY BOOKBUZZ

This term, Year 7 students participated in BookBuzz 2022, a national reading programme run by BookTrust UK.

Our students watched videos from seventeen children’s authors, who had been nominated by a panel of writers and librarians. We ranked the books to help the students make a personal decision on which title to choose as their gift from LGGS Library. This year’s nominated titles made for an eclectic mix of genres - from a futuristic fantasy adventure, ‘Orion Lost’, to the historical tale of friendship and courage, ‘When the Sky Falls’. Books were distributed during English lessons - to much excitement - and just in time for half-term. Happy holiday reading to all!

‘I like that way of choosing a book as you get to listen to

the authors first. There was a large variety.’ Sophie, Year 7. (Sophie chose ‘The Astonishing Future of Alex Nobody’ by Kate Gilby Smith).

‘My book, The Sinking of the Titanic by David Long, was really good as it gave you facts and more detail than you would usually get. When we chose, there were many different options and it was really enjoyable to hear the authors talking about their work.’

Gracie, Year 7.

GREAT BOOKS TO INSPIRE READING FOR PLEASURE

NATIONAL POETRY DAY LGGS LIVING POEM

6th October marked National Poetry Day. During form time, our students listened to Dean Atta’s performance of his poem, ‘I Come From’, a powerful eulogy to the poet’s rich cultural upbringing, influenced by his Greek father and Jamaican mother. (See following page).

In keeping with the theme of identity and belonging, as part of LGGS International Week, our students were asked to write a single line of poetry on the theme of ‘home’, in any language of their choosing. We received many wonderful entries in languages as diverse as Telugu, Arabic and Polish. Students’ words were amalgamated into an interactive Living Poem. This idea sprung from the MFL department’s ‘Mother Tongue, Other Tongue’ competition winners’ trip to Manchester Metropolitan University. In the University Poetry Library, we saw the Manchester Living Poem, written in 64 different languages! LGGS’s own version has been displayed on screen in the school Library.

Please see examples below.

It has been lovely to see so many students in the Library at break and lunchtimes this half-term. Book reviews have been coming in thick and fast. You can view the video on the Library page of the school’s website for a recap on how to leave a review. Don't forget, reviews are published on the library web app and displayed on the shelves to help other borrowers choose what to read … and they come with merit point rewards! Miss Brown, Librarian

I COME FROM

I come from shepherd’s pie and Sunday roast Jerk chicken and stuffed vine leaves I come from travelling through my taste buds but loving where I live

I come from a home that some would call broken I come from D.I.Y. that never got done I come from waiting by the phone for him to call I come from who I trust and who I have left I come from last year and last year and I don’t notice how I’ve changed I come from looking in the mirror and looking online to find myself

I come from waving the white flag to loneliness I come from the rainbow flag and the union jack I come from a British passport and an ever-ready suitcase I come from stories, myths, legends and folk tales I come from lullabies and pop songs, Hip Hop and poetry I come from griots, grandmothers and her-story tellers

I come from jet fuel and fresh coconut water I come from crossing oceans to find myself I come from deep issues and shallow solutions

I come from a limited vocabulary but an unrestricted imagination I come from a decent education and a marvellous mother I come from being given permission to dream but choosing to wake up instead I come from wherever I lay my head I come from unanswered questions and unread books Unnoticed effort and undelivered apologies and thanks

I come from published words and strangers’ smiles I come from my own pen but I see people torn apart like paper Each a story or poem that never made it into a book.

DEAN ATTA