s p i h s r e n Part W
e are proud to work in partnership with several schools and organisations across the city of York. Although many events were unable to go ahead this year due to lockdown restrictions, we continued to celebrate our partnerships and connections with this great city.
York Independent State Schools Partnership (ISSP) In November we hosted a special York ISSP breakthrough event, attended by over 130 pupils and staff from our ISSP partner schools across York. Teachers competed for Year 7 pupils’ votes as they put forward compelling, and sometimes comical, arguments for the biggest breakthrough in mankind’s history. By bringing together teachers and pupils from across the city, the day was an opportunity to celebrate education in York and foster new friendships and viewpoints. We also welcomed over 100 year 9 and 10 pupils to St Peter’s School on Saturday 7 March for the annual ISSP Masterclasses. This year the big question was ‘What is Beauty?’ Inspiring and exciting classes in Art, Art History, Philosophy, Classics, Psychology, History and Chemistry encouraged pupils to tackle this topic through a myriad of tasks, mediums and questions. Visit yorkissp.org to find out more about the partnership.
Stargazing Live Our ever-popular Stargazing Live event returned to St Peter’s in February for the tenth time. Almost 400 people attended the event to explore the wonders of the University with hands-on experiments, a Planetarium Dome and the opportunity to look through telescopes with York Astronomical Society. We also welcomed Simon Goodwin, Professor of Theoretical Astrophysics at Sheffield University, who delivered a fascinating lecture about the possibility of alien life in space. The event, organised in conjunction with York University Physics Department and York Astronomical Society, is one of a number of science lectures hosted by St Peter’s School throughout the year. York Astronomical Society also helped pupils from all three sections of St Peter’s School to observe the Transit of Mercury in November, a rare astronomical event. They provided specialist equipment and solar telescopes which helped our pupils to see the silhouette of Mercury passing the face of the Sun. Huge thanks to the visiting York Astronomical Society members who really enthused the pupils and allowed us to experience this spectacular event. 22 || The Peterite 2019-20
