Coming Together To Remember
This week, pupils and staff across the Kingswood Foundation came together as a school community for our Remembrance Day Assemblies.
Prep School
Mr Brearey, Mrs Wilkinson, Ms Worrall and Mr Murphy led the assemblies and the children learnt about why we wear a poppy each year. We talked about why we stop and think of servicemen and women - past and present - each year because this is when the First World War came to pass. It was made particularly seminal as this year as the thought of ‘togetherness’ was especially poignant.
As part of the special assemblies we asked the children of Service families to take part. Some read poems and other held wreaths of remembrance. Our thanks goes out to them for practising their lines and reciting them so beautifully.
During the service we had time to reflect on Philippians 4: 5-7 from the Bible, In Flanders Fields by John Mcrae, The ‘Poppy Poppy’ poem in Pre-Prep and ‘I thought of you with love today’ poem in the Prep.
Before the two minute silence, children across the whole school received a wooden remembrance cross and this lead the discussion about the sacrifices that Service men and women have given and continue to give us by working to protect us on a daily basis. Their thoughts about such complex issues we refreshing and pertinent.
Children in Year 4 to Year 6 wrote the names of past Kingswood servicemen who gave the ultimate sacrifice in conflicts dating from 1914 right up to 2018, on their wood cross. They placed their crosses in the shape of a wreath by the flagpole for our whole school community to see. Among those people listed on the crosses were nine with Military Crosses, one with a Distinguished Conduct Medal, one with a Military Medal and one with a Victoria Cross, the highest award for gallantry.
The two minute silence was conducted across the school from the Nursery to the Sixth Form. We were lucky enough to hear Ben play the Last Post with his Cornet to mark the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month. Ben played with poise and purpose at such a poignant moment.
Altogether it was a very powerful and moving experience, the children wore their poppies with pride and truly realised the gravitas of the event. We would also like to thank all the children who made a class wreath, this has made a stunning display in the Association Hall. Particular thanks goes to the children who participated so well in the assemblies for being part of this significant occasion.
Senior School
Pupils and staff in the Senior School enjoyed a touching virtual Remembrance Day Service, led by our former Chaplain, Rev. Mike Wilkinson.
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