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MARCH. 2021 | VOL. 2
LIBRARY
NEWSLETTER
Official Library Newsletter of St Peter's RC High School
Latest information Welcome Everybody!
about the Library. It's been a really strange and disjointed term for everyone at St
Competitions to get Peter's! Despite the recent challenges that remote learning has
presented, everyone has adjusted really well and we are looking
involved in.
forward to resuming to "normal school" again. This term, we have
Ideas to think about, celebrated World Book Day, International Women's Day, Chinese New
reflect on and Year and other important days both in school and from home.
discuss.
In this newsletter, we will be sharing our latest news from the
Library/English department, recognising achievements, and bringing
you up to date with important information.
All the staff at St Peter's would also like to wish you all a very happy,
safe and restful Easter break!
LGBTQ+ History Month 2021
Throughout the month of February, we celebrated LGBT+ history month as a school. LGBT+ History Month in
the UK is coordinated by grassroots voluntary organisations and registered charity Schools Out UK, who aim
to increase the visibility of the entire LGBT+ community, as well as their history, lives and experiences.
LGBT+ History month was first marked in the UK in 2005 and is now a recognised celebration across the
globe. It’s a celebration that encourages further education into LGBTQ+ issues, the history of the gay rights
movement, and promotes an overall safer and more inclusive society where the varied spectrum of sexuality
and gender is universally accepted and spoken about openly. This year’s theme was Body, Mind, Spirit. The
different terms associated with LGBTQ+ identity are constantly evolving so don't worry if you get them
confused! Take a look below to familiarise yourself.
esbian
ay "Remember
this, whoever
you are,
isexual however you
are, you are
equally valid,
ransgender equally
justified and
equally
uestioning beautiful"
ntersex
Juno Dawson
Transgender YA
sexual
A reflective piece from Y7 Emily in response to the
treatment of gay people during the holocaust.
Author
LGBTQ+ history month top reading picks...
Amanda Gorman Reflection
As many of you will have seen, twenty three year old
Amanda Gorman captivated the world when she read her
powerful poem “The Hill We Climb” at President Joe Biden
and Vice President Kamala Harris’ inauguration ceremony.
Amanda Gorman is a truly astonishing young poet and
activist. Her work focuses on issues of oppression,
feminism, race, and marginalization. Amanda was the first
person to be named National Youth Poet Laureate in 2017
and published her first poetry book 'The One for Whom
Food Is Not Enough' in 2015. We explored "The Hill We
Climb" in class and asked for responses from students. Some
of you shared some profound and perceptive insights and
we wanted to take the opportunity to share some of your
fantastic responses with staff and pupils. You can read
Amanda's full poem on page six.
INAUGURATION DAY – A DEEP DIVE
BY IBRAHIM 9E
As many of you must know, history was made on the 20th January 2021; many focused on the
new President, Joe Biden, but others were far more interested in the empowering, inspirational
speech conducted by the well-spoken Youth Poet, Amanda Gorman. Born in 1998, the 22-year-
old from L.A. became the youngest ever to give a speech on an Inauguration. Studying at
Harvard, she hadn’t been the most privileged woman on the planet, and from her rough
beginnings, this shows that anyone can bring out the best of them if they focus and try their
best. She had a single mother, as well as having a speech impediment – this did not stop her
though.
On Joe Biden’s Inauguration, Amanda Gorman gave a well-executed, inspirational speech that
talked about resilience. It had a sense of empowerment embedded around everything. It talked
heavily about how we cannot ever give up and that although things have gone very unexpectedly
throughout the year, we are lucky to be out of it and that everyone can fight to make the country a
better place. A quote that really stood out was that America is a nation ‘that isn’t broken, but simply
unfinished.’ This really pushed people towards opening their eyes to the problems that can be fixed.
Teamwork played an enormous part in the speech and it is important that we pick up on this, due
to the fact that many problems are created because of many ideas clashing and morphing into one
big mistake.
To conclude, I believe that this Inauguration had left a massive mark on history and will be one of
my favourite ones, due to the speech and all around, being enjoyable.
Amadeo, 7F Lily, 7D
We have come a long way,
"Amanda Gorman’s poem was beyond
From the way we used to live back in the day.
stunning and exceptional. Her beauty and
Some would treat others differently as if they were
enthusiasm radiate through each word she unworthy,
is reading. The fact that she put all she had As if they didn’t deserve anything.
into that one poem is astounding, accurate, But now we know better, we have evolved
heartfelt. It’s also the reason it was so We spoke up about it and got involved.
inspirational. It makes the Americans feel a It’s different now, everyone has come to the realisation
somewhat grand sense of hope and that
We’re all the same and equal, no race is better
alignment. Her words are just so deep and
meaningful. Her messages are telling than another.
Is the world now completely perfect?
people there is still hope in the world and
No, because there are still acts of racism that happen
that we can get even more far if we keep
today.
going and striving to get better. I think her And for what reason you may ask
poem will have a long lasting impact on the And the answer would be there is no reason.
Americans for a long time. She could Treating someone differently or discriminating them
encourage the UK to keep going with their Just for the fact that they have different colour skin,
life because there will always be a future for Just for the fact that they have a different religion or
them. She could fix a lot of problems and culture,
Just for the way they look or the clothes they wear
convince us to try our best in life, because
Is not in any way okay.
bad things won’t last forever."
So even though we’re not perfect
If everyone chose kindness over being judgemental
Michelle, 8C The world would be a much more happy and united place.
So before you make a comment on someone that hasn’t
Poem- Equality done
Anything to deserve it, think before you say it.
Stop judging if their white or black And if you witness someone doing such an act
Stand up about it, put them in their place and make it
It’s just a bit of common sense that you right.
lack.
No Justice, No peace
Black lives matter to me
Are they in danger or free?
No matter if it’s he or she
No Justice, No Peace
They shouldn’t be treated differently
No harm to community
They are human, like you and me
To our pupils for their brilliant responses!
No Justice, No Peace
"The Hill We Climb" by
Amanda Gorman
"When day comes, we ask ourselves where can we find In this truth, in this faith, we trust,
light in this never-ending shade? for while we have our eyes on the future, history has its eyes
The loss we carry, a sea we must wade. on us.
We’ve braved the belly of the beast.
This is the era of just redemption.
We’ve learned that quiet isn’t always peace,
We feared it at its inception.
and the norms and notions of what 'just' is isn’t always justice.
We did not feel prepared to be the heirs of such a terrifying
And yet, the dawn is ours before we knew it.
hour,
Somehow we do it.
but within it, we found the power to author a new chapter, to
Somehow we’ve weathered and witnessed a nation that isn’t
broken, offer hope and laughter to ourselves.
but simply unfinished. So while once we asked, ‘How could we possibly prevail over
We, the successors of a country and a time where a skinny catastrophe?’ now we assert, ‘How could catastrophe possibly
Black girl descended from slaves and raised by a single mother prevail over us?’
can dream of becoming president, only to find herself reciting We will not march back to what was, but move to what shall
for one. be:
'Never been more optimistic': speeches, songs and A country that is bruised but whole, benevolent but bold,
celebrations cap Biden's inauguration day – as it happened fierce and free.
And yes, we are far from polished, far from pristine, We will not be turned around or interrupted by intimidation
but that doesn’t mean we are striving to form a union that is
because we know our inaction and inertia will be the
perfect.
inheritance of the next generation.
We are striving to forge our union with purpose.
Our blunders become their burdens.
To compose a country committed to all cultures, colours,
But one thing is certain:
characters, and conditions of man.
If we merge mercy with might, and might with right, then
And so we lift our gazes not to what stands between us, but
what stands before us. love becomes our legacy and change, our children’s
We close the divide because we know, to put our future first, birthright.
we must first put our differences aside. So let us leave behind a country better than the one we were
We lay down our arms so we can reach out our arms to one left.
another. With every breath from my bronze-pounded chest, we will
We seek harm to none and harmony for all. raise this wounded world into a wondrous one.
Let the globe, if nothing else, say this is true: We will rise from the golden hills of the west.
That even as we grieved, we grew. We will rise from the wind-swept north-east where our
That even as we hurt, we hoped. forefathers first realized revolution.
That even as we tired, we tried.
We will rise from the lake-rimmed cities of the midwestern
That we’ll forever be tied together, victorious.
states.
Not because we will never again know defeat, but because we
We will rise from the sun-baked south.
will never again sow division,
We will rebuild, reconcile, and recover.
Scripture tells us to envision that everyone shall sit under
In every known nook of our nation, in every corner called
their own vine and fig tree and no one shall make them afraid.
If we’re to live up to our own time, then victory won’t lie in our country,
the blade, but in all the bridges we’ve made. our people, diverse and beautiful, will emerge, battered and
That is the promise to glade, the hill we climb, if only we dare. beautiful.
It’s because being American is more than a pride we inherit. When day comes, we step out of the shade, aflame and
It’s the past we step into and how we repair it. unafraid.
We’ve seen a force that would shatter our nation rather than The new dawn blooms as we free it.
share it. For there is always light,
Would destroy our country if it meant delaying democracy. if only we’re brave enough to see it.
This effort very nearly succeeded. If only we’re brave enough to be it."
But while democracy can be periodically delayed,
it can never be permanently defeated.
International Women's Day
International Women's Day is celebrated annually on the 8th
March. It is a day when people around the world come
together to recognise the achievements that women and
girls have made, as well as call for further action to close the
gender gap in terms of education, health, economics and
politics. International Women's Day is an important
opportunity to learn about the role of women in today's
society. From celebrating women's achievements to
challenging gender stereotypes and bias, there are lot's of
things that you can do to support IWD and make a positive
difference all year round. This year's IWD theme was
#choosetochallenge. We can all choose to challenge and call
our gender bias and inequality. We can also all choose to
celebrate women's achievements! Collectively, we can all
help to promote an inclusive world!
Exploring different books for IWD...
For IWD, there was a special display in the Library with
books:
that are written by female authors
with a strong/inspirational female protagonist
about inspirational women across the world
During designated reading for pleasure time, students were
asked to read a book that fitted one of these categories and
to write a short reflection about their chosen inspirational
female, either real-life or fictional!
Reading reflections...
Here is a fantastic response from a student who read a book with a strong female lead for International
Women's Day! Well done Sarah, 7F!
"Today I got to read a bit of the hunger games by Suzanne Collins which is what I would count as a fantasy book. It talks about
Katniss Everdeen. Personally, I really enjoyed Katniss’ character and way of living she is very independent and she doesn’t rely on
anyone to get her job done. She is also a great team when she works with Gale. However, she isn’t the type of person to boast about
herself. This is a great example for Prim in the book and for any aged girl reading it. She shows that you should put others first and
be selfless. I really like her bravery and how she isn’t afraid to take a risk which is a really good trait as it can come in handy.
Collins’ book definitely fits today’s IWD as it shows girls everywhere that sometimes, we need to face the world and take that risks.
Sometimes we have people by our sides and sometimes we don’t, but no matter what we need to push through and get through our
challenges. IWD is all about realising after so many years of fighting some women finally have a voice and can use. It’s to make
sure women know there aren’t men’s ‘objects’ to own and boss around. It’s to make all women and girls know that they can stand
up and talk about the fact that girls shouldn’t get abused and sexualised because that is not normal and shouldn’t be normalised. It
reminds us that women have come so far just to be treated equally!"
Diversifying our reading choices
In English, students have been looking at how they can
use book covers to diversify their reading choices. A cover
is the first thing a potential reader notices about both
fiction and non-fiction books. Whether a cover needs to
persuade its handler to buy or borrow it, or it has a more
captive audience as a set text in class, a good cover acts as
a window into the story inside. Often subconsciously, we
all discern clues from a cover (title, author, image, colour,
font) to help us guess what it’s about and whether it will
interest us. Students have had the opportunity to explore
a range of book covers by diverse authors and read some
excerpts from some different books! Perhaps it has
inspired you to think about the next book you would like
to borrow from the school Library?
Miss McGregor's Diverse Reading Recommendations ...
Clap When You Land by
Elizabeth Acevedo
Longlisted for the UKLA Book Awards
2021 and from the multi-award-winning
author of The Poet X comes Elizabeth
Acevedo’s exceptional dual-voiced novel
about loss, love and sisterhood across
the sea, a story partly sparked by the
fatal crash of a flight from NYC to Santo
Domingo in 2001.
Concrete Rose by Angie Thomas
For those of you who enjoyed reading Angie
Thomas' The Hate You Give, the prequel novel
"Concrete Rose" has just been released!
Returning to Garden Heights, the story follows
Maverick Carter, Starr’s father, set seventeen
years before the events of The Hate U Give.
With his King Lord dad in prison and his mother
working two jobs, seventeen-year-old Maverick
Carter's life if not perfect but he's got everything
under control. Until he finds out he's a father...
World Book Day 2021
We celebrated World Book Day on the 4th March this year! World Book Day is a celebration of reading,
authors, illustrators and books. It’s designated by UNESCO as a worldwide celebration of books and
reading, and marked in over 100 countries all over the world. This year's World Book Day was a little bit
different due to the ongoing restrictions but we still managed to celebrate in style!
Sharna Jackson’s Virtual Visit
We were lucky enough to welcome Waterstone's
children's book prize winner Sharna Jackson to the
school for a 'Virtual Visit'! Sharna has written five
books and is best known for her London based
murder mystery books; High-Rise Mystery and Mic
Drop. Sharna is particularly driven by and
interested in encouraging and increasing
participation in reading amongst diverse and
disengaged audiences. Sharna spoke to us about
her work and life as a successful author, followed
by a Q&A with some of our students. The video of
Sharna's visit can still be viewed on the Library
page on the VLE!
World Book Day £1 tokens Check out the different books up for
grabs...
Thanks to National Book Tokens and lots of lovely
book publishers, World Book Day, in partnership
with schools all over the country, distribute over 15
million £1 World Book Day book tokens to children
and young people every year! The £1 book tokens
can be swapped for one of the exclusive, new and
completely FREE World Book Day books available
from participating booksellers OR used to get £1
off any full-price book or audiobook instead.
This year, your £1 book token is digital and can be
found on page eleven of the newsletter with full
instructions on how to redeem it. The £1 book
token can be redeemed up until the 28th March so
there is still time to get your hands on one of this
year's exclusive books! Dont miss out!
World Book Day Activities/Competitions
Fancy Dress
Some of our year seven students decided
to mark World Book Day by dressing up
as characters from their favourite books!
Our winner was Abuzar who came in as
the infamous Mr Bean from one of his
favourite childhood books! We also had a
few Harry Potters, a Hermionie Granger,
Thing One and an Amara from Renee
Watson's book, 'Some Places More than
Others'. A fantastic effort and a real
display of enthusiasm from our year
seven students! Well done!
WBD Quiz Guess The Teacher
Some of our students took part in a WBD Some members of staff at St Peter's went into
themed Kahoot Quiz! It got extremely disguise as they spoke about their favourite
competitive and in the end, year seven Alice childhood books! We had a sloth, a lion, a snail
took the victory with her book/author-related and a watermelon! Can you guess who?! The
knowledge! Well done Alice! Guess the Teacher videos can also still be
viewed on the VLE.Christmas Competiton Winners
Christmas Card
Competition
Winner: Chloe, 9H
Chloe used oil pastels to create her
Manchester bee Christmas card! Chloe put a
lot of intricate detail into her design...a
beautiful piece of work! Well done Chloe!
Chloe won a stationery bundle and a £5 book
token!
Runner up: Amanda, 7C
Well done Amanda! Your reindeer design was
absolutely amazing! Amanda will receive a £5
book token!
Creative Writing Competition
Winner: Adam, 7C
'A Christmas Story'
Adam wrote and designed a beautiful Christmas story
complete with illustrations, a blurb, and even a quiz at the
end to make sure you were paying attention! Adam used
brilliant metaphorical language and created a truly magical
Christmas story about a little boy called Tom and his
experience of Christmas. Adam received a £15 book token for
his fantastic work! Well done Adam!
Runner up: Eren, 8D
'What Christmas Means to Me'
Eren wrote a fantastic creative piece on what Christmas
means to him and his family! Eren used beautifully
descriptive language...this nearly had us drooling when he
described his Christmas dinner! Well done Eren, you will
receive a £5 book token!Where's Wally Staff Fundraiser Run On the weekend of the 20th/21st March, nine members of our staff took part in the National Literacy Trust's Where's Wally Fundraiser Run! They wore their stripey tops, hats and Wally Glasses as they ran their chosen routes/distances! Our team raised over £500 and every penny raised went directly towards supporting the literacy and learning of some of the UK's most disadvantaged children. Here are some pictures of our staff at the finish line! A huge well done to everyone involved!
Additional Useful Resourses
Free thirty-day audible
trial
Amazon's 'Audible' is offering a free
thirty-day trial for all you audiobook
lovers out there! If you want to keep
your subscription going after thirty days,
it costs £7.99/month thereafter.
BorrowBox
Remember, you all have free access to a vast
digital eBook and Audiobook collection via
your local library. If we don't stock something
in our school Library, it's likely that your local
Library might have what you're looking for!
When you have signed up with your local
library, simply download the BorrowBox app
and you're good to go! If you need any
assistance with signing up, speak to Miss
McGregor in the Library- she is there to help!
Our ePlatform
It's been great to see lots of you
taking advantage of our school's
ePlatform! Throughout this second
period working from home, so many
of you have been logging in and
borrowing eBooks to enjoy some
digital reading for pleasure! Don't
forget to utilise this free resource. If
you are having problems logging in,
speak to Miss McGregor in the
Library.You can also read
